Over 4 in 10 Belgian Homes Now Bought by Single Buyers

More than four out of every ten homes purchased in Belgium last year were bought by single people, according to new data from the Federation of Notaries (Fednot). The figure rose to 42% in 2025, up from 40% the year before, reflecting a structural shift in the country’s housing market driven by demographic change, a tight rental market, and growing family financial support for young buyers.

Of the 230,828 residential property transactions recorded in 2025, approximately 97,000 involved a single buyer. Couples accounted for 55% of purchases, while groups of three or more buyers made up the remaining 3%, as VRT NWS reported.

Regional Breakdown

The share of single buyers varies significantly across Belgium’s three regions. In Brussels, more than half of all properties — 52% — were bought by individuals, the highest proportion in the country. Wallonia followed at 45%, while Flanders recorded 39%. The data comes from Fednot’s Notarisbarometer, which the federation published on June 11.

Property type plays a decisive role. Singles purchased 57% of all apartments sold in Belgium last year, compared to 35% of houses. In the apartment market, Antwerp province led with 61% of flats going to single buyers, followed by Limburg at 59% and East Flanders at 58%. For houses, West Flanders recorded the highest share of single buyers at 37%, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

Price Differences

Singles spend significantly less on property than couples, reflecting both tighter budgets and a preference for smaller homes. The average price paid by a single buyer for a house in Belgium was €273,391, compared to €369,254 for couples — a gap of nearly €96,000. For apartments, the difference was narrower: approximately €257,000 for singles versus €310,000 for couples.

Regional disparities are stark. In Brussels, where house prices are highest, singles paid an average of €534,596 for a house — still about €46,000 less than couples. In Wallonia, where property is more affordable, single house buyers paid an average of €197,801, roughly €70,000 below the couple average.

Young Buyers Lead the Charge

The most active single buyers are young adults aged 26 to 30, who accounted for 24% of apartment purchases and 19% of house purchases by singles. Notaris Bart van Opstal, spokesperson for Notaris.be, explained that family support is a key factor.

“We live in a very special time with conflicts, capricious world leaders like US President Trump, higher inflation,” van Opstal told HLN. “In such periods we always see greater family solidarity. Parents and grandparents are concerned about their (grand)children and want to help them acquire property.”

Van Opstal also noted an increase in young buyers entering the market after relationship breakups. Unable to find suitable rental housing and lacking sufficient personal funds, they often turn to family for financial assistance — sometimes receiving substantial sums. “Recently there was someone who received €100,000,” he said.

Why Singles Are Buying

The trend is driven by a combination of structural and cyclical factors. Single-person households now make up 36.3% of all Belgian households — the most common household type — and when single-parent families are included, the share rises to 46.3%.

At the same time, the rental market has become extremely tight. Rental prices have risen sharply — in Flanders, apartments now exceed €900 per month and terraced houses exceed €1,000 per month. Landlords often prefer dual-income couples, leaving singles with limited options. As HLN real estate expert Bjorn Cocquyt put it: “Often, borrowing is only slightly more expensive than renting, and then the choice is quickly made.”

Implications for the Market

The rise of single buyers carries significant implications. Urban planners face growing demand for compact, centrally-located housing, particularly in cities like Brussels and Antwerp where single-buyer shares are highest. The financial sector may need to develop products tailored to single borrowers, who face stricter lending conditions — banks typically consider them higher-risk due to the lack of a second income as a buffer.

There is also a social dimension. The reliance on family financial support risks exacerbating housing inequality, as not all young singles have families who can provide substantial gifts or advance inheritances.

What to Watch

With the European Central Bank raising interest rates on the same day this data was published, the borrowing environment for single buyers may become more challenging. However, as long as the rental market remains tight and the number of single-person households continues to grow, the share of single homebuyers is expected to rise further. Fednot’s data suggests this is not a temporary blip but a structural transformation of the Belgian housing market.