How to Find Housing in Luxembourg: Methods, Platforms, and Tips
The real estate market in Luxembourg is very tight and dominated by landlords. Despite numerous recent housing developments, the supply of housing is insufficient to meet demand. So how can you quickly find the apartment or house of your dreams?
Here, we share our best tips and insider advice for renting or buying the perfect home in Luxembourg. Find the ideal apartment or house quickly to make settling in easier for the whole family.
Searching for a home in Luxembourg: our tips
Define your search criteria based on your needs
Searching for a house or apartment to buy or rent isn’t something you can wing. Sit down with everyone in your household to determine each person’s needs.
Note the characteristics of the home you’re looking for
- number of people in the family, need for separate bedrooms or not: number of bedrooms required
- Daily routines and schedules of each family member, especially in the morning before heading to work or school: number of bathrooms or showers
- Whether or not a separate toilet is needed. In Luxembourg, toilets are often located inside the bathrooms
- Common living area for the family, TV or gaming area,
- Open-concept kitchen or not,
- Office or extra room if a family member works from home,
- Garden, terrace,
- Garage,..
Define your ideal living environment
Specify the environment in which you want to live based on your lifestyle and the needs or preferences of each family member living in Luxembourg.
- Urban or rural setting,
- proximity to public transportation,
- proximity to shopping and leisure facilities, restaurants, movie theaters,
- proximity to schools, workplace,… See neighborhoods to live in Luxembourg City
Write down all your criteria and feel free to refine them as you go. Rank them in order of importance. Is this negotiable or non-negotiable?
Refer to this list every time you visit a property. This will help you avoid overlooking a key factor for your family’s well-being.
Set your budget in line with the market
Once you’ve determined and noted all the criteria above, check how they align with what’s available on the market. This will help you figure out the budget you’ll need to find your ideal home in Luxembourg.
Refine your budget based on current real estate market prices.
You can determine the price range by using real estate portals to search for homes that meet your criteria. You can also refer to our information on the Luxembourg real estate market and the latest trends in Luxembourg real estate prices.
Set your average budget and your maximum budget. Be sure to factor in additional costs, particularly when purchasing a property.
Note that renting a home also involves certain additional costs beyond the advertised monthly rent.
Be proactive in your search
Set up alerts on real estate portals
Stay on the lookout for properties for sale or rent. Set up alerts for market listings through real estate portals. Verify that your pre-defined budget allows you to purchase your ideal home. If not, adjust your criteria or revise your budget if possible.
Contact local real estate agencies
Don’t hesitate to contact real estate agencies, including those handling properties under contract that you like. This will help you make yourself known and let them know you’re looking for a similar property. They’ll add you to their database and will be more likely to contact you if they know you’re a potential buyer.
It’s important to know that an increasing number of sales and rentals in Luxembourg are conducted off-market. When agents receive a listing for a property for rent or sale, they contact the people on their client list directly. Only lower-quality properties are listed on real estate portals or in classified ads.
Which real estate agents should you use for your property search?
Work with real estate agencies in Luxembourg
There are many real estate agencies in Luxembourg. Whether part of international networks, local agencies, or independent firms, real estate agencies serve as the primary point of contact between property owners and potential tenants or buyers.
Do you have a property to sell? Real estate agencies are here to help you.
Consult multiple real estate agencies
When searching for a home in Luxembourg, don’t hesitate to consult several real estate agencies. Thiswill help you find a trusted partner who understands your needs. It’s important that the agency is familiar with your family’s requirements.
Schedule an appointment in advance to discuss your plans
We also recommend making an appointment in advance with real estate agencies. This will give you time to explain exactly what you’re looking for. If you walk into an agency without an appointment, you may not be able to view any properties right away. Agencies don’t always have the keys on hand.
If you are still in your home country, you can also conduct this meeting over the phone.
Certain real estate agencies are specifically recommended by the Real Estate Chamber of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. This certification guarantees you quality service and protects you from potential scams. In fact, these partner agencies have signed the code of ethics included in the Quality Charter of the non-profit organization “CIGDL,” which has been established in the country for over 40 years.
Meet all the real estate professionals at the National Housing Week.
Define your criteria for your real estate project
Work with your real estate agent to define the search criteria for your purchase or rental: desired area, available budget, timeline, number of bedrooms, etc. As a result, real estate agents will be able to find the ideal home for you. This saves time for both you and the agency, which will know exactly what you’re looking for.
This way, the agency can make an initial selection of properties to visit and schedule viewings according to your preferences. They will inform you of properties that match your needs and take you to view the selected properties.
Define all the details of your real estate project
If you are looking for a rental property, you will have to pay agency fees in addition to utilities . These fees generally amount to one month’s rent excluding taxes. They cover property searches, viewings, drafting the lease agreement, and administrative follow-up, including the move-in inspection.
Whether you’re buying or renting, we recommend conducting a move-in and move-out inventory for rentals, and at the time of signing the preliminary purchase agreement for sales, with a final verification just before the notarized deed. The real estate agency will handle this inventory. These costs are normally included in the agency fees charged.
Agencies can also provide information on housing assistance programs for which you may be eligible as a future homeowner or tenant.
