National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG): a lower mortgage rate and extra security

You'll probably only take out a mortgage a few times in your life. So you want to be sure you're making the right choice. Do you qualify for the Nationale Hypotheek Garantie (NHG), the National Mortgage Guarantee? Then it often brings two important benefits: a lower mortgage rate and extra financial security if you unexpectedly run into trouble.

Still, NHG isn't automatically the best choice in every situation. The conditions differ per property, mortgage, and personal situation. That's why our independent mortgage advisors always compare mortgages with and without NHG. This way you know for sure you're choosing the mortgage that suits you best.

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What is the National Mortgage Guarantee?

The Nationale Hypotheek Garantie, usually abbreviated to NHG, is a guarantee on your mortgage. Are you buying a home that falls within the current NHG cost limit and do you meet the conditions? Then you can take out a mortgage with NHG.

This guarantee offers benefits for both you and the lender. Because the bank runs less risk, many mortgage lenders will give you a discount on the mortgage rate (in Dutch) . NHG also offers extra support if circumstances such as divorce, incapacity for work, unemployment, or the death of a partner mean you can no longer pay your mortgage payments.

Do you eventually have to sell your home at a loss? Then NHG can, under certain conditions, help resolve any remaining debt. This way, NHG acts as an extra safety net when things get financially tight.

Couple receiving the keys to their new home

Why do so many home buyers choose NHG?

A mortgage with NHG is popular, and not without reason. The combination of lower monthly payments and extra security makes NHG attractive to many buyers.

Lower mortgage rate

Because the lender runs less risk, many banks give you a lower mortgage rate (in Dutch) than without NHG. The rate difference may seem small, but over the full term of a mortgage it can really add up.

Extra security

Nobody expects to become unemployed, seriously ill, or to go through a divorce (in Dutch) . Yet it can happen. In such situations, NHG works together with the lender to find a suitable solution to prevent financial problems as much as possible.

Responsible borrowing

A mortgage with NHG is assessed against clear standards. This way you know your mortgage matches your income and financial situation.

Also worthwhile if you're not a first-time buyer

Many people think NHG is only meant for first-time buyers (in Dutch) . That's not true. Even if you're moving to a next home or refinancing your mortgage, you can often still make use of NHG.

When do you qualify for NHG?

Not every mortgage automatically qualifies for NHG. You need to meet a number of conditions.

In most cases, this means:

the property becomes your main residence;
the property falls within the applicable NHG cost limit;
your mortgage meets the NHG conditions;
your income is sufficient to support the mortgage.

Additional conditions sometimes apply as well, for example with new-build homes, renovations, or refinancing an existing mortgage.

During a mortgage advice conversation, we immediately check whether NHG is possible and financially worthwhile in your situation.

NHG limit 2026

Not every property qualifies for NHG. A maximum cost limit applies.

In 2026, the NHG limit is € 470,000.

Are you financing energy-saving measures as part of your mortgage? Then the maximum mortgage can go up to € 498,200, provided the extra amount is used entirely for making the home more sustainable (in Dutch) .

The cost limit applies to the total financing of the property. Additional rules sometimes apply for new-build homes and renovations. It's therefore wise to have your options calculated in advance.

Does NHG suit your situation?

Whether NHG is worthwhile depends on more than just the purchase price of the property. Your income, savings, mortgage type, and future plans also play a role.

Our advisors compare dozens of lenders every day, so you can see straight away whether a mortgage with NHG is actually more advantageous than one without. In some situations, NHG delivers a substantial benefit; in other cases, a mortgage without NHG is more attractive.

What does the National Mortgage Guarantee cost?

For a mortgage with NHG, you pay a one-off guarantee premium, known in Dutch as the borgtochtprovisie. In 2026, this is 0.4% of the total mortgage amount.

Say you take out a mortgage of € 400,000. Then you pay € 1,600 in NHG costs.

