Buying property in Switzerland: your path to home ownership in seven steps
For many people, buying a property is one of the biggest decisions of their lives. This page guides you from the question of financing through to moving into your own home. Each step shows you which decision you need to make, what can go wrong and which figures you need to bear in mind.
Where are you at the moment?
Choose the starting point that suits your situation.
Step 1: Is it worth it for you to buy a home?
Before you look at listings, clarify two questions. Can you afford to buy your own home? And is buying cheaper for you than renting? To buy, you need at least 20% of your own funds. In addition, there are ongoing costs of 3% to 5% of the property’s value per year. This includes interest, amortisation, maintenance, ancillary costs, insurance and taxes. After that, you will know whether buying is worthwhile for you.
See in two minutes whether you have enough financial resources available.
Enter the purchase price, your own funds and your gross income. You will be shown the maximum loan-to-value ratio, the mortgage amount and whether the affordability criterion is met.
Step 2: Financing
Three factors determine how much property you can afford. The mortgage usually covers a maximum of 80% of the property’s value. You pay at least 10% from your own funds, which do not come from the pension fund. And, assuming an imputed interest rate of 5%, the costs may not exceed a third of your gross income In the end, you will know your maximum purchase price.
Which lender offers the best mortgage rate?
Compare the interest rates of over 30 lenders. If you would like more details: The Initial consultation with the Comparis Mortgage Service is free of charge.
Step 3: Search
When searching, you first decide on the place of residence. This determines the ancillary purchase costs and the ongoing taxes. The property tax depends on the canton: seven cantons do not levy it. Equally important is the property type. It determines what you need to check and what follow-up costs will be incurred. The market moves fast: in 2025, condominiums were listed for an average of 84 days listed, and around 60 days in metropolitan areas.
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Step 4: Check the property and estimate the price
Have you found a property you like? Inspect the property thoroughly before making an offer. A checklist will help you with this. Request the extract from the land register. It shows easements and encumbrances. Have the building structure to be checked by a professional and also ask for the GEAK, the cantonal building energy certificate.
Don’t go to a viewing without a list.
Download the inspection checklist for your apartment or house and tick off what matters on site. You should also compare the asking price with the prices in the neighbourhood.
Step 5: Secure financing, make an offer and sign the contract
Now it’s time to think about the mortgage and the purchase agreement. First, you choose the model. A fixed-rate mortgage has the same interest rate throughout the entire term. With a Saron mortgage the interest rate changes quarterly. Compare multiple offers, because the interest rate is usually only set when the contract is concluded. It’s worth negotiating.
Compare offers.
The Comparis mortgage service obtains offers for you from over 30 lenders. The The initial consultation is free of charge.
Step 6: Notarisation, transfer of ownership and handover
The purchase agreement must be notarised . However, you will not become the owner until the entry in the land register. When the change is reported to the land register, the property transfer tax becomes due. As a rule, it is paid by the buyer. Seven cantons charge only a fee instead of the tax, including Zurich, Zug and Aargau. At the same time, think about insurance: existing policies are automatically transferred to you, and you can reject them within 30 days.
Moving, cleaning and other work before moving in.
Request up to five quotes through the Comparis moving service. Painting and flooring are much easier and cheaper to do before moving in than afterwards.
Step 7: Living in your own home
As a homeowner, you have two recurring deadlines. The first is the tax return. You can deduct the costs of upkeep that preserves the value of the property. You can choose between the actual costs and a flat rate. The flat rate is 10% of the imputed rental value for properties up to ten years old and 20% for older ones. With the imputed rental value, this deduction will no longer apply from 2029. Value-enhancing investments only count when the property is sold. The second deadline is the end of your fixed-rate mortgage. Take care of it about a year in advance. The notice period is usually three to six months.
Extending a mortgage
If your mortgage is coming to an end, compare offers early. Up to around 12 months before expiry many lenders do not charge a surcharge. You can find a suitable company for painting work via Comparis.
Exceptional cases when buying a property
In these cases, buying a property is slightly different.
Form of ownership, financing shares and what applies in the event of a separation: Buying a home as a cohabiting couple.
Stricter loan-to-value ratio, no pension assets and higher interest rates: Financing holiday homes.
Whether you are allowed to buy depends on your nationality, your residence permit and the type of property: Buying a property as a foreigner.
In the case of a new-build, the financing is handled via a building loan, which is only converted into a mortgage once construction is complete. Regarding costs and options: Prefabricated houses.
If you inherit a property, you first have to decide whether to take it on or sell it: Inherited property. If several people are entitled to inherit, unanimity applies: Community of heirs and property.
Takeover by one party, sale or joint ownership: Home ownership in the event of divorce.
Different lending value and affordability rules apply to rented properties: Financing an investment property.
A low-cost entry point with increased risk because you can hardly inspect the property: Affordable property at foreclosure auction.
Selling your home or just looking for a rental apartment?
Frequently asked questions about buying a property
The market standard is at least 20% of the sales price. Of this, at least 10% of the sales price must come from funds that are not taken from second-pillar assets, i.e. from savings, pillar 3a assets, an advancement on inheritance or a gift, for example. If the purchase price is higher than the bank’s valuation, the difference must also be financed entirely from such funds.
The bank works on the basis of a notional interest rate of 4.5% to 5%, which is customary in the market, with ancillary costs and maintenance of around 1% of the property’s value per year, and with amortisation. The total should not exceed around a third of your gross income. These interest rates are industry practice and are not stipulated by law, so they may vary slightly from bank to bank.
This depends very much on the canton. Ancillary purchase costs include property transfer tax, notary fees, land registry fees and the creation of the mortgage certificate. For a property worth 1.15 million francs, this amounts to around 20,700 francs in the canton of Bern and around 2,875 francs in the canton of Zurich. Always check the costs for the relevant canton.
The portion of the loan above two thirds of the lending value, i.e. the second mortgage, must be amortised on a straight-line basis within a maximum of 15 years. The portion up to two thirds does not have to be amortised. Many banks also require the second mortgage to be paid off in full by retirement, but this is the lending policy of the individual bank.
Usually not. A reservation agreement that obliges you to buy is a preliminary contract. It must be notarised publicly. If it has not been notarised, it is not valid, and you can reclaim the payment. However, the seller may deduct costs that they can prove, such as notary fees for the draft contract. If, on the other hand, you have had the preliminary contract notarised, withdrawal is usually not possible or is expensive. Always transfer a reservation payment to a blocked account. You can find out more in the article on reservation agreement.
Upon entry in the land register, not upon notarisation of the sale contract. The application for entry in the land register and the payment of the purchase price take place between these two points. When benefit and risk are transferred, i.e. from when you bear the risk, is stipulated in the purchase contract and, in practice, is usually combined with the transfer of possession.
From 1 January 2029, the imputed rental value for owner-occupied residential property will be abolished and, at the same time, the deduction for maintenance costs will be abolished, as will, to a large extent, the deduction for debt interest for owner-occupiers. A temporary deduction for first-time buyers will be introduced. The current system applies up to and including the 2028 tax period.
Ask for the regulations, the usage and administrative rules, the deed of constitution with the value shares, the minutes of the owners’ meetings from recent years, the annual accounts, the status of the renovation fund and confirmation from the management of any outstanding contributions. The community of co-owners can register a lien on the unit for unpaid contributions from the last three years, and this also applies to the new owner.