End-of-terrace houses for sale in Zoetermeer

Zoetermeer as a planned city: what that means for the corner house supply

Zoetermeer was built up in a short time as a planned expansion city. This is reflected in the housing stock: neighbourhoods are designed in recognisable stamps, with corner houses deliberately planned at the ends of row blocks. The result is that the supply is fairly predictable in layout, but also that corner houses here come onto the market less often than mid-terrace houses. Anyone actively looking for a home for sale in Zoetermeer will notice that the supply falls in the upper middle segment and that corner houses within that are quickly snapped up.

The character of the city attracts families, dual-income couples and home-movers. Corner houses suit that target group well: more façade, often an extra side window, and almost always more scope for a side extension than a mid-terrace house. See the current supply and the associated figures in the overview at the top of this page.

What you need to know before you bid on a corner house

Corner houses have features that do not apply to a standard mid-terrace house. Keep the following in mind:

• Boundary on two sides. A corner house borders two neighbours or public green space. Check with the notary that the boundary demarcation is correctly recorded and whether there is shared ownership (mandeligheid) of a fence or wall.
• Side wall maintenance. The free side wall is larger than with a mid-terrace house. Ask the building inspection report specifically on this point: moisture penetration, cavity wall tie rust and insulation value are more often a point of attention here.
• Extension possibilities are not automatic. Many buyers choose a corner house because of the space at the side. Check the zoning plan (via the Omgevingsloket) whether a side extension or canopy is permit-free or not.
• Parking on own land. Some corner houses in Zoetermeer have a driveway or carport on the side. Check whether this is correct in the ownership situation and whether the driveway is public land or private.
• Higher energy bill. More external walls means more heat loss. Request the energy label and compare the insulation values with the asking price.
• Speed of response is crucial. Corner houses in Zoetermeer are on the market for a short time on average. Turn on push notifications via the free Buurtje.nl app in the App Store or via Google Play so you get an immediate message when new supply appears. The app is free and available for iOS and Android.
• Corner houses and HOA. In some newer Zoetermeer complexes, corner houses still fall under an HOA, even if they don't look like apartments from the outside. Check this with the selling agent.

Price level: where does a corner house sit in the Zoetermeer spectrum

Corner houses in Zoetermeer fall into the upper middle segment of the owner-occupied market. They are structurally above the price of comparable mid-terrace houses on the same street, due to the extra land, the side wall and the generally larger plot. Factors that push the price further up or down:

• Year of construction and state of maintenance of the side wall and roof.
• Presence of a driveway, garage or carport.
• Energy label: a corner house with label A or B commands a higher price than a comparable property with label D or lower.
• Location within the neighbourhood: corner houses on a through road are lower in price than corner houses on a residential street or green strip.
• Extension potential: if the side strip is buildable, that counts in the asking price.

Current asking prices and market movements can be found in the overview at the top of this page.

Neighbourhoods in Zoetermeer that yield the most corner houses

Not every neighbourhood has as much corner house supply. Based on the building structure and resident ratings, these are the most relevant neighbourhoods to watch:

• Oosterheem (7.8/10): the newest large expansion neighbourhood of Zoetermeer, with relatively many ground-based homes and a varied street profile. Corner houses here are more recently built and more often meet modern insulation requirements.
• Seghwaert (7.8/10): quiet residential neighbourhood with spacious layout, lots of greenery and a family-oriented atmosphere. The stamp structure ensures a regular supply of corner houses.
• Noordhove (7.8/10): compact and green, with a mix of construction years. Popular with families who want to live close to amenities without the city-centre feel.
• Meerzicht (7.5/10): older buildings, but therefore larger plots and more variation in house type. Corner houses here more often have a larger side garden.
• Rokkeveen (7.2/10): on the south side of the city, with its own character. Less central, but therefore sometimes a bit more space in the supply.

More neighbourhood data and resident reviews per neighbourhood can be found on the municipality overview page of Zoetermeer.

Nothing found? Rotterdam is closer than you think

If the supply in Zoetermeer currently does not match your wishes, a look across the municipal boundary is worthwhile. Corner houses in Rotterdam offer a different type of urban supply, with more variation in architectural style and price segment. Rotterdam has a large and active owner-occupied market, with neighbourhoods that are easily accessible from the The Hague region in terms of travel time. Compare the supply side by side to determine where the best match lies. You can also consider temporarily renting a corner house in Zoetermeer while you wait for the right purchase property.