Borrowing capacity in Brussels: how much can I borrow in 2026?

In Brussels in 2026, your borrowing capacity comes down to three numbers: your income, the rate (around 3.2 to 3.7%), and the term. The basic rule: the monthly payment stays under a third of your net income. At that pace, €1,200 a month funds around €240,000 over 25 years.

The one-third rule

Belgian banks aim for a payment around a third of your net income, charges included. Above that, the file gets harder to approve, unless your income is comfortable. It is the first sum to do, before you even view: take your net monthly income, divide by three, and you have your target payment.

Rate, term, deposit: what moves the figure

At an equal payment, a lower rate or a longer term raises the amount you can borrow. But stretching the term inflates the total interest cost. The deposit is barely negotiable: the National Bank caps the loan at 90% of value for a main residence, 80% for a rental.

Loan-to-value: what the bank really lends

This is the classic first-time-buyer trap. Even with strong repayment capacity, you must put in at least 10% of the price from your own funds, plus the acquisition costs. On a €300,000 property, budget around €30,000 deposit and €15,000 to €40,000 in costs depending on the abatement.

Worked example

Here are orders of magnitude over 25 years, at a 3.5% rate, with the payment set at a third of net income.