Tag: Studie

Chatbots every third answer is wrong

In the international Newsguard analysis, ten of the most frequently used chatbots, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude, were tested for their responses to current news topics. The average error rate is 35 per cent, which is almost double that of the previous year. Questions on politics, health and international events are particularly affected. Many systems treat dubious sources like reliable news media and pass on disinformation even if it has been deliberately placed to deceive.

Examples of propagated fake news
The study prominently shows how often AI is manipulated with invented scandals and political quotes. For example, six out of ten systems falsely confirmed that Moldova’s parliamentary president had insulted his people as a “herd of sheep”. Behind this was a forgery including an AI-generated audio recording and a fake news site. In another case, a chatbot spread the rumour that the Ukrainian president owned real estate worth 1.2 billion dollars, a fictitious story based on an alleged whistleblower who never existed.

Differences between the models
While the AI assistant Claude is considered the most reliable provider with an error rate of just 10 per cent, Gemini has an error rate of around 17 per cent. Chatbots such as Perplexity, Grok, You.com, Mistral and Meta have an error rate of between 33 and 57 per cent. Today, the systems respond immediately in almost all cases. Even if they do not use enough validated information and accept a loss of quality.

Source situation and willingness to provide information
The increased error rate is mainly due to the willingness of the models to provide information. Where they used to prefer to say nothing at all, they now always provide an answer. Even from uncertain or manipulative sources. Chatbots run the risk of uncritically amplifying propaganda networks or social media disinformation, especially when it comes to news from regions with few reputable websites or political campaigns.

Consequences for information security
The automated, convincing dissemination of misinformation by AI chatbots increases the risk dynamics in the media landscape. Fact checkers warn that disinformation is subtly seeping into everyday life and shaping social awareness. Often difficult to recognise and therefore all the more consequential! Quality assurance for AI-supported information systems is therefore becoming a key challenge for the future of digital information.

September 2025
Owner-occupied homes remain very popular

“The dream of owning a home is still very popular among the Swiss population,” writes the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts(HSLU) in a press release. This is based on the latest edition of the Retail Banking Study, which is compiled annually by the Institute of Financial Services Zug(IFZ) at HSLU. According to the study, four out of ten people in Switzerland would like to buy a property.

The IFZ has identified two groups of people interested in property. In the first group, the majority are “dreamers” from the younger generations who are looking for their first home. They are primarily confronted with financial problems. In the second group, the majority are members of older generations who already own their own property. These “second-time buyers” have fewer financial problems than difficulties in finding a property that meets their current needs. Both groups rely primarily on personal recommendations and chance when searching for their own home.

The interest rate plays an important role for home seekers both when taking out a new mortgage and when extending an existing one. The willingness to change mortgage provider is particularly low in the case of an extension, with three out of ten property owners refusing to do so regardless of the difference in interest rates. “In many cases, the house bank still enjoys great loyalty, especially if a change is associated with additional hurdles,” explains Andreas Dietrich, head of the study, in the press release.

November 2024
Quantum entanglement – the ultra-fast dance of particles

Quantum entanglement occurs when two or more particles remain in a state in which the state of one particle is inextricably linked to that of the other. This connection remains even over large distances, so that a change to one particle has an immediate effect on the other. Albert Einstein described this effect as “spooky action at a distance.” This fundamental property of quantum physics is an important building block for many pioneering applications.

The role of time in quantum entanglement
Although quantum entanglement is extremely fast, it is not instantaneous. Using high-precision measurement methods, TU Wien has established that the formation of entanglement takes place over a period of attoseconds. The research shows that although quantum processes have an immediate effect, they can be measured over time. A laser pulse releases an electron from an atom, causing another electron to be put into a higher energy state – these two electrons are then entangled.

Measuring attoseconds – a glimpse into the unimaginable
The time span in which quantum entanglement takes place is so short that it is measured in attoseconds – a billionth of a billionth of a second. These measurements were carried out using advanced simulations and ultrashort laser pulses and revealed that the “birth time” of electron entanglement is 232 attoseconds. This advance allows researchers to directly observe the dynamics of these ultrashort processes and recreate them in experiments.

Simulations at the attosecond level – a breakthrough in quantum research
By combining simulations and experiments, researchers at TU Wien were able to precisely reproduce the process of quantum entanglement. The results, published in “Physical Review Letters”, are considered a milestone and create new perspectives for applications in quantum cryptography and quantum computers, in which entanglement plays a central role. The possibility of analysing quantum processes in attoseconds opens up new avenues for the further development of quantum technological systems.

The understanding of time in quantum physics
Current research shows that the classical understanding of time is not sufficient to describe quantum effects. In the quantum world, states arise and disappear in tiny time spans that are almost incomprehensible to us. “The electron doesn’t just jump out of the atom, it’s a wave that slowly sloshes out of the atom,” explains Prof Iva Březinová from TU Wien.

Applications of quantum entanglement – a technology for the future
Quantum entanglement is much more than a fascinating phenomenon; it forms the basis for revolutionary technologies such as quantum cryptography, which enables extremely secure communication systems, and quantum computers, which perform potentially complex calculations faster and more efficiently than classical computers. By deciphering the ultrafast processes of quantum entanglement, researchers gain insights that make it possible to design these technologies securely and efficiently.

Research into quantum entanglement on the attosecond scale represents a breakthrough in our understanding of quantum physics and offers enormous potential for the technologies of the future. The precise understanding of these processes allows applications such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing to be further developed, fundamentally changing the world of information processing and security.

November 2024
No complex thinking skills with ChatGPT & Co.

The research, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics in Bangkok, concludes that large language models such as ChatGPT show no evidence of the development of sophisticated or planned thinking. Instead, these models only demonstrate the ability to respond to simple instructions. This disproves the widespread assumption that AI models could exhibit increasingly intelligent behaviour through scaling.

