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What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

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I write about demographic developments, societal trends and debates in Switzerland. I joined SWI swissinfo.ch after 15 years at a local newspaper in Zurich.

In Switzerland, it’s becoming increasingly hard for people to afford to buy a house or flat, and with demand constantly outstripping supply, rents are climbing as well. In the cities, gentrification is well under way, and politicians are still struggling to find a solution.

There is no real sign of things getting better. While the Swiss economy attracts more workers from the EU, construction just isn’t keeping up with the number of new arrivals. The country is slipping deeper into a housing crisis.

Does any of this sound familiar? Is it the same where you live — are you seeing a shortage of homes or soaring prices, whether it is for renting or buying property? We’d love to hear about your experiences.

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Jorg Hiker
Jorg Hiker

Switzerland has to build hew houses now and fast, because it takes a decade to solve the issue (houses, materials and building labor has its limits). Waiting until the crisis means it will be too late.

jepyerly@websud.ch
jepyerly@websud.ch
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Our small country, with its 50% of non-productive and non-constructive land, cannot accommodate more than 6 to 7 million inhabitants. At the moment, our farmland can feed around 4 million people, and our hospitals, schools, roads and prisons are completely overcrowded. Not to mention growing insecurity. Apart from a few wealthy people who benefit from this overcrowding, keeping human inhabitants is becoming more difficult and less well off than keeping domestic animals.

Notre petit Pays, avec le 50 % de non productif et non constructif , ne peut pas accueillir plus de 6 à 7millions d'habitants. Actuellement , les terres agricoles peuvent nourrir environ 4 millions d'habitants, nos hopitaux, nos écoles, nos routes, nos prisons sont complètement surchargées . Sans parler de l'insécurité croissante . A part quelques riches qui profitent de ce trop plein de population , la détention des habitants humains, devient plus difficile et moins bien lotie que la garde des animaux domestiques.

Luna
Luna
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

From GE: ____It's scandalous that there are no safeguards in place for soaring housing prices. Fortunately, ASLOCA is working to protect tenants.

De GE : ____Il est scandaleux qu’aucun garde fou ne soit mis en place pour la flambée des prix de logement. Heureusement il y a l’ASLOCA qui œuvre à protéger les locataires

Daniel Christen
Daniel Christen

Decent countries make sure that all indigenous citizens enjoy proper housing. Given the shortage of proper housing in Switzerland, we should ask the question if Switzerland is indeed a decent country. That is of course not the fault of the foreigners, as far as I know, all leaders in the Swiss Government are Swiss!

Philippe76
Philippe76
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

The situation is due to a loss of moral values, corruption in general both politically and economically, wanting to generate wealth at the expense of immigration, speculating with the price of housing and making it less and less easy to buy or even rent a house also for the local population.__Basing the economy on speculation is bread for today and hunger for tomorrow.__I live in Spain and previously lived in Geneva.__The situation in Spain is more of the same, generating wealth without wanting to lift a finger. Speculation and corruption. Something common these days in what is called the West.

La situacion es debida a una perdida de valores morales, corrupcion en general tanto politica como economicamente, querer generar riqueza a costa de la inmigracion, especulando con el precio de la vivienda y haciendo cada vez menos facil adquirir o incluso alquilar una vivienda tambien para la poblacion local.__Basar la economia en especulacion es pan para hoy y hambre para el mañana.__Vivo en España y con anterioridad vivi en Ginebra.__La situacion en España es mas de lo mismo, generar riqueza sin querer mover un dedo. Especulacion y corrupcion. Algo comun por estos tiempos en lo que se llama occidente.

Michelangelo Francesco Benedetti
Michelangelo Francesco Benedetti
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

The inflationary use of hardship may hide the real hardship. You talk about the hardship in Zurich, you talk about the hardship of the people in Gaza. Are you talking about the same thing

Der inflationäre Gebrauch von Not mag die echte Not ausblenden. Du sprichst von der Not in Zürich, du sprichst von der Not der Menschen in Gaza. Sprichst du vom Selben

Anatolii G. Komar
Anatolii G. Komar
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.

