immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Eigentumswohnungen

  • Building lease flats create new living space in Altstätten

    Building lease flats create new living space in Altstätten

    Halter AG is implementingtheTresTerrä project in collaboration with the Catholic denomination of the canton of St. Gallen, owner of the project, andSchlieremerTend AG, partner for communication and marketing. As part of this, Halter will undertake the construction of ten residential buildings on the Guter Hirte site in Altstätten, which will provide affordable living space in the future, according to a press release. The ground-breaking ceremony and official start of construction for the project have now taken place.

    “Tres Terrae stands for a place where living, open space and neighbourhood come together,” says a statement from Halter. “The aim is to create lasting quality of life that offers people a home for the long term.”

    Three building complexes are planned, which will be located around a central communal square and connected by a network of paths. A total of 37 freehold flats will be built in the buildings, ranging from 2.5-room to 5.5-room flats. Central meeting areas will provide space for interaction and community, according to the project description.

    In order to reduce the equity requirement and facilitate financing, the flats will be sold under building law. The flats are expected to be ready for occupancy in 2028.

  • Acquisition of land in Meggen

    Acquisition of land in Meggen

    The acquired plot on Neueggweg is practically undeveloped and, according to the zoning plan, is in residential zone C. The location is quiet, yet well developed, an advantage for future residents. According to the current planning status, Mobimo will realise a condominium development with around 70 residential units on the site. The project volume amounts to around CHF 120 million. The start of construction is dependent on a mandatory design plan obligation. Completion of the development is scheduled for the end of 2032.

    Development pipeline and market environment
    With the purchase of the site, the company is substantially expanding its development pipeline for the coming years. Demand for residential property in good locations around Lucerne remains consistently high. The municipality of Meggen is one of the most sought-after residential locations in Central Switzerland and, in addition to its proximity to the city of Lucerne, scores highly for its attractive location and quality of life. Lake Lucerne, the local recreational area around Meggen and the municipal infrastructure further strengthen the location.

    Project objectives and outlook
    The new development not only offers new living space, but also provides urban development opportunities thanks to the design plan. The process gives architectural firms the opportunity to contribute innovative housing solutions and modern, needs-orientated spatial concepts. The planning takes into account both the desire for attractive green spaces and the requirements for residential density and sustainability.

    Several planning steps are still required before the planned completion at the end of 2032. The exact start of construction depends on the development and finalisation of the design plan. The occupancy date will be communicated promptly based on the official procedures and marketing.

    The project in Meggen will create new living space, further develop the location and expand the company’s commitment to attractive, sustainable living in Central Switzerland.

  • Condominiums between city life and nature

    Condominiums between city life and nature

    “Urban living meets nature” is how Halter AG introduces a post on LinkedIn about one of the company’s new-build projects. Specifically, the Schlieren-based property developer is constructing a building with 43 condominiums and around 80 square metres of commercial space at Leimbachstrasse 28 to 32. According to the project’s website, the 2.5- to 4.5-room flats will be the ideal home for “nature-loving city dwellers”. Interested parties can sign up to a list there, which will be used to send out information about the project before the official marketing launch.

    The total of 43 condominiums, including penthouses and garden flats, are divided into 10 flats with 2.5 rooms each, 30 flats with 3.5 rooms and three flats with 4.5 rooms. The description of the project cites excellent transport links, diverse infrastructure and nearby recreational areas as plus points. Construction work is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and be completed two years later.

  • Prices for residential property remain stable

    Prices for residential property remain stable

    “Residential property prices go on holiday in July”, ImmoScout24 headlines a press release on the current ImmoScout24 Purchase Index. It is compiled monthly by the property marketplace belonging to SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG in collaboration with IAZI, a consultancy specialising in real estate. According to the current index, prices for single-family homes in July remained at the previous month’s level. Prices for condominiums rose by just 0.1 per cent.

    According to the experts at ImmoScout24 and IAZI, prospective buyers are increasingly looking at energy efficiency as well as price and location when choosing a property. “Those who pay attention to sustainable construction methods or invest in energy-efficient modernisation and solar panels will benefit in the long term and even twice over,” explains Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, in the press release. In addition to lower electricity and heating costs, Waeber cites a comparatively stable property value: “Market data shows that energy-efficient houses and flats are less susceptible to price fluctuations”.

    From a regional perspective, only the greater Zurich region and eastern Switzerland are clearly bucking the trend for single-family homes, with an increase of 1.2 per cent and a decrease of 0.9 per cent respectively. In the case of owner-occupied flats, Northwestern Switzerland is cited as the “upward outlier” with an increase of 2.3 per cent. The biggest drop in prices for condominiums was recorded in Central Switzerland with 1.1 per cent.

    ImmoScout24 is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

  • Demand for single-family homes remains high

    Demand for single-family homes remains high

    “Single-family homes remain very popular,” is how ImmoScout24 introduces a press release on the current ImmoScout24 Purchase Index. It is compiled monthly by the property marketplace, which belongs to SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG, in collaboration with IAZI, a consultancy specialising in real estate. Compared to May, prices for single-family homes have risen by 0.8 per cent. In a year-on-year comparison, they have risen by 3.6 per cent.

