We started 2020 in the snow. We were full of great plans for 2020. Going on a lovely trip. The week after, I went skiing for another week with friends. Two weeks to recover and then it was back to working really hard. We still had a holiday ahead of us in the world as we knew it. On the way to Austria in March we were still laughing at all the traffic controllers in face masks. But when we came back from Austria, the world already looked different. But how good it was to have been on holiday. Nobody realised what the rest of our year would look like.
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Lockdown
In March we all ended up stuck at home. Suddenly that nice pub around the corner was less important. But extra workspaces and outdoor space were more important. We saw a huge rise in demand for homes. But also more people who wanted to sell their home. Needs changed. But might it also have played a role that everyone thought: at least I still have a contract, so let me quickly buy a house with these low interest rates?
Investors
At the start of the year the market was already busy with investors. When people started spending less and had more time to do up their homes and think about the euros in the bank, we saw an increase in investors. More and more people realised that, with a possible stock market crash, property might well be a very safe investment. They also had more time for viewings. In August the pressure from investors eased slightly. But then, on Prinsjesdag (the day the Dutch budget is presented), came an announcement about transfer tax. Transfer tax for investors will become 8%. This put enormous pressure on the housing market. It became a total madhouse. Gé guides many investors towards a fine portfolio, and this meant he had to find a great many interesting projects in no time. Calmly searching and snapping up a nice opportunity when it came along was no longer an option. Project developers got stressed: their property suddenly became worth less in 2021.
First-time buyers
First-time buyers thought they'd struck gold. They thought: 2% less transfer tax? Our position is improving. First-time buyers simply bid 2% more if the transfer could be moved to 2021. Then something else changed. Of course, it was already a bit odd that you counted as a first-time buyer even if you bought a house for €1,000,000. Tomorrow there's a vote. Possibly, from 1 April 2020, the first-time buyers' exemption from transfer tax will only apply to homes up to €400,000. And funnily enough, what do we see? Search behaviour has adjusted to this too. Previously, people searched most for homes up to €350,000. Now it's from €350,000 to €400,000.
Tension and nerves
This was a year full of tension and nerves. I've never had to (or been able to) reassure so many worried people. Because what if the market collapses? What if I lose my job? Will we ever find a house? Will our house still be easy to sell in a few months? People had little relaxation, and generally had no escape from their search in the form of a nice holiday or other fun plans either. At first we all thought: let's buy and sell as much as possible before the country goes into full lockdown. But that didn't happen, and as a result the housing market and we estate agents worked overtime.
The Christmas tree is up
We've already made the house cosy. The Christmas tree is up, with ornaments that say something about us and our friends, and there are big boxes of Christmas hampers ready. I always love that. Preparing and handing out Christmas gifts. Doing crafts, wandering through Hanos, Sligro and town for fitting gifts. Thinking about the collaborations there have been and the ones we hope for next year. Thinking carefully about what was good this year and what we'd rather see differently.
What a special year! Lots of great transactions. Transactions with a smile and a tear. It really makes you realise that, however grim the world is right now, love, a warm home, lovely family and friends, but above all health, are the most important things. We're now going to take it easy for a bit, enjoy the holidays and prepare for all the great deals coming up. Early next year we'll have some really nice homes coming on, and we're really looking forward to it.
