Luck Of The Belgians
Identity Magazine, July 2008
Who said Belgium was dull. Right now, if you are a homeowner it is a pretty exciting place to be.
Recent European Central Bank figures show house prices were stronger there than anywhere else in the Euro zone in the second half of 2007 – up 9.1 per cent year on year. Generally, price rises moderated in Euro zone countries during 2007 compared to 2006. And in some cases they fell. In Ireland, the worst performer, they dropped 3.9 per cent. Ironically, in Brussels, Irish developer Thornsett and international hotel group Starwood have started construction on Leopald Village, a combined hotel, shopping and apartment complex. In addition to a 150-guestroom hotel, they will build 108 apartments on the site, which lies about 250 metres from the European Commission and European Parliament buildings.
Thirty per cent of apartments have already been sold off plan sales, with prices starting at Dhs 1 million for the remainder.