immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: immobilien

  • Energie Zukunft Schweiz takes over Broenner AG

    Energie Zukunft Schweiz takes over Broenner AG

    According to a press release, Energie Zukunft Schweiz AG has taken over Broenner AG from Lucerne. The project developer for renewable heating, photovoltaics and energy efficiency is thus expanding its portfolio to include Broenner AG's competencies in the field of building technology: process energy for industrial and commercial customers, planning of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling as well as heating networks.

    Thomas Birrer, founder and managing director of Broenner AG, is satisfied with this succession plan. It offers employees a perspective "from which our customers also benefit, since we can bring our competencies into a larger network".

    According to the managing director of Energie Zukunft Schweiz AG, Aeneas Wanner, Birrer and his employees impress “with their high level of competence and innovative strength. With their specialized know-how, they are an ideal addition to our rapidly growing team. This puts us in an even better position to support our customers holistically in the implementation of the energy transition. "

    The location and all jobs are to be retained. In addition to the previous branches in Basel, Lausanne and Zurich, Energie Zukunft Schweiz will thus have a new location in Central Switzerland in Neuenkirch.

  • JED gets neon and icons

    JED gets neon and icons

    The JED in Schlieren is to be supplemented by art in architecture, informs a corresponding report on the website of the center in Schlieren. Art in architecture creates identity and meaning and shows the way, it says at the beginning. The owner Swiss Prime Site hired the artists Roland Ammann and Gregory Gilbert-Lodge to realize the works of art in JED.

    Glassblower Roland Amman comes from Neonhaus Ammann and has dedicated himself to the creation of three-dimensional works of art from neon after the lighting industry switched from neon to LED. For the JED he will create three oversized letters, a J, an E and a D. Amman has already installed the first work of art on the ceiling of the Jake barista bar. At first glance, the object, which looks like a fragile shining ball, turns out to be a J on closer inspection, says the report. “I like it when my art has several levels and the hidden only becomes recognizable at a second or third glance,” artist Ammann is quoted there.

    On the wall of the barista bar, visitors can already see the first work of art by Gregory Gilbert-Lodge in the JED. The independent illustrator has provided the bar with an oversized portrait of its namesake Jake in green. Jake is supposed to represent building J and give the bar “a face”, it says in the report.

    Gilbert-Lodge designed portraits of Eve and Didi for buildings E and D. “The fictional characters in the JED should act as icons,” explains the artist in the report. The values and ideas embodied by them, "even an attitude towards life", are what the icons give to the individual buildings, says Gilbert-Lodge.

  • Flatfox buys furniture

    Flatfox buys furniture

    Mobiliar acquired Flatfox on April 7th, informs the insurance cooperative in a message . The Zurich-based company has developed a platform with a free marketplace for real estate. Flatfox also offers corporate customers digital tools for the rental process.

    With the takeover of Flatfox, Mobiliar wants to strengthen its real estate business. Founders and employees should remain active for Flatfox under the umbrella of Mobiliar, explains Mobiliar. In addition, the new acquisition will continue to operate under the brand name Flatfox. The two partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    The insurance cooperative is already active in the real estate sector together with Ringier with the marketplace Scout24 Schweiz AG as well as with the craftsmen platform buildigo and the tenant platform aroov. The aroov tenant platform developed jointly with Garaio REM is to remain independent, but will cooperate with Flatfox in the future. "The interaction between aroov and Flatfox offers private customers attractive services and complete solutions for real estate professionals, thanks to which they are present with the right offer at the right time with the tenants," explains Mobiliar COO Andrea Kleiner in the press release.

    In addition to this offer on the tenant market, Mobiliar is planning to launch an offer for owners of residential property this summer, the press release further explains. The corresponding Liiva platform was developed by Mobiliar together with Raiffeisen.

  • Rental prices drop slightly in March

    Rental prices drop slightly in March

    The prices for rents fell in March compared to the previous month by 0.4 percent. This short-term development is only reflected in the national averages. In the most expensive and densely populated regions, rents rose in March, according to the latest data from the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index. In the long term, too, prices have increased on average.

    Tenants in the Lake Geneva region had to pay 0.2 percent more in March, and even 0.9 percent in the greater Zurich region. According to a press release, rents in north-western Switzerland also rose by 0.3 percent, in eastern Switzerland by 0.2 percent and in Ticino by 1.9 percent. In Central Switzerland, on the other hand, rents fell by 1.2 percent. Over the year as a whole, rental prices rose by an average of 0.6 percent for the country.

