House prices in the Ardennes, a picturesque upland area in the south and east of Wallonia, have risen by more than 13% during the past year. The big increase in house prices there has at least in part been driven by renewed interest by Flemish buyers for a (second) home in the Ardennes, notaries say. The median price for a property in the Ardennes currently stands at 216,000 euro, a rise of almost 25% since 2021.
The Ardennes saw a surge in second-home purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 property prices surged by around 20%. This was by demand from city dwellers seeking country retreats.
In the intervening years demand tailed off. However, during the first half of this year there was a revival in interest property in the Ardennes with 15% more properties being sold than during the same period in previous years.
Notary Bart van Opstal told journalists that “The market for second homes is experiencing a revival, both at the coast and in the Ardennes”. Mr Van Opstal notes that the limited supply of properties in the Ardennes, combined with growing demand, is serving to accelerate property price increases there.
Flemish buyers
Of all the properties sold in the Ardennes during the first half of the year 15% were sold to buyers from Flanders. Meanwhile, buyers from the Brussels-Capital Region accounted for 5.2% of sales.
Certain municipalities are particularly popular with Flemish buyers. For example in Vresse-sur-Semois (Namur Province) almost 38% of properties sold were bought by buyers from Flanders.