What is NHG?
NHG stands for National Mortgage Guarantee. It provides extra security when buying a home or refinancing your mortgage. With an NHG mortgage, you borrow responsibly and reduce your risk if things go wrong, such as in the event of unemployment, divorce, or disability. In these situations, NHG helps you temporarily lower your housing costs or find a solution.
The guarantee is backed by the Home Ownership Guarantee Fund. Under certain conditions, this fund helps cover costs if you can no longer pay your mortgage and are forced to sell your home at a loss. In this way, NHG helps repay a residual debt and prevents you from being left with a significant financial burden.
Want to learn more about what NHG is and the pros and cons for first-time buyers? Then read this article, where we explain in detail what NHG is.
What is the NHG limit in 2026?
The NHG limit in 2026 is €470,000, as the central government reports. This is the maximum amount you can borrow with a National Mortgage Guarantee. Are you buying a home and want to make it more sustainable right away? Then the limit is €498,200 for energy-saving measures, such as insulation or solar panels.
The maximum amount you can borrow under the NHG limit applies to the total mortgage amount, not the purchase price of your home.
In 2025, the NHG limit was €450,000, or €477,000 with energy-saving measures. The increase in 2026 is good news for first-time buyers, as it allows you to purchase a more expensive home with NHG. This means less risk, often lower interest rates, and more options on the housing market, making it slightly easier to find an affordable home.
National Mortgage Guarantee limit 2026
| Year | NHG limit | With sustainability |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | €450.000 | €477.000 |
| 2026 | €470.000 | €498.200 |
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When will you be eligible for NHG in 2026?
You are eligible for a National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) if your mortgage is within the NHG limit of €470,000. Are you using part of the loan for energy-saving measures? If so, the maximum amount may increase to €498,200. This helps keep affordable homes accessible to first-time buyers, those moving to a new home, and anyone looking to buy safely and responsibly.
NHG helps you secure responsible financing. This means you get a mortgage that fits your income and the market value of your home. Thanks to NHG, you often benefit from a lower mortgage interest rate because lenders face less risk.
Conditions for NHG in 2026
You are eligible for NHG if you meet these conditions and standards:
- The total mortgage is up to €470,000, or €498,200 with energy-saving measures.
- You are buying a property to live in yourself, not to rent out.
- Your mortgage complies with NHG and lender requirements.
- You take out NHG at the time you apply for your mortgage.
- You pay a one-time 0.4% closing fee on the mortgage amount.
- A single NHG limit applies to all types of housing (including mobile homes and pitches).
- Your home is located in the Netherlands.
- NHG also applies when you refinance your existing mortgage, provided the new loan stays within the limit and meets all conditions and standards.
What will NHG cost in 2026?
If you take out a mortgage with NHG in 2026, you will pay a one-time closing fee of 0.4% on the total mortgage amount.. You pay this fee at the start of your mortgage. It is often included in the loan itself, so you do not have to pay it out of pocket immediately.
The cost remains the same as last year, but the NHG limit is increasing in 2026. This is good news for first-time buyers and homebuyers looking for a safe and affordable property.
The cost of NHG is tax-deductible, just like other financing costs when buying a home. As a result, your net cost is lower than the full amount.
Behind this guarantee is the Home Ownership Guarantee Fund Foundation. This fund uses consumer fees to help people in vulnerable situations, such as those facing payment problems or a forced sale. In this way, NHG not only provides security for individual buyers but also promotes equal access to the housing market.
Cost example for taking out an NHG mortgage in 2026
If you take out an NHG mortgage of €350,000, you will pay €1,400 in closing costs. In return, you not only gain access to a lower mortgage interest rate, but also the security of the NHG safety net in the event of financial hardship.
What does the NHG limit mean for first-time buyers in 2026?
The NHG limit will rise to €470,000 in 2026. This is good news for first-time buyers, as it allows you to purchase a more expensive home with the security of an NHG-backed mortgage. That means less risk, often lower interest rates, and more options in the housing market.
Key NHG benefits for first-time buyers
- More choice in the housing market. With the higher NHG limit, more homes fall within the scope of NHG. Approximately two-thirds of all homes are now eligible for an NHG mortgage.
- Lower monthly costs. Lenders often offer a lower mortgage interest rate on NHG mortgages. This keeps your housing costs affordable, even if interest rates rise.
- More security. NHG provides a safety net if your income changes or you face unemployment, divorce, or illness.
- Responsible financing. You never borrow more than what fits your income and the value of your home. This helps you avoid financial stress or over-leveraging.
- Equal access for all. From 2026, a single NHG limit will apply to all housing types, including mobile homes and pitches. This makes the scheme fairer and simpler.
The Home Ownership Guarantee Fund (Waarborgfonds Eigen Woningen) ensures that NHG remains a reliable and future-proof scheme. This gives first-time buyers the opportunity to purchase their own home safely, while providing protection if you run into financial difficulty.
Does the NHG limit apply to the purchase price or the mortgage amount?
The NHG limit applies to the total mortgage amount, not the purchase price of the home. This means NHG looks at the amount you borrow, not what you pay for the house.
Are you buying a €460,000 home and borrowing extra for energy-saving features? That additional amount is added to your total mortgage. If you exceed the limit of €470,000 (or €498,200 with energy-saving measures), you are no longer eligible for NHG.
This is because NHG is intended as a form of responsible credit protection. The scheme helps ensure you take out a loan that fits your financial situation. This keeps affordable homes accessible and prevents first-time buyers from borrowing more than is sensible.
Important things to know about the NHG limit
- NHG considers the total mortgage amount, including energy-saving measures.
- The purchase price may be lower than the NHG limit.
- Buyer's costs, such as notary fees or transfer taxes, do not count toward the limit.
- The limit applies regardless of the type of home you are buying or refinancing.
- You can deduct the NHG costs on your tax return.
The NHG scheme has been updated in recent years. As of 2026, there is a single NHG limit for all housing types. The separate limit for caravans or pitches has been eliminated, making NHG fairer, simpler, and more accessible to everyone.
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What was the NHG limit in 2025?
In 2025, the NHG limit was €450,000, the central government reports. Those who make their homes more sustainable, for example with insulation or solar panels, can take out a higher loan up to €477,000. This limit determined how much you could borrow at most with National Mortgage Guarantee.
The cost of NHG remained the same in 2025 as in previous years: 0.4% of the total mortgage amount. You paid that once when you took out your NHG mortgage. For a €400,000 loan, that was €1600. In return, you got access to a lower mortgage interest rate and the security of the NHG safety net in case of financial setbacks.
