Registration duties in Flanders rise from 2% to 3% in 2027: what does this mean for buyers and sellers?
Anyone buying a sole and owner-occupied home in Flanders who meets the applicable conditions still pays 2% registration duties in 2026. The Flemish government has announced that this rate is expected to increase again to 3% from 2027.
For a home worth €400,000, that represents a difference of no less than €4,000 in registration tax.
This change therefore matters not only to people planning to buy a home, but also to anyone considering selling their property. It is worth thinking about the timing and, above all, about how the property is brought to market.
Because if prospective buyers have an additional financial reason to act more quickly in 2026, as a seller you naturally want to make sure your property is actually seen by those buyers.
How much registration tax do you pay in Flanders in 2026?
For the purchase of a sole and owner-occupied home in Flanders, the reduced sales duty in 2026 amounts to 2% of the purchase price, provided the buyer meets all legal conditions.
The 2% rate was introduced on 1 January 2025. Before that, the reduced rate was 3%.
Registration duties are also referred to as registration tax or sales duty.
Will registration duties increase in Flanders in 2027?
Yes. The Flemish government has announced that the reduced rate for the purchase of a sole and owner-occupied home will increase again from 2% to 3% in 2027.
This means that from 2027, a buyer will in principle pay an additional 1% of the purchase price in registration tax compared with the current rate.
The precise legal implementation and any transitional arrangements still need to be followed.
How much more expensive will buying a home become when the rate increases from 2% to 3%?
The difference is easy to calculate.
At 2% registration duties, you pay €2,000 for every €100,000 of purchase value. At 3%, this becomes €3,000 for every €100,000.
Every €100,000 of purchase price therefore means an additional €1,000 in registration duties.
Purchase priceRegistration duties at 2%Registration duties at 3%Additional cost
€250,000 - €5,000 - €7,500 - €2,500
€300,000 - €6,000 - €9,000 - €3,000
€350,000 - €7,000 - €10,500 - €3,500
€400,000 - €8,000 - €12,000 - €4,000
€500,000 - €10,000 - €15,000 - €5,000
€600,000 - €12,000 - €18,000 - €6,000
Someone buying a home for €450,000, for example, pays €9,000 in registration duties at 2%. At 3%, that becomes €13,500.
That is €4,500 extra for exactly the same purchase price.
Does the 2% rate apply to everyone buying a home?
No.
The reduced rate is linked to the purchase of a sole and owner-occupied home in Flanders, and several conditions apply.
Since 1 January 2026, certain conditions have also been tightened. Among other things, the nature of the buyer, acquisition in full ownership and residence requirements are relevant.
Someone buying investment property, a second home or a property through certain other structures therefore does not automatically qualify for the 2% rate.
Always have the rate applicable to your personal situation checked.
Does the notarial deed still need to be executed in 2026 to benefit from the 2% registration rate?
This is one of the most important questions for prospective buyers as the end of 2026 approaches.
When the rate was previously reduced from 3% to 2%, the date of the authentic notarial deed was decisive. For the announced increase to 3%, however, the final transitional provisions still need to be confirmed.
Anyone buying a home at the end of 2026 should therefore discuss the matter with their notary in good time to determine which rate will apply to their specific purchase.
Is it therefore more interesting to buy a home in 2026?
For a buyer who was already planning to purchase a home, the current 2% rate can make a significant financial difference.
At €300,000, the difference is €3,000.
At €400,000, it is €4,000.
At €500,000, the difference rises to €5,000.
That does not mean someone should rush into buying a home solely because of registration duties. The purchase price, financing, interest rate, condition of the property and personal circumstances remain at least as important.
But for people who are already actively looking for property today, the announced increase may be an additional reason not to postpone their purchase unnecessarily.
And that is precisely what could also make the coming period interesting for sellers.
Is 2026 a good time to sell my home?
The announced increase in registration duties may encourage some prospective buyers to speed up their search or their purchase decision.
For owners who were already planning to sell their home, it may therefore be interesting not to wait too long.
But simply putting your home up for sale is not enough.
You need to make sure that as many relevant prospective buyers as possible know that it is on the market.
And that is where traditional real estate marketing often falls short.
Why is advertising only on a property portal not enough?
Property portals remain an important part of selling a home. Kasper & Kent uses them too.
But an advertisement on a property portal mainly works when someone actively starts searching themselves.
