immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Mietpreise

  • Swiss housing market continues to tighten

    Swiss housing market continues to tighten

    Die aktuelle Situation erinnert an die Jahre 2014 bis 2016, als eine längere Phase massiver Angebotsknappheit herrschte. Heute ist klar, dass kein kurzfristiger Ausgleich zu erwarten ist. Der Wohnungsbau bleibt auch in den kommenden Jahren hinter dem Wachstum der Haushalte zurück. Damit gehört die Schweiz erneut zu den europäischen Ländern, in denen sich die Wohnraumfrage zu einem zentralen Standortthema entwickelt.

    Belastung für Haushalte mit tiefer Kaufkraft
    Besonders stark trifft es Haushalte im unteren Einkommenssegment und des unteren Mittelstands. Während bestehende Mietverträge für rund 80 Prozent dieser Haushalte noch erschwinglich sind, zeigt sich auf dem aktuellen Markt ein deutlich anderes Bild. Nur gut 40 Prozent der neu angebotenen Wohnungen liegen in einem preislichen Rahmen, den diese Gruppen tragen können. In Regionen wie St. Moritz sowie in den urbanen Zentren und Agglomerationen fehlen passende Angebote nahezu vollständig.

    Wohnkosten steigen spürbar
    Ein Szenario aus dem Monitor verdeutlicht die Problematik. Würden alle Haushalte mit tiefer bis mittlerer Kaufkraft umziehen, stiege die durchschnittliche Wohnkostenbelastung von 29,1 auf 35,7 Prozent des Einkommens. Damit würde Wohnen für breite Teile der Bevölkerung klar zu einer finanziellen Überlastung. Bereits jetzt ist der Anteil der Mieterhaushalte, die ihre Wohnkosten nicht mehr im Budget halten können, von 2,6 auf 2,8 Prozent gestiegen. Noch moderat, aber mit klarer Tendenz nach oben.

    Fehlanreize auf der Angebotsseite
    Der Druck auf den Markt wird zusätzlich durch Investitionsmuster verschärft. Viele Investoren setzen auf Ersatzneubauten oder umfassende Sanierungen. Das stützt zwar die Bauwirtschaft, trägt aber kaum zur dringend nötigen Erweiterung des Bestands bei. Neue, bezahlbare Wohnungen kommen damit kaum auf den Markt. Entsprechend öffnet sich die Schere weiter zwischen günstigen Bestandes-Mieten und hohen Angebotsmieten, was die Verknappung zementiert.

    Bedeutung für Politik und Wirtschaft
    Die neue Analyse des BWO rückt die Frage der Wohnkosten im Verhältnis zum Einkommen in den Vordergrund. Für die kommenden Jahre bleibt absehbar, ohne strukturelle Ausweitung des Wohnungsangebots wird die Kluft zwischen Nachfrage und Angebot weiter wachsen. Für Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Immobilienbranche gehören damit innovative Wohn- und Baukonzepte ebenso zu den Schlüsselthemen wie regulatorische Anreize, um bezahlbaren Wohnraum effektiv zu sichern.

  • Lock-in effect blocks the housing market

    Lock-in effect blocks the housing market

    While existing rents remain stable or even fall over the years, asking rents are rising sharply. A study by Zürcher Kantonalbank shows that anyone who moved into an apartment in the canton of Zurich in 2008 pays an average of 3.3 percent less today. New tenants, on the other hand, have to pay over 33 percent more. This so-called “stay bonus” means that moving is financially unattractive for many.

    Lock-in effect paralyzes use of living space
    The result is a distorted use of living space. Family apartments remain in place even after the children have moved out, and rooms in shared flats are not reallocated. The lock-in effect keeps older generations in apartments that are too large, while young families can hardly find adequate living space. Large cities are particularly affected, where regulations further exacerbate the effect.

    Consequences for society and the economy
    The stagnation of the rental market has far-reaching consequences. Younger households can hardly find larger apartments to start a family, while the older generation lives in oversized living spaces. At the same time, the problem hits low-income households particularly hard. If they were to move, a significant proportion of this group would have to pay more than 40 percent of their income on rent.