    In the case of home ownership, prices have also developed differently, depending on the type of residence. While those interested in condominiums benefited from an average of 0.4 percent lower prices in March, buyers of single-family homes had to add 1 percent.

    In the past twelve months, home prices even rose by a record 7.2 percent. While the square meter cost 6398 francs in March 2020, it was 6857 francs in March of this year.

    In the case of condominiums, the plus of 3 percent was somewhat more moderate. Here, the price per square meter rose from 7,366 francs in March 2020 to 7,587 francs in March 2021.

    The data of the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index is created in real time on the basis of advertisements on the real estate platform ImmoScout24 and in cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI AG .

  • Caleira lets poenina grow

    Caleira lets poenina grow

    According to a message from the poenina Group , the building technology company from Glattal generated operating income of 302.2 million francs in the 2020 financial year. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to growth of 19.4 percent.

    The merger of poenina with the Caleira Group, which was consolidated at the end of June 2020, is mentioned as the background to the strong growth. Caleira is an amalgamation of twelve companies from seven cantons that specialize in building envelopes and building technology. In 2019, Caleira had a turnover of 112.0 million francs.

    In the top-selling area of sanitary ware, poenina earned 112.4 million francs in the year under review, while the heating and cooling business area earned 88.3 million francs. 38.4 million francs were realized in customer service.

    At 15.0 million francs, poenina's operating result was 1.3 percent lower than in 2019. In contrast, net profit increased by 2.4 percent to CHF 12.6 million. Despite the sharply increased number of shares due to the merger with Caleira, poenina intends to distribute CHF 2.00 per share to the shareholders as in the previous year.

    For the current year, the building technology group is assuming good market conditions in the building construction segment. The group plans to continue its growth strategy, writes poenina. The company also wants to strengthen its presence in Switzerland through further acquisitions.

  • Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia and BAM Swiss signed an agreement on March 29 for the takeover of BAM Swiss AG by the Dietlikon construction and real estate company, Implenia informed in a press release . The acquisition is intended to strengthen Implenia's competitive position in future tenders. In addition, this will make the company “a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector,” writes Implenia.

    Both companies are involved in the realization of the Aarau Cantonal Hospital. Implenia, BAM Swiss AG and BAM Deutschland AG have so far been involved, explains Implenia in the press release. In the future, the project is to be implemented “from a single source”.

    The new acquisition also gives Implenia a stronger presence in north-western Switzerland. Specifically, Implenia's project portfolio will be strengthened with the construction of a laboratory and research building for biosystems science and engineering in Basel and the Felix-Platter Spital project in Basel. In Zurich, Implenia will also take on the construction of a student residence hall for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich through the acquisition.

    "With this transaction, Implenia is strengthening its market presence and is becoming a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector in Switzerland, an industry with great growth potential in terms of real estate," Implenia CEO André Wyss is quoted in the press release. "The acquisition is in line with our strategy and the goal of Implenia's Buildings Division to expand its market share as a total contractor for complex, large-scale projects."

  • open2work is looking for investors

    open2work is looking for investors

    Many companies have too much space all the time or even temporarily. Moving to smaller premises would be too time-consuming. Conversely, other companies or sole proprietorships often need more space temporarily. Open2work GmbH wants to mediate between the two groups.

    The start-up founded in 2020 by Alexandre Roque and Lionel Ebener from western Switzerland handles the bookkeeping and payment transactions. New providers can activate their offices themselves on the open2work portal, and interested parties can book their workplaces there. There are currently a total of 22 offices around Zurich and Zug, two in Bern and one in Sion.

    "We are the solution for those who have too much space," says co-founder and CEO Lionel Ebener. Conversely, users of the offer can choose offices from companies that correspond to their own interests. "This cultural aspect is important to us."

    Open2work is currently in talks with investors. The company wants to grow faster with fresh capital. After the end of the Corona crisis, the two founders see a growing need for flexible solutions, both on the part of the providers of office space and among the users.

  • Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia and BAM Swiss signed an agreement on March 29 for the takeover of BAM Swiss AG by the Dietlikon construction and real estate company, Implenia informed in a press release . The acquisition is intended to strengthen Implenia's competitive position in future tenders. In addition, this will make the company “a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector,” writes Implenia.

