Emigrants with property in Germany

But perhaps you are thinking about buying a property in Switzerland after moving here. Although Switzerland is predominantly a country of tenants, property has also established itself as a sought-after and, above all, secure investment opportunity in this country. But what do you need to bear in mind when buying a house in Switzerland?

The first question that quickly arises is whether a purchase licence is required. According to the Swiss Federal Administration, this is to prevent Swiss land from falling into foreign hands. However, not all foreign nationals need a permit; the decisive factor is the nationality and residence status of the foreign national. As a German emigrant in Switzerland with a B permit, you have the advantage that you have the same rights as Swiss nationals when buying property and therefore do not need a special purchase permit to buy a flat, house or plot of land.

After moving to Switzerland, you can therefore operate freely in the local property market. But what does it actually look like? According to the Handelszeitung newspaper, prices for owner-occupied residential property continued to rise in the second quarter of 2023, for example. The higher financing costs associated with the rise in interest rates have so far been unable to halt the trend. The main reason is still the shortage of supply. And that is precisely the crux of the matter: although holding property has become more expensive overall, demand is also holding up. So be aware that you may have to dig deep into your pockets when buying a property in this country and that you may find yourself in strong competition with other buyers. Many prospective buyers therefore work with experts, i.e. professional estate agents. They have a network that is usually not accessible to end customers.