Author: vince

CategoriesRent Buy your dream home

First-time buyers seize their chance: Take advantage of the wave of rental property sales in major cities

By vince,

Good news for first-time buyers! More homes were sold in the first quarter of 2025 than in the same period last year, and in major cities, first-time buyers in particular are benefiting from the many rental properties sold by investors

Housing market booms in first quarter

According to recent figures from the Land Registry, almost 51,500 home transactions were registered in the first quarter of 2025. This is a significant increase of 16% compared to the first quarter of 2024. It is striking that this increase is taking place despite the uncertain global economy and declining consumer confidence, factors that normally have a negative effect on the housing market.

First-time buyers dominant in major cities

What is particularly striking in the figures: in the four largest cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht), no less than 62% of all homes sold went to first-time buyers. In total, first-time buyers bought more than 4,800 homes here.

Outside the big cities, the picture is different. There, it was precisely those moving up the housing ladder who bought the most homes. In the areas outside the G4, the share of first-time buyers was 37%, with those moving up the housing ladder buying 17,500 homes compared to 10,200 by first-time buyers.

Why are first-time buyers buying in the city?

First-time buyers continue to benefit from a special trend: former rental homes are ending up on the purchase market in large numbers. In the past quarter, approximately 23,000 households bought their first home - 17% more than in the same quarter of 2024. This number has been rising for five quarters in a row now.

The cause? Investors are relatively often selling their cheaper rental homes, which are then bought up by first-time buyers, especially in the big cities. This offers a unique opportunity for those who have been looking for a first home in an urban area for some time.

Home movers are gaining some ground again

It's not just good news for first-time buyers. Home movers also bought more homes: almost 28,500, which is 15% more than a year earlier. This even allowed home movers to regain a small share of the market, from 53% in the last quarter of 2024 to 55% in the first quarter of 2025.

However, the share of home movers remains historically low. Only during the economic crisis more than ten years ago was their share lower than it is now.

Overbidding stagnates

Interesting for potential buyers: according to recent figures from the housing website Huispedia, buyers bid an average of 4.8% above the asking price of a home in the past quarter. That is about the same as a quarter earlier.

This is striking, because since the beginning of 2023, the average overbidding has increased significantly every quarter. This stagnation started in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is now continuing, which may indicate a stabilization of the market.

What does this mean for you?

Are you a starter looking for your first home? Then this might be the time to explore your opportunities in the big cities. Due to the sale of rental properties by investors, relatively affordable homes are coming onto the market that can be perfect as a first home.

Are you a mover? The current market also offers opportunities for you, now that the overbidding seems to be stabilizing. This could be the right time to take the step to your next home.

Personal advice

At M&D Real Estate we are happy to help you find your way in this dynamic housing market. Whether you are a starter who wants to profit from the sale of rental properties in the city, or a mover who is looking for the perfect next step - we are ready to help you with personal advice.

After reading this article, are you thinking about making your newly purchased home more sustainable? You have also come to the right place for that. Together with our partner https://www.labelbewust.nl we ensure that your new home is not only affordable, but also energy-efficient and future-proof.

Contact us for a no-obligation conversation about the possibilities in your specific situation.

CategoriesSustainability

ING lowers mortgage interest rates for homes with a better energy label

By vince,

Good news for homeowners and buyers: making your home more sustainable is now immediately rewarded with a lower mortgage rate at ING.

As of April 30, ING has introduced an innovative pricing model for mortgages in which the energy label of a home plays a central role in the interest calculation. Where previously a discount was only given for energy label A or higher, the interest is now adjusted to the specific energy label, from G to A++++.

Who does this new model apply to?

The new pricing model applies to:
– Customers who take out a new mortgage with a fixed interest rate
– Customers who renew their fixed interest period
– Customers who increase their existing mortgage
– Customers who adjust their current mortgage with a new interest rate proposal

Direct benefit from sustainability

The great thing about this arrangement is that if you improve your energy label during the fixed interest period by taking sustainable measures, ING will automatically adjust the interest from the next month. The bank bases this on the new energy label as registered with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Folkert van der Ploeg, Director of Housing at ING Netherlands, states: “We not only want to help our customers achieve energy efficiency, but also to live in a future-proof and comfortable way.”

Triple benefit for homeowners

By investing in the sustainability of your home, you benefit from:
1. Lower mortgage interest rate
2. Higher home value
3. Lower monthly energy costs

Sustainability: Where to start?

Are you considering making your home more sustainable to take advantage of this lower mortgage rate? At M&D Real Estate we are happy to help you make the right decisions for your specific situation.

For the actual implementation, we work together with our specialized partner **Labelbewust**. They transform your home with care and attention to detail, and are specialized in installing sustainable solutions such as solar panels and heat pumps. With Labelbewust, you not only invest in a better energy label, but also in a more comfortable and sustainable home.