    At 0.2 per cent, prices for owner-occupied flats rose much more slowly than prices for single-family homes. However, they had risen significantly by 0.8 per cent in May. Year-on-year, prices for condominiums rose by 4.5 per cent.

    The press release cites the current favourable financing conditions following the Swiss National Bank’s return to zero interest rates as a driver of demand. “For prospective buyers, now is a favourable time to consider the step into home ownership, especially with a view to planning security,” explains Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group.

    From a regional perspective, the rise in prices for owner-occupied flats was primarily driven by a significant increase in Central Switzerland. Above-average price increases for single-family homes were recorded in June in the regions of Lake Geneva, north-west Switzerland and eastern Switzerland.

    ImmoScout24 is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

  • Government council doubles housing subsidies

    Government council doubles housing subsidies

    The Government Council of the Canton of Zurich rejects the popular initiative “More affordable housing in the Canton of Zurich”, which provides for a right of first refusal for municipalities to promote non-profit housing construction. Instead, the cantonal government relies on proven structures and instruments for the rapid and effective promotion of affordable housing.

    The counter-proposal provides for a doubling of the framework credit for cantonal housing promotion loans from the current CHF 180 million to CHF 360 million. This enables co-financing at communal level and thus creates a potential of CHF 720 million. This means that more flats can be subsidised and higher loan amounts can be granted per property. The Housing Promotion Ordinance is to be amended accordingly to increase the upper limit for loans from 20 to 25 per cent of the total investment costs.

    Criticism of the right of first refusal – encroachment on the guarantee of ownership
    The Government Council criticises the proposed right of first refusal in the popular initiative as an encroachment on the guarantee of ownership and freedom of contract. Private companies, including institutional investors such as pension funds, would be at a disadvantage, which could lead to legal uncertainty and deter private investment. This could inhibit residential construction activities and exacerbate the existing housing shortage.

    The right of first refusal also harbours the risk of lengthy appeal proceedings and could place a burden on municipalities and their taxpayers. The cantonal government sees the counter-proposal as a more efficient solution for creating affordable housing quickly.

    Housing shortage in the canton of Zurich
    Demand for housing in the canton of Zurich has exceeded supply for years. Construction activity is below average, which is leading to an increasing housing shortage. Although a large proportion of Zurich’s population lives in long-term tenancies and is therefore less affected by rising rental costs, the need for action remains great.

    The Government Council emphasises the need to stimulate construction activity in order to increase the overall supply of housing and curb rental and purchase prices. The counter-proposal aims to provide targeted housing for financially disadvantaged sections of the population.

    Effective promotion instead of right of first refusal
    The government council’s counter-proposal promises rapid and effective promotion of non-profit housing construction by doubling the framework credit and amending the Housing Promotion Ordinance. This will create a solid basis for combating the housing shortage in the canton of Zurich and providing more affordable housing for all sections of the population.

  • Halter takes over residential project near Schaffhausen

    Halter takes over residential project near Schaffhausen

    Schlieren-based property developer Halter AG has acquired the Waldstadt residential development site in Pantli between Schaffhausen and Stetten SH, according to a press release. The seller is DOST Architektur GmbH in Schaffhausen. The two companies will jointly realise the planned construction of 200 owner-occupied flats.

    According to the plans, over 200 condominiums are to be built on 47,600 square metres of land. In a first step, 100 condominiums will be realised. This will be followed seamlessly by the other stages, according to the company press release. Over 40 different types of flat are available for different living requirements. The sizes range from 2.5-room to 5.5-room flats. The flats are orientated on several sides and offer rooms with plenty of natural light and a direct view of nature and the forest. The new living space is suitable for families, couples and commuters from the region.

    A new bus stop and direct access to the motorway in the direction of Schaffhausen, Winterthur and Zurich ensure optimal transport connections. An integrated kindergarten and a day care centre round off the offer and make Waldstadt im Pantli attractive for families too.

    The construction time for the first stage is estimated at around two and a half years. If everything goes according to plan, the first flats can be occupied in 2026, according to Halter AG.

  • “Fischermätteli” first site with Minergie certificate

    “Fischermätteli” first site with Minergie certificate

    The innovative and long-term residential construction project Fischermätteli was successfully completed by Strüby Unternehmungen in autumn 2023 after a staggered construction period of around three and a half years. The ten apartment blocks with a total of 168 condominiums were built on a former commercial site in Burgdorf BE. Over 6600 m3 of Swiss wood was used in the construction, which serves as a natural CO2 reservoir and has an excellent ecological footprint thanks to the short transport routes.

    One hundred per cent of the energy requirements for the entire site are covered by renewable sources. The electricity comes from the PV systems on the roofs of the buildings, while the heat for heating and hot water comes from a heating centre that runs on Swiss pellets. The well thought-out mobility concept is based on electric mobility, car sharing, bicycles and public transport. A co-working space supports working from home and thus indirectly relieves traffic congestion. In addition, the environmental design based on the sponge city principle ensures natural and efficient cooling in summer and turns the project into a true biodiversity hotspot thanks to the wide variety of native plants.