    Both companies are involved in the realization of the Aarau Cantonal Hospital. Implenia, BAM Swiss AG and BAM Deutschland AG have so far been involved, explains Implenia in the press release. In the future, the project is to be implemented “from a single source”.

    The new acquisition also gives Implenia a stronger presence in north-western Switzerland. Specifically, Implenia's project portfolio will be strengthened with the construction of a laboratory and research building for biosystems science and engineering in Basel and the Felix-Platter Spital project in Basel. In Zurich, Implenia will also take on the construction of a student residence hall for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich through the acquisition.

    "With this transaction, Implenia is strengthening its market presence and is becoming a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector in Switzerland, an industry with great growth potential in terms of real estate," Implenia CEO André Wyss is quoted in the press release. "The acquisition is in line with our strategy and the goal of Implenia's Buildings Division to expand its market share as a total contractor for complex, large-scale projects."

  • Graubünden pension fund receives investment award

    Graubünden pension fund receives investment award

    The Graubünden Pension Fund ( PKGR ) has received an IAZI Real Estate Investment Award 2021. It received an award in the “Best Pension Fund Portfolio” category. IAZI awards a total of nine awards. The basis for the selection of the winners is an assessment based on eight key figures from the Swiss Property Benchmark of the consulting and service company IAZI for the Swiss real estate sector. According to a press release by the PKGR, this is the most representative benchmark for Swiss direct real estate investments.

    PKGR's real estate portfolio claims to have a market value of CHF 654 million. As stated in the announcement, the pension fund understands this award as “confirmation of its real estate strategy, its successful implementation in the facilities and management as well as the further development of the portfolio”.

  • The best sustainable house is in Switzerland

    The best sustainable house is in Switzerland

    This year's Häuser Award had the motto The best sustainable houses, explains the magazine “Häuser” in a message . In addition to new buildings, conversions and extensions were expressly included. With regard to the properties, the jury of the houses award primarily examined the handling of the land, the energy concept, the choice of materials, the construction methods and the technologies used.

    The small house in Jonschwil designed by Lukas Lehnherr was able to qualify as the winner. "With the renovation of a coach house, the architect Lenherr succeeded in squaring the circle," the message quoted from the jury's reasoning for the decision. “An amazingly spacious house was built on a tiny area that fits perfectly into the townscape.” Architect Lehnherr from Quinten SG can look forward to the prize money of 7,000 euros associated with the award. The builders will receive a further 1000 euros from the cooperation partner of the award, the Association of Private Builders eV

    The jury awarded second prize to the extension of a Munich town house by architect Anton Mang. The third prize went to the Binnewies house in Münsterland. The expansion of a farm in the Taunus was honored with the award for outstanding interior design. The Green Dwelling near Hanover won the readers' award in 2021 decided by the magazine's readers.

  • SHL Medical is building a sustainable new location

    SHL Medical is building a sustainable new location

    SHL Medical invests in a new location on the Tech Cluster Zug . This will consist of a 10,500 square meter production area and a 5,000 square meter office space. The manufacturer of injection systems plans to employ around 400 people there.

    Several architectural offices have developed concepts for the new location as part of a competition. The project by the architects Penzel Valier AG has now prevailed, according to a media release . In addition to SHL Medical, the jury also included the city of Zug, Metall Zug and experts from various disciplines.

    The project by the architects Penzel Valier relies on the use of wood as the main alternative material. The energy is supplied via a building-integrated solar energy system. Sea water is used for heating and cooling. The excess heat and energy is recovered for further use. Overall, according to the information, this enables zero CO2 emissions production.

    According to the announcement, the building application is planned for the end of 2021. Because the SHL Group is aiming for continuous growth in the coming years, the expansion of the location is planned in two construction phases and in four expansion stages. The commissioning of the four expansion stages is to take place in several stages.

    "The building architecture should provide an environment that optimally supports the activities of our employees and operations," Ulrich Faessler, CEO SHL Medical, is quoted in a separate press release. "As we at SHL are striving for continuous growth and in order to consolidate our pioneering role within the industry, we will further strengthen our global presence and our activities through global production," he adds.

    SHL Medical relocated its headquarters to Zug in Switzerland in 2018. One of his goals was to further strengthen the global partnership with his pharmaceutical customers. In addition to Switzerland, SHL Medical also has locations in Taiwan, Sweden and the USA.

