{"id":9509,"date":"2022-12-07T14:47:26","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T13:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/notaris\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:10:16","slug":"notary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/en\/notary\/","title":{"rendered":"Notary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section\n    class=\"b-block b-hero text-left pt-5 pt-md-6 pt-xxl-7 pb-5 pb-md-6\"\n        aria-labelledby=\"block_2d367935c00592eb4f94a16ce8813bc8-title\"\n    fetchpriority=\"high\"\n>\n    <div class=\"b-hero__container container\">\n        <div class=\"b-hero__inner\">\n                            <div class=\"row mt-auto mt-sm-0\">\n                    <div class=\"col-lg-10 col-xl-9\">\n                        <h1 id=\"block_2d367935c00592eb4f94a16ce8813bc8-title\">Is the Notary Just a Money Grabber?<\/h1>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            \n            \n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section\n\tclass=\"b-block b-editor text-left pb-5 pb-md-6 pb-xxl-7\"\n\taria-labelledby=\"block_2c74167f0561cdefdf975224c8f7aef0-title\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"intro text-primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When Belgians think of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/en\/simulation\/calculate-notary-fees\/\">notary fees<\/a>, they quickly shrink away. The legend has it that this old man or woman gobbles up a whopping ten percent of your budget for just a few hours of work. That\u2019s a bit of an oversimplification.<\/p>\n<p>The story is as old as time. In classic films, the notary smokes thick cigars and spends more time at the table than at the desk. Gout, the painful foot disease associated with a lavish lifestyle, is even nicknamed \u201cthe notary disease\u201d in Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>Look, you have to visit the notary to sign the deed for your property purchase. And yes, it costs a lot of money. But let\u2019s be honest: just because you pay this amount to the notary doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re off to play golf with it. The reality is that a notary is an official who must immediately transfer most of that amount (registration fees) to the state treasury. It\u2019s an expensive affair, but that 10% doesn\u2019t end up in their pocket.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section\n\tclass=\"b-block bg-mint b-editor text-left pt-5 pt-md-6 pt-xxl-7 pb-5 pb-md-6 pb-xxl-7\"\n\taria-labelledby=\"block_3cde9af0ef8cf7e376b2c7f7cd720a3e-title\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"block_3cde9af0ef8cf7e376b2c7f7cd720a3e-title\">The Notary Fees: What Do You Get in Return?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"intro text-primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So, what exactly are you paying the notary for?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fee for the Deed:<\/strong> On average, 1% of the sale price.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Administrative Costs:<\/strong> For searches and certificates.<\/li>\n<li><strong>21% VAT<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fees are legally set, so there\u2019s no room for negotiation. They are indeed higher than in most European countries, especially for a modest home. For a more expensive house, say around 500,000 euros, Belgium is actually cheaper than countries like France or Italy. But it\u2019s not the notary who sets that rate.<\/p>\n<p>Administrative costs depend on the amount of work involved. While the price tag is less predictable, a good notary is worth the money and will communicate clearly about these costs. Understand that purchasing a house involves many searches (fiscal, urban planning, cadastral) and that the notary also needs to request and check important certificates (such as the soil certificate). You don\u2019t want to discover after a few years that you\u2019re living on an old landfill\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<svg class=\"b-image-text__clip svg\">\n    <clipPath id=\"image-text-clip\" clipPathUnits=\"objectBoundingBox\"><path d=\"M0.154,0.18 C0.253,0.077,0.389,0.017,0.564,0.001 c0.262,-0.024,0.395,0.246,0.406,0.282 c0.011,0.036,0.124,0.383,-0.166,0.598 c-0.29,0.216,-0.562,0.074,-0.594,0.05 C0.178,0.907,-0.037,0.745,0.006,0.514 c0.028,-0.154,0.078,-0.265,0.148,-0.334\"><\/path><\/clipPath>\n<\/svg>\n\n<section\n    class=\"b-block bg-gradient b-image-text pt-5 pt-md-6 pt-xl-7 pt-xxl-9 pb-5 pb-md-6 pb-xl-7 pb-xxl-9\"\n    aria-labelledby=\"block_b974eb71197f23af68a09035862857d8-title\"\n>\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n            <div class=\"col-lg-6 order-lg-last offset-xl-1\">\n                                        <figure class=\"b-image-text__img\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-683x1024.jpg\" class=\"img-fluid\" alt=\"\" title=\"Hypotheekwinkel Mechelen\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-554x830.jpg 554w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958-380x570.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0Y8A2958.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>                        <\/figure>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-lg-6 col-xl-5 order-lg-first\">\n                                    <div class=\"row mb-4 mb-xl-5\">\n                        <div class=\"col\">\n                            <h2 class=\"\" id=\"block_b974eb71197f23af68a09035862857d8-title\">When Does the Notary Come into Play?<\/h2>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"row mb-4\">\n                        <div class=\"col \">\n                            <div class=\"intro \">\n                                <p>So, first things first, when do you actually meet the notary? First, you must have made an offer that was accepted by the seller. This can be through a standard offer where you hopefully negotiated well in advance, but nowadays, sealed bids and sales via Biddit are also common. Once your offer is accepted, you can expect the seller to request a down payment as a form of security. Never pay this in cash. Such practices have been legally prohibited since 2014.<\/p>\n<p>The final step is signing the sales agreement (compromis). This can be done at the real estate agent\u2019s office, but usually, it\u2019s at the notary\u2019s when the property is sold privately. Typically, the seller arranges the sales agreement. Be very careful and read everything not once, but twice or three times before signing. Better yet, make an appointment with your own notary. You will quickly see if they know their trade and explain everything clearly. And if it\u2019s still unclear: an appointment at hypotheek.winkel is free, and we\u2019ll make a little drawing for you.<\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                \n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section\n\tclass=\"b-block b-video-text pt-0 pt-lg-6 pt-xl-7 pt-xxl-9 pb-5 pb-md-6 pb-xl-7 pb-xxl-9\"\n\taria-labelledby=\"block_b268f9e772158ad25d264066c7fde1a1-title\"\n\tstyle=\"background-color:#e0dcd1\">\n\t\t\t<video class=\"b-video-text__video d-lg-none\" autoplay muted playsinline loop>\n\t\t\t<source src=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/peasy-compare-bird-houses-mobile.webm\" type=\"video\/webm\">\n\t\t<\/video>\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"b-video-text__video d-none d-lg-block\" autoplay muted playsinline loop>\n\t\t\t\t<source src=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/peasy-compare-bird-houses.webm\" type=\"video\/webm\">\n\t\t\t<\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6  order-lg-last offset-xl-1\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"b-video-text__content col-lg-6 col-xl-5 order-lg-first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4 mb-xl-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"text-primary\" id=\"block_b268f9e772158ad25d264066c7fde1a1-title\">Still have questions about the notary? <\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"intro text-primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Feel free to pop into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/en\/store-locator\/\">one of our branches near you<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll be happy to help you with your questions about the notary, and everything else! <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hypotheekwinkel.be\/en\/make-an-appointment\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" target=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMake a free appointment \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wanneer de Belg denkt aan notariskosten, dan kruipt hij rap weg in een hoekje. Zoals de legende het wil, slorpt die oude man of vrouw maar liefst tien procent van je budget op, voor ocharme een paar uurtjes werk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9509","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is the Notary Just a Money Grabber? | hypotheek.winkel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Legend has it that the notary takes a whopping ten percent of your budget for just a few hours of work. 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