Background to the study
The study, led by Prof Dr Iryna Gurevych from TU Darmstadt and Dr Harish Tayyar Madabushi from the University of Bath, investigated so-called “emergent capabilities” of AI models. These capabilities, which were observed with increasing model size and data volume, raised both hopes and fears regarding the future development of artificial intelligence. However, current research shows that these abilities are due to simple learning effects rather than complex, independent thinking.

Implications for the future of AI use
The results of the study have significant implications for the use of AI systems. Prof Gurevych warns against relying on the models to solve complex tasks without human support. She emphasises that users should provide explicit instructions and examples in order to use the systems effectively. In addition, the tendency of models to produce plausible-sounding but incorrect results remains a challenge.

Focus on future risks
Although the study shows that LLMs do not develop complex thinking skills, this does not mean that AI does not pose a threat. Prof Gurevych calls for research to focus on the real risks of AI models, particularly their potential to generate fake news. The findings of the study provide a valuable basis for better understanding the actual capabilities of AI models and making their use safer in practice.

August 2024
Affordability of housing in Switzerland

The affordability of housing is currently at the centre of political and public attention. According to the Federal Statistical Office, prices for the “Housing and energy” category of the national consumer price index rose by an annual average of 9.3 per cent between 2020 and 2023, well above the general inflation rate of 5.6 per cent. This development has intensified political calls for more affordable housing and greater support for tenant households.

Stable trend in affordability
The analysis of the affordability of housing costs – i.e. the ratio of housing costs to gross income – shows a stable trend over the last 20 years. Despite rising rents and property prices in real terms, the average burden ratio for Switzerland as a whole has remained constant at around 20 per cent of gross income, well below the limit of 30 per cent that is considered affordable. However, a breakdown of the burden ratio according to various household characteristics indicates a certain deterioration in affordability for mobile households – i.e. households that have recently moved into a flat. Single-person households and households in densely populated regions, which often have a high level of housing consumption, are subject to an above-average burden.

Costs of subsidised housing already exceed those of subsidised housing
Subsidised housing is used more frequently than subsidised housing at all levels of government. The estimated direct costs of object support currently amount to around CHF 88 million. In addition, there are indirect costs such as lost interest, rental and building lease income, which are estimated at CHF 560 to 830 million per year. Subject assistance, which mainly takes the form of social welfare and supplementary benefits, already costs CHF 1.7 billion a year. Despite higher overall costs, subject assistance does not prove to be significantly more expensive per supported household compared to object assistance.

Advantages of subject assistance as a housing policy instrument
Comprehensive subject assistance could improve the accuracy of Swiss housing policy. The study shows that the “supplementary benefits” model would require state support of around CHF 1.45 billion, with 12.6 per cent of Swiss households being eligible. A model like the one in Basel-Stadt, which only supports households with children, would cost just under CHF 700 million and cover 3.6 per cent of households. These costs would be only slightly higher than those of the current property subsidy.

Cost-benefit ratio crucial
The study suggests that the introduction of nationwide subject aid could substantially improve the targeting of housing policy. Although subject aid may be more expensive, it has a better cost-benefit ratio. The possibility of tailoring subsidies to target groups, situations and needs makes subject aid an efficient and effective housing policy instrument. The financial outlay depends heavily on the practical organisation of the system, and fears of possible price pressure on the housing market are only justified under certain conditions.

July 2024
Study on home ownership in Switzerland published

Houzy, the Zurich-based platform for homeowners, has commissioned and published a recent study. According to a press release, the company wanted to collect data on the current and future behaviour of homeowners in Switzerland. Houzy surveyed 80,000 households online for the representative study. 1906 house and apartment owners answered the questionnaire from January to the end of March 2024. Three quarters of them were house owners and one quarter flat owners.

The study focussed on the areas of renovation, heating and energy supply. It revealed that 69.4 per cent of all homeowners used tradesman services in the past year. The average order volume was CHF 15,000.

In addition to renovations, the focus was also on alternative heating systems. 5 per cent of homeowners plan to modernise their heating systems and find alternatives to fossil fuels in 2024. At the same time, 33.5 per cent of households that still use oil and 8.85 per cent of those that use gas want to change their heating systems. One tenth of Swiss homeowners are planning to install solar panels this year in order to produce at least some of the electricity they need themselves.

Another focus was on intentions to sell residential property. A seventh of the homeowners surveyed expressed such intentions. of these, 20 per cent would still like to sell their home in 2024. Extrapolated, this means that 3.2 per cent of all houses and flats in Switzerland will come onto the market this year, according to the press release.

June 2024
Majority do not want to reduce living space

The study ” Living space utilisation from an individual perspective ” conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(ZHAW) revealed that 70 percent of those surveyed are not prepared to downsize their living space. Among those living in so-called empty nests, i.e. with empty rooms of fledged children, only 26 per cent feel that their home is too big. An excess of two rooms, i.e. two more rooms than the number of people living in the household, is considered ideal by the respondents, according to a statement from the ZHAW. According to the study, only 42 per cent of respondents willing to move are prepared to reduce the number of rooms. 32 per cent do not want to deviate from their expectations regarding housing costs.

“It turns out that the combination of moving and downsizing – i.e. two drastic changes at the same time – is particularly challenging,” Selina Lehner, co-head of the study, is quoted as saying. “If there is also a lack of important incentives, this decision is often postponed.” Only one in three people surveyed believe that older couples or single people in flats that are too large should give up their living space for younger families. According to the ZHAW, the fact that the new rent for smaller flats is often more expensive than the existing rent in the larger flat plays a role here.