    Solutions required
    This could be remedied by increased construction activity, tax incentives for moving to smaller apartments and innovative housing and financing models. At municipal level, flexible framework conditions are needed to expand the supply. It is also crucial to design regulations in such a way that they do not unintentionally reinforce the lock-in effect and thus harm the very groups that are supposed to be protected.

    The lock-in effect is a recent but increasingly dominant phenomenon in the rental market. It leads to inefficient use of living space, social imbalance and a loss of dynamism. Only with more new construction, creative market models and targeted political incentives can the blockade be broken and the housing market get moving again.

  • Zurich home prices remain on an upward trend

    Zurich home prices remain on an upward trend

    Favourable financing costs are continuing to drive demand for residential property in the canton of Zurich, Zürcher Kantonalbank reports in a press release. According to its surveys for the ZHK Real Estate Barometer in Q2 2025, prices for owner-occupied homes in the canton of Zurich were 4 per cent higher in the quarter under review than in the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, prices in Zurich’s agglomeration municipalities and the city of Winterthur (Regio region) rose even more sharply by 4.3 per cent. The experts at ZKB expect the trend towards rising prices to continue over the next two years due to the ongoing excess demand.

    The cantonal bank’s experts have identified “signs of an easing” in asking rents in the first half of 2025. After growth rates of over 10 per cent in some cases in the last two years, they are currently observing an increase of less than 4 per cent. However, even with declining population growth, current construction activity is not sufficient to reduce the excess demand.

    However, tenants in the canton of Zurich could benefit more than average compared to the rest of Switzerland from the latest reduction in the base rate in June. Following a fall in the reference interest rate to 1.5 per cent in March, the experts at ZKB expect a further reduction to 1.25 per cent by the end of the year. This means that around 70 per cent of rental households in the canton of Zurich could request a rent reduction. Across Switzerland, this applies to 46 per cent of rental households.

  • May shows minimal increase in rents

    May shows minimal increase in rents

    The property platform homegate.ch has published its monthly rental index in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB ). According to a statement, the index rose by 0.1 per cent compared to the previous month to 130.5 points. This means that advertised rents “took a breather” in May.

    Compared to the previous year, advertised rents rose by 1.7 per cent across Switzerland. Depending on the region, an increase in advertised rents of more than 5 per cent was recorded.

    The results show clear differences between cantons and cities. At cantonal level, “consistently rising asking rents were observed for the first time in a long time” in a year-on-year comparison, according to the press release.

    The cantons of Zug (up 7.1 per cent) and Nidwalden (up 6.9 per cent) were the most affected by rising rents over the past twelve months. According to the press release, the values there are also higher compared to the previous month – in Zug by 1.4 per cent and in Nidwalden by 1.1 per cent. However, the month-on-month increase was highest in the canton of Graubünden and the two cantons of Appenzell (plus 1.5 per cent). In contrast, the canton of Schwyz recorded price reductions, as in the previous month. With a decrease of 2.1 per cent, asking rents there are returning to the level of December 2024, according to the report.

    Among the cities, the Greater Zurich Area is considered the most constant, as it was in May 2024. Asking rents have risen “relatively steadily” by a total of 4.4 per cent. In contrast, Geneva recorded a year-on-year decline – prices were 0.6 per cent lower than in the previous month of May. The highest price increase was recorded in the city of Lugano with a significant rise of 5.2 per cent. However, this development can be attributed to a selective decline in May 2024.

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

  • Development of asking rents varies

    Development of asking rents varies

    The monthly rental index compiled by the digital property marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 130.1 points at the end of March. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 0.2 per cent, Homegate reported in a press release. Compared to the previous year, the property marketplace’s experts recorded a 2.6 per cent increase in asking rents across Switzerland.

    Developments varied from canton to canton. In seven cantons, month-on-month growth of more than 1 per cent was registered, while a further seven cantons recorded a decline in asking rents of more than 1 per cent. The strongest increases in asking rents were recorded in Glarus (2.1 per cent) and Valais (1.3 per cent). The sharpest declines were recorded in Nidwalden (1.7 per cent) and Graubünden (1.1 per cent).

