Quote Originally Posted by Sigurd View Post
The most sound advice when it comes to real estate is to build something new. If you build something that costs 300k (£), no matter what the marked says, you will at minimum get 350k for it if you need to sell. An appraiser will look at all the documents (bills, drawings etc.) and give it an appraisal above the cost of building it. This is not the same as asking price in a sales document. The asking price will be higher.
That's only true if you take matters into your own hands and don't rely entirely on some contractor who'll rip you off. Finding all professionals you need yourself is of course a huge investment of time and energy. If you can do some stuff yourself (my father did the central heating and all electricity in his house himself and my both grandfathers did all the carpenting), all the better.

In Belgium, there's also the fact that you pay 21 % VAT on a new house whereas on acquiring an existing property, you pay 10 % registration rights (in Flanders; 5 % if it's a "modest" house); if it's your first acquisition or if you sell your current house and buy another one, you get additional benefits. You do get better tax benefits for a newly built house. If you sell your new house within a short timeframe (2 years after it's officially finished), you can recuperate the VAT you payed yourself, if you sell later however, you can no longer get your VAT back; so you'll have to wait a bit if you want to make some profit.

Quote Originally Posted by Sigurd
Unless you find yourself on Iceland and the **** just hit the fan and nobody can buy anything. You still have the option to lease it out.


Don't sell if you're not going to make profit. That's why it's important to be in a good secure and stable position before you buy. Reduce the risk of finding yourself in a situation that you have to sell as much as you can. Get that professional job before buying; the job market is not looking good and won't get much better any time soon. I wouldn't take for granted that some high degrees are a guarantee of getting a well paying job. Many of those who have to work for a living, face or will face difficult times.