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Free · from buyers' forums

What other buyers in Switzerland ran into

180 real stories, sorted by stage. Open the one you're at.

While you wait, here's what other buyers ran into at your stage.

Checking your Lex Koller status · 7 stories “My notary said renting it out without a permit breaks Lex Koller”

Who can buy freely, B and C permits, and holiday-home quotas

  • “My notary said renting it out without a permit breaks Lex Koller”

    You'll learn what a Swiss notary says happens to years of rent when a non-resident owner dies.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “I learned my B permit doesn't let me rent out the flat I buy”

    You'll see where a B-permit rental restriction appears in the deed, and when it matters.

    Charlene CongRead the post ↗
  • “I bought on a B permit, then wondered what if I leave”

    The replies explain what can happen to ownership and the mortgage after losing Swiss residence.

  • “We dropped the purchase after the bank warned about leaving”

    Worth reading because it shows what a bank checks when a B-permit buyer might leave Switzerland.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “Losing my B permit could force an immediate apartment sale”

    The replies explain what really happens to a flat and its mortgage if a non-EU buyer loses the permit.

  • “The building permit requires this flat as our main residence”

    You'll learn how a main-residence clause in a building permit hits owners who may leave Switzerland.

  • “I have a C permit, just got made redundant. Must I sell my flat?”

    The replies explain what a C permit, RAV and a move abroad each mean for an owner with a mortgage.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
Getting the mortgage approved · 17 stories “We could scrape together 20% and still failed affordability”

10% hard equity, no pension money, and the bank's own valuation

  • “We could scrape together 20% and still failed affordability”

    The replies explain why 20% equity is not enough when the 5% imputed rate sinks the affordability test.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The bank valued our home CHF150,000 below the sale price”

    You'll see how a lower bank valuation can suddenly increase the cash you need at closing.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “My pension fund wanted a signed Kaufvertrag before paying out”

    Worth reading because it shows what a pension fund may demand before releasing home-buying cash.

  • “Our bank valued the house CHF 150k below our agreed price”

    Useful thread because it shows how a low bank valuation can suddenly increase the cash you need.

  • “The bank said our salary was just below its mortgage limit”

    Worth reading because the replies unpack Tragbarkeit when your equity is fine but income is tight.

  • “All three banks valued our house far below the asking price”

    Useful thread because it shows how far cantonal banks and Raiffeisen can differ on a single house.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “My relative got three bank valuations CHF 250k apart, same flat”

    You’ll see how three Swiss banks can value the same flat very differently before financing.

  • “Banks gave me mortgages from CHF 650k to CHF 1m, same income”

    You'll learn why one bank's mortgage ceiling says little about the next one, and what moves the number.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “I would not sign that mortgage-broker contract again”

    Worth reading because the cancellation clauses show what made this Swiss mortgage-broker contract risky.

    Jesse SzepieniecRead the post ↗
  • “UBS would not bridge the equity tied up in our house”

    You’ll see why moving before selling can fail when the old home contains your next down payment.

  • “My bank came back about 15% below the asking price this time”

    You’ll learn what changed when one buyer re-ran a Swiss bank valuation only months later.

  • “Our down payments are made, but unpaid leave may block us”

    Worth reading because it shows what a planned unpaid leave does to a mortgage after deposits are paid.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “Our landlord offered the home, but banks say income is too low”

    You'll learn why a landlord's offer to sell to the tenant still fails if income misses the bank test.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “Banks saw us as unattractive borrowers as self-employed”

    You'll see how Swiss banks can flex Tragbarkeit rules for a recently self-employed borrower.

  • “Our income is strong, but our own funds are still too low”

    You'll learn which equity sources can close a Swiss down-payment gap, and which ones do not.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “After the children came, our Tragbarkeit got much tighter”

    You'll see how reduced family income changes Tragbarkeit even after years of saving for a home.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “Our son earns enough, but he lacks the required equity”

    You'll learn which forms of parental help Swiss banks may count toward equity and Tragbarkeit.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
Picking the commune and the canton · 11 stories “I thought the Samedan house could be used as a second home”

Second-home caps, holiday communes and very different canton costs

  • “I thought the Samedan house could be used as a second home”

    You'll see how an old primary-residence duty missing from the land register can surface at resale.

    BlickCHF 1.3m value lostRead the post ↗
  • “The road noise ruins my sleep. Buying here was a big mistake.”

