Caution! You are investing outside of AFM supervision. No licensing requirement for this activity.

Caution! You are investing outside of AFM supervision. No licensing requirement for this activity.

A mortgage for your recreational home

Taking out a mortgage for your second home

How does taking out a mortgage for a second home work? To begin with, such a mortgage is provided by a bank or other mortgage lender (hereafter referred to as a mortgage lender/lender). How these agencies process an application for a mortgage for a recreational home is something we would like to go over with you.

A mortgage lender tests various aspects before it proceeds to finance a recreational home. Below are a few points that a mortgage lender may consider. The exact conditions differ per lender.

1. Credit rating

To determine whether the mortgage applicant is able to repay the loan for the recreational home and meet the monthly charges, the mortgage lender will assess the applicant's financial situation. This includes checking income, debt and credit history, for example.

2. Mapping equity

A lender often needs to understand the own contribution (from equity) when purchasing a recreational property. The more equity the applicant can contribute, the lower the risk to the lender. Some mortgage lenders require the contribution of equity. The amount of the equity contribution can vary from lender to lender.

3. Value of the recreational home

To understand the market value of the recreational home, the mortgage lender will assess the value of the home. This is usually done through an appraisal. Then the lender can assess whether the amount of the loan, is proportional to the value of the home.

4. Determine loan term

The term of the loan can also matter to the mortgage lender. A shorter term may mean higher monthly repayments and less risk for the bank, while a longer term may mean lower monthly repayments and more risk for the bank.

5. Review interest rates

Interest rates can affect recreational home financing. A lender may evaluate interest rates based on market conditions, the financial situation of the applicant, the characteristics of the recreational home and/or the burden of the property relative to security.

6. Insurance

To protect the home and investment, a mortgage lender may require certain insurance policies, such as homeowners insurance and liability insurance.

7. Legal aspects

A lender may also want to review the legal aspects surrounding the purchase of a recreational home, such as the purchase agreement, the mortgage deed and the organization's compliance with local laws and regulations.

8. Assess risks.

Finally, a mortgage lender will identify the other, potential risks of financing a recreational home. These include factors such as the location of the home, the purpose of use(personal use or rental) and the general market conditions for recreational homes.

As indicated earlier, the exact review process varies by mortgage lender. To understand and review all the specific requirements and procedures, we recommend that you seek professional advice from a mortgage broker or financial expert.

Our advisors will be happy to help you find the right specialists. Of course, they are also ready to tell you more about buying a recreational home.

Financing a recreational home...

Curious about the alternative forms of financing for your own vacation home? You can read about it on this page.