Aadil Shezad
Apna Ghar Property Rules: Size, Plots, Construction
The Apna Ghar Program finances houses up to 10 marla and flats or apartments up to 1,500 sq ft. You can buy a ready house or flat, buy a plot and build on it, or build on a plot you already own. The property must have clear, transferable title that the bank can verify and mortgage, and financing covers up to 90% of its value.
Size limits
| Property type | Maximum size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| House | 10 marla | Reported as about 2,720 sq ft of land |
| Flat or apartment | 1,500 sq ft | Covered area, not plot area |
| Plot with construction | Plot within the 10 marla house limit | Financing is for plot plus building, not land alone |
Marla size differs by city and record type. If your property sits near the limit, have the bank confirm against the registered measurement before you pay anything to a seller.
The three things you can finance
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Step 1
Buy a ready house or flat. The simplest case: the bank values the property, verifies title, and pays the seller after you deposit your equity.
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Step 2
Buy a plot and construct on it. Financing covers the purchase and the building work, usually released in stages against construction progress.
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Step 3 · Final step
Construct on a plot you already own. Owning a plot does not break the first-home rule, and its value can count toward your equity where the bank allows it.
The Apna Ghar Program covers the purchase of a house, flat or plot as well as construction on land the applicant already owns, within a limit of 10 marla for houses and 1,500 square feet for flats. Financing runs to 90% of the property value, with the applicant contributing the remaining 10% as equity.
Title documents the bank will want
- Registered sale deed or transfer letter in the seller's name
- Allotment or possession documents from the development authority or society
- Approved building plan, for construction cases
- Non-encumbrance certificate showing the property is not already mortgaged
- Property tax and utility clearances
- Society or authority approval for transfer, where applicable
Our read: this is where most timelines slip. Approvals ran at 53,127 out of 147,504 applications by early September 2026, but only 8,739 applicants had money disbursed. The gap sits largely in property and title work. Start collecting seller documents while your application is still in screening.
Properties banks usually refuse
| Situation | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Unapproved or illegal society | Title cannot be mortgaged safely; banks keep approved-area lists |
| Disputed or litigated property | Bank cannot secure its charge |
| Oral or file-only transactions | No registered document to verify |
| Above 10 marla or 1,500 sq ft | Outside scheme limits, even if you can afford it |
| Commercial or mixed-use | Scheme is for residential first homes |
| Agricultural land or farmhouse | Not a residential housing unit under the scheme |
Valuation: what the bank thinks it is worth
Banks lend against their valuer's figure, not the price on your sale agreement. If the valuation comes in below the agreed price, the financing shrinks and you cover the difference on top of your 10%. Ask the bank which valuation firms it uses and get an informal view before signing an agreement with the seller.
Construction cases: how money is released
For construction, banks disburse in tranches tied to progress: foundation, grey structure and finishing, each verified by a site visit. Budget for the gap between tranches, and keep the approved building plan handy, because work that departs from it can stall the next release.
A government survey of eligible properties
On 9 September 2026 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed provincial chief secretaries to conduct a survey of properties eligible for Apna Ghar loans, with a system being developed to identify mortgage-eligible plots nationwide and Islamabad as the pilot city. The aim is to reduce the title and valuation delays that hold up disbursement.
Common questions
Does the 10 marla limit apply to the plot or the covered area?
For houses the limit is quoted as plot size in marla; for flats it is covered area in square feet. Confirm with your bank for edge cases.
Can I buy from a relative?
Banks scrutinise related-party sales closely and may decline. Expect extra documentation.
Can the plot I own count as my equity?
Many banks allow the land value to count toward equity in construction cases. Confirm with the branch before relying on it.
Check the money side on the instalment calculator, see who qualifies, or return to the Apna Ghar Program guide.
Sources. Official: State Bank of Pakistan, Circular Letter 01 of 2026 (17 Mar 2026) (10 marla house, 1,500 sq ft flat); Ministry of Housing & Works. News: Pakistan Observer, 29 Apr 2026; Geo, 9 Sep 2026 (property survey directive).
SchemesPK is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Government of Pakistan. Official website: apnaghar.gov.pk.