    Interesting because the owner lists what he missed about an 80 km/h road before buying the house.

  • “They rejected my flat purchase because I lived in Vaud”

    You'll see a Geneva development-zone purchase refused over domicile, then reopened as unlawful.

    Tribune de GeneveRead the post ↗
  • “The Carona house we saw could only ever be a main residence”

    Useful thread because a primary-residence rule kept a Ticino house unsold, and it shows how to spot it.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “We lost at the Federal Court over our Pontresina Erstwohnung”

    You'll learn how far a commune like Pontresina goes to enforce an Erstwohnung duty on owners.

  • “We had paid a deposit when Geneva changed the buyer rules”

    You'll see how a new local-residency rule can threaten a reserved home before the final deed.

    Tribune de GeneveRead the post ↗
  • “I bought a house where pedestrians can barely get in or out”

    Interesting because it shows what to check about access and sidewalks before buying in a hamlet.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “We pay for the view, but the fields in front may be rezoned”

    Useful thread because it shows where to check whether the fields in front of a view can be rezoned.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The farmhouse is in an agricultural zone, so we fear limits”

    Useful discussion because it shows what to ask the commune about an agricultural-zone farmhouse.

  • “My neighbours get free noise windows while I paid for my own”

    You'll learn why a noise perimeter on a map, and an objection filed in time, can decide compensation.

  • “We have been trying to sell our house for over two years”

    Interesting because the seller explains why a big house near the A1 stayed unsold despite three agents.

Signing the reservation · 15 stories “I paid CHF 27,000 in 24 hours for a flat that was never on sale”

The reservation deal, the deposit and why it is void without a notary

  • “I paid CHF 27,000 in 24 hours for a flat that was never on sale”

    You'll learn the pressure tactics behind a 24-hour deposit demand, and why getting it back stalled.

    BlickCHF 27,000 lostRead the post ↗
  • “We never expected to lose money on our Carona flat deposit”

    You'll see how a large reservation deposit can be trapped when the developer's project is seized.

  • “Our buyer cancelled right before the notary date we had set”

    You'll learn why a Swiss reservation is not the same as a notarised sale, even after a date is set.

  • “We paid CHF 65,000 to reserve a flat that had no building permit”

    You'll see which checks were skipped before the deposit: building permit, objections and debt records.

    TicinonlineCHF 9,000 kept as feesRead the post ↗
  • “The developer wants financing proof before reserving our flat”

    Useful thread because the reply shows which lenders issue a Finanzierungsnachweis for a reservation.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The seller wants our CHF 50k reservation paid to him”

    You’ll see why buyers questioned sending a large reservation sum straight to the seller, not escrow.

  • “The owner asked us for 15% three months before the transfer”

    The replies explain what the notarized contract must say before a large advance payment is safe.

  • “The developer still wanted a bank financing proof from us”

    You'll see what proof a developer can ask for when the balance depends on selling another home.

  • “The agent refused even to let us enter the house sale process”

    Worth reading because it shows how much power a listing agent has over who may even bid on a house.

  • “Our two-round silent auction suddenly became a third”

    Useful thread because buyers compare how repeated bid rounds work when several offers stay close.

  • “We lost several Zurich-area bids and never got any feedback”

    You'll see why sealed bids in Zurich give no feedback, and what losing buyers changed in later offers.

  • “We offered CHF 1.3m, then got a second bidding round”

    The replies explain how buyers use the bank valuation to cap a top-up when an agent calls a second round.

  • “The form asks my offer before I know how high to bid”

    You'll learn how Swiss sale forms ask for an offer before the viewing, and how buyers set that number.

  • “We bid 4.9% above asking after the bank set its limit”

    You'll see how a bank's maximum property valuation can shape a sealed-bid ceiling for buyers.

  • “We decided not to go further with the Geneva house deal”

    Worth reading because it shows what finance, pension and architect reviews flagged on a Geneva house.

Checking the land register and PPE · 18 stories “The contract shifts asbestos and radon remediation to us”

Easements, condominium rules, minutes and the renovation fund

  • “The contract shifts asbestos and radon remediation to us”

    You'll see which contract clauses push asbestos and radon costs onto the buyer of a 1970s flat.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “I should have hired a surveyor before buying my flat”

    Owners show what a building survey would have caught, and why skipping it is common in Switzerland.