I live in Kiev, Ukraine. I have my own small flat, in which I lived back in the USSR. In the early 90s, millions of people got their own flats. I was lucky - the house is quite high quality, brick. The houses that were built 3-5 years later, in the mid-60s, are worse, they are made of concrete panels. My wife and I live in the flat now. For two people the flat is not bad - two rooms, kitchen, bathroom. Although the total area is only 42 square metres. The place is also comfortable - not the centre of the city, but not new districts to which it takes a long time to get there. __Our daughter has her own flat, also in Kiev. We didn't buy the flat on credit - we paid part of it and part of it was paid by our daughter. This is probably not a typical way of buying a home in Switzerland. Although in Ukraine it happens often. My daughter's flat is bigger than ours and more comfortable, in a new building. __Unfortunately, as a result of the war, the price of flats in Kiev has dropped a lot. Probably twice as much. Before the war, they were only getting more expensive. And now the housing market has practically stopped. __As a result of shelling, we had several windows broken - a Russian drone hit a neighbouring house. It is clear that almost no one is buying flats in Kiev. Now flats in the west of Ukraine are in demand - they are much further away from the front and there is no shelling. __PS Please apologise for any mistakes. I don't often write in Russian

Я живу в Киеве, Украина. У меня собственная небольшая квартира, в которой я жил еще при СССР. В начале 90-х миллионы людей получили свои квартиры в собственность. Мне повезло – дом достаточно качественный, кирпичный. Дома, которые строились на 3-5 лет позже, в середине 60-х, хуже, они собраны из бетонных панелей. В квартире мы живем сейчас вдвоем с женой. Для двоих квартира не плохая – две комнаты, кухня, санузел. Хотя общая площадь всего 42 квадратных метра. Место тоже комфортное – не центр города, но и не новые районы, до котоых ехать долго.__Наша дочь имеет свою квартиру, тоже в Киеве. Квартиру покупали не в кредит – часть оплатили мы, часть – дочка. Наверное, такой путь покупки жилья, не типичный для Швейцарии. Хотя в Украине такое бывает часто. Квартира у дочки больше, чем наша, и комфортнее, в новом доме. __К сожалению, в результате войны, стоимость квартир в Киеве сильно упала. Наверноє в два раза. До войны они становились только дороже. А сейчас рынок жилья практически остановился.__В результате обстрелов у нас было разбито несколько окон – русский дрон попал в соседний дом. Понятно, что почти никто не покупаєт квартиры в Киеве. Сейчас спросом пользуются квартиры на западе Украины – там намного дальше от фронта и обстрелов не бывает.__PS Прошу извинить за возможные ошибки. Я не часто пишу по русски

Geko-2025
Geko-2025
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

I had lived in Switzerland since my birth in Geneva in 1960 and emigrated to Germany in 2023 at the age of 63 because as an early retiree I could no longer financially support and finance myself and my family, wife and child of German nationality in Switzerland. In the meantime, we are self-employed in the health sector / industry and are working on being able to finance a future in a pensionable salary as a family with a German / Swiss background in a political felt and corrupt economic system that often eludes any basic moral principle. ____Greetings from Freiburg i Brßg.

Ich war in der Schweiz Wohnhaft seit meiner Geburt in Genf 1960 im Jahre 2023 bin ich mit 63 nach Deutschland ausgewandert da ich mich als Frührentner auch Finanziell nicht mehr mit meiner Familie Frau und Kind Deutscher Nationalität in der Schweiz nicht mehr halten und Finanzieren konnte .__Aus der Not heraus keine größere Wohnung gefunden zu haben da die Eigentümer. Der Immobilie oft auch Emigranten waren und sind haben wir erfolglos über mehrere Jahre hinweg für größere Wohnungen beworben und mussten Angebote an Landsleute mit nicht Schweizerischer Herkunft abtreten.__Wir zwischenzeitlich Selbständig Erwerbende im Gesundheits Sektor / Branche Arbeiten daran eine Zukunft im Rentenälter noch finänzieren zu können als Familie mit Deutsch / Schweizerischen Hintergrund in einem Politischen Filz und Korrupten Wirtschaft system welches oft jedem Moralischen Grundprinzip sich entzieht. ____Gruss aus Freiburg i Brßg.

