In April 2026, Poland’s mortgage market remained active, although data from the Credit Information Bureau (BIK) also point to a clear cooling after an exceptionally strong March. The value of mortgage loan enquiries rose by 29.8% year on year, meaning that banks and credit unions submitted enquiries to BIK worth almost one-third more than in April 2025, adjusted for the number of working days.
At first glance, the data may suggest a very strong recovery. However, they should be interpreted with caution. April brought two parallel signals: on the one hand, demand for mortgage loans remains clearly higher than a year earlier; on the other, compared with the record-breaking March, the number of people applying for financing fell significantly.
More applicants than a year ago, but far fewer than in March
According to BIK, 42,280 people applied for a mortgage loan in April 2026. A year earlier, the figure stood at 35,610, which means an increase of 18.7% year on year. At the same time, the number of applicants was as much as 33.2% lower than in March 2026.
This monthly decline is one of the most important messages in the latest data. It shows that the March acceleration did not turn into a lasting wave of purchases. Rather, it was a one-off impulse, partly linked to uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, which may have prompted some potential buyers to act more quickly.
In practice, this means that the market has returned to a more stable rhythm. It is not possible to speak of a collapse in demand, as the number of applicants is still high compared with last year. However, it is possible to speak of a fading of the emotions that pushed mortgage activity to an exceptional level in March.
A half-million-zloty mortgage is becoming the new norm
The second important element of BIK’s data is the average value of the mortgage applied for. In April, it stood at PLN 500,410. This was 9.3% higher than in April 2025, although at the same time 1.2% lower than in the record month of March 2026.
Crossing the PLN 500,000 threshold is more than symbolic. It shows how much the realities of financing home purchases in Poland have changed. Just a few years ago, a half-million-zloty mortgage was seen as very high. Today, it is increasingly becoming standard, especially in large cities where apartment prices remain elevated.
The increase in the average value of mortgage applications may stem from several factors. First, property prices remain high, so buyers need larger amounts of financing. Second, some applicants may be looking for larger apartments or homes in better locations. Third, even a slight improvement in creditworthiness can increase the maximum amount that customers decide to apply for.
High demand, but increasingly difficult comparisons
BIK notes that growth rates may gradually weaken in the coming months. This does not necessarily mean that the market situation is actually deteriorating. The main reason is the base effect. The coming months of 2026 will be compared with the recovery period of 2025, rather than with the weaker months of the earlier slowdown.
This is an important distinction. If the number of applicants remains in the range of around 40,000–45,000 per month, the market can still be considered active. However, annual percentage growth rates will look less and less spectacular because the reference point will be much higher.
This means that percentage increases in the index may give the impression of weakening demand in the coming months, even if the nominal number of people applying for a mortgage remains relatively high. Therefore, when assessing the market, it will be important to look not only at the year-on-year growth rate, but also at the level of applications, the average loan amount and the actual volume of mortgages granted by banks.
What do BIK data say about the housing market?
The BIK Mortgage Demand Index measures the value of mortgage applications submitted by individual customers compared with the same period of the previous year. It is one of the more important leading indicators for the housing market, as it shows interest in financing before loans are actually granted.
The latest data suggest that demand for homes financed with mortgages remains strong, but is more selective and less emotionally driven than in March. Buyers are still present on the market, but the sense of urgency is no longer as strong. This may be beneficial from the perspective of market balance, because an excessively sharp rebound in demand could again increase pressure on apartment prices.
From the perspective of developers and sellers, BIK’s data signal that potential buyers have not disappeared from the market. From the perspective of buyers, however, they mean that competition for attractive properties may still be significant, especially in the largest cities. The high average amount of mortgage applications also confirms that the price barrier remains one of the main problems in the market.
The market is not cooling sharply, but it is losing its extraordinary momentum
BIK’s April data are best interpreted as a return to a more normal level of activity after the March surge. Demand for mortgage loans is still growing year on year, the number of applicants is clearly higher than a year earlier, and the average loan amount remains above PLN 500,000. At the same time, the decline compared with March shows that the market will not continue to grow indefinitely at such a dynamic pace.
The coming months will show whether the current level of demand can be maintained despite the base effect, high apartment prices and the caution of some households. For now, BIK’s data point to a market that is active, but no longer overheated by the emotions seen in March. This is not a signal of collapse. Rather, it marks a transition from a sharp rebound to more stable, though still high, mortgage activity.
