Guide : Buy an apartment in Brussels : 9 tips from professionals

Many of us share the dream of one day becoming a home-owner. This decision is the guaranteed path to a more secure life, provided you choose your home after considering all the options available to you.

To successfully embark on this adventure, take the time to explore all the options available to you and follow our 9-step guide to buying an apartment in Brussels.

The rest you can leave to our agents, who will support you at every stage of your property project.

Tip 1: List your criteria

Buying a house, studio or apartment must meet certain selection criteria that vary from person to person. This is why it is strongly recommended drawing up an exhaustive list of what you want to find in the property you are going to buy. For the purchase of an apartment in Brussels, the most popular criteria are:

• The area (in m2)
• The number of rooms
• The layout: duplex or penthouse
• The type of building
• The location: located in the centre of Brussels or on the outskirts 
• The type of property: new or existing
• Outdoor spaces: terrace, balcony, etc.

These points will help you fine tune your search. They can also influence several factors: price, finance, ancillary costs or the work to be done.

Consider prioritising these criteria. Prioritising will enable you to target your search as specifically as possible.

Buying property takes time. Reviewing your needs now makes future searching easier.

Tip 2: Plan your long-term payment capacity

Becoming an owner is a great project. You certainly have the opportunity to make this purchase now. Note that your investment can put you in debt for between 10 and 25 years.

To meet your financial commitments, look into the future and check whether, even in a few years, you will still be able to repay your monthly payments.

Many things can happen over such a long time. It is therefore essential to ask yourself the right questions before starting:

• Is your professional situation sound?
• Do you expect a constant increase in your income?
  
• Do you plan to have children?
  
• Is the property of your dreams likely to accommodate them or will you have to move after a few years?
  

If all the lights are green, we can start looking for your home among the exceptional properties in our portfolio.

Tip 3: Ask one of our agents for advice

Property market data can help you see things more clearly. You can therefore consult the studies published by the specialised federations, analyse the online advertisements, consult the solicitors.

However, nothing beats viewing the area and the advice of a professional in the region of your search.
This is why it is a good idea to call our agents in the Brussels region. They will provide you with information on prices, properties for sale in the district where you wish to settle and on the procedures to be completed.

Register your search in the Engel & Völkers agency closest to you or to the area in which you are looking to live.

Tip 4: Visit our prestigious properties

During your first meeting with one of our agents, tell them your criteria and your requirements: comfort, neighbourhood, transport, and so on. Make sure you express your wishes clearly, in order to avoid wasting any time.

Visit as many properties as possible that match your criteria. Allow plenty of time for this. But don't think of it as time wasted: each visit will enable you to refine your criteria: a high floor, a terrace, a garden on the ground floor, a separate toilet, and come back to certain favourites.

Look closely at the property. Arrive a little early and get a feel for the neighbourhood. Evaluate its amenities in relation to transport.

• Is there a metro, tram or train station nearby?
  
• Are there schools, facilities, shops?
  

You can check all of these things by talking to local retailers, a neighbour, and other people in the area.

In the apartment, inspect everything from floor to ceiling, including outbuildings (parking, cellar, etc.). Do not be fooled by appearances, ask our agent for all the necessary information.

Take note: Check the common areas and, if you are seriously considering buying a particular apartment, be sure to ask for the most recent general meeting minutes so as not to risk additional co-ownership fees.

Tip 5: Plan for any renovations

As a general rule, an existing apartment that needs work is cheaper than a renovated or new property. So you might be able to get a good deal. As long as you check that the work to be done does not incur major expenses for you. Better to come accompanied by a building specialist or an architect to estimate the cost the work.

Some work is cosmetic, whereas some constitutes renovation, which can lead to very high costs. Do not hesitate to discuss this with our agent. S/he will know how best to advise you.

Tip 6: Make an offer to purchase a property

If you like the apartment that we have found for you and that you have just visited, make an offer to purchase it.

If the owner accepts your offer, s/he will be obliged to sell it to you. Make an offer that is consistent with the sector's market. Otherwise, there is a risk that the owner may intervene and refuse to sell it to you. We also provide you with sample offer letters to purchase a property. The sales agreement or the promise that will follow will commit you to buying the property (excluding conditions precedent such as obtaining a mortgage). Note that if this offer is made without reservation, you will no longer be able to withdraw. So be careful before signing your purchase offer: include at least one condition precedent for granting a mortgage.

What is the difference between an offer to purchase and a sales agreement?

The offer to purchase, also known as a purchase proposal, is the first step in buying a home. It is embodied in the form of a document which allows a buyer interested in the property to make an offer to the vendor to buy their property for a certain sum.

Unlike the offer to purchase, the sales agreement is a document that seals the agreement between the vendor and the buyer. By signing this document, they make a commitment to each other. The seller thus undertakes to sell their property to the buyer, at the price and according to the conditions that they have set, and the buyer undertakes to buy it from them according to these same conditions.

Tip 7: Look carefully at how to finance your property purchase

Few buyers can purchase without a mortgage. You probably won't have a choice and will have to spend time looking for financing solutions that suit your profile and your budget.

• First, take a look at the mortgages with special conditions (large family, listed building, etc.) that you can obtain.
• Examine all the funding possibilities for which you are eligible, taking account of your personal and professional circumstances.
• Contact several banking establishments and compare the rates obtained (this is the right period)
• Call on a property broker to take charge of these procedures.

Tip 8: Choose your solicitor

If you don't have a solicitor, we usually let ourselves be guided by the vendor's solicitor. Note that you have the option of asking another solicitor to take charge of the purchase transaction for your apartment.
In this case, two solicitor work together. One will take care of the interests of the vendor, the other will take care of yours.
Whatever the case, please be aware that the costs are the same, the two solicitors sharing the fees.

> Find a notary in Brussels

Tip 9: Get support from professionals

Purchasing a property is no trivial matter. Several thousand or even millions of euros are sometimes at stake.

Property can seem like a minefield, but if you know how to surround yourself with experienced professionals such as agents from Engel & Völkers, you will be perfectly positioned to complete the purchase of your apartment in Brussels. They will be happy to support you throughout your project.

> Our Engel & Völkers agencies in Brussels