With many people choosing to move to Switzerland to give their families a better quality of life, the need for more housing is on the rise. The small country does not have too much land for new home constructions but it still has plenty of apartments and houses to rent. Eventually people relocating to the country can own their own properties but they may have to start by renting.
The first major task for people relocating to Switzerland is to understand the housing requirements of the country. You have to be flexible especially when it comes to the location and if you are a foreigner, you cannot purchase a place of your own if you have no intention of living in the country for more than six years. It is you rent first, then purchase later. This is hard to do on your own and you can only do it through a trusted realtor or real estate agents.
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Factors to consider when looking for a house or property
Real estate agents
Understanding the real estate market in any new place is hard. In Switzerland, realtors and estate agents control the market and finding the right is not an easy task. One of the most trusted estate agents in Switzerland is Cosmos Values Real Estate who has enough experience and knowledge of the country to help you move into any city that you wish to live. They will give you all the advice you need concerning renting and buying.
If you need a residential or work permit, you can trust you to help you with that too. Cosmos values will also ensure that they find you a place that goes with your specifications and within your budget. Since they know the environment of every place, they will ensure that you move to the best neighborhoods and you are close to the best schools.
Other things they will consider while finding you a place to live are access to public transport and recreational activities you can engage in during your free time.
Buying a house/property
Over the last ten years, buying a house in Switzerland is not as expensive as it was before then. This is because the country extends its mortgage to 100 years with only a minimum of 20% deposit requirement. With the help of your realtor, you can find expert mortgage brokers to help you out if you want to buy a home. Every property you own is subject to taxation depending on the canton you choose to live.
Renting a house
Compared to many other countries from across the world, tenants living in Switzerland have the law protecting them with more rights there are many tenants associations in the country that offer every kind of advice to all the members renting houses here. Competition for rental houses is also very high making it very difficult to find decent homes in the country. This again is where the use of real estate agents comes in.
Larger cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Basel have higher rental rates as compared to rural areas. Majority of the houses have four bedrooms and less, and they come with communal parking and other amenities. These other amenities include playgrounds for kids, green spaces, grocery stores and recreational centers. Many of the rental places have long-term tenancies that last from twenty to over fifty years.
Wrapping it up
While many of the people that relocate to the country may want to own their own properties and homes because of the flexibility of mortgage payments, it is not a very easy thing to do. The best option is to start by renting as you continue to look for a place to call your own. It is also important to note that some of the people that are not Swiss nationals may find it harder to buy property here.
Another thing to note is that you need the help of real estate agents to find the best whether you are renting or buying. For this, you can trust cosmos real estate agents to make your transition to Switzerland stress free.
