Acceptance is the moment the purchase becomes real, and it is more decisive than most buyers expect. In Belgium, the seller's acceptance of your written offer already creates a binding sale agreement in principle: from that point neither side can simply walk away. Everything that follows executes that agreement rather than reopening it.
The immediate next step is the compromis (preliminary sale agreement), typically signed within days to two or three weeks while the seller's documents are gathered, the PEB and electrical certificates, the soil and urban-planning information. At the compromis you normally pay a deposit, often around 10%, and any suspensive conditions such as a loan condition are locked into the contract. Source: Notaire.be. This is also when your financing must firm up, since Belgian banks rarely lend the full price.
The notarial deed follows within about four months. There the notary confirms clear title, you pay the balance of the price, the registration duties (3% for an own and sole home in Wallonia, or 12.5% otherwise) and the notary costs, and ownership transfers to you. The keys are handed over. Source: Lydian 2025; Notaire.be.
The counter-intuitive reassurance is that after acceptance the path is largely procedural: the big negotiation is behind you, and your adviser and the notaries drive the timeline. Your main job is to complete your financing and be ready for the deed.
At a glance
| After acceptance | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Binding agreement | Forms on the seller's acceptance | Immediately |
| Compromis signed | Deposit (about 10%), conditions fixed | Days to a few weeks |
| Financing finalised | Mortgage confirmed | Before the deed |
| Notarial deed | Balance, duties and costs paid, keys handed over | About 4 months later |