    The Poor Swiss ForumsRead the post ↗
  • “A CHF131,500 builder lien put our jointly owned home at risk”

    You'll see why each spouse must contest a builder-lien debt separately when both own the property.

    K-GeldCHF 131,500 builder lienRead the post ↗
  • “Days before closing, our builder flagged asbestos in the walls”

    Worth reading because it shows what buyers can still do when asbestos is found days before closing.

  • “Liens appeared after I bought because firms were unpaid”

    You'll learn how a Bauhandwerkerpfandrecht can surface after purchase and what to check before closing.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “I bought in 2019 and found the garage access wasn't registered”

    You'll see why a garage access never entered in the land register can turn neighbours into toll payers.

  • “The brochure says 295 m2, but I calculate only 267 m2”

    Useful thread because it shows how to check a brochure's plot size against the land-register figures.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The agent keeps pushing us to take over an old Schuldbrief”

    The replies explain why taking over a seller's old Schuldbrief can cost the buyer, despite the agent.

  • “Our PPE fund holds CHF 125k, but the roof alone may cost more”

    Owners show which big-ticket works can overwhelm a seemingly healthy Erneuerungsfonds.

  • “Water comes through my roof, but the owners refuse repairs”

    You'll learn when a PPE owner can force action on a leaking common roof despite a hostile majority.

  • “My neighbour is selling, but I have no automatic veto”

    The replies explain where a PPE Vorkaufsrecht must be recorded before it can affect a neighbour's sale.

  • “The neighbour wants my parking Mitbenutzungsrecht deleted”

    You'll see why a Mitbenutzungsrecht in the Grundbuch cannot simply be erased by the other owner.

  • “The neighbour has a Wegrecht, and I want the path moved”

    Interesting because it shows who pays when the owner burdened by a registered Wegrecht moves the path.

  • “A Wegrecht crosses my land, and the access needs repairs”

    You'll learn where to look to divide repair costs on an access road burdened by a Dienstbarkeit.

  • “My balcony needs repair, and we disagree on who pays”

    You'll see which balcony parts belong to the PPE and which repair costs stay with the apartment owner.

  • “My roof window leaks, and we disagree over the repair bill”

    You'll learn how a PPE decides whether a leaking roof window is private or a common-property cost.

    Bon a SavoirRead the post ↗
  • “The Baurecht house was CHF 200k cheaper, but we'd pay land rent”

    You’ll see the trade-off between a lower purchase price and paying Baurechtszins for decades.

  • “We have bought a flat and will move in in about one year”

    You'll learn which PPE documents on the renovation fund buyers should have read before signing.

Applying for a Lex Koller permit · 3 stories “I live abroad and I am buying a Nendaz holiday home”

The cantonal permit, holiday-home quotas and a contract tied to it

  • “I live abroad and I am buying a Nendaz holiday home”

    The replies explain why Swiss lenders turn down a buyer living abroad for a holiday home to rent out.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “We thought gifting the holiday flat through a trust was exempt”

    You'll see how a trust transfer of a Grindelwald holiday flat triggered Lex Koller authorisation.

  • “Lex Koller cut my Crans-Montana chalet's auction value by 30%”

    You'll learn how the Lex Koller size limit shrinks the pool of foreign buyers, and what it does to price.

Signing the loan and payment promise · 17 stories “Our seller already wants a bank promise for the other 90%”

The mortgage contract, the notarised pledge and the bank's promise

  • “Our seller already wants a bank promise for the other 90%”

    The replies explain when a seller can demand a Zahlungsversprechen, years before a new flat is built.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The bank wants CHF 7,546 just to leave my fixed mortgage”

    You'll learn what drives a Vorfaelligkeitsentschaedigung before a fixed mortgage reaches maturity.

    K-GeldCHF 7,546 exit feeRead the post ↗
  • “I thought SARON reset dates let me switch lenders freely”

    You'll see the framework-contract clause that can lock a SARON borrower in despite rate resets.

    Mustachian PostRead the post ↗
  • “Our banks won't pay out the mortgage before ownership transfers”

    Useful thread because it shows why a new-build buyer may need the full 20% in cash before transfer.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “The project bank charges us 2.25% build interest for 18 months”

    You'll learn how a project bank's construction loan adds interest on top of rent before the keys.

