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Define your search criteria

Define the search criteria and only look for properties that meet your expectations and your realistic budget to save time. Calculate your budget already and contact your banker, insurer or pension fund. Calculate your budget.
In principle, you will have to provide 20% of your own funds, not more than 10% can come from the 2nd pillar if you meet certain conditions. Annuities must not exceed one third of your income. Acquisition costs must be added to the purchase price. Count between 5 and 6% calculated on the purchase price.In Geneva, it is the purchaser who must pay all the acquisition costs. In Switzerland, the broker is mandated by the seller and the buyer does not have to pay a brokerage commission, unless he has concluded a search mandate.

I strongly recommend that you see your banker or insurer even before you start looking for a villa to simulate a financial plan and calculate a realistic budget. More details: Calculate your budget for the purchase of your principal home (Switzerland)

Buying a home takes time

Buying a home is an important decision. It is worth setting aside enough time to find the house that suits you best, to get informed, to study the offers and to find the financing that suits your personal situation. 

The form of the contract

The promise to sell and the sale of a property are only valid if they are concluded in the form of a deed of sale. In Geneva, the notary who must draw it up. He will also take care of the registration in the land register which is necessary for the acquisition of the property.

Lex Koller

The Lex Koller regulates the acquisition of real estate by persons abroad. If you are a national of a member state of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and are legally resident in Switzerland, the purchase is not subject to the Lex Koller. If you are a cross-border commuter with a G permit, you will be able to buy a second home in the area where you work. If you are a national of another country and have a C permit, you can buy a property in Switzerland if you are acting on your own account and if no more than one third of the financing for the property comes from abroad. If you have a B residence permit, you will be able to buy a property in which you live permanently.

Family housing

If you are married or in a partnership and wish to buy a principal residence that serves as a home for you and your spouse, you can only buy your family home with the express consent of your spouse.

Concubines

You can buy the house on your own and your partner will live with you and have no rights or duties on the property. You can also buy it as a 50/50 co-ownership or in another parts. If you buy it in joint ownership, everyone owns the entire property and has no share and decisions can only be made unanimously. It is useful to enter into a cohabitation contract. To protect your partner against the risk of death, you can take out insurance against the risk of death with a disability pension. In addition, you can conclude an inheritance contract, and if your legal heirs agree, you can have them sign an inheritance waiver contract. You can bequeath the house to your partner by will and in the event of death your partner would have to pay the compulsory share to the legal heirs.

 

© Written and translated by Esther Lauber, Real Estate Trustee with Advanced Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training, real estate broker in Geneva
Translated from French to English with DeepL, in case of doubt, the French or Germain version should apply

 

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