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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about real estate
Second home permits up in the air
Thursday, 23 May, 2013
Thousands of construction permits for second homes could be in jeopardy. The potential review of permits approved last year comes after the Federal Court backdated the Lex Weber law from January 1 of this year to last March. Permits issued after that are subject to individual appeal in communes where there is already a high percentage of second homes. Some cantons are specifically impacted—Bern, Graubünden, Vaud and Valais. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Jean-Michel Cina from the Valais cantonal government:
Thursday, 23 May, 2013
Thousands of construction permits for second homes could be in jeopardy. The potential review of permits approved last year comes after the Federal Court backdated the Lex Weber law from January 1 of this year to last March. Permits issued after that are subject to individual appeal in communes where there is already a high percentage of second homes. Some cantons are specifically impacted—Bern, Graubünden, Vaud and Valais. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Jean-Michel Cina from the Valais cantonal government:
Could court ruling help tenants facing rent hikes?
Monday, 29 April, 2013
A ruling from the Federal Supreme Court published last week delivered a slap to a landlord in the canton of Vaud. If a rent price goes up with the exit of an old tenant, the burden of proof to show that rise was too high has been on the tenant. But the court changed that in this case, making the landlord prove the 43 percent rent increase was reasonable when compared to other properties in the market. TheSwiss Tenants Association said the case would give tenants more ground to stand on when appealing a rent increase of 10 percent or more. But Thomas Oberle, an attorney for the Swiss Homeowners Association, doesn’t buy that. He told WRS’s Tony Ganzer that people in the Swiss German region don’t like renegotiating rent rates after signing a contract, even if allowed by law, because it is going against the good faith agreement of pricing. And besides, he says, sometimes the price increase is justified:
Monday, 29 April, 2013
A ruling from the Federal Supreme Court published last week delivered a slap to a landlord in the canton of Vaud. If a rent price goes up with the exit of an old tenant, the burden of proof to show that rise was too high has been on the tenant. But the court changed that in this case, making the landlord prove the 43 percent rent increase was reasonable when compared to other properties in the market. TheSwiss Tenants Association said the case would give tenants more ground to stand on when appealing a rent increase of 10 percent or more. But Thomas Oberle, an attorney for the Swiss Homeowners Association, doesn’t buy that. He told WRS’s Tony Ganzer that people in the Swiss German region don’t like renegotiating rent rates after signing a contract, even if allowed by law, because it is going against the good faith agreement of pricing. And besides, he says, sometimes the price increase is justified:
Why more Swiss are buying their homes
Tuesday, 2 April, 2013
More and more Swiss are choosing to buy their own homes. The latest figures from the Swiss Federal Statistics office show that 36.8 percent of people live in their own homes, up from 34.6 percent in the year 2000. WRS’s Pete Forster spoke to Marco Salvi, property economist with the thinktank Avenir Suisse:
Tuesday, 2 April, 2013
More and more Swiss are choosing to buy their own homes. The latest figures from the Swiss Federal Statistics office show that 36.8 percent of people live in their own homes, up from 34.6 percent in the year 2000. WRS’s Pete Forster spoke to Marco Salvi, property economist with the thinktank Avenir Suisse:
Government takes first steps to counter housing bubble
Thursday, 14 February, 2013
Whether Switzerland is truly experiencing a housing bubble or not has long been a talking point in the country. However, yesterday the Federal Council decided to take action, requiring that banks increase their capital buffer by one percent. This would be a move against an “excessive rise in prices in the real estate market and exorbitant mortgage debt,” the government said. WRS’s Tony Ganzer finds out what this means from Marco Salvi, an economist at think tank Avenir Suisse:
Thursday, 14 February, 2013
Whether Switzerland is truly experiencing a housing bubble or not has long been a talking point in the country. However, yesterday the Federal Council decided to take action, requiring that banks increase their capital buffer by one percent. This would be a move against an “excessive rise in prices in the real estate market and exorbitant mortgage debt,” the government said. WRS’s Tony Ganzer finds out what this means from Marco Salvi, an economist at think tank Avenir Suisse:
What home buyers can do about increasing mortgage rates
Monday, 11 February, 2013
Home buyers in Switzerland are not only facing overheated housing markets. Now rising mortgage rates are proving to be another obstacle. Data compiled by Der Sonntag newspaper and Comparis show some mortgage rates from banks are 20 percent more expensive than they were a month ago. WRS’s Tony Ganzer asks Stefan Heitmann, former partner at consultancy McKinsey and CEO of MyMoneyPark, how big of a deal this is:
Monday, 11 February, 2013
Home buyers in Switzerland are not only facing overheated housing markets. Now rising mortgage rates are proving to be another obstacle. Data compiled by Der Sonntag newspaper and Comparis show some mortgage rates from banks are 20 percent more expensive than they were a month ago. WRS’s Tony Ganzer asks Stefan Heitmann, former partner at consultancy McKinsey and CEO of MyMoneyPark, how big of a deal this is:
Could Zurich's empty offices become homes?