The home office is gaining in importance. 61 per cent of those surveyed stated that they wanted to set up a home office in the future. This is because “an external office, for example, is not as attractive as an office within your own four walls,” says study co-leader Holger Hohgardt.

A total of 1097 people in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland took part in the study in spring 2024. The ZHAW conducted the survey in collaboration with the Federal Office for Housing, the Fédération Romande Immobilière, the Swiss Homeowners’ Association and Raiffeisen Switzerland.

June 2024
Green cities as trailblazers for global climate impact

The MCC study, published in the journal Nature Cities, highlights four key methods of CO2 removal in urban environments that could sequester one gigatonne of CO2 annually by the middle of the century. The methods analysed include adding biochar to cement, increasing the use of wood in construction, enriching urban soils with biochar and installing CO2 filters in commercial buildings. Together, these approaches could make a significant contribution to achieving net-zero urban emissions.

Urban strategies for the climate and more
Quirina Rodriguez Mendez, PhD student at the MCC and lead author of the study, emphasises that these techniques are of great benefit not only in terms of climate protection, but also for environmental quality and well-being in cities. For example, the use of special colour pigments and surface materials to improve the reflectivity of urban surfaces could significantly lower the temperature in cities and reduce the energy required for air conditioning systems.

Local actions with a global impact
The study emphasises the role of cities as “test laboratories” for climate protection, where local measures can be implemented quickly and potentially scaled up globally. Felix Creutzig, head of the MCC working group and co-author of the study, emphasises that local climate solutions, although often underestimated, can have an impressive impact and improve quality of life. The research findings offer important insights and recommendations for policymakers shaping urban infrastructure and policies.

May 2024
New forms of housing at the centre of a recent study

At a time when social interaction is increasingly coming to the fore, a new study by Dr Joëlle Zimmerli from Zimraum and Stratcraft provides valuable insights into the design of forms of living that promote social interaction. Supported by the Age Foundation, SVIT Zurich and the Swiss Real Estate Institute, the study looks at how properties need to be planned and managed in order to facilitate and encourage different types of encounters.

The study identifies and analyses three main categories of encounters: low-threshold encounters that occur spontaneously and by chance; neighbourly encounters that are facilitated by deliberate architectural decisions such as arcades or attractive open spaces; and communal encounters that are created by specially planned and managed infrastructures such as common rooms.

The decisive factor for the success of these forms of encounter is the customisation to the needs of the respective target group. The authors of the study emphasise that there is no universally best solution, but that the choice of meeting form depends on the specific expectations and needs of the residents. Building owners and developers are therefore required to clearly define the target group to be addressed and the requirements for management and social interaction in the residential projects as early as the strategic planning phase.

With this well-founded analysis, the study makes an important contribution to the discussion about the future of housing and shows how well thought-out planning and management can have a positive influence on coexistence in modern society. It provides valuable guidance for anyone working in the property sector who wants to increase the importance of social interaction and community within housing projects.

March 2024
Part-time work has an impact on pensions and AHV financing

Part-time work is on the rise in Switzerland, especially among women. The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reports that around 30 per cent of single women without children will be working part-time in 2022, compared to only 15 per cent of men. This way of working not only affects individual income and pension benefits, but also the financing of the pay-as-you-go AHV system.

A study by UBS economists entitled “Part-time work: effects on pension provision” highlights the fact that part-time work leads to reduced pension benefits and reduced savings capacity. This particularly affects single people without children, whereby the resulting pension gap is often disproportionate to the reduction in workload. For couples, on the other hand, part-time work in conjunction with income-dependent childcare subsidies can have less dramatic effects.

The UBS study “AHV 2030 – Labour market scenarios for the fiscal sustainability of the AHV” shows that a change in labour market participation has a direct impact on the AHV funding gap. Increasing female labour market participation could slightly reduce this gap, while reduced male participation would widen the gap. A higher labour force participation of older workers would also have a positive effect.

Future developments in the labour market and social trends such as a better work-life balance or increased childcare by men could make further structural reforms to the AHV necessary. The UBS economists emphasise that changes in the labour market alone are not enough to close the AHV funding gap.

January 2024
Zum umweltfreundlichen Spital mit «Best Practices»

Im Gesundheitssektor wurde der Umweltaspekt bisher oft vernachlässigt. Das Forschungsprojekt „Green Hospital – Ressourceneffizienz bei Schweizer Spitälern“ hat dazu beigetragen, das Bewusstsein für umweltrelevante Prozesse in Schweizer Spitälern zu schärfen. Im Rahmen des Nationalen Forschungsprogramms „Nachhaltige Wirtschaft: ressourcenschonend, zukunftsfähig, innovativ“ (NFP 73) wurde eine Liste von praxisorientierten Maßnahmen veröffentlicht, um Spitäler in ihrer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie zu unterstützen.

Die Studie, geleitet von Matthias Stucki am ZHAW-Institut für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, hat ergeben, dass insbesondere die Bereiche Wärme, Catering, Gebäudeinfrastruktur und Medikamente für den Großteil der Umweltbelastung durch Spitäler verantwortlich sind. Aber auch andere Faktoren wie Stromverbrauch, Abfallmanagement und die Verwendung von medizinischen Produkten spielen eine Rolle.

Die aus der Studie abgeleiteten „Best Practices“ wurden aus einer Vielzahl von Literaturquellen und Praxisbeispielen zusammengestellt. Diese Massnahmen zielen darauf ab, die Umweltauswirkungen bei gleichbleibender Qualität der Gesundheitsdienstleistungen zu minimieren. Dabei wurde besonderer Wert auf die Auswahl von Maßnahmen mit hoher Klimarelevanz und großer Umsetzbarkeit gelegt.

