immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Anstieg

  • How do you develop climate-neutral real estate?

    How do you develop climate-neutral real estate?

    The Implenia Real Estate Division has examined 36 of its own development projects in Switzerland to get to the bottom of the question of how climate-neutral buildings can be realised. From this study, the most important levers for decarbonising buildings over their entire life cycle can be derived, in terms of emissions during construction as well as during operation. These influencing factors have been incorporated into a white paper.

    The real estate sector is responsible for around 36% of primary energy consumption and 37% of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to achieve the 1.5 degree target by 2050 set in the Paris Agreement and to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonisation must become equally central to the development and construction of real estate.

    The analysis of real estate development projects has shown that the most effective levers for decarbonisation can be found in the early planning phase, starting with site selection. If the site conditions are unfavourable from a renewable energy perspective, it is much more difficult to achieve net-zero use. Building parameters established early on, such as shape, compactness, orientation, basement and support structure, also have a significant impact on emissions targets.

    “With the right combination of location, design, the use of renewable energies, intelligent systems and ecological materials, we develop buildings in which future generations can live and work sustainably,” says Marc Lyon, Head Real Estate Development Switzerland at Implenia.

    Further information at implenia.com/net-zero/

  • Rise in Swiss asking rents continues

    Rise in Swiss asking rents continues

    The Homegate rent index for asking rents is compiled by the real estate marketplace Homegate in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB). It measures the monthly, quality-adjusted change in rents for new and re-let flats based on current market offers. Compared to the previous month, the index increased by 0.5 points in May and now stands at 121.2 points (plus 0.4 percent). Compared to the previous year, asking rents rose by 3.1 per cent across Switzerland.

    Change in the cantons
    With the exception of the canton of Fribourg (minus 0.2%), asking rents also rose everywhere at the cantonal level. However, the canton of Fribourg recorded a new high in April and March this year, which puts the slight decline in May into perspective. In the remaining cantons, asking rents rose by up to 3.6 per cent in the canton of Schwyz, which clearly reached a new high. The coming months will show to what extent this is a temporary effect. In the cantons of Uri (2.6 per cent), Nidwalden (2 per cent) and Zug (1.9 per cent), asking rents also rose significantly last month. At the same time, the canton of Zug was the only canton to record a negative development compared to the previous year (minus 1 per cent), which can primarily be explained by the comparatively strong fluctuations in asking rents in this canton. The strongest increases in asking rents over the last twelve months were in Uri (7.8 per cent) and Schwyz (6.9 per cent). This is accompanied by fluctuating, but nevertheless rising prices.

    Change in the cities
    A similar picture emerges at the level of the cities surveyed. With the exception of the city of Bern (minus 0.3 per cent), prices for advertised rental flats have risen between 0.5 per cent (Basel) and 1.6 per cent (Zurich). Compared to May last year, asking rents have risen by more than one per cent in all eight cities surveyed, led by Zurich (10 per cent) and Lugano (7.7 per cent). When looking at the asking rents in the cities, it is also noticeable that most of them rose more strongly in May than in the corresponding cantons. The only exceptions are Bern (with falling asking rents in May at city level) and Lucerne (cantonal prices rose by around twice the city prices). This indicates that urban demand remains high.

    Quality adjustment method
    The development of asking rents in Switzerland is adjusted for the different quality, location and size of the flats. The advantage of this so-called hedonic method is that the real rental price development for new and re-let flats is shown on Homegate. The Homegate rent index is the oldest quality-adjusted rent index in Switzerland and is considered a reference source for real estate professionals for determining the price of rental properties.

    The data for all cantons and cities since the start of the survey can be found in the latest release in the news section of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. The next Homegate Rental Index is expected to be published on 18 July 2023.

  • Employment growth stable at high level in Q1 2023

    Employment growth stable at high level in Q1 2023

    Companies in Switzerland (excluding agriculture) reported a total of 5.389 million employees in the 1st quarter of 2023. This corresponds to an increase of 2.2% (+115 700 jobs) within a year. Employment in the secondary sector (industry and construction) rose by 2.1% (+22 700 jobs) and in the tertiary sector (services) by 2.2% (+93 000 jobs).

    In terms of full-time equivalents (FTEs), the volume of employment reached 4.206 million jobs (+2.4% compared to the same quarter of the previous year). This is 98,100 full-time equivalents more than a year ago. Both the industrial sector (+20 800 FTEs; +2.1%) and the service sector (+77 300 FTEs; +2.5%) benefited from this increase.

    Seasonally adjusted and compared to the previous quarter, the number of employees in companies increased by 0.6% (+32 100 jobs). Thus, within one quarter, the employment level increased both in industry and construction (+7600 jobs; +0.7%) and in services (+23 800 jobs; +0.6%).