A prospective buyer must visit the property portal, select the right area, search within your price range, select the correct property type, discover your home among the other listings, open the advertisement and ultimately decide to get in touch.
In other words, you place your home online and then wait for the buyer to come to you.
That is valuable, but it can be stronger.
How does Kasper & Kent sell a home differently?
At Kasper & Kent, we combine real estate and digital marketing.
We do not only want to be present where buyers are already searching today. We also want to reach relevant prospective buyers outside traditional property portals.
Depending on the property and the target audience, different digital channels can be used, such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, email marketing, remarketing and other digital campaigns.
This allows us to build broader digital visibility around a property.
The difference?
With the traditional approach, you wait for someone to find your home.
At Kasper & Kent, we try to make sure the right prospective buyer comes across your property.
Why could a faster property sale towards the end of 2026 be particularly interesting?
When buyers know that a purchase could potentially cost them several thousand euros more, timing may start to play a greater role.
A prospective buyer looking for a €400,000 home, for example, faces a potential difference of €4,000 in registration duties between a 2% and 3% rate.
For a €500,000 home, the difference is even €5,000.
That does not mean every buyer will suddenly make a faster decision or that every home will automatically sell more quickly.
It does mean, however, that there is a clear additional financial factor that may encourage prospective buyers to make their purchasing plans more concrete.
As a seller, you do not want to discover three months later that your property did not reach enough people.
How can I sell my home faster?
A fast home sale does not necessarily start with reducing the price.
It starts with correct pricing, strong presentation, maximum relevant visibility and active follow-up of prospective buyers.
The more relevant candidates see your home, the greater the chance of generating viewings, interest and ultimately offers more quickly.
That is why we believe real estate marketing should be part of your sales strategy from day one.
Not only once a property has already been on the market for months.
Is it better to put my home online myself first and hire an estate agent later?
You can, of course, but you may lose precisely the most important first weeks of your sale.
A new property entering the market generally creates the most immediate interest among active buyers.
Why limit that initial attention to one or more property portals when you can use a broader marketing strategy from the launch?
At Kasper & Kent, we therefore try to combine real estate expertise, presentation and digital marketing from the very beginning.
How much does an additional 1% in registration duties cost on a home?
The simple rule of thumb is:
1% additional registration duties = €1,000 extra for every €100,000 of purchase price.
For a €300,000 home, that means €3,000 extra. At €400,000, €4,000. At €500,000, €5,000. And at €600,000, €6,000.
This clearly shows why the announced change from 2% to 3% can be relevant to both buyers and sellers.
Frequently asked questions about registration duties in Flanders
How much registration tax do you pay in Flanders in 2026?
For a sole and owner-occupied home, the reduced rate is 2% in 2026, provided all conditions are met.
How much registration tax will you pay in Flanders from 2027?
The Flemish government has announced that the reduced rate for a sole and owner-occupied home will increase again to 3% in 2027. The precise transitional rules still need to be followed.
What is the difference between 2% and 3% registration duties?
The difference is €1,000 for every €100,000 of purchase price. For a €400,000 home, for example, this means €4,000 in additional registration duties.
Does the 3% registration rate apply to every property purchase in Flanders?
No. It concerns the reduced rate for a sole and owner-occupied home. Other rates may apply to other property purchases.
Is 2026 an interesting year to sell my home?
For owners who were already planning to sell, 2026 may be interesting because prospective buyers are still taking the current 2% rate into account. Whether this actually results in a faster sale naturally depends on the property, price, location, demand and sales strategy.
How can I sell my home faster in Flanders?
A faster sale usually requires more than simply appearing on property portals. Correct pricing, professional presentation, targeted online marketing, the widest possible relevant reach and good follow-up of prospective buyers all play a role.
Are you considering selling your home in 2026?
Then this may not be the moment to simply put your home online and wait.
Why wait for a buyer to find you when you can actively reach that buyer instead?
At Kasper & Kent, we combine the expertise of an estate agent with that of a digital marketer.
From property portals to Google, social media, email marketing and digital campaigns: we build a strategy around your property with the aim of reaching as many relevant prospective buyers as possible.
Your real estate agent and marketer in one.
Would you like to know what your home is worth today and how Kasper & Kent would bring it to market?
Request your free valuation or contact Kasper & Kent.
Note: tax legislation may change and depends on the buyer's personal circumstances. The announced increase for 2027 still needs to be further defined legally. For a specific purchase, always have the applicable rate and transitional rules checked by your notary.