    The Tech Cluster Zug is being built on the headquarters of V-ZUG AG in the city of Zug. V-ZUG wants to concentrate its production in the north of the area. Industrial companies, technology-related services, start-ups as well as research and educational institutions are to be located on the remaining parts of the area.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate posts record profit

    Fundamenta Real Estate posts record profit

    According to a release from Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug-based real estate company generated net rental income of CHF 33.47 million in the 2020 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 13.4 percent. The announcement mentions the purchase of two new properties and the completion of three of its own projects as growth drivers. In addition, the company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year by 0.2 percentage points to 3.5 percent.

    A new record of CHF 26.69 million was reported as net profit in the 2020 reporting year. In the previous year, a net profit of CHF 22.51 million was realized. In the year under review, a slightly lower revaluation effect than in the previous year was more than offset by “an excellent operating result” and the sale of three properties, explains the real estate company.

    "The stability of our real estate portfolio, which is dominated by residential space, has also been shown in this special year," Andreas Spahni, President and Delegate of the Board of Directors, is quoted in the press release. "The corona crisis only had a marginal effect on the result."

    The balance sheet value of Fundamenta Real Estate's real estate portfolio rose from CHF 908.91 million to CHF 991.94 million in the course of the year under review. In February of this year, the company acquired another residential property. In addition, the “further repositioning of two existing properties in Zurich and one property in Bern” has started, according to the announcement. Fundamenta Real Estate plans to carry out a capital increase this year to finance ongoing projects. Details are to be communicated after the General Assembly on April 8th.

  • Investis acquires Rohr AG

    Investis acquires Rohr AG

    Investis Holding AG specializes in properties in the Lake Geneva region and real estate services throughout Switzerland. To strengthen the second business area, the Zurich real estate company took over Rohr AG on March 12th, Investis explains in a press release . The Aargau building service provider offers special and facade cleaning, maintenance cleaning, integral building management as well as the construction and operation of clean rooms. The two partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    "This company is an ideal addition to our existing subsidiaries in the facility services sector", Walter Eberle, Head of Real Estate Services at Investis, is quoted in the press release. "With the acquisition, we will continue to expand our services and strengthen our national awareness in the market." Eberle also wants to use the synergies and opportunities for further development resulting from the takeover.

    Rohr AG has around 1000 employees and generated sales totaling 41 million francs in the 2020 financial year, the announcement further explains. The Aargau company will also operate under the umbrella of Investis Holdung as an independent company under the existing name.

  • Porsche supports start-ups in Zurich

    Porsche supports start-ups in Zurich

    Porsche supports innovative start- ups through its Forward31 program. Now the German carmaker has also included the Zurich start-up The Embassies in this program, according to a media release .

    The Embassies is developing a new solution for living in old age. This consists of a digital platform and habitable rooms. The company wants to build a network with around 30 locations worldwide. She wants to focus on big cities like Zurich, London, New York or Berlin. The first location is scheduled to open in Europe in 2022.

    At the locations – so-called embassies – of The Embassies, residents and visitors should have publicly accessible catering and leisure facilities available. The goal is to encourage social interaction. Traveling by older people is also supported. This also gives residents and members access to other The Embassies locations around the world.

    "We created our offer for people who want to lead a self-determined, fulfilled and healthy life for as long as possible," says Jan Garde, founder of The Embassies, in the press release.

    Forward31 will now continue to develop the business model together with the founding team of The Embassies and support the company as a strategic partner in the future.

  • Implenia wins five orders in Germany

    Implenia wins five orders in Germany

    According to an announcement from Implenia , the construction and real estate company was able to acquire five building construction contracts in Germany. Specifically, Implenia is to implement office, hotel and apartment projects for various clients in the Karlsruhe area, in Berlin and in Jena. The order volume is put at a total of 140 million euros in the announcement.

    In Karlsruhe, Implenia is building a new office and hotel building for [glossary_exclude] Qcoon Real Estate GmbH [/ glossary_exclude] and FORTOON Development GmbH. Construction work is scheduled to begin this quarter. In Bruchsal, Implenia was entrusted with the construction of a residential and commercial quarter by Grundwerte Verwaltungs GmbH. The start of construction is planned for autumn.

