Mortgage applications in the Netherlands fell sharply in January compared to the same month last year, according to figures from the Mortgage Data Network (HDN)—a digital platform that handles around 85 percent of all Dutch mortgage requests to streamline secure data sharing between lenders, brokers and borrowers. Applications to buy a home in particular declined by more than a quarter year-on-year.
In January, a total of 36,412 applications were submitted via HDN, almost 17 percent fewer than a year earlier. January 2025 had been a record month, driven by exceptionally favourable mortgage rates. Even in December 2025, the level of activity remained high, with 43,871 applications.
Of last month’s total, 20,511 applications came from home buyers. As a result, their share fell to 56 percent, down from a stable average of around 63 percent in recent months. Applications for new-build homes almost halved to 2,488—the lowest number recorded since 2023.
The ongoing shortage of available properties continues to make it difficult for many people to buy a home. House prices have also risen sharply in recent years. According to HDN, the average market value of owner-occupied homes in January was €511,750. This figure is only slightly higher than a year ago and lower than in previous months. However, HDN cautioned against reading too much into that decline. “This dip does not directly indicate structurally falling house prices. Temporary fluctuations in housing supply can affect average market value,” the organisation said, describing the figures instead as “a quiet start to 2026.”
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