JustTheFacts
JustTheFacts

It is obvious to any educated individual that when an immigration policy exists to facilitate EU and third country nationals (and their families) to come to a country, there needs to be housing and that housing needs to grow in line with immigration and local needs.__.__It is also obvious that when other countries in the vicinity (Europe) become undesirable places to live (economics, racism, poor Governments), that people will look to better countries, such as Switzerland.

jepyerly@websud.ch
jepyerly@websud.ch
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.
@JustTheFacts

Every country has a duty to house, feed and secure its inhabitants. This must be done in relation to the surface area of the territory, taking into account all natural needs, water, food and the need for building land. If the concentration of people is too great, serious problems arise. This is what is happening in Switzerland at the moment: for example, large factories are being opened that only work with imported materials and labour. Then Mr Trump puts taxes on what we have produced out of the ground. Negative profit!!!

Chaque Pays, a le devoir de loger , nourrir et sécuriser ses habitants, Cela doit se réaliser en fonction de la surface du territoire, tenant compte de tous les besoins naturels, eau, alimentation et besoins de surfaces en construction. Si la concentration humaine est trop forte, les graves problèmes surviennent. C'est ce qui arrive en Suisse actuellement.Exemple, on ouvre de grandes usines, qui ne fonctionnent que grâce à du matériel et main-d’œuvre importés. Ensuite, M. Trump met des taxes sur ce que nous avons produit hors sol. Bénéfice négatif !!!

Akiqaz
Akiqaz

The RPG/LAT/LPT restricts the possibility of building in new areas and immigration is around hundred thousand people per year.____There are more people, less building opportunities, more energy efficiency requirements: all these translate into higher and higher prices.__It should be no surprise that the result is more expensive flats and more expensive rents.____Without any change in these conditions, safe a big economical crisis, the prices will keep going up

LAKZ
LAKZ
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

The purchase of the first home should be supported and from the second or third it must be made more difficult (either with support such as loans for first-time buyers or through taxes for those who already own property). It is unacceptable that with the few opportunities that still exist, people who are already homeowners can bid big (and also get mortgages more easily) and then rent them out at high prices to those who do not own a home. New laws are needed in this regard!

Der Erwerb des ersten Eigenheims soll unterstützt werden und ab dem zweiten oder dritten muss es erschwert werden (entweder mit Unterstützung wie Darlehen der Erstkäufer oder durch Steuern für die, die schon Immobilien besitzen). Es kann nicht sein, dass bei den wenigen Möglichkeiten, dies noch gibt, Leute die bereits Hausbesitzer sind, gross mitbieten können (und auch einfacher Hypotheken bekommen), um diese dann denen ohne Eigenheim teuer zu vermieten. Es braucht neue Gesetze diesbezüglich!

Kayman
Kayman

Hi all, I think this is absolutely wrong comparison in terms of population increase and immigration policies between both the countries. __Switzerland is definitely not making any mistake as per population growth and demand for housing. __Price increases in Switzerland are not because of housing shortage. Inflation and strengthening of Swiss Franc has been reasons for prices. (Higher costs of construction)__Even if you create a supply of housing it will not help.__Construction costs and sourcing of materials are other reason for higher prices.____This is no way of fixing values of the housing for making it affordable.____Income growth and per capita income increase will be the only way going forward. ____England is behind the curve because of poor policies and immigration. Pound has weakened in last 20 yers and Swiss franc has strengthened in last 20 years.____Absolute wrong comparison in socio economic and demographics.

Vindi
Vindi
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Only those who have either inherited or have good salaries have always been able to afford it anyway. This is nothing new

Das können sich seit jeher sowieso nur die leisten, die entweder geerbt haben oder gute Löhne habe. Das ist nichts Neues

Rafiq Tschannen
Rafiq Tschannen

The biggest mistake of my life I made when I sold my house, which I bought for 770000 Sfr for 1.25 Million. If I had waited a bit I could have got 2.5 million Sfr....

JustATest
JustATest

This is the question. Has there (ever) been a baby-boom in Switzerland - if so what is the number of births per woman to be categorized as baby boom? It is it more that now there is a clear and definitive shortage of children born in Switzerland and many adults without children and rarely more then 1 child or 2 - which might be due to the following factors: 1) costs (health insurance, childcare, costs if living, lack affordable flats or houses - no "space" for more children 2) due to financial pressure mostly no time for children when both work full time? The effects however are clear. More dependence on families and children born abroad and of course people grown up and educated outside of Switzerland - so the general politics and harsh environment for families might keep taxes for rich people low but in the end might jeopordize the future of Switzerland as a whole as children are the future - not just a bad phrase.