    The experts also observed different developments in the eight Swiss cities included in the index. Specifically, four cities each recorded an increase or decrease in asking rents in a monthly comparison. The biggest changes were registered for Bern with a plus of 0.9 per cent and Lucerne with a minus of 1.0 per cent.

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

  • Rents in Switzerland continue to rise

    Rents in Switzerland continue to rise

    The monthly rental index compiled by the digital property marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 129.5 points in January. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by just 0.2 per cent, Homegate reported in a press release. In contrast, the property marketplace’s experts recorded a 3.1 per cent increase in asking rents across Switzerland compared to the previous year.

    Within the cantons, Homegate’s experts have observed significant year-on-year increases in many cases. In the canton of Graubünden and the two combined cantons of Appenzell, however, asking rents in January 2025 were 0.8 and 0.5 per cent lower than in January 2024. Appenzell continued the decline that began in the previous month. Graubünden, on the other hand, has somewhat offset the decline of the past two months, but remains below the level of around a year ago, according to the press release.

    In the eight Swiss cities included in the index, the experts have identified consistently rising asking rents over the past twelve months. In the press release, they highlight Lucerne and Basel with increases of 7.7 and 6.6 per cent respectively. Rents in Lucerne were 1.4 per cent lower than in December 2024. At -2.2 per cent, Lugano recorded the sharpest month-on-month decline. Rents in the city of Bern, on the other hand, rose by 0.6 per cent compared to December 2024.

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

  • Prices for residential property down, rental prices continue to rise

    Prices for residential property down, rental prices continue to rise

    Prices for residential property fell in the first month of this year, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group(SMG) reports in a press release on the latest Swiss Real Estate Offer Index. Specifically, prices for condominiums in January were 0.6 per cent lower than in December 2024. At the same time, single-family homes were even 2.1 per cent cheaper. In contrast, asking rents rose by 0.9 per cent in the same period.

    Year-on-year, prices for condominiums were 1.0 per cent higher in January. At the same time, prices for detached houses rose by 1.4 per cent. The average price per square metre for condominiums is currently CHF 8834, according to SMG. For single-family homes, the average price per square metre is CHF 7591.

    “Overall, the Swiss property market continues to be characterised by low and possibly falling interest rates,” Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, is quoted as saying in the press release. The purchase of property is therefore associated with lower financing costs. “However, anyone looking to move into a new tenancy will have to expect price premiums in the coming months due to the tight supply situation,” explains Waeber. The SMG Swiss Marketplace Group brings together the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

  • Key interest rate trend revives property market

    Key interest rate trend revives property market

    The Swiss property market continues to prove resilient despite challenges, CSL Immobilien explains in a press release accompanying its 2025 property market report. Macroeconomic uncertainties and increasing regulatory requirements are cited as such. On the other hand, the gradual reduction in key interest rates by the Swiss National Bank had a positive effect on market dynamics.

    In the rental property market, CSL Immobilien continued to see strong demand in the past year with a shortage of supply. As a result, asking rents rose significantly faster than existing rents and the vacancy rate fell to a record low, according to the press release. Due to the particularly sharp rise in asking rents in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, households are increasingly moving to urban centres with good transport links.

    Prices for residential property also continued to rise last year. According to CSL Immobilien’s surveys, prices in the Zurich economic area rose particularly sharply.

    The office market developed differently in 2024. The supply of available space in the conurbations increased, while rental prices in the periphery fell. In the city centres, on the other hand, rents rose as the supply of space continued to fall. In general, there was increased demand for ESG-compliant office space and flexible utilisation concepts.

    CSL Immobilien anticipates moderate but solid further growth for the current year. “Investors who remain agile and adapt their strategies will be able to successfully capitalise on opportunities in 2025,” Thomas Walter, CEO of CSL Immobilien, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Rising prices and a tight rental market

    Rising prices and a tight rental market

    Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) has published its annual market analysis and confirms the further rise in property prices. Following growth of 3.7% in 2023, prices rose by 3.3% in 2024. Even if the pace has slowed slightly, the trend remains clear: residential property prices in Zurich have risen 2.5-fold in 20 years.

