Buying property in Belgium is relatively straightforward and simple. As with any property transaction, a local trusted lawyer should be employed to help with all dealings, and make sure any potential pitfalls are avoided before they are encountered.

Once a property has been decided upon and all necessary legal checks have been carried out, a sales agreement contract is signed and deposit of around ten percent is paid - it should be noted that as soon as an agreement is signed, the buyer has to pay for the property, regardless of their personal circumstances, it isn't like other contracts when only the deposit is forfeit. Legal checks and the like should then be carried out by the lawyer, making sure there is nothing to get in the way of the transaction. Once everything is sorted, the sale can go through completely and all outstanding fees and taxes are paid. The property has to be registered with the local land registry within four months of completion.

Taxes in Belgium are pretty high, and can amount from around 17 to 20 percent of the total cost of the property - this should be taken into account before a purchase is made.