Buying a home on your own while being married: how German expat Antje bought a house in Haarlem
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Three years ago, Antje-Katrin Weigelt moved from Germany to the Netherlands for work. She left Munich and started renting an apartment in Amsterdam. Her husband remained in Germany, where he works as a pilot.
Buying a home in the Netherlands was not an obvious step for Antje. Yet she decided to do it.
We spoke with Antje about her experience as an expat purchasing a home in Haarlem on her own.
From paying a high monthly rent to a place of her own
“In Germany, it’s completely normal to rent,” Antje explains. “But here, rental prices are high and options are limited. Many people told me: if you plan to stay for a few years, buying often makes more sense.”
Still, she had to get used to the idea. “I’m almost 50, and this is my first home purchase. And on top of that, it’s in another country.”
Married, but buying independently
Antje purchased the property on her own. She and her husband have separate assets. Nevertheless, she had to deal with Dutch regulations: “In the Netherlands, a spouse often has to co-sign, even if your finances are separated and your marriage falls under German law. That took some figuring out.”
The differences between the two legal systems required additional explanation and coordination. “Maikel Ros coordinated with the notary, and gave me the confidence that everything was legally sound.”
Fast and fully supported
What stood out most to Antje was how efficient the process was. “In Germany, you still physically visit banks and the process of getting a mortgage can take months. Here, almost everything was done online and completed within a few weeks.”
She was introduced to De Hypotheekshop Haarlem Centrum through her real estate agent, Mooijekind Vleut. “They know each other, and you can tell. They coordinated behind the scenes, which really helped speed things up.”
In addition, she received more than just mortgage advice. “Maikel also advised me on insurance, connected me with a tax advisor, and took the time to go through everything carefully. When you’re signing documents in another language, trust is essential.”
Antje now has the keys to her home in Haarlem. Renovations have started and she will be moving in soon.
“Exciting? Absolutely. But above all, it was a very good decision.”
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