    Implenia will build an office and commercial building for Investa Real Estate in Berlin. Certification according to the environmental standard DGNB Gold is being sought for the building, explains the company in the announcement. Implenia has been entrusted with the implementation of two high-rise buildings in Jena.

    On the one hand, the company in Jena will build an inclusion center for people in need of care and multi-generation shared apartments on behalf of the Wandlungswelten Foundation. On the other hand, Implenia was entrusted with the construction of a new office building by a private investor not named in the notification. Both projects in Jena are already under construction and will be handed over to their clients in the coming year.

  • ewz implement 100 climate-neutral real estate projects

    ewz implement 100 climate-neutral real estate projects

    Ewz is aiming for an ambitious goal by 2030: "Individual projects are not enough to achieve the national climate targets," ewz director Benedikt Loepfe is quoted in a media release. Instead, ewz understands the flagship Fischermätteli quarter in Burgdorf BE, which is currently under construction, "as a starting point for an ambitious goal: 100 real estate projects – 100% climate-neutral".

    Because the construction and maintenance of buildings generate a good third of all pollutant emissions, energy-efficient buildings and a climate-neutral energy supply are among the most important levers for Switzerland's climate goals, the press release said. For example, the combination of heat pumps, solar power, storage and electromobility leads to the greatest possible self-sufficiency with low resource consumption. In doing so, local, renewable energy sources are consistently used.

    "With the comprehensive implementation of such climate-neutral real estate projects – both new buildings and renovations – ewz is making a significant contribution to environmental and climate protection and the energy transition," said Loepfe. "As one of the first energy supply companies, ewz is committed to a pioneering commitment to a CO2-free Switzerland."

  • SF Urban Properties can increase profits

    SF Urban Properties can increase profits

    Despite the pandemic, SF Urban Properties AG can look back on “a gratifying 2020 financial year”, writes the real estate company belonging to Swiss Finance & Property Group AG in a press release . Specifically, the company was able to increase its operating result at EBIT level from 27.0 million to 32.0 million francs year-on-year. The net profit before revaluations increased by 92.8 percent compared to 2019 to 23.0 million francs. Net profit including revaluations improved by 23.8 percent to 23.0 million francs.

    As a background for the good developments, SF Urban Properties cites the successful sale of a property and the vacancy rate, which was kept at a low 2.62 percent despite the pandemic. As in the previous year, shareholders are to be paid a dividend of CHF 3.60 per listed ordinary share. With an equity ratio of 46.4 percent, the company continues to be “robustly financed,” writes SF Urban Properties.

    In the current year, the real estate company intends to concentrate on the economic areas of Zurich and Basel as before. In the year under review, SF Urban Properties was able to successfully market the Sandreutergarten residential development planned in Riehen BS, the real estate company reports. Nine out of ten of the units under construction since the end of 2020 have already been sold. In the development project at Klusstrasse 38 in Zurich, twelve of a total of 13 units were reserved in the reporting year and two of them had already been legally sold.

  • Bern gets a new festival hall

    Bern gets a new festival hall

    The voters from Bern have not only approved the construction of the new festival hall, but also the city's investment of CHF 15 million, according to a press release by the trade fair operator Bernexpo AG . This should enable events with up to 9,000 visitors in the future. In addition to trade fairs and congresses, concerts and cultural events are also planned.

    "With the New Festival Hall, we will upgrade the Bern event and trade fair center and thus make a significant contribution to strengthening a diverse range of cultural and entertainment offers that radiate beyond the city and into the region and throughout Switzerland," says Franziska von Weissenfluh in of the announcement quoted, Co-Chairman of the Board of Bernexpo AG.

    The old festival hall is now being demolished. Work on the new festival hall is to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and is to be completed by 2024.

  • Pandemic cuts profits at Zug Estates

    Pandemic cuts profits at Zug Estates

    According to a statement from the Zug Estates Group , the real estate company was able to increase its property income in 2020 by 6.1 percent year-on-year to 57.8 million francs. In the accommodation business, income from the effects of the pandemic was reduced by 57.8 percent to 7.0 million francs. In 2020, income of 72.5 million francs was generated from the sale of properties. In the previous year, 45.6 million francs were posted here.

    In 2020, income would have been offset by 15.6 percent higher expenses of 9.0 million francs year-on-year, writes Zug Estates. As a result, the operating result before depreciation and revaluation fell by CHF 3.8 million to CHF 49.6 million. The reported operating result (EBIT) was CHF 43.7 million, 38.0 percent below the 2019 figure. Consolidated earnings excluding revaluation and special effects fell from CHF 31.4 million to CHF 25.9 million.