Find accommodation through word of mouth
Whether through traditional or virtual word of mouth, don't hesitate to let people know that you are looking for an apartment or a house. Luxembourg is a small world, and it is not uncommon to use your network. Don't have any contacts there? Social media can help. There are several real estate groups for exchanges between individuals and expats, particularly on Facebook.
Contact professionals to find your accommodation
The best way to find accommodation is to go through real estate agents. They know the market. These real estate professionals can help you refine your search and determine your criteria. They can advise you on the different neighborhoods in Luxembourg or the Luxembourg municipalities that match your search criteria. They will recommend properties that fit your budget.
Real estate hunters and relocation agencies: effective allies
By entrusting your search to a real estate hunter, you can delegate the initial research and the first property viewings. They will keep you informed of the progress of their search. You can refine yoursearch as you go along until you find the ideal home for you and your family.
Property search mandates in Luxembourg
To ensure you receive the best service, you will probably be asked to sign an exclusive search mandate for a period of 1 or 3 months. Each mandate is specific and determines the service expected. The property hunter's fee will be calculated either as a percentage of the sale price or rental price, or as a fixed commission. This will be payable once the service has been completed.
Relocation agencies can also assist you with the administrative procedures involved in signing the lease agreement or the deed of sale at the notary's office .
Prepare your purchase or rental file
If you are buying a home, consult banks and financial institutions to finalize your financing budget in advance. This will allow you to know from the outset how much you can spend on your purchase. You will also have a head start on other potential buyers by making a realistic purchase offer quickly.
Let relocation agencies in Luxembourg guide you
Relocation agencies: specialists in expatriation
Are you planning to move to Luxembourg soon? To ensure that your expatriation does not turn into a nightmare, do not hesitate to call on a relocation agency.
Leaving your home country and moving your whole family to a new country is no easy task. That's why it's important to be in contact with someone who knows the country and the issues involved in expatriation. Relocation agents are often expatriates in Luxembourg themselves. They have been in the same situation.
Get help from a relocation agency
Finding a place to buy or rent, completing the necessary administrative procedures upon arrival in a new country—all of this can sometimes be very complicated. A relocation agency can assist you with all of these steps to ensure a smooth transition. Especially when there is a change in language and culture, a local agent who has been based in Luxembourg for years will be able to give you the best advice.
Have a smooth landing with a relocation agency
Relocation agencies provide a comprehensive service for your move to Luxembourg in exchange for a fee. They are your primary point of contact to help you find rental accommodation. They can also assist you with all the administrative procedures involved in moving to the Grand Duchy.
Relocation agencies will help you settle in Luxembourg. They provide a personalized and professional service. They will support you in your relocation project: finding accommodation, taking care of the administrative formalities on arrival, choosing a school or nursery for your children, installing a telephone in your new home, as well as connecting gas and electricity.
Real estate portals in Luxembourg
Specialized websites to familiarize yourself with the real estate market
Consulting Luxembourg real estate portals remains one of the best ways to learn about the Luxembourg real estate market, even from a distance.
Are you planning to move to Luxembourg? Are you looking for a house or apartment to buy or rent in the Grand Duchy? As soon as you start planning your move to Luxembourg, check out websites specializing in real estate. This will allow you to determine your initial search criteria from your current place of residence: purchase/rental, house/apartment, number of bedrooms, location, garden, etc., and of course your budget.
Create alerts to receive notifications
By creating email alerts and push notifications on real estate portals, you will be notified in real time of properties that match your search criteria. With just a few clicks, you can contact agencies or owners directly.
Thanks to real estate portals, you can make an initial selection before visiting the selected properties and find the property of your dreams that suits your needs and desires.
Which real estate portals should you consult in Luxembourg?
Below are the main real estate portals to help you in your search for a home to buy or rent:
AtHome.lu, the leading real estate portal in Luxembourg and the Greater Region
The real estate portal atHome.lu is a must for real estate searches in Luxembourg.
Whatever you are looking for, whether it be a house , apartment, new or oldproperty , house to build, office space, commercial property, investment property, land, or even garages and parking spaces, atHome remains the leader in the Luxembourg real estate market. The atHome.lu mobile app (available on iOS and Android) makes searching for real estate easier. Don't hesitate to download it.
Immotop.lu, real estate specialist
Immotop.lu is also one of the major players in real estate search in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.
Maps provide information on price ranges and market trends.
Use the interactive map to search and see all the listings that match your criteria at a glance. Download the immotop.lu mobile app (iOS & Android) and let it guide you in your search for a home. You can also follow all the latest real estate news in Luxembourg on the Immotop blog.
Wortimmo.lu, real estate listings
Wortimmo.lu is available online and in the real estate section of the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort.
You can compare prices per square meter by city and neighborhood. You will also find all the latest real estate news to help you find your future home in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Vivi.lu, portal of the Luxembourg Real Estate Chamber (CIGDL)
Vivi is a real estate listings and information website set up by the Real Estate Chamber of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (CIGDL). Exclusivelistings are also published there.
The Real Estate Chamber brings together 300 real estate professionals, real estate agencies, property managers, and developers. By joining the Real Estate Chamber, each member commits to complying with its strict rules and providing high-quality services.
Still haven't found a home for your family? Feel free to check out thetemporary housing offers.
In the meantime, read our article on the Luxembourg real estate market to gain a better understanding of the market.
Are you moving to Luxembourg? To make sure you don't forget anything, check out our Guide to Moving to Luxembourg.
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