    Label with high requirements
    In April 2024, the largest real estate project to date was awarded the coveted certificate by the Minergie association: the Minergie-Areal label, having already been awarded the Minergie-A-ECO label. The new standard, which has been in place since September 2023, is supported by various organisations such as the Minergie Association, the cantons, the business community and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The Minergie site is characterised by minimal energy consumption, minimised greenhouse gas emissions during construction and operation and maximum self-sufficiency with renewable energies. The buildings have particularly efficient heat insulation and controlled air exchange. In addition, the outdoor space of the Minergie site is designed in such a way that climate resilience and quality of stay are increased, for example through green planting and shading options. Another advantage of the Minergie site is the promotion of climate-friendly mobility.

    The development in Burgdorf BE sets new standards in timber construction for flats. With 168 owner-occupied flats in ten apartment blocks, it is the largest construction project of its kind to combine Swiss timber and the Minergie-A-ECO standard. Sustainability aspects were at the centre of the project right from the start, which earned it the first Minergie-Areal certificate for a completed project.

    Thanks to the elegant timber façades, the ensemble blends in perfectly with its natural surroundings. The clearly defined meeting and play zones with village charm promote relationships between the residents. At the same time, the architecture ensures privacy and creates living spaces with ideal air, light and sound characteristics. Community-enhancing elements such as a spacious communal pavilion and the professional home office zone “fm produktiv” round off the offer.

    The flats offer 2.5 to 5.5 rooms and are designed for singles, couples and families of all ages. The floor plans are flexibly designed so that they can be adapted to future needs. From the ground floor upwards, the building was constructed using timber elements.

    The energy supply is consistently based on renewable sources. The electricity for the approximately 400 residents comes from the PV systems on the roofs of the apartment blocks (700 MWh/year). Heat is generated in a heating centre using Swiss wood pellets.

    The mobility concept focuses on cycling, public transport, electric vehicles and car sharing. Bicycle stands, charging stations, repair and cleaning areas are available. Residents can also use one of the two electric cars from the neighbourhood’s own car-sharing scheme via an app or conveniently use the bus, which runs every half hour from the neighbourhood to Burgdorf. Demand for the condominiums and rental flats was very high right from the start. All 168 flats were sold or rented months before completion. The fair sales and rental prices certainly contributed to the great success, e.g. a flat with 4.5 rooms was already available from CHF 610,000 (minus Minergie subsidies from the Canton of Berne).

  • No easy task: marketing Swiss luxury properties

    No easy task: marketing Swiss luxury properties

    The price increase in the luxury segment in Switzerland, which reached almost 10 per cent in 2022, is coming to an end. Last year, prices for luxury homes rose by an average of around 2 per cent. Single-family homes in particular slowed down, with an increase of just over 1 per cent in 2023 compared to 8 per cent in the previous year. Growth in condominiums fell from 9 to 3 per cent. Overall, the luxury property market performed slightly weaker than the market as a whole, with prices currently 25 per cent higher than pre-coronavirus levels.

    Little support
    In the current geopolitical situation, Switzerland is considered a safe haven due to its stable institutions and high standard of living, which is a strong attraction. However, luxury property has become more expensive due to the strong franc and price trends, which has dampened international demand. The average wealth of Swiss households (excluding property) has remained unchanged in recent years. Economic growth is not particularly strong, which is affecting demand for high-priced property. According to UBS property economist Katharina Hofer, a slight decline in luxury property prices is expected for the current year.

    Three out of four of the most expensive locations are in the mountains. St. Moritz tops the list with prices per square metre of over CHF 42,000. Gstaad is close behind in the luxury segment (39,000 francs per square metre). Cologny on Lake Geneva records prices of over 35,000 francs per square metre, similar to Verbier. In other municipalities with a high proportion of luxury properties in the Geneva region and on Lake Zurich, luxury properties are priced from CHF 25,000 per square metre. For a property in good condition on 1,500 square metres of land, a purchase price of eight to ten million francs can be expected there. In Ticino, luxury prices start at just under 20,000 francs per square metre.

    Lower-cost locations are gaining ground
    A decade ago, the renowned luxury resorts of St. Moritz, Gstaad and Verbier already held their place at the top of the most expensive Swiss municipalities and were able to defend this position unchallenged. Katharina Hofer explains: “In general, luxury markets, especially traditional ones, show remarkable stability over a longer period of time. Short-term price corrections have been largely offset over the last decade.” In the Lake Zurich and Geneva regions, there have been few changes on average in the ranking of the 100 most expensive Swiss municipalities. The situation is quite different in Central Switzerland, where the municipalities analysed in the canton of Zug have moved up an average of more than 30 places within a decade. This illustrates how attractive the low-tax strategy has long made the location, particularly for people with high incomes and assets. However, the biggest winner of the last ten years is the up-and-coming municipality of Andermatt in the canton of Uri, which is increasingly being perceived as a luxury destination thanks to the construction of numerous high-priced properties. In Ticino, on the other hand, price levels have not been able to keep pace with the other municipalities due to an oversupply of luxury flats.

  • Future-oriented residential development Hoffmatte in Thun

    Future-oriented residential development Hoffmatte in Thun

    The Hoffmatte site in Thun is an outstanding example of sustainable urban development that is geared towards the needs of people of all generations. The project comprises around 150 rental and owner-occupied flats, a nursing home with over 100 care places for the elderly, a daycare centre, a small shop and a neighbourhood café.

