The housing market is growing slowly, which means that houses are sometimes on the market for longer. Reason enough for the Dutch Cooperative Association of Real Estate Agents and Valuers (NVM) to organize another Open House Day after three years.
Assenaar Jarno Sloots is one of the participants in the open day. He moves back to Borger with his wife and child. “Family expansion is on the way and my parents – who still live in Borger – will need more care in the coming years”, he explains his return to his roots.
It was not easy to find a home in Borger. “We have been working on it for at least three years,” says Sloots. “Then Wim suddenly called and asked if we could come and have a look again. That was bingo.”
Wim is Wim Suursma, a real estate agent in Assen and a member of the NVM. According to him, the Open House Day is a success. “Here in the north, one in six houses for sale is participating.”
The supply is growing, Suursma sees. “It is nice for the buyer that he has something to choose from again. Especially in times of corona things went very quickly with homes.”
Now it is cooling off somewhat, although there is no question of a ‘buying stop’. “Some homes are on the market for longer, but that has to do with all kinds of factors. A less common place or finish, for example. And of course the energy label. That was already important, but is even more important for buyers.”
Sloots has had his house for sale since August. The interest is not disappointing, but there has not yet been a buyer who really took the plunge. “People are a bit more hesitant these days. I think that is also due to the energy costs.”
His house on the Talmastraat in Assen (‘a quiet neighborhood, close to the shopping center’) has already had several viewers over the floor. By noon this afternoon, no one had come to the Open House. Sloots is not worried. “I know people will come this afternoon. And yesterday we happened to have another viewer.”
Makelaar Stuursma advises buyers to pay attention to the mortgage interest, which has gone up in the past two weeks. “We saw three increases in two weeks at lenders. If you went to the mortgage adviser two months ago for advice, it may well be that you can offer less now.”
That’s why: “First call the advisor to see if the mortgage amount you can offer is still feasible.”