Country Article / Postcards

Bargains in Brussels

Date: 09/25/2007

Residents of Paris and its surrounding areas for over eight years, our expanding family and skyrocketing property values were forcing us to reassess our housing options. The idea of squeezing into a miniscule, overpriced apartment didn't appeal to us, so we resorted to Plan B-B for Brussels.

Once dismissed as Paris' countrified cousin, Brussels is now coming into its own. Thanks to the expanding European Union, Brussels is home to a flourishing international community and serves as the overseas headquarters for several multinational companies. Belgian design is taking center stage on the global fashion and architectural scenes, while local beers and chocolates are making a splash as far away as Park Avenue and Kuwait.

Spacious villas by cornfields
Brussels is also well-known for its high quality of life. The city offers urban living with open boulevards and green parks while spacious villas bordered by cornfields and peaceful pastures are just 30 minutes away from downtown. In this case, less is definitely more: less traffic, less stress, and most importantly, less expensive real estate.

Where to start Look for Belgian property with Immoweb (website: www.immoweb.be) with French, Dutch, and English language options, and listings from both reputable agencies and individual homeowners.

You get much more for your euro here than in London, Paris, or Copenhagen. A fully renovated 750-square-foot penthouse apartment in the prestigious city center of Ixelles will set you back approximately 160,000 euro ($218,000), whereas a similar-sized duplex apartment in Paris' ultra trendy Marais district will cost 589,000 euro ($815,000). A typical three- to four-bedroom house of 2,000 square feet in Uccle, a posh, family-friendly neighborhood, can run anywhere from 350,000 euro to 500,000 euro ($478,000 to 682,000).

Go farther north to less-sought-after areas such as Jette and Laeken, and you can get even better value: a 2,150-square-foot maison de maître turn-of-the century townhouse with original moldings for 300,000 euro ($409,500). Add about 100,000 euro ($136,000) for a complete renovation including electricity and roofing, and you'll have a jewel.

If fresh air and pastoral landscape is more your style, check out Linkebeek, Alsemberg, Waterloo, and Rhode-St.-Génèse, all small suburbs to the south of Brussels, but just a few minutes' commute by car or train-and still affordable.