What makes a home a good long-term investment?

In the volatile economy of 2026, where cryptocurrencies and stock markets can be erratic, real estate remains the cornerstone of sound financial planning for many. But not every home is automatically a gold mine. Buying a home as a long-term investment requires a different view than buying a home purely based on emotion. Where you look at the color of the walls in a dream home, when you invest, you look at the fundamental value, future demand and resilience to social changes.

A good investment in the housing market is characterized by a balance between immediate quality of life and future increase in value. Whether you plan to live there for thirty years or eventually want to rent out the property: these are the pillars that determine whether a home is a smart long-term financial move.

Location: The Law of Immutability

It's the oldest real estate cliche, but in 2026, it'll be more relevant than ever. The physical location of a home is the one aspect you can never change. You can demolish an outdated bathroom, but a home that is located next to a polluting factory or in a shrinking area will remain there.

Proximity to infrastructure and facilities

A home that is well accessible by public transport (train stations, metro lines) retains its value better during economic crises. People always want to be close to work and social services. Look at neighborhoods that are “on the rise”: locations where the municipality invests in new parks, schools or cultural centers.

Scarcity

Investing in an area where installation space is limited has historically been safer. In Dutch cities where the “green contours” are closely monitored, the demand for existing buildings will always remain high due to the limited capacity for new construction.

Energy efficiency: The new gold

In 2026, investors and buyers will no longer just look at square meters, but at kilowatt hours. A home with a poor energy label (E, F or G) is a long-term financial risk.

• Future-proofing: Homes that are already disconnected from the gas, are equipped with a heat pump and have high-quality insulation are the “Blue Chip” stocks of the housing market.
• Lower Cost of Ownership: An energy-efficient home is more attractive for a future buyer because the monthly costs are predictable and low. This directly translates into a higher sales value and a shorter lead time on the market.

Layout flexibility

A home that can grow with you is a better investment than a home with a very specific, rigid layout. We also call this the 'adaptability' of a building.

• Lifespan resistance: Can you live downstairs if necessary? Is there space for a home office (essential in the 2026 hybrid work world)?
• Expansion options: Homes with the potential for a dormer window, an extension or splitting rooms offer the owner the opportunity to add value without having to move. The more target groups (families, singles, seniors) can find themselves in the home, the larger the group of potential buyers in the future.

The architectural condition and maintenance history

A good long-term investment is not a 'bottomless pit'. While every home requires maintenance, the difference lies in structural integrity.

• Construction quality: A home from a construction period that is known for its reliability (such as the 1930s or the modern new building after 2010) is often more valuable than buildings from periods where construction was carried out quickly and cheaply.
• Preventive maintenance: A home where the current owner has kept a diary of painting, roof maintenance and pipe inspections exudes trust. This prevents “hidden flaws” that can eat into your returns after ten years.

The relationship between land and buildings

When making a good investment, you look at the value of the land. Rocks devalue and age (depreciation), but land is finite and generally increases in value. In the long run, a detached house or a two-person house on a spacious plot often has a more favorable risk profile than an apartment in a large complex, simply because, as the owner, you have more control over the piece of land on which your house is located.

Demographic trends: Where are we going?

A smart investor looks at the CBS figures. Where is the population growing? Where do young people go? Investing in a region with an aging population and low employment opportunities is risky. A home in a region where innovative industries (such as tech, healthcare or renewable energy) are located will attract a constant stream of home seekers in the long term.

The return: Living vs. renting

Even if you plan to stay there yourself, you should look at the “rental return” (yield). If the market changes unexpectedly and you have to move, is the home easy to rent out? A property that meets the mid-rent requirements or is attractive to expats offers a financial backdoor. It gives you the option to keep the home as a source of passive income, instead of having to forcibly sell during a dip in the market.

The foundation: Ratio over emotion

A home is only really a worthwhile long-term investment when it is ready for the questions of the future. Is the building sustainable? Is the location strategic? Does the layout offer flexibility for changing lifestyles? If you answer “yes” to these questions, you're buying more than just a roof over your head; you're laying a solid financial foundation for the coming decades.

Keep in mind: the smartest investment is not always the home that looks best at first glance, but the one with the strongest papers and the most potential.