    The value of its own portfolio of real estate increased by 1.5 percent to 1.65 billion francs in the year under review, explains Zug Estates. In addition, in 2020 the company was able to renew leases with a total volume of over CHF 2.6 million per year. For the current year, Zug Estates anticipates increasing rental income and lower property costs compared to the year under review.

  • Implenia sees itself in a good position

    Implenia sees itself in a good position

    According to a message from Implenia , the construction and real estate company from Dietlikon generated sales totaling CHF 2.99 billion in 2020. In the previous year, sales of 4.43 billion Swiss francs were posted. The operating result at EBIT level fell year-on-year from CHF 63.5 million to CHF -146.8 million. A loss of 132.1 million francs was reported as the consolidated result; in 2019, a profit of 33.9 million francs had been realized.

    The order backlog remained at a high level at CHF 6.39 billion and is also well distributed across business areas and markets, Implenia writes in the press release. More than 80 percent of the sales targeted for the current year are already secured. In the current year, the company intends to be back in the black.

    The return to the profit zone should be achieved through restructuring in the portfolio and measures for profitable growth. Implenia writes that the company has already started to reduce business areas that are not part of its core business or that are unprofitable. For profitable growth, "an effective management of opportunities and risks was introduced".

    Implenia wants to report an EBIT of at least 100 million francs in the current year. At the corresponding rate, the target is 2.8 percent. In the medium term, an EBIT margin of 4.5 percent should be achieved.

  • Plazza defies the pandemic

    Plazza defies the pandemic

    Plazza AG achieved a very positive result in 2020 and exceeded its own expectations, writes the Zurich real estate company in a press release . Specifically, the company, which has been listed on the SIX since 2015, was able to increase its property income from CHF 24.3 million in the previous year to CHF 24.6 million in the year under review. At the same time, the operating result before depreciation and revaluation increased from 18.9 million to 20.0 million francs.

    The profit was 63.3 million francs, compared to 36.7 million francs in the previous year. The increase is primarily due to success in revaluations, explains Plazza in the press release. Without taking them into account, the profit remained unchanged from 2019 at 17.0 million francs.

    Plazza cites the high proportion of residential properties in its own portfolio as the background for the good developments. It was unchanged at 73 percent in the year under review and will continue to rise this year through the purchase of 80 apartments in the Tiergarten estate in Zurich's Friesenberg district, the statement said. According to her, none of the apartments managed by Plazza had been vacant by the end of 2020. Overall, the real estate company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year from 4.0 to 3.7 percent. The company writes that it mainly affects free commercial space.

    For the current year, Plazza is aiming for an operating result before depreciation and revaluation "at least in the order of 2020". Subject to the building permit expected in the first half of the year, the first stage of the development project in Crissier VD is to be tackled. The construction of a nursing home for a foundation and a primary school for the community of Crissier were agreed in the reporting year.

  • Asking rents continue to rise

    Asking rents continue to rise

    The monthly rent index compiled by the digital real estate marketplace homegate.ch from TX Group in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 115.6 points in February. Compared to the previous month, the prices for advertised rents have risen by an average of 0.17 percent, explains homegate.ch in a corresponding message. At the beginning of the year, too, prices had risen by an average of 0.17 percent. An increase in rental prices of 0.96 percent has been observed over the past twelve months.

    In a monthly comparison, rents have risen in most cantons, writes homegate.ch. The sharpest increase in asking rents was registered in February in the canton of Schaffhausen, at 1.37 percent. In Zug and Glarus, asking rents also increased at an above-average rate of 0.84 and 0.69 percent, respectively. On the other hand, declines were measured in the cantons of Graubünden, Geneva and Ticino with values between -0.48 percent and -0.19 percent.

    Homegate.ch makes different developments in the cities. The biggest increase was measured in a month-on-month comparison with 0.78 percent in Lugano. The asking rents in Lucerne and St.Gallen each increased by 0.20 percent compared to January. In Lausanne, Geneva and Bern, however, rents fell between 1.18 and 0.49 percent.

    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.

