JUST IN MORTAR. “Because of its accessibility and mobility, the southern edge of Antwerp is not cheap” (Mortsel)
Naranjo Decamps is founder of Habicom in Mortsel. In the meantime, with more than twenty employees and offices, he has an ideal view of the real estate trends in Antwerp and the southern outskirts.
Filip Spoelders
What is the current street/neighborhood in the municipality, and why?
“It is a common fact that large paved roads fetch slightly lower prices than small residential streets. This is no different in Mortsel, where prices are lower on Krijgsbaan. I think it’s fair to say that they have beautiful gardens at the back and look out at the front on a green verge where a railway used to run. Mortsel and the entire southern outskirts of Antwerp in one go is not a cheap region. That has everything to do with our accessibility and mobility.”
What is the most expensive street/neighborhood, and why?
“We have many beautiful streets in Mortsel that are doing particularly well and where prices are up to 30% higher than in other streets. The Nieuwelei, the Floralaan, the Grotenhof and the Lindenlei are the front runners. As a district wallet Dieseghem the highest selling prices. You can easily reach Antwerp or Brussels from the residential area because you don’t have to drive all over Mortsel.”
What’s the most expensive house you’ve ever sold?
“After corona, we have seen crazy prices pass. An outlier was a semi-detached building in Mortsel that is being sold for more than 1 million euros.”
What type of housing is most popular in the municipality?
“In Mortsel you will still find very beautiful gems of houses such as the houses in the Ridder van Ranstlei, for example, but the stately mansions and art deco homes are also very popular. In Mortsel we notice a greater demand for homes with a garden. Many younger prospective buyers are moving to the small town of Mortsel instead of Antwerp because we can offer a wide range of homes with a garden here.”
“What do you expect from the housing market in your municipality in 2023?”
Mortsel has been a frontrunner in the ‘highest population density in Flanders’ category for years. There are 3,362 Mortselaren per square kilometer living here, which is a lot. The demand for real estate therefore remains high. The sale and rental will also not be included in the real estate prices in 2023. Prices are starting to normalize. In the last two years we have hardly sold any properties below the asking price. Now there is gradually room for negotiation, which is an advantage for the buyers. The rent amounts and the sharp increase in materials for a renovation are the basis for this.”