    It is interesting to note that despite lower interest rates, the expected stronger price increase failed to materialise. Demand was more subdued, particularly for new-build properties, which take longer to sell. Nevertheless, ZKB registered an increase in transactions in the second half of 2024, which indicates that demand is picking up again.

    Increasing shortage on the rental flat market
    The tense situation for rental flats continued in 2024. For the first time, the ZKB found that the number of sales advertisements was slightly higher than the number of rental offers – a sign of the continuing dwindling capacity on the Zurich rental market.

    Although the shortage was not quite as drastic as feared, ZKB anticipates a further decline in vacancies in 2025.

    Rents are also rising for existing tenants
    Rents in Zurich rose by an average of 4.5% in 2024 – a significant increase compared to the Swiss average of 3.3%. It is particularly noteworthy that not only new lettings but also existing tenancies were affected by increases.

    This trend is directly attributable to the reference interest rate increases from 2023, which had a delayed impact on rents. In the third quarter of 2024, existing rents in Zurich were 5.4 % higher than in the previous year, while they only rose by 3.3 % across Switzerland. The increase was even higher in the Lake Geneva region.

    Institutional landlords utilised their scope for rent increases more intensively than private owners. However, there are signs of a trend reversal: as the reference interest rate will fall in March 2025, many tenants are likely to demand a reduction in their rent.

    The Zurich property market therefore remains a dynamic field with rising prices for owners and increasing challenges for tenants.

  • Property prices in Aargau continue to rise at an above-average rate

    Property prices in Aargau continue to rise at an above-average rate

    The property market in the canton of Aargau continues to record an above-average increase in value. As the latest real estate barometer from Aargauische Kantonalbank shows, prices for residential property have risen by 4.6 per cent and asking rents by 4.7 per cent. “The canton’s strong appeal as a place to live is reflected in sharply rising property values,” say the experts at AKB.

    Aarau/Seetal and Rheinfelden/Fricktal in the lead
    Particularly significant price increases were recorded in the regions of Aarau/Seetal with a 5.1 per cent rise in house prices and Rheinfelden/Fricktal with a 6.1 per cent increase in condominiums. In most municipalities in the canton, buyers now have to pay more than CHF 1 million for a detached single-family home, and prices are even higher in the catchment areas of the surrounding major centres.

    Increased level with falling vacancy rate
    The rents on offer have also risen sharply. The average rent for a modern 4.5-room flat is between CHF 2,200 and 2,300, excluding ancillary costs. The canton-wide vacancy rate is comparatively low at 1.3 per cent, which indicates high demand with limited supply.

    Prices set to rise further
    AKB property experts assume that both residential property prices and asking rents will continue to rise. The reasons for this are:

    • Strong population growth in the canton of Aargau
    • Stagnating construction activity, which limits supply
    • Expected reductions in key interest rates, which will make property investments more attractive

    The combination of high demand, limited supply and economic conditions will ensure that the Aargau property market remains dynamic in the future. Both buyers and tenants should be prepared for further price increases.

  • Statistics on non-profit housing construction 2024

    Statistics on non-profit housing construction 2024

    The proportion of non-profit housing throughout Switzerland is around four per cent, but is significantly higher in urban areas such as Zurich at over 20 per cent. Non-profit property developers are not profit-orientated. They set rents based on actual costs and do not make a profit. This approach helps to make housing more affordable and fulfil the constitutional mandate to promote affordable housing.

    Lower rents compared to the market
    Rents in non-profit housing are on average eight to 20 per cent lower than in conventional rental properties. For example, a four-room flat in the non-profit segment costs an average of CHF 1359, while a comparable flat on the general market costs CHF 1647. These cost advantages make a significant contribution to easing the burden on tenants and promote social mixing.

