Belgian real estate company offers villa in metaverse

A Belgian real estate company is offering an unusual two-for-one special when it comes to a property in its listings – whoever scoops up the house will also get an exact copy of it in Facebook’s Metaverse.

Real estate agency Zimmo is selling a modern villa in the Limbourg city of Tongeren, near the Dutch border, for €1,475,000. 

In a first-of-its-kind promotion, the house comes with a digital copy in the form of a non-fungible token, or NFT.

“The new owner of this property immediately receives a world first: the same house in the virtual world of the Metaverse with land,” the listing boasts, adding that this is “a smart investment: the land can be rented out.”

The Metaverse is a 3D virtual reality platform that consists of thousands of land parcels, all corresponding to unique NFTs. According to Zimmo, the virtual property associated with the real-life listing is already valued at €30,000.

The buyer could keep the land in the Metaverse and invite friends, organise virtual events or even open an art gallery. They could also later sell it, potentially for a significant profit amid NFT speculation.

As for the physical copy, the modern, newly-renovated villa is located in a quiet side street just a stone's throw from the historic city of Tongeren. 

“The villa is equipped with every comfort and consists of a spacious kitchen, several living areas and three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The exceptional house was recently renovated while retaining all the authentic elements,” the listing explains.

“A high-quality finish, underfloor heating and lots of light are some of its assets. The villa is surrounded by a spacious domain with a petanque field – a green oasis that guarantees peace and privacy.”