Which debts affect taking out a mortgage?

If you’re planning to buy a house and need a mortgage, it’s important to keep in mind that your debts will partly determine how much you can borrow and therefore whether or not you can afford your dream home.

What is actually considered as a debt? We all understand a student debt or a loan, but there are also ‘debts’ that you probably haven’t even thought of.

Therefore, we list below the most common debts that lenders consider when granting a mortgage.

Student debt

The student loan is the most common debt among people who want to take out a mortgage. The average student debt in the Netherlands is around 15,000 euros. How much your debt affects your mortgage depends on when you started your studies.

The student loan is registered with the DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), but this is not a formal registration like with the BKR (Bureau Krediet Registratie). Make sure that when you apply for your mortgage, you always disclose any student debt you have, so your mortgage advisor can make a correct calculation of your maximum mortgage and you won’t face any payment issues later on.

Lease car

Something less obvious as a debt is your lease car. “But this too is registered for 100% of the total lease amount with the BKR. The bank assumes 2% as the monthly expense of the total lease amount, which you therefore cannot spend on the mortgage, resulting in a reduced borrowing capacity.

Overdraft at the bank

If you have the possibility to have an overdraft at your bank, this will be registered with the BKR as well. The bank looks at the maximum amount you are allowed to be overdrawn, not whether you are actually overdrawn or have been in the past.

Some banks offer the possibility of overdraft as a standard feature, and therefore it is also standardly included as a debt. So, check if you really need this option and perhaps consider having it removed. You might be able to borrow less because of it, which would be a shame if you don’t actually use this facility.

Credit card debt

Your credit card can also affect the amount of your mortgage. This is the case when you have a credit card that allows you to pay off in multiple installments. That’s called a revolving credit. It works the same with a credit card as it does with an overdraft.

The limit of your credit card is considered in the calculation of your maximum mortgage, not the debt you have on it at that moment. Your credit card is also registered with the BKR, where banks perform a check for every mortgage application.

Revolving and non-revolving credit

A revolving credit is a loan without an end date where you agree on a limit. Every month, you pay interest and principal, just like with a mortgage. You can decide each month whether or not to withdraw money, and if so, how much.

Do you have a revolving credit at the time you take out a mortgage? Then, just like with the credit card and overdraft, the bank takes your credit limit as the measure for calculating the maximum mortgage.

A non-revolving credit, or a personal loan, is similar to a revolving credit, but it’s a loan where you have agreed on an end date. When you take out a mortgage, the initial amount of the entire non-revolving credit is also taken as the starting point.

Alimony

Alimony may not sound like a debt, but because it’s a monthly payment, just like a mortgage, it is considered as a debt. The amount of alimony is deducted from the total monthly expenses so that it’s clear how much can be spent on the mortgage each month.

Smartphone with a subscription

This is also something most people don’t see coming. Since 2014, your mobile phone subscription has also been included in the calculation of the maximum amount you can borrow. This concerns subscriptions where you pay for the device in monthly installments.

The subscription costs for calling and internet do not count. In the calculation of your borrowing capacity, a loan is considered for the entire term of your thirty-year mortgage. So, think carefully if this is a good idea when you are about to sign your next subscription.

There are still more debts.

The list we’ve provided here can be further supplemented with other debts that you probably, just like with your mobile phone, have never thought about. Do you have other fixed expenses? Keep in mind that they can affect what you are allowed to borrow.

It’s a good idea to map out all your expenses together with your mortgage advisor. Then, based on this information, they can make a good estimate of the maximum amount you can borrow. This way, you can be sure that you are buying a house for which you can actually secure a mortgage.

Tip: Calculate how much you can borrow for a mortgage.

Nobel Mortgages

To ensure you don’t encounter any surprises, you need a mortgage advisor who thoroughly investigates all debts and hidden expenses for you! Noble Mortgages is that advisor!

Because we at Nobel Mortgages are here to assist you by providing high-quality financial advice and thinking along with you in every aspect. We always go the extra mile for our (potential) clients, truly analyze all possibilities and, when necessary, always think outside the box.

In this way, we ensure that we can achieve what others cannot. In other words, we are fully dedicated to helping you obtain the best mortgage or loan that suits you perfectly and, of course, aligns completely with your situation and preferences.

Do you also want an advisor who looks outside the box and really analyzes all the possibilities for you? Then contact our experienced and enthusiastic team soon.

We are available to you 24 hours a day with the utmost commitment and sincere attention. An e-mail is a snap to info@nobelhypotheken.nl or call or app to 06-54770122.