Utrecht house prices show smallest fall of four largest cities

Asking prices for homes for sale in the Netherlands were 4.5 percent lower on average in the third quarter of 2013 than twelve months previously. In Utrecht, prices were 2.0 percent lower, the smallest decrease of the four largest cities. The relative fall in the number of homes sold in Utrecht in the first three quarters of 2013 was larger than in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

House prices fall by least in Utrecht

Prices of owner-occupied dwellings (excluding new construction) were on average 4.5 percent lower in the third quarter of this year than in the same quarter last year. Prices fell by less than the national average in three of the four largest cities. The smallest fall was in Utrecht: 2.0 percent, followed by Rotterdam (3.2 percent) and Amsterdam (3.4 percent). In The Hague, on the other hand, prices fell by more than average: 4.7 percent.

House prices (excl. new construction), 3rd quarter 2013

 
House sales down by most in Utrecht

Dutch home-owners sold just over 74 thousand homes in the first three quarters of 2013, 9.1 percent fewer than in the same period last year. In the municipality of Utrecht, the number of homes sold fell by 15.2 percent, much more than the national average. In The Hague, the decrease was just over average (10.4 percent). In Rotterdam and Amsterdam the number of homes sold dropped less sharply, by 6.7 and 5.6 percent respectively.

House sales, first three quarters of 2013

Sales rate highest in Amsterdam

More homes in the four largest cities, especially in Amsterdam, are sold than elsewhere in the Netherlands. In the first three quarters of 2013, 4.7 percent of owner-occupied homes changed hands. This house sale rate was clearly lower in the other three largest cities - around 2.5 percent - although it was still slightly above the average of 1.8 percent.

House sale rate, first three quarters of 2013

Henny Floor and Hans Borsboom