According to figures from the federation of notaries, sales in the Ardennes municipalities recorded a decline of 23% last year compared to 2022. A drop similar to the Walloon market as a whole (-12.1%), but less marked only in Brussels (-12.4° and, above all, in Flanders (-16.9%). On the other hand, the number of properties which have changed ownership is increasing by 5%, which is explained by sales, but also donations and marriage contracts.
”The decline in activity can be explained by the current situation which makes access to property more difficult. The cost of living is higher due to inflation while we have experienced an increase in interest rates and a tightening of banking requirements, particularly in terms of energy performance. And at the same time, real estate prices have not necessarily decreased,” indicates Frédéric Dumoulin, notary in Durbuy.
Average prices changed very little (+0.7%), coming to €191,250. Manhay, with houses at 267,500, is the most expensive municipality listed ahead of Ciney (€245,000), Libin (€244,500), Wellin (€235,000), Erezée, Nassogne and Marche-en-Famenne (all three at €230,000). Hastière is the most affordable municipality with houses having median prices of €103,000. Tellin (€130,000) and Rendeux (€147,500) complete this podium.
The Ardennes, an increasingly popular real estate El Dorado: “the demand is such that we sometimes found ourselves without property to sell, everything was gone!”
However, over one year, Wellin, with an increase in median house prices of +23.7%, experienced the biggest increase of the 24 municipalities in the barometer. Hastière (+21.2%) and Gedinne (+17.6%) also experienced a significant increase in the median prices of their homes.
Durbuy remains very popular, representing 8.8% of transactions, ahead of Houyet (7.6%) and Bièvre (6.7%).
We know that the Flemings are very fond of the Ardennes. Rendeux even saw a majority of Flemings acquiring a second residence with 66.2% of buyers coming from the north of the country. Manhay (37.5%), Vresse-sur-Semois (37.3%), La Roche-En-Ardenne (36.6%) and Durbuy (32.4%) also remain safe bets for residents of the north from the country.
