Expats

Finance your dream home

How does it work?

Make your dream reality

You are in a foreign country where you might not know the rules and might not speak the language. In these circumstances, buying a house may seem like a daunting task.

At b-Wyze, we want to help you in the process of buying a house in the Netherlands, aiming to give you total peace of mind as you buy, finance and insure your new home. Many expats have benefited from the financial services at b-Wyze. Take a look at our references to see what others are saying about us.

Our service begins with a free one-on-one b-Wyze consultation. During this meeting, we assess your individual situation, review the possibilities, and explain the “do’s and don’ts” of buying a house in the Netherlands. This first consultative meeting is always free of charge and lasts approximately one hour. If the meeting lasts longer, or you would like to schedule a second meeting, we will do this for you at no extra cost.

Questions and answers

The mortgage basics

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, together with their corresponding answers to give you a bit more insight into this process beforehand.

How much can I borrow?

The maximum amount you can borrow is the lowest amount of the loan to value (LTV) and the loan to income (LTI).

The LTV is the value of the loan compared to the value of the house. In the Netherlands, you are allowed to borrow up to 100% of the value of the house (i.e., 100% LTV). The value of the house is determined by a valuator, and this determined value may not be equal to the purchase price of the house.

The LTI is the amount you can borrow based on your income. If you know your total gross yearly income, including vacation money, 13th month and overtime, you can enter this information into our mortgage calculator to calculate you maximum LTI. In some cases, bonus pay might also be considered as income. In your first consultative meeting with B-Wyze, we will calculate your LTI together.

What type of mortgages can I get?

No matter what mortgage you choose, you will always have to pay back the mortgage within a period of 30 years or 360 months. How you wish to make your payments during that time frame will determine which type of mortgage you choose . There are three types of mortgages: the annuity mortgage, the linear mortgage and the interest only mortgage.

With an Annuity Mortgage, the total amount you pay is the same every month for 360 months. Each month, you will pay interest on your outstanding loan, and you will also repay part of the loan principal. In the early period of this mortgage type, you will repay a small amount of the loan principal and pay a higher amount of interest. During the later period, you will repay a larger share of the loan principal and a lower amount of interest.

With a Linear Mortgage, you repay a fixed amount of your loan principal every month for 360 months. As the outstanding loan principal gradually decreases, the amount you pay in interest will become smaller. This means that your monthly costs will decrease every month.

With the Interest Only Mortgage, you pay only the interest on your loan every month. This means that you do not repay any of the loan principal during this time period, and your debt remains the same until the end of the 30 years. At the end of the 30 years, you must repay the borrowed amount in one payment either by using your savings or by selling your home. You might, at this time, also be able to take out a new loan. Because the interest-only mortgage is risky, you are allowed to borrow only up to half of the determined value of your home with this type of mortgage.

Should I use my savings?

Using your savings to buy a house can help you reduce your mortgage cost and/or enable you to buy a more expensive house. Using your savings will reduce your mortgage cost in two ways. First, it will reduce the loan amount, thus reducing your repayment and interest payments. Second, it will also reduce the LTV. A lower LTV reduces the interest rate you have to pay to the mortgage provider. As a result, this can save you thousands of euros over the 30-year period. Have a look at our interest rate chart for the most up-to-date interest rates .

What costs will I have when I buy a house?

The costs you can expect are categorized into three groups: the cost of purchasing a house, the cost for obtaining a mortgage, and the cost of ownership.

The costs for purchasing a house include: the purchase price, a transfer tax of 2% (this may also be 0%, depending on your situation), the possible cost of a real estate agent , and the possible cost of a structural survey.

The costs for obtaining a mortgage include: the advice fee, the cost of a valuation report, the notary cost and translator cost, and possibly the cost for the National Insurance Guarantee (NHG).

The costs of ownership include: renovation and maintenance costs, insurance fees, property tax and municipal taxes, and the cost of utilities.

What documents do I need to prepare?

The documents you need to supply will sometimes depend on your situation but will always consist of the following: a statement of employment, a salary slip, your passport, your Dutch residence permit, the purchase contract for the house, and a valuation report. To be able to give you the best advice, B-Wyze will also ask you for information about your pension, your savings, and your private and employer’s insurance policies. If you are buying a house jointly with a partner, your partner will also need to show proof of a Dutch residence permit.