Thursday, 7 February, 2013
Zurich is changing. There are more and more office buildings standing empty in the center of the city. One real estate company,Colliers International, estimates there are 700,000 square meters of empty office space in the country and 300,000 of that is in the Zurich area. Analysts say that companies—and banks in particular, are scaling back their premises and moving to more modern buildings outside the city. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Daniel Stocker, Head of Research for Colliers International and asked him how severe the current situation is:
Thursday, 7 February, 2013
Zurich is changing. There are more and more office buildings standing empty in the center of the city. One real estate company,Colliers International, estimates there are 700,000 square meters of empty office space in the country and 300,000 of that is in the Zurich area. Analysts say that companies—and banks in particular, are scaling back their premises and moving to more modern buildings outside the city. WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Daniel Stocker, Head of Research for Colliers International and asked him how severe the current situation is:
UBS: Swiss inch towards housing bubble
Monday, 4 February, 2013
Switzerland has slipped more into a risk zone for a housing bubble, according to the UBS’s Swiss Real Estate Bubble Index. In the fourth quarter of last year the index numbered 1.11—anything above one is a risk for a bubble, anything above two signals bubble conditions are present. The third quarter was the first time Switzerland dipped into the risk zone in about 20 years, driven by hungry domestic demand. WRS’s Tony Ganzer speaks with UBS real estate analyst Matthias Holzhey:
Monday, 4 February, 2013
Switzerland has slipped more into a risk zone for a housing bubble, according to the UBS’s Swiss Real Estate Bubble Index. In the fourth quarter of last year the index numbered 1.11—anything above one is a risk for a bubble, anything above two signals bubble conditions are present. The third quarter was the first time Switzerland dipped into the risk zone in about 20 years, driven by hungry domestic demand. WRS’s Tony Ganzer speaks with UBS real estate analyst Matthias Holzhey:
Land use law means 'big loss' for Valais dwellers
Monday, 28 January, 2013
The Swiss are worried about how much building is going on in their country. The government has proposed a new law that would force cantons to justify how much land they need for construction over the next 15 years. The rest would have to be de-zoned, in other words taken out of what is earmarked as land we can build on. All cantons but one welcome this bill. Valais is the biggest exception. And yet even there, where land is often seen as old age security or heirlooms, some agree it’s time to act as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
Monday, 28 January, 2013
The Swiss are worried about how much building is going on in their country. The government has proposed a new law that would force cantons to justify how much land they need for construction over the next 15 years. The rest would have to be de-zoned, in other words taken out of what is earmarked as land we can build on. All cantons but one welcome this bill. Valais is the biggest exception. And yet even there, where land is often seen as old age security or heirlooms, some agree it’s time to act as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
The Connectors: How to find a rental in Switzerland
Thursday, 3 January, 2013
Catherine Nelson-Pollard and John Zimmer are joined by guest and relocation agent Stephanie Werners-Janssens. Trying to find a place to live as an expat in Switzerland can be very difficult. She gives some of her top tips on how to look for a rental property—from doing your research, having the correct documents ready when applying for a place to live, to being prepared to compromise:
Thursday, 3 January, 2013
Catherine Nelson-Pollard and John Zimmer are joined by guest and relocation agent Stephanie Werners-Janssens. Trying to find a place to live as an expat in Switzerland can be very difficult. She gives some of her top tips on how to look for a rental property—from doing your research, having the correct documents ready when applying for a place to live, to being prepared to compromise:
'Geneva attracts foreigners but can't house them'
Tuesday, 27 November, 2012
Geneva was once a beacon of banking and international relations, while at the same time a small town where the living was easy. Where does it stand now? Recently, Geneva has had to contend with attacks on the tax and banking system, with jam-packed trains and buses as well as a very tight housing market. And there is more competition from other cities looking to attract international organizations. A new study by a panel of experts from the whole Lake Geneva region gives a status report. The buzz words are housing, education and better governance. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Tuesday, 27 November, 2012
Geneva was once a beacon of banking and international relations, while at the same time a small town where the living was easy. Where does it stand now? Recently, Geneva has had to contend with attacks on the tax and banking system, with jam-packed trains and buses as well as a very tight housing market. And there is more competition from other cities looking to attract international organizations. A new study by a panel of experts from the whole Lake Geneva region gives a status report. The buzz words are housing, education and better governance. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
