There are certain neighbourhoods in a city where you walk around and think: I want to live here. Ixelles is one of those neighbourhoods. Not because it is perfect, but because it really is there. Cosmopolitan without losing its soul.
And above all: it has that specific mix of terraces, ponds, architecture and people that can turn an ordinary Tuesday into something fun.
It is also exactly why YOBO has been at home here for a while.
Why do so many people choose Ixelles in Brussels?
Ixelles is one of the most beloved municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region — and that is no coincidence. The district has been attracting young Europeans, expats, ULB students and people who are looking for something other than an anonymous apartment building in a peripheral municipality for years.
The location helps with this. Ixelles is within cycling distance of the center of Brussels, with excellent connections via tram and metro, and yet you have the feeling that you have stepped away from the hustle and bustle. Walk along the Ixelles Ponds, get a breath of fresh air in the Ter Kameren Forest, stop at the Ter Kameren Abbey, all within walking distance.
What makes Ixelles so pleasant to live in?
Ask anyone from Ixelles where they like to spend a Sunday morning, and chances are they will send you to Place Flagey. The ponds glistening in the light. The terraces are slowly but surely filling up. And somewhere in the background the Flagey building, that art deco jewel that could just as well be a film set.
Café Belga also needs no introduction. A classic for almost twenty years, but the atmosphere always feels young. Fancy something different? Walk around the corner to Belvédèrestraat. Bar du Marché for a cocktail, L’Amère à Boire if you like beer, Le Murmure if you just want to sit without thinking about anything. Place Saint-Bonifaas is more picturesque, quieter.
And the Fernand Cocqplein, which has completely changed shape in recent years, has been given a new chapter with places such as Le Cocq Bruxelles, Chez Ta Mère and Café Tulipant.
In short: Ixelles leaves you wanting more.
Is real estate in Ixelles a smart investment?
For those thinking about real estate in Brussels, Ixelles is a file that retains its value. The combination of an international target group, a strong range of facilities and the constant demand for quality rental properties makes the district structurally attractive. Vacancy is not a problem here. Tenants find Ixelles and want to stay there.
Anyone who invests in a new-build apartment in Ixelles is also buying into a segment that is scarce. In a dense, fully built-up neighbourhood like Ixelles, there is hardly any free building land left. Every new construction project is created on a site that has been redeveloped or carefully cleared, not just sprung from the ground. This makes high-quality new construction structurally rare here, and that scarcity effect is exactly what supports long-term value
What is the allowance and why is it interesting in Brussels?
Are you buying a home in the Brussels Capital Region as your own and only home? Then you may be eligible for it abatement: an exemption from registration duties on the first installment of the purchase price. In concrete terms, you do not pay registration fees on the first €200,000 of the purchase price, which quickly results in a saving of €25,000.
For those considering purchasing a new-build apartment in Ixelles as their main residence, this is a real financial windfall. It is worth having this carefully examined by your notary, because the conditions are specific but certainly feasible.
Which YOBO project suits you in Ixelles?
YOBO has been at home in Ixelles for some time now. The Bright, our penthouse collection in this neighbourhood, is exactly what you expect here: space, light and architecture that says something. A glass facade of 23 meters wide. A 50 m² terrace with a view of the Tenbosch Park and the embassy quarter. Up to three bedrooms, fully customizable, with materials that don’t shout but whisper.
And there is more to come. YOBO is preparing a new project in Ixelles, “Les Mélèzes”, something that fits with what the neighbourhood is: well-thought-out, beautiful, with character. The details will follow soon. Would you like to be the first to know about this new construction project? Contact us.
Conclusion: why Ixelles is the right choice
Ixelles is not a hype. It is a neighbourhood that has remained attractive for decades, for residents who make it their home, and for investors who understand that location cannot be copied.
The combination of a lively neighbourhood with greenery, culture and excellent accessibility in Brussels, an international audience that likes to live and stay here, financial benefits such as the abatement, and a scarce supply of high-quality new construction, makes Ixelles one of the most solid choices in the Brussels real estate landscape.
YOBO is not here by chance. We build where we would like to live. Would you like to know more about our projects in Ixelles? Please contact us. We are happy to tell you everything about it The Bright, Les Mélèzes, about what is yet to come, and about what your next step could be.
