Belgian wealth rests on real estate
The fact that Belgian families improved financially is no coincidence. More than seven in ten households own their own homes. And it doesn't stop there: one in ten Belgians also own a second property, often as an investment or vacation home. Among the 20% with the highest wealth, even seven in ten own additional real estate.
Between 2015 and 2021, the number of second residences in Belgium grew from 773,000 to almost one million. Belgians are also planting their flags en masse outside our borders. As many as 240,000 compatriots own a home abroad, mainly in Spain and France, but Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal are also popular.
Why are Belgians investing in a second home? According to Kristophe Thijs, spokesperson for real estate federation CIB, it often starts when their own home is paid off and some financial room arises. Two out of three buyers do it mainly for the rental return, while one out of three opt for personal use, for example by the sea or in the Ardennes.
Renting out a property typically yields 800 to 1,000 euros per month. If you take into account taxes and contingencies, you are left with an average of 11 months of net rent per year. Not spectacular profits, but a stable source of income