New land-planning law may be opposed in referendum
Thursday, 4 October, 2012
In a small, mountainous country like Switzerland, land is precious. And earlier this year Parliament passed a land-planning law that intends to stop sprawl. It would force cantons to only set aside enough land for building to meet their needs for the next 15 years. But opponents of that law gathered what they say is close to 70,000 eligible signatures to hold a referendum on it next year. WRS’s Jordan Davis has more:
Thursday, 4 October, 2012
In a small, mountainous country like Switzerland, land is precious. And earlier this year Parliament passed a land-planning law that intends to stop sprawl. It would force cantons to only set aside enough land for building to meet their needs for the next 15 years. But opponents of that law gathered what they say is close to 70,000 eligible signatures to hold a referendum on it next year. WRS’s Jordan Davis has more:
Study leads way to cheaper apartments without subsidies
Friday, 21 September, 2012
The shortage of new housing in Switzerland’s largest cities is a recurring theme. But a study published by the Federal Housing Office this week suggests it should be possible for more new housing to be built to cope with demand—without the need for state subsidies. What’s more, the housing could even have a lower price tag for those who live in it—for example as little as 1,600 francs for a three-and-a-half room apartment in Zurich. It all sounds too good to be true so WRS’s Catherine Allen called up Alex Valseki from real estate firm Halter Unternehmungen, one of the firms behind the study to find out more:
Friday, 21 September, 2012
The shortage of new housing in Switzerland’s largest cities is a recurring theme. But a study published by the Federal Housing Office this week suggests it should be possible for more new housing to be built to cope with demand—without the need for state subsidies. What’s more, the housing could even have a lower price tag for those who live in it—for example as little as 1,600 francs for a three-and-a-half room apartment in Zurich. It all sounds too good to be true so WRS’s Catherine Allen called up Alex Valseki from real estate firm Halter Unternehmungen, one of the firms behind the study to find out more:
Urgent cry for rent control
Tuesday, 4 September, 2012
The Swiss Association of Renters (ASLOCA) is calling for urgent action as they say rents rise an average of 20 percent each time a new lease is signed in the Lake Geneva area. That figure rises to 30 percent around Zurich. They blame the skyrocketing rents on immigration and proprietors taking advantage of the situation. They also claim the issue needs to be taken up in future debates over the labor treaty with the EU. WRS’s Dave Goodman speaks to Balthasar Glättli, a member of the executive committee of ASLOCA and a Green MP from the canton of Zurich:
Tuesday, 4 September, 2012
The Swiss Association of Renters (ASLOCA) is calling for urgent action as they say rents rise an average of 20 percent each time a new lease is signed in the Lake Geneva area. That figure rises to 30 percent around Zurich. They blame the skyrocketing rents on immigration and proprietors taking advantage of the situation. They also claim the issue needs to be taken up in future debates over the labor treaty with the EU. WRS’s Dave Goodman speaks to Balthasar Glättli, a member of the executive committee of ASLOCA and a Green MP from the canton of Zurich:
Laws, not expats, causing housing crisis
Wednesday, 29 August, 2012
Some often criticize the expat community for running up prices in the area and creating a shortfall in supply. However contrary to popular belief, expats are not causing the housing problems in Geneva. These are the findings of a new study from the economic and social think tank Avenir Suisse. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Marco Salvi, author of the study:
Wednesday, 29 August, 2012
Some often criticize the expat community for running up prices in the area and creating a shortfall in supply. However contrary to popular belief, expats are not causing the housing problems in Geneva. These are the findings of a new study from the economic and social think tank Avenir Suisse. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Marco Salvi, author of the study:
Consumer Helvetia: Understanding extra rental charges
Thursday, 16 August, 2012
Renting a house or apartment in Switzerland is famously expensive—but once a year many of us receive a bill containing additional costs on top of your rent. But have you ever really looked at what’s included? If you haven’t and just paid the bill, you’re not alone! These kind of accounts can be confusing for expats and the Swiss alike. Matthias Schmid from DRS’s consumer programme Espresso talked about them to WRS’s Jo Fahy:
Thursday, 16 August, 2012
Renting a house or apartment in Switzerland is famously expensive—but once a year many of us receive a bill containing additional costs on top of your rent. But have you ever really looked at what’s included? If you haven’t and just paid the bill, you’re not alone! These kind of accounts can be confusing for expats and the Swiss alike. Matthias Schmid from DRS’s consumer programme Espresso talked about them to WRS’s Jo Fahy:
