PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES BILL ON STIMULATED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION

ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - Resuming its 18th session on Tuesday, the Croatian parliament discussed a bill on socially stimulated housing construction, the implementation of which would enable an average citizen to buy an apartment under more favorable conditions. At the same time the bill would encourage the revival of the construction industry and overall economy. The apartments would be sold on the instalment plan - the longest payment period being 31 years, and an interest rate not higher than five percent. The buyer would have to pay 15 percent of the overall amount in advance, while the monthly instalment for a 50 square-metre apartment would range between 350 and 400 German marks. According to the Reconstruction, Building and Public Works Minister, Radimir Cacic, the bill aims at enabling young people to solve their housing issue at the price of an average rent. Cacic said that before 1990, about 30,000 apartments were built each year. After 1990, the construction industry, including reconstruction, dropped to 12,000 apartments per year, he said. The state plans to invest about half a billion kuna in the housing construction every year, which would provide housing for 5-7,000 citizens. (hina) it sb