Insgesamt zeigt die Studie, dass die größten Chancen für eine Verbesserung der Umweltbilanz in der Konstruktion von langlebigen und ressourceneffizienten Gebäuden, der Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien und der Einführung von pflanzenbasierten Gerichten im Verpflegungsangebot liegen.

Dieses Forschungsprojekt stellt einen wichtigen Schritt dar, um die schweizerische Krankenhauslandschaft nachhaltiger zu gestalten und setzt einen Meilenstein für zukünftige Initiativen in diesem Bereich.

September 2023
Master Builders’ Association counters shortage of skilled workers

The Swiss Association of Master Builders(SBA) expects a growing shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry. It has therefore commissioned a “Study on the Long-Term Development of the Economy and Skilled Workers in the Main Construction Industry” from the Competence Centre for Demographics, the association informs in a press release. According to the study, which was presented at the end of June at the Construction Industry Day in Lugano, the shortage of skilled workers, measured in terms of construction volume, could reach about 16 percent by 2040. This would cause annual turnover losses of up to CHF 800 million and thus endanger jobs in the construction industry.

In Lugano, however, SBC Central President Gian-Luca Lardi also pointed out possible solutions. “If we increase turnover per capita by 0.5 per cent annually, we can make up for 50 per cent of the shortage of skilled workers,” Lardi is quoted as saying in the press release from his address at the industry’s traditional networking event. According to the association, this increase in productivity should mainly be achieved through digitalisation and innovation. At the same time, Lardi suggested “training more apprentices, keeping skilled workers in the profession longer and ultimately recruiting more lateral entrants”. In this way, the other half of the gap could be closed, according to the Central President.

July 2023
Pensimo publishes study on the Swiss housing market

Pensimo Management AG in Zurich, which specialises in real estate investments, is publishing the book “The Swiss Housing Market”, according to a statement on LinkedIn. Michel Schneider, deputy CEO and head of Mandates Switzerland & International, describes the publication as the first solid, economic “outline” of the Swiss housing market. The analysis of the history and present of housing construction and the housing market in Switzerland was written by Frank Bodmer, private lecturer at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Basel.

The 144-page brochure is published by Park Books in Zurich. It presents a great deal of statistical material in eleven chapters and with numerous diagrams. It traces lines of development and analyses the economic, social and regulatory framework conditions. “Now that the super cycle is over, the volume comes at the ‘right’ time,” says Schneider.

The real estate markets have been in the headlines internationally for many years. The current price level in Switzerland also raises fears of a new real estate crisis and restricts access to home ownership for large sections of the middle class, according to the content of the Bodmer study on the website of the publisher Park Books. It is true that the rental housing market has avoided the distortions of earlier growth phases. Nevertheless, political interventions could have a detrimental effect and endanger the supply of a growing population with high-quality housing.

The Zurich-based Pensimo Management AG invests in valuable real estate on behalf of four investment foundations, mainly in Switzerland but also abroad.

April 2023
Study sees significantly higher potential for wind energy

Switzerland could generate significantly more electricity from wind energy than previously assumed. According to a study by the Bern-based company Meteotest on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ), wind turbines could produce 19 terawatt hours in the winter months alone, according to a press release from the SFOE. In a previous study from 2012, the scientists had assumed 3.7 terawatt hours per year. For comparison: Switzerland consumed a total of 58.11 terawatt hours of electricity in 2021.

With 17.5 terawatt hours, most of the potential lies in the Central Plateau. In the Jura arc and in the large Alpine valleys together, more than 7.8 terawatt hours could be produced per year, in the Alpine region over 4.2 terawatt hours.

Both political conditions and technology have evolved since the last study. Today's wind turbines are taller, have larger rotors and produce much more than older systems. In addition, more areas such as forests and areas in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments ( BLN ) are eligible "with the recognition of national interest for wind farms". However, they are subject to higher demands on wind energy production.

"Even a partial expansion of 30 percent of the total wind energy potential – which corresponds to around 1000 wind turbines – could make a significant contribution to a more secure electricity supply in Switzerland and to reducing dependence on foreign countries," says the press release.

Inhabited areas with a buffer of 300 meters, protected landscapes such as moors, national parks and biotopes as well as secret facilities of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport were excluded from the calculation.

August 2022
Negative effects of the Ukraine war on the real estate industry in Switzerland

The Ukraine war has global economic ramifications. How do you feel it in the local real estate market? PriceHubble investigated this question with a survey of real estate professionals from all areas of the real estate industry.
55 percent of the real estate professionals who took part in the current study "Effects of the Ukraine War on the Real Estate Industry in Switzerland" believe that the Ukraine crisis could have a negative impact on their company over the next twelve months. 31 percent think there will be no impact. In contrast, 14 percent of respondents see a positive development for their business.
According to those surveyed, the reasons for a change are the increase in construction costs, rising mortgage interest rates and a stagnating or declining buyer's market. As one real estate manager comments: «The increase in material costs and delivery times affects both the construction sites and the purchase prices. As a result, buyers will resort to existing goods and abandon construction projects.”
In general, more real estate professionals (28 percent) see a decrease in the number of mandates over the next twelve months than an increase (17 percent). More than 55 percent of those surveyed do not expect any change in the number of mandates.
50 percent of the respondents are of the opinion that projects will not be postponed because of the Ukraine war. 9 percent expect a postponement of up to 6 months, 12 percent a delay of 6 to 12 months, 26 percent of 12 to 18 months, 2 percent a postponement of the projects by 18 to 24 months and another 2 percent even by up to to 24 to 30 months.
Development of luxury properties difficult to predict
In the case of luxury real estate, 34 percent of those surveyed stated that they expected prices to rise. In contrast, 31 percent believe that a decline is to be expected. 35 percent are of the opinion that the prices in this segment will not change.
In the comments column to this question, many of the respondents indicated that they expected a decrease in general interest in objects in this segment. Others are of the opinion that luxury real estate is crisis-resistant and that the strong demand will remain. Many are also convinced that the supply will remain stable.
"Luxury real estate in Switzerland, especially in exclusive locations, will always tend to find buyers (both domestically and abroad) and it is therefore possible that the prices for them remain the same or may even rise," comments one broker.
Price development of energy-efficient objects remains exciting
When it comes to the question of whether a greater price change is to be expected when buying properties with a high energy efficiency class (A or A+), there is a tie: 50 percent say "yes" and 50 percent say "no".
With regard to the demand for real estate with a high energy efficiency class since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, 68 percent of the real estate experts surveyed stated that they had not noticed any change. "But it will come, people are slowly becoming sensitive to it," a real estate manager commented on this question. 32 percent of those surveyed believe that demand has already increased.
Regarding rental prices for properties with a high energy efficiency class (A or A+): 69 percent of the participants stated that there will be no changes. In contrast, 31 percent expect a change.
Further results, for example on the impact of rising mortgage interest rates, the development of rents or sales prices of residential properties can be found in the complete study.