    The project has a long history. In February 2022, the Thun electorate voted 62 per cent in favour of the new “Hoffmatte” zone with planning obligation. After several years of legal proceedings, the Federal Supreme Court finally dismissed all appeals, meaning that the ZPP and the associated development regulations became legally binding in spring 2023.

    In May 2023, the Solina Foundation, as the operator of the care home, and Frutiger AG signed a cooperation agreement, thereby taking an important step towards the realisation of their joint project. With the decision of the Federal Supreme Court and the approval of the canton, the project has reached milestones that form a solid basis for the next development steps.

    With the development of the new residential project in Hoffmatte, the initiators are striving for a high quality of life. Thanks to the commitment of the various stakeholders, the project has now been given the necessary legal and planning framework to create new living space for the people of Thun.

  • Prices for condominiums on the rise

    Prices for condominiums on the rise

    Prices for residential property developed differently in October, the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group reports in a press release on the current Swiss Real Estate Offer Index. The SMG Swiss Marketplace Group brings together the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

    Specifically, prices for condominiums rose by 0.7 per cent in October after a pause in September. The experts at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group have observed a year-on-year increase in prices of 2.1 per cent. By contrast, prices for single-family homes were 0.3 per cent lower in October than in September. In a year-on-year comparison, prices were 0.2 per cent lower.

    “The continued growth in asking prices for condominiums is remarkable considering that the supply of available condominium units has increased significantly since the beginning of the year,” said Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, in the press release. “The housing market has also seen a slight increase in the supply of existing properties in recent months, which has contributed to the stabilisation of prices for single-family homes.”

    Asking rents rose by 0.4 per cent in October compared to the previous month. A year-on-year increase of 2.7 per cent was observed. The experts at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group attribute the increase to the continuing shortage of supply in the centres.

  • Steiner initiates construction of wooden building in Ostermundingen

    Steiner initiates construction of wooden building in Ostermundingen

    Steiner AG has started building 17 condominiums in Ostermundigen, near Bern. The marketing of the studios and the 2.5- and 4.5-room flats is already “in full swing”, writes the Zurich-based real estate developer in a post on LinkedIn. The NIDO project envisages a building in timber construction with flats accessed by an arcade.

    “Equipped with modern building technology such as a geothermal probe with heat pump and a photovoltaic system, this progressive wooden building will be a forward-looking home for people who are concerned about sustainable living,” Steiner says. According to the project description, the flats have balconies and terraces facing west. The flats on the ground floor each have a garden area. In addition, “meeting zones for all residents” are to be created in the outdoor space.

  • Strabag focuses on sustainability for apartment buildings

    Strabag focuses on sustainability for apartment buildings

    Strabag has begun work on the construction of six apartment buildings that will house a total of 29 condominiums, according to a media release. Strabag has set itself the target of handing over the turnkey building pit within twelve months. Part of this work includes 18 geothermal boreholes, as the heat supply for the houses will be realised by geothermal energy. The houses will also be connected via an underground parking garage, which will have different levels.

    “In total, we have around 4-5 months to complete the main excavation,” Roger Reich, technical group leader for civil engineering at Strabag AG, is quoted as saying. “That is relatively sporty. The construction site is also in the middle of a residential neighbourhood, which means we have to work particularly closely to schedule.”

    For the bored piles, the Schlieren-based company relies on sustainable basalt fibres. The conventional steel reinforcement of the piles can thus be largely replaced. On the one hand, this reduces the construction time and, by reducing the steel resources required, CO2 emissions are also kept lower.

  • Selling a condominium? Top in the agglomeration, patience in the countryside

    Selling a condominium? Top in the agglomeration, patience in the countryside

    The latest edition of the Online Home Market Analysis by the real estate portals Homegate and ImmoScout24 in collaboration with the Swiss Real Estate Institute (SwissREI) analyses the listing data for condominiums for the year 2022. The listings analysed come from several large real estate portals in Switzerland and thus comprise the majority of all online listings for the period under review.

    Number and duration of listings declines
    While the listing duration of condominiums remained above 80 days during the Covid19 pandemic, it has now declined again by eight days to 77 days nationwide for 2022. At the same time, there was a five-percent decrease in supply to a good 70,000 properties. The combination of these two values shows that, viewed across Switzerland as a whole, demand for condominiums has increased in 2022.

    For Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, the results of the current analysis show the robustness of the Swiss real estate market: “Home ownership is and will remain a sought-after but limited commodity in Switzerland. For despite significantly higher financing costs, condominiums sold faster again last year than in the previous year”. With the exception of the regions of Ticino and Geneva, the length of time for which condominiums are held has shortened, in some cases significantly, in the majority of the regions surveyed. “On the one hand, this shows the continuing and even increased demand for condominiums. On the other hand, real estate platforms such as Homegate and ImmoScout24 are the best possible way to avoid missing out on offers in a highly competitive market and to maintain an often time-critical lead,” Waeber continues.

