Why do you need a notary in Amsterdam?
Why you need a notary in Amsterdam
In this article, we will explain the need of a notary in Amsterdam. Realizing your dreams of owning your own home is satisfying, but the purchase of buying a house is an important decision in life, but becoming the owner is not that simple.
In Amsterdam, it is customary for the notary to draw up the purchase agreement after which it is signed by both parties at the notary’s office. Subsequently, the notary takes care of the implementation of the stipulated agreements as laid down in the agreement. The notary records this in a deed of delivery.
Only after signing the deed at the notary’s office and registering the deed in the public registers of the Land Registry, you are the owner of the new house! If you take out a loan for the purchase, a mortgage deed will usually also be required.
The mortgage deed gives the lender (usually a bank) the certainty that you meet all your contractual obligations. A mortgage deed is often required when you already own a house but want to borrow extra money. The mortgage deed will also be registered in the public registers of the Land Registry after it has been signed at the notary’s office.
In most cases, the buyer determines which notary is involved in the transfer. Whether or not a broker is involved in the transfer, you can always contact the notary directly for advice or consultation about other matters such as family law.
NOTE: all the money involved in a housing transaction travels via the escrow account of the notary, no third parties are involved.
Do you have any questions about a notary in Amsterdam? Ask our Experts.
7 Steps to your mortgage
It all starts with a number. Here are 7 steps to get your mortgage done.
Video transcript of 7 Steps to your mortgage
hi are you an expert wanting to buy Dutch property then here are seven easy steps to success step 1 determine your budget find out your gross annual income work out how much you want to spend and schedule a meeting with us it's free of charge step 2 when looking for your perfect property you could either do it yourself on the internet or let us help you by introducing you to an estate agent or Makelaar as they're called here step 3 this is where the fun begins bidding and buying but to be honest this is where your trusty estate agent might well come in useful it's a jungle out there step 4 and this is where we at expat mortgages get very excited it's the mortgage application process we will make sure that everything goes smoothly and don't worry all the paperwork will be in English step 5 once everything has been approved you then have to have a meeting with a notary signed some papers and then the keys are yours and it's time to celebrate wahoo and by the way the drinks are on us step 6 is arranging your taxes for the first two years and free of charge we will happily organize a tax refund for your mortgage related costs and the final step we will reach out to you every year just to make sure that you are okay but if you have any questions in the meantime then just give us a call expat mortgages makes you feel at home.
Do you have any questions? Attend to our events or request a personal session!
Questions About the bidding proces? Ask Monique Burgemeester
About bidding for a property in the Netherlands
The bidding process for a property is relatively easy if you use a real estate agent. He or she can help you to place a good bid, based on the market value and not on the asking price. It is not done to bid on more than one house at the same time.
If you place a bid and your bid is accepted, the seller (or the seller's agent) will usually negotiate exclusively with you. If your bid is not what the seller expected he or she will decline the bid and you are free to make another bid. The seller can accept other bids if your bid is declined.
Bidding for a property the process
In this overheated market, the seller often arranges for a tender. That means that all interested buyers have one change to present their best bid before a certain closing time. After that closing time, the seller will pick the best and will proceed with the buyer who has won the tender. Bidding is not only about the price. The preconditions are also important for a seller. Flexibility, % percentage of restrictions on finance and also knowing you actually can pay for the house are things sellers will be happy with.
Your bid has succeeded
If you won the bid: HURRAH!!!, but not too loud. A verbal agreement or email confirmation is not binding for the seller and buyer. It is a gentlemen’s agreement and in The Netherlands, it is common to shake hands and stick with it, but … only a signed purchase agreement is legally binding. So, make sure you will sign the purchase agreement asap and keep your fingers crossed!
After signing a purchase agreement the seller has to keep his or her fingers crossed because the buyer has a 3 working days consideration time. We call that a cooling off period or in Dutch: “3 dagen bedenktijd”. During that period the buyer may cancel the agreement without any reasons or costs.
