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. 

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Voluntary contributors are required to continue making contributions even after they have received a loan from the NHT. If their contributions fall into arrears, the sums due will be deducted from the sums tendered as mortgage payments.   Voluntary Contributors who are borrowers would have contribution arrears payments deducted from their mortgage payments.

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.

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

You can apply by doing the following: ( i ) Visit the property of choice to determine its external condition, and if it is in a suitable location; ( ii ) If you are interested in purchasing the property, write a letter, referred to as a “Bid”, which must include the following information:- Full address of the property/ies of choice; Specific amount(s) being offered to purchase the property/ies; Your full name, mailing address, and telephone contact number(s); State whether you will be purchasing the property with Cash or by getting a loan from a financial/mortgage institution; Ensure that your bid/letter is signed by yourself and any other person (if you and other persons are bidding on the property together); state exactly how much you are offering NHT for the property. Do not state a range for your offer (e.g. $1.5m to $2.m); Place your bid in a sealed envelope and mail or deliver it at any of our offices. Do not send your bid by email or fax transmission. The bid should be addressed as follows:(To be opened only by Private Treaty Committee) Private Treaty Committee, P.O. Box 152, Kingston 5. ( iii ) Attach the following documents to your “bid” /letter: Proof of required deposit Letter from financial/mortgage institution indicating that you can afford a loan, and details of the loan; *N.B. Your bid will be disqualified if these documents do not accompany your letter.

Sealed bids (in envelopes) should be given to the Receptionist at any of the NHT’s Branch Offices/Service Centres, between the following hours each day: Mondays to Thursdays - 7:30 a.m to 3:00p.m. Fridays - 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You must ensure that all the requirements outlined for purchasing a property are strictly followed in submitting your bid.

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)