Are you moving to the Netherlands soon? Or are you already living in the Netherlands and looking to buy a house? Freek Hypotheek (Dutch for mortgage) will guide you step by step. As an expat friendly independent mortgage advisor in the Netherlands, we cater to expatriates and international clients who wish to live in the Netherlands hassle-free, with a mortgage tailored to their individual needs and personal situation.
As an intermediate mortgage broker we are your portal to thirty different mortgage providers. As a consumer you can contact few lenders directly for a mortgage: the common banks. Yet the majority of providers you cannot contact to become a client:
their product is only available via an intermediate office like Freek. In the Netherlands most mortgages are being closed through intermediate offices. The providers can be divided in banks for example ING, ABNAMRO, Lloyds and Rabobank, insurance companies as ASR, NN and AEGON and institutional lenders as MUNT. With thirty lenders and forty products there is a lot to choose from. The banks directly will ‘advice’ their own products; regardless what you prefer and what you need. At Freek
we select on merits: which lender has the best terms when you need to decide? The interest on mortgages is easy to compare; terms and conditions are not. It is fairly impossible to find yourself and therefor you work together with Freek Mortgage. We take out marketing and compare interest rate, possible discounts, extension fee and acceptation rules in detail.
Exploring all the possibilities and intricacies surrounding mortgages is already complex, but if you’re new to the Dutch market, it’s nearly impossible to navigate without assistance. Freek is here as a mortgage advisor to guide you through the entire process,
from initial exploration to signing and beyond.
At Freek, we place great importance on personal contact as it ensures a smooth and trusted process. The initial consultation with one of our English-speaking mortgage advisors is always free of charge for you. During this one-hour session, we will discuss
your specific circumstances and your preferences for a new home and mortgage. Following the consultation, you will receive a summary report including a detailed mortgage calculation.
Since 2016 Freek Mortgages helped thousands of international clients. Take a look at our testimonials for real client opinions. Expats and international clients give Freek a score of 9.8!
Holland Expat Center South is a nonprofit governmental agency. It helps internationals and their families to settle into their new living (and working) environment by placing
together the procedures and the provision of information. In order to assist internationals upon arrival, and during their time in the Netherlands, a distinctive collaboration has been set up between Holland Expat Center South and Freek Hypotheek. Freek Mortgage is an official partner of Holland Expat Centre South and provides expat- friendly assistance for personalised and independent advice and mediation for mortgages and insurances. Internationals can get information about the region at the Expat Center, and find out about events that are organized especially for the international community. The main purpose is to help internationals to feel welcome and at home!
By law, there is a level playing field: banks themselves can never offer better rates or conditions. Personal discounts or other individualised features are not permitted. Banks may charge a fee for advice and mediation, which might be similar or slightly lower than our fee. However, the service provided differs: we compare and select the best options, assist with property valuation, obtain quotes from a notary, maintain contact with the selling/buying agent, and help with the first tax reimbursement, for example. In short, by working with Freek, you can expect personalised service and a partner who is familiar with the Dutch market.
Before you start with your property search, please talk to one of our advisors first. They will assess your budget, clarify do’s and don’ts and provide guidance throughout the entire process. This ensures you won’t encounter any unwelcome surprises along the way.
Know your budget: free orientation consult
Freek offers a free orientation consult with an English-speaking mortgage adviser to check your eligibility for a mortgage, the estimated payments per month and to give you more information about buying a home in the Netherlands. If you want, we check all necessary documents in this stage of the process so we can move forward more quickly when you have found and bought your home. That saves time and gives you way more certainty about the acceptation by a lender. Now you know what you can borrow and what your budget will be, you can move forward to step 2.
Know your budget: free orientation consult
Freek offers a free orientation consult with an English-speaking mortgage adviser to check your eligibility for a mortgage, the estimated payments per month and to give you more information about buying a home in the Netherlands. If you want, we check all necessary documents in this stage of the process so we can move forward more quickly when you have found and bought your home. That saves time and gives you way more certainty about the acceptation by a lender. Now you know what you can borrow and what your budget will be, you can move forward to step 2.
Searching, bidding and buying a house or apartment
You start your search on Funda. Found a house you like? Tip: Visit the area before scheduling an appointment with the real estate agent. The next step is to view the house and make an offer if you’re truly interested. In many cases, you’ll need to submit your offer through an online system like Move. If a confirmation or bid certificate is required, Freek will prepare one for you. You might also consider having a buyer’s agent by your side during your house hunt; someone who is familiar with the local market and can assess the market value, make the offer, and assist with the purchase contract.
Finalising contracts
If you’ve reached an agreement, the selling agent draws up contract. That is a binding contract after the cooling down period of 3 days. This becomes a legally binding agreement after the 3-day cooling-off period. After this period, you can only terminate the contract based on certain clauses. The most common ones are the financial clause and the technical inspection clause. Please note that both are not required and part of your bid. Once an agreement is reached, and even before signing the contract, it’s time to finalise the details of your mortgage and apply with one or more lenders. If we start that process immediately, we can obtain an indicative mortgage offer before you sign the contract. The lender will ask for the required documents which we normally already have in our dossier except the valuation of the house.
Transfer of your house at the notary
A house or apartment will be transferred through a civil-law notary: check
https://www.knb.nl/english. Just before the transfer, Freek will organise home, house, and life insurance, which must be arranged on the day of transfer. On the day of transfer, you’ll visit the property before signing to ensure everything is as it was when you purchased it. If you wish to receive the tax benefit on a monthly basis, Freek will arrange the monthly tax reimbursement. After signing the transfer deed and the mortgage documents, you’ll receive the keys to your new home. Congratulations, the house is now officially yours!
Aftercare
Freek will take care of your mortgage. With Freek, you have both your mortgage and insurance covered, and we’ll ensure you stay informed. Likewise, we request your cooperation: any changes you make may impact your mortgage or insurance. Keeping in touch with our clients is essential for providing the best assistance possible.
Our Freekers are ready to answer your mortgage question or to schedule an appointment immediately. Leave your details and choose a branch near you. You will be called back as soon as possible.
