What Is HomeGrif and How Does It Differ from a Mortgage?
The most common reaction we hear: "So it's some kind of property loan?" No. HomeGrif is not a loan, not a mortgage, not a credit product. It is something fundamentally different — and that is precisely why it can be a solution where conventional financial products fall short.
What Is HomeGrif
HomeGrif is a buyback of a share of your property's value with a lifetime right of residence. In practice, this means:
- You own a mortgage-free flat (or house) in Czech Republic
- HomeGrif buys a share of its value (up to 75%)
- You receive money — monthly, as a combination, or as a lump sum
- You continue living at home — with a right of residence registered in the Czech Land Registry (katastr nemovitosti)
No debt is created. No interest accrues. You have nothing to repay.
How It Differs from a Mortgage
| Mortgage | HomeGrif | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Loan — debt is created | Buyback — no debt |
| Interest | Yes, compounds | None |
| Repayments | Monthly repayments required | Nothing to repay |
| Risk | Default → foreclosure | No risk of default |
| Ownership | Bank holds a lien | You remain the owner |
| Right of residence | Conditional on repayment | Lifetime, unconditional |
| Target group | Younger, with income for repayments | 50+, mortgage-free owners |
How It Differs from a Reverse Mortgage
A "reverse mortgage" (zpetna hypoteka) is practically unavailable in Czech Republic. And even where it does exist (e.g. in the UK), it is still a loan:
- Reverse mortgage: A bank lends you money against your property's value. Interest compounds. After your death, the debt is repaid from the property sale. If interest grows too much, heirs may be left with nothing.
- HomeGrif: You sell a share of your property's value and receive a fair price for it. No interest, no debt. Heirs are protected by the Earlypass programme.
Why It Is Not "Selling Your Flat"
Another common concern: "So I sell my flat and have nothing?" That is not true either:
- You remain the legal owner — you are registered in the Czech Land Registry
- You have a right of residence — a registered encumbrance (vecne bremeno), the strongest legal protection available
- Nobody can evict you — not even after the owner's death, as long as you are alive
- The property remains in the estate — heirs can sell it or live in it
HomeGrif obtains only a pre-emptive right. You are effectively consuming your asset during your lifetime — similar to the French viager, a model that has worked for centuries.
The Same Principle Works Across Europe
HomeGrif is not an experiment. Similar products have operated for decades:
- United Kingdom: The equity release market exceeds CZK 60 billion (~EUR 2.4 billion) annually, with 200,000+ satisfied clients and strict regulation (ERC + FCA)
- France: Viager — a centuries-old system of property sales with a lifetime annuity
- Germany: Leibrente — lifetime property annuity with the right of residence
- Ireland: Spry Finance — 30% year-on-year growth, expansion beyond Dublin
In Czech Republic, we are the first to bring this model — and we are doing it with the highest European standards.
Who Is HomeGrif For
HomeGrif is designed for property owners aged 50+ who:
- Own a mortgage-free flat or house
- Want additional income without selling and moving
- Need to help their children with a mortgage deposit
- Are looking for a pension supplement beyond the state pension
- Want to enjoy an active life — travel, hobbies, spa visits
Try It
The calculator shows you in 30 seconds how much you could receive. No obligation, free, no registration required.
Read also: Glossary — equity release, viager, and more | Compare All Alternatives | Sell Your Flat but Stay in It — Is It Possible?
