Government of Jamaica

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some frequently asked questions here. 
If you don't see an answer to your question, you can send us an email. 

Displaying 13 - 24 of 41

Voluntary contributors must have made at least 104 weeks (2 years) contributions, of which 52 weeks must be paid in the period immediately before the date of application. For example, if you contributed for five (5) years prior to migrating would, on registering as a voluntary contributor, you must contribute for at least an additional year before being eligible to apply for a loan. This change in requirement came into effect recently. Prior to this, Voluntary contributors were required to have made at least 52 weeks contributions with at least 13 payments made in the 26 week period immediately before the loan application.

All contribution refunds to voluntary contributors will be made in Jamaican dollars. Refund payments will be made directly to the contributor or if a mortgage exists, to the contributor’s loan account. In addition, mortgages to voluntary contributors will be transacted in Jamaican currency only.

Voluntary contributors, like all other NHT contributors are due a refund of their contributions in the eighth year after those payments were made.

If you are an overseas contributor, your contribution is quoted in the currency of the country which you are working. Your payment will then be converted to local currency at the prevailing rate set by the Bank of Jamaica on the date the payment is processed.

Your first payment is due immediately upon registration. Thereafter, voluntary contributions are due by the last day of every month and must be paid no later than the 15th of the following month.  For example, voluntary contributions for the month of September are due September 30th but must be paid by October 15th to avoid penalties.  

Payments are only accepted in Jamaican Dollars (JMD) , therefore you would need to convert same to the JMD equivalent.

An 'Asking Price' for each property is displayed. This price is the amount we will be prepared to consider as an offer to purchase the property. Please note that this figure is subject to change from time to time. *N.B. We reserve the right to accept or reject any bid, and we are not compelled to sell the property to the highest bidder.

Type of financing Requirement Loan from NHT 5% of the bid sum is payable as a deposit, providing the other associated costs can be covered by the mortgage loan. Loan from other source(s) 15% of the bid sum is payable as a deposit, providing the other associated costs can be covered by the mortgage loan. Cash purchase 15% of the bid sum is payable as a deposit. Evidence of the balance of the purchase price and the other associated costs must also be provided before offer is considered acceptable. Joint Finance Mortgage Programme (JFMP) 15% of the bid sum is payable as a deposit, providing the other associated costs can be covered by the mortgage loan.

You will be required to pay the difference between the bid amount and the maximum loan entitlement. This is also subject to your ability to repay the loan. You must provide evidence that you can pay this shortfall before the sale/purchase processes can commence.

There will be some specific legal fees which you will be required to pay to enable us to not only register your name(s) on the Title as owner(s) of the property, but also the mortgage loan. These fees are approximately 3% of the sale price, and represent half costs for stamp duty and registration. (N.B. The 3% is based on the Stamp Commissioner’s assessment of the value of the property, and the cost to register the mortgage loan may vary depending on the Institution from which you will be obtaining the loan)

(a) You must be a first-time homeowner, and currently making contributions to the Trust. However, for more details of the eligibility requirements you may either visit the Customer Service Department at the nearest Branch Office, or visit the Loans section of the website by clicking on the  “ Loans”  link in the menu for more information. N.B. If you are not qualified for a NHT loan, you may still be allowed to purchase a property; however, we will not grant you the loan. Financing must therefore be sought from another source. (b) You may use the Fifteen (15) Plus Loan to purchase a property being sold by Private Treaty provided: the previous NHT loan was obtained at least 15 years ago; you are not currently a home-owner; your current non-home -owner status is not as a result of failure to meet NHT’s required mortgage payments. (c) If you are successful in bidding on more than one property, you will be allowed to purchase these properties, subject to proof that you can afford to pay for each one. However, we will grant you a mortgage loan on only one (1) property, if you are eligible for a non-home-owner’s loan or a loan as outlined at item (b) above.