At first glance, that may look like a considerable amount. Still, many home buyers earn this back through the lower mortgage rate they receive. What's more, the costs for NHG, like many other costs involved in taking out a mortgage, are tax-deductible under certain conditions.

Whether NHG is actually worthwhile for you depends on several factors. That's why we look not just at the costs, but at the full financial picture.

How much can you save in interest with NHG?

One of the biggest advantages of NHG is the rate discount many lenders offer. Because the bank runs less risk, you often pay a lower mortgage rate (in Dutch) than with a comparable mortgage without NHG.

How big that benefit is exactly varies by lender and fixed-rate period (in Dutch) . With some banks, the difference is limited, while other lenders offer a significantly higher discount.

Even if the rate difference is only a few tenths of a percent, that can add up to thousands of euros over a thirty-year term. You don't just benefit from lower monthly payments, you also pay less interest over the full term.

That's why we always compare multiple lenders. Not just on rate, but on conditions too. A mortgage with the lowest rate isn't automatically the best mortgage.

We compare, among other things:

the current mortgage rate;
the conditions for extra repayments;
the options for taking your mortgage with you when you move;
the fixed-rate periods;
the total monthly payments over the full term.

This way you know for sure you're not just getting a good deal today, but in the future too.

Is NHG always the best choice?

Many people think you should always choose NHG whenever it's possible. In practice, it's more nuanced than that.

In most situations, NHG is financially attractive, but there are also cases where a mortgage without NHG suits your wishes better or works out more favourably.

That can be the case, for example, when:

a lender without NHG offers a sharper rate;
you're buying a property above the NHG limit;
your personal situation is better suited to a mortgage without NHG;
you wouldn't recoup the NHG costs through the rate difference.

That's why we always compare both options during mortgage advice. You get independent advice based on your personal situation, not based on a single product or a single lender.

Starter bekijkt hypotheekoverzicht op laptop

NHG for first-time buyers

For many first-time buyers (in Dutch) , NHG is a logical choice. You're often buying your first home with a relatively high mortgage compared to the property value. That's exactly when lower monthly payments and extra security come in handy.

A mortgage advisor also helps you get insight in advance into:

how much you can borrow at most;
what monthly payments come with that;
whether NHG is possible;
which lender best suits your situation.

This way you head into the housing market well prepared, knowing exactly what budget you can search within.

NHG for home movers

Even if you already own a home, you can often still make use of NHG. Many people moving up the housing ladder (in Dutch) think the scheme is only meant for first-time buyers, but that's a misconception.

Are you moving to another property that falls within the NHG limit? Then you can take out a mortgage with NHG again, provided you meet the conditions.

Among other things, we look at:

the equity in your current home;
your new mortgage;
the amount of your own contribution;
the monthly payments that fit your income.

This way we determine whether NHG is the most advantageous choice in your situation.

NHG for entrepreneurs and people with a flexible income

You can qualify for NHG even without a permanent contract.

Are you an entrepreneur, a zzp'er (the Dutch term for a self-employed sole trader) (in Dutch) , or do you have a temporary contract? Then additional income rules apply, but that certainly doesn't mean NHG is impossible.

Our mortgage advisors assess your situation in advance and compare which lenders best match your income. We look not only at whether NHG is possible, but especially at which mortgage gives you the lowest total monthly payments.

Practical example: how much can NHG save you?

Say you buy a home for € 425,000 and take out a mortgage with NHG.

You pay the guarantee premium once, but in return you often get a lower mortgage rate. As a result, your monthly payments go down and you pay less interest over the term.

How big that benefit is exactly depends on the lender you choose, the fixed-rate period, and your personal situation. That's why, during mortgage advice, we always make a personal comparison between a mortgage with and without NHG.

This way you see straight away which option ultimately gives you the most benefit.

NHG or a mortgage without NHG?

Not sure whether NHG is worthwhile for you? The comparison below can help.

