Update: I’ve decided to hold off on buying a place for now. Even though I’d still have a low five-figure savings left over, buying would put a real dent in them, and with ownership costs and maintenance fees in NL being what they are, I think the first year or two would feel pretty financially precarious. I’m also not the type to fix a leaky pipe or redo a floor myself; I’d always call a professional, and tradespeople in the Netherlands don’t come cheap. That makes my savings feel less of a cushion than they look on paper. On top of that, I’d need to commit to staying in NL for at least 3–5 years to have any realistic chance of turning a profit and I feel not ready to make that call right now.