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Mansion houses with gardens, villas on the edge of the Sonian Forest, large apartments with terraces: in Brussels, space is still an accessible luxury. I introduce you to trusted agents, so you can buy or sell with complete peace of mind.
I was born in Brussels, a city close to my heart. It is a very green city, deeply international thanks to the European institutions and NATO, with a quality of life that wins over everyone who settles there.
I love its genuinely friendly, unpretentious side: neighbourhoods with very different atmospheres, terraces and markets, a rich food scene, and a warmth that makes you feel at home very quickly.
Compared with other major European cities, prices remain more affordable: you can truly treat yourself to space, and a garden or terrace is far easier to find than in Paris or London. My clients look for family houses, pieds-à-terre, as well as investment buildings and rental investments.
Brussels has many neighbourhoods with very different atmospheres, and some highly sought-after addresses lie just beyond the Brussels region, in Flanders or Walloon Brabant. Here are the ones my clients search most often, and where exceptional homes concentrate.
The most sought-after commune for exceptional homes: Prince d'Orange, considered the most prestigious neighbourhood, as well as the Observatoire, Vert Chasseur and Fort Jaco. Large villas and mansion houses with gardens on the edge of the Sonian Forest, and international schools, including the Lycée français Jean Monnet.
Ideal for: exceptional villas, families, large gardens.
Place du Châtelain, the Ixelles ponds and the Cambre Abbey, avenue Molière, square Brugmann and its Haussmann-inspired buildings, and the superb Art Nouveau houses of upper Saint-Gilles. Mansion houses and apartments with terraces, at the heart of a lively neighbourhood.
Ideal for: mansion houses, terraces, neighbourhood life.
The Sablon and its antique dealers, upper avenue Louise and the edges of the Bois de la Cambre: large apartments and penthouses with views, to live at the heart of the city without giving up greenery.
Ideal for: pieds-à-terre, penthouses, central location.
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and the Montgomery area, along avenue de Tervueren: family houses and fine apartments, parks, international schools, and the European institutions minutes away.
Ideal for: international families, houses, near the institutions.
At the foot of the Sonian Forest: calm, very green communes with houses and villas with gardens, charming garden cities, while staying well connected to the centre.
Ideal for: nature, houses with gardens, calm.
Just south of Brussels, in Flanders: beautiful villas on large plots, in peace and quiet, much loved by international families. An address where you live surrounded by greenery, minutes from the city.
Ideal for: villas, large gardens, international families.
East of Brussels, in Flanders, just beyond Woluwe: Tervuren park, large villas and houses with gardens, and renowned international schools. A setting much sought after by expats and families.
Ideal for: villas, international schools, nature.
Some twenty minutes south of Brussels, in Wallonia: character properties, villas with pools on vast grounds, among forests, golf courses and lakes. The address for wide open spaces, much sought after for exceptional homes.
Ideal for: large estates, pools, nature.
Brussels offers great opportunities, with a few Belgian particularities. Knowing them from the start helps you buy with confidence, and at the right price.
Compared with Paris, London or Amsterdam, prices remain more affordable. Mansion houses, gardens and terraces are far more accessible: for the same budget, you often gain a great deal in space and quality of life.
Registration duty depends on the region. In Brussels: 12.5%. In Flanders (Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Kraainem, Tervuren): 12%, or 2% when buying your sole own home. In Wallonia (Lasne, La Hulpe): 12.5%, or 3% for your sole own home. These reduced rates are subject to conditions, and Flemish administration operates in Dutch.
When a private individual lets a home to another private individual who lives in it, tax is not calculated on the rent actually received, but on the indexed and uplifted cadastral income. A real advantage for rental investment, to be confirmed with a tax adviser.
In Belgium, the compromis de vente is in principle binding on both buyer and seller, with no general cooling-off period. The deed is then signed before the notary, usually within four months. Best to check everything before signing.
Many Brussels houses have been divided into apartments. Before buying an investment building, check that the division and number of units are properly authorised: it is essential to its value and yield.
Schools, access to the institutions, nature, atmosphere: in Brussels, each commune has its own personality. Before viewing, take time to define how you want to live the city. That is often where my perspective helps most.
This information is indicative and may change. It does not replace advice from a notary or tax adviser.
Buying or selling, family house, pied-à-terre or investment: let's talk. I will call you personally within 24 business hours, and introduce you to the agent best suited to your project.