As part of our Housing section, here is a concise guide to renting or buying in Belgium, where in general accommodation is cheap and in good supply.

The Housing Market
Most expats will rent a home when they first arrive in Belgium.  Perhaps they're on a short contract, need accommodation immediately, or simply don't want to commit to anything more long-term before settling down.

Rent or Buy?
It is obviously quicker to find somewhere to rent than to go through the formalities of purchase. Renting is more flexible and gives you time to settle into your new life.  If you don't like the property or the area, you have the option of looking elsewhere.  Unless you're lucky, finding a suitable home to buy can take years.

Be aware if you rent that early termination of a short-term contract incurs a penalty. A standard nine-year contract is actually more flexible.  The Belgian system can be rigged in favour of the landlord if you don't watch out. (See page 15 for more information.) And it can be irritating to throw away money each month when it could be doing something for your future if it were going toward a mortgage. The difference between rent and mortgage is not so great in Belgium.
 
However, up front payments on property or land purchase are high. There is a purchase tax on homes (typically 12.5%) as well as legal and mortgage fees of around 4.5%.  So if you're only staying for the short-term or are uncertain about the future of your job, renting is the best idea.

Property prices, stable for years, have been rising steadily; though prices in 2008 are not expected to exceed 5% for houses and 2% for apartments. But compared to Amsterdam, London and Paris,  properties in Brussels and Antwerp still look cheap and you tend to get a lot more for your money.  The conclusion? If Belgium will be your home for a while, take the plunge and buy.

How to find a home
Apartments are normally rented unfurnished, sometimes without essentials like fridges and cookers. Furnished flats are available but are either expensive and targeted at upmarket short-stay tenants or shabby and downmarket. Regardless of your needs, there are several ways to find somewhere to live.

Walk the Neighbourhood
Once you see an area you like, take time to walk the streets armed with notepad and mobile phone. Many properties display a standard orange poster reading 'A Louer/Te Huur' (for rent) or 'À Vendre/Te Koop' (for sale). Estate agents also put up signs.

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Also be sure to look at the free weekly paper 'Vlan' (www.vlan.be) The website www.immoweb.be is also excellent, is in English, and allows you to search all of Belgium for a place to rent or buy. Also see Expatica's property pages at housing.expatica.com.

Word of Mouth
Some of the best properties never get advertised. If a particular area appeals to you, ask colleagues and even local shop owners if they know of anything.

Agencies
Belgium has a large choice of real-estate agents. But you'll have to do much of the footwork yourself, particularly if buying. After an initial flurry of activity, you may soon drop off their radar.  Rental agencies are happy to drive you around town to visit various properties. Agents' fees are typically paid by the landlord or seller of the property.

For more information on their services.

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Belgium: forum.expatica.com/Belgium