Buying property in Enschede with a dedicated expert

Enschede's market varies a great deal from one neighbourhood to another. Proximity to the centre, the station, the University of Twente campus and the parks shapes both prices and buyer profiles:

• Centrum / binnenstad: flats above shops and studios around the Oude Markt and the Van Heekplein. Student life, restaurants and nightlife on foot. The most expensive area per m² for small units, popular with young professionals and investors.
• Roombeek: north of the centre, rebuilt after the 2000 disaster and now a showcase of contemporary architecture. Modern flats and recent houses next to the Rijksmuseum Twenthe. Popular with couples and young professionals who want something new.
• De Laares, Hogeland, Velve-Lindenhof: to the east and south-east, quiet residential streets and houses with gardens. Hogeland has period mansions and villas close to town. The natural choice for families, with prices above the city average.
• Lasonder-Zeggelt and Boddenkamp: to the west, near the station and Saxion. Workers' houses, often split into rooms. Lower prices, strong student rental demand, an investor profile.
• Twekkelerveld: to the north-west, on the way to the campus. Affordable, popular with young professionals and first-time buyers working at the UT or Kennispark Twente.
• Wesselerbrink and Stroinkslanden: to the south, 1960s and 1970s districts with some of the most affordable family houses in the city and local shopping centres.
• Glanerbrug: to the east, towards the German border. A small town with cheaper houses, popular with cross-border workers.
• Lonneker: to the north-east, a green village within the municipality, with family and detached houses and a country feel a few minutes from the centre.

For a first purchase, Twekkelerveld, Wesselerbrink or Stroinkslanden offer the best space for the price. For a family wanting peace and a garden, look first at De Laares, Velve-Lindenhof and Lonneker. For an investment, demand is concentrated around the centre, Saxion and the campus.

1. Set your budget and borrowing capacity: see a mortgage adviser before viewing. They calculate how much you can borrow based on your income and situation, so you don't make an offer the bank won't back. Budget separately for purchase costs, 4 to 6% of the price for a main residence.
2. Choose your neighbourhoods: the centre and Roombeek for a flat; De Laares, Hogeland, Velve-Lindenhof or Lonneker for a family house; Twekkelerveld or Wesselerbrink for a more affordable first purchase.
3. Search and view: most properties are listed on Funda. Viewings are booked with the seller's agent. Well-located family houses go quickly: be ready to view within days of listing. A buyer's agent (aankoopmakelaar) can represent you.
4. Have the building surveyed: a bouwkundige keuring before or just after the offer reveals defects and costs the works. It can be included as a condition in the purchase agreement.
5. Make an offer: it goes to the seller's agent, with the price, your preferred handover date and your conditions (financing, survey). On sought-after family homes, an offer above the asking price is common.
6. Sign the purchase agreement (koopovereenkomst): once agreed, the written agreement sets the price, the transfer date and the conditions. A private buyer then has a 3-day cooling-off period to withdraw without penalty.
7. Pay the 10% deposit: a waarborgsom or bank guarantee of 10% of the price is lodged with the notary, usually a few weeks after signing.
8. Finalise the mortgage: the bank orders the valuation (taxatie) and issues the final loan offer. Keep to the condition deadlines in the agreement.
9. Sign the deed at the notary: on transfer day, the notary has the deed of transfer signed (and the mortgage deed if there is a loan), receives the funds and pays the seller. A power of attorney lets you sign without being present.
10. Kadaster registration and keys: the notary registers the deed with the land registry (Kadaster), which makes the transfer of ownership effective. You receive the keys and become the owner.

There is no legal restriction on a foreign national buying property in Enschede, whether or not they already live in the Netherlands. The real question is financing: Dutch banks lend readily to people who work in the country, far more cautiously to non-residents.

• With a job in the Netherlands: the simplest case. With an employment contract, a BSN and a Dutch bank account, you have access to the same mortgages as residents. Researchers and staff at the University of Twente, Kennispark Twente or the MST hospital are in this position.
• With income from abroad: financing is possible, but fewer lenders take it on, the required deposit is higher and the application takes longer. Foreign-currency income is often counted at a discount. A mortgage adviser used to international cases saves a lot of time.
• Cross-border workers: in Enschede, a few kilometres from Germany, many buyers live on one side of the border and work on the other. Tax and mortgage rules depend on where you work and pay tax: have your situation checked before signing.
• Cash purchase: without a mortgage, the purchase is faster. The notary must still verify the source of funds, with bank statements and supporting documents.

A few rules to know:

• Purchase costs, 4 to 6% of the price for a main residence, generally cannot be covered by the mortgage: you need to fund them yourself.
• Mortgage interest relief is reserved for the main residence. A second home or buy-to-let does not qualify, and has carried 8% transfer tax since 1 January 2026.
• The bank always orders a valuation (taxatie) of the property, which sets the value used for the loan.
• A financing condition in the purchase agreement protects you if the bank refuses the loan. With an international file, allow more time than usual.

Start with a simulation with a mortgage adviser before any viewing: it will tell you what budget to aim for and which documents to gather.

Buying property in Enschede involves several professionals. Their fees come on top of the price and form part of the purchase costs, which total 4 to 6% of the price for a main residence, transfer tax included. Here is who does what:

• Buyer's agent (aankoopmakelaar): optional. Searches for and shortlists properties, accompanies you on viewings, analyses the price, negotiates and reviews the purchase agreement. Paid as a percentage of the price or a fixed fee, to be agreed in writing before starting.
• Notary (notaris): mandatory. Drafts and has the deed of transfer signed and, if there is a loan, the mortgage deed, handles the funds and registers the sale with the Kadaster. Fees vary by office: compare several quotes.
• Mortgage adviser (hypotheekadviseur): compares loans and prepares the bank application, for a fixed or percentage fee.
• Valuer (taxateur): produces the valuation the bank requires.
• Building surveyor: carries out the bouwkundige keuring, optional but advised.

The seller's agent (verkoopmakelaar) is paid by the seller: the buyer does not pay their fees.

What your Remoters home finder does

Remoters puts you in touch with a home finder based locally who speaks your language. Depending on what the quote covers, they:

• search for you through agencies, owners and local platforms such as Funda;
• view properties on your behalf, with photos or video and detailed feedback on the home and the area;
• help you prepare your file and present your application;
• support you through to signing, working with local professionals.

The first conversation and the quote are free and with no commitment. The home finder sets their price and writes it in the quote, with what is included. Payment is made online through the platform, never directly to the home finder. Notary, agent and surveyor fees and transfer tax are not included.