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In short: The cost of buying a home in Belgium depends mainly on the region. At the standard rate, registration duties are 12 % in Flanders and 12.5 % in Wallonia and Brussels. For a sole and own home, reliefs exist: a reduced rate of 2 % in Flanders, 3 % in Wallonia, and an abatement in Brussels (no duties on the first 200,000 €, so up to 25,000 € in savings). Add the notary’s fees (regulated, degressive, around 1 %) and disbursements. Once you own the property, you pay an annual property tax each year, calculated on the indexed cadastral income. Figures as of 2026; check the exact numbers with the official sources.

Buying a Home in Belgium: A Guide to the Costs

Kontoo editorial team · Updated 06/24/2026

Buying in Belgium means dealing with a federal system: registration duties and property tax differ by region (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels). On top of the purchase price come costs that are often underestimated. This chapter explains the main items so you can budget with confidence. Figures as of 2026; when in doubt, check the official sources.

Identify the region where the property is located: it determines your registration duties and the base rate of the property tax.
Estimate the total budget: purchase price plus deed costs (registration duties, notary fees, disbursements), often 10 to 15 % for an existing property.
Check whether you qualify for the reduced rate (sole and own home) in your region; conditions vary and were tightened in Flanders in 2026.
Compare mortgage offers (fixed or variable rate, term, down payment) and plan for the annual property tax.

What matters

In Belgium, the real cost of a property purchase goes well beyond the advertised price, and it varies according to the region where the property is located. The heaviest item is registration duties, a regional competence. At the standard rate, they are 12 % in Flanders and 12.5 % in Wallonia and Brussels. For the purchase of your sole and own home, each region provides a favourable regime: a reduced rate of 2 % in Flanders, 3 % in Wallonia, and in Brussels an abatement that exempts duties on the first 200,000 € of the price (savings of up to 25,000 €, for a property of at most 600,000 €). Note: in Flanders, the conditions for the 2 % rate were tightened on 1 January 2026 (full ownership only, by natural persons, with an occupancy requirement). On top of these duties come the deed costs: the notary’s fees, regulated and identical across the country, follow a degressive scale (the higher the price, the lower the percentage, around 1 %), plus administrative costs and disbursements. For an existing property, total acquisition costs frequently represent 10 to 15 % of the price. Most buyers finance the purchase with a mortgage loan. In 2026, fixed rates over 20 years hover around 3 % to 3.8 % depending on the profile and the share borrowed. Compare several offers: the rate, the term and your own down payment weigh heavily on the total cost. Finally, as an owner you will pay the property tax each year, calculated on the indexed cadastral income. All these figures reflect the situation as of 2026; when in doubt, consult the official sources.

ExampleIllustrative example (Wallonia, sole and own home). Price: 300,000 €. Registration duties at the reduced rate of 3 %: 9,000 €. For comparison, at the standard rate of 12.5 % they would reach 37,500 €. Add the notary’s fees (degressive, around 1 %) and disbursements. For the annual property tax: indexed cadastral income × regional base rate × (1 + surcharges). Rounded, indicative figures (as of 2026); ask a notary for a precise breakdown.

Simulate your monthly payment and total credit cost with Kontoo’s mortgage calculator (/mortgage-calculator), then cross-check registration duties on your region’s official portal.

In depth

Why the rules differ by region

Property taxation (registration duties, property tax) is largely regionalised in Belgium. Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region set their own rates and conditions, which change regularly. Always check the regime of the region where the property is located (as of 2026).

Sole and own home: conditions to meet

Reduced rates and abatements target the purchase of your main residence when you do not already own a home. Conditions apply (occupancy, duration of domicile, full ownership). In Flanders, they were tightened in 2026. Consult the official sources before signing.

Plan for recurring costs

Beyond the purchase, plan for the annual property tax and maintenance charges. The tax depends on the indexed cadastral income and the surcharges of your municipality, which vary greatly from one place to another.

Checklist

You know which region the property is in and the applicable registration duty rate.
You have checked whether you qualify for the reduced rate or the abatement (sole and own home).
You have budgeted the total deed costs (often 10 to 15 % for an existing property).
You have compared several mortgage offers and planned for the annual property tax.

Common myths

Myth: Registration duties are the same everywhere in Belgium.

Reality: False: Belgium is federal and this is a regional competence. The standard rate is 12 % in Flanders and 12.5 % in Wallonia and Brussels, with different favourable regimes for an own home.

Myth: Notary fees are just a detail.

Reality: False: for an existing property, total acquisition costs often represent 10 to 15 % of the price, dominated by registration duties. Budget for them from the start.

Frequently asked questions

What registration duties will I pay?

It depends on the region and your situation. At the standard rate: 12 % in Flanders, 12.5 % in Wallonia and Brussels. For your sole and own home: 2 % in Flanders, 3 % in Wallonia, and in Brussels an abatement removing duties on the first 200,000 € (property of at most 600,000 €). Conditions vary; check with your region (figures as of 2026).

How much are the notary fees?

The exact term is «deed costs». They combine the registration duties (paid to the region), the notary’s fee (regulated and degressive, around 1 % of the price) and administrative disbursements. For an existing property, the total often represents 10 to 15 % of the price. A notary can produce a precise breakdown.

What is the property tax (précompte immobilier)?

It is an annual tax on property ownership, calculated on the indexed cadastral income. The base rate is 1.25 % in Wallonia and Brussels and 3.97 % in Flanders, increased by municipal and provincial surcharges. Reductions are possible (sole own home, dependent children). The amount varies greatly by municipality (figures as of 2026).

All lessons · Glossary · Editorial · Kontoo does the math and explains – this is general education, not tax, legal or financial advice.

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