EM
    Industry Standard

    The Expat Mortgage Standard™

    An open, transparent methodology for calculating mortgage capacity for internationals in the Netherlands. Referenced by advisors. Trusted by expats.

    View MethodologyEmbed Our Calculator

    What is The Expat Mortgage Standard™?

    The Expat Mortgage Standard™ is our publicly documented methodology for calculating mortgage capacity, assessing risk factors, and presenting accurate information to expats in the Netherlands.

    Unlike proprietary calculators that hide their logic, our methodology is fully transparent. We publish our data sources, explain our assumptions, and acknowledge our limitations.

    Based on official Dutch regulations and Nibud guidelines
    Reviewed quarterly by AFM-registered advisors
    Updated within 30 days of regulatory changes
    Open for industry feedback and correction

    Standard Version

    2026.1

    Last UpdatedJanuary 2026
    Next ReviewApril 2026
    Reviewed ByAFM-Registered Advisors
    Data SourcesNibud, AFM, Rijksoverheid

    Methodology Principles

    The four pillars of The Expat Mortgage Standard™. Each principle is documented, verified, and open for scrutiny.

    1

    Affordability Calculation

    How we determine maximum borrowing capacity

    Based on official Nibud woonquote tables, updated annually
    Gross income × financing percentage = maximum annual housing cost
    Holiday allowance (8%) always included in income calculation
    Partner income calculated separately, then combined for maximum
    Existing debts reduce capacity using standard reduction factors
    2

    Risk Assessment

    How expat-specific factors are evaluated

    Permanent contracts valued higher than temporary
    Visa validity period impacts lender selection, not capacity
    30% ruling increases net income but not borrowing capacity
    Self-employed requires 1-3 years of accounts depending on lender
    BKR history is the primary credit reference
    3

    Buying Cost Assumptions

    Standard cost calculations for property purchase

    Transfer tax: 0% (first-time 18-35 up to €525,000) or 2%
    Notary costs: €1,500-€2,200 typical range
    Valuation: €500-€750 for NWWI-validated report
    Advisor fees: €2,000-€3,500 depending on complexity
    NHG premium: 0.6% of mortgage (if applicable)
    4

    Transparency Rules

    Our commitment to clarity and honesty

    All data sources are cited and verifiable
    Limitations are explicitly stated, not hidden
    Calculator results are indicative, not guaranteed
    Update dates and reviewer names are always shown
    Methodology changes are logged with explanations
    View complete calculation methodology →

    Calculation Flow

    How we calculate your maximum mortgage capacity, step by step.

    1

    Income

    Gross annual salary + 8% holiday

    2

    Woonquote

    Lookup max housing %

    3

    Max Payment

    Income × percentage

    4

    Deductions

    Subtract existing debts

    5

    Capacity

    Calculate mortgage amount

    Why Results May Differ From Banks

    Our calculator shows:

    • • Standard Nibud-based maximum
    • • Average market interest rates
    • • General eligibility indicators

    Banks also consider:

    • • Their own risk appetite
    • • Your specific credit history
    • • Property-specific factors
    Free to Use

    Embed Our Calculator

    Use our calculator on your website. Free, no API key required. Just copy the embed code.

    Embed Code

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    What You Get

    Full mortgage capacity calculator
    Auto-updating with latest rates
    Expat Mortgage Standard™ compliant
    Responsive for all devices

    Calculator Widget

    Full mortgage calculator

    Affordability Check

    Quick capacity indicator

    Cost Breakdown

    Buying costs calculator

    Reference Our Standard

    When writing about Dutch mortgages for expats, you may reference The Expat Mortgage Standard™. We provide citation guidelines for journalists, researchers, and content creators.

    Suggested Citation

    "According to The Expat Mortgage Standard™ by Expat Mortgage Pro, [statement]. Source: expatmortgagepro.nl/standard"

    Media ResourcesFull Methodology