immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: immobilien

  • Construction activity is declining

    Construction activity is declining

    According to the real estate barometer of Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ) for the second quarter of 2021, the number of projected apartments in planning applications has decreased by 23 percent compared to 2018. According to the ZKB analysts, this is related to high vacancy rates in peripheral regions, to which investors would have reacted accordingly. In urban centers with low vacancy rates, construction activity is picking up again in some cases, according to the barometer.

    Lausanne and Zurich are cited as examples. In the cantons of Geneva and Basel-Stadt, however, the analysts have observed a decline in construction activity. They attribute this to the high regulatory hurdles typical of urban areas and the scarcity of building land. Overall, however, the analysts state that “new apartments are increasingly being planned where the demand for living space is high”.

    In the canton of Zurich, the desire for one's own four walls, which has been intensified by the pandemic, is further explained in the barometer. According to him, house prices have increased by 5.5 percent over the previous year and 2.9 percent over the previous quarter. At the same time, the analysts see a shrinking of the offers advertised on real estate portals. They explain this with the fact that many properties are marketed by regional brokers or are already sold before construction begins. For this year and the following, the analysts are assuming excess demand in the residential property market across Switzerland.

  • Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise increases capital for real estate funds

    Baloise Asset Management AG will carry out a capital increase for its Baloise Swiss Property Fund from August 10th to 19th, announced the asset management company of the Baloise Group in a message . A maximum of 1.24 million new shares with a total value of around 135 million are to be issued on a commission basis.

    The issue price including issuing commission is stated in the notification at 110.70 francs per unit. According to her, every 19 subscription rights entitle the holder to purchase five new shares. Any shares that have not been subscribed will not be issued, Baloise informs.

    The funds raised are to be used for the acquisition of a real estate portfolio consisting of 15 residential properties, one commercial property and one mixed-use property. Baloise announced the planned purchase of this property, which is spread across ten cantons, last month.

    The property portfolio with a market value of around 185.2 million francs is currently held by Basler Versicherung AG and Basler Leben AG, which are part of the Baloise Group. The Swiss financial supervisory authority has already granted the fund management company the necessary exemption from the ban on takeovers by related parties, explains Baloise. To finance the purchase, Baloise intends to raise around 50 million francs in outside capital in addition to the capital increase.

  • Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer expands real estate business

    Julius Baer's portfolio of real estate services has so far focused on mortgage financing. Now the banking group wants to expand its offering in "this important asset class", announced Julius Baer in a press release . In the future, advice, brokerage, financing and structuring as well as related services for investment management, valuation and management of real estate are to be offered.

    The banking group wants to implement these plans with partners and in cooperation with third-party providers. In a first step, Julius Baer will acquire 83 percent of the Zurich real estate service provider KMP , explains the banking group in the announcement. The current majority owner and CEO of KMP, Dominik Weber, is to set up a new real estate unit for the banking group under the umbrella of Julius Baer. As a future minority owner, Weber will also remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of KMP, writes Julius Baer.

    In a further announcement , the banking group is communicating its key figures for the first half of 2021. According to this, Julius Baer was able to increase net profit by 23 percent year-on-year to 606 million francs. The group’s assets under management increased by 12 percent to CHF 486 billion compared to the end of 2020.

    "We have successfully shifted our focus to sustainable profit growth and continuously strengthened the attractiveness of our performance promise for existing and new customers", Julius Baer CEO Philipp Rickenbacher is quoted in the press release. According to her, the net profit is the highest half-year profit in the company's history.

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers purchases in Oslo

    Swiss Life Asset Managers has taken over the real estate business of the Oslo-based investment company Ness, Risan & Partners ( NRP ). The acquired business area for commercial real estate and real estate funds with its 39 employees will in future operate under the Swiss Life Asset Managers brand.

    "With one of the leading providers of logistics real estate in the Nordic countries, we can strengthen our geographical presence in line with our strategy and further expand our position as a leading real estate manager in Europe", Stefan Mächler, CIO of the Swiss Life Group, is quoted in a press release. Nothing was known about the financial details of this transaction. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

    NRP has a strong network and knowledge of the Nordic commercial real estate market. Founded in 2000, the company manages a diverse portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties. At the end of 2020, NRP managed and managed assets worth the equivalent of 1.2 billion Swiss francs. In addition to the real estate industry, NRP is also active in the shipping and offshore sectors.