    Listing times in the regions are levelling out – except in Ticino
    Looking at the individual regions of Switzerland, the range in listing times has narrowed over the past year. In other words, the Swiss real estate market is becoming more balanced in terms of condominium sales. Condominiums continued to sell fastest in the Zurich region, namely within 43 days. This value remained unchanged compared to 2021. In six other regions, the time it took to put an apartment up for sale fell by between five and 17 per cent. The situation is different in Geneva, where the average listing time increased slightly by just under two per cent. Ticino continues to be decoupled from the other regions. Here, the already longest duration of listings increased by another seven per cent last year.

    Almost nationwide increase in demand for condominiums
    The combination of changes in the duration of listings and the number of listings allows conclusions to be drawn about demand in Switzerland as a whole and in the individual regions. In the Zurich region, for example, a 13-percent increase in the number of advertisements was registered compared to the previous year. Since, despite this increase in supply, the duration of listings in Zurich did not increase to the same extent – but on the contrary remained unchanged between 2021 and 2022 – an increased demand for condominiums in this region can be deduced from this.

    With one exception – Ticino – the same picture emerges for the remaining regions of Switzerland: for 2022, they all record a combination of housing duration and number of units, which places them in the area of increasing demand. In Ticino, on the other hand, condominiums had to be advertised for nine days longer last year with an almost unchanged supply until sale. It can therefore be concluded that demand is decreasing in this region.

    Agglomerations clearly stronger in trend than rural communities
    Differences in the demand for condominiums are not only evident with regard to the regions, but a clear picture also emerges when comparing the types of communities: while in the communities in the first agglomeration belt (“suburban communities”) seven of the eight regions examined show an increased demand for residential property, in contrast, a weakening demand was frequently observed in the “rural commuter communities”. The rural communities in the regions of Espace Mittelland and Ticino suffered a particularly strong decline in demand. On the other hand, demand only increased in Zurich and central Switzerland. The situation is completely different in the suburban municipalities: here it is only Ticino where demand declined slightly, even in the agglomeration.

    For Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute, it is astonishing how quickly the real estate markets have developed “back to normal” after the Covid19 pandemic: “During the pandemic it was often claimed that an irreversible trend towards a new world of work had begun. Just one year later, we see that this is hardly the case. Home office is already being significantly reduced again in most, especially smaller, companies. This is also reflected in the change in demand for condominiums: rural communities are once again less in demand, while those around the centres are once again much more in demand.”

    Source: https://swissmarketplace.group/de/

  • Halter starts construction of the Toffematt housing estate

    Halter starts construction of the Toffematt housing estate

    With the ground-breaking ceremony, the construction of the Toffematt housing estate with 30 condominiums has begun in the Bernese municipality of Toffen. Halter AG is responsible for the development of the project with three new buildings, according to a media release. Thanks to a new form of cooperative ownership, condominium ownership is affordable for people with different purchasing power and remains cost-effective in the long term, according to the detailed Halter release.

    The ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday, 16 March, was attended by community president Carl Bütler, pastor Nadja Heimlicher and parish councillor Reto Casty. In October 2019, Halter AG acquired the right to purchase the plots from the Toffen community and the Belp-Belpberg-Toffen parish. The sustainable price of the land was linked to the condition that the resulting living space would be offered in a moderate price environment. in 2021, the newly founded Toffematt housing cooperative acquired the plots and Halter AG developed the development as a residential property project with building rights.

    According to the press release, the housing cooperative’s (WBG) sponsorship model not only enables condominium ownership in Toffematt with purchase prices 10 to 20 per cent below market prices. It is also intended to prevent speculation.

    With the purchase of a flat, the owners join the WBG Toffematt. According to the building lease contract, future profits from the sale of the flat benefit the cooperative. That is why a short-term resale is not worthwhile, according to the statement. And the flats remain affordable in the long term.

  • Halter develops residential project in Bischofszell

    Halter develops residential project in Bischofszell

    After the transfer of ownership of the Schützengütli site in Bischofszell to Halter AG, a site development for the construction of 50 condominiums will begin there, according to a media release. In February 2022, Halter acquired the site with two areas of around 6500 and 1000 square metres. On 10 February 2023, the revised building and zoning plan of the town of Bischofszell came into force, allowing residential use with a design plan obligation on the site.

    For the planned owner-occupied flats, the existing building stock must give way, except for individual elements, according to the statement. Halter has commissioned a two-stage study for a high-quality site development in order to offer future residents a high quality of life and living. The new buildings should also blend in harmoniously with the surrounding neighbourhood.

    “With this site development in an intact neighbourhood, we will create attractive living space in a very well connected location right next to the railway station,” Rolf Zäch, project manager at Halter Entwicklungen, is quoted as saying. “The centre of our city continues to develop positively. The city council is pleased about this,” says Thomas Weingart, mayor of Bischofszell. With Halter AG, a renowned company is active in Bischofszell that brings great experience in urban development.

    The property had served the Schiffli embroidery factory from 1907 and later the glass rectifier construction. In 1946, it became the property of the malt factory and fruit pressing plant Laumann & Co. Until a few years ago, essences and syrups were still produced there, according to the notice.

