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    Furnishing a new home together

    Housing & real estate · Notarial deeds

    Sale and purchase

    Discover our guidance ↓

    To begin with

    ← All notarial deeds

    You buy a home. What exactly are you buying, and under what conditions?

    From the first agreements to the transfer of ownership: knowing what you sign, pay and receive.

    Make a non-binding appointmentRequest advice online
    "You can easily check if there is still room for decision."
    Paul Wellens

    Your questions, step by step

    Buying a home is a big step. We help you understand what you are signing, what costs you may expect and what still needs to happen.

    Why do I go to the notaire for this?

    Contact us before signing an offer. The civil-law notary checks the arrangements and examines whether the seller can transfer the home.

    A notarial deed is required for the transfer of your ownership right when purchasing property.

    How do I buy a home?

    1. Have your budget and loan checked by the bank.

    2. Have the offer and then the sales agreement with all appendices reviewed.

    3. After the investigations, bank instructions and settlement follows the deed.

    How does this proceed and how long does it take?

    Usually the deed is signed within four months after the sales agreement. A suspensive condition can influence the starting point.

    Have the final date and the deadline for obtaining your loan confirmed separately.

    Which documents should I provide to the notaire?

    Prepare what you already have. You do not need to wait until your folder is complete to make an appointment.

    Is a document missing or do you not know where to find it? Check the help for each document. We will discuss what the office can obtain for you and what you still need to provide yourself.

    Where can I find this?

    Provide the complete version with date, attachments and later amendments. Do you not have this document or do you not know if it exists? Select “Help needed” and discuss it with the office.

    Where can I find this?

    Request the document from your bank or download it from your own online banking environment. State the date and file reference. Provide statements, never passwords or access codes.

    Where can I find this?

    Provide the full text and any amendments. Look in your deed folder or Mijn akten. Not everything is digitally available; if necessary, indicate which office drafted the deed.

    Where can I find this?

    Provide the full text and any amendments. Look in your deed folder or Mijn akten. Not everything is digitally available; if necessary, indicate which office drafted the deed.

    Where can I find this?

    Check in the sales dossier for your house documents. For a purchase, request these documents from the seller or estate agent. For a sale, we agree which certificates are missing and who requests them.

    Where can I find this?

    Search among your house documents, architect or contractor. Report renovations for which you find no documents. The office discusses which information is needed from the municipality or an expert.

    Where can I find this?

    Request the documents from your syndicus or find them with the deed of purchase. Provide the contact details of the syndicus so that the office can request the necessary information.

    These check marks only remain on the opened page and are not sent to the office.

    Open the checklist: ready, need help or not applicable
    What does the notaire do and investigate?
    • Who is the owner and who is authorised to sell?
    • Are there mortgages, attachments, pre-emptive rights or usufruct rights?
    • What soil, urban planning and other real estate information is required?
    • Do financing, conditions, taxes and settlement correspond with the agreements? The civil-law notary does not conduct a technical building inspection.

    We agree on which searches the office will conduct and which information you, your bank or another expert will provide.

    What should I pay attention to before I sign?

    Check the address, what is included, the price, your ownership share, the financing, the handover of keys and any further occupation. Ask for clarification about access across your land, rental and renovation obligations.

    Is a passage still unclear? Feel free to ask for an explanation with an example from your own situation. Only sign when you understand what you are agreeing to.

    What else must I arrange afterwards?

    The office monitors the registration and transfer. You arrange the insurance, meter readings, energy and water contracts, change of address and applicable works.

    Keep the post-intervention dossier with the property.

    Transfer documents, insurances and practical aftercare
    Which practical tips can help me?

    An offer is not a non-binding reservation. Have a financing condition drawn up before you sign and check the agreed response period.

    What do these words mean?
    Compromise
    the sales agreement, which can bind you even before the deed.
    Suspensive condition
    an arrangement making the execution dependent on an uncertain event, for example a loan.
    Easement
    a right in favour of another parcel, for example a right of passage.
    Where can I find more explanation or help?