    Christian Ness, founder and managing partner of NRP, is certain to have found “the perfect partner for NRP”, “who has a strategic approach, financial strength, know-how and a network that makes this relationship more valuable than the sum total of the individual parts. "

  • PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    PriceHubble raises $ 34 million

    Zurich-based PriceHubble AG has successfully completed a Series B financing round. The proptech was able to raise $ 34 million from new and existing investors, according to a media release . It focuses on real estate valuations and property insights on the basis of big data analytics and artificial intelligence. This round was led by Digital + Partners . The internationally growing company received "significant investments" from Latitude Ventures , TX Ventures and Business Angels. It also met with great demand from existing investors, including Swiss Life and btov / Helvetia Venture Fund .

    This is one of the largest B rounds in the European proptech scene, said Dr. Stefan Heitmann, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PriceHubble. CEO Julien Schillewaert considers it an "important milestone on the way to realizing our vision of becoming the undisputed market leader for data-driven digital solutions for the real estate and financial industries in Europe and Asia".

    For this, PriceHubble “with the combination of an excellent team, a mature technology-driven organization and a best-in-class UX, PriceHubbel is ideally equipped to continue to drive growth, to attract additional top talent and the go-to-market organization to scale internationally ”, says Patrick Beitel, co-founder and managing director at Digital + Partners.

    The company, which was founded in Zurich in 2016, is now active in nine markets: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The B2B customer base has tripled in the past twelve months. It now consists of 800 companies.

  • New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    The new place at the JED in Schlieren has been inaugurated. According to Gianfranco Basso from Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG , after a three-year, intensive construction phase and a staggered commissioning of the new center, the essential work on the surrounding area has been completed. The construction fences have disappeared and the converted former printing center of the NZZ has now become an open area and thus part of the public space.

    The new square was officially opened on Thursday and the drinking fountain was inaugurated. The opening began with a speech from Basso. This was followed by a greeting from Stefano Kunz, City Councilor and Head of Construction and Planning. Then it was called “water march” for the drinking fountain and there was an aperitif at the fountain. This was followed by a joint lunch for representatives from politics, authorities, those involved in the project and those responsible for JED in the restaurant eve’s kitchen, right on the square.

    The owner Swiss Prime Site found the name JED for the old printing center that has been converted for today’s use. It stands for join. Explore. Dare – connect, discover, dare. The JED has good connections just outside Zurich. With a direct connection to the Limmattalbahn and 500 meters from Schlieren train station, the location is well connected to the public transport network.

  • Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Hälg Group eröffnet neuen Standort in Freiburg

    Die Gebäudeautomation der Hälg Group mit Sitz in St.Gallen eröffnet in Freiburg-Givisiez einen neuen Standort und baut damit ihr Netzwerk in diesem Geschäftsfeld aus. Laut Medienmitteilung ist Freiburg der siebte Standort. Bisher war die Hälg Gebäudeautomation mit eigenen Standorten in St.Gallen, Luzern, Zürich, Basel, Chur und Genf vertreten.

    Vom neuen Standort aus soll der Anlagenbau in der Region Freiburg, Neuenburg und Lausanne betrieben werden. Zusammen mit dem bisherigen Standort Genf sei damit die Hälg Gebäudeautomation in der ganzen Westschweiz vertreten. Ab dem 1. September sei ein vierköpfiges Team vor Ort. Der erste Mitarbeitende habe bereits jetzt seine Arbeit aufgenommen.

    Hälg hebt in der Medienmitteilung hervor, dass das Team in Freiburg-Givisiez in das Netz der Gebäudeautomation Schweiz eingebettet sei. Die Mitarbeitenden in den einzelnen Standorten tauschten sich aus. Damit könne die Hälg & Co. AG Gebäudeautomation neben dem Team vor Ort auch auf das schweizweite Team der Gebäudeautomation zurückgreifen.

    Das Familienunternehmen Hälg werde in vierter Generation durch die Inhaber geführt, heisst es in der Mitteilung. Unternehmensziel sei, die Hälg Group zum führenden Schweizer Dienstleistungsunternehmen für Gebäudetechnik im Bereich Heizung, Lüftung, Klima, Kälte und Sanitär über den ganzen Lebenszyklus einer Anlage zu machen.

    Die Unternehmensgruppe beschäftigt nach eigenen Angaben an 22 Standorten in der Schweiz 1125 Mitarbeitende und erzielte 2020 einen Umsatz von 312 Millionen Franken.