  • “My SARON margin rose from 0.75% to 1.19% at the renewal”

    You'll see why the lender's margin, not only SARON itself, deserves scrutiny at mortgage renewal.

  • “We must pay 20% more than two years before getting the keys”

    Worth reading because it shows how much cash a new-build purchase ties up two years before handover.

  • “Our Pillar 2 needs 2–3 weeks, the seller wants cash now”

    The replies explain how Zahlungsversprechen bridges the timing gap between signing and pension payout.

  • “Our Pillar 2 cannot move before the notarized contract”

    Useful discussion because it separates the promise to buy from the later transfer of title.

  • “UBS expected us to sell flat one, but no buyer met our price”

    You'll see what happens when UBS funds a second flat on a promise to sell the first one quickly.

  • “The seller wants our irrevocable bank promise 18 months early”

    You'll learn what a bank can commit to long before completion when the seller demands payment certainty.

  • “Our bank demands every receipt and photo after buying”

    Owners show how mortgage conditions can keep affecting renovations long after the purchase closes.

  • “I raised the mortgage and now need a Registerschuldbrief”

    You'll learn why increasing a mortgage can trigger a new Schuldbrief and extra land-register costs.

  • “I want the buyer to take over my running SARON mortgage”

    You'll see when a buyer can take over the seller's SARON mortgage, and what it is worth to both.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “We must sell while our fixed mortgage is still running”

    You'll learn the three common ways to handle a fixed mortgage when the property is sold early.

  • “My bank sent five pages to transfer my fixed mortgage”

    You'll see when a bank can transfer a mortgage claim and whether the borrower must sign consent.

  • “I do not want my Credit Suisse mortgage moved to UBS”

    You'll learn why a bank merger does not automatically give a mortgage borrower a free exit right.

Signing the deed at the notary · 15 stories “We paid CHF 200,000 upfront, then our builder went bankrupt”

Public notarisation, state or private notaries and fees by canton

  • “We paid CHF 200,000 upfront, then our builder went bankrupt”

    You'll learn which registry extract to request before paying a builder a large first instalment.

    BlickCHF 100,000 extra eachRead the post ↗
  • “The contract makes us waive security against contractor liens”

    The replies explain why waiving a security retention exposes a new-build buyer to contractor liens.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “We moved in even without the required habitation permit”

    You'll see why a new-build buyer should verify the permit status before accepting a completed handover.

  • “We paid almost CHF 250,000 extra to fix our new-build house”

    You'll learn how a fixed-price new-build purchase left a young family exposed when the builder went bust.

    BlickCHF 250,000 lostRead the post ↗
  • “We paid CHF 600,000, then our builder went bankrupt mid-build”

    You'll see the warning signs, from delays to a successor company, before the contractor walked away.

  • “The geothermal heating was leased, over CHF 50,000 in 30 years”

    You'll learn who spotted the hidden heating cost in a new-build contract, and why price talks failed.

    Mustachian PostRead the post ↗
  • “UBS would only confirm our final terms after the notary signing”

    Useful thread because it shows what to secure from the bank before signing a project deed.

    The Poor Swiss ForumsRead the post ↗
  • “We paid 95%, then the canton stopped the building for a year”

    Owners show which payment-by-progress safeguards a new-build buyer should demand in the deed.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “My parents pay rent and mortgage for an unfinished home”

    You'll see why milestone invoices and who receives buyer payments matter before a build is complete.

  • “The draft sends our deposit to the seller six months early”

    You'll learn why a deposit paid straight to the seller months before transfer worries other buyers.

  • “We are over the build budget just weeks before the notary”

    You'll see how kitchen and parquet upgrades on a new house can push the price past the mortgage.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “We excluded warranty, then the heating failed a month later”

    Interesting because it shows what a Gewaehrleistungsausschluss shifts when defects appear after handover.

  • “I am putting more cash in, but we are buying the flat together”

    You'll see how an unmarried couple can match unequal cash contributions to land-registry shares.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “My 101-year-old mother gave me power to sell her house”

    You'll learn when a power of attorney for a Swiss property sale needs a notarised signature.

  • “My neighbour says he can block the buyer of my apartment”

    You'll see when a neighbour can influence a condo sale through pre-emption or an objection clause.

