Urban Housing Affordability in Zimbabwe: The Case of Homelink Housing Mortgage Scheme

The purpose of the study was to understand the factors that affect the affordability of urban housing with regards to the Homelink Housing mortgage scheme in Bindura, Zimbabwe. The study utilized qualitative methodology while a case study research design of Homelink was used. Data was collected using key informant interviews, surveys, and secondary data. A total of 30 participants were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study showed that there were five key factors that affected the affordability of urban housing in Zimbabwe. These are loan repayment, interest on the loan, inflation rate, loss of regular employment, and cost of construction. The conclusions of the study are that the affordability of housing in Zimbabwe is influenced by factors related to the socio-economic characteristics of households and loan characteristics