The cost of home ownership in Switzerland continues to rise in July 2026, but at a significantly slower pace. Flats are still up by 0.3 per cent month-on-month, whilst detached houses have risen by just 0.1 per cent. At the same time, fixed-rate mortgages rose noticeably up to 25 July, making

In Basel’s Steinenvorstadt district, the demolition of an entire row of houses has suddenly ceased to be merely a matter of urban development. Four historic buildings have been listed on the cantonal register of listed buildings, and the conflict between preservation and urban densification is

At Bischofszell railway station, the former hemp factory site is to be redeveloped with two new buildings and an extension to an existing building. The plans include 38 rental flats and around 740 square metres of commercial space. The project will be presented at the town hall on 24 August

According to a recent analysis by Wüest Partner, Appenzell Innerrhoden tops the list of Swiss cantons with the highest risk of overvaluation for detached houses. Prices there are around 16 per cent above their fundamental value, but the small size of the market means this warning is susceptible to

At Badenerstrasse 501 to 505 in Zurich Altstetten, the way is now clear for a new replacement development. Sixty-five rental flats and commercial premises are to be built on the 1,700-square-metre site. The decision takes a long-planned project into the next concrete

Although the approval of around 52,000 new homes marks a statistical turning point in Switzerland, this is barely noticeable on the rental market. Construction is taking place mainly outside the regions with the greatest shortages, whilst refurbishments are tying up capacity and asking rents

With the Niderfeld project, Dietikon is developing one of the largest contiguous development areas in the Limmat Valley, covering around 40 hectares. Following a planning process spanning several decades, the Niderfeld project is on the verge of becoming legally binding. This article provides an

Despite the rent register, the debate on expropriation and the electoral risk, major rental housing projects are continuing to get under way in Berlin. The reason is straightforward, yet risky for developers. Demand remains high, but political uncertainty and rents exceeding 20 euros per square

956 valid signatures were enough in Zollikofen to put the rezoning of the Steinibachgrube to a public vote. This means that a housing project comprising around 140 flats will become a political litmus test for urban densification, the risk posed by contaminated sites and traffic

Temperatures of 39 degrees in German-speaking Switzerland and tropical nights in the cities are shifting the focus when it comes to home ownership. Prospective buyers are paying closer attention to shade, greenery and protection from the summer heat, whilst overheated locations and poorly insulated

23 local authorities in the Baden region are refining their joint development strategy. A new Regional Development Strategy (RES) is due to be finalised by the end of 2026. For urban development, housing, transport and open spaces, this is more than just a piece of paper, as the association brings

750 million dollars by 2035, 500,000 additional homeowner households and a more than 40 per cent increase in mortgage volume. The largest US bank is banking on an aggressive expansion of financing in the weak US housing market, thereby turning access to home ownership into a growth area – of all

The greater Basel area is on the cusp of a boom in the construction of high-rise residential buildings, which will visibly transform the region within a decade. What was previously just three residential high-rises over 60 metres tall is set to become a dense network of new projects between the

An annual inflation rate of 0.5 per cent in June 2026 and an SNB key interest rate of 0 per cent will spare fixed-rate mortgages maturing by the end of the year the acute impact of rising interest rates. At present, the greatest influence often lies not with monetary policy, but with the banks’

Where vacant premises now dominate and shop windows are hidden behind masking tape, a vibrant urban neighbourhood is set to emerge by 2033. Baloise has given the go-ahead for four new buildings on the Dreispitz site in Dietikon. An 80-metre-high tower block will mark the start of this new chapter.

While Zurich trembles in anticipation of the referendum on its own high-rise ambitions, towers elsewhere continue to soar skyward. Basel and Dübendorf are engaged in a quiet competition for Switzerland’s most spectacular skyline. One city is banking on pharmaceutical capital and star architects,

A good energy label should protect against the summer heat, not give in to it. More and more residents of Minergie buildings are complaining that their apartments heat up to 28 to 29 degrees despite strict standards. The Minergie Association is now responding by considering a possible tightening of

Sometimes, just a few extra words in a piece of legislation are enough to overturn the status quo. That’s exactly what’s happening now at Swiss Post, where a minor revision to the Postal Act could have a major impact. The very idea of having your own mailbox on your front doorstep is suddenly

Cranes are once again a common sight on Swiss construction sites. Last year, the number of new apartments approved was the highest it has been in eight years. Anyone hoping for lower rents is likely to be disappointed. The construction boom is simply not enough to meet the pent-up

A planning application has been submitted for 24 barrier-free flats for people aged 60 and over on Landstrasse in Lengnau. The project, led by the Mühlihalde co-operative, aims to bridge the gap between living at home and moving into a care home at a later stage; however, the start date for

Ten objections are holding up the preventive resettlement project in Brienz/Brinzauls. However, the municipality of Albula/Alvra only gave its clear approval for the loan of 82.56 million Swiss francs on 10 July 2026. For property owners, this means that not only the financing but also the

Following the ‘yes’ vote at the ballot box, the development plan for the Metalli site in Zug has come through the public consultation period without any objections. This means that development of the site can now proceed. The next concrete step will be an architectural competition for the

Construction of a mixed-use residential and commercial building is set to begin in early August on the site of the former EPA car park in Grenchen. The plans include a new bank branch on the ground floor, 28 rental flats on the upper floors, and occupancy is expected around two years after

On Lägernstrasse in Dietikon, postwar buildings that have long outlived their usefulness are being demolished. In their place, a new urban neighborhood is taking shape—one that not only provides housing but also showcases what urban densification can look like in the Limmat Valley. It features

Evolène and Goms top the list of the most affordable Alpine destinations analysed for 2026. According to UBS, prices for holiday homes there stand at 6,600 and 6,700 Swiss francs per square metre. At the same time, prices for second homes in the Alps continued to rise across Switzerland in 2025,

In the Tscharnergut neighbourhood of Bern and in other residential areas, heritage conservation and housing regeneration are at loggerheads. Whilst property owners and housing cooperatives are pushing for replacement buildings, objections are dragging proceedings out for years, thereby exacerbating

At the Messeplatz in Basel, the start of construction on the Rosentalturm has been postponed once again. Demolition of the existing exhibition centre car park is now set to begin only after the Autumn Fair and the Baloise Session, whilst the building permit from the Canton of Basel-Stadt is still

A concrete building project has been proposed for the Gimenen municipal site in Zug for the first time. Plans include widening Gimenenstrasse and constructing a new bus turning loop. However, there is still no legal basis under planning law for the affordable housing development that has been under

In Zurich, 18.4 per cent of tenants in self-supporting council flats exceed the income thresholds. This affects around 1,400 out of approximately 7,700 flats. The city does not yet know which households are affected, as the figures are calculated anonymously. Individual checks are not planned until

In Switzerland, published mortgage reference rates have risen across all standard terms since the start of July 2026. This means that new mortgages are becoming more expensive for homeowners and buyers, even though effective interest rates remain below the spring highs and banks are coming under