Xfin, a Portuguese credit intermediary, facilitated 12,900 home loans last year, a 43% increase compared to 2024. While young people under 35 drove much of this activity, CEO Bernardino Machado warns that many are entering the market with thin financial buffers, making them highly vulnerable to interest rate hikes or income fluctuations. Despite the high demand, the average effort rate for these young borrowers reached 36%, highlighting the risks of prioritizing market entry over long-term financial security.