  • Luxury real estate is on the rise

    Luxury real estate is on the rise

    According to UBS , the pandemic has sparked a sharp surge in demand for luxury real estate. As their recently published study “ UBS Luxury Property Focus 2021 ” shows, demand rose by more than half compared to the previous year. This is about three times as high as the five-year mean. As a result, prices also rose above average: "The excess demand caused prices in the luxury segment to skyrocket by 9 percent in 2020 – significantly more than the 4.4 percent in the average Swiss home market," said UBS real estate expert Katharina Hofer in a press release quoted.

    UBS is making a “gold rush” on Lake Geneva. The municipality of Cologny remains the most expensive luxury real estate market in Switzerland. In the luxury communities near Geneva, prices rose by an average of around 16 percent over the course of a year. The highest-priced properties in Gstaad can be found on the second home market. In the Upper Engadin, the luxury segment begins just below the purchase prices there. Luxury properties in mountain communities were also 10 percent more expensive. In contrast, the price increases in the Lake Zurich region and in Central Switzerland were more moderate with an average of 6 percent.

    The UBS report cites the positive development of the financial markets as the reasons for the high demand. In addition, the long-term intrinsic value was particularly attractive in view of the uncertain economic development. In addition, the study notes an increased interest from abroad. "Because the local measures to contain the pandemic were far less restrictive than, for example, in France, Italy or Great Britain." A large part of the foreign demand comes from these countries. UBS also cites the low risk of higher taxes in this country for top earners and the good health system as motives.

    UBS expects that current demand drivers will also remain in effect in the second half of the year. Accordingly, an above-average number of transactions and local price increases can still be expected. And the trend should continue beyond the year, so Hofer: "Anyone looking for a place with stable institutions and established luxury locations in global luxury markets should increasingly focus on Switzerland."

  • MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark moves into a larger location in Winterthur

    MoneyPark is growing in Winterthur. Last year, the company's team there was expanded from three to six consultants. Accordingly, MoneyPark has now moved into new premises. The location is at Metzggasse 20 and, according to a report, comprises six consultation rooms.

    "Now we want to continue to grow and provide our customers with intensive support on everything to do with mortgages, provisioning and buying and selling real estate," Flavian Scheidegger is quoted as saying. In June he took over the management of the Winterthur branch from Andreas Leu.

    Not only the branch in Winterthur is expanding. MoneyPark also recently expanded its business. In this way, customers can get advice not only on financing and provision, but also on questions relating to property searches, buying, owning and selling.

  • Urban Land Institute has a new chairman

    Urban Land Institute has a new chairman

    Jürgen Marc Volm has started his two-year term of office as the new chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Switzerland. He succeeds Birgit Werner. As it is said in a media release , it has increased the number of members and increased activities significantly.

    She acknowledges that Volm's “passion for real estate” is reflected in his career, “in which he has combined academic know-how with the successful development of a company. He is an enrichment for us as we want to continue growing and strengthen contacts with current and future industry leaders. "

    In addition to his work as a partner and board member of pom + Consulting AG , based in Technopark Zurich , Volm is also the program manager of the master's degree in International Project Management at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT). As a Master of Engineering in International Project Management from HFT Stuttgart and Master of Business Administration from Liverpool John Moores University , the graduate civil engineer has extensive business management knowledge.

    According to his own information, as chairman the focus is on promoting the sustainability debate according to the so-called ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria, "especially with regard to the areas of circular economy and social responsibility". In addition, he wants to introduce the ULI UrbanPlan at Swiss schools and universities. The participants receive basic knowledge of urban renewal. He is also planning a ULI NEXT program. It is intended to connect the next generation of managers between the ages of 35 and 45 in the DACH region.

    "ULI Switzerland has developed rapidly in the DACH region," says Marnix Galle, chairman of ULI Europe . “And we look forward to the next phase of growth under Jürgen's leadership. He will use the ULI platform to help shape the future of the built environment in Swiss communities and to inspire a new generation of real estate experts. "

  • Eastern Switzerland is to get new coworking spaces

    Eastern Switzerland is to get new coworking spaces

    Commuting to work not only loses time and quality of life, according to a media release from Regio Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee . Local and cantonal added value also suffers. Therefore, Regio Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee would like to establish three coworking spaces in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. VillageOffice has identified the greatest potential for the joint offices in Herisau, Teufen and Trogen in the canton and will now also support the project. It is also supported by the canton itself.

    “REGIO is committed to competitive and attractive framework conditions in the region. Central challenges include reducing the so-called brain drain and the shortage of skilled workers in Eastern Switzerland, "Leila Hauri, director of the Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee region, is quoted in the message. According to her, the coworking spaces in rural areas should help to address these problems.

    In the next phase, the pilot operation is to be prepared and optimized for all three locations. "If everything goes according to plan, we should be able to start all three pilot operations within the next six months," says project manager Clarissa Zurwerra.

  • TX Markets takes over Acheter-Louer.ch

    TX Markets takes over Acheter-Louer.ch

    TX Markets is expanding its portfolio of real estate marketplaces. The company belonging to the TX Group has taken over the real estate portal Acheter-Louer.ch from La Tour-de-Peilz VD, informs TX Markets in a message . Acheter-Louer.ch specializes in digital marketing for real estate agents. To this end, the company provides customers with its customer relationship management system, Publimmo, among other things.

    "We have been following the development at Acheter-Louer.ch in French-speaking Switzerland for a long time," said Olivier Rihs, CEO TX Markets AG, in the press release. According to her, co-founder Philippe Schyrr will continue to operate the real estate portal, which was founded in 2010, “largely independently” under the umbrella of TX Markets. "As a successful real estate portal and family business, the company is an ideal addition to our portfolio and strengthens our growth strategy at TX Markets," says Rihs. The company responsible for all marketplaces of the TX Group already has a portal for the digital search, financing and marketing of real estate in its portfolio, homegate.ch. Acheter-Louer.ch is intended to complement and strengthen TX Markets' portfolio of real estate marketplaces, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland.

  • UBS and Baloise create an ecosystem for real estate

    UBS and Baloise create an ecosystem for real estate

    The major bank UBS and the Baloise insurer from Basel are entering into a strategic partnership. According to almost identical media releases, both are planning to merge their respective solutions and services for property owners.

    The joint ecosystem Home & Living is to emerge from the Atrium and key4 mortgage platforms from UBS and Home from Baloise, which broadly covers the living and everyday needs of its customers. In addition, the partners intend to include existing and possible company holdings of both companies. In addition, they also express their intention to integrate the offers of various start-up companies.

    "Baloise has in recent years greatly in expanding its ecosystem Home invested", is Yannick Hasler, Head of Retail Banking Baloise Switzerland, cited . "With the cooperation and investments in innovative Swiss start-ups such as Houzy , Devis , MOVU , Bubble Box or Batmaid , the foundation stone was laid for a service network that makes our customers' everyday lives easier."

    With Atrium and key4, UBS laid the foundation for its platform business in Switzerland, says Sabine Magri, COO of UBS Switzerland AG. “The continuous expansion through partnerships with and investments in innovative start-ups and intermediaries is central to the further development of our ecosystem. The planned strategic partnership with Baloise is complementary, we can complement each other perfectly. "

  • Jaisli-Xamax completes work in Biozentrum

    Jaisli-Xamax completes work in Biozentrum

    The new building of the Biozentrum Basel is nearing completion. Jaisli-Xamax also made a contribution to this, as can be seen from a message from the Dietiker electrical company. In addition to the electrical installations, Jaisli-Xamax also took on work on the switchgear assemblies. The basic lighting is already installed. Jaisli-Xamax is currently still working on the special lighting. Different special lighting is installed for each room to enable research work under special lighting conditions. Jaisli-Xamax is also on the home stretch for the rest of the electrical work.

    The new building for the University of Basel is a high-rise building 72 meters high. The 16 upper and three basement floors have a total of 23,000 square meters of usable space. After completion, 400 researchers will work there and 900 students will be trained. The first researchers have already moved into the building.

  • Swica and Steiner build in Aarau

    Swica and Steiner build in Aarau

    The health organization Swica from Winterthur and Steiner AG from Zurich want to realize a mixed-use development in the Aarau district of Scheibenschachen, Steiner informs in a press release . Three buildings with a total of around 90 rental and owner-occupied apartments as well as commercial space are to be erected on an area of around 4,000 square meters. A building worthy of protection that is already on the site will be integrated into the project, explains the Zurich-based project development, total and general contractor.

    In a first step, the two partner companies want to carry out a study contract for the development of a project plan. It should then be specified and submitted for approval. Construction is scheduled to start in 2023. The construction work should be completed by the end of 2025.