Contact us

Do you want to know what this new mortgage scheme can do for you or are you curious about the possibilities for making your home more sustainable? Then contact our office for a free consultation.

*For more information about the sustainability options, you can also take a look directly at http://www.labelbewust.nl.

CategoriesStatus of the Housing Market

23% mortgage requests in first quarter of 2025

By vince,

The mortgage market is running at full speed! In the first quarter of this year, no less than 23.4% more mortgage applications were submitted than in the same period last year. Are you planning to buy a home or transfer your mortgage? Then this is important information for you.

Record number of mortgage applications

HDN, the organization that registers digital mortgage applications in the Netherlands, recorded no less than 142,076 mortgage applications in the first quarter of 2025. March was even the busiest month since April 2022, with 53,392 applications.

What is striking is that this increase took place despite a turnaround in interest rate developments. After declines in 2024, lenders increased their interest rates again at the beginning and end of the first quarter. Many mortgage advisors and consumers acted quickly to still be able to benefit from the lower rates, which led to clear peaks in week 3 and week 10 of the quarter.

Who applies for a mortgage the most?

Renovators and starters in the lead

If we look at the different customer profiles, we see that 'Renovators' formed the largest group in the first quarter. With 28,081 applications, they accounted for more than 20% of the total. They were followed by:

- 'Starters in the high segment' (15,752 applications)
- 'Upstreamers' (15,734 applications)

Especially starters in the high segment grew considerably, with an increase of 34.4% compared to last year. Younger starters also participated well with a growth of 15.9%.

Remortgage market is picking up again

Also interesting: the remortgage market is gaining strength again. Advisors submitted 11,307 applications for refinancing, an increase of no less than 45.5% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Although this is still far below the record of February 2022 (more than 21,000 applications), the increase shows that consumers are once again showing interest in refinancing.

Major cities and expensive provinces in demand

In the four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht), the buyer market picked up above average, with a growth of more than 35%. This increase seems to be strongly related to the selling off of rental properties.

The number of purchase applications also grew significantly in the three most expensive provinces:
- Utrecht (+24.3%)
- Noord-Holland (+26.6%)
- Noord-Brabant (+21.5%)

In Overijssel, growth remained relatively limited at +6%.

Higher house prices and mortgage amounts

The average house value reached a record €508,100 in the first quarter, an increase of 9.4% compared to last year. For purchase purposes, consumers applied for an average mortgage of €370,700, which is 7% more than last year. In the non-buyer market (refinancing and increases), the average mortgage amount was €120,700, an increase of 9.8%.

Young people dominate the market

Figures from De Hypotheker show that home buyers and owners up to the age of 35 contributed to the growth, with an increase of 30%, followed by people aged 55 and over with an increase of 21%.

First-time buyers continue to dominate the housing market. They submitted 56% of all mortgage applications for home purchases. Compared to the same period last year, the number of applications from first-time buyers grew by 23%. Most starters are younger than 35 years old (80%), but their number is also increasing among older age groups. In the past three months, 37% of home buyers between 35 and 45 years old bought their first home.

What does this mean for you?

Are you planning to buy a home?

Are you considering buying a house? Then it is good to know that the market is currently very active, especially in the big cities. The sale of rental properties by investors offers opportunities, especially for starters. However, it is important to take into account the rising house prices and interest rates.

Do you want to transfer or increase your mortgage?

If you are considering transferring or increasing your mortgage, for example for a renovation or sustainability, then you are certainly not the only one. Many homeowners are currently choosing this. Due to the fluctuations in the interest rate, it can be smart to act quickly if you see a favorable rate.

Are you a starter?

As a starter, you are in good company! You currently form the largest group on the housing market. With the right guidance and a good insight into your financial possibilities, you can still find a suitable home, despite the rising prices.

Personal advice at M&D Real Estate

At M&D Real Estate, we closely monitor developments on the mortgage market. We are happy to help you make the right choices in this dynamic market, whether you are a starter, a mover or are considering making your home more sustainable.

Do you want to know what the current market developments mean for your specific situation? Or do you have plans to make your home more sustainable, in which our partner Labelbewust can help? Contact us for a personal consultation. https://www.labelbewust.nl can help? Contact us for a personal consultation.

We are happy to think along with you about your housing needs and possibilities in this active market!

CategoriesSustainability

No subsidy for heat pumps in neighborhoods with future heating network

By vince,

Are you considering a heat pump for your home? Then it is important to know that there are changes coming to the subsidy policy, which may affect your sustainability plans.

New climate plans influence heat pump subsidy

Minister Sophie Hermans of Climate and Green Growth recently presented new climate plans stating that homeowners in neighborhoods where a heating network is planned will no longer be eligible for subsidies for a heat pump in the coming years. This measure is intended to get the stalled construction of heating networks going again.