Paying at registration · 15 stories “We paid twice for the bathroom and kitchen, then got two liens”

The price paid as ownership is registered, and the seller's gains tax

  • “We paid twice for the bathroom and kitchen, then got two liens”

    You'll see how unpaid subcontractors can turn into legal mortgages on a Ticino family home.

    TicinonlineCHF 500,000 damageRead the post ↗
  • “I bought new, yet one door could not even close properly”

    You'll learn how defects appeared within weeks in a brand-new Ticino flat, including mould and floors.

  • “We rented out the replacement home before selling the old flat”

    You'll see how timing and actual self-use decide whether a replacement purchase defers property-gain tax.

  • “We sent registered letters about 13 defects and got no answer”

    You'll learn which defects new-build owners logged and what suing the developer cost them upfront.

  • “Our seller promised to fix the defects, then never did it”

    You'll see how acknowledging defects can stop a seller later claiming the buyers complained too late.

  • “The seller’s unpaid tax could become a lien on my home”

    You’ll learn why a seller’s deferred Grundstückgewinnsteuer can still matter after you buy.

  • “Six weeks before handover, the sellers told us of a roof leak”

    Worth reading because it shows what a buyer can claim when a defect appears between deed and keys.

  • “The seller defers tax, but our new home could secure the debt”

    The replies explain how a seller's deferred gains tax can follow the property to the new buyer.

  • “We bought the house, but the seller still had not left”

    Worth reading because the handover date, keys and seller’s belongings collided at the notary stage.

  • “My old house stood empty for three years before I sold it”

    You'll see why leaving a former home empty too long can destroy a capital-gains tax deferral.

  • “I bought the house, but the seller wants cash for the oil”

    You'll learn what normally transfers with a house when the Kaufvertrag says nothing about heating oil.

  • “Water entered the basement before we handed the house over”

    Worth reading because it shows who carries repair risk for damage between signing and the handover.

  • “We are about to get the keys to our newly built Vaud flat”

    You'll see which defects new-build buyers check at the Vaud handover before signing the protocol.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “I sold the flat, but some building invoices are still open”

    You'll learn how the Grundbuch transfer date helps split open PPE and heating bills between owners.

  • “We sold the house, but the contract says nothing on cleaning”

    You'll see what condition a Swiss seller must deliver when the Kaufvertrag says nothing about cleaning.

Paying transfer tax and fees · 7 stories “The notary estimated CHF 3,800 for our new mortgage bond”

No tax in Zurich, up to 3% in Geneva, and who pays it

  • “The notary estimated CHF 3,800 for our new mortgage bond”

    You'll learn why turning a bearer bond into a bigger mortgage note adds a notary bill in Vaud.

    Mustachian Post ForumCHF 3,800 notary billRead the post ↗
  • “We bought the house and then paid the notary costs too”

    You'll see why Swiss notary fees are not an income-tax deduction, but still matter at resale.

  • “Our broker filed the provisional gains tax without our costs”

    You'll learn which costs a seller must add to the provisional gains-tax filing before the agent does.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “The mortgage lien entry alone will cost us about CHF 1,000”

    You'll see which land-register fees come on top of the notary when the bank registers its lien.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “Our CHF 850k sale may lose roughly CHF 185k to costs and tax”

    Interesting because the seller lists every cost and tax that eats into a CHF 850k house sale.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “Past purchases taught me notary costs lack transparency”

    Useful discussion because it shows why notary fees in Vaud are so hard to predict on a large deal.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “Notary quotes for our Aargau purchase ranged from 0.2% to 0.4%”

    Useful thread because it shows how notary fees vary within one canton, and how buyers compare them.

If you plan to rent it out · 16 stories “I quadrupled the rent after renovating. Now I owe CHF 193,609”

90-day caps in Geneva and Lucerne, and condo rules that ban it

  • “I quadrupled the rent after renovating. Now I owe CHF 193,609”

    You'll learn which room-count rule in Geneva decides whether a renovated flat escapes rent control.

    BlickCHF 193,609 to repayRead the post ↗
  • “The broker's tenant had fake papers. I lost about CHF 50,000.”

    Owners show what a broker's tenant check missed, and how long an eviction can take in Switzerland.

    SRFCHF 50,000 lostRead the post ↗
  • “The other owners banned my Airbnb flat and the court agreed”

    Interesting because the condo rules the owner wrote himself were used to end his short-term rentals.

