Belgium isn't only the central hub of politics in Europe, it's also a beautiful country full of manmade and natural delights for all to enjoy, along with friendly people, a vivid culture and some fine cuisine - and a lot of beer and chocolate for good measure. There aren't likely to be many, if any, bargains in the main cities of the country - at least not when compared to the emerging markets elsewhere in the world - but potential off plan investors that look hard enough are sure to find something that appeals to any budget. The Belgian economy is solid, and any investment in the country - whilst it may not see explosive growth - is likely to be solid for many years to come.

Brussels, being the capital, is the city that most people look at when going for off plan property in the country. Thanks to the city's position on the world map as a political headquarters it is a very affluent place and prices around Brussels can be astronomical. Generally however, they tend to be on the wrong side of bargainous, though not out of reach of those with a bit of coin to spare - flats can come in from around £70,000 (approx $140,000), whereas townhouses usually start at around £140,000 (approx $280,000). Antwerp is the largest city in Belgium and so is another area where costs tend to be higher, owing to demand outstripping supply. Other areas through the country tend to be cheaper, thanks to a smaller influx of EU migrant workers and less central positions - prices can be surprisingly cheap, but be wary of taxes and charges incurred, which can push costs up silly amounts - sometimes around 17 percent of the total cost.

Belgium is a country that will surprise some people - it isn't the centre of all bargains in the world of off plan property, but thanks to the way in which the country is often overlooked, the market for foreign buyers isn't as huge as it is in neighbouring countries. This may put some people off, but the fact of the matter is Belgium is a wonderful, beautiful, exciting and culturally stimulating country, it is the centre of European politics and plays an important role on the world scene, and has been ranked in the top ten places to live in the world - and it makes a lot of great beer and chocolate too, so it really is one to look into.