Can I buy a home without NHG?

Yes, and in Amsterdam most buyers do. The national mortgage guarantee NHG applies in 2026 up to a purchase price of €470,000, or about €498,200 when energy-saving measures are financed. The Amsterdam median transaction price was €588,000 in the second quarter of 2026, so a large share of the market simply falls outside NHG. Without NHG your interest rate is usually slightly higher and you miss the guarantee safety net for forced sales, but the income rules for what you can borrow stay the same. We can tell you per neighbourhood what is realistic within your budget.