Should I use a buying agent?

Buying a house in the current Dutch housing market is not easy! Often, you will be competing with many other buyers who are interested in buying the same house as you. In these situations, you will want to know what the house is really worth and how much money you should reasonably offer. The assistance of a real estate agent who knows the market can be advantageous in helping you find and purchase your dream home while saving you thousands of euros. With a good agent, your interests will be well represented, and you will be advised and guided throughout the purchase process.

For a list of real estate agents that B-Wyze works closely with, please click here.

How will buying a house and having mortgage affect my taxes?

Important ‘fiscal moments’ such as emigration to the Netherlands, buying or selling a house, changing your mortgage, or switching to another mortgage provider will all impact your tax returns in the Netherlands considerably. A tax advisor will investigate how to file your tax return properly; they will also involve you in the process so that you can file your returns yourself in the future.
For a list of tax advisors that B-Wyze works closely with, please click here.

How do we do it?

Your dream house in 5 steps

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, together with their corresponding answers to give you a bit more insight into this process beforehand.

Step 1

Be well prepared for your house hunting journey

Of course, you will want to know how much you can borrow and what your monthly payments will be. With our calculation tool, you can make an initial estimate in just a few minutes.

Make an appointment for our free one-on-one consultative meeting. In this first meeting, we will explain the entire process of buying a house. In addition, we will discuss with you the following topics:

Who we are and the types of services we provide
Who you are and what your wishes are with regard to buying a house
What your financial situation is, including the maximum amount you can borrow and the maximum amount you want to spend on monthly payments
Information about the types of mortgages available and the application process involved
Practical tips for searching for and bidding on a house

Step 2

Explore the housing market

Using well-known websites such as Funda.nl, Jaap.nl and Jumba.nl, you will find current housing offers and information about the neighborhoods where those houses are located.

If you want to buy a house quickly but want to be sure that you are not bidding too high, then hire a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about the local housing market.

For a list of real estate agents that B-Wyze works closely with, please click here.

Step 3

Make your bid on a house

Once you have found a house, you will have to make an offer on it. Sometimes, however, you might be bidding on a house along with up to 30 other people.

How can you make the winning bid? One possibility is to make your offer attractive by bidding without the option of cancelling the contract if you cannot get a mortgage. However, this is not without risk! Via B-Wyze, we can offer you a financial check — this is a letter stating that we have made an inventory of your income and financial situation and that your offer is feasible.

This documentation will show the sellers that you are a serious candidate.

Step 4

Secure your mortgage

Hooray, you have made the winning bid, but now what? Now it is time for b-Wyze to shine! We will get to work for you right away. You will receive an online link from us where you will find the list of documents that are necessary to help us advise you on which mortgage is best for your situation and complete your mortgage application. As soon as you have uploaded all the necessary documents, we will get to work and respond to you within a few days to discuss the advice. The issues we will discuss with you include:

Your financial situation now and in the future
The budget: the costs for purchasing your home, the value of the new home, your maximum or desired mortgage, and your personal resources requirement
Alternative setups and calculations, such as the fixed-term interest rate, mortgage types, and using more or less of your personal resources
A comparison of interest rates and the conditions of lenders
The exact monthly cost for all alternative setups

The financial risks of death, unemployment, and disability and possible insurance plans to address such risks

B-Wyze will advise you about what is possible and what is sensible, but ultimately it remains your mortgage, and you can make the choices yourself.
Will you need insurance? We charge the costs for applying for insurance plans separately, so you only pay for what you purchase, meaning that you do not pay too much.

On our housing services page, you will find practical links to services that you will need when you buy a house. Such services might include finding a notary, valuing your house, and investigating how you can make the house more energy efficient. If you want B-Wyze to arrange any of these services for you, we will do so at no extra cost.

Step 5

Visit the notary

Congratulations! Your mortgage has been approved; now, you only have to go to the notary to sign and receive the house keys.

When you become the owner of a home, you will also want to properly insure it in case of damage or unexpected repairs. b-Wyze will make, at no cost to you, a quote for all the insurance you will need.