    The Scheibenschachen district, which is within walking distance of the historic center of Aarau, has developed "into a popular residential area" over the years, Steiner writes in the press release. According to her, the Zurich-based company has already built two more large residential developments in Scheibenschachen.

  • Homeownership achieves record prices

    Homeownership achieves record prices

    Those who want to live in their own four walls have to dig deeper into their pockets. The prices for owner-occupied residential property rose to new record levels in the second quarter, informs Raiffeisen Switzerland in a statement on the current transaction index of the cooperative banking group. "Despite the rampant pandemic and historical economic upheavals, the desire for home ownership remains strong," Martin Neff is quoted as saying. For the chief economist at Raiffeisen Switzerland, the “unchecked price increases” are signs of a “very tight supply” demand for residential property.

    The prices for single-family homes in the second quarter of 2021 were 2.1 percent above those of the previous quarter, the announcement further explains. In a year-on-year comparison, prices rose by 6.1 percent. An increase of 2.4 percent compared to the previous quarter was observed for condominiums. In a year-on-year comparison, prices were 4.9 percent higher.

    In terms of regions, the analysts at Raiffeisen Switzerland recorded the highest year-on-year increase in single-family homes with 11.3 percent in the Lake Geneva region. In Eastern Switzerland and Central Switzerland, too, prices were more than 9 percent higher than in the same quarter of the previous year. The prices for condominiums rose within the year by 7.9 and 7.0 percent respectively in the regions of southern Switzerland and Bern. Far higher prices than in the previous year were achieved for condominiums, especially in tourist communities.

  • Immo56 increases investment returns

    Immo56 increases investment returns

    According to a statement from Procimmo SA , the Immo56 fund managed by the asset manager of collective real estate investments achieved a good result in the financial year ended March 31. Specifically, the return on investment has risen from 5.78 to 7.54 percent year-on-year, it says there. The net asset value per unit rose from CHF 148.30 to CHF 154.00 over the same period.

    In the year under review, the fund generated total income of CHF 22.91 million. This was offset by expenses totaling 9.98 million francs. The overall success has increased by 51 percent year-on-year to 23.59 million francs, writes Procimmo.

    The fund's rental income in the year under review was CHF 20.20 million, up 5.3 percent on the previous year. At the same time, the rent default rate was reduced from 3.49 to 3.15 percent. The fund's EBIT margin improved from 65.82 to 68.81 percent year-on-year, explains Procimmo. The total net fund assets are stated in the notification at CHF 358.8 million as of the end of March 2021.

  • Riedtli starts pilot for environmentally friendly mobility

    Riedtli starts pilot for environmentally friendly mobility

    The Riedtli housing estate will receive 14 charging stations for electric cars from mid-July. In the course of re-letting the residential parking spaces, the City of Zurich is also setting up four parking spaces for car sharing offers and additional areas for electric cargo bikes. The pilot project is intended to promote environmentally friendly mobility in residential areas and later be transferred to other areas, according to a media release .

    For the residents of the Riedtli settlement on the border between Zurich-Unterstrass and -Oberstrass, four of the 20 parking spaces will be eliminated. The 16 remaining still meet the demand, according to the media release. In future, three e-vehicles from the car sharing provider Mobility and a gasoline-powered rental car from enterprise will be parked in the four newly leased spaces. There are also three new electric cargo bikes from carvelo2go. A total of 14 of the 23 parking spaces will be converted into charging stations for e-cars.

    The pilot project is a step towards a 2000 watt society, which has been anchored in Zurich's municipal code since 2008. Its aim is to make the city climate neutral by 2040. “In order to achieve our climate goals, traffic has to be reduced, relocated and electrified in a targeted manner. The switch to electromobility is also to be promoted with the expansion of charging stations. By sharing cars and only using them when they are really needed, people contribute to environmentally friendly mobility, ”City Councilor Daniel Leupi is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Visualization solutions: an emotional stimulus

    Visualization solutions: an emotional stimulus

    Whether renting or selling – the demand for visualization solutions in the real estate and construction industry is increasing noticeably. Depending on whether it is an existing property or a new construction project, different solutions are used. With the former, 360 ° tours are often used – increasingly interactive, with the latter often virtual reality solutions – adapted to the property and the target group.

