There is a big discussion on whether to rent or buy in the Netherlands. There
used to be a general rule-of-thumb that said if you were to reside in the Netherlands
for more than five years and if you would be paying more than EURO 1,250 per
month in rent, then a house was a worthwhile investment. While this is still
generally true, there could be another of other variables that influence this
rule.
It is also wise to first do some basic research into whether you are eligible
for a mortgage and the sorts of mortgages available. The general basic requirements
for a mortgage of up to four times your gross salary are: resident in the Netherlands
for a period of more than five years, in permanent, full-time employment or
self-employed and able to produce accounts (by a recognised accountant) for
the past three years as well as a prognosis for the current year. These are
general guidelines only as individual circumstances can vary and some mortgages
can be arranged outside these guidelines.
Estate agents
There are numerous estate agencies or specialised websites in Amsterdam. For
example you can try:
Agency fees are usually paid by the seller and average
2 - 3% on most residential sales.
Solicitor fees
A fee of 11.5% of the initial rent is typically charged for commercial leases.
For real estate sales transactions there is a .7% notary fee and a 6% transfer
tax in addition to a 6% registration fee.
Very few, less than 15%, of real estate transactions involve agents.
Source:
- http://www.bestbulgarianproperties.co.uk/
Mortgage
Before getting a mortgage, you will need a valuation report which states the
current value of the property. It is common to get a mortgage of up to 125%
of the current value of the property. The execution value is the price the mortgage
provider can get when your property has to be sold by them because the mortgage
can't be paid anymore. There are many agencies that help with mortgages.
Click here for more information or refer to your bank for further assistance:
http://www.expatax.nl/mortgage.htm
Tax
Property tax is charged annually by the local authorities in the Netherlands
on ownership or use of property and is based on the market value of the property.
Typical rates of property tax are generally between
0.1% and 0.3% for both the owner and the user of a property.
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