  • Home prices resilient despite sharpest interest rate rise in 30 years

    Home prices resilient despite sharpest interest rate rise in 30 years

    Prices for residential property increased again in nominal terms in 2022 despite the strongest rise in interest rates for 30 years, although much less strongly than in the previous year. In the case of single-family houses, prices increased by an average of 4 percent last year, which was significantly below the previous year’s value of 9 percent. In the same period, prices of condominiums increased slightly by 5.7 per cent – again, less markedly than in 2021, which equalled an increase of 8.3 per cent. However, a closer look at the four regions of Switzerland with the most transactions (purchases and sales of single-family houses and condominiums) – Zurich, Northwestern Switzerland, Bern, Lake Geneva – reveals a differentiated picture: Adjusted for inflation, only half of the regions still show a price increase for either single-family houses or condominiums.

    The analysis by Homegate and ImmoScout24 together with the Swiss Real Estate Institute is based on the effective sales prices of the Swiss Real Estate Data Pool. This includes the owner-occupied properties financed by Credit Suisse, UBS and Zürcher Kantonalbank and covers around 40 percent of all transactions in Switzerland. In 2022, around 7,200 sales of owner-occupied homes were registered in the regions surveyed. As in the previous year, this represents a decline of around 10 percent compared to 2021, although in contrast to the previous year, this was largely reflected in the number of condominiums sold.

    Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, sees the reasons for the slowdown in price increases primarily in the sharp increases in key interest rates and the resulting rise in mortgage rates, as well as a declining effect of home offices compared to 2021: “The dampening effect of rising interest rates on the development of home prices predicted at the beginning of 2022 has been confirmed, albeit to a lesser extent than might have been expected. However, home prices seem to have slowly reached their zenith. Apart from the fact that many people simply can no longer afford to buy their own home at current prices, the declining use of home offices has also led to a decline in the valuation of the work situation within one’s own four walls. Both factors dampened the price increase in the course of the past year. However, in view of the scarcity of land and the continuing influx into Switzerland, a real estate bubble is not to be expected in this country, Waeber continues. This is especially true since properties for sale are still very popular, especially in places like Geneva and Zurich.

    Single-family homes in the Lake Geneva region more than 70 percent more expensive than in the Bern region
    With strong price growth of 9.3 percent, prices for single-family homes in the Zurich region increased the most in 2022 – and this was even the only region with a higher price increase than in 2021 with an increase of 7.7 percent. The average single-family home cost CHF 1.53 million. As a result, the Zurich region increasingly caught up with the Lake Geneva region, which remained the most expensive: the gap to the average single-family home price in the Lake Geneva region narrowed by CHF 80,000, or 28 percent, compared to the previous year. In the Lake Geneva region, an average property cost CHF 1.74 million in 2022, 3 per cent more than in 2021. In the Bern and Northwestern Switzerland regions, average property prices for single-family homes also converged somewhat, with prices in the Bern region recording an increase almost twice as high (6.3 per cent to CHF 1.02 million) as in the Northwestern Switzerland region (3.6 per cent to CHF 1.14 million). Taking into account last year’s inflation, this results in only a minimal price increase of 0.8 per cent for northwestern Switzerland. Nevertheless, Bern remains the cheapest region to buy a single-family home.

    Condominiums in the Lake Geneva region almost as expensive as in the Zurich region
    In the case of condominiums, growth in the Zurich region for 2022 was restrained at 3.7 per cent, especially compared to that of single-family homes. Nevertheless, properties in this region remain the most expensive of all four regions analysed, averaging CHF 1.12 million. Due to a considerable price increase in the Lake Geneva region of 12 percent compared to 2021, the difference to the front-runner narrowed significantly (from CHF 120,000 to CHF 40,000). The Bern region continues to be by far the cheapest for potential buyers of condominiums. Average prices here rose by only 2.9 per cent to CHF 0.7 million last year. Taking inflation into account, this region can even be said to have stagnated. In addition to the Lake Geneva region, the second cheapest region – northwestern Switzerland – was also unimpressed by rising interest rates and the declining trend towards home offices: prices rose by 7.9 per cent in 2022, even more than in the previous year (5.6 per cent). At CHF 820,000, an average condominium now costs CHF 60,000 more than in 2021.

    With a view to the property prices per square metre of net living space, an additional effect is particularly evident for the Lake Geneva and Zurich regions. In the Zurich region, prices per square metre rose significantly faster than property prices in the same period. This indicates falling residential areas of the traded properties. In the Lake Geneva region, on the other hand, the opposite was true, i.e. property prices rose five percentage points more than prices per square metre. Thus, larger properties tended to be sold on the market in the Lake Geneva region for 2022 than in 2021.

    The cheapest houses are in Aarburg, the most expensive in Uetikon am See*
    Not surprisingly, of the five municipalities with the highest median prices for single-family houses, three came from the Zurich region. The most expensive are in Uetikon am See (CHF 4.0 million), followed by Kilchberg (CHF 3.68 million) and Meilen (CHF 3.41 million). These are followed by two municipalities in the Lake Geneva region, Vésenaz (CHF 3.06 million) and Nyon (CHF 2.98 million). Two findings are worth noting: firstly, all five of the most expensive municipalities for single-family homes were not listed last year; secondly, prices in this highest segment have risen significantly once again. In the case of the highest median prices for condominiums, all five municipalities even came from the Zurich region: led by Küsnacht (CHF 2.52 million), Zumikon, Herrliberg and Meilen (CHF 2.3 million each) and Erlenbach (CHF 2.16 million).