  • GuestReady teams up with Airhosted

    GuestReady teams up with Airhosted

    In the past four years, GuestReady has established itself as a specialist in six countries with its services for providers of short-term rentals, explains a report on Startupticker.ch. Despite severe setbacks during the coronavirus pandemic, the start-up from Appenzell Ausserrhoden managed to raise “fresh funds” through a swarm financing campaign at the end of 2020. She wants to use GuestReady for the development of the Swiss market. "Switzerland has become even more exciting for us due to Corona and the effects on travel behavior," Alexander Limpert, co-founder of GuestReady, is quoted in the report.

    To realize the plans, GuestReady is working with the Zug start-up company Airhosted . The company manages short-term rentals in a total of 18 cities in Switzerland and aims to bring this specialist knowledge to bear in the partnership. GuestReady, in turn, will equip the partner “with the necessary technology” and the specialist knowledge to also win real estate companies and other corporate customers.

    The two partners want to be able to look after 500 properties in Switzerland by the end of next year. "Thanks to more local guests, classic destinations in the mountains in particular are already showing higher occupancy rates again," explains Limpert in the article. "In addition, the number of vacation rental owners who want a professional rental service is increasing."

  • Locatee expands to New York

    Locatee expands to New York

    The Zurich-based company Locatee now has a second headquarters in New York. The team working there is intended to support American companies with immediate effect in planning their actual office space requirements. Because the office landscape will look completely different after the pandemic than before, it is necessary to get a clear picture of the actual occupancy and occupancy, according to a media release .

    This expansion in the US is another step towards becoming the global leader in workplace analysis. This analysis leverages the existing wired and wireless networks on site to determine exactly how effectively a company's office space is being used. This makes it possible to enlarge or reduce as needed.

    “We know that large companies often have difficulty identifying exactly how their real estate portfolio is being used,” says Locatee CEO Thomas Kessler. “And this leads to enormous costs in the form of wasted space. We want to help companies manage their real estate portfolio effectively. "

    Locatee was founded in 2014. In 2016, Swiss Post was the first company to use Locatee in all properties. Today, according to Locatee, its platform is used by companies such as Deloitte , Swiss Re and other of the world's 1000 most valuable companies in more than 60 countries.

  • Visionapartments offers 500 new apartments

    Visionapartments offers 500 new apartments

    Visionapartments will open three new buildings this year and next, according to a media release . The opening for the project in Basel is planned for July 2021. In a central location behind the Basel SBB train station, 125 studios in five different furnishing styles will then be available. A gym, restaurant, communal office and swimming pool will also be set up in the building.

    The projects in Glattbrugg and Lugano will follow in the coming year. 316 new apartments are being built in Glattbrugg alone. These are located in the immediate vicinity of Zurich Airport. In addition to the new apartments, a restaurant, a communal kitchen and a fitness and wellness area will also be built there. The property in Lugano will also open next year, on the shores of Lake Lugano. 55 new apartments are being built there. "Despite the current global crisis, we are following our mission to expand further," said Anja Graf, CEO and chairwoman of Visionapartments, in the press release. "We are proud of our growth and look forward to the completion of these real estate projects," she says of the projects in Glattbrugg and Lugano.

    Visionapartments was founded in Switzerland in 1999 and specializes in the rental of furnished temporary apartments. The company offers corresponding properties at 850 international locations.

  • The reference mortgage rate remains at 1.25 percent

    The reference mortgage rate remains at 1.25 percent

    The Federal Housing Office (BWO) has left the mortgage reference rate for tenancies unchanged at 1.25 percent. In a press release by the BWO, it is pointed out that this rate, which applies to rent structuring throughout Switzerland, has not been changed since March 3, 2020.

    The reference interest rate is determined on the basis of the quarterly average interest rate for domestic mortgage claims. This was determined on December 31, 2020. According to the BWO, the rate fell from 1.30 percent to 1.28 percent in the previous quarter. The reference interest rate applicable under rental law remains at 1.25 percent and remains at this level until the average interest rate falls below 1.13 percent or rises above 1.37 percent, explains the BWO. The rate is always given with a quarter percent accuracy.

    Since the rate remains unchanged, according to the BWO, there is no new lower or higher claim. If a rent in the individual contractual relationship is not based on the current reference interest rate of 1.25 percent, there is a right to a reduction. Changes in costs, for example in the case of maintenance costs, could also lead to an adjustment claim.

