Tatiana Moisei: We Help People Turn the Dream of Homeownership into Reality

Interview with Tatiana Moisei, Product Owner, Sales & Network Development, maib

Tatiana, you have a unique perspective on Moldova's mortgage market thanks to the data you see every day at maib. What does the mortgage market look like in 2026?

This year is truly special for us. The maib Mortgage Center has celebrated its fifth anniversary, and for the second consecutive year, maib is the leader in Moldova's mortgage market, holding a 36.2% market share.

As for our results, in just the first six months of this year, we helped more than 1,600 families take the step toward owning their own home.

Does that mean more than 1,600 mortgage loans were granted in the first six months of the year alone?

Yes. Moreover, this year we reached another important milestone: maib's mortgage loan portfolio surpassed MDL 10 billion. This is a record not only for our bank but also for the entire banking system in the Republic of Moldova.

Who are the people who usually apply for a mortgage?

In most cases, they are young families.

Sometimes I have the opportunity to be with clients at the very moment they receive their mortgage approval. When you see the excitement and joy in their eyes, you realize that helping people achieve their dreams is not just a phrase—it’s a reality. For most families, owning a home is their first major life goal, and being able to contribute to making that happen is incredibly rewarding.

What has contributed to maib's leadership in the mortgage market?

Two years ago, we realized something very important: having a competitive product wasn't enough. We also needed to be closer to the people who guide clients through the home-buying process.

Those people are real estate agents.

We started meeting with them regularly, discussing our products, listening to their suggestions, and, most importantly, implementing their recommendations. That's why more and more real estate agents choose maib as their trusted partner today.

Recently, maib celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Mortgage Center.

Exactly. To mark the occasion, we invited our 100 most active real estate partners.

For us, it's important that our relationship with real estate agents goes beyond a standard business collaboration. In many cases, I would describe it as a partnership built on trust.

Do real estate agents work only with the Mortgage Center, or also with maib branches?

With both.

In fact, our branches play a very active role in the development of the mortgage business. While mortgage lending used to be concentrated mainly in Chișinău, today we see strong growth across the regions.

So the regional market is growing as well?

Absolutely—and the growth is clearly visible.

One reason is that housing prices vary from region to region. Today, there are districts where mortgage lending volumes are comparable to those of some branches in Chișinău, such as Ialoveni, Nisporeni, and Orhei.

How do you see the mortgage market evolving through the end of 2026?

Personally, I don't believe the market will decline.

It's true that launching new residential developments has become more complex and obtaining permits takes longer. However, construction activity continues.

What other trends are you seeing?

We're seeing more and more people viewing homeownership as an investment. They take out a mortgage to purchase an apartment that will serve as a long-term asset—one that can preserve and even increase its value over time.

What other trends are you seeing?

Another fast-growing segment consists of people over the age of 50. I regularly meet clients from this age group and notice that many of them take out mortgages to purchase homes for their children. They prefer to plan ahead and provide this support when the time comes.

How do you see real estate prices evolving?

Based on our discussions with the country's largest property developers, they expect housing prices to continue rising over the coming years. This trend can be seen across many Eastern European countries, including Romania, and Moldova is no exception.

If someone reading this interview is considering a mortgage for the first time, where should they start?

The first step is understanding their financial capacity. We encourage everyone to visit any maib branch, where our colleagues will help analyze their income and estimate the value of the home they can comfortably afford.

What about the down payment?

There are programs that can finance almost the entire value of a property, as well as traditional mortgage products that require a down payment. In practice, however, most customers already have part of the necessary funds and choose not to finance the entire purchase through a mortgage.

Finally, what message would you like to share with people dreaming of owning a home?

Don't be afraid of a mortgage.

Very often, the word "loan" itself makes people hesitate. In reality, if you have a stable income and a well-thought-out financial plan, a long-term mortgage can be far more affordable than many people imagine. We frequently see situations where the monthly mortgage payment is comparable to the amount people pay for rent.

The most important thing is to take the first step and visit any maib branch for a consultation. From there, we support customers throughout the entire journey—from assessing their financial possibilities and choosing the right home, to working with a real estate agent, signing the mortgage agreement, completing the notarial procedures, and obtaining ownership rights.