Real estate drives significant portion of Belgian household wealth

Data from the National Bank of Belgium indicates that real estate constitutes approximately half of the assets held by Belgian households. In the first quarter of 2026, the total net wealth of Belgian households reached approximately 3,145 billion euros, with an average net wealth of 610,000 euros per household. However, the median net wealth was significantly lower at 287,000 euros, suggesting that a small number of high-wealth households skew the average.

While homeownership increases paper wealth, it does not necessarily equate to liquid cash. Homeowners may face financial strain during unexpected expenses if their wealth is tied up in property equity.

In the context of real estate investment, Dominique Pouw, head of Risk & Underwriting at Mogelijk, notes that accumulated equity can be utilized to expand property portfolios through refinancing. This allows investors to leverage the increased value of existing properties to fund new acquisitions, though he emphasizes the necessity of balancing risk and return, as refinancing remains a loan obligation.