Purchase A Home
Blog category
Buying your dream home in the Hofstad, The Hague. A “village town” for everyone!
The Hague, the ow so beautiful city behind the dunes is a sought after and pleasant city to live in. Not only because I have lived here for more than 20 years, but also because of its beautiful dunes, its international reputation as the city of peace and justice, the...
What should you pay attention to when buying a property that is partially rented out?
It all seems so nice. You see a property with part of it rented out. That could be a rented attic, a rented room, a rented parking space or maybe even a rented storage/garage box. Then you'll have a nice extra penny each month right away. Right? Or not! No! Beware of...
When not to buy Amsterdam ground lease
Leasehold is something that, as a buying agent myself, I prefer to keep my hands off. Except when the ground rent has been bought off in perpetuity. In that case it is in fact the same as full ownership. Leasehold and full ownership are often sold for the same price....
Golden tip for succeeding in the housing market
What probably comes across as very irritating, but which I'll just blurt out anyway: I don't have much of a problem buying homes for clients. It's my job as a buying agent, of course, but apart from that, I think I've really cracked the code after all these years. And...
How long does it take to get feedback on my bid?
Ah, exciting: you've bid on a property. But how long does it take to get a response from the selling broker? It depends on the situation. Registration or not? First, we need to know how you bid. Did you submit your bid together with several buyers because there was a...
Is an apartment right fully owned? A frequently asked question about ground lease
When you appraise or buy a property in a city like Amsterdam, you quickly come across the concept of leasehold. This often raises the question, "Is the apartment right fully owned?" At first glance, this seems logical. After all, you buy a property, you have a...
New neighborhood new risks: check your insurance
A new home in a different neighborhood can be an exciting but also fresh start in your life. After all, this brings with it many novelties. Think new neighbors, a new job or a new tennis club, for example. However, a new...
How safe is Online Bidding and Online Bidding systems for home seekers really?
In this earlier article (from May 2022) of ours, you already read that Online Bidding Systems and the Online Bidding Procedure is actually false security. For example, with the NVM's online bidding system with closing date+time, the selling broker can simply see the...
Why are there no rulings from the Real Estate Disciplinary Committee on unfair bidding practices?
There is much to do about unfair bidding practices by real estate agents. On the website of Dispute Committee, anyone can read the rulings of the Disciplinary Committee for Real Estate Professionals regarding, among other things, wrongdoing by brokers. These are then...
Why does my energy label differ from my energy index and how can I fix it?
Your home may be one of those unique cases where you have an energy label with one letter as well as an energy index with a completely different letter. For example, you have energy label B on your house, but you also have and energy index with a score A. How on earth...
As a broker or appraiser, how to decipher a complicated soil report?
Anyone who has ever appraised or purchased something in a big city will not be unfamiliar; the soil report you get in front of you is 1 big incomprehensible piece of text more than 50 pages long. You want to buy or appraise that property, and you, as a real estate...
What should you do if it is not clear in the soil report whether remediation has taken place?
If the soil report states that remediation must take place, a BUS notification has been required since 2007. After that, there should have been remediation. But to know for sure if this has occurred, a remediation evaluation must have taken place. Where it often goes...
Oil tanks in the Garden: Risks, Disposal and Pollution
There may still be an oil tank in your or your neighbor's yard. We call these tanks "hbo tanks. HBO stands for "home heating oil. These tanks pose a major threat to soil quality on your plot and surrounding plots. Old tanks can leak and oil is a substance that can...
What should I do if I want help with a soil report/environmental report?
Our advice then is ALWAYS to seek help from an environmental consulting firm. In fact, they are many times better able to analyze and interpret current information on soil conditions. This also allows them to make a much better risk assessment of possible soil...
What should you do if the land registry states that a soil test needs to be done at a property or plot?
Suppose you are about to buy a home. In the documentation provided to you by the selling broker, you will also come across cadastral information. This will be in the form of a "Cadastral Notice" (also called "property information" or "cadastral extract"). This looks...
Registering an association with the Chamber of Commerce if you are not yet an owner
It often happens that you as a (potential) buyer of a property want to activate a dormant Owners' Association (VvE). The basis that every CoE must have is a registration in the Chamber of Commerce (CoC). Once you have that registration from the Chamber of Commerce,...
When is a soil test mandatory?
Having exploratory soil testing done may be required in a number of cases. It may also be purely an eligibility requirement. The exact requirements vary by legislative period and also vary by municipality. However, a soil test may be required in the following cases,...
Is there a chance of contaminated soil with a new home?
Contaminated soil we see a lot in old neighborhoods and with old homes. But what about new housing developments and new construction? Are you actually at risk there of contaminated soil at the property? Many homeowners, home seekers and also many real estate agents...
Why are there 2 appraised values in my appraisal report?
You may well have an appraisal report done on a property and there are 2 appraised values in that report. And then there is probably a big difference between those 2 appraisal values. We'll explain why that is. For this reason, there are often 2 values in your...
Buying the house you are renting, what should you pay attention to?
Many people who rent property are given the opportunity by their landlord to buy their rental property. In this article, we explain to you what to look out for and what all you need to arrange as a tenant/buyer. Why does the landlord want to sell the property to me...
What if the broker does not follow the rules of the Online Bidding System?
Since Jan. 1, 2023, brokers must use an online bidding system where an online bid log is maintained and can be viewed retrospectively by all bidders. But very often this does not happen or deals are still made outside the rules of this bidding system. What about this...
Is a buying agent mandatory?
No, a buying agent is never mandatory. Anyone in the Netherlands may simply buy a house without a buying agent. However, it is important to understand that purchasing a home can be a complex process, with many legal, financial and practical aspects to consider. Is a...
(When) Is a buying agent necessary?
Fair is fair: not everyone needs a buying agent right away for every home they want to buy. Some people are already so savvy and experienced with buying homes that they already know exactly what to look for. Based on experience, that percentage of experienced buyers...
What does a buying agent look at?
There is so much involved in finding the perfect home that meets all your wants and needs. This is where a buying agent can be invaluable. But what does a buying agent actually look at? In this blog, we will discover the essential factors a buying agent looks out for...
How does a buying agent work?
The process of buying a home can be complex and time-consuming, but fortunately there is a professional who can guide you through every step: the buying agent. But how exactly does a buying agent work? In this blog, we dive deeper into the question of "how does a...
How much does a buying agent cost?
In the search for your dream home, there are numerous factors to consider. One such consideration is hiring a buying agent. But what exactly are the costs associated with hiring a buying agent? And how do they set their prices? In this blog, we dive deeper into the...
Are purchase agent fees deductible?
Bij het kopen van een huis zijn er een aantal kosten die aftrekbaar zijn van de belasting. Denk hierbij aan de hypotheekrente, notariskosten en de taxatiekosten. Maar hoe zit het eigenlijk met de kosten van een aankoopmakelaar? Deze kosten zijn helaas niet aftrekbaar...
What does an NVM buying agent do?
Wat een aankoopmakelaar ongeveer doet is de meeste mensen waarschijnlijk wel duidelijk. Een NVM aankoopmakelaar begeleidt namelijk de koper bij het gehele aankoopproces van een woning, net als een ‘normale’ aankoopmakelaar. Maar de vraag is wat een ‘NVM’...
What if the appraisal is lower than the purchase price?
Het kopen van een woning is een spannende en soms ook stressvolle periode, dat begrijpen wij als geen ander. Wanneer je eindelijk een woning hebt gevonden die aan al jouw wensen voldoet en je een bod hebt uitgebracht dat is geaccepteerd, ben je al een stap dichter bij...
When do you need an appraisal report? We explain
Wanneer heb je een taxatierapport nodig? Of je nu op zoek bent naar een nieuwe woning of jouw huidige woning wilt verkopen, de kans is groot dat je vroeg of laat te maken krijgt met een taxatierapport. Een taxatierapport is een rapport waarin een professionele...