Tanzania Mortgage Calculator (TZS)

Mortgages in Tanzania — what to expect

Tanzanian mortgages are typically 15–25 year reducing-balance loans at 14–17% annual interest, with a 20% minimum down payment. Major lenders include CRDB, NMB, NBC, Stanbic, Exim and Equity. The Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC) backs cheaper long-term refinance for some banks, bringing rates as low as 13%.

Affordability rule

Banks apply a Debt Service Ratio (DSR) ≤ 40% of net monthly income — your total mortgage instalment + any other loans cannot exceed 40% of take-home pay. Use this calculator to back-solve the income required for any property price.

Typical fees beyond the rate

• Arrangement fee: 1–2% of loan.
• Property valuation: TZS 200,000–500,000.
• Legal fees: ~1% of loan.
• Stamp duty: 1% on the mortgage instrument — see Stamp Duty Calculator.
• Mortgage protection insurance: ~0.5% per year.
• Property insurance: ~0.3% per year (mandatory while loan outstanding).

Reducing balance vs flat — banks use reducing

All Tanzanian banks use reducing-balance interest for mortgages. Avoid lenders quoting flat rates for mortgages — that's a red flag, common only in microfinance for short loans.

Should you take a 20-year vs 10-year?

A 20-year mortgage at 15% costs roughly 2.5× the loan in interest; a 10-year mortgage at 15% costs roughly 1× in interest. The shorter term saves enormous money but the monthly payment is much higher. Most buyers go 20 years and overpay when bonuses arrive.

Pair with the Property Transfer Cost for closing costs, the Rental Yield if buying to let, and the Loan Calculator for non-mortgage borrowing.