    You do not have to phrase your question in legal terms. Tell what concerns you, what you want to arrange and if an important date is approaching.

    We will look together at the next step. We agree in advance on how the office will assist you and what costs are involved.

    Ask your question to the officeMake an AppointmentNotaris.be: the sales agreement

    General explanation for your preparation. The rules and documents that apply to you are determined based on your file.

    On this page

    What does this regulate?

    01 · UNDERSTAND

    The deed of sale authenticates the transfer of real estate. It describes the property, the parties, the price, agreements about payment and use and the relevant rights and charges. The civil-law notary conducts necessary investigations and takes care of formalities to make the transfer known to third parties.

    The discussion ideally begins before an offer or compromise. We look not only at the house but also how you buy: alone or together, with what personal means and with what agreements for later.

    A RECOGNISABLE SITUATION

    You buy together, but one partner uses money from an earlier gift. Simply putting both names on the deed does not yet answer what happens with that contribution in a later sale. We discuss that in advance.

    What requires attention?

    02 · CHOOSE CONSCIOUSLY

    An offer or private sale agreement can already be binding. The later notarial deed is not a general reflection period. Have conditions about financing, availability and other essential points assessed beforehand.

    Also explain what was agreed earlier and where doubts remain. A regulation can only be appropriately developed if facts and wishes are clear.

    More points to consider for your own situation

    Eating area by a wooden staircase

    03 · YOUR INTENTION

    You do not need to be able to answer all this in advance. Your doubts are also a good starting point.

    Click on a question for an initial explanation or practical tip. You do not need to have an answer to everything yet.

    1. Do you want to live there yourself, rent it out or renovate?

      Describe your concrete plans and provide any available plans or permits. Have it investigated before entering into a commitment whether the intended use is possible.

    2. Who contributes how much personal funds, and should that be settled later?

      Make an overview of each person's contribution and the origin thereof. Discuss how you want to record that contribution and possibly settle it later.

    3. Is your financing final, and what if the loan is refused?

      Ask the bank what is already final and what still needs to be investigated. Have the financing condition reviewed before signing and consider how it should be formulated.

    4. When do you need the keys, and will the property then be free?

      Note your desired moving date and ask who is still using the property. Coordinate the handover of keys and availability with the agreements in the sale.

    5. What do you want to arrange in case of a relationship breakdown or death?

      Discuss both a possible breakdown and death: who must be able to continue living there, who can buy out, and what financing is needed for that?

    What do we need, and why?

    04 · PREPARATION

    Bring what you already have. We will agree on any additional documents the office needs to request. The final list depends on your file.

    Identity and contact details

    To correctly identify the persons involved and their capacity. Provide identity documents via the channel we agree with you.

    Deed of ownership and any previous agreements

    To investigate ownership, description and existing agreements.

    Offer, preliminary contract and credit information

    To coordinate commitments, conditions, payment and timing.

    Available real estate certificates and plans

    To determine which information is available and which documents still need to be requested.

    Lease contract or information from the property manager

    To assess use, charges and co-ownership.

    Overview of personal contribution and origin of funds

    To properly handle the purchase ratio and the required checks.

    Is something missing? Mention it in your application. An initial meeting does not have to wait until you have gathered everything yourself.

    What does NotaLegal do for you?

    05 · GUIDANCE

    We coordinate the draft with the parties involved, investigate the legal status and discuss the settlement. You will receive an explanation about the meaning of the clauses and what still needs to be resolved before signing.

    You will receive a draft for discussion. We review your questions and agree the final version before signing. Afterwards, we explain which preservation, registration or further execution applies to your document.

    Know in advance what to expect.

    06 · FEES

    Statutory tariff where legally established

    For deeds with a legally established fee, we apply that tariff. The total settlement also includes, depending on the file, taxes, dossier costs, third-party expenses and VAT. For services without a legally established fee, we agree the remuneration in advance.

    You will receive a clear explanation in advance regarding the costs of your transaction. We discuss the services your file requires and distinguish between fee, taxes and other costs.

