What is the key thing to pay attention to when looking for accommodation in Luxembourg?

The really important thing is to find the right moment to start your search. It’s not useful to start four months in advance because there’s nothing on the market that’s going to be available in four months. Mostof the things are really one month in advance, for instance. Also: location, location, location. Check where your workplace is, and look around it because it will save you a lot of time going to work every day--that is, if you go to the office every day, because nowadays it could also be possible that you work from home. I think that it is really crucial to examine the area you want to live in. There are big ­differences in town. The Gare area, for example, is very lively at night, and then there is Belair, which is very quiet.

What are expats looking for when they move to the grand duchy for the first time?

It depends on the family situation. If someone is single, they would rather look for an apartment with one bedroom or a studio which is very centrally located. And then there are families or couples, and they are going to look for bigger spaces, most probably outside of town, to have more quiet and greenery nearby.

How can people make sure they pick the right spot the first time and avoid moving down the line?

You have to visit a lot--that’s something that I always say--and not only choose one or two [locations]… Visit them and take time. Then you should make the right decision and try to have the visits in two days, for example. After that, you have to make a quick decision.

Is your gut feeling important when visiting your potential future home?

Yes, it’s important. What we see from the tenants’ side is that when they come inside, and it’s well lit and there is a nice view, it’s a completely different situation, and they decide immediately.

What’s the best time of the day to conduct a visit?

I would suggest early morning or beginning of the evening after work when it’s still lively outside. That’s always a good moment because you also see the others that might live in that area when they go to work or when they come back from work. You see the house when the sun is going down, so there will be more light inside [compared to] lunchtime, for example, when the sun is at its highest... And then you also see the traffic situation.

What are the repercussions of the inflation on Luxembourg’s real estate market?

What we foresee is a midterm rise in rental prices because of inflation going higher, so the value of money is going down. And there will be more pressure on the rental market because less newly built objects are coming on the market. Also, the investors have fled the real estate market a little bit. Inflation will put pressure on the market. But also, on a global scale, if people can’t afford as much because of higher interest rates--which are an immediate effect of inflation--they can’t afford to buy. They’re going to rent for some time, most probably.