June 2022
The dream of a family home in the country is becoming more and more of a dream

Das Einfamilienhaus erweist sich einmal mehr als Wohntraum Nummer 1 in der Schweiz. Bei Personen im Alter von 25 bis 30 Jahren ist der Wert mit 64 Prozent am höchsten. Stehen soll es auf dem Land. Ländliche Gegenden bleiben mit 48 Prozent Zustimmung auch in diesem Jahr die bevorzugte Wohnumgebung. 90 Prozent der Menschen, die auf dem Land leben, wollen auch in Zukunft dortbleiben. Bei der Stadtbevölkerung zeigt sich ein anderes Bild: Nur 65 Prozent der Befragten erachten die aktuelle Wohnumgebung als den bevorzugten Wohnort. Finanzielle Gründe sind die am meisten genannte Hürde (40%), die gegen einen Umzug spricht. Der Arbeitsweg bleibt trotz vermehrtem Home-Office der zweitwichtigste Hinderungsgrund.

Kosten und Aussenbereich dominieren bei der Wahl eines Zuhauses – nicht das Home-Office
Wichtigstes Kriterium bei der Wahl einer Wohnung resp. eines Hauses bleiben die Wohnkosten, gefolgt vom Aussenbereich. Neu abgefragte Kriterien wie das separate Zimmer für Home-Office oder ökologische Faktoren werden kaum als entscheidend genannt, aber von rund der Hälfte der Befragten zumindest als wichtiges Kriterium angesehen. Eine Lademöglichkeit fürs E-Auto, Service-Dienst-leistungen oder Luxuseinrichtung spielen bei der Wahl eines Zuhauses kaum eine Rolle.
Bezüglich der Lage soll die Traumimmobilie ruhig (66%) und naturnah (66%) stehen. Zudem ist eine gute Anbindung an den öffentlichen Verkehr (51%) gefragt. Hier hat sich im Vergleich zum Vorjahr wenig verändert. Die Nachbarschaft wird von 41 Prozent der Befragten als besonders wichtig angegeben und liegt damit neu auf Rang 4 – zwei Plätze höher als letztes Jahr. Und auch die Nähe zur medizinischen Versorgung gewinnt einen Platz auf Kosten der Nähe zur Kinderbetreuungsstätte oder der Schule.

Traum vom Eigenheim ungebrochen, scheitert aber meist an Angebot und Finanzierung
Knapp die Hälfte der Befragten (46%) träumt von einer (weiteren) eigenen Wohnimmobilie. Dabei hat sich der Wunsch bei den jüngeren Befragten im Vergleich zum Vorjahr noch einmal verstärkt. Besonders ausgeprägt ist er nach wie vor bei der heutigen Mieterschaft: 62 Prozent träumen davon, ein Eigenheim zu kaufen. Schwierigkeiten bereiten das knappe Angebot (58%) und die hohen Preise (49%). Hinzu kommen strenge Finanzierungskriterien, welche einer Überhitzung des Immobilienmarktes vorbeugen sollen, aber zunehmend in Kritik geraten. 50 Prozent der Befragten beurteilen die geltenden Kriterien als nicht mehr der heutigen Realität entsprechend und sagen, dass der Kauf auch mit weniger Einkommen möglich sein sollte. «Die Immobilienpreise sind im Vergleich zu den Löhnen überdurchschnittlich gestiegen, was mit den starren Finanzierungsregeln dazu führt, dass sich mittlerweile Neukäufer ihre erste Immobilie erst mit 44 Jahren leisten können. Jüngeren Familien und Paaren wird das Wohneigentum dadurch unter anderem auch systembedingt verwehrt», so Martin Tschopp, CEO von MoneyPark.

Landleben macht zufrieden, Eigentum noch zufriedener
Glücklich ist, wer bereits ein Eigenheim hat. Zwei Drittel der Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer geben an, sehr zufrieden zu sein, während es bei den Mieterinnen und Mietern nur ein Drittel ist. Die Zufriedenheit korreliert mit den Wohnkosten: Zwei Drittel der Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer wenden weniger als 20 Prozent ihres Einkommens fürs Wohnen auf, während dies bei den Mieterinnen und Mietern nur für einen Drittel gilt. Die Auswertung zeigt zudem, dass Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner ländlicher Regionen eine signifikant höhere Zufriedenheit mit der aktuellen Wohnsituation (58% sind sehr zufrieden) aufweisen als Agglomerations- und Stadtbewohnerinnen und -bewohner (45% resp. 41%). Zudem fällt in der Deutschschweiz (53%) die Zufriedenheit deutlich höher aus als in der Westschweiz (40%) – mit Höchstwerten in der Ostschweiz (61%) und Tiefstwerten in der Genferseeregion (39%).

