Brussels Auctions Cool as Clearance Rate Drops to 67 Percent in June

Brussels auction houses cleared 30 of 45 residential lots in June, down from 34 the previous month. The drop left several properties in prime locations unsold after bidding stalled below reserve prices.

The shift matters because June marks the traditional start of the summer slowdown in Belgian property transfers. Notaries at the Chambre des Notaires de Bruxelles reported that foreign buyers pulled back after the European Commission updated its 2026 housing affordability guidelines on 2 June. Local banks also raised variable mortgage rates by 0.25 percentage points on 15 June, directly affecting bids on lots above 450,000 euros.

Properties along Avenue Louise in Ixelles and in the Cité Jardin neighborhood of Uccle accounted for most of the unsold stock. Two three-bedroom apartments on Avenue Louise failed to meet their 620,000-euro reserves, while a corner house in Uccle’s Parc Brugmann area attracted only one bidder before the hammer fell short.

June figures compared with May

Clearance rates slipped from 76 percent in May to 67 percent in June, according to the monthly summary released by the Fédération Royale du Notariat Belge on 8 July. Average sale prices for cleared lots held steady at 485,000 euros, but the number of lots withdrawn before auction rose to nine, the highest monthly total since January.

Next steps for buyers and sellers

Prospective buyers should register early for the next scheduled notary auction on 22 July at the Palais de Justice annex in Etterbeek. Sellers facing reserve shortfalls are advised to adjust expectations by 8 to 12 percent before the September round begins.