    Efficient use of living space
    The overall use of living space is lower in non-profit housing construction. While the per capita consumption of one- to two-bedroom flats is nine per cent higher than the general stock, it is 25 to 38 per cent lower for larger flats, such as those with four to five rooms. Overall, residents of non-profit flats use 22 per cent less space, which contributes to the more efficient use of living space.

    A look into the future of non-profit housing
    The brochure “Statistics on non-profit housing construction 2024” provides detailed data and valuable insights into this important segment. Infographics and tables provide a clear overview of the development and importance of non-profit housing. They show how this housing model contributes to the creation of affordable and sustainable living space. A central basis for a socially just housing policy in Switzerland.

  • Development of asking rents varies

    Development of asking rents varies

    The monthly rental index compiled by the digital real estate marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 128.7 points in July. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 0.2 percent, Homegate reported in a press release. A year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent was observed across Switzerland.

    In a year-on-year comparison, rents rose in all cantons, Homegate reports. However, the real estate marketplace’s experts have observed different developments month-on-month. For example, rents in the cantons of Uri, Glarus, Ticino and Thurgau rose by between 1.9 and 0.6 percent. Rents were lower than in June in around a third of these cantons. The sharpest decline was observed in Nidwalden with a drop of 1.2%. In the other cantons, asking rents remained stable compared to June.

    The eight Swiss cities included in the index also showed different trends in a month-on-month comparison. For example, rents in Lugano and Zurich rose by 1.0% and 0.7% respectively in July. At the same time, asking rents in Lucerne and Geneva fell by 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. Year-on-year, rents rose in all eight cities. The most significant increases were recorded in Lucerne and Zurich, at 8.1% and 7.9% respectively.

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

  • Rise in Swiss asking rents continues

    Rise in Swiss asking rents continues

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

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

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

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

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

  • Buying and renting more expensive in March

    Buying and renting more expensive in March

    As the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index compiled by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI shows, condominiums were advertised at 1.0 per cent higher values in March. Single-family homes also saw an increase, albeit smaller, of 0.3 per cent. The number of single-family homes and condominiums advertised has increased in recent months, which would generally indicate an improvement in the tight property market. “However, we see that sellers of owner-occupied homes continue to assume a stronger willingness to pay for the time being, as the current increase in asking prices shows,” says Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group.

    Flat hunters must expect higher rents
    As of the general moving-in date at the end of March, the average asking rents in the country have risen by 0.8 percent. Within one year, there has been an impressive increase of 4.6 percent. However, there are large regional differences in the development of rents: The strongest increase was in central Switzerland (2.2 per cent), especially due to the price drivers Zug and Lucerne. The increases in eastern Switzerland (1.1 per cent), the greater Zurich region (1.0 per cent) and the Lake Geneva region (0.9 per cent) are somewhat more moderate. There was hardly any change in the Central Plateau (0.1 per cent), while asking rents fell slightly in Northwestern Switzerland (-0.3 per cent) and Ticino (-0.3 per cent).

    Particularly in the three large regions of Zurich, Central Switzerland and Lake Geneva, further price increases are to be expected in the coming months due to the existing housing shortage, ongoing immigration and the decision on the reference interest rate expected in June.

  • Housing is becoming noticeably more expensive for everyone

    Housing is becoming noticeably more expensive for everyone

    The increased interest burden has so far had no effect on the demand for one's own four walls. According to a press release on immoscout24.ch , those interested in buying their own homes are “still in a buying mood”. The data presented there is based on the Real Estate Offer Index . It is collected by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consulting company IAZI . Immoscout24.ch is an SMG marketplace.

    According to this, the price expectations on the supplier side have not reduced despite the increase in the key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points. Detached houses cost 2 percent more, condominiums were advertised within a month at 0.7 percent higher prices. "With the increased interest burden and the general increase in costs for maintenance and investments, living in your own home is becoming noticeably more expensive," Martin Waeber is quoted as saying by SMG. Accordingly, a slowdown in price development is likely.

    Advertised rental prices also increased slightly last month by 0.3 percent. In addition, the significantly higher oil and gas prices would lead to "significantly higher expenses".

