Property
Belgium — Property: Buying Process
Buying a house or land in the Brussels or Walloon regions carries a 12.5% registration duty, reduced to 3% in Wallonia for a main residence under conditions and with a EUR 200,000 allowance in Brussels.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceFPS Finance (Belgium) — Buying and selling with registration dutyLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Why this matters
Understanding the property buying process in Belgium is crucial for relocating individuals to ensure a smooth transaction and avoid potential pitfalls.
Key facts
- Registration duty on a house or land in Brussels-Capital or Wallonia is 12.5% of the agreed price plus related charges.
- Brussels gives owner-occupiers a tax-free allowance of EUR 200,000 (saving up to EUR 25,000) if they establish their main residence within three years.
- Wallonia applies a reduced 3% rate for a main residence if the buyer does not fully own another residential property in Belgium or abroad, or sells it within three years.
- Registration duty is a regional tax; Flanders handles its own rates and administration, which were not confirmed here.
Steps
- Step 1: Finding a Property — Search for a property through a real estate agent or online platforms, and schedule viewings.
- Step 2: Making an Offer — Work with a real estate agent to make an offer on the chosen property, which must include a mortgage approval letter.
- Step 3: Contract Signing — The buyer and seller sign the sale contract, which is then registered with the notary.
- Step 4: Cooling-Off Period — The buyer has a 10-day cooling-off period to reconsider the purchase after signing the sale contract.
- Step 5: Completion — The sale is finalized, and the property is transferred to the buyer's name.