The wide wave of protests about the sudden, early end of the Home 2 program 2 June instead of 31 August, led the government to folding.
After first causing coldness to thousands of beneficiaries, who were left hanging, due to foreign government manipulations, an extension was finally given – but outside the Recovery and Durability Fund (TAA).
As announced by the relevant Ministries of National Economy and Economic and Social Cohesion and Family Cohesion, approved loans from the programme which will not be able to contract within the new suffocating deadline may do so by the end of summer, with resources from the Greek Development Bank (EFT).
This is the epitome of «I said, "Wow, and then I said again."», without any self-criticism or apology on the part of those responsible for the upset and resurgence.
My House 2 was aiming to cover 20,000 families. Eventually less than 12,000 join the TAA
Extension... to the fourth
The extension was announced not even in the other five, but in «and fourth», under the weight of general outcry. This is not an extension, but an extension of the original timetable, announced in November. The government does «ball» beneficiaries who stay outside the TAA programme and their «load» in EBA.
Coldness turned into a partial relief, giving a three-month breath to the near «Unhomed». But the foul remains. Despite government celebrations for «88.7% absorption» of the TAA funds, more than EUR 300 million remain unused.
Despite the goals of being covered by My Home 2 about 20,000 households, eventually less than 12,000 managed, after labor, suffering and expense, to join the official program. About 2,500 thousand are its borrowers «b’ speed», hoping to never be found again unexpectedly. Only after the Scottish shower, they've lost all confidence.
Dimitris C – Beneficiary of My Home 2: «Houses you found with 150,000 euros a few years ago, now selling over 200,000»
Courtesy 1: You don't know what dawn is
Dimitris C, a private employee of 40, belongs to the 2,500 beneficiaries found in the air. By May 11, the day the extension was announced, he was sure he was losing the loan for which he had received approval through «Home My 2». His bank made it clear he couldn't make it to June 2. Along with the loan he would lose the house, which they managed to find with great difficulty, along with his partner, to escape the rock of expensive rents.
A 50-year house in New Heraklion, Attica, worth 210,000 euros, which 8 years ago you would buy with 150,000 euros. Before they ended up there, they had seen 54 properties, which as he tells us «was one worse than the other.».
»What was really worth to a family with a child as we are started from 250,000 euros or more. With the pre-approval we had of 190,000 euros, you should have another 60,000 euros in the bank only to buy the house and another 10,000 minimums to pay brokers, bank, engineer, lawyer, notary, land registry etc. We were forced to get an extra consumer loan of 18,000 euros, at a rate of 9.9% so that we could from 190,000 reach 210,000».
When he learned that the government eventually withdrew and extended, even through EBA, «The first feeling was a relief. But this relief lasted a while. Because the problem was never just deadlines. It was the way the government handled the entire program from the beginning. We are talking about wrong manipulations that created confusion, uncertainty and anxiety in people who are already in a vulnerable position. Where a residence scheme — I mean, something so basic. — He manages it with such inconsistency, then you can't just be happy with an extension and rest. What guarantees do we have that we will not be in the same spot again? If the way the state approaches these issues does not change, the extension simply postpones the problem, does not solve it. And that's what keeps us in suspense: you don't really know what's dawning on you.».
Testimony of Rightee 2: «All confidence has been lost»
A.K., working 38 years old, is from Arta, and lives in Kallithea, with his partner, in a rental apartment of 40 sq.m. The programme «Home 2», was an opportunity to find a permanent home suitable to raise a child. He was among the first to contact in, when the early end of the program was announced.
He was found like he told us. «in a blackmail dilemma». He had to either sign a sale contract for the property, risking losing the loan and having to pay all the money out of his pocket. Either freeze any process, lose the house and along with it the hundreds of working hours he has devoted and the thousands of euros he has spent in procedurals. He finally picked the second.
Now it starts, from the beginning. «I told the salesman we were stopping. Today I sent a new message to tell me if the house is still available. The bank called me back. Now I have doubts. I'm talking to the bank to see what's really going on. The prior approval we have signed states that the subsidy will come from the Recovery Fund. But now that the TAA is out, will I have to sign a new deal? My agony is prolonging. Nothing clear to me.
The salesman may have changed his mind. He gave us back the advance, but I know others who lost it. Psychologically, I suck. I'm like a zombie at work. Again today, calls with the banks, with the broker, where the process will start again. I have no confidence in what will happen after all. Of course trust was lost to sellers. What kind of salesman is going to agree to put his house back on such a schedule after this tragedy? Already many didn't give it to my House 2, because they were disappointed in my House 1. All this was known to the government from the beginning».
Home 2: When loans are not enough to solve the housing crisis
Themistocles Bakas, president of the Panhellenic Network E-Real Estates, commenting on government reunions with My House 2, speaks of «declaration of failure and at the same time an opportunity to review the philosophy of Greek housing policy as a whole».
Reminds us that My House 2 began in January 2025 with impressive dynamics, over 102,000 applications within 20 days. This showed the enormous social needs, the great pressure that new households face, the difficulty of accessing decent and affordable housing.
Yet, nearly a year later, just 11,000 applications had reached the final stage of signing a loan. So about 90% of the applicants failed to find a home. Demand was strengthened without increasing housing supply. Prices rose, available properties were limited, delays, technical and urban issues arose, but also failure to complete many markets.
«This development has shown in the most clear way that housing policy cannot be limited to providing loans. At the same time an increase in residential stock is required, the use of inactive properties, the creation of a new residence, and a modern housing design with a social mark», states Mr. Bakas.
Competence or deception?
The government was forced to extend and widen income criteria, so as not to lose the landmarks and demonstrate absorption on paper. Again, there are incapacitated funds of the TAA amounting to around EUR 300 million, and nearly 7,000 beneficiaries are being thrown out. Thousands of potential beneficiaries are notified at the last minute that they should receive a loan through EBA. That is, from national resources, paid by taxpayers.
Mr. Bakas refuses to accept that all of this is mere sloppyness. He points out that it was deliberate inconsistency and deception of thousands of prospective beneficiaries.
«The government knew the problem. As of October 2025, officials from the European Commission had pointed out in Athens that RRF's deadlines are inflexible and Greece should have completed absorption by July 2026. At the absorption rates recorded in recent months, the risk of losing some of the resources was already visible. Finally, this risk was confirmed in practice».
