Why you should avoid buying a home when you have an insecure job

In the dynamic economy of 2026, the labor market is more erratic than ever. While technological innovations and AI are creating new opportunities, they are also causing shifts in job security. In this climate, buying a home with the starter exemption of up to €555,000 may seem like an attractive opportunity to build wealth. However, when your career is in an uncertain phase, a mortgage can change from a smart investment to a financial millstone.

While the call to buy is loud, there are good reasons why renting in 2026 is the superior strategy for anyone with a shaky work perspective. In this article, we analyse the risks of owning a home in the event of job insecurity and why flexibility in your form of living is crucial for your professional survival.

The rigidity of the mortgage obligation

In 2026, a bank will be a long-term partner, but one that shows little leniency in the event of loss of income. Where a rental contract in the free sector can often be canceled monthly, a mortgage is a thirty-year debt obligation.

• The fixed cost trap: If your income drops due to a reorganization or bankruptcy of your employer, mortgage interest and repayment will continue unabated. In 2026, with current interest rates, these charges often amount to 30% to 40% of net income. Without a substantial buffer, job insecurity quickly leads to payment problems for homeowners.
• Limited help from the NHG: Although the National Mortgage Guarantee (NHG) offers a safety net in 2026 in the event of forced sales, it does not prevent the stress and loss of your own investment in a forced scenario.

Mobility as a necessary survival strategy

When your job is at risk, your ability to move to a place where there is work is your biggest asset. In 2026, most new jobs will be located in specific economic hubs such as Brainport Eindhoven or the port areas.

• The sales paralysis: As a homeowner, you can't simply leave. The selling process of a home will take an average of three to four months in 2026. When you get a new job on the other side of the country, owning your own home forces you to make an impossible choice: commute for hours or accept double housing costs.
• Renting provides freedom of movement: For a tenant, a new job in another region is a logistical challenge, but not a financial disaster. You cancel your rent and follow the opportunities where they arise. In an uncertain labor market, geographical flexibility is often the key to rapid relocation.

The risk of residual debt in case of forced sale

The 2026 housing market is sensitive to economic fluctuations. When unemployment rises in a particular sector, the local housing market often follows the same downward trend.

• Bad timing: If you have to sell because you can't bear your burdens anymore, you often do so at a time when the market is also unfavorable for others. In a declining market, you risk residual debt.
• Liquidity versus rocks: A tenant with an insecure job would be wiser to keep his savings liquid in 2026. This money serves as a bridge during a period of unemployment. A buyer has that same money “stuck in the bricks” and cannot reach it when the refrigerator needs to be filled or the energy bill has to be paid.

Financial vulnerability: Tenant vs. buyer in case of job loss (2026)

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Factor                                         Tenant                                                                           Buyer

Notice period                        1 month                                                             Average 3–6 months (sale process)

Monthly costs                       Flexible (move to cheaper option)                  Fixed (mortgage contract)

Buffer use                             For living expenses                                          For mortgage preservation

Allowances                           Possibility of housing allowance                     No housing cost support

Residual debt threat             None                                                                 Present in case of value decline

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The hidden costs of home ownership

Owning a home in 2026 requires constant maintenance. When your income is uncertain, unexpected home costs are an additional source of panic.

• Maintenance doesn't wait: A broken boiler or a leaking roof does not take into account your contract extension. As a tenant, this risk lies entirely with the landlord. In a phase of uncertain work, the “all-inclusive” nature of renting is a huge mental and financial relief.
• Local taxes and insurance: As an owner, you have to deal with the OZB, sewer charges and home insurance. In many municipalities, these charges rose sharply in 2026. For someone with an unstable income, these are additional posts that increase the financial pressure.

Mental strain and focus on your career

Looking for a new job or performing under pressure during a reorganization requires 100% of your mental energy. Worries about a mortgage that you may not be able to pay are taking a heavy toll on your well-being.

• Stress reduction: Tenants often experience less existential anxiety in times of job insecurity. They know that, in the worst case, they can fall back on social services or reduce their housing needs.
• Focus on retraining: A tenant can invest the capital that a buyer spends on maintenance and taxes in retraining or certifications to strengthen their position in the 2026 labor market. In an uncertain time, your own “human capital” is the best investment you can make.

The 'Lock-in' through the bridging mortgage

Many people who move on in 2026 will make use of a bridging mortgage. When your job becomes uncertain while you're moving, the funding often collapses completely. Banks will carry out stricter controls in 2026 just before the final transfer. If you have just lost your job or are in an uncertain process, the bank can refuse the loan, with huge fines.

Key insights: Opt for strategic flexibility

Buying is a long-term decision based on a stable basis in the present. In the 2026 labor market, that basis has become less obvious to many. As long as your contract is uncertain, your sector is under pressure, or your career requires geographical flexibility, renting is the smartest financial defense.

It gives you the space to breathe, the freedom to move and the safety of a liquid buffer. As soon as your career calms down again, the 2026 housing market still offers plenty of opportunities to get in. But for now: protect your freedom and avoid the mortgage chain in case of an insecure job.