Record number of Belgians own second home

Last year, 380,000 Belgians owned a second home for recreational purposes, a record high, reports De Tijd. After the crisis of 2008-2009, the number of Belgians with two properties decreased from 370,000 in 2008 to 350,000 in 2012. "In the past two years, however, the number has gone up by about 30,000," confirms Rik De Keyser, executive director of WES Research & Strategy.

According to De Keyser, the purchase of second homes abroad is on the rise, while the purchase of second homes in Belgium remains steady. In 2000, Belgians owned 95,000 second homes abroad, compared with 140,000 in 2012.

France is the first choice for Belgians in the market to buy a second home abroad, with 50,000 homes sold to Belgians in 2012, compared with 55,000 last year. The number of second homes bought by Belgians in Spain doubled in the same period from 15,000 to 30,000.