  • The old spinning mill in Turgi becomes a commercial and industrial center

    The old spinning mill in Turgi becomes a commercial and industrial center

    Limmatkraftwerke AG wants to turn the listed old cotton mill in the center of Turgi into a modern commercial complex by leasing 7000 square meters of space for offices, studios, production or storage in the central and western parts of the building. The premises can be rented from April 1st. In a media release from the owner Limmatkraftwerke AG, a subsidiary of Regionalwerke AG Baden , it is said that the tenants could design and expand the rooms according to their needs, as far as this is possible on site.

    "We would like to see a lively and inspiring mix of various commercial and industrial sectors in the Turgi spinning mill," said Martin Schoop, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who lives in Turgi himself. He wants to promote the character of a modern economic center in Turgi by transferring part of the income for the promotion of Turgi. Schoop: "Part of the rent is used to feed a fund that is supposed to promote this sense of community."

    The spinning mill, which was built in 1826 and was the largest spinning company in Switzerland until 1858, is located in the center of Turgi and is easily accessible. According to the announcement, there are enough parking spaces available and the spinning mill is within walking distance of Turgi train station.

    The redesign also pays attention to sustainability. two parking spaces are to be equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles. The building is to be supplied with district heating from the KVA Turgi and in future it will again draw electricity from the neighboring hydropower plant operated by Limmatkraftwerke AG.

    Limmatkraftwerke AG see the purchase as a strategic decision. Schoop: “We operate one of our power plants right next to the spinning mill building. Thanks to the purchase of the spinning mill, we can also ensure the operation of this power plant in the long term. ”As the owner, the use of the building can be optimally coordinated with the operation of the power plant.

  • Swiss Prime Site defies the pandemic

    Swiss Prime Site defies the pandemic

    According to a message from Swiss Prime Site , the Solothurn-based real estate company generated total income of CHF 792.9 million in the 2020 financial year. In the previous year, 1.26 billion Swiss francs had been booked. Swiss Prime Site attributes the decline primarily to the sale of its subsidiary Tertianum, which was completed in February 2020.

    The profit from the sale was also reflected in a strong increase in the operating result (EBIT). In the year under review, 762.3 million francs were posted here, compared to 628.3 million in the previous year. Net profit increased year-on-year from 608.5 million to 610.4 million francs. Without taking into account revaluations and deferred taxes, the profit increased from 315.7 million to 476.6 million, writes Swiss Prime Site.

    In 2020, the core real estate business generated a total of 431.0 million francs in rental income, 1.4 percent less than in 2019. The operating result fell year-on-year from 572.9 million to 555.0 million francs. At the same time, the value of the real estate portfolio increased by 4.7 percent to CHF 12.3 billion. Swiss Prime Site intends to make its real estate portfolio climate-neutral by 2040, explains the real estate company in the press release.

    In the same announcement, the company announces a change in the group management. CFO Markus Meier decided to leave Swiss Prime Site for personal reasons, writes the real estate company. Marcel Kucher, who is currently CFO of the Peach Property Group, is to be his successor at the beginning of July. "With his broad wealth of experience in the areas of capital markets and digitization", Kucher will "optimally complement and further strengthen the management team of our group", Board member Barbara Frei-Spreiter is quoted in the announcement.

  • 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.

  • Allreal is on course despite the Corona crisis

    Allreal is on course despite the Corona crisis

    Allreal achieved rental income of CHF 200.4 million last year, according to a statement . The company was thus able to maintain the level from the previous year despite the Corona crisis. In 2019, it had received 203.1 million francs from rents.

    In the spring, Allreal stated that it was able to agree on rent waivers in connection with the lockdown with all affected tenants. In total, the company has granted rent leases amounting to 1.5 million francs.

    The cumulative vacancy rate has meanwhile fallen by 0.8 percentage points to 1.4 percent despite the crisis. According to the information, it is at the lowest level that Allreal has ever reached.

    The company result including the revaluation effect is 167.2 million francs after 243.2 million francs in the previous year. Excluding the revaluation effect, the company result is 124.7 million francs after 142 million francs in the previous year. Allreal explains the decline primarily with one-off effects from the sale of development properties.

    According to the announcement, Allreal is satisfied with its annual result and expects overall “stable business development” in the long term. The Board of Directors is therefore proposing to the General Meeting of Shareholders a stable distribution at the previous year's level of 6.75 francs per share.

    Allreal is based in Glattpark in Opfikon. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.