If you want to buy accommodation in Belgium, you will have to see an estate agent and a solicitor, and most of the time a mortgage company (banks or others).

Estate agents

The are numerous estate agencies or specialised websites in Brussels. For example you can try:

• http://www.immoweb.be (1st Belgian property website, you will find a lot of ads. You can also check the list of refered agencies and find a solicitor or a surveyor).
• http://www.immoscan.be
• http://www.immodream.com (a nice home page where to find a lot of information)
• http://www.eurohouse.be
• http://www.otimmo.com

You will find a list of estate agents here: http://www.ipi.be and a long list of agencies on the website Belgimmo.

Agency fees are usually paid by the seller, but some agreements exist where the buyer will pay for them.

Solicitor fees

The solicitor fees (frais notariaux) group:

1. The registration fee, i.e. the tax that is 12.5% of the total value of the property (there is a tax discount of 45 000 € ont the value of the property from the 01/01/03 in Brussels-Capital Region).
2. Process fees are about 625.00 €, with a minimum of 525.00 €. They include: tax search, planning research, mortgage security check, ...
3. The solicitor fees (fixed by a royal act) are about 2000 €

You can simulate the cost on the Belgian solicitor website: http://www.notaire.be or http://www.pastoutavoir.be.

For any other question you can also check on Immoscan.be forum and Bruxelles-J.

Mortgage

In addition to the standard banking system that provides mortgages for long periods, you can contact the Fonds du Logement bruxellois (Brussels property fund - offers affordable mortgages, a let-to-buy solution, a full information and if necessary additional help).

Tax (précompte immobilier)

The précompte immobilier is a tax to be paid when you are owner of a property. This amount is first dedicated to regions, Provinces and Communes, and can vary depending on the locality.

Useful links:

• La SLRB (Société du Logement de la Région bruxelloise- http://www.slrb.irisnet.be), has the objective to help people with low income for their accommodation. It can provides loans and mortgages.
• La SDRB (Société de Développement pour la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale - http://www.sdrb.be/housing/renurb.asp) sells houses and flats (studios, appartments, duplex).