A flurry of estate agents’ figures show house prices in the Netherlands have risen for the second quarter in a row, with an average increase of 1.7% in the July to September period. 

Between April and June, prices also rose by 2.8%, according to figures from real estate agents who are affiliated with the NVM. Year on year, prices are still down 1.7% and the number of sales was down slightly on both an annual and a monthly basis. 

NVM agents sold almost 33,500 homes in the past three months, for an average price of €422,000. The NVM is responsible for some 70% of house sales. 

“The third quarter is traditionally quieter because it includes the summer holidays,” said Lana Gerssen, an estate agent and NVM’s housing chief. ‘Nevertheless, the figures so show that there is dynamism in the market and buyers are confident.” 

The shortage of homes continues to have an impact, Gerssen said, pointing out that buyers have even fewer properties to choose from. “We have heard from our members that buyers are overbidding again,” she said. 

The shortage of homes, currently around 390,000, covers both cities and countryside and all types of buyers, she said. 

Earlier on Thursday, national statistics organisation CBS said the sale of new build properties had more than halved to 3,300 in the second quarter of the year. The new NVM figures show its members sold 5,400 in the third quarter, a 14% rise on the second quarter but still well down on last year.

The NVM statistics reflect the moment of sale, but the CBS uses completed deals and its figures lag behind the estate agents. 

Amsterdam house prices

According to the NVM’s regional analysis, prices are still down around 5.4% in the greater Amsterdam and Rotterdam regions when compared with last year. 

However, Amsterdam real estate agents association MVA says its members had just under 1,600 houses on their books in the third quarter of the year and that prices in the capital have risen 4.3% compared with the same period last year.

Although the average price sellers are asking has gone down €26,000 to €680,000, the price per square metre has risen 7% to €7,626. MVA chairman Jerry Wijnen said it is still too early to say if this is down to landlords selling off smaller apartments to beat rent controls and higher taxes. 

“We cannot draw any conclusions given the political uncertainty,” he said. “But what we can say is the market is crying out for more supply.”