Mortgage with NHG	Mortgage without NHG
Often a lower mortgage rate	Rate discount usually doesn't apply
Extra financial security	No safety net through NHG
One-off NHG costs	No NHG costs
Potentially lower monthly payments	Depends on rate and conditions
Possibility of support in case of financial difficulties	No support from NHG

The best choice differs per situation. That's why we always compare both options, so you know for sure you're not paying more than necessary or missing out on important benefits.

Frequently asked questions about the National Mortgage Guarantee

Is NHG mandatory?

No. The National Mortgage Guarantee is not mandatory. If you meet the conditions, you can choose for yourself whether to take out a mortgage with NHG. In many cases this is financially attractive because of the lower mortgage rate and the extra security, but that's not always the case. A mortgage advisor can compare both situations for you.

Can I get NHG with a temporary contract?

Yes, that's possible. You can also qualify for NHG with a temporary contract. The lender assesses, together with NHG, whether your income offers sufficient certainty. A letter of intent from your employer can help with this, but isn't always necessary.

Can I get NHG as an entrepreneur or self-employed person?

Yes. Entrepreneurs and self-employed people can also take out a mortgage with NHG. Your income is assessed differently than for someone in salaried employment. Our mortgage advisors compare which lenders best match your self-employed income.

Can I use NHG for a new-build home?

Yes. NHG is often possible for new-build homes too. The same conditions apply as for existing homes. The total costs of the property must stay within the applicable NHG cost limit.

Can I combine NHG with a renovation?

Yes. Are you taking out a mortgage for both the purchase and renovation of a property? Then you can often finance the renovation costs within NHG. Are you making energy-saving improvements, such as insulation or solar panels? Then a higher maximum cost limit applies, allowing you to borrow extra to make the home more sustainable.

Can I refinance my existing mortgage into NHG?

That's possible in some situations. Whether refinancing is a good idea depends on things like the current value of your home, the size of your mortgage, the current mortgage rate, and the costs of refinancing. Our mortgage advisors are happy to calculate whether refinancing into NHG is financially worthwhile.

Does NHG still apply if I get divorced?

A divorce (in Dutch) can have major consequences for your mortgage. When one of the partners stays in the home, the lender and NHG look at whether the mortgage can be responsibly continued. If the property must be sold and a remaining debt arises, NHG can offer support under certain conditions.

What happens if I lose my job?

Unemployment doesn't automatically mean you have to sell your home. If you have a mortgage with NHG and unexpectedly run into financial trouble, the first step is to look at what solutions are possible to keep the mortgage affordable. The goal of NHG is to prevent forced sale as much as possible.

Do I always pay less interest with NHG?

Often, but not always. The size of the rate discount differs per lender and fixed-rate period. That's why we always compare multiple providers, so you know for sure you're choosing not just the lowest rate, but also the best conditions.

Can I take out NHG for a second home?

No. NHG is only intended for properties you'll live in yourself as your main residence. You cannot use NHG for a holiday home, recreational property, or a buy-to-let property.

How do I know if NHG is worthwhile for me?

That depends on your income, the property you want to buy, the size of the mortgage, and current interest rates. During a mortgage advice conversation, we always compare a mortgage with NHG, a mortgage without NHG, the monthly payments, the total costs over the term, and the conditions of different lenders. This way you know exactly which choice gives you the most benefit.

Personal mortgage advice about NHG

Taking out a mortgage is a major financial decision. That's why we look beyond just the lowest mortgage rate.

Our independent mortgage advisors compare dozens of lenders every day and calculate which mortgage best suits your situation. Among other things, we look at your income, future plans, monthly payments, and the possibilities for the National Mortgage Guarantee.

During a free, no-obligation mortgage conversation, we discuss things like:

how much you can borrow at most;
whether you qualify for NHG;
which mortgage type best suits you;
which lender offers the sharpest conditions;
what your expected monthly payments will be.

This way you know exactly where you stand before you make an offer on a property.

Book a free, no-obligation mortgage conversation today. Together, we'll make sure you choose a mortgage that not only fits now, but in the future too.