What is NHG?
NHG stands for National Mortgage Guarantee. It is an extra security when buying or refinancing your mortgage. With an NHG mortgage, you borrow responsibly and run less risk if something goes wrong. Think of unemployment, divorce or disability. In such situations, NHG helps you temporarily reduce your housing costs or find a solution.
Behind the guarantee is the Home Ownership Guarantee Fund. Under certain conditions, this fund helps pay if you can no longer pay your mortgage and have to sell your home at a loss. In this way, NHG helps repay a residual debt and prevents you from being left with a large debt.
Want to read more about what exactly NHG is and the pros and cons for first-time buyers? Then read this article, in which we explain in detail what NHG is.
What is the NHG limit in 2026?
The NHG limit in 2026 is €470,000, the central government reports. This is the maximum amount you can borrow with 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 with the NHG limit applies to the total mortgage amount and not the purchase price of your home.
In 2025, the NHG limit was €450,000 and for energy-saving measures €477,000. That the limit will rise in 2026 is good news for first-time buyers, because it will allow you to buy a more expensive home with NHG. That means less risk, often lower interest rates and more choice on the housing market. This makes it a little easier to find an affordable home to buy.
National Mortgage Guarantee limit 2026
{{cta}}
When will you be eligible for NHG in 2026?
You are eligible for National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) if your mortgage falls within the NHG limit of €470,000. Will you use part of the loan for energy-saving facilities? Then the maximum amount may rise to €498,200. In this way, affordable homes remain accessible to first-time buyers, those moving on and everyone who wants to buy safely and responsibly.
NHG helps you get responsible financing. That means you have a mortgage that matches your income and the market value of your home. Thanks to NHG, you often benefit from a lower mortgage interest rate because lenders run less risk.
Conditions for NHG in 2026
You get NHG if you meet these conditions and standards:
- The total mortgage is up to €470,000, or €498,200 with preservation.
- You buy a property to live in yourself and not to rent out.
- Your mortgage complies with NHG and lender rules.
- You take out NHG right away when you apply for your mortgage.
- You pay a one-time 0.4% closing commission on the mortgage amount.
- One NHG limit applies to all types of housing (including trailers and pitches).
- Your home is in the Netherlands.
- NHG also applies when you refinance your existing mortgage, as long as the new loan stays within the limit and meets the conditions and standards.
What will NHG cost in2026?
If you take out a mortgage with NHG, you will pay a one-time closing fee of 0.4% on the total mortgage amount in 2026. You pay that fee at the beginning of your mortgage. The fee is often included in the loan itself, so you don't have to pay it right away.
The cost level remains the same as last year, but the NHG limit increases in 2026. This is good news for first-time buyers and homebuyers looking for a safe and affordable purchase home.
The cost of NHG is tax deductible, just like other financing costs when buying a home. As a result, you end up paying less than the full amount.
Behind this guarantee is the Home Ownership Guarantee Fund Foundation. This fund uses consumer commissions to help people in vulnerable situations, such as payment problems or a forced sale. Thus NHG not only provides security for individual buyers, but also equal access to the housing market.
Cost example closing a mortgage with NHG 2026
If you take out an NHG mortgage of €350,000, you will pay €1400 in closing costs. For that, you not only get access to a lower mortgage interest rate, but also security from the NHG safety net in case 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, because it allows you to buy a more expensive home with the security of a mortgage with NHG. That means less risk, often lower interest rates and more choice on the housing market.
Key NHG benefits for first-time buyers
- More choice in the housing market. With the higher NHG limit, more affordable homes for sale fall within NHG. About two-thirds of all homes are now suitable for an NHG mortgage.
- Lower monthly costs. Lenders often charge a lower mortgage interest rate with an NHG mortgage. 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. That way you avoid financial stress or overcharging.
- Equal access for all. From 2026, a single NHG limit will apply to all housing types, including trailers and pitches. This will make the scheme fairer and simpler.
The Home Ownership Guarantee Fund Foundation ensures that NHG remains a reliable and future-proof scheme. This gives first-time buyers the chance to buy their own home in a safe way, and you have protection when things get tough financially.
Does the NHG limit apply purchase price or mortgage amount?
The NHG limit applies to the total mortgage amount and not the purchase price of the home. So 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? Then that extra amount will be added to the total mortgage amount. If you exceed the limit of €470,000 (or €498,200 with preservation), you will no longer receive NHG.
That's because NHG is intended as permitted credit protection. The scheme helps you get a responsible loan that fits your situation. In this way, affordable homes for sale remain accessible and first-time buyers do not borrow more than is sensible.
Important to know about the NHG limit
- NHG looks at the total mortgage amount, including preservation.
- The purchase price may be less than the NHG limit.
- Buyer costs, such as notary fees or taxes, do not count.
- The limit applies regardless of the type of home you buy or refinance.
- You can deduct the NHG cost on your tax return.
The NHG scheme has been modified in recent years. Since 2026, there is one NHG limit for all housing types. The separate limit for caravans or pitches is eliminated. This makes NHG fairer, simpler and more accessible to everyone.
{{cta}}
What is the NHG limit 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.
