Mortgage: what should you pay attention to?

When you want to take the step to buy your first home as a starter, you should know that
banks look closely at your financial situation. This is what they pay attention to, among other
things:
• Do you have a student loan with DUO, for example? Then this counts toward your monthly
expenses, and you can borrow less because of it (Hypotheken, 2025).
• Or are you buying, for example, such an older home with a poor energy label and do you
want to make it more sustainable? Then you are often allowed to borrow a bit extra
(depending on your energy label) for energy-saving measures such as insulation or solar
panels. Furthermore, you must always take into account additional costs for maintenance and
possible renovation (Ministerie van Algemene Zaken, 2024).

In short: calculate your maximum mortgage (this can be done via our HBB website), check
the condition of the home. In addition, you can future-proof your home by planning for
sustainability, which ensures greater comfort, lower energy costs and a higher resale value.

Your opportunity as a first-time buyer

In conclusion, this means that more homes are becoming available for first-time buyers
because landlords are selling their properties. This may be an opportunity for you to finally
obtain your own home. But as explained above, you must be careful. Some homes need
maintenance or have high energy costs.

At HBB, we see this change as an opportunity for the well-prepared buyer. We'll help you
overcome the pitfall of a poor energy rating and transform it into a comfortable and energy
efficient home. This is better for the environment, and better for your wallet. Schedule an
appointment soon.