    Read more

    Mortgage credit Mortgage power of attorney Discharge of a mortgage

    Substantive background: notaris.be · Buying or selling a home

    General explanation for preparing your meeting. Foreign ties, previous documents and your concrete situation may change the outcome. Sources and legal explanation.

    Calculate first, discuss afterwards

    USEFUL FOR YOUR PREPARATION

    Use the official tools at Notaris.be. Cost estimates are indicative; discuss the result for your specific case.

    View all calculation modules →

    Frequently Asked Questions

    FROM READING TO PREPARATION

    Already a first answer.

    Do I need to know already which deed I need?

    No. Start from what you want to arrange. An existing deed, a draft or your own description helps us ask the right questions. The explanation on this page gives you a first idea of the possibilities; the concrete elaboration follows from your situation.

    What can I prepare now?

    Gather the documents mentioned on this page for preparation. Also note what you want to keep, who is involved and which date is relevant. If you do not yet have everything, mention what is missing at your appointment.

    Can I first have a draft discussed?

    You can submit your question about a draft before proceeding. Indicate if there is a response deadline and provide the complete version, including attachments. We will coordinate with you on the control and guidance you require.

    EASY PREPARATION

    Your checklist: deed of purchase and sales deed

    Which documents do you prepare, where do you find them and when can the office assist? Indicate what you have and where you need support.

    Open your checklistDownload the checklist (PDF)

    Useful websites on this topic

    RELIABLE CONTINUED READING

    View sources and practical websites
    Notaris.be · LivingExplanation on buying, selling and preparing real estate arrangements.Housing passportThe digital passport with available government information about your home.PFAS and soilView information about PFAS contamination, investigations and measures per municipality. Useful as additional information during the discussion of the soil certificate.Waterinfo: water test and flood sensitivityConsult maps and information about flood sensitivity. Discuss the data on the plot and the building before you buy or sell.KLIM-CICC: cables and pipelinesThe Federal Cables and Pipelines Information Point helps with preparing and reporting work near cables and pipelines.KLIP: pipeline plans in FlandersPlanning groundworks in Flanders? Through KLIP you request information about underground cables and pipelines to help prevent excavation damage.Renovation obligationCheck when the renovation obligation applies and which conditions and exceptions are applicable. Incorporate this into your purchase and renovation planning.Flanders: My Renovation PremiumCheck which works qualify, which conditions apply to your situation and which documents you need for an application.Post-Intervention File (PID) for works and saleThe PID consolidates information for safely working on a building later. See when it is necessary and how it is delivered to the new owner upon transfer. Discuss a missing file with us in good time.Premium seeker: Flemish, provincial and municipal premiumsFind which housing and renovation premiums might suit your home and municipality. Verify the conditions with the body granting the premium before ordering works.Flanders: renovation grants and tax benefitsA starting point for support with renovation. Review beforehand the conditions, technical requirements and application periods for your planned works.Flanders: reduced registration duty for the sole own homeAre you buying a home in Flanders? Read the conditions for the reduced registration duties. Have your property situation and housing plans checked for compliance before your purchase.Brussels: renovation grants, taxation and financing (French)For a home in the Brussels-Capital Region: consult the official information about support and financing for renovation. Check whether applications for your works are possible.Brussels: discount on registration tax upon purchaseRead when a part of the purchase price may fall outside the calculation of the registration tax. Discuss the conditions and residence obligations before you buy.Wallonia: housing and renovation grants (French)For works on a property in Wallonia: see the applicable grant scheme, application steps and whether a preliminary property audit is required.Wallonia: reduced registration duty for the sole own home (French PDF)Official frequently asked questions regarding the reform of the registration tax. This PDF is in the December 2024 publication folder. Have us check the current application to your purchase.

    FROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP

    You do not have to figure it out alone.

    1. Your intention

      We discuss what you wish to arrange and who will bear the consequences.

    2. From documents to agreements

      We examine the necessary information and explain the proposed text.

    3. Signing and follow-up

      You decide after explanation. We discuss the completion and where you can find your documents.

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    One office. Guidance that flows seamlessly together.