    Highest increase in employment again in the hotel and restaurant industry
    In a year-on-year comparison, all sectors of the economy showed increases in the number of employees. The strongest percentage growth, as in all quarters after the Corona crisis, was recorded in “Hotels and restaurants” (+16 500; +6.8%). The section “Transport and communication” also developed very positively (+18 500; +4.2%). Further robust values were achieved in “Education” (+11 200; +2.8%) and “Health and social work” (+21 500; +2.7%).

    Significant increase in employment in the greater Zurich region
    In Q1 2023, employment increased in all of Switzerland’s greater regions, ranging from 1.3% (+3200 jobs) in Ticino to 3.2% (+34 100 jobs) in Zurich. In the secondary sector, the major region of Northwestern Switzerland (+3.6%) and in the tertiary sector the major regions of Zurich and Central Switzerland (+3.4% each) recorded the highest percentage increases.

    Once again more vac ancies
    Companies reported a total of 126,600 vacancies in Q1 2023 (+5.9% year-on-year). Compared to a year ago, this is an increase of 7100 jobs. Broken down by sector, the number of vacancies in both the secondary and tertiary sectors increased by 14.8% and 3.2% respectively. Measured in terms of all vacancies (filled plus vacant), the rate corresponded to 2.3% in the total, 2.8% in the secondary sector and 2.2% in the tertiary sector.

    Employment outlook still good
    The share of companies planning to increase their workforce in the short term was 15.2% (15.7% in the same quarter last year) of total employment; the share of those intending to reduce was 3.6% (2.7% in the same quarter last year). The remainder of the 18,000 companies surveyed intend to maintain staffing levels (67.8% and 65.9% respectively in the same quarter of the previous year) or have not expressed an opinion (13.3% and 15.6% respectively in the same quarter of the previous year).

    The employment outlook indicator, which is calculated from this information, fell slightly compared to the previous year (1.07; -1%). This somewhat less optimistic assessment is evident in all major regions of Switzerland.

    Depending on the sector, the search for skilled workers remains difficult
    Difficulties in recruiting skilled workers have increased overall compared to the same quarter last year (41%; +2.3 percentage points). Companies in “mechanical engineering” were particularly affected (75.8%; +8.4 percentage points). In contrast, recruitment in the “hotel and restaurant industry” (39.6%; -5.8 percentage points) eased somewhat.

  • Peach Property records record number of new leases

    Peach Property records record number of new leases

    According to a media release , the Peach Property Group has reached a new high in new lettings in Germany. The letting success has reduced the number of vacancies, while at the same time rental income has increased. For example, more than 15 percent growth was recorded for newly rented apartments compared to the average price per square meter for the group at the end of 2021. According to the announcement, the Peach Property Group's rent for existing properties continues to be below the average market rent. The continuation of the restructuring program also contributed to the group's solid financial structure. Around 1,400 units have been modernized, 15 percent of which have been brought up to date in terms of energy.

    The positive half-year balance reflects "the efficiency and scalability of the group's digital rental platform" and underlines "the potential for rent increases in the portfolio". "We have never renovated and rented out so many apartments," says Dr. Thomas Wolfensberger, CEO of Peach Property Group AG, quoted.

    Peach Property describes the sale of twelve of the planned 56 residential units in the new Peninsula development in Wädenswil on Lake Zurich as a strong signal for the Swiss portfolio. In addition to the portfolio optimization, the financing structure is developing positively as a result of successful capital management. A bond maturing in February 2023 was bought back early at a price of 94 percent.

    For the second half of the year, the group expects net rental income of CHF 113 to 118 million and an operating result of CHF 18 to 21 million.

  • The Federal Office of Energy is funding significantly more projects

    The Federal Office of Energy is funding significantly more projects

    In 2021, the Federal Office of Energy funded a total of 79 new projects and 13 new programs as part of competitive tenders to save electricity in the industrial and service sectors and in households. The number of subsidized projects was thus significantly higher than in 2020, according to a press release . In 2020, the number of funded projects was 39 and the number of funded programs was 15.

    According to the Federal Office of Energy, this increase in projects is “at least partly due to the softened selection process in 2021”. It was introduced as an "immediate measure for projects due to the Covid 19 pandemic". In 2021, the beneficiaries received a total of 40 million francs.

    The subsidies were used, among other things, to optimize shaft heating for snowmaking systems in terms of energy, to replace a production system for drawers at a furniture manufacturer and to replace vacuum pumps in a paper production machine.

    Taken together, the funded projects and programs save 90 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. "That corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of 16,000 households," says the press release.

    The competitive tenders for 2022 have meanwhile already begun. Interested parties can submit programs until May 2nd. Applications for projects can be submitted at any time throughout the year. The entry is made online. The participants will receive confirmations and rejection of funding after four weeks at the latest.