Switzerland

Yes, both Swiss residents and foreign buyers can get mortgages in Switzerland. Swiss banks offer mortgages to qualified applicants, but only for Swiss properties - you cannot use a Swiss mortgage to buy property elsewhere. In June 2025 the Swiss National Bank recently cut the base rate to 0% in 2025. As a result mortgage accessibility has significantly improved for all buyers looking to invest in Swiss ski apartments and chalets.

As of June 2025, Swiss mortgage rates are once again some of the lowest in the world. Current example mortgage rates are as follows: 10-year fixed: 1.27% 15-year fixed: 1.64% Variable (SARON): 0.81% These rates represent historic lows and are down from 2.26% for 10-year fixed mortgages in early 2024. The potential savings here are now significant. For example, a CHF 1 million mortgage now costs CHF 12,700 annually in interest versus CHF 22,600 in 2024. Swiss property investors can now save CHF 9,900 per year compared to 2024. The Swiss National Bank's 0% policy rate makes property investment in Switzerland particularly compelling at the moment and is expected to support house prices into the future.

Yes, they can. However, there are a few important rules and processes to understand. Who Can Buy? Non-resident foreigners are allowed to purchase one second home in Switzerland. That second home must be located in a designated tourist area—you cannot buy in cities like Zurich, for example. Suitable locations include ski resorts and mountain villages like Grimentz, Nendaz, Verbier, Crans-Montana and others. Is There a Limit? Yes. Switzerland has a national quota of foreign property purchases, currently just under 1,500 permits per year. These are subdivided by canton. For example, the Valais canton (where Grimentz is located) receives about 330 permits per year. The canton is responsible for allocating these permits.

Yes, you need a foreign buyer’s permit, but the process is straightforward and simple. How the Process Works: When you have found an apartment or chalet that you are interested in then you can make an offer verbally or in writing via your real estate agent. Once you have a price agreed with the seller then you will sign a Declaration of Intent (DOI). This DOI includes: Your name, address, and date of birth Details of the property (price, size, etc.) A declaration that you do not own any other property in Switzerland Submit to Land Registry: This form is sent to the Land Registry Office, which checks and approves it. Approval Time: Approval for your foreign buyers permit usually takes a couple of weeks. Complete the Purchase: Once the permit is granted, you can move forward with finalising the purchase and sign the official deed at the notary’s office. This can either be done in person or via Power of Attorney (POA).

As a foreign, non-resident owner, you will pay taxes on: The cadastral value of the property: This is similar to a rateable value and is usually well below the market price. For a new build, it might be about 60% of the market value. For older properties, it could be even less. Notional rental income: If you don’t rent out the property, you’ll still be taxed on an assumed rental value. If you do rent it out, you're taxed on the actual income. Multiple tax levels: You’ll pay tax at the federal, cantonal, and municipal (communal) levels. However, it’s all managed through one annual tax return, and the authorities handle the distribution. As a general rule of thumb, expect to pay about 0.5% of the property's market value per year in taxes. For example: On a CHF 2 million property, total annual taxes would be approximately CHF 10,000.

Based on the latest 2025 market data, here are the average property prices in Switzerland: National Averages Apartments: CHF 8,773 per square meter Houses: CHF 7,872 per square meter Alpine Chalets: CHF 19,600 per square meter (resort areas) Source: Neho Real Estate and RealAdvisor Apartments vs Chalets The price difference is substantial - alpine chalets cost nearly 2.5 times more per square meter than regular apartments. Premium resort chalets command even higher prices: Gstaad: CHF 38,000-60,000 per m² Verbier: CHF 24,000-35,000 per m² Zermatt: CHF 21,500 per m² St. Moritz: CHF 19,500 per m² Sources: SwissInfo and Finews New Builds vs Resale Resale properties currently command similar or slightly higher prices than new builds, particularly in prime locations. However, new builds offer advantages like modern energy efficiency and contemporary amenities, though they often require additional costs (minimum CHF 15,000 for kitchen fittings) and may be located in less central areas. Typical Property Prices by Size Apartments: Studio: CHF 525,000 3-room: CHF 801,000 5-room: CHF 1,370,000 Houses: 4-room: CHF 995,000 6-room: CHF 1,480,000 8-room: CHF 1,990,000 Source: RealAdvisor Property Prices Market Trends The market continues growing with apartments up 4.42% and houses up 4.69% year-over-year, driven by low interest rates and limited supply.