At Living in Rotterdam we are happy to show you around the city. You can find information about the neighborhoods and we have many news items about new construction projects, self-build plots and housing news in Rotterdam. You can also read interviews with residents. To give you a better overview of all new construction projects of which the homes will be let or sold now or in the near future, we have made a nice PROPERTY SUPPLY MAP. We also have Funda’s selection of rental and owner-occupied homes on our site.
We have also specially prepared an article with tips and advice: How do I find a rental property in Rotterdam?
Do you want to know more? Then feel free to ask us your question via [email protected].
Great, you are planning to buy a house. To finance this, you usually need a mortgage. Rabobank is happy to help you with advice about the maximum you can borrow, how a mortgage works, what a mortgage costs and which mortgage type (annuity, interest-only, linear or a combination) best suits your situation. Read more about this in this article.
Do you need a personal conversation about your situation? Then you can also make an appointment online with one of the financial advisors. Read more here for more information: Buying a house? – Read everything you need to know here – Rabobank
From August 1, 2021, Rotterdammers between the ages of 18 and 35 can apply for a starter loan for the purchase of their first home. Rotterdam residents over the age of 35 who leave a social rental home from a housing corporation can also apply for the starter loan. This should make it easier to buy a house in the Maasstad. Read more about the starter loan and how you can apply for it here.
Rotterdam is a large city with 14 areas divided into 71 districts. We have asked a number of brokers about what you can buy in Rotterdam for a certain budget and in which neighborhood you can find these homes. Below you will find the various articles per budget.
What can you buy for 195.000 euro?
What can you buy between 195.000 and 240.000 euro?
What can you buy between 240.000 and 290.000 euro?
What can you buy between 290.000 and 435.000 euro?
What can you buy for more than 435.000 euro?
On Living in Rotterdam you will find the new buildings that are currently for sale under Housing supply. If you prefer an overview, take a look at the map with all new construction projects of which the homes will be rented or sold now or in the future.
Are you curious about all the construction projects in Rotterdam? Then take a look at the construction map of Bouwen aan Rotterdam.
New construction or existing construction, it is a personal choice. Depending on your wishes and budget. Do you have a little more time and do you want to immediately decorate everything to your own taste or do you opt for atmosphere and move in the short term?
Below we list some advantages and disadvantages of new construction and existing construction that can help you make a choice.
Buy new build house
Advantages
– Everything in the house is new and unused and is less likely to need a makeover.
– You can often determine the layout to your own taste from the start of construction.
– New buildings are now well insulated and are therefore more energy efficient.
– During construction, they are increasingly taking into account sustainable building materials and solutions such as sun and water collection and lots of greenery.
– There is a lot of construction going on in Rotterdam, which means that there is more choice for new construction than before (see also the map of Bouwen aan Rotterdam with all new construction projects).
Cons
– There is more supply in existing construction and new construction should just be a project in your search area, for your budget.
– You cannot view the house in advance.
– There is often a lot of time between purchase and delivery, which can mean that you pay double charges for a period.
Buy existing house
Advantages
– You have a wide choice of existing homes throughout Rotterdam.
– There is history in existing buildings.
– It is possible to take a look at the house and taste the atmosphere in the existing neighborhood.
– After accepting your offer, the house can be yours within a short time and you will soon be in your new garden.
Cons
– Existing houses often have more maintenance costs, such as the window frames, replacing the central heating boiler, painting, roofs.
– Keep in mind that if you want to do work to make your home more your own, such as replacing a bathroom or kitchen, this is not cheap.
– In large parts of Rotterdam, older houses have problems with the foundation and sometimes even the construction (have a structural inspection carried out and do the Funderingscheck).
– Do not forget the costs for the broker, appraisal, inspection and other mandatory costs when purchasing.
– A final disadvantage is that an existing house may be less well insulated, which can cause your energy bill to be higher. Fortunately, the municipality of Rotterdam offers energy-saving subsidies and loans to help you make your new or existing home more sustainable.
Are you going to view a house soon? Then these 10 tips from the home association can help you on your way.
Self-occupancy obligation
If a house is sold with a self-occupancy obligation, the buyer is obliged to live in the house himself for a period agreed in the agreement. The buyer must then register at the address of the home. Rental is not permitted during this agreed period.
Anti-speculation clause
An anti-speculation clause is a condition in a purchase contract that obliges the buyer to live in the purchased property for a number of years before the buyer is allowed to resell the property. Sometimes the buyer must request prior permission for sale to a third party or it is a condition that part of the profit is transferred to the previous owner. Usually, an anti-speculation clause is included as a condition by a municipality if it decides to sell building plots or houses itself. Violation of the anti-speculation clause is usually subject to a substantial contractual penalty.
WOZ stands for Real Estate Valuation Act. This law regulates the valuation of homes and other immovable property in the Netherlands. The WOZ value of a home is the estimated market value (value of a home if it can be sold freely on the market) of your home. This means that the WOZ value meaning is immediately clear.
How is this determined?
The WOZ value of a home is determined by the municipality with reference date 1 January of the previous year. Every homeowner receives that WOZ home value on a WOZ decision. The municipality bases the value of the home on, among other things:
• The location of the house
• Content data
• Surface data
• Sales figures of homes in the area
The WOZ value forms the basis for municipal taxes and levies, such as property tax, sewerage charges and water board charges. In addition, the WOZ value plays an important role in inheritance or gift tax and the notional rental value. This is a tax addition to the income in connection with owning a home. The bottom line is that homeowners pay for the enjoyment of living.
Where can you find the WOZ value of your (future) home?
You can check the WOZ value of a home at WOZ-waardeloket.nl.
Buyers of a house can only arrange the mortgage after the house has been bought. Nevertheless, a purchase becomes final three days after signing the preliminary purchase contract. After signing the preliminary purchase contract, you are not yet the owner of the home. Only after placing the signatures under the deed of transfer at the notary are you really the owner. However, during this period you can no longer get out of the sale. With a ‘condition of financing’ you limit the financial risks.
Reservation of financing
You can include the condition of financing as a resolutive condition in the purchase agreement. After concluding the agreement, you (usually) still have 6 to 8 weeks to take out the mortgage. If you do not manage to arrange the mortgage, you can still cancel the purchase without financial consequences thanks to the retention of financing. The reservation does not give you the right to just get out of the sale. You must be able to demonstrate that your mortgage application was rejected by one (or more) mortgage lenders. You can only cancel the purchase if financing really does not work out.
If you want to know more about this, ask your financial advisor or purchase broker.
The time has come, you have agreed with the seller to buy the house and the preliminary purchase contract has been signed. Then it’s time for the last step: the transfer. During the transfer, the property officially changes ownership. There are two things that need to be arranged on the agreed day of transfer:
The home inspection
Together with the selling party (often the sales broker) you go through the house again on the basis of a checklist to check whether everything is left as agreed. For example, pay attention to defects and whether they have been repaired as agreed, but also whether all cupboards are empty. You can do the home inspection yourself, but you can also choose to do this together with the real estate agent. He knows the ins and outs and can advise during the inspection. Due to the broker’s experience, he also knows exactly what to look out for and you can be sure that you will not overlook anything. He can also help negotiate if defects or other issues emerge during the inspection that need to be resolved.
2. Sign at the notary
As soon as the home inspection has been done and you are satisfied, the transfer will follow at the notary. This is done in the presence of both the buying and selling party. It is also possible that the selling party gives a power of attorney to the civil-law notary and is then not present at the official moment. During the transfer, the deed of transfer, also known as the deed of transfer, and the mortgage deed are signed. With the signing of the deed of transfer, the property officially changes ownership. The mortgage deed will only be signed if you have taken out a mortgage to finance the home. By signing the mortgage deed, you agree that your home serves as collateral and the civil-law notary can pay the amount you paid for the home to the selling party. Here too, if desired, the broker can be present to support you and can immediately clarify any questions you may have.
Please note: The transfer of a home involves one-off costs, namely notary fees and (in many cases) transfer tax. How much transfer tax you pay varies by age, sales price and whether or not you will be living in the house yourself. If you buy a new-build home, there is no transfer, you are the official owner when the home is delivered.