Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about mortgage refinancing and how Renteradar works.

1. How do I know if it's really worth refinancing my mortgage?

Your rate must sit far enough above the current market rate to recoup the switching costs (early-repayment fee, file fees, valuation fees, notary fees) before the end of your remaining term. Renteradar calculates that threshold (depending on your remaining term, usually between 0.20% and 0.80%) and slots your situation into one of four buckets, from "no advantage yet" to "clear win". The fewer years you have left, the larger the rate gap has to be.

2. What are the real costs of refinancing in Belgium?

The biggest item is the early-repayment fee, legally capped at three months' interest on your outstanding principal. On top of that come file fees from your new bank (~€500), valuation fees (~€300), and notary plus mortgage registration fees of around 1.3% of your outstanding principal. For an outstanding principal of €185,000 at a 3.65% rate, the total comes to about €4,900. Rough rule of thumb: 3 to 4% of your outstanding principal.

3. What is the early-repayment fee and how much is it?

For home loans, the early-repayment fee is legally capped at three months' interest on the outstanding principal. This cap is set by Article VII.147/12 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law. That's the absolute ceiling, even if your loan deed sometimes states something else. Concretely: for an outstanding principal of €185,000 at a 3.65% rate, the maximum is around €1,690. The fee compensates your bank for the interest it won't earn when you repay early or refinance.

4. What comparison does Renteradar actually make?

We compare your interest rate with the weighted average of new Belgian mortgages with a fixation period above ten years. We always use that bucket, even if you currently have a variable-rate loan, because in Belgium refinancing almost always means switching to a new fixed rate for the full remaining term. It's the fairest comparison with what you'd actually get if you refinance.

5. What if I have a variable rate (1/1/1, 5/5/5, 10/5/5)?

The comparison stays the same: your current rate versus the market rate for long-term fixed-rate loans. The verdict then becomes an estimate of what you'd get if you switch to a fixed rate. You lose the flexibility of your variable formula, but your rate is locked for the full term. In practice, refinancing in Belgium almost always means switching to a new fixed-rate loan. Banks rarely offer a variable formula for refinancing existing collateral.

6. Why does the market rate on Renteradar differ from what my bank offers today?

The market rate we show is the weighted average of all new Belgian mortgages: an indicator, not a bank quote. What a specific bank offers you also depends on your profile: term, loan-to-value, energy rating, income stability, whether you're already a customer. That's why we recommend asking quotes from several banks when the verdict is "clear win". Renteradar is an indicative signal, the real figure comes out of that conversation.

7. Is my data stored or shared?

No. All calculations happen in your own browser; nothing you enter in the form is sent to Renteradar.be or any other server. We set no cookies and use no equivalent identifiers. More details on our privacy page.

8. Does Renteradar.be provide financial advice?

No. Renteradar.be is not a credit broker and is not registered with the FSMA. What we show is informational: an estimate based on public market data and general cost formulas. For the actual decision to refinance, consult your bank or an independent financial advisor.

9. Where does the market data come from?

From the National Bank of Belgium via the ECB Data Portal, specifically the MIR dataset (Monetary Financial Institution Interest Rates), which publishes the weighted average of new mortgage credits in Belgium each month. We use the bucket for loans with a fixation period above ten years, the standard period for fixed-rate mortgages here.

10. How often is the market data updated?

The ECB publishes the Belgian figures once a month, with a delay of about two months. Renteradar fetches the current values every 24 hours, so you see the most recent publication on every new version of the page.

11. Can I refinance at my current bank instead of switching?

Yes. Your current bank can revise your rate without you actually switching, often with lower costs since the mortgage doesn't need to be re-notarized. But Belgian banks rarely lower your rate on their own. They match what you bring them. What gets you better terms is concrete quotes from competitors. Ask for two or three quotes elsewhere first, even if you ultimately want to stay with your own bank; with those quotes on the table you're in a much stronger position in the conversation.

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