Mortgage for expats

Want to buy a house? Make sure you're well prepared. Find out in 6 steps how buying a house in the Netherlands works. And it’s up to you whether or not you engage a buyers or sellers estate agent. An estate agent can support you throughout the process or with just part of it. Find out what an estate agent can do for you and what the costs are. 

Allowances and specific benefits can be included fully from 1 July 2024 if they are demonstrably fixed, long-term, payable in cash and have been awarded unconditionally for the applicant’s entire employment term. This type of information is specified on employer’s statements, in employment contracts or in a customer’s Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

In the Netherlands, you are allowed to borrow up to 100% of the property value. Michael Tol, our experienced mortgage advisor, explains how your maximum mortgage is determined by factors such as your income, existing loans, residence permit, and the value of the property.

All additional costs, like the notary fees and transfer tax, should be paid from your own funds. If you don't have any money set aside, you may be able to pay these costs through a gift or loan from your parents. A mortgage adviser can advise you on your personal situation.

Your income is one of the factors used to calculate your maximum mortgage. This obviously means your salary, but it can also include allowances for overtime or bonuses. There are various types of income. 

Arrange a free orientation meeting and a mortgage adviser will tell you exactly what can and cannot be taken into account when calculating your maximum mortgage. Afterwards, you will be given a document with a detailed calculation. You can use this to decide on a price range for houses want to buy.

When you buy a house, you pay more than the purchase price alone: you also have to consider other costs like transfer tax and estate agent, notary and appraisal fees, for example. Some of these costs are tax-deductible, however. Michael Tol, our experienced mortgage advisor, explains in the video everything about mortgage interest deduction, rules for expats, and which additional costs are deductible. 

Going through the various additional costs gives you a better idea of how much money you need to buy a house. And, of course, we are ready to help here too. During the free orientation meeting, the mortgage adviser will run through these costs with you.

If you are buying a home costing no more than €405,000 – or €429,300 if you will be taking one of the registered energy-saving measures – you will qualify for the National Mortgage Guarantee (known as ‘NHG’ in Dutch). This mortgage guarantee serves as a safety net for when you can no longer pay your mortgage due to a divorce or unemployment, for example, or when you are left with a residual mortgage debt after selling your home. It also gives you the assurance that you are borrowing responsibly by taking out an affordable mortgage. 

What’s more, if you opt for an NHG-backed mortgage you’ll benefit from a lower mortgage interest rate. The NHG cost is 0.6% of the mortgage loan.

An energy-efficient home: it’s good for the environment, cuts your energy bills and makes for more comfortable living. An additional advantage is that you can get a sustainability discount on your mortgage interest if you buy a home with energy label A or B. Or you may be entitled to subsidies to make your home more energy-efficient. 

If you’d like to know how you can make your home more energy-efficient, do the Energy Saving Check and get a personalised step-by-step plan. Good to know: if you are planning to take measures to make your new home more energy-efficient, you can sometimes borrow more than your calculated maximum mortgage.