    On the other side of the scale, the cheapest residential properties in the four regions surveyed – for both single-family houses and condominiums – all come from the canton of Aargau. Depending on the municipality, condominiums are priced from CHF 400,000 (Klingnau), while single-family homes could be purchased last year from CHF 610,000 (Aarburg). This shows impressively: for the price of a condominium in Küsnacht in Zurich, there are six to buy in Klingnau, less than 35 kilometres away. And almost seven single-family homes – or a complete apartment building – can be bought in Aarburg for the price of one in Uetikon am See. These two places are also just 60 kilometres apart as the crow flies.

    Summing up the results of the latest Home Market Price Analysis, Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute, is amazed at how robust price growth is in the owner-occupied home market: “After nine years of negative interest rates, the turnaround in interest rates came abruptly last year with several key rate hikes totalling 1.75 percentage points. For the first time in more than 30 years, the SNB has raised the key interest rate so significantly within one year.” Falling home prices in Switzerland would therefore not have surprised Ilg at this turn of events – combined with a trend towards a decline in the use of the home office. “Nevertheless, I am amazed at how robust the price growth in the owner-occupied home market is: In three of the eight segments examined, price growth was even significantly higher than the previous year despite this headwind,” Ilg said, summarising the findings of the Home Market Price Analysis for 2022.

  • «Johanna»: New residential development with a historical namesake

    «Johanna»: New residential development with a historical namesake

    Grain, flour and bread: for centuries it was this triad that shaped human life and survival. This is also the case in Weinfelden, whose mill was built by the municipality in 1784. Around a hundred years later, it was bought by the miller Hermann Meyerhans. After his early death, his wife Johanna Meyerhans took over the management. Back in 1897, a woman with four small children at the head of a large mill was anything but ordinary. Johanna Meyerhans ran the mill for 19 years and with great success. She died in 1936 at the age of 82.

    The Meyerhans mill is still in the Sangenfeld West area in Weinfelden. In the immediate vicinity, a street will soon bear the name of Johanna Meyerhans – and thus be one of the first two streets in Weinfelden to be named after women. On this street – today it is still called Thurfeldstrasse – the "Johanna" development is also being built. Two apartment buildings with a total of 33 condominiums are being built on a plot of 3005 square meters.

    3.5 and 4.5 room apartments and a 5.5 room attic apartment are planned. The ground floor apartments have covered seating and private gardens, the apartments on the remaining floors have large balconies and terraces.

    The development is located directly on the Thur Canal. There are shops, a kindergarten, schools and sports facilities, a vita parcours and an outdoor swimming pool nearby. A nicely structured architecture, bright facades, large balconies and terraces as well as small, secluded spots give the development a cozy and friendly flair.

    The attractiveness of the residential development should not be based on superficial chic and unnecessary accessories, but on well thought-out solutions. «Johanna» wants to be an oasis in which people feel comfortable. It is expected to be ready for occupancy from February 2024. Construction work is expected to start in November 2021.

  • ImmoScout24 reports record price for condominiums

    ImmoScout24 reports record price for condominiums

    The prices for condominiums in Switzerland rose by 1.8 percent in August compared to the previous month. The prices for single-family houses have risen by only 0.1 percent. This is shown by the current Swiss Real Estate Offer Index , which is collected by ImmoScout24 in cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI AG.

    The market for condominiums is becoming more and more expensive , according to the press release. At the end of August, 7916 francs were charged per square meter, 1.8 percent more than a month earlier. A typical apartment with 100 square meters is advertised for an average of around 790,000 francs in Switzerland. That is a new record.

    The prices for single-family houses rose by only 0.1 percent in August, but according to ImmoScout24 they are “at a dizzying height”. The square meter price is 7048 francs. For a typical Swiss single-family home with around 160 square meters of living space, the average asking price is over 1.1 million francs. The prices can be significantly higher in better locations.

    The supply is scarce, the market has dried up. Martin Waeber, COO of Scout24 is quoted as saying that sellers were waiting in view of the rising prices. “Only a strong increase in construction activity or a decline in demand, for example due to rising mortgage interest rates, could reduce the price pressure on the residential property market,” Waeber continued. However, neither is currently foreseeable.

    According to the index, asking prices for rental apartments fell by an average of 0.5 percent in August, with significant regional differences.

  • Menziken gives the green light for the Unity housing estate

    Menziken gives the green light for the Unity housing estate

    The building permit for the new housing estate called Unity in the municipality of Menziken has become legally binding. Steiner AG can then start construction work.

    As the Zurich developer as well as a total or general contractor notifies , six apartment buildings with 47 condominiums and 51 parking spaces will be created close to the station as a whole. The canton-protected Villa Zur Eintracht, which was built in 1811/12, will blend in harmoniously with the overall situation.

    Steiner is thus making a contribution to the promotion of affordable housing. A functional design can be built in a cost-optimized manner. Among other things, uniform windows in all buildings, minimized living space and standardized wet rooms in all apartments contribute to this.

  • Homeownership prices continue to rise

    Homeownership prices continue to rise

    The Swiss real estate market continues to pick up. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office , the Swiss residential property index rose by 2.2 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the previous quarter. At the end of June it stood at 105.3 points. The value of 100 was reached in the fourth quarter of 2019. Compared to the second quarter of the previous year, inflation was 4.7 percent.

