The average price of existing owner‑occupied homes in the Netherlands fell below the half‑million‑euro threshold in the first quarter. According to new figures from the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents (NVM), homes sold for an average of about €485,000.
House prices had climbed above €500,000 at the end of last year, when buyers were still paying more than €503,000 on average. While a price dip in the first quarter is typical, the NVM notes that this year’s decline is noticeably sharper. Over the past five years, the average first‑quarter drop was closer to 1 percent. Compared with the same period last year, however, prices are still around 3 percent higher, equal to roughly €10,000.
Regional Differences
In roughly half of the country, particularly in the west and north, sales were lower than a year ago. Parts of the east and south saw modest growth instead. Around 34,600 homes changed hands in the first quarter, a drop of 27 percent compared with the final months of 2025. The NVM cites several factors, ranging from wintery weather conditions, delaying photography and viewings, rising mortgage rates, lower consumer confidence, and broader geopolitical uncertainty. “Buyers are postponing purchases more often and taking fewer risks,” the association added.
More Balance
Housing supply increased by more than 20 percent in January, February, and March compared with the same months last year. According to the NVM, this is largely because properties are taking longer to sell.
Lana Goutsmits‑Gerssen, chair of the NVM Housing Group, says the larger supply is helping restore balance to the market. “Buyers are getting more choice and more time to make a decision, which seems to be easing the hectic pace of recent years”.
Buyers also had to overbid slightly less frequently. The average price of new‑build homes remained relatively stable at around €488,000, though the price per square metre continued to rise as new homes have become smaller. Supply in the new‑build segment grew to the highest level since 2016.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
