There are more signs around that the housing market might be picking up, with research group Calcasa reporting that the number of signed deals is showing an “upward trend”. So I thought it would be useful to get back to basics by having a look at the types of mortgage you can choose from if you are ready to become a homeowner in the Netherlands.
So where do you start? First things first. If you want to take advantage of the generous Dutch tax relief on your mortgage interest payments, you have two basic options.
While there are lots of different sorts of mortgages available in the Netherlands, only two allow you to deduct your mortgage interest payments from tax – the annuity mortgage (annuïteitenhypotheek) and the linear mortgage (lineaire hypotheek).
Annuity and linear mortgages
An annuity mortgage, also known as a repayment mortgage, is the most common type. The lender works out the amount you need to repay each month to clear your mortgage by the end of an agreed term. Your monthly repayment is made up of two parts – an interest payment on the loan, which will reduce over time, and a capital repayment, which will increase.
With a linear mortgage, you repay the mortgage loan by a fixed amount every month. On top of this, you pay interest, but the interest payments will reduce over time since you are gradually paying off the mortgage loan.
One thing that might help you decide: during the early years of the mortgage period, the annuities mortgage usually has lower monthly payments than a linear mortgage.
Mortgages and tax
If you do opt for an annuity or a linear mortgage, you will be able to cut your tax bill – provided the property is your main place of residence. How much you can claim depends on your income and in general, the more you earn, the more you can deduct.
The government is gradually reducing the tax break – it went down to 36.93% in 2023 and will go down again in 2024 – but at the moment, it is a very useful saving!
There are several other types of mortgages in the Netherlands, but if you use them, you will not be entitled to the tax break. Nevertheless, they might fit your particular situation. A mortgage advisor will be able to help you assess if they could be right for you.
Mortgage calculator
By the way, if you are wondering how much you can borrow at the moment, it might also be sensible to talk to a mortgage advisor in person as well. House prices may be coming down, but that might not be the case in the area you are interested in buying in, so it is as well to get in some expert advice to save you from disappointment.
In addition, online mortgage calculators can only offer an approximate estimate of your borrowing capacity and don’t take into account other income sources you might have, such as foreign currency income, bonuses, and the 13th month.
Buying a house is so much more than just seeing a property you like and signing on the dotted line. It is a complicated, life-changing process, so it is wise to get all the help you can get before you start.