  • “I never dreamed our Airbnb lodge permits would cause such a fuss”

    Useful thread because it shows which permit issues can stall a Swiss holiday-rental project for years.

    SRFCHF 35,000 fineRead the post ↗
  • “I am buying a rented condo because my family needs the home”

    You'll see what an incoming owner can do when the flat is occupied but the buyer wants to move in.

    Tribune de GeneveRead the post ↗
  • “Our neighbour keeps filling his flat with Airbnb guests”

    You'll learn how a PPE Reglement or owners' vote can restrict repeated short-term Airbnb use.

  • “We rented it out instead of accepting an CHF 80k sale loss”

    The replies explain why renting out the flat can beat a forced sale for owners leaving Switzerland.

  • “The flat is tenanted, but we need it as our primary home”

    You'll learn how long it can take to move into a flat you buy with a tenant already living there.

  • “I bought two years ago and may need to rent the flat out”

    Worth reading because it shows what a pledged pillar 2 changes when an owner wants to rent the flat.

  • “We want three units for family, but all five are tenanted”

    Useful discussion because it shows how own-use terminations work when you buy a tenanted building.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “I rent my Zurich house to my daughter below market value”

    You'll see how a discounted family rent can create a Swiss income-tax problem for the homeowner.

  • “I never gave the official prior-rent form to my tenant”

    You'll learn how a missing Zurich rent form can let a tenant challenge the initial rent years later.

  • “My B-permit apartment is not ready yet, but I may rent it”

    The replies explain what a B-permit owner must check before renting out or using Airbnb for a flat.

  • “We cannot pass the Erneuerungsfonds payment to our tenant”

    You'll see which PPE charges a landlord cannot simply add to the tenant's ancillary costs.

  • “My tenant wants a rent cut because of the workshop noise”

    The replies explain when a known noise source below a rented flat does not justify a later rent reduction.

  • “My tenant never collected the registered payment demand”

    You'll learn when a landlord's payment deadline starts even if the tenant never collects the letter.

If you rebuild an old chalet · 17 stories “We bought the weekend house in 2010. It never had a valid permit”

Pre-2012 second homes, 30% extensions and extra units

  • “We bought the weekend house in 2010. It never had a valid permit”

    You'll see how a family bought a long-standing weekend house and later had to demolish it themselves.

  • “Our 1970 house needs CHF 300k-plus and still contains asbestos”

    Worth reading because it shows how asbestos and facade works stretched a 1970 house budget.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “We said chalet wellness rooms should not count as living area”

    You'll see how pool, sauna and fitness space can push an old second-home rebuild beyond the 30% limit.

  • “I had notarised deeds, yet they ordered my chalets demolished”

    You'll learn how deeds and old permits still ended in a demolition order outside the building zone.

  • “I had two local approvals, but Bern still blocked my rustico”

    You'll see how a locally approved Ticino rustico can still be blocked by federal out-of-zone rules.

  • “After 45 years of work on my house, demolition was ordered”

    You'll learn why a house outside the building zone is at risk even when the commune seemed to agree.

  • “Two firms told me CHF 450k to 500k barely covers the works”

    The replies explain why renovating a 1970s Zurich house costs so much, and where quotes differ.

  • “We bought the 1974 flat, then a leak forced tiles open”

    You'll see why testing for asbestos before any repair matters in a 1970s flat you have just bought.

  • “Our CHF 600k house may need CHF 300k to 400k of renovation”

    Owners show how fast roof, heating and insulation bills add up on an old Basel-area house.

  • “We just spent CHF 17k on windows. The veranda may cost 15k.”

    Worth reading because it shows the follow-on costs that keep coming after a heavy renovation.

    Mustachian Post ForumCHF 32k of repairsRead the post ↗
  • “We bought a 300-year-old protected house and must rebuild it”

    Useful thread because it shows what heritage protection imposes when you rebuild an old house.

  • “We are days from a deposit on an old chalet with unknown risks”

    You'll see what a chalet buyer should settle about foundations and septic tanks before a deposit.

  • “We repaired our 1966 holiday house and ended up in court”

    The replies explain how repairs to a protected holiday house can trigger orders to undo parts of the work.

  • “Our CHF 200k Valais flat still needs a roof and insulation”

    You'll learn which works a cheap Valais village flat may need before you can really use it.

    Mustachian Post ForumRead the post ↗
  • “I want to demolish our old chalet and rebuild it larger”

    You'll see how the revised second-home law lets some pre-2012 chalets rebuild with up to 30% more area.

    Tribune de GeneveRead the post ↗
  • “We bought the house two years ago, then a biting smell appeared”

    The replies explain what an old flue can do to indoor air after you renovate a bought house.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
  • “My coordinator billed a full CHF 150 hour for every tiny check”

    Useful thread because it shows which billing terms to agree with a renovation coordinator first.

    Haus-Forum.chRead the post ↗
If you keep it for many years · 22 stories “Our Anzere tourist tax jumped to about CHF1,200 a year”

The imputed rental tax ending in 2029 and new second-home taxes

  • “Our Anzere tourist tax jumped to about CHF1,200 a year”

    You'll see how a second-home levy based on six beds hit owners whose house had only one bedroom.

    BlickCHF 1,200 a year taxRead the post ↗
  • “Without this tax, I would pay CHF 2,195 more than now”

    Owners show how to estimate their own tax bill once Eigenmietwert and interest deductions go.

    Mustachian Post ForumCHF 2,195 more taxRead the post ↗
  • “We will live abroad but keep our Swiss condo for short stays”

    You'll see why emigrating does not remove the Swiss imputed-rent tax on a home you keep available.

  • “I heat only when necessary because I cannot afford more”

    Interesting because it shows how retirement and income shocks can push a long-held home to forced sale.

  • “I fought a CHF 150 holiday-flat tax to Federal Court and lost”

    You'll learn which local levies out-of-canton owners must pay, and what fighting them in court costs.

    BlickCHF 4,200 court costsRead the post ↗
  • “Owning half the house added nearly CHF 8,000 to my income tax”

    The replies explain how a gifted half-share creates Eigenmietwert tax even after you move out.

  • “We fear the bank may not renew our mortgage after retirement”

    You'll see how the five-percent affordability test can threaten a mortgage renewal even at low debt.

  • “I used a company because the seller required it for the chalet”

    You'll learn why the Federal Court still treated a company holding one St Moritz chalet as tax avoidance.

  • “We bought a Ticino holiday flat but live and work in Aargau”

    You'll see how a heavily used holiday flat can raise questions about a married couple's tax residence.

  • “We rent our house to our son below the Eigenmietwert”

    You'll learn when a below-market family rent still leaves the owner taxed on full Eigenmietwert.

  • “The tax office raised my house value after a purchase right”

    You'll see how a registered future price can wrongly trigger a higher property-tax value too early.

  • “We used our savings to amortise, then lacked cash for PK”

    Worth reading because it shows the cash squeeze that can follow heavy amortisation before a PK buy-in.

    St. Galler TagblattRead the post ↗
  • “My Eigenmietwert is CHF 22,000 though one room is unused”

    You'll learn when an under-use deduction can reduce Eigenmietwert after a child leaves the family home.

  • “We bought last year and now must place renovation costs”

    The replies explain which renovation costs count as deductible upkeep and which add value.

  • “We bought a house together last year, so now I must file tax”

    You'll learn why buying a home ends tax at source for foreigners and forces a full tax return.

  • “I used Saeule 3a to amortise, then Zurich sent tax bills”

    You'll see how a 3a capital withdrawal used for mortgage amortisation is declared and taxed separately.

  • “We are retiring with a CHF 450,000 mortgage still open”

    Worth reading because pension income changes Tragbarkeit and the choice to amortise or keep PK cash.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “I paid heavily into the fund, but cannot take it when I sell”

    You'll see why an Erneuerungsfonds balance stays with the PPE lot and can affect a future sale price.

  • “I sold three flats in ten years and Vaud taxed me as a dealer”

    You'll learn how a few resales can change the property gains tax rate the canton applies to your flat.

    20 minutesCHF 7,000 extra taxRead the post ↗
  • “The bank wants to reassess everything after I inherited the flat”

    Interesting because it shows what a bank may request when an inherited home changes mortgage borrower.

  • “My mortgage is due, and Eigenmietwert reform changes the math”

    You'll learn which mortgage-renewal inputs change when Eigenmietwert and interest deductions disappear.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗
  • “Our home gained value, and we want to reduce the gains tax”

    You'll see which renovation records and selling costs can reduce taxable property gains at exit.

    Luzerner ZeitungRead the post ↗

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