I nearly fell for that unbridled optimism Mr bank CEO!

Imagine a migrant with 30% ruling, he won't get the full benefit associated with mortgages in the Netherlands. So for him, it is best to wait until the benefit is completely removed, then he has a level playing field as he will not be discriminated against due to his 30% ruling.

I wonder how much of these predictions are actually based on real facts and how much they are a "common people... buy now or houses will be more expensive later!!". My guess is that they have no idea how to restart the economy and restore confidence in buyers.

Hope the politicians are paying attention to the news, banks and polls.

And I DAMN sure hope the Dutch voters are paying attention to the politicians when they vote!

We are!

There is no shortage, and there will be no shortage of homes. If anything there is a glut of homes for sale, and soon a glut of newly constructed and empty homes. Long term demographic changes related to low-birth rates, and de-suburbanization are only beginning. Rabobank desperately wants the public to double-down on the exurban Vinexwijken. why? NEW BLOOD to try and cover their book of terrible loans. DO NOT buy a house, and DO NOT listen to these greedy bankers and their complacent cheerleaders.

I believe avoiding packaged foods may be the first step in order to lose weight. They will often taste very good, but packaged foods have got very little vitamins and minerals, making you try to eat more only to have enough strength to get over the day. Should you be constantly taking in these foods, converting to cereals and other complex carbohydrates will let you have more strength while taking in less. Interesting blog post.

People should not worry about what the next government will do. That government will surely fall within 1-2 years, before they could screw up too much.

@Kevin: demographic changes mean more and more households are single-person.

As for your anti-suburban rant, it's just that: a rant. There are people with a variety of housing preference, I myself I'm going to move to a newly built town when I can afford the commute.

If there is no longer the huge mortgage advantage, people won't be looking to buy. They will want to rent. So I think the focus should be on ensuring rental property - at reasonable prices - is available. And we have less confidence in what bankers say about housing than we used to.

you'd have to be either really not too smart or desparate to go out and buy any sort of real estate in this country right now. the election is looming, the prices of houses keeps falling, falling, falling - and the even the future of the euro itself is uncertain. think it through carefully before you impulsively buy something that is worth 20-30% less in a few short years. we must think strategically because our banks and governments sure aren't. protect yourself people.

@Dork - what are you talking about? I just bought a house. Infact, if you have the 30% ruling, you have a lot of advantages and absolutely no disadvantages
30% ruling makes you eligible for NHG Mortgages - so interest rate is only 3.5%
Banks are happier to give you a higher limit because according to them, you have more money in your hand at the end of the month
Your tax return per month is just as good. a normal dutch guy can expect 50% of the interest returned and you can expect 40% of the interest returned
Let me know if you have any questions regarding this..

There are some idiots on here! Remember someone has to own a house before it can be rented!!!

Interest rates @3.5% is a bit very low? I think it is somewhere between 3.9 to 4.7%. I hear that ING now has a global one interest rate? You are talking about a year before?

@Fatality:

NHG gives me "up to" 0.6% reduction in interest rates but makes me pay "upfront and at once" 0.9% of the mortgage.

One may have 30% ruling and more money but what if he is NOT interested in more mortgage?

The main point is a normal Dutch without 30% deducts more interest from his tax while 30% holder has less benefit. The different is not transparent (most calculators don't tell how much is the net pay of a 30% holder) and I guess still too much.

Finally time is in favor of buyers and prices are going down.

@dork and Mr E - I just got a mortgage. 3.5% Abn-Amro, absolutely no payment up front, and I got a mortgage of 120% of the house price - for the house plus renovations. Regarding the tax return, I'm getting back only slightly less than the dutch guy without 30% ruling.(approx 40% of the interest as opposed to 50% of the interest for the dutch guy). The 30% ruling saves me far far more than that 10% difference. If you want to know more details, speak to an expat mortgages expert. There are a lot of false rumours regarding mortgages for expats. P.S - I dont even have a permanent contract and I'm non EU citizen

@dork:

Your flawed logic and lack of understanding of the time value of money is impressive. I deduct the same amount of interest (100%) as anyone without the 30% rule.

With the combined advantage of the 30% rule, interest tax deduction and NHG, I am able to aggressively pay off most of my principle in 10 years.

Paying interest on an unproductive asset such as a house is a waste of money, even with the tax deduction as it still comes out of your pocket.

Do the math.

Somebody actually complaining about receiving the 30% ruling? Dork, you truly live up to your namesake if you feel you are being discriminated against. Try how the rest of us live and you'll be BEGGING to go back to the 30% ruling.

Fatality: you truly are living behind your name here if you actually really just bought a home here now with the values falling dramatically! that is a pretty fatal mistake indeed in my opinion. you must have tons of money to lose or simply not care about your investment growing.

@TVM: I believe you logic in favor of NL to leave most of one's income in the NL. I am not surprised: many Dutch people were pushing me to buy a house hoping whatever I make as a foreigner goes back to the NL. Hell no!

Of course banks like to give more because they know I make more (and eventually they collect more interest) but I don't want to give my money back to the NL.

Next, why would I wanna pay in 10 years? I go for 30 years. Even if tragedy strikes I just leave the country , screw the NL. Your house is there. Enjoy!

Finally to the NVM cheerleaders out there: Yet again your tone and language speaks how "my logic is flawed" and how desperate you are to get ride of your concrete boxes at the cost of expats' financial well being, dream on.