Buying property in Nijmegen with a dedicated expert

Nijmegen's market changes a great deal from one neighbourhood to the next. Proximity to the centre, the station, the Heyendaal campus, the Waal and the hills drives prices and the buyer profile:

• Centrum / Benedenstad: the old town on the Waal, around the Grote Markt and the Stevenskerk. Older flats and flats above shops, studios, cafés and nightlife. The most expensive area for small units, popular with young professionals and investors.
• Bottendaal and Altrade: near the station, on the west side of the centre. nineteenth and early twentieth-century houses on narrow streets, highly sought after by young professionals. Many houses split into shared lets.
• Nijmegen-Oost: Galgenveld, Hunnerberg, Groenewoud and Hengstdal. Mansions, elegant streets and cafés, between the centre and the hills. The choice of couples and families with the budget: one of the most expensive areas.
• Hazenkamp, Brakkenstein, Kwakkenberg: to the south, near the campus. Residential and green, with villas in Kwakkenberg. Brakkenstein and Hazenkamp are convenient for working at Radboud University or Radboudumc.
• Heyendaal: the campus, mostly student residences such as Hoogeveldt, run by SSH&. Few properties to buy, but it drives rental demand in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
• Nijmegen-West: Wolfskuil, Biezen, Waterkwartier and Hees. Former working-class districts in full transformation, with many students and young professionals. Hees is more residential. A first-time buyer and investor profile.
• Lent and Nijmegen-Noord: the Waalsprong, on the north bank of the Waal, linked to the centre by the Waalbrug, De Oversteek and the Snelbinder cycle bridge. New districts, recent family houses and schools: the choice of families who want space.
• Dukenburg, Lindenholt, Hatert: to the south-west, districts built in the 60s and 70s, with affordable flats and houses, greenery and good bus links. Hatert is close to the A73. These are the lowest prices in the city.

For a first purchase, Dukenburg, Lindenholt and Nijmegen-West offer the best space for the price. For a family wanting a garden and schools, Lent and Nijmegen-Noord come first, with Nijmegen-Oost and Kwakkenberg for a bigger budget. For an investment, demand is concentrated around the centre, Bottendaal and the campus.

1. Set your budget and borrowing capacity: meet 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: Centrum, Benedenstad or Bottendaal for a flat, Lent, Nijmegen-Noord or Nijmegen-Oost for a family house, Dukenburg, Lindenholt or Nijmegen-West for a more affordable first purchase.
3. Search and view: most properties are listed on Funda. Viewings are booked through the seller's agent. The market moves fast: be ready to view within days of a property going on sale. A buyer's agent (aankoopmakelaar) can represent you, and the offer often goes through them.
4. Have the building surveyed: a bouwkundige keuring before or just after the offer identifies defects (foundations, damp, insulation in older houses) and costs the works. It can be included as a condition.
5. Make an offer: submit it to the seller's agent, with the price, your preferred handover date and your conditions (financing, survey). In Nijmegen, 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 handover: 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 Nijmegen, 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 loans as residents. Researchers and staff at Radboud University, Radboudumc or NXP Semiconductors are in this situation.
• With income from abroad: financing is possible, but there are fewer lenders, a larger deposit is required and the application takes longer. Foreign-currency income is often discounted. A mortgage adviser used to international cases saves a lot of time.
• Cross-border workers: Nijmegen is some twenty kilometres from Germany, and some buyers live on one side of the border and work on the other. Tax and lending rules depend on where you work and pay tax: have your situation checked before signing.
• Cash purchase: without a loan, the purchase is faster. The notary must still check 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 financed by the mortgage: you need to bring 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, and bear in mind that offers above the asking price are common in Nijmegen.

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 Nijmegen 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, but often used in Nijmegen, where offers frequently go through one. 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, especially for an older house.

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.