Section
Real Estate
Fed holds rates steady – Swiss mortgages follow other rules
An unchanged US policy rate does not guarantee stable Swiss mortgage rates. How SARON, fixed-rate mortgages and the franc react differently to new signals.
Home ownership is getting pricier – but not every flat gains value
Houses and flats are moving in different directions. The new federal figures show why a national index replaces neither a valuation of one's own property nor a financing check.
Housing crisis: what Vienna and Paris do differently
Vienna owns 220,000 dwellings, Paris is expanding its public housing stock. What these models deliver, where their limits lie, and what Swiss cities can take from them.
UBS Index 2026: Zurich Carries the Highest Bubble Risk
Zurich tops the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2026. The warning signal points to prices, incomes and financing, but it is not a crash forecast.
Promoting home ownership: why more purchase aid can raise prices
The ownership rate is falling, and young families without an inheritance struggle. But blanket support does not solve the underlying problem of scarce housing.
Swiss heating statistics have a heat problem of their own
According to BFS monitoring, 51 percent of recorded buildings are heated with oil or gas. The more important figure: 49.7 percent of the entries have not been updated in more than eight years.
Flat hunting: why the results list does not show everything
A new survey shows how much personal contacts matter alongside property portals. Official data and research explain why a broader search alone does not remove the hurdles.
Swiss housing: who owns the buildings – and what the data omits
New FSO data show that two-thirds of recorded residential buildings belong to natural persons. But building structure and data gaps limit what the figures can say.
Resort Staff Shortages Start With Housing
Swiss resorts seek staff, but seasonal workers struggle to find suitable housing. A new study reveals how this affects both guests and businesses.
Home Ownership Becomes More Expensive – But Not Uniformly
Home ownership prices rose by 0.7 percent in the second quarter and were 3.5 percent higher than the previous year. This average conceals diverging developments for houses, apartments, and regions.
Reference Interest Rate Remains at 1.25 Percent: What Tenants Should Check Now
The mortgage reference interest rate remains unchanged. For many households, this news is still a reason to carefully review their rental agreement and past increases.
Swiss Rental Prices: Data Unclear
The Federal Statistical Office regularly publishes rental price figures. Current claims of a 2.3 percent increase are not verifiable from available sources. The editorial team is investigating.
Special Program Boosts Energy Efficiency in Non-Profit Housing
Between 2021 and 2025, the federal government supported non-profit housing developers with 119 million Swiss francs. Renovations of 2,413 apartments generated investments of 533 million Swiss francs.
Apartment Handover: What Does 'Broom-Clean' Mean?
The term 'broom-clean' often causes disputes during apartment handovers. We summarize the most important facts for tenants regarding this cleaning standard and provide helpful tips for a smooth process.
Earthships: Self-Sufficient Homes from Recycled Materials in the Netherlands
Earthships, fully self-sufficient homes made from recycled materials, are gaining traction in the Netherlands. This innovative housing concept may also hold potential for Switzerland.