The minister must still investigate whether this exclusion is legally feasible and enforceable. This means that it is important to inquire well about the status of your district before making investment decisions.

Vereniging Eigen Huis uit zorgen

The Dutch Homeowners' Association has already criticised these plans. They believe that consumers should retain the freedom to choose an alternative to gas. Furthermore, the association points out that the construction of a heating network can often take years. In the interim period, it can still be useful to install a heat pump.

Which measures will continue to be supported?

Even though the policy surrounding heat pumps is changing, there are still opportunities for sustainability with subsidies:

– Homeowners will continue to receive subsidies for insulation measures in the coming years
– In the future, new heat pumps must be able to be controlled intelligently
A special action plan will be introduced to promote bidirectional charging, whereby electric cars can also serve as a home battery for homes

What does this mean for you?

If you have sustainability plans for your home, it is now more important than ever to get good advice. At M&D Real Estate, we are happy to help you understand the subsidy and sustainability options that best suit your situation.

Do you live in a neighbourhood where a heating network may be installed? Then we can work with our partner Labelbewust to see which options are most beneficial for you, both in the short and long term.

Alternative sustainability options

Even if a heat pump is no longer eligible for subsidy in your neighbourhood, there are still several ways to make your home more sustainable:

Insulation measures (roof, floor, cavity wall and glass)
Solar panels (despite the lack of additional incentives in the new plans)
Hybrid heating systems
Smart energy management systems

Personal advice

Do you want to know what the changing regulations mean for your specific situation? Our experts from M&D Real Estate and Labelbewust are ready to draw up a suitable sustainability plan with you. This way you are well prepared for future developments and you make optimal use of the available subsidies.

Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about the possibilities for your home.

For more information about sustainable solutions, you can also take a look at http://www.labelbewust.nl.*

CategoriesMortgage Rates

Good news for home buyers, mortgage rates are falling again

By vince,

Are you looking for a home or are you considering refinancing your mortgage? Then there is good news: the recent increase in mortgage rates is already over. Rates are falling, which can be beneficial for your housing plans.

The short-term interest rate increase

At the end of January, we saw the highest increase in mortgage rates since October last year. The interest rate for a mortgage with a fixed interest rate period of ten years rose by 0.11% to 3.65% in January. But this increase appears to have been short-lived. This has now come to an end and we are even seeing falling rates again.

Current interest rates

According to De Hypotheker, the mortgage rate for ten years fixed with NHG is currently around 3.3%. This is a significant decrease compared to the peak in January. Van Bruggen Adviesgroep also confirms this trend and reports that various lenders have implemented slight reductions since the beginning of this month.

What explains this fall in interest rates?

The recent fall in mortgage rates can be explained by several factors:

- US President Donald Trump initially announced high import tariffs for Canada, Mexico and China, which made investors fear inflation
- After Trump withdrew the tariff increase for Canada and Mexico, long-term interest rates on the financial markets fell immediately
- The development of inflation in the eurozone plays an important role in the interest rate policy of the European Central Bank (ECB)

Future expectations

The development of interest rates remains uncertain for the short and medium term. Much depends on inflation in the eurozone. If inflation is low, the ECB may decide to lower the interest rate as well, which would be beneficial for mortgage rates.

In January, the ECB indicated that it would probably lower the interest rate by 0.25% in March. However, in January, inflation in the eurozone unexpectedly rose to 2.5% - the fourth month in a row with an increase. If inflation does not fall quickly, there is a chance that the ECB will not lower the interest rate in March after all.

In addition, the unpredictable course of US President Trump makes it difficult to predict long-term interest rate developments.

What does this mean for you?

If you are planning to buy a home or transfer your mortgage, this may be a good time to take action. Interest rates are currently relatively low, and there is uncertainty about how they will develop in the future.

It may be wise to explore your options now and seek advice on what is the best choice in your specific situation. It may be useful to take advantage of the current interest rate drop, especially if you want certainty about your monthly payments for a longer period of time.

Personal advice from M&D Real Estate

At M&D Real Estate, we closely monitor interest rate developments. We understand that choosing a mortgage and the associated fixed-rate period is an important decision that has a major impact on your monthly payments.

Do you want to know what the current interest rate drop means for your specific situation? Or are you curious about the possibilities of buying a new home or adjusting your current mortgage? Please contact us for a personal consultation.

Are you also thinking about sustainability when buying a new home? Our partner https://www.labelbewust.nl can help you make your home more energy-efficient, which is not only good for the environment but also for your wallet.

We are happy to think along with you about the best strategy in this dynamic interest market!

Contact M&D Real Estate

Phone number

085 – 047 9014
Boompjes 40, 3011 XB Rotterdam

email

info@mndrealestate.nl

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