WARNING: Do not bid without restrictions of finance if you cannot afford it. If you need more information, please feel free to send us an email
At How To Buy A House we regularly hold events in the Netherlands for expats who are thinking about buying a home in the Netherlands. Check out our home page for the event's agenda.
We also have an active Facebook community group where you can ask any questions you may have about buying a home in the Netherlands. Feel free to join our Facebook group.
My offer on a house has been accepted, what happens now?
Your offer on a house is accepted by the seller! Great news! Still, make sure you sign the sale and purchase agreement as soon as possible to be sure you are the buyer. Let me tell you what to do.
Transcript offer on a house:
Hello my name is Barry Burgemeester I'm a real estate agent and I specialize in helping experts find the dream home once your offer of a house has been
accepted you have to sign a contract so you your agent the seller and their agent will meet at the notary's office to sign the contract the purchase and
sale agreement the notary is a type of lawyer and the contract gives you three days to change your money the contract also includes a clause saying the
transaction is subject to financing that gives you a period of time to arrange your mortgage this is usually four weeks it might sound like a long time but there's a lot of paperwork to go through once all that is done you go to the notary again and sign a final deal it might sound complicated but I can help you go through it all very smoothly feel free to get in touch!
About Barry Burgemeester, burgemeestervastgoed.nl - Certified member of Expat Oriented Organisation Certification
Barry Burgemeester is a certified real estate agent with 23 years’ working experience. 18 years ago, he made the switch from a predominantly Dutch clientele to an exclusively international one. Helping expats purchase homes has remained his passion and his strength.
Barry has invited a number of friends in the housing sector to help him inform/educate you about buying a house.
Freehold and Leasehold: What is the difference?
Freehold and Leasehold: What is the difference? If you buy a house in Amsterdam not all the land you buy a house on is yours. The choice of property is either freehold (eigen grond) or leasehold (erfpacht). Here I will explain the difference.
We will provide all the information you need in order to buy your dream house. Feel at home while shopping around; we will make sure to have some drinks, snacks and even a nanny service ready for you so you’ll have nothing to worry about and be able to talk with our partners. All the experts you need to meet under one roof. Ask them questions related to your particular situation. Buy better by being better informed.
Barry Burgemeester is a certified real estate agent with 23 years’ working experience. 18 years ago, he made the switch from a predominantly Dutch clientele to an exclusively international one. Helping expats purchase homes has remained his passion and his strength.
Barry has invited a number of friends in the housing sector to help him inform/educate you about buying a house.
Do you want a free session with a real estate agent? Check out available sessions.
Why do I have to go to a notary to sign the contracts?
Notary sign contracts: In Amsterdam the notary is a VIP. The purchase and sales agreement is signed at the office of a notary and also all money travels through the notaries account. I will explain you why.
Barry Burgemeester, Burgemeester Vastgoed
Transcript of the video on notary sign contracts:
Hello! My name is Barry Burgemeester, I'm a real estate agent and I help Expats find their dream home! In Dutch law property ownership process through notaries, a type of lawyer who is specialized in civil contracts. When you've got your mortgage we will visit the property again to check if everything is as we agreed. We also read the gas, electricity and water meters. Then we plus the seller and the agent go back to the notary to sign the "Akte Van Levering", the deed of transfer and the mortgage papers. Dutch law states that this must be done by a notary and if you don't speak Dutch, a translator will also be needed. Once the Akte Van Levering has been signed, you will get the keys and your dream home will be yours! Formally, this is where my job ends. Let's see if we can team up and can get started!
Buying a home is a big step. We understand that it is hard to find your way around. You can find a lot of information online and from expats experts. However, Are all of these companies trustable? Who is good and who is not? We started the Expat Oriented Organisation register (EOO) to help you out.
The EOO certification ensures that expats are working with organisations who are credible, provide outstanding services and understand the needs of expats.