Economists are blaming overzealous lender for the US sub prime mortgage debacle. According to them, lenders compromised on prudently devised norms for lending, and in the process, loaned monies to people who would not under normal conditions qualify for any mortgage. While this is true to an extent, it is not the whole truth.

The current subprime crisis which could be accounted for by the liquid status of the financial market is also due in part to the billions of pounds in mortgages to individuals who had little or no chance of ever making repayment on such loans. Financial institutions felt they were in such a bind during the period of recession in the’90′s and 2000′s they made the choice to lower their standards in their lending practices. At that time, lenders had a surplus of money and were trying to devise new ways of marketing their finances to home owners and even to the first time buyers.

With the market so flooded, these lenders began to accept basically anyone’s credit application, regardless of their past credit history, and approved them.

Some the biggest banks in sub-Saharan Africa are currently experiencing the same excessive liquidity the drove the subprime markets in the United States. While the sub-Saharan market it minuscule when compared to the United States and Europe some factors which were prevalent in those markets are emerging in many African nations today. This supports the viewpoint that Africa may be about to experience a boom in their mortgage markets.

All conditions are just right for a boom in this market. But there are a few things that need to be considered. This market is much smaller in size when compared to the US or European mortgage markets. What is still worse is very few out here have a bank account! Hardly anybody here uses banks or any products offered by banks! So would these people suddenly turn towards mortgages? Conversely, there is a selected group of rich people out here as well, and so far, they have been the only few who were eligible for any home loans. But even the African middle class is now realizing the virtues of owning homes.

The African banks may also have an added edge in that they are not as likely to create adverse mortgage products. This advantage is due in large part to the African people’s lack of financial dealings. Most of them have never had loans or credit of any type and therefore have no negative credit history. Unlike conditions in the U.S., the African lenders only give credit to those individuals who hold a regular job and are paid a salary. It is also a customary practice for lenders to receive their repayment amounts directly from the borrower’s employer rather than waiting to be paid from the borrower himself. This system of repayment has made lending on the part of the financial institution much less risky. It has also led to rewards for the person borrowing as they often receive much lower interest rates because of it.

This means the lenders in sub Saharan region would not be allowing a mortgage market to run away. Instead, they will be investing elsewhere and earning profits on their investment. Mortgage market in the west, particularly, the home loan segment will take several years to recoup. In the meanwhile, it will be African banks that may rule the roost.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloan and Bond Origination portal which provides access to FNB Homeloan.

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