Netherlands house sales to peak in 2018: ABN Amro

The number of house sales across the Netherlands will continue to increase this year, but is expected to start a decline in 2018, according to ABN Amro economists in their new Housing Market Monitor, the Telegraaf reports.

The economists expect that 5 percent more homes will change ownership this year than in 2016. Last year 20 percent more homes were sold than in 2015. But in 2018 the number of sold homes will decrease, according to the economists. And the price increases will become more moderate.

Recent decisions by the European Central Bank will keep the mortgage interest rates low for the time being, according to ABN Amro.

According to NOS, the high number of home sales last year means that this year there are fewer homes for sale. People are also waiting longer to put their home on the market because they think they will lose out due to the improvement in the market.