Hohe Zufriedenzeit hält vom Verkauf ab
Wer ein Eigenheim besitzt, möchte dieses auch gerne behalten. Nur drei Prozent der befragten Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer möchten ihre Immobilie in den nächsten drei Jahren verkaufen. Weitere 15 Prozent planen den Verkauf in vier bis acht Jahren. Ein Blick auf die Altersgruppen zeigt, dass insbesondere Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer bis zum 40. Altersjahr (24%) und Pensionierte (23%) Verkaufsabsichten hegen. Was primär von einem Verkauf abhält, ist die Zufriedenheit mit der aktuellen Wohnsituation (73%). Auch der Wunsch, das Eigenheim in der Familie weiterzugeben (31%), die emotionale Verbundenheit (30%) und die Annahme, dass der Wert der Immobilie weiter steigen wird (16%), lassen die Befragten von einem Verkauf absehen.
Über ein Drittel der Befragten (37%) würde eine geerbte Immobilie vermieten und ein weiteres knappes Drittel (29%) würde sie selbst bewohnen. Für einen Verkauf würde sich nur ein knappes Fünftel (19%) entscheiden. «Dass Immobilien eine attraktive Kapitalanlage darstellen, hat sich auch bei Privatpersonen herumgesprochen. Dass deshalb geerbte Liegenschaften oft vermietet und nicht verkauft werden, führt zu einer zusätzlichen Verknappung des Angebots an Wohneigentum», so Dr. Roman H. Bolliger, CEO von alaCasa.ch.

Jede/r Zweite hat in den letzten beiden Jahren substanziell ins Eigenheim investiert
Seit dem Ausbruch der Corona-Pandemie anfangs 2020 hat knapp die Hälfte der befragten Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer (47%) mehr als CHF 10’000.- ins Eigenheim investiert. Jede fünfte Investition (20%) stand unter dem Einfluss der Pandemie. Entweder wurde investiert, weil das Eigenheim wichtiger geworden ist, oder weil aufgrund der Corona-Einschränkungen Geld gespart und so ins Eigenheim investiert werden konnte. Dass das private Draussen wichtiger geworden ist, zeigen sowohl die getätigten wie auch die geplanten Investitionen deutlich: In keinen anderen Bereich wurde häufiger investiert als in den eigenen Garten respektive Aussenbereich (32%). Bäder (28%) und Küchen (27%) belegen die Plätze 2 und 3, dicht gefolgt von Maler- und Gipserarbeiten (26%) sowie neuen Bodenbelägen (25%). Und es geht weiter: 54 Prozent der Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer planen in den nächsten drei Jahren substanziell in ihr Zuhause zu investieren. Die Bedeutung der Pandemie nimmt dabei ab: Nur für sieben Prozent der geplanten Investitionen ist sie der Auslöser. Dabei zeigt sich bei Solaranlagen eine starke Zunahme von 9 auf 17 Prozent. Auch Ladestationen für Elektroautos, Fassadenrenovationen, neue Fenster und Türen sowie Investitionen in Heizung, Lüftung und Klima werden vermehrt geplant.
«Investitionen ins eigene Zuhause sind ein ausgezeichnetes Beispiel dafür, weshalb der ganzheitliche Blick auf Eigenheim, Versicherung und Vorsorge so wichtig ist. Investitionen können den Wert einer Liegenschaft steigern oder einfach Freude machen. Im Fall von werterhaltenden Arbeiten lassen sich zudem Steuervorteile realisieren, da diese Kosten abzugsfähig sind. So oder so ist der investierte Betrag aber nicht mehr bar verfügbar. Das gilt es beispielsweise bei der Pensionsplanung zu bedenken. Und natürlich empfehlen wir nach jeder grösseren Investition, die Versicherung zu überprüfen – egal, ob bei einer Photovoltaik-Anlage oder bei einer neuen Gartenlaube», so Ralph Jeitziner, Leiter Vertrieb Schweiz, Helvetia Versicherungen.

Grüne Hypotheken werden als attraktiv angesehen, aber es fehlt an Wissen
Es bleibt abzuwarten, ob die aktuell vieldiskutierte Abhängigkeit von fossilen Brennstoffen zu einem weiteren Investitionsschub in energetische Massnahmen führen wird. Heute profitieren nur sieben Prozent der befragten Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer von einer grünen Hypothek oder einem entsprechenden Abschlag bei den Hypothekarzinsen. Knapp ein Fünftel der befragten Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer (18%) weiss nicht, ob das Eigenheim die Kriterien für eine grüne Hypothek erfüllt. Nur elf Prozent geben an, dass sich ihre Immobilie qualifiziert. Von ihnen und von all jenen, die bereits eine grüne Hypothek haben, würden 63 Prozent bei einer Verlängerung (wiederum) eine grüne Hypothek wählen.

Über die Wohntraumstudie
Die Wohntraumstudie von MoneyPark, alaCasa und Helvetia Versicherungen ist die grösste unabhängige Untersuchung zur Zufriedenheit und zu den Wünschen der Schweizer Bevölkerung bezüglich ihrer Wohnsituation. Seit 2015 geht die Studie einmal im Jahr der Frage nach, wie die «Wohnträume» in der Schweiz konkret aussehen. Befragt wurden 1’001 Personen mit Wohnsitz in der Schweiz mittels repräsentativer Online-Umfrage im Februar 2022.
Die integrale Studie finden Sie unter www.moneypark.ch/wohntraumstudie

