Minha Casa, Minha Vida: income bands and limits

The bands in force

Article 5 of Lei 14.620 originally fixed the bands, but a ministerial act can add bands and update the income values (paragraph 1-A, added by Lei 15.164 of 2025). Portaria 333, published in the Diário Oficial of 1 April 2026 and applying to contracts signed from that date, replaces Portaria 399/2025. Monthly gross family income, urban:

For rural programmes the portaria uses annual income: up to R$ 50,000, R$ 70,900 and R$ 134,000 for the three rural bands. Its opening article names a rural ceiling of R$ 162,500, which conflicts with the third band at R$ 134,000; Payotte reports the discrepancy and does not choose between them.

The portaria does not name an urban “Faixa 4”. The Ministry’s page describes the band up to R$ 13,000 as the Classe Média (“middle class”) programme.

Property value ceilings and rates

The Ministry’s page on the financed line, updated on 28 June 2026, says the maximum property value is R$ 210,000 to R$ 275,000 for Faixas 1 and 2 depending on the municipality, R$ 400,000 for Faixa 3 anywhere in Brazil, and R$ 600,000 for Classe Média. The municipal table is held by the FGTS operating agent. Maximum term: 35 years.

Nominal annual rates on the same page (lower for FGTS contributors, cotistas, and for the North and Northeast):

• Faixa 1, up to R$ 2,160: 4.00% (North/Northeast) or 4.25% (South, Southeast, Centre-West) for FGTS members; 4.50% or 4.75% for non-members.
• Faixa 1, R$ 2,160.01 to 2,850: 4.25% or 4.50% (members); 4.75% or 5.00% (non-members).
• Faixa 1, R$ 2,850.01 to 3,200: 4.50% or 4.75% (members); 5.00% or 5.25% (non-members).
• Faixa 2, R$ 3,200.01 to 3,500: 4.75% or 5.00% (members); 5.25% or 5.50% (non-members).
• Faixa 2, R$ 3,500.01 to 4,000: 5.50% (members), 6.00% (non-members).
• Faixa 2, R$ 4,000.01 to 5,000: 6.50% (members), 7.00% (non-members).
• Faixa 3, R$ 5,000.01 to 9,600: 7.66% (members), 8.16% (non-members).
• Classe Média, up to R$ 13,000: 10.00%.

These rates and ceilings come from an information page, not from the underlying resolution of the FGTS Board, which Payotte could not find. Treat them as the Ministry’s statement and confirm them with the lender at signing. The page also reports subsidies of up to R$ 65,000 in the North region and R$ 55,000 elsewhere for families with income up to R$ 5,000.

Who can apply

The Ministry states that the financed line has no registration or selection process, and anyone within the income limits who owns no other property or active housing loan may apply at any time. The family chooses a property and obtains credit approval from an authorised lender; the contract is between the family and the lender. A FGTS balance is not required, but if one exists it may reduce the down payment (see using the FGTS). The separate Pró-Cotista line has no income limit and applies to properties up to R$ 2.25 million, at 8.66% nominal.

How it compares with a market loan

The programme rates above can be set against the average rates the central bank reported for August 2026: 11.28% a year for all new housing loans to individuals, 10.91% at regulated rates and 14.24% at market rates (SGS 20774, 20773 and 20772). These are averages of contracts already signed, not offers, and they are not broken down by programme, so Payotte does not say how much of the regulated figure comes from MCMV. The loan is still subject to the general rules on loan-to-value, guarantee and insurance, and the lender must disclose the total effective cost before signing (CET).

A pending change

Medida Provisória 1.382 of 1 August 2026 changes article 9, item III, of Lei 14.620. Payotte did not read its text. A provisional measure is in force while Congress considers it; it may be converted, changed or lapse.

Foreigners

The programme conditions are income-based and residence-linked in practice (FGTS, family income, a first home). Payotte found no nationality rule in the texts read, but the programme is for a family’s own home. If you hold other property, even abroad, ask the lender how the “no other property” condition is read; the sources do not say. To compare with market loans, see how mortgages work.

Which professional to consult

An authorised lender or correspondent assesses eligibility and the rate (mortgage lender); a lawyer registered with the OAB can check the contract and your property position (property lawyer).