More and more often I sit down at the table with people who want to move somewhere with more peace, greenery and space. Drenthe, Giethoorn, but also places closer to Utrecht. But the wish is space, peace and greenery. In and around Utrecht, this often can't be found any more. A detached house is completely unaffordable. But with the equity they can release by selling their home in Utrecht, they can still buy a large detached house somewhere further afield in the country. This gets many Utrechters thinking. Dreaming…. Dreaming… But maybe a beautiful big detached house like that will soon be a reality.
Contents
- Cows behind the house
- What do you pay for a detached house outside Utrecht?
- Who went before you?
- What's in it for you?
Cows behind the house
I grew up with cows behind the house…. it doesn't get much more idyllic than that. As Dad kept saying during the viewings for my own apartment 2 years ago: pfff, more than €200,000 for what's our utility room back home. Recently I visited people in an old farmhouse in Limburg. About 300 m², lots of land; it feels like enormous decadence, but when you look at the value of the home, you almost start to wonder what we're doing in our small homes in the middle of the city. The house was surrounded by meadows, greenery and animals. A friend lives in Giesbeek; there, when you walk over the dyke, you look out over the harbour and a beautiful lake. A beautiful big house with every convenience and both cars on the private drive. My mother works in Oosterbeek and has more and more children at school who come from the big city. Beautiful houses, detached, greenery, space and peace. But no supermarket open until 22:00, or a pub or hip restaurant on every corner.
What do you pay for a detached house outside Utrecht?
In the village where I grew up, for example, you can buy a fully modernised house of approx. 163 m² with a swimming pool and double garage, on a plot of approx. 1,920 m², for €535,000. Curious? Krakkedel 14 in Doornenburg really is a lovely house. It's also a wonderful village to live in, and I should know! It's a really nice estate agent too, by the way: my old next-door neighbour. In Duiven, within cycling distance of that beautiful lake in Giesbeek, you'll find a home with 225 m² of living space and a 500 m² plot for just €399,000. I did an internship at this estate agent's, so I know the market there reasonably well too. And in chic Oosterbeek you get a 323 m² home on a 691 m² plot that has the character of a townhouse, but with the peace and space as well.
Who went before you?
Last year, 13 people moved from Utrecht to Oosterbeek, 157 to Baarn, 43 to Groenekan, 24 to Vught, 7 to Sneek, and lots of other people left Utrecht for space, peace and greenery.
What's in it for you?
At the moment the housing market in Utrecht is still booming. But when will that change? Nobody knows. It can be very smart to sell your current home right now. You can take the equity with you. Interest rates are still low. It may even turn out that you pay more for the townhouse in Utrecht than you will soon for the big detached house outside the city. Curious about the value of your house? I'd be happy to come round, entirely without obligation, to discuss its value and a possible sales strategy. Call or email me and I'll come round; this can also be at the end of the day or at the weekend. Looking for a good estate agent in Arnhem or Lingewaard? I can help you there too!
