Buyer's agent for expats | Libero Aankoop
Are you an expat and looking to buy a home in the Netherlands? Then you'll run into a system that's often completely new to you. A different mortgage market, a different bidding process and sometimes a language barrier too. Libero Aankoop is the buyer's agent for expats and helps you with a winning bidding strategy, clear communication and years of experience with international buyers.
We don't come along to viewings. You do that yourself, because only you know whether a home is right for you. What we do: making the offer, negotiating and reviewing the purchase contract. Exactly the part where you have the least knowledge of the Dutch market as an expat.
When are you an expat on the Dutch housing market?
You're an expat if you're living and working in the Netherlands after moving from abroad, whether temporarily or for the long term. Often you're a highly skilled migrant, posted here by your employer, or you've just moved to the Netherlands yourself for a new job. On the housing market, you run into different questions than a Dutch buyer: how does a mortgage work without Dutch credit history, what is the 30% ruling, and how does bidding actually work here?
Libero Aankoop helps by taking over exactly the part where most of the uncertainty sits: the offer, the negotiation and the legal review of the purchase contract.
What challenges do expats face when buying a home?
Unfamiliar with the Dutch buying process
Bidding, conditions, a purchase contract full of fine print: the system works differently here than in most other countries. We explain every step in plain language.
Language barrier in the offer and contract
Reading a purchase contract full of Dutch legal terms while you've just moved here isn't appealing. We review the contract and explain everything, so you know exactly what you're signing.
Time pressure from your work contract
You often want a permanent place quickly, for example before your temporary rental contract ends. Our bidding strategy gives you up to 4x more chance of getting the home, so you don't have to search for longer than needed.
On top of that, a few practical matters come into play as an expat:
- BSN and residency status: needed for your mortgage application and the transfer at the notary.
- Credit history: a Dutch mortgage lender doesn't always know your foreign credit history, which affects your maximum mortgage.
- Contract type: a temporary employment contract requires extra explanation to the mortgage lender.
- Notarial transfer: sometimes possible with a power of attorney if you can't be there in person.
What advantages do you have as an expat?
Besides challenges, as an expat you often have a stronger starting position than you might think:
- The 30% ruling: as a highly skilled migrant, this ruling can increase your net disposable income, which is favourable for your maximum mortgage.
- Often a higher salary: many expats work in roles with a salary that lets you make a sharper offer.
- No emotional attachment: you're not selling an existing home in the Netherlands, so you can often move faster than a next-time buyer.
- Our digital way of working: we work digitally wherever possible, which fits well with a busy, international lifestyle.
How do you buy a home as an expat through Libero Aankoop?
A mortgage adviser works out your maximum mortgage, including the effect of the 30% ruling if you qualify for it. Our sister company Libero Financieel gives you independent advice, also as an expat.
Which region, which type of home, and which amenities nearby matter most to you? Think about the distance to an international school or your employer too.
As soon as you bring us on board, you receive the newest listings up to 48 hours earlier than on Funda. In today's housing market, that's the difference between viewing on time or missing out.
You do the viewing yourself, together with any family who's moving with you. We give you specific things to look out for beforehand, so you know exactly what to check.
After the viewing, we call you for a purchase scan. Together we determine the smartest offer. Our bidding strategy gives you 4x more chance of getting the home, often submitted within a few hours.
Is there room to buy below the asking price? Then we negotiate. If we succeed, you pay a 10% performance bonus on the negotiated result. The remaining 90% of the savings is yours.
We check the purchase contract for clauses that protect you and explain everything clearly, so you know exactly what you're signing, even if Dutch legal terms are new to you.
Can't be there in person for the transfer? A transfer by power of attorney is often possible. We point you to a notary who's familiar with this.
How does our buyer's agent help expats?
We guide you through the part of the purchase where most expats get stuck: the bidding strategy, the negotiation and the review of the purchase contract. Thanks to more than twenty years of experience and over 39.100 home buyers helped, we know exactly what works, including for international buyers.
- Clear, personal communication, in English if you prefer
- A well-founded offer within a few hours
- New listings up to 48 hours before Funda
- No conflicting interests: 100% on your side
- A fixed base rate of € 1.795,-, regardless of the purchase price
Getting a mortgage as an expat: what to watch for
Applying for a mortgage as an expat works a little differently than for a Dutch buyer. Do you qualify for the 30% ruling? Then part of your tax-free allowance may count towards your maximum mortgage. Working on a temporary contract? Then the mortgage lender often asks for an employer's statement showing an intention to renew.
Arranging the mortgage itself isn't something we do, that's the domain of a mortgage adviser. Our sister company Libero Financieel gives you independent advice on the 30% ruling, your maximum mortgage and the rest of your financing. That way you arrange your purchase and your financing under one roof.
What else should you watch for as an expat?
- BSN: needed before you can take out a mortgage or transfer a home at the notary.
- Residence permit: make sure your residency status is in order, as this affects your mortgage options.
- Conditions: always make sure financing, and any structural survey, are properly recorded in the purchase contract.
- Language of the purchase contract: the contract is drawn up in Dutch, always have it explained to you before signing.
- Remote notarial transfer: ask early about the options for a power of attorney if you can't be there in person.
Frequently asked questions from expats about buying a home in the Netherlands
Yes, as an expat you can buy a home in the Netherlands. You need a BSN for this, and usually a mortgage. A valid residence permit and an employment contract make the application easier.
The 30% ruling is a tax benefit for highly skilled migrants. Part of it can count towards your maximum mortgage calculation, which often means you can borrow more. Our sister company Libero Financieel works this out for you.
Yes, a BSN is needed for your mortgage application and the transfer at the notary. You can request one at the municipality where you live, or at an expat centre in your region.
Yes, where needed we also communicate in English, especially when explaining your bidding strategy and the purchase contract. That way you always know exactly where you stand.
No, and that's intentional. Only you can feel whether a home is truly your home. We give you targeted things to look out for beforehand, and get straight to work on the bidding strategy after the viewing.
In many cases the transfer can happen with a power of attorney, if you can't be there in person. We point you to a notary who's familiar with this.
We work with a fixed base rate of € 1.795,-, regardless of the purchase price of the home. If we manage to buy below the asking price, a 10% performance bonus applies on top. See all the details on our rates page.
Yes. We're active across the whole of the Netherlands, from Amsterdam and Utrecht to Eindhoven and The Hague. Ideal if you still need to decide which region you'd like to live in.
As an expat you often have less time and less knowledge of the Dutch system, but a strong starting position all the same. The right bidding strategy, clear planning and a well-reviewed purchase contract make the difference. Follow our step-by-step home buying guide or find out directly how making an offer on a home works, and take the step towards your home in the Netherlands with confidence.
Ready to buy your home in the Netherlands as an expat?
Tell us your situation and we'll start thinking it through with you right away, even if you've just arrived in the Netherlands.