Anonym-er
Anonym-er
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

We are living in a modern slavery era, so to speak. The property and banking lobbies want the population to work for a house or flat for the rest of their lives. The states must build social housing and sell it on to people and families who have low incomes and do not yet own a home without making a profit. In Switzerland this must be in the form of high-rise buildings as Switzerland has little land. Politics (the state) builds houses itself so that the property lobby is stopped and suppressed. There must be an initiative for state-owned flats.

Wir leben quasi in einer modernen Sklavenzeit. Immobilien und Banken Lobby wollen das die Bewölkung ganzes Lebenlang für ein Haus oder Wohnung arbeitet. __Die Staaten müssen soziale Wohnungen bauen und an die Menschen und Familien, wo niedrigen einkommen und noch kein Wohnung besitzen ohne Gewinn (Profit) weiter verkaufen. In der Schweiz muss das in Hochhäuser Form sein da die Schweiz wenig Land hat. Die Politik (Staat) baut selber Häuser damit Immobilien-Lobby gestoppt und unterdrückt wird. Es muss ein Initiative geben für die Staat-Wohnungen.

Andermattli
Andermattli
@Anonym-er

The policy you recommend has been tried in many countries with, at best, only minimal success. Looking for a recent example of this in Western Europe? The Netherlands has been doing what you suggest for decades and nearly 40% of housing is/was publicly owned. Is the housing shortage in that country any less serious? No, it is not. The Swiss have thus far resisted heavy-handed socialist economic policies, and they are not inclined to agree with you when such things are put to a vote. Large tracts of public housing attract the less well-to-do, to put it nicely, and the Swiss have no desire to become like other economically and socially degraded EU nations. Thank you but no thank you.

Pelicanbat
Pelicanbat

The worst part is the lack of choice (buying or renting). There are so few apartments advertised in areas within a reasonable commuting distance (bus/train) of major job hubs (and so many people competing for the same apartments!) that you are often just have to take whatever you get. ____My friends in other countries cannot understand how I can earn so much money but live in such a terrible quality apartment. Of course I would like something better, but don't want to spend all my free time playing the apartment hunting lottery - and have to pay an extra 2-3K rent per month for something slightly better :P

S.SantAna
S.SantAna
@Pelicanbat

Sometimes people need to come out of their comfort zones. I give you my example, I live in Glarus municipality and for a 4,5Flat I pay the half of an identical flat in Zürich.I would never spend half of my salary as I see most people doing to live just a few minutes of their workplace!!

Cigan
Cigan

I think that's very true.

Anne7
Anne7

In many places in Switzerland home ownership often seems to involve forking over a significant portion of your life savings for the privilege of being a million francs in debt and the minority owner of an exorbitantly priced piece of real estate.____A quick formula to evaluate if buying a property is a wise financial decision is to divide the property price by the annual rent. For example, a 3.5 room apartment costs 800'000 CHF to purchase versus 2'000 CHF per month to rent (or 24'000 CHF per year). The quotient in this case is 33! ____Quite a contrast with home ownership in other countries such as the United States. It is still possible in some places in the US to purchase a home for 300'000 USD that could also be rented for 2'000 USD per month. In that example the quotient is 12.5 and buying would a better choice than renting. ____General guidelines for this quotient are that 21 renting is better, 16-20 is a draw, and less than 16 buying is the best choice.____In most places in Switzerland I think it is wiser to invest a 250'000 CHF down payment into a low-cost equities index fund rather than real estate. Assuming 8% annual returns and using the "Rule of 72" the initial investment will double in 9 years to 500'000 CHF and then double again after 9 more years to 1'000'000 CHF. ____A million francs is sufficient to be financially independent if you have a modest lifestyle. Financially independence can be defined as having 25 times your annual living expenses and assuming a 4% withdrawal rate of your portfolio. Dividends and capital gains will be sufficient for income and 8% average returns (7% after inflation) will ensure your portfolio continues to grow.

