Once you have found your dream house in the Netherlands, it is important to take immediate action. You are probably not the only one interested in the house. You have to arrange a lot of things. Many things that take time can be arranged in advance. This is highly recommended in order to shorten the process. Read all the tips here on how to get your house purchase done as quickly as possible so that you have a good chance of a successful sale.

How to find a house for sale

The most well-known and most used website for finding a house to buy is Funda. On that website, you can find all the houses for sale in the whole of the Netherlands. Using the map, you can easily search by area. You can also search by price and many other choices. Funda makes it a lot easier for you. If you are looking for your dream house, this is a real must.

You may also see a sign in the garden or at the window with the text 'TE KOOP' (for sale). That means that the house is for sale. On that sign, the estate agent is also mentioned, whom you can contact if you are interested.

Responding to a house

A house is offered by an estate agent. You can search for a house on the estate agent's website. Maybe you see an advertisement of the broker in the newspaper or on the internet. Or maybe you saw the estate agent on a 'TE KOOP' sign next to a house. 

If you have found a house on Funda, then the estate agent is always listed there. You can get in touch with the estate agent that way.

Visiting a house

When you have spoken with the estate agent, you can make an appointment to visit the house. You then drive to the house yourself and the estate agent will also come to the house with his car. The owner of the house is never at home during a visit. The estate agent has been given the key by the house owner to show you the house. A visit usually lasts about 20 minutes. In some cases, several interested parties are invited to view the house at the same time.

Make an offer on the house

When you are interested, you call the real estate agent to make an offer on the house. Usually the offer is lower than the asking price of the house. In recent years, there has been a housing shortage in the Netherlands and people often bid above the asking price. The broker then puts your bid down to the seller. Often, the seller makes a counter-offer. The broker then calls you about it. When you finally agree on the price, there is an agreement.

Mortgage

Before you make an offer on a house, it is wise to already discuss the mortgage with the bank. Then you know how much you can borrow and the bank has all the necessary papers ready. The following documents are needed to apply for a mortgage:

• A valuation of the house you want to buy. This way, the lender can see the value of the collateral.
• Last 3 salary slips
• Annual statements from your employer
• A copy of your passport
• Employer's statement (not older than 3 months). This is a statement from your employer which states your income and the type of contract you have
• Declaration of intent (intentieverklaring); if you have a temporary contract, your employer must give you a declaration that it intends to extend your contract when it expires.
• If you are an entrepreneur, you have to hand over the annual figures of the last 3 years.
• Current overview of your bank accounts and savings accounts
• A list of debts

For all questions about a mortgage, you can contact Hypotheek Visie. The company has branches all over The Netherlands. They will discuss your wishes and determine which mortgage suits you best. They also assess which provider (bank) is the most attractively priced. It is free of charge to have an appointment with them. That is why it is very wise to make an appointment, so that you know exactly where you stand. Then you can decide whether or not you want a mortgage and whether it is possible to get a mortgage in The Netherlands.

* Go to www.hypotheekvisie.nl or click HERE

* Select "Maak direct een afspraak"

* Type in the city you live and see where is the closest consultancy office.

NHG

You have a possibility to choose for a mortgage with NHG. With NHG, you have a safety net if, due to circumstances, you can no longer pay your mortgage. Or if a residual debt remains after the sale of your house. The NHG is a guarantee on mortgages for homes with a purchase price up to the average house price. In 2022, the NHG limit is EUR 355,000. You pay a one-off fee of 1% of the purchase price of your house. Suppose that the purchase price of the house is EUR 300,000, then you pay a one-time premium of EUR 3,000 to the NHG. The NHG will then remain in place for the entire period that you live in the house. 

If, due to circumstances such as the loss of your job or a divorce, you have to sell the house, then you will not suffer any loss through NHG. When you sell your house at a higher price, you make a profit. If you sell your house at a lower price than what you bought it for, NHG will pay the difference, so you will not suffer a loss.

