A mortgage as a freelancer or entrepreneur: what can you expect in 2026?

“As a freelancer, you will never get a mortgage, right?” We still hear this myth a lot. Yet more and more lenders know exactly how to deal with self-employed income. The rules are simply different from those for permanent employment, which makes things a little less clear-cut. In this blog, we explain what lenders look at, how your income is calculated and what your chances are in 2026.

In short: yes, as a freelancer (zzp’er) or entrepreneur you can get a mortgage in 2026. Most lenders ask for three years of annual accounts and income tax returns, and calculate with the average of your profit over those three years (never higher than your most recent year). The NHG limit in 2026 is € 470,000, or € 498,200 including energy-saving improvements.

What do lenders ask of you as an entrepreneur?

Most lenders ask for three years of annual accounts, three years of income tax returns (or assessments) and a recent Chamber of Commerce (KvK) extract. You can also use an Inkomensverklaring Ondernemer (Entrepreneur Income Statement): a statement from an accredited agency that establishes your income faster and more clearly, and which most lenders accept as supporting evidence.

How is your income calculated?

Lenders calculate with the average of your profit over the last three years. An important detail: that average may never be higher than your profit in the most recent year. Is your income trending upwards? That works in your favour. Have you had a dip? That counts just as much.

Just started as a freelancer? These are your options

Don’t have three years of figures yet? That makes it harder, but not impossible. Think of applying together with a partner who is employed, a lender that is lenient about a shorter track record within the same industry, or supplementing your application with your own funds.

For the freelancer who has just started: start building your file early. Even your first, incomplete year counts in the conversation with your adviser.

For the freelancer with stable, healthy revenue: in practice, your application hardly differs from that of someone in paid employment — only the evidence is different.

For the freelancer with fluctuating years: here it pays to map out in advance which year carries the most weight, and whether an Entrepreneur Income Statement would strengthen your file.

Opportunities for entrepreneurs in 2026

The NHG limit for 2026 has been set at € 470,000, and at € 498,200 if your home includes energy-saving improvements. With falling or stable mortgage interest rates, borrowing capacity also increases — for entrepreneurs too. Good news, then, provided your file is in order. Are you planning to buy a house yourself? Then it pays to gather these documents before you start house hunting.

Frequently asked questions about a mortgage as a freelancer

Can I get a mortgage with just one year of figures?

In practice this is difficult: almost all lenders ask for at least three years of annual accounts. With a shorter history, you mainly depend on applying together with a partner who is employed, or on your own funds.

What is an Entrepreneur Income Statement?

It is an official statement from an accredited agency that establishes your average profit over recent years. Most lenders accept this statement as evidence of your income, instead of assessing all your annual accounts separately themselves.

Does my best year count in full?

No. Lenders calculate with the average over three years, capped at your profit in the most recent year. An exceptionally good year in the past will therefore not fully make up for a weaker period.

Free mortgage consultation for entrepreneurs

Every entrepreneur has a different story: a business that has just started, growing revenue, or a weaker year behind you. That is exactly why it pays to go through your situation together rather than relying on a rule of thumb that may not apply to you.

Would you like to know your borrowing capacity as an entrepreneur? Schedule a free mortgage consultation or get in touch if you have any questions. Being well prepared is half the battle!