    Demand for investment properties could fall among institutional investors. This may result in reduced construction activity and thus a shortage in the supply of rental apartments. It remains to be seen how asking rents will develop in the long term.

  • Rental prices rose slightly by 0.26 percent in February

    Rental prices rose slightly by 0.26 percent in February

    The rental index of the online real estate marketplace homegate.ch in cooperation with the Zürcher Kantonalbank rose again in February. According to a press release , rental prices rose slightly by 0.26 percent. The index was thus slightly higher than in the previous month at 117 points.

    Rental prices have risen in almost all cantons and cities, above all in the canton of Graubünden by 2.15 percent. There was a drop in rents there in January, which has now been offset by the increase in February. In addition to Graubünden, Appenzell, Glarus, Schwyz and Valais also recorded an increase of more than 1 percent in February.

    With the exception of Bern and St.Gallen, rents rose in all cities in February, with the strongest increases in Lausanne at 1.7 percent and Lugano at 1.41 percent. In the respective cantons of Vaud and Ticino, on the other hand, prices rose less sharply or even fell.

    Rents in the canton of Zug have fallen by 0.56 percent. Rents rose significantly here in January. “A comparison of the cantons shows that, in addition to the majority of increases in rents, there have also been fluctuations over the last few months,” says the press release.

  • Immigration influences rents in metropolitan areas

    Immigration influences rents in metropolitan areas

    "The gap in apartment rental prices in the Swiss metropolises is widening," Comparis introduces a statement on a study on rental price developments over the past five years. The online comparison service evaluated more than 683,000 advertisements from 2017 to 2021 for them. According to the results, the average rents in the ten largest Swiss cities developed in opposite directions. "The main reason for the development is the migration away from the smaller towns to the large centers," Comparis real estate expert Leo Hug is quoted as saying in the press release.

    In major cities such as Geneva, Zurich and Lucerne, rental prices rose sharply over the reporting period. With an increase in the median price from CHF 3,360 to CHF 3,500, Geneva recorded the highest growth for 4.5-room apartments. The average rental price for 3.5-room apartments also increased the most in Geneva, from CHF 2,410 to CHF 2,640. The prices for 2-room apartments rose the most in Lucerne in the reporting period, by 4.8 percent to CHF 1,300. Currently, however, you have to dig the deepest into your pocket in Zurich at CHF 1,650 for a 2-room apartment.

    The Comparis analysts observed the most significant declines in median rents in Lugano. Here, the average rental price for large apartments fell from 1,900 to 1,700 francs, for medium-sized apartments from 1,650 to 1,450 francs and for small apartments from 1,295 to 1,150 francs. At CHF 985, a 2-room apartment is currently the cheapest to rent in Biel.

    The analysts give the median as the mean rent. In contrast to the calculated average, the median represents the mean value across all rental prices.

  • Zurich homes fetch record prices

    Zurich homes fetch record prices

    "Zurich's home prices are skyrocketing," writes the Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ) in its real estate barometer for the fourth quarter of 2021 . According to the analysts at ZKB, prices for residential property in the Canton of Zurich rose by an average of 9.3 percent year-on-year to new record levels. The analysts account for the highest increase of 11.3 percent for residential property in the lake communities and the city of Zurich.

    Rents also achieved “the highest overall annual growth since the end of 2014” in the reporting period, the barometer continues. The analysts attribute this to the currently falling figures for vacant apartments “in combination with robust immigration”. In the city of Zurich, on the other hand, “the centers lost their attractiveness during the pandemic”. Here, rents increased by only 0.5 percent year-on-year.

    The analysts also cite the long approval period for the construction of apartment buildings as a background for the developments. The approval period for major projects has almost doubled since 2001 from 183 to 324 days. "High-density construction often generates areas of friction and often leads to lengthy appeals and delays," the analysts explain. As a result, the implementation of many major projects is no longer decided in the Zurich building department, but in court. Ultimately, however, "in most cases a solution" can be found.

  • 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 .