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Über MoneyPark
MoneyPark ist der führende Spezialist für Hypotheken und Immobilien in der Schweiz und beschäftigt über 300 Mitarbeitende. Das junge Fintech bietet mit der Kombination aus persönlicher Beratung und wegweisender Technologie umfassende und massgeschneiderte Hypotheken- und Immobilienlösungen. Dabei unterstützt MoneyPark seine Kundinnen und Kunden mit unabhängiger Expertise – von der Suche über die Finanzierung, während der Eigentumsphase und beim Verkauf von Immobilien. Für die Finanzierung hält MoneyPark mit Hypothekar- und Vorsorgeangeboten von mehr als 150 Anbietern, darunter Banken, Versicherungen und Pensionskassen, die grösste Finanzierungsauswahl an einem Ort bereit. Die unabhängige Beratung erfolgt entweder in einer der schweizweit mehr als 20 Filialen oder ortsunabhängig via Telefon oder online. Institutionellen Investoren bietet MoneyPark ganzheitliche Hypothekarlösungen dank einem Setup aus leistungsfähigem Vertrieb und effizienter Portfoliobewirtschaftung.

Über alaCasa.ch
alaCasa.ch ist ein unabhängiges Expertennetzwerk für Wohnimmobilien und engagiert sich seit über 20 Jahren für eine hohe Dienstleistungsqualität rund ums Wohneigentum. Partner von alaCasa.ch sind professionelle Immobilienexperten für Eigentumswohnungen und Einfamilienhäuser. Sie zeichnen sich aus durch eine fundierte Ausbildung und eine langjährige Berufserfahrung. Dadurch können sie ihre Kunden kompetent und sicher bei Fragen rund um ihre Liegenschaft unterstützen. alaCasa-Partner sind unabhängig, etabliert und verfügen über eine tadellose Reputation.

Über Helvetia
Helvetia Versicherungen mit Sitz in St. Gallen hat sich seit 1858 zu einer erfolgreichen internationalen Versicherungsgruppe mit über 12 000 Mitarbeitenden und mehr als 7 Millionen Kundinnen und Kunden entwickelt. In der Schweiz ist Helvetia die führende Schweizer Allbranchenversicherung. Seit jeher ermöglicht sie ihren Kundinnen und Kunden, Chancen wahrzunehmen und Risiken einzugehen – Helvetia ist für sie da, wenn es darauf ankommt. Helvetia ist als beste Partnerin überall dort präsent, wo Absicherungsbedürfnisse entstehen, mit Versicherungs-, Vorsorge- und Anlagelösungen aus einer Hand sowie einfachen Produkten und Prozessen. Mit ImmoWorld bietet Helvetia ihren Kundinnen und Kunden eine umfassende Immobilienplattform kombiniert mit persönlicher Beratung in allen finanziellen Belangen rund um Suche, Kauf, Besitz und Verkauf eines Eigenheims. Dabei behalten die Expertinnen und Experten stets auch Versicherung und Vorsorge im Blick.

June 2022
Second homes make the highest jump in price

The prices of single-family houses increased in 2021 compared to the previous year by an average of 9 percent to CHF 1.42 million. The prices of condominiums rose by an average of 8.3 percent to CHF 0.91 million. This is shown by the figures from the Home Market Price Analysis presented annually by the real estate marketplace Homegate and the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics (HWZ). As stated in a media release , this is the highest price dynamic for residential property in ten years.

For second homes, prices rose by 35 percent compared to the previous year. “The price increases for first homes are amazing,” says Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute. “But in the case of second homes, a market has been created due to the strict limitation on supply by the second home initiative that is ideal for real estate speculation.”

Condominiums are still the most expensive in the Zurich region, single-family homes in the Lake Geneva region. The sharp rise in prices seems to be leading to fewer sales transactions, at least for single-family homes. They fell by 10 percent.

There are major differences between the regions at the community level: With the same budget of 3.1 million francs, for which there was a house in Erlenbach ZH, you could buy a good six single-family houses in Brugg AG. The lowest average prices for condominiums were paid in the municipality of Sainte-Croix VD at CHF 0.28 million, the highest in Zumikon ZH at CHF 2.37 million.

March 2022
That cost of Switzerland

A significant part of the spending by Swiss people is in the areas of housing, mobility, insurance, leisure and sport. In its annual data analysis ” It costs Switzerland”, the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group provides comprehensive insights into the actual cost of living in Switzerland.

For this purpose, the figures for 2021 were collected on the online platforms ImmoScout24, Homegate, FinanceScout24, AutoScout24 , Car For You, MotoScout24, anibis.ch, tutti.ch and Ricardo . “As a digital pioneer, we want to simplify the lives of people in Switzerland with groundbreaking products,” says Gilles Despas, CEO of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group. “With our platforms, we give them the opportunity to offer and buy products and compare prices quickly and easily. Especially in an expensive country like Switzerland, price transparency is important to keep an eye on the cost of living.»

Real estate market: Condominiums in Zug are three times more expensive than in the Jura
Looking at real estate prices in Switzerland, there are large cantonal differences. While a 4.5-room apartment in the canton of Jura cost an average of CHF 516,000 in 2021, it was more than three times as much in the cantons of Geneva or Zug at over CHF 1,700,000. If you take the most sought-after type of apartment, the 3.5-room rental apartment, as a reference property, there will be differences in rental costs between the cantons of over 110 percent in 2021. While tenants in the canton of Jura paid an average of just 1,135 francs, this figure is more than twice as high in the canton of Zug at 2,428 francs. Overall, the rental prices for 3.5-room apartments remained the same or even fell compared to 2020 in most cantons last year.

The detailed results of the study on the individual areas can be found under “ The costs for Switzerland ”.

February 2022
Innovation Park Zurich has billions of potential

The Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich foundation commissioned the economic research institute BAK Economics to carry out a scientific study on the economic significance of the Zurich Innovation Park (IPZ ). The study comes to the conclusion that the direct and indirect added value of the IPS could add up to around 2.7 billion francs per year if fully expanded. With a share of 90 percent of the total value added, the canton of Zurich would benefit particularly strongly.