Marc Leutenegger
Marc Leutenegger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Anne7

thank you for your contribution. the question of whether renting or buying is cheaper depends largely on the interest rate environment, various banks and other institutions calculate this in switzerland. currently, buying is again considered cheaper than renting. during the covid pandemic, it was the other way around.____on the subject of return on capital, it can be said that real estate has kept pace with the financial market in terms of value appreciation in recent years. because the equity ratio on real estate is usually low in switzerland, however, many have benefited disproportionately because they have also achieved increases in value with borrowed money.____an example from my personal environment: 8 years ago, a couple bought a condominium in the Zurich area for 1.05 million francs. the equity capital amounted to 400,000 francs. today, this apartment is worth around 1.8 million francs, as shown by sales in the same apartment building.____the book profit is therefore 200 percent. if the couple had only put in the minimum of 210,000 francs in equity, they would have quintupled their investment. the interest charge at that time was 0.8 percent for 10 years, i.e. 6400 francs per year. including ancillary costs and provisions, the total monthly charge is around 1500 francs, i.e. 18,000 francs per year.____in the best-case scenario, the couple would have had costs of 144,000 francs and achieved a return of 800,000 francs.____such calculations will continue to work out in switzerland as long as prices continue to rise immeasurably.

issyvivi@me.com
issyvivi@me.com
@Anne7

An interesting report on the housing affordability. I have family members living in Australia where real estate talk is a cultural pastime. I lived there for 30 years and property has exceeded the incomes of a couple with mid-career incomes. I can no longer afford to rent or buy where I left 5 years ago. My concern is for my adult children to make homes for themselves with education debt and little hope of achieving normal lifestyles with their own families for happiness, security and support. I will forward your post to my sons as I don’t fully understand the calculations and this will help to look at different scenarios. One reason we rented in Vaud and our family want to return to Switzerland but every option is looking difficult. Thanks again.

Anne7
Anne7
@issyvivi@me.com

The book that changed my life is called "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins. I suggest that you search for "Rent vs Owning Your Home: Opportunity Cost and Running Some Numbers", a post written my Mr. Collins on his blog. Good luck and remember that buying is not always the answer to a secure financial path, especially in pricey Switzerland!

Anne7
Anne7
@Marc Leutenegger

It is usually not rational to buy an apartment for 1.05 millions francs. Assuming that the apartment rents for 3'000 CHF per month the housing price to annual rent ratio quotient is is 29. This means that it would take 29 years of paying rent to reach the value of this overpriced apartment.____If the couple you mentioned had instead invested their 400'000 CHF equity capital in a low-cost stocks index fund 8 years ago (assuming 8% return) their investment would now be worth 740'372 CHF. Wait an additional 10 years (18 total years) and their investment would be worth 1'598'408 CHF. This is enough for many people to achieve financial independence. ____Locking money in a home is not a reliable investment. A home is simply an expensive indulgence. In countries where property values are significantly cheaper it may be a rational choice but in most places in Switzerland is it an unwise decision. ____It is a risky gamble to assume that property prices in Switzerland will always continue to rise. The country has low birth rates, an aging population, and a heavy reliance on foreign labor. ____I lived in the United States when the housing bubble collapsed in 2008 and triggered a major recession. I remember that many Americans at that time naively assumed that their property values would always rise. Instead 8.8 million "homeowners" (debtors) were in the disastrous situation of having "underwater mortgages". Home values fell so precipitously that these debtors owed more on their mortgages than the properties were worth. ____Swiss "underwater mortgages" will be more damaging to the debtors than their American counterparts because the Swiss mortgages are 1-10 times higher. ____Financial independence is possible in Switzerland due to high average incomes and relatively low taxes. However, in my opinion purchasing a residential property in most Swiss cities will quickly sabotage any hopes of ever being financially independent.

Marc Leutenegger
Marc Leutenegger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@issyvivi@me.com

Thank you for your contribution. In Switzerland, talking about property is probably also a cultural pastime. It's probably because of the emotions involved, and sometimes there's a pinch of voyeurism.____The Australian market is relentless, I have friends in Sydney and spent my last really long holidays there. I understand what you mean, many locations have also become completely unaffordable. And it's even more difficult in the rental market, where you're at the mercy of the landlords.

Vielen Dank für Ihren Beitrag. In der Schweiz ist das Reden über Immobilien wohl auch ein kultureller Zeitvertreib. Es dürfte an den Emotionen liegen, die damit verknüpft sind, auch eine Prise Voyeurismus ist manchmal dabei.____Der australischer Markt ist unerbittlich, ich habe Freunde in Sydney und dort auch meine letzten richtig langen Ferien verbracht. Ich verstehe, was Sie meinen, viele Lagen sind auch völlig unerschwinglich geworden. Und noch schwieriger ist es im Mietmarkt, wo man der Willkür der Vermietenden ausgeliefert ist.