    In all types of municipalities nationwide, prices for both single-family houses and condominiums rose compared to the previous quarter, with single-family homes by 2.6 percent and condominiums by 1.8 percent. The increase in single-family houses with an increase of 4.6 percent was particularly pronounced in rural communities. Condominium prices rose the most in the intermediate communities, by 2.9 percent.

  • Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project known from the Rockwell site study contract

    The Rockwell area belongs to the western part of the Torfeld Süd and was acquired by Mobimo in 2001. Rockwell Automation GmbH intends to discontinue production at the Aarau location at the beginning of 2022. Only the research and development areas will remain at the long-standing headquarters. This will free a large part of the area – and the further development of the Aeschbach district can be tackled.

    As of today, the Aeschbachquartier comprises 167 rental apartments, 92 condominiums, the Aeschbachhalle, the Oehlerpark and commercial space. The urban planning guidelines designed by the renowned Dutch architect and retired ETH professor Kees Christiaanse and the associated vision of the “Urban Village” – an urban village – with diverse uses should also shape the further development steps.

    Mobimo has invited five renowned architecture firms to take part in a study. In addition to the high demands on the sustainability of the project – it should be made of wood and meet the SNBS Gold standard – the results of the participation process from 2020 were also part of the task package.

    The proposal by Baumberger & Stegmeier Architects from Zurich in collaboration with Hoffmann Müller landscape architects and Pirmin Jung timber construction engineers particularly impressed the jury and was chosen as the winning project. Your project envisages an increase in the historical Hall 5 and a new wooden building (see visualization). In addition to the ecological construction method, the winning project is characterized by many green areas with large trees. The project envisages 110 rental apartments of various sizes and suitable for families and senior citizens. Alternative forms of living such as cluster apartments are also to be created.

    Mobimo will invest around CHF 50 million (amount excluding land value). Realization can probably begin in mid-2023, which means that completion would be possible in mid-2025.

    Quote from project manager Thomas Schaz: “We are delighted to be able to open a new chapter in the Aeschbach district. Rockwell Automation remains an important and valued user of the quarter in a reduced space. "

  • Home ownership achieves new record prices

    Home ownership achieves new record prices

    The prices for owner-occupied residential property rose to new highs at the end of 2020, informs Raiffeisen Switzerland in a report on the study “ Real Estate Switzerland Q1 / Q2 ”. Specifically, the analysts of the banking group observed an increase in the prices of single-family houses by 2.9 percent and of condominiums by 3.1 percent year-on-year. They expect home ownership prices to continue to rise this year as well. Martin Neff, chief economist at Raiffeisen Switzerland, is quoted in the press release: "For households that meet the affordability guidelines and equity requirements, the purchase of home ownership is and will remain an economically sensible decision from a purely cost perspective".

    In the office space market, the pandemic has not yet led to falling prices either, the announcement further explains. "The test is still ahead of this market, because it is characterized by long-term rental agreements and changes to flexible working models do not take place overnight," says Neff. In the case of upcoming construction projects, however, “fundamental questions about the usefulness of a project and its chances in the post-Corona reality should be asked,” recommends the Raiffeisen chief economist.

    In the niche market of residential communities (WG), however, the study authors identified clear traces of the pandemic. "The demand for rooms in shared apartments in this dynamically reacting market has literally collapsed, as our analysis of the data from the largest platform wgzimmer.ch shows," explains Neff. The proportion of Swiss people who share their apartment with one or more flatmates increased from 1.5 to 2.7 percent within ten years by 2018.

  • Demand for condominiums is stronger than before Corona

    Demand for condominiums is stronger than before Corona

    According to a report on the Online Home Market Analysis, the demand for condominiums declined slightly overall from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the end of the third quarter of 2020 in the reporting year, but saw a strong surge in demand in the last quarter. In the analysis carried out by the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics ( HWZ ) and the Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry ( SVIT ) in collaboration with the digital real estate company homegate.ch , this is based on the shorter advertising period for condominiums offered on the Internet.

    During the entire reporting year, a condominium in Switzerland had to be advertised on an online platform for an average of 86 days. It was 60 days before the Corona crisis. In the third quarter of 2020, however, the advertising time fell to the record low of 52 days, despite an 8 percent increase in the number of advertisements. Condominiums are therefore currently more in demand than ever, the analysis found.

    Supply and demand were analyzed based on the advertisements on the seven major Swiss real estate marketplaces between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020 compared to the previous period. In the reporting period from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, around 91,387 condominiums were offered for sale on the Internet across Switzerland, which corresponds to an increase of 19 percent compared to the previous period.

    Professor Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute at HWZ, attributes the growth in demand mainly to two factors: “On the one hand, the boom in demand in the third quarter is due to the deferred demand from the previous quarters, but on the other hand it is also due to a change in behavior: More beautiful living is has become even more important to many Swiss after the lockdown, ”Ilg is quoted as saying.

    Jens Paul Berndt, CEO of Homegate AG, is quoted as saying: “We have also noticed a sharp increase in visits and contact inquiries. This is a sign that real estate is a popular investment property even in times of crisis. "