Surge in demand for seaside apartments leads to 11% price rise

Apartments on the Belgian coast are selling faster and for more money than ever before, new figures reveal.

Prices for a seaside apartment grew by 11.3% on average last year, according to a study by the University of Antwerp and the ERA estate agent group. This is the biggest increase since the research began in 2005.

ERA chief executive Johan Krijgsman said the Belgian coast had long been popular with investors - and the coronavirus crisis had further increased its appeal.

He said apartments by the sea were changing hands faster than before. There was a rush in 2021 to acquire a second home before an increase in registration fees which came into force this January.

According to the ERA research, the 11.3% price rise on the coast is higher than the average rise across Flanders, which was 8.5% last year.