Relocating to the Netherlands
When relocating to the Netherlands, one of the first steps you need to make is finding a place to live. House hunting may seem likea headache (something you want to get over with quickly), but patience is your best friend. Give yourself the necessary time to find what you are looking for, and enjoy the Dutch real estate market!
Before starting, bear in mind that buying property in the Netherlands (https://www.bluehomes.com/Immobilien-Niederlande/NL/de/debut.html) can be quite expensive. Before even thinking about real estate costs, consider how much money you need or intend to spend on housing each month. You will also need a bank account that has an IBAN – International Bank Account Number – for transferring funds between banks here and abroad. As well as this, it’s important to have an idea of your budget so you know what kind of sales agreements there are available in the market right now.
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Compare prices via portals other sources
Searching for property in the Netherlands is all about being patient. There are many properties advertised, but not every one of them corresponds to what you are looking for. Plus, don’t expect too much from your budget – try not to set aside more than 40 percent of it to buy a house or apartment!
The best way to find property in the Netherlands is via housing portals. You can compare prices and locations on websites like bluehomes.com. When buying property in the Netherlands, always look beyond the surface: ask yourself if this place is really what you need, or whether there’s something that could be improved.
Check out the neighbourhood
The scenery might be beautiful, but the neighbourhood could be desolate or noisy. Or it may be right next to construction sites or industrial parks! Spend some time visiting areas you are considering. Look around and see what kind of people live there – often an indication of whether your family would fit in. And check out the local shops and facilities as well: do they meet your needs? Is a car necessary?
Ask questions about the house
Make sure you focus on details when looking at a house sale agreement with a real estate agent. You should compare prices between different agencies for a better perspective on how much a property is worth, and take all sales conditions into consideration (especially those including transfer costs). Additionally, feel free to ask the agent as many questions as you think are relevant. Remember, if something isn’t clear, now is a good time to get it sorted out!
Think about your commute
Finding a house that meets all of your needs can be difficult, especially when you have a specific budget or scope of location. If you already live in the Netherlands and rely on public transport, don’t underestimate how much longer these means of transportation run during rush hour – which can be up to an hour or more! You need ample time before work or school starts so you aren’t constantly stressed because you’re late. This is especially important if both parents have jobs outside normal office hours. However, commuting from one side of the country to anotheris also inconvenient and time-consuming, so you should bear this in mind when searching for a place to live.
Make an offer
Choose locations where property prices are low (outside the Randstad), preferably with good access to facilities like daycare centres or schools, near your workplace or school AND make sure it’s not too far from your family (only if applicable). When you’ve found something that fits all of these conditions, put in an offer! If there is more than one person looking at the same house, the legal system will determine who gets to buy it – but consider offering more than what you’re willing to pay if necessary.
Move your belongings
If there’s no furniture included in the sale agreement , you’ll have to buy that separately. If you’re coming from abroad, remember that it can take up to six weeks for your belongings to arrive – so don’t wait until the last minute. And if you have a pet, check whether this is allowed in the new house before moving!
Take care of legal formalities
Buying property in the Netherlands always entails certain legal formalities. You’ll have to view the house with an authorized notary who will explain your rights and obligations as a buyer. Make sure you keep all receipts regarding fees paid, including those for foreign currency exchanges at banks or other financial institutions . The Dutch Tax Office calculates income tax based on these expenditures which are considered ‘deductible’.
Register with the municipality
Once you’ve purchased a house, the notary will request that you register with your local municipality . This needs to be done within four weeks of moving. The municipality will inform all public institutions about your new address (e.g. social security office and local council) and make it publicly available in an online database (the basisregistratie personen or BRP). You can request to either restrict or expand access to this information; if you don’t want people to know where you live, perhaps because of personal safety concerns, try restricting who can see it.
Get insurance
Finally: congratulations! Enjoy living in your new home. Don’t forget: insuring your house against damage and theft is very important – otherwise any accidentscould prove very costly! Add to that the cost of utilities, and you have a lot of expenditures to take into account. If you’re not sure which insurance provider offers the best coverage for your situation, it might be a good idea to ask a family member or friend who has recently bought a house.