    Not every buyer or tenant can imagine an empty room furnished. This is where virtual home staging solutions help to make the sparks jump. With this tool, inexpensive condominiums or rental properties can also be designed in a visually appealing way and thus conveyed more quickly. Further solutions enable the virtual inspection of rooms that are yet to be built. Using stand-alone virtual reality glasses, planning errors can be seen virtually and thus avoided later. In addition, planned trades can be inspected together – for example with the client or architect. The "immersion" and actual experience of the premises gives security and a good feeling.

    In addition, there are also complete virtual solutions on the market that digitally map different phases of the real estate cycle: from the outlined project vision and prototyping to visualization concepts for marketing and management.

    You can find an overview of quality-checked visualization solutions here:
    https://proptechmarket.net/tools

  • Asking rents are falling marginally

    Asking rents are falling marginally

    The monthly rent index compiled by the digital real estate marketplace homegate.ch from TX Group in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 115.4 points in June. Compared to the previous month, the asking rents have fallen by an average of 0.09 percent, explains homegate.ch in a corresponding message . In contrast, an increase in rental prices of around 0.7 percent has been observed over the past twelve months.

    “As usual,” the asking rents have developed differently in the individual cantons and cities, explains homegate.ch. The analysts of the index observed the greatest declines with 1.29 percent in the city of Lausanne and with 0.99 and 0.49 percent in the cantons of Schwyz and Geneva. The strongest price increases, at 0.68 and 0.65 percent, were registered in the city of Bern and in the canton of Zug.

    In most of the other cantons, the analysts observed a rather inconspicuous development in rental prices. The communication provides an interactive overview of developments in the cantons and metropolises.

    In the quality-adjusted recording of rental price changes for the rental index, the rental prices are corrected for the different quality, location and size of the apartments. This makes it possible to record the actual rental price development, it says in the message.

  • Housing is becoming more expensive

    Housing is becoming more expensive

    "Renting and buying in Switzerland is getting more expensive", is how ImmoScout24 wrote a message on the current Swiss Real Estate Offer Index . It is prepared monthly by ImmoScout24 and the real estate consultancy IAZI AG . According to the surveys, the prices for rents and residential real estate rose on average across Switzerland in the first half of 2021.

    The prices for residential property have only risen for months, explains ImmoScout24 in the message. Since the beginning of the year, prices for single-family houses have risen by a total of 3.8 percent, with a price increase of 1.4 percent compared to May being observed in June alone. The corresponding values for condominiums were 4.7 and 1.0 percent, respectively.

    The index analysts have observed an ups and downs in rents over the past few months. There was an increase of 0.7 percent over the first half of the year. In June, an average increase of 0.6 percent compared to May was registered.

    Renting has not become more expensive everywhere, it says in the message. Specifically, monthly rents dropped between 3.0 and 0.1 percent in Ticino, the Central Plateau, the Lake Geneva region and northwestern Switzerland.

    Martin Waeber is quoted in the press release as saying that "the record price increase in the residential property market" has contributed to the fact that many people did not even ask themselves whether to rent or buy. “If you don't necessarily want to rent in the center”, you can “still get a bargain in some regions”, says the Scout24 Group's CFO.

    The Scout24 group belongs to the insurance group Mobiliar and the media group Ringier . In addition to the real estate platform ImmoScout24, the network of online marketplaces operates the platforms AutoScout24, FinanceScout24, MotoScout24, the classified ads platform Anibis and the marketer Scout24 Advertising.

  • Swiss Life Asset Managers real estate fund increases capital

    Swiss Life Asset Managers real estate fund increases capital

    Swiss Life Asset Managers has successfully completed a capital increase for the real estate fund Swiss Life REF (LUX) German Core Real Estate SCS, SICAV-SIF, informs the asset manager belonging to the Swiss Life Group in a message . A total of 108.7 million euros were raised, it continues. The funds are to be used to acquire sustainability-oriented properties in Germany.

    Among other things, Swiss Life Asset Managers will acquire contractually secured residential properties that are characterized by energy efficiency and earnings potential, the company explains in the press release. In general, at least 50 percent of residential real estate should continue to be held in the fund. However, part of the newly brought in funds will be used to acquire commercially used properties in good to very good locations in German cities.

    Swiss Life Asset Managers signed the UN Principles for Responsible Investment as early as 2018, the announcement further explains. According to her, the company applies appropriate environmental, social and corporate management criteria to both the purchase and management of real estate.