Marc Leutenegger
Marc Leutenegger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@Anne7

I am of course familiar with the doctrine of the financial indipendence movement and agree with much of it. In the end, they are all forecasts - and the question is which market performs better. You can also make several 1000 per cent profit on the capital market in 8 years - with the corresponding risk.____But to stay with my calculation example: The couple would have made a profit of 800,000 francs in 8 years with 200,000 francs in deposits (instead of 400,000) - and saved around 100,000 francs in monthly costs compared to a rental solution. They say that in the same period, the couple could have earned CHF 340,000 on the capital market with CHF 400,000 in assets. Calculated on 200,000 francs, that would still be a profit of 170,000 francs. If you deduct the 100,000 francs higher living costs from this, you are left with 70,000 francs - compared to 800,000.____But a property crisis can change everything. Just like a stock market crash, at least for the time being. In Switzerland, the question is whether the difference between median wages and prices can become arbitrarily large. And this question is decided by excess demand.

Ich kenne natürlich die Doktrin der Financial-Indipendence-Bewegung und bin mit vielem einverstanden. Am Ende sind alles Prognosen - und die Frage ist, welcher Markt besser läuft. Man kann am Kapitalmarkt in 8 Jahren auch mehrere 1000 Prozent Gewinn machen - mit entsprechendem Risiko.____Aber um in meinem Rechenbeispiel zu bleiben: Das Paar hätte mit 200'000 Franken Einlagen (statt 400 000) in 8 Jahren 800'000 Franken Gewinn gemacht - und gegenüber einer Mietlösung bei den monatlichen Kosten rund 100 000 Franken gespart. Sie sagen, im selben Zeitraum hätte das Paar mit 400'000 Franken an Anlagevermögen 340'000 Franken am Kapitalmarkt verdienen können. Auf 200 000 Franken gerechnet wären das noch 170'000 Franken an Gewinn. Zieht man davon die um 100 000 Franken höheren Lebenskosten ab, bleiben 70 000 Franken - gegenüber 800 000.____Aber eine Immobilienkrise kann alles ändern. Genauso wie ein Börsencrash, zumindest vorläufig. In der Schweiz stellt sich die Frage, ob die Differenz zwischen Medianlöhnen und Preisen beliebig gross werden kann. Und diese Frage entscheidet sich am Nachfrageüberhang.

Anne7
Anne7
@Marc Leutenegger

@Marc Leutenegger__A home is not actually an investment, it is just a roof over one's head. There are very few real estate markets that can match the long-term growth curve of 7% compound interest. And the few that match or exceed that growth likely are in a speculative bubble. Long term the only reliable way to grow wealth is to invest in a low-cost stocks index fund.____Personally I look forward to stock market crashes because they are excellent opportunities to purchase stocks at a discount. 3 out of 7 years will be negative on the stock market. Sometimes an entire decade can go by with with stagnant growth. However, long term the (US) stock market always goes up. The US stock market's S

Marc Leutenegger
Marc Leutenegger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Anne7

you're forgetting the debt capital. in Switzerland, 80 percent of real estate can be financed with debt capital - and money is cheap. currently, you get a mortage for over ten years for only 1.5 percent. and there are still current mortgages with an interest rate under 1 percent. if you compare this with the increase in the value of real estate of around 4 percent, you get a handsome return on borrowed money. but often this is not realized, it remains tied up until retirement or inheritance. to sum it up: it depends on the market. and I will not argue against long term investing in the stock market :D

Mister Mike
Mister Mike
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Getting off the beaten track (and the urban illusion)____Apparently, living 500 metres from your office has become the ultimate ideal for living. The result is that everyone is congregating in the same big cities, which can't get enough of being desired, while well-served, liveable and humane communities wait in vain for their turn.____We hear of a dramatic shortage in Geneva and Zurich. Is there? Yet a few clicks on a property website will reveal thousands of available homes. Could it be a mirage? Or is it simply that they're not located five minutes from a conceptual café serving organic matcha? It seems that the urban exodus is all very well, but only if the train serves the trendy bakery directly. ____And all the while, the dream is being built... in concrete. Glorious "sustainable neighbourhoods" are springing up all over the place, made up of stacked cubes, max-priced micro-housing and postage-stamp loggias. The whole thing smacks of 60s housing estates, but with a touch of greenwashing: a little more insulation, a green facade for the photo, and you've got "innovative" housing. What about opposite views? Ah, it's never been so close - at least you can get to know your neighbours without leaving your sofa.____So no, salvation won't come from yet another 'intelligent' project in the city, or from an eco-neighbourhood where people suffocate better, but cleaner. Perhaps it's time to admit that Switzerland is more than just three overworked conurbations. The rest of the country exists. Maybe it's time to rediscover it... before we start concreting over what's left of it.

