Notary Fees for Property Purchase: Understand the Costs Before You Borrow
Before paying the full price of a property, both the buyer and the seller must work with a notary. Beyond the legal obligation, the notary plays a central role in securing your real estate purchase, especially when it is financed by a mortgage loan.
In 2026, with higher prices and increasingly strict lending conditions, it is essential to understand how notary fees and registration duties are calculated so you can correctly size your real estate loan and avoid unpleasant surprises at the signing of the deed.
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What Does the Notary Do in a Property Purchase Financed by a Loan?
In Belgium, the notary is both a trusted advisor and the legal guarantor of a secure real estate transaction. For any purchase of a house, apartment or land, the notary ensures that the deal is valid, compliant with the law and fully transparent for both buyer and seller. This is even more crucial when a bank or financial institution grants a mortgage loan and requires a watertight deed.
Before the final price is paid, the seller’s notary contacts the buyer’s notary to organise and draft the sales agreement. This document acts as a provisional sales contract and can include suspensive clauses at the buyer’s request (for example, the granting of a mortgage loan). At this stage, the buyer usually pays a deposit of around 10% of the sale price, which commits both parties while leaving time to finalise the financing.
The law provides that a maximum period of four months may elapse between the signing of the sales agreement and the signing of the final deed. During this time, the notary carries out all necessary administrative checks (town planning, land registry, easements, mortgages, etc.) to ensure that the deed is beyond dispute in both form and substance. In parallel, the buyer finalises their mortgage file with the chosen financial institution so that the funds are available on the day of signing.
Key Steps Managed by the Notary
Once the financing has been confirmed and all checks have been completed, the notary drafts the notarial deed of sale. This official deed precisely describes the property, the price, the parties and all conditions of the sale. It is on the basis of this deed that the mortgage is put in place and that the bank releases the borrowed funds.
At the same time, the notary calculates and collects the registration duties relating to the transaction. These are calculated on the sale price and their rate depends on the region where the property is located. The notary also collects the registration duties on the mortgage deed if the buyer finances the purchase with a loan. All these amounts are then paid by the notary to the tax administration.
The notary is therefore your central contact for all legal and tax aspects of the acquisition. Using a professional from the official network such as the Belgian notarial profession guarantees that your purchase and your mortgage are secured according to current legislation in 2026.
How Notary Fees Impact Your Real Estate Budget
In addition to registration duties, the buyer must pay the notary’s fees and a series of administrative costs (searches, extracts, mortgage registration, etc.). These additional costs can represent a significant amount and must be taken into account when you define the amount of your real estate loan.
The notary’s fees for the purchase deed are calculated on the value of the property, while the fees for the mortgage deed are calculated on the amount of the loan granted by the bank. Understanding this structure allows you to better estimate the total budget required: property price, notary fees, taxes and possible renovation or moving costs.
To avoid under-financing your project, it is recommended to simulate your future mortgage by integrating all these costs. This way, you make sure that the amount you apply for covers both the purchase price and the ancillary expenses linked to the notary and registration duties.
Why Anticipate Notary Fees Before Taking Out a Mortgage?
Properly planning for notary fees in 2026 helps you choose the right loan amount, negotiate better with your bank and secure your real estate project with complete peace of mind.
Legal Security
The notary ensures that the property is free of hidden charges, that the deed complies with Belgian law and that your loan is correctly secured by a mortgage, protecting both you and your lender throughout the transaction.
Transparent Costs
By clearly identifying notary fees, registration duties and mortgage-related charges, you get a realistic view of your total budget and can request a home loan that truly matches the total cost of your purchase.
Optimised Financing
By anticipating notary fees and related taxes, you can better structure your real estate financing, compare offers from different lenders and keep more room in your budget for future projects or renovation work.
Use Our Online Tool to Estimate Notary Fees
To help you prepare your project, you can estimate the registration duties, fees and notary costs directly online. Simply enter the purchase price of your future property and the applicable base rate to obtain a detailed overview of the amounts to be provided alongside your mortgage.
In just a few clicks, you will know the order of magnitude of the registration duties to be paid, the miscellaneous costs and the notary’s fees associated with the purchase and the mortgage deed. This estimation is an excellent starting point for discussing your borrowing capacity and the most appropriate financing solution with your advisor.
Plan your real estate loan with full visibility on notary fees
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