When you make an offer on a home in the Netherlands, the seller and their estate agent want reassurance that you can afford it. A proof of financing statement helps give them that confidence. Known in Dutch as a financieringsverklaring or financiële verklaring, it shows that a mortgage advisor has assessed your finances. At Belderbrandt, we only issue one after reviewing your circumstances in detail, so the seller's estate agent knows there is substance behind your offer.
What is a financieringsverklaring?
A financieringsverklaring is a statement from your mortgage advisor setting out how much you can afford to spend on a home, based on your income, financial commitments and available funds. You can submit it with your offer or provide it if the estate agent asks for it.
You may also hear it called a financiële verklaring. This refers to the same document. Some estate agents use the terms financieringsbewijs or hypotheekverklaring.
The statement is not a formal mortgage offer from a lender. That comes later, once your offer on the property has been accepted and your mortgage application has been assessed. It does, however, show that a mortgage advisor has checked your finances and assessed what you can afford.
Why do sellers ask for one?
Sellers want confidence that the sale will go through. If a buyer cannot secure a mortgage and the sale falls through, the property may have to go back on the market. That means more time, expense and uncertainty.
When a seller receives several offers, the price is only part of the decision. They also consider:
- how likely you are to secure the financing you need;
- any conditions attached to your offer, such as a financing condition (financieringsvoorbehoud);
- how soon you can complete the purchase.
A statement based on a thorough financial assessment can make your offer more reassuring to the seller.
How we prepare your statement
An online mortgage calculator can give you an estimate in minutes. Estate agents know that an estimate is only a starting point. Before we issue a statement, we take a closer look at your finances.
- An initial consultation. We discuss your plans, income, regular outgoings and the funds you have available towards the purchase.
- A review of your documents. We review your payslips, employer's statement (werkgeversverklaring) or annual accounts. If you are self-employed, we assess your income using the criteria a Dutch mortgage lender would apply.
- An affordability assessment. We check your BKR credit record and calculate how much you can borrow under the current Dutch lending rules.
- Your statement. Once we have completed our assessment, we issue a dated statement in your name, setting out the amount you can afford.
Want help with the offer itself? That's what our purchase guidance is for: we act as your buying agent.
If your circumstances change or your property search takes longer than expected, we review the statement and update it where needed.
From our experience A home by the Piushaven in Tilburg
One of our clients wanted to buy a sought-after home by the Piushaven in Tilburg. The seller received several offers. Our client's offer was slightly below the highest, but the difference was small.
The seller's estate agent knew us and had read our financing statement. Our assessment gave her confidence that our client was in a strong position to complete the purchase. The seller chose the reassurance of a well-prepared buyer over a slightly higher price and accepted our client's offer.
We arranged the mortgage within three weeks and let the sellers know straight away. They were delighted and told us that a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
That is the value of a carefully prepared statement: it gives the seller a reason to feel more confident about choosing your offer.
Proof of financing and the financing condition
A proof of financing statement is not a substitute for a financing condition (financieringsvoorbehoud). The statement explains your financial position; the condition allows you to withdraw from the purchase under the agreed terms if you cannot obtain your mortgage.
Before you make an offer, we discuss whether to include this condition and how much time to allow for arranging your mortgage. Careful preparation helps you understand the risks and make an informed decision.
Book your first consultation
Want to make an offer with confidence? We can help you understand your budget and prepare a statement that supports your offer.
Book a free, no-obligation first consultation at our office in the Interpolis building in Tilburg, at your home or via Teams. We are happy to guide you through the process in English.
