Many homeowners in the Netherlands still have mortgages with interest rates from the period when borrowing costs were much lower. When moving to a new home, losing those conditions can significantly increase monthly payments.
What many people do not realize is that in some cases it is possible to keep your current mortgage interest rate when buying another property. In the Netherlands, this solution is known as hypotheekrente meenemen.
What is hypotheekrente meenemen?
Hypotheekrente meenemen means transferring your current mortgage interest rate to a new property after selling your existing home.
This option is especially interesting for homeowners whose current mortgage interest rate is lower than the rates currently available on the market. By keeping your existing rate, you may avoid higher monthly mortgage costs and maintain more favorable financing conditions.
In practice, this means that part or all of your current mortgage can be transferred to your next home.
When can transferring your mortgage interest rate be beneficial?
Transferring your mortgage interest rate is often beneficial when:
- your current interest rate is lower than current market rates,
- you are moving to a larger home,
- you want to reduce your monthly mortgage payments,
- you have overwaarde (home equity),
- you want more financial stability after purchasing a new home.
Many people decide to move after expanding their family, changing jobs, or improving their financial situation. Keeping a favorable mortgage interest rate can help maintain more predictable housing costs after the move.
Can everyone use this option?
The possibility of transferring your mortgage interest rate depends on several factors, including:
- your current bank’s conditions,
- the type of mortgage you have,
- your financial situation,
- the value of the new property,
- the size of the new mortgage.
Each lender has its own rules regarding verhuisregeling, which is the Dutch system for transferring a mortgage when moving to another home. In many cases, the bank will reassess your borrowing capacity and review whether your new financial situation meets their mortgage requirements.
What if the new home is more expensive?
This is a very common situation.
If your new property costs more than your current home, it is often possible to:
- keep your current interest rate for the existing part of the mortgage,
- and finance the additional amount under current market conditions.
This means that part of your mortgage may still benefit from a lower interest rate, which can help reduce the total financing costs of your new home.
Do you need to stay with the same bank?
In most cases, yes.
Transferring your mortgage interest rate usually takes place within the same bank. Each lender applies its own conditions regarding the possibility of keeping your existing interest rate when purchasing another property.
That is why it is important to carefully compare all available options before making a decision.
In some situations, keeping your current interest rate may be the best choice, while in others a completely new mortgage may be more beneficial.
How does the process work?
The process of transferring your mortgage interest rate usually includes:
- selling your current property,
- analyzing your existing mortgage,
- checking your bank’s conditions,
- reviewing your borrowing capacity,
- selecting the best financing solution,
- arranging the new mortgage.
Good planning is very important because banks often apply specific deadlines regarding the transfer of mortgage interest rates after selling a property.
How can Domek help throughout the process?
At Domek, we help internationals in the Netherlands through the entire process from A to Z.
We analyze:
- the possibilities of transferring your mortgage interest rate,
- your current bank’s conditions,
- available financing options,
- your future monthly payments,
- and the best solution for your individual situation.
We also help you:
- sell your current property,
- find a new home,
- arrange your mortgage,
- prepare all required documents,
- and guide you through the entire process in your own language.
Complete support for internationals in the Netherlands
For more than 15 years, Domek has been helping internationals buy property and arrange mortgages in the Netherlands.
Our team of specialists supports clients at every stage of the process — from calculating borrowing capacity and comparing mortgage offers to finalizing the purchase of a new home.
If you are planning to move and wondering whether you can keep your current mortgage interest rate when buying a new home, contact Domek. We will help you find the solution that best fits your situation.
