
The “imputed rental value” trick that failed in court
Higher tax bills, delayed decisions, political squabbles. With the largest revaluation of its real estate since 1998, the canton of Aargau has stirred up a hornet’s nest. An external expert report now offers a clear assessment of a controversial political initiative. The demand by the FDP and SVP

Time pressure weighs on project values
Housing remains in short supply, but lengthy procedures, new regulations, and political uncertainty are hampering development. This is putting increasing pressure on valuations, particularly for new construction and replacement projects, because delays and safety margins directly reduce the

Zurich is driving the market for condominiums
Asking prices for residential real estate continue to rise in Switzerland, but the picture is becoming more uneven. In June 2026, condominium prices nationwide rose by 4.5 percent compared with the previous year. The Zurich region saw particularly strong growth, while single-family homes are

Germany’s rental market is outpacing incomes
In major German cities, asking rents have been rising significantly faster than real wages since 2023. At the same time, housing construction fell to 206,600 completions in 2025. This is increasing the pressure on project developers, investors, and cities to provide affordable




Housing preferences and the market are drifting apart
According to the 2026 Dream Home Study, 43 per cent of those surveyed would prefer to live in the countryside, but rising prices, a shortage of properties and high barriers to financing are keeping many in urban centres. The gap is particularly wide among young city

Switzerland is slipping down the rankings
Switzerland has slipped to third place in the 2026 IMD ranking. The slump in economic performance strikes at the heart of the country’s competitiveness: as growth slows and foreign trade comes under pressure, the demands on investment, land and regulation also

Vaz/Obervaz is putting more pressure on the housing market
It is not Zurich, but Vaz/Obervaz that has the most acute housing shortage in the latest municipal ranking. For the Graubünden housing market, this is more than just a curiosity: a vacancy rate of 0 per cent is coupled with tourist demand, construction activity and a limited housing

The housing market remains strong yet vulnerable
The Swiss National Bank considers the residential property market to remain vulnerable in 2025, even though a nationwide correction has not materialised for years. At the same time, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), prices rose again by 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

Private banks are growing, but pressure on margins is mounting
With assets totalling 3.5 trillion Swiss francs, Swiss private banks are set to reach a new asset high in 2025. At the same time, rising costs are eating into profits, particularly at medium-sized institutions. This is increasing the pressure for consolidation in a key part of the financial centre

Zurich is intensifying pressure on the rental market
Across Switzerland, the number of rental apartments advertised between April 2025 and March 2026 was about 4 percent lower than in the previous year. At the same time, the average time an apartment remained listed in Zurich fell to 12 days, marking the lowest figure ever recorded for a major Swiss


Energy supplier achieves solid half-year result despite market uncertainties
Despite what it describes as challenging geopolitical conditions, Axpo achieved a solid result in the first half of 2026. At CHF 836 million, EBIT was roughly on a par with the previous year. The company cites a consistent diversification strategy as the reason for its

Schindellegi and the wet ground
High above Lake Zurich, a development for the top league is being built in Schindellegi. But things are bubbling underneath the building site. Artesian groundwater, a year of standstill and hesitant buyers are turning the prestigious project into a stress test for developers, authorities and the

When immigration causes wealth to explode
Switzerland has become a nine-million society at full throttle. Anyone who bought a home in the right place during this time is now sitting on a wealth effect of historic proportions. Property prices and land values have multiplied in many centers, while wages have only increased

Ticino is attractive, but picky
A high quality of life, a strategically favorable location and attractive yields make Ticino an attractive location for real estate investors. However, image and location alone are not enough to really convince capital from German-speaking Switzerland. Manuel Gamper, founder of Leading Investors,

Bubble fears, stable cash flows
The Swiss real estate market appears overheated to many observers, but the picture in the capital market engine room is more nuanced. The yield spread between core real estate and risk-free investments remains comfortable. Institutional investors continue to push capital into prime locations. This

Study warns of new price dynamics on the housing market
Rental price momentum on the Swiss residential property market is likely to pick up again after a relative lull due to a shortage of supply, high demand and rising construction costs. Nevertheless, construction activity remains low due to extensive regulations, according to a study by the

Study sees regulation as a barrier to suitable housing
According to Fürschi Züri, ensuring that housing in Zurich remains affordable and of high quality requires the development of residential areas in line with demand and a significant increase in construction activity. Furthermore, the housing market should not be subject to stricter regulation,

Property is driving growth in the crowdfunding market
The Swiss crowdfunding market grew again in 2025 for the first time since the record year of 2021. A study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts shows that a total of 629 million Swiss francs was raised via crowdfunding platforms. Property projects are driving this

Property company boosts profits despite higher costs
The Zurich-based property company Züblin is satisfied with its performance in the 2025/26 financial year. Despite higher property-related expenses, Züblin increased its operating profit by 4.6 per cent to CHF 9.2 million. Profit fell slightly to CHF 7.5 million, whilst EPRA profit rose to CHF 5

Federal Council sees scope for extending the operating life of nuclear power stations
Extending the operating life of the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power stations to 80 years is technically feasible and, in the most likely scenarios, economically viable as well. This is shown in a report adopted by the Federal Council. The retrofitting work would cost between 0.7 and 1.2 billion

Winterthur is strengthening security of supply with new energy solutions
In the 2025 financial year, Stadtwerk Winterthur generated CHF 36 million, around CHF 10 million more than in the previous year. This is attributed to low temperatures and favourable energy procurement. Meanwhile, the expansion of renewable energy is

Politics takes center stage
Ahead of the referendum on June 14, 2026, the focus of the Swiss residential real estate market is shifting to housing policy proposals and the national 10 million initiative. At the same time, slightly higher long-term interest rates are making valuations more sensitive, while the structural

The Ticino real estate market is reshuffling
Across Switzerland, investment in new construction fell by 2.7 percent in 2024. In Ticino, this decline comes against the backdrop of an already tense situation. The vacancy rate fell from 2.08% to 1.92% in the space of a year, marking the first significant downward trend in years. What sounds like


Zurich minimises construction risks in North America with telematics
The North American representative of insurer Zurich has unveiled a new video telematics initiative as part of National Construction Safety Week. The aim is to promote safe driving behaviour on construction projects and thus reduce risks for construction stakeholders. The initiative is part of a