Another advantage is that you pay a lower interest rate to the mortgage lender. The risk for a mortgage lender is namely a lot smaller due to the guarantee of NHG, so you get a lower interest rate.

How much can you borrow?

The rule is that you can borrow a mortgage up to 4.5 times your annual income. For example, if you earn EUR 40,000 in a year. Then your maximum mortgage is EUR 180,000. 

How much you can borrow and at what interest rate varies greatly from one lender to another. 

Costs of purchasing a home

The purchase price alone is not enough when you buy a house. You will also have to deal with a number of one-off and monthly costs. We give an overview of the costs.

transfer tax

Are you buying an existing house? Then you pay 2% transfer tax on the purchase price. Buyers aged between 18 and 35 do not pay transfer tax if they meet the conditions. This exemption only applies to the purchase of a house with a purchase price up to EUR 400,000. When you buy a new house, you do not pay any transfer tax.

notary fees

When you buy an existing property, you will need a deed for the delivery of the property and a mortgage deed. Roughly reckon on EUR 600 for each deed. If you are buying a new home, you only have to pay for the mortgage deed.

mortgage adviser

If you engage a mortgage adviser, they will charge you for advice and mediation. The advisor charges a fixed amount, usually between €1500 and €3000.

realtor

A real estate agent helps you buy or sell your house. It is not obligatory to use an estate agent. With some estate agents, the costs are a percentage of the purchase price. This is usually 1 to 1.5%. But many estate agents use a fixed rate that varies between €1000 and €5000. 

nhg

The application costs for National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) are 0.6% of the mortgage amount. This is offset by an interest rate advantage. So you earn these costs back quickly.

appraisal report

Most mortgage lenders require you to have your home appraised by an independent party. The mortgage provider wants to be sure that your house is worth enough as collateral for the mortgage. The average cost for an on-site appraisal is €600. Then the appraiser visits the house and appraises it. 

Architectural inspection

Are you buying an existing house? Then you should always have an architectural inspection carried out. Whether or not that is a requirement of your mortgage provider. An architectural inspection costs approximately €400.

Monthly fixed costs

Interest and mortgage repayment

Every month, you repay part of your mortgage and pay interest. Have you taken out a new mortgage after 2013? Then the interest on your mortgage is tax-deductible if you repay the loan over a maximum of 30 years via an annuity mortgage or a linear mortgage. 

Insurance

• When you buy a house, you have to deal with several insurances. Such as:
  
• Life insurance: a life insurance which you are often obliged to take out in combination with your mortgage.
  
• Home insurance: a good home insurance is compulsory for your mortgage provider.
  
• Home contents insurance: not compulsory but we recommend it.
  
• Housing Expenses Insurance: an insurance that covers the risks of disability and/or unemployment. This insurance is not compulsory but can sometimes be recommended.

Taxes

Buying and owning your own home has consequences for your income tax. But it also affects the amount of your municipal taxes. These consist of property tax (OZB), sewerage levy, waste collection levy and water board tax. 

Municipalities have a lot of freedom in determining their municipal taxes. In 2022, a household will spend an average of €850 per year on municipal taxes. 

Maintenance

The costs of maintaining your own home can differ enormously. The year of construction and the condition of the house are important factors. They determine how much you have to spend on maintenance. Expect a percentage of 1 to 2% of the value of the home per year.

Membership of the Owners' Association (VVE)

When you buy a flat, you automatically become a member of the Owners' Association of the apartment complex. The management and maintenance of the common parts of the building are arranged by the VvE.

Ground lease

Houses are built on private land or on leasehold land. Are you buying a house with ground lease? Then you pay a fixed monthly or annual 'rent' for the use of the ground on which your house stands. This is the ground rent. The ground rent can increase every year or once every few years.

Utilities

You need to arrange your utilities as soon as possible. Sometimes it takes a few days or weeks before you are connected to a provider. You can think of:

• Gas and electricity
  
• Internet and Tv

Find an overview of providers and how to find a suitable company here.