No one should sign a 30 or 40-year commitment based on a single proposal. Speaking with an authorized credit intermediary is, today, the simplest and free-of-charge step to ensure that the most important financial decision in a family's life is made with all information on the table.
After two years of relief in home installments, much has changed. The European Central Bank raised rates by 25 basis points at its June meeting, the first increase since September 2023, and Euribor rates have been reflecting this pressure: the 6-month Euribor, the most used in home loans in Portugal, is trading today, July 16, 2026, around 2.65%, and the 12-month rate is approaching 2.83%. Those who have payment revisions scheduled for the coming months should prepare to pay more, and those buying a home face a more demanding credit market that is harder to compare.
It is precisely in this context that the figure of the credit intermediary gains prominence it never had before.
Why does it make a difference at a time like this?
1. In a rising rate cycle, every tenth counts. For a credit of 150,000 euros over 30 years, a difference of half a percentage point in the rate can represent around 40 to 50 euros per month, more than 500 euros per year. Comparing proposals from several banks is no longer a luxury: it is the difference between sustainable credit and a family budget under pressure.
2. The choice between fixed, mixed, and variable rates has become more complex. With Euribor rising in the short term and banks repositioning mixed-rate offers, the right decision depends on each family's profile, time horizon, income stability, and risk tolerance. An experienced intermediary helps simulate scenarios and choose based on numbers, not intuition.
3. Credit rules are changing. As of August 1, 2026, new rules for granting home loans and consumer credit will come into effect. Having someone by your side who monitors these changes daily avoids surprises and rejected applications.
4. Negotiating power that the client alone does not have. Banks compete for proposals presented by intermediaries, who handle dozens of processes per month. This scale often translates into spreads and conditions that would hardly be offered to a client who walks into a branch alone.
And what does it cost the client?
In most home loan cases, the intermediation service is free for the client; the intermediary is remunerated by the credit institution with whom the contract is concluded, and this remuneration is subject to transparency duties defined by law. The client gains access, comparison, and professional negotiation without additional cost.
Also for those who already have credit
Intermediation is not just for those buying a home. With installments rising, transferring home loans to a bank with better conditions is back on the agenda and is a process where professional support makes all the difference, from analyzing real savings (deducting transfer costs) to negotiating with the new bank.
If you are thinking of buying a home, transferring your credit, or simply understanding if your payment can be lowered, speak with SCI Finance without obligation. We can help you save thousands of euros over the life of the loan.
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