How Maud Bought Her First Home in the Netherlands as an Expat
As an expat first-time home buyer in the Netherlands, Maud Montbrun faced what many internationals face: a fast-moving market, paperwork in Dutch, and the weight of the biggest financial decision of her life — in a country that wasn’t yet fully home. She did it anyway, and she came out the other side with keys […]
Expat Makelaar Amsterdam: Your Guide to Buying a Home as an Expat
If you are searching for an expat makelaar Amsterdam, you already know that buying a home in the Netherlands as a foreigner is not straightforward. The Dutch housing market moves fast, bidding wars are common, and contracts are written in Dutch. An expat buyer’s agent, aankoopmakelaar, guides you through every step, from your first viewing […]
Cooling-Off Period When Buying a Home in the Netherlands
The cooling-off period when buying a home in the Netherlands gives you a legal window to reconsider after signing a purchase agreement, without losing your deposit. Under Dutch law, this protection lasts three calendar days and applies to every residential property purchase. Here is exactly how it works, when it starts, and what you need […]
First Time Buyer Transfer Tax in the Netherlands: €615,000 Exemption in 2027
If you are under 35 and planning to buy a home in the Netherlands, there is a significant change coming in 2027. From 1 January 2027, the maximum property value for the Dutch startersvrijstelling will rise from €555,000 to €615,000. This means eligible buyers can purchase a home with a value of up to €615,000 […]
How Emily Found the Perfect Family Home in the Netherlands
Finding a home in a new country is rarely straightforward. For Emily and her family, the challenge was not just finding a property, it was finding the right one in a market they did not know, with a process that was completely unfamiliar. That is where Homes for Expats stepped in. The Situation Emily and […]
Relocating to the Netherlands for Work and Buying a Home: What to Do First
Relocating to the Netherlands for work and buying a home at the same time is one of the most common situations we support. It is entirely doable, but the order of steps matters more than most people realise. Get the sequence right and you can move from arrival to keys in three to four months. […]
How the Dutch Housing Market Works: A Guide for Expat Professionals
Understanding how the Dutch housing market works is the single best preparation you can do before you start looking for a home. The market has its own logic, its own rules, and a few quirks that regularly catch out expats who come from different real estate cultures. This guide explains the essentials in plain English […]
Buying Your First Home in the Netherlands as an Expat: Where to Start
Buying your first home in the Netherlands as an expat is more achievable than most people expect, but it is easy to start in the wrong place. Many expats begin by browsing Funda before they know what they can borrow, and then lose weeks catching up on the financial side. This guide tells you the […]
How Long Does It Take to Buy a Home in the Netherlands as an Expat?
How long does it take to buy a home in the Netherlands as an expat? The honest answer is two to six months from the moment you start preparing seriously, and the range depends almost entirely on how ready you are before you start viewing. This guide breaks down each stage with realistic timeframes so […]
What Is a Bouwkundige Keuring and Should Expats Get One Before Buying?
A bouwkundige keuring is an independent technical inspection of a home you are considering buying in the Netherlands. It tells you exactly what you are buying before you sign anything, identifies defects the seller is not required to disclose, and gives you a negotiating position if repairs are needed. For expats who are less familiar […]