  • ImmoScout24 relies on iptiQ

    ImmoScout24 relies on iptiQ

    ImmoScout24 wants to offer customers residing in Germany a rental loss insurance. To this end, the real estate platform of the Scout24 Group is working together with the white label insurer iptiQ from Swiss Re , the Zurich insurance group informs in a message . The offer launched under the ImmoScout24 brand covers the complete or partial loss of up to six monthly rents including ancillary costs. The insurance can be taken out and managed online.

    "With the digital ImmoScout24 loss of rent insurance, we are providing private landlords with an innovative service that makes renting safer for them," Ralf Weitz, Managing Director of ImmoScout24, is quoted in the press release. This could be particularly relevant in times of the pandemic, says Weitz. ImmoSout24 takes on the role of the registered agent in the partnership.

    IptiQ is responsible for covering all insurance-related aspects of the community offer, is further explained in the communication. "With ImmoScout24 we have the ideal partner in Germany to be able to offer customers tailor-made insurance products in the household sector online exactly when it matters", Andreas Schertzinger, CEO iptiQ EMEA P&C, is quoted there.

    The Scout24 group belongs to the insurance group Mobiliar and the media group Ringier . In addition to the real estate platform ImmoScout24, the network of online marketplaces operates the platforms AutoScout24, FinanceScout24, MotoScout24, the classified ads platform Anibis and the marketer Scout24 Advertising.

  • Foreign real estate is becoming more attractive

    Foreign real estate is becoming more attractive

    The majority of the companies active in the real estate market did not allow their risk behavior to be adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, writes EY Switzerland in a report on the current “ Asset Management Survey ”. For the study, EY Switzerland and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts examined the activities of 52 Swiss real estate investors and pension funds. According to the results, most of the respondents intend to continue investing in domestic and increasingly also in foreign real estate in the future.

    "The pandemic has hardly any noticeable impact on the general demand from investors for real estate investments that remain without alternative in the low interest rate environment and especially in uncertain times," Karl Frank Meinzer, Head of Real Estate at EY Switzerland, is quoted in the press release. According to Casper Studer, however, the focus of investments has shifted to more pandemic-resistant properties. "This is particularly true of properties that are used for living and logistics," explains the real estate expert at EY Switzerland. According to the surveys of the analysts, around seven out of ten respondents also play a medium to large role in investment decisions.

    The concentration on residential and logistics real estate goes hand in hand with the increasing attractiveness of foreign real estate. More than six out of ten companies surveyed are planning to increase investments in foreign residential real estate; the figure for domestic residential real estate is 51 percent, according to the press release. 46 percent are interested in logistics properties abroad, and a third of those surveyed want to invest more in domestic logistics properties. On the other hand, 36 and 27 percent of those surveyed want to reduce their portfolio of retail properties in Germany and abroad.

  • Houzy is growing rapidly

    Houzy is growing rapidly

    Houzy continues to grow rapidly. As the PropTech start-up of the same name reports, the number of users of the platform has risen from 5,000 to 50,000 since the beginning of 2020. According to a press release, this growth is due to the strong need of homeowners for more transparency and well-founded information about their house or apartment.

    Therefore, Houzy integrated a Switzerland-wide mortgage comparison in the first half of 2021. Other functions such as the plant manager, the neophyte checker and the solar calculator have been updated and expanded. At the same time, the development team has simplified and improved all tools, including the renewal fund analysis and the heating and renovation calculator.

    From the available data and results, Houzy derives recommendations for planning any renovation work that is due or reminds them that it is time to change the windows. In addition, the Houzy network now has more than 700 craftsmen. To celebrate the milestone, the company is offering CHF 5,000 for a residential project as part of a competition.

  • Novavest completes capital increase

    Novavest completes capital increase

    Novavest has completed a further capital increase from existing authorized capital, the real estate company informs in a message . Specifically, 642,619 new registered shares were subscribed at the subscription price of 42.05 francs each during the subscription rights trading between June 14 and 23. Novavest intends to use the approximately 27.0 million francs it has brought in to expand its portfolio of residential properties.

    During the capital increase, existing shareholders of Novavest Real Estate AG were granted the right to purchase one new share for every eleven registered shares already held. The offer was also met with "great interest from both institutional and private investors," writes the company. As a result, Novavest was able to expand its shareholder base.

    After the capital increase, Novavest's share capital will amount to 207.4 million francs, the announcement further explains. Just last December, Novavest raised around CHF 28.6 million in a capital increase. These funds were also used to expand the company's own real estate portfolio. At the end of May, the company then lowered the nominal value of its shares by 1.65 francs to 26.90 francs.