The extensive study is divided into seven sections, ranging from the motivation for the analysis, the importance of innovation for the economy and society, the position of the Canton of Zurich in the innovation competition, to a detailed evaluation of the role that the Innovation Park Zurich plays in promoting growth and Prosperity could play rich. The study confirms that the canton of Zurich is underrepresented in industry, particularly in the high-tech sectors. According to the study authors, the IPZ could make a decisive contribution to upgrading the canton as an innovation location.

According to the authors, the IPZ could form the “risk area” necessary for transformation innovations in addition to the corresponding risk capital. The park should position itself as a "link between universities, research institutes, the start-up scene and research-based industry", according to the study. Structures created there could enable “global players” to settle in innovative areas such as “mobility, space travel, aviation, robotics, greentech or new materials”.

The Zurich Chamber of Commerce ( ZHK ) sees the results of the study as confirmation of their longstanding support for the innovation park. They show how important this is for the business and research location, she writes in a statement on the study. The ZHK hopes that the added value of the innovation park will lead to an acceleration of the ongoing procedures.

February 2021
Energy suppliers rely on cooperation

Increasing digitization and cross-sector cooperation are opening up new business areas for energy supply companies in Switzerland. According to the results of the 2020 municipal utility study by the consulting firm EY and the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management , 80 percent of energy providers see great synergy potential in telecommunications, 71 percent in the housing industry and 69 percent in the heating industry. According to a press release , the survey was carried out in Switzerland and Germany, among 49 EVUs across Switzerland.

According to a media release from EY, the potential for cooperation has increased once again from the EVU's point of view: in 2019, only 50 percent saw great synergy potential in telecommunications and 67 percent in the housing industry. The heating industry was not queried at that time.

When looking for promising business models, EVUs would look even more outside the box in the future, says Benjamin Teufel, Head of the Energy Sector in Switzerland. “The housing industry, in particular, lends itself to being a cooperation partner: decentralized and climate-friendly energy solutions are becoming increasingly important.” As EY explains in another article , platform transactions based on digital data are conceivable for the housing industry. "Stadtwerke are predestined to be the operator of these platforms," it says there.

A total of 71 percent of the EVU expect to be able to act as platform operator in decentralized electricity generation, 67 percent in electromobility and 71 percent in the area of smart metering, i.e. the use of intelligent electricity meters. Accordingly, the 2020 municipal utility study also shows that 84 percent of energy suppliers consider smart metering to be the most important technology in digital transformation. "As a data hub, the smart meters will lead to numerous new applications, products and business models," Teufel is quoted as saying.

In the article “How municipal utilities can benefit from smart metering in the future”, EY explains: “The more companies use smart meter data for their business and the more these services can be networked with one another, the stronger the platform business will grow. Typically, the platform operator, in this case the municipal utility, participates in the transaction proceeds. "

September 2020
The Swiss construction industry needs to rethink

The almost complete study on the situation and future of the Swiss construction industry by PwC Switzerland was revised and updated in March in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic effects. There was a clear change in future expectations. The assessments “since Covid-19” were derived from the additional feedback and these were compared with the original assessment “before Covid-19”, according to a press release from PwC Switzerland on the study . Only 58 percent of the 130 companies participating in the study are now positive (92 percent before Covid).

PwC Switzerland names its study “Make change, take with you what has been tried and tested”. Among other things, it says: “Only those who differentiate win. Creativity and a pioneering spirit are required. The construction industry is facing a paradigm shift towards more differentiation through networked collaboration. Digitization in particular offers interesting opportunities for this. It reduces interfaces, increases the quality of the planning and management processes and promotes the reduction of error costs and idle times in construction. "Covid-19 is likely to drive the" demolition of silo structures in the construction industry and the upcoming reorganization of rigid thought patterns. "

"Even before the crisis, it became clear that a paradigm shift was required in order to survive in construction – even though the Swiss construction industry will continue to play a major role in many areas of life in the future," said Roland Schegg, Director and Head of Consulting at Family businesses & SMEs at PwC Switzerland.

87 percent of companies see an opportunity in digitization, but only 62 percent give it a high priority. The use of digital technologies began years ago, according to PwC. But he is mostly limited to administration, marketing, communication or drawing the plans. It is necessary to digitize construction and operation as well. In particular, the planning and execution processes, which are often separated today, could be intelligently linked.

The construction industry in Switzerland contributes around 15 percent to the gross domestic product. Around 330,000 full-time positions are located in civil engineering. That corresponds to a third of all employees in the industrial sector.

September 2020
Graubünden luxury residences should be vacant less often

The University of Applied Sciences of Graubünden has examined how the added value of luxury residences that are often vacant can be improved. In this context, the Institute for Tourism and Leisure ( ITF ) investigated the question of how their owners can become convinced renters. In Graubünden they have been “neglected”, writes the FH in a press release . However, because the trend is moving from overnight stays in a hotel to one's own holiday home, this clientele should not be neglected.

However, the existing data is too thin for a needs analysis. Therefore, in their study, the researchers examined the willingness to rent similar prestige properties. In the global yacht charter market, they identified high administrative hurdles as well as psychological motives as an obstacle to renting out. These include encroachments on privacy and limited flexibility in personal use.

The most important finding from this needs analysis, however, is "that both the rental of superyachts and luxury residences are a matter of trust". So that the potential of the often vacant luxury properties in the high-priced Alpine destinations can be used, "all tasks that arise must be managed by a coordinator role". It is your job to guarantee that all service participants work together as smoothly as possible. “The rest then comes naturally, because satisfied landlords generate satisfied tenants,” says the message.

July 2020