Survey: 1 in 4 Dutch with student loans say debt prevents them from buying first home

Student loans continue to limit housing options long after graduation. One in four Dutch people who carry the debt now say it prevented them from buying a first home, according to a Univé survey released Wednesday.

One in three respondents delayed a purchase because of the debt, and a similar share said they had scaled back their housing plans. The findings come from a PanelWizard poll of 1,456 Dutch adults who have already bought their first home or intend to do so within five years.

Nearly two-thirds of those with student loans reported knowing the current rules affect mortgage eligibility. Three-quarters said they expect to qualify for a smaller loan as a result.

“A student loan can make the difference between the home you have your eye on and the home you can actually buy,” said Martine van Wieringen, morgage adviser at Coöperatie Univé. “That is why we look not only at the maximum someone can borrow but especially at what fits their personal situation.” That includes income, the student loan, and monthly costs. “That gives a clearer picture of what is financially possible and responsible.”

The survey also found that some borrowers have considered hiding the debt to obtain a higher mortgage. Fifteen percent said they had already done so at least once, while nearly one-third said they were thinking about it.

“That people consider concealing their student debt in order to borrow more is a serious signal for us,” Van Wieringen said. “You want to be able to buy a house and still pay your monthly costs. That is why it is important to discuss your student loan with your mortgage adviser. Together you look at what is possible and what fits your financial situation.”

Seventy percent of respondents with student loans said they received insufficient information during their studies about the later effects on homeownership. Two out of five said they would have borrowed less if they had understood the potential impact on their housing options.

“A stundent loan does not automatically mean you cannot buy a home,” Van Wieringen said. “But it is important that people already understand durin their studies what borrowing can mean for them later.”