  • PriceHubble expands to the Czech Republic

    PriceHubble expands to the Czech Republic

    PriceHubble is planning to focus on Central and Eastern Europe, the Zurich-based PropTech company, which specializes in real estate valuations for companies, informs in a press release . To this end, PriceHubble has taken over the Czech PropTech Realtify. The start-up company founded by Vladislav Kochetov in Prague in 2019 offers services for residential property professionals. Kochetov should manage the company, which will now operate as PriceHubble Czechia, also under the PriceHubble umbrella and, in particular, be responsible for the growth of the Zurich-based PropTech company in Central and Eastern Europe, PriceHubble writes.

    The takeover is intended to strengthen and expand PriceHubble's position, Julien Schillewaert explains in the press release. "PriceHubble is without a doubt one of the fastest growing PropTech companies in Europe," the PriceHubble CEO is quoted as saying. "There is strong growth potential in Central and Eastern Europe and the integration of Realtify into our team enables us to accelerate our market expansion in the region." With the takeover, PriceHubble is now in Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium , Czech Republic, Slovakia and Japan are active.

  • Credit Suisse sees good opportunities for proptechs

    Credit Suisse sees good opportunities for proptechs

    The corona pandemic has also posed challenges for the proptech industry, as a new report from Credit Suisse shows. Globally, for example, 25 percent less risk capital has flowed into such start-ups. However, the reluctance to invest has not left any major mark on the industry. Almost 80 percent of Proptechs were able to increase their number of employees in the past twelve months. Only 3 percent reported a decrease in the workforce. In addition, 87 percent expect a further increase in staff in the next twelve months.

    Furthermore, only around 10 percent of proptechs suffered a setback in sales. In contrast, 80 percent were able to increase their sales during the Corona crisis. According to the report, the industry is aiming to double sales in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, too, higher sales growth is expected than in 2020.

    Credit Suisse also looks at the Swiss proptech industry in the study. Accordingly, the number of proptechs active in Switzerland also increased last year. With over 320 companies, Switzerland has an extremely high density of proptechs in an international comparison, it is said.

    However, the bank also points out that many proptechs with similar business models appear in the market. She assumes that not all companies will be able to position themselves successfully. Credit Suisse sees the quality of the management team and the scalability of the business model as the most important success factors of a Poptech.

  • Army real estate only uses renewables

    Army real estate only uses renewables

    The properties of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS ) used by the armed forces only use electricity that is generated from renewable energies, especially hydropower, the DDPS informs in a message on the current sustainability report of the Federal Office of Armaments (armasuisse ). According to her, the CO2 emissions caused by the VBS properties have also been significantly reduced compared to the previous year. Specifically, 36,600 tons of CO2 were emitted last year.

    The current sustainability report shows "how armasuisse real estate builds resource-intensive military infrastructures sustainably and operates them economically over the entire life cycle," the press release goes on to say. The report also provides important key figures. One example is the share of expenditure on planning and construction work that is attributable to local suppliers. It is estimated in the communication at 85 percent.

    In addition, the report contains a conversation with division general Thomas Kaiser, is further explained in the communication. In this, the head of the army's logistics base presented “his vision of a sustainable future for the army's logistics base”.

  • Swiss keep moving

    Swiss keep moving

    Almost 20 percent of the population moved within the last 18 months, homegate.ch informed in a message. This rate has been observed over the last year and a half, it says there. The pandemic did not reduce the attractiveness of a move. The digital real estate marketplace from TX Group is based on a relocation study it carried out.

    According to the results of the study, Switzerland is still “a land of tenants”, the communication further explains. Over seven out of ten people moved into a rented apartment. Homgate.ch observed moving in together with the partner, professional reasons and dissatisfaction with the current apartment as the most common reasons for moving. The most important criteria for the selection of the new domicile were mentioned by those questioned for the study of the price, the number of rooms and the location. Accessibility, old buildings or the Minergie standard, on the other hand, were only important to a minority in the single-digit range.

    The pandemic had "no lasting effects on moving behavior," writes homegate.ch. However, two thirds of those surveyed claimed that the pandemic had an impact on their relocation plans. The communication specifically mentions problems with viewings and postponing a planned move. In addition, 12 percent of those moving because of the lockdown moved to their partner.