Two-thirds of those living in the Brussels who want to buy their first property stay in the Capital Region, data published on Tuesday by perspective.brussels showed. For those who do move outside the region, most buy just across the border.
The data, collected between 2011 and 2022, highlights the attachment that Brussels residents feel to the region. They mostly choose to stay near to familiar territory rather than find cheaper properties further away.
But although many are keen to stay in Brussels, where they go in the city depends largely on their budget. Those with more modest budgets are more likely to buy to the west of the canal, where property prices have historically been lower.
"Overall, the purchase of real estate remains mainly reserved for Brussels residents with high incomes." Most buyers are aged 30 to 44, a period often associated with family expansion and professional stability.
Leaving the big city?
Who stays in Brussels and what type of property they buy varies according to the profile of the buyers. "Overall, the majority of purchases (66%) are made by couples," perspective.brussels experts wrote.
The other third are individual buyers and these mainly purchase flats. "They are mostly older women with high incomes."
The so-called "second crown" – which refers to neighbourhoods that are not directly next to the city centre – are most favoured by first-time Brussels buyers. Almost three out of four single buyers and half of the couples choose to buy a home here.
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The vast majority of Brussels residents who purchase a home outside the region don't go far. They tend to settle on the peripheries of the Capital Region in Flanders and Wallonia. This group tends to be couples with children.
"This highlights a marked interest among buyers leaving the region for nearby destinations, thus enabling them to maintain a link with Brussels," experts said. Single mothers and retired women are also more likely to buy outside the region.
