Buying a house as a senior

Are you over 55 looking to buy a new home or adjust your mortgage? At Crefin & Partners, we think in terms of solutions for buying a home as a senior.

As a mortgage advisor, we help you find a mortgage that fits your (pension) income. Make an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation and discover your options.

Mortgage options for seniors
Taking out a new mortgage or adjusting your current one is perfectly fine, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

Your maximum mortgage changes from age 57
From around age 57, lenders look not only at your current income but also at your pension income. Is that lower? Then this is taken into account when determining your maximum mortgage. Banks do this to prevent you from being left with excessive costs later on.

NHG can offer extra security
Are you moving and are your housing costs staying the same or decreasing, for example because you are moving to a smaller home? Then a mortgage with National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) can be interesting. In that case, the lender is allowed to base the calculation on your actual housing costs, which can offer more options.

Extra income can help
Are you continuing to work after reaching state pension age? This income usually does not count towards your mortgage. Fortunately, there are other sources of income that can help, such as: income from an annuity or bank savings product, returns from investments, savings, or other assets.

Buying a house as a senior: a step-by-step plan

We make buying a house as a senior as easy as possible. This is the step-by-step plan:

We look at your (pension) income and housing preferences. Do you want to downsize? Then make an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation, so you can have clarity soon.

With your budget, you start looking for a house. A buyer's agent can help you with this, but you can also search on your own. Visit multiple houses to find your ideal place.

Found your dream home? Our Mortgage Advisor helps you with advice on a smart offer, tells you how far you can go, and gives you some negotiation tips.
Has your offer been accepted? We compare 40 banks to find the best mortgage, taking your (pension) income into account. You provide the documents, we do the rest.

Upon approval, you will receive the mortgage offer. After signing, your mortgage is almost finalized.

At the notary, you sign the deed of transfer and the mortgage deed. After that, your new house is yours!
You have the key! Time to furnish your new home and move into your new place, where you can thoroughly enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

How much does it cost to buy a house as a senior?
Buying a home involves additional costs, such as mortgage advice, notary fees, a valuation, and potentially transfer tax. At Crefin & Partners, you pay a fixed price for advice. Moreover, these costs are often tax-deductible. View our rates page for more information.

Buying a house as a senior: frequently asked questions

Yes, banks calculate based on your pension income from age 57, but there are options. Our Mortgage Advisor would be happy to review and discuss your possibilities.
NHG stands for Nationale Hypotheek Garantie. This is a fund that pays out to the bank if you, as the mortgage holder, can no longer meet your monthly payments. As a result, you are not left with a residual debt and the bank faces less risk. With NHG (up to a home value of €450,000 in 2025), you can also borrow more if your housing costs remain the same. Crefin & Partners would be happy to explain the further benefits and workings of the NHG to you in a personal consultation.

Refinancing a savings mortgage is not advantageous in most cases. Our Mortgage Advisor will be happy to calculate this for you and provide a clear explanation.
Our first consultation is free. For advice and mediation, you pay a fixed price, which is tax-deductible and can be found on our rates page.