immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Immobilieninvestitionen

  • Society for affordable housing aims to create permanently affordable living space

    Society for affordable housing aims to create permanently affordable living space

    The new real estate company GEW aims to raise private capital for permanently affordable housing for people with low to medium incomes in Switzerland. GEW was founded in December 2025 against the backdrop of an increasing shortage of affordable housing in Switzerland, according to a press release. It will develop, build, acquire and operate residential properties with rents in the affordable segment of the local market, which are to be below the 50th percentile in the respective municipality.

    GEW aims to contribute to social stability in Switzerland through its work. Rising rents, a lack of building land reserves, restrictive regulations and high land and construction costs have meant that housing production can no longer keep pace with demand. “When housing becomes a concern, new answers are needed,” said Reto Brüesch, Managing Director of GEW, in the press release. “We are convinced that the private sector can and must take on part of the responsibility with entrepreneurial thinking and a clear focus on the common good.”

    The GEW model is based on three pillars: efficient development and construction, cost-effective operation and low capital costs due to low risk. This creates an economically viable approach that combines affordable rents with entrepreneurially responsible investments. “Investing in GEW creates affordable housing in Switzerland while also generating a fair return and a positive social impact,” explains Daniel Kusio, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GEW. He is supported on the Board of Directors by real estate economist Donato Scognamiglio and Balz Halter, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Halter Group.

    While municipalities can use GEW to create affordable housing without excessive financial burden, owners benefit from transparent models such as sale, building rights or contributions in kind. Investors, in turn, gain access to a long-term investment with a stable income structure.

  • Global real estate as a strategic opportunity – new cycle imminent

    Global real estate as a strategic opportunity – new cycle imminent

    Despite the challenges posed by interest rate hikes over the past two years, the global property market remains an attractive field for investors. Although there has been a marked correction in property prices internationally, the core market segment is robust and promises attractive returns. The expectation of interest rate cuts, particularly internationally, emphasises this opportunity, especially for investors with a focus on the Swiss market, by offering a chance for improved diversification and higher returns.

    The adjustment in property prices combined with a decline in transaction activity has caused valuations to fall in many markets – by up to 30%. Despite these developments, letting profiles remain stable and demand positive, with a few exceptions such as the US office sector. With interest rates expected to fall, we forecast that financing rates will return to below equity yields later this year, with property yields offering attractive spreads over government bonds.

    A diversified global property portfolio offers protection against local market downturns and minimises regional risks. Property markets around the world do not move completely in sync, which presents a unique opportunity for investors to optimise their portfolio. In addition, the different duration and phase of property cycles in different markets enables strategic investment and divestment decisions.

    Increasing digitalisation and the need for data centres illustrate the importance of a global approach to real estate investment in order to benefit from such emerging trends. The Swiss market alone offers little opportunity to invest in such specialised segments at an institutional level. In addition, the higher liquidity of international markets compared to the Swiss market offers advantages in terms of returns and market adaptability.

    Long-term comparisons between the KGAST index for Swiss funds and the international NFI-ODCE index for US funds show a significant outperformance of US property, underlining the benefits of global diversification. In view of the impending interest rate cuts and the potential market turnaround in various international property cycles, investors have a strategically favourable time to benefit from the current market corrections and position themselves for future growth. Investing in global property therefore appears to be a wise decision to expand portfolio diversification, gain access to growth markets and benefit from attractive entry prices.

  • Crowdlending, a new source of real estate financing

    Crowdlending, a new source of real estate financing

    Investors benefit from fixed interest rates in Swiss francs. Unlike traditional savings accounts, which often offer negligible returns, real estate crowdfunding offers attractive returns and is therefore an interesting alternative for those who want to maximise their income. In addition, the minimum investment required is affordable. This widens the circle of investors and allows them to diversify their real estate portfolios by investing in different short- and medium-term projects while avoiding the volatility of the equity markets.

    Optimise financing structures
    Real estate crowdfunding is not a substitute for banks, but complements the equity of real estate developers. The loans granted by investors are subordinated and secured by real estate, which provides security in case of default. This approach allows developers to focus on developing existing and new projects without tying up a large part of their capital in ongoing projects. This allows them to complete their financing quickly and avoid diluting future profits from their businesses by using external financing partners.

    Property owners now have access to an additional source of financing to add value to their assets. They can use the funds received for renovations and improvements to their properties and thus optimise the financial structure of their property portfolios. This financial flexibility is a great advantage for owners who want to increase the value of their properties while maximising returns.

    Apart from the individual benefits, real estate crowdlending also contributes to Switzerland’s economic and social dynamism. By encouraging the creation of new housing and the renovation of existing assets, it meets the housing needs of the local population. The increasing demand for housing in Switzerland, especially in urban areas, requires high investments in the real estate sector. Real estate crowdfunding offers an innovative solution for financing these projects and thus contributes to the country’s economic growth. Furthermore, by supporting real estate projects, real estate crowdlending creates employment opportunities in the construction industry and related service sectors.

    Conclusion
    In summary, real estate crowdlending is an innovative source of financing for the real estate sector in Switzerland. With undeniable benefits for investors, developers and property owners, it opens up new perspectives and appeals to a growing number of people in Switzerland with a
    growth of over 400% in six years and a volume of CHF 142 million1 by 2022. This model offers an interesting alternative to traditional investments and contributes to the democratisation of real estate investments in Switzerland.

  • Turnaround in interest rates not curbing rise in real estate prices for the time being

    Turnaround in interest rates not curbing rise in real estate prices for the time being

    Will the real estate price rally in Switzerland come to an end with rising interest rates? In June there were no signs of a turnaround, at least on the supply side. On the contrary: sellers of condominiums increased their price expectations by a further 1.1 percent within a month. Providers also demanded higher prices for single-family homes in June. However, the surcharge is somewhat lower at 0.3 percent, as shown by the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index, which is compiled by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consulting company IAZI.
    It remains to be seen whether the willingness to pay will continue to follow the rising price expectations. This does not seem out of the question, as mortgage costs are by no means the only criterion when buying a home. In addition, unlike Fix mortgages, money market mortgages are still available at extremely attractive conditions. Since prospective buyers already have to demonstrate that they can cope with a mortgage interest rate of around 5 percent due to the applicable affordability rules, a collapse in demand is not to be expected.

    Unchanged rents in June
    The rental prices offered in advertisements hardly changed at 0.1 percent in June. Asking rents are primarily influenced by the direct demand for living space. This is in contrast to existing tenancies: there could be increases due to the fact that tenancy law is linked to the reference interest rate and general inflation. “The high energy prices are likely to have a far greater impact on asking or existing rents than rising interest rates. Not least in the case of old buildings, these will lead to a significant increase in ancillary costs,” says Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group.

  • Crowdlitoken launches platform in Europe

    Crowdlitoken launches platform in Europe

    Crowdlitoken has launched its platform for real estate investments in Europe. According to a press release , the company is playing a global pioneering role. Investors can use the platform to purchase digital bonds on real estate and put together their own portfolio.

    Investors can, for example, participate in a commercial property in Switzerland, with which Crowdlitoken decided to work together in October. The property is located in Oensingen SO and has a market value of 9.15 million francs. Investors can use the platform to participate in real estate from CHF 100.

    "A great day. With this platform we are finally keeping our promise to investors, ”Domenic Kurt, CEO of Crowdlitoken, is quoted in the press release. "At this point, many thanks to the trust and patience of the investors from the very beginning."

    Crowdlitoken is currently preparing the second financing round. To this end, it has only recently brought new personalities to the Board of Directors .