Sortir des sentiers battus (et de l’illusion urbaine)____Apparemment, vivre à 500 mètres de son bureau est devenu l’ultime idéal de vie. Résultat : tout le monde s’agglutine dans les mêmes grandes villes, qui n’en peuvent plus d’être désirées, pendant que des communes bien desservies, vivables et humaines attendent leur tour… en vain.____On nous parle d’une pénurie dramatique à Genève ou Zurich. Ah bon ? Pourtant, quelques clics sur un site immobilier montrent des milliers de logements disponibles. Serait-ce un mirage ? Ou est-ce simplement qu’ils ne sont pas situés à cinq minutes d’un café conceptuel servant du matcha bio ? On dirait que l’exode urbain, c’est bien, mais seulement si le train dessert directement la boulangerie branchée.____Et pendant ce temps, on construit du rêve… version béton. De glorieux "quartiers durables" surgissent un peu partout, faits de cubes empilés, de micro-logements à prix maxi, de loggias format timbre-poste. Tout ça sent bon les grands ensembles des années 60, mais avec une touche de greenwashing : un peu plus d’isolation, une façade verte pour la photo, et hop, ça devient de l’habitat "innovant". Le vis-à-vis ? Ah, il n’a jamais été aussi proche — au moins, vous pouvez faire connaissance avec vos voisins sans quitter votre canapé.____Alors non, le salut ne viendra pas d’un énième projet "intelligent" en ville, ni d’un écoquartier où l’on étouffe mieux, mais plus proprement. Peut-être serait-il temps d’admettre que la Suisse ne s’arrête pas à trois agglomérations surmenées. Le reste du pays existe. Il serait peut-être temps de le redécouvrir… avant de bétonner ce qu’il en reste.

Marc Leutenegger
Marc Leutenegger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@Mister Mike

You are right, there is a trend in Switzerland to move to the city, just as there is in neighbouring European countries. This leads to additional distortions in demand and drives up prices. And the occasional complaint that certain locations are no longer affordable for the vast majority of the population can also be criticised. A view of Lake Zurich or Lake Geneva is not a human right. In fact, the Swiss housing crisis runs deep. The Association of Master Builders warned this year that far too few flats are still being built. The vacancy rate across Switzerland as a whole will fall below one per cent, which means a nationwide housing shortage. Even less fashionable locations have become very expensive. If you look for a 5.5-room apartment in Bülach, for example, you will currently find two offers. The price is CHF 3300 per month, which requires an income of CHF 10,000 per month.

Sie haben Recht, es gibt in der Schweiz einen Trend, in die Stadt zu ziehen, genauso wie im europäischen Umland. Das führt bei der Nachfrage zu zusätzlichen Verzerrungen und treibt die Preise an. Und die gelegentliche Klage darüber, dass gewisse Lagen nicht mehr zahlbar sind für den allergrössten Teil der Bevölkerung, kann man auch kritisch sehen. Der Blick auf den Zürich oder Genfersee ist kein Menschenrecht. Tatsächlich aber reicht die Schweizer Wohnungskrise tief. Der Baumeisterverband hat dieses Jahr gewarnt, es würden noch immer viel zu wenig Wohnungen gebaut. Die Leerstandsquote über die gesamte Schweiz werde unter ein Prozent fallen, das bedeutet flächendeckende Wohnungsnot. Auch wenig mondäne Lagen sind unterdessen sehr teuer geworden. Sucht man Beispielsweise in Bülach eine 5,5-Zimmer-Wohhung, findent man aktuell zwei Angebote. Preis 3300 Franken pro Monat, das setzt bereits ein Einkommen von 10 000 Franken im Monat voraus.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR