Purchasing Real Estate

Switzerland has complex purchase and taxation laws and we feel that our clients should be best informed of these issues before making commitments, we can arrange for you to meet one of our commercial lawyers so you are best advised.

Commercial Property Purchase

In Switzerland commercial property can be purchased by a private non-resident and by a non-resident company. However it is not possible for the above to purchase residential property, or to develop residential projects in Switzerland.

Commercial property is defined as office space, hotels, operating businesses(not in residential), shopping centers, restaurants, retirement home, also a building with a large commercial portion compared to the residential. (this ratio varies from region to region and must be checked first for each property).

A non-resident company or private non-resident person can purchase a Hotel-apart business or build a Hotel-apart and sell a portion of the properties under residential sales but only in given touristic areas such as Ski resorts, and should seek our advise before entering into such a project.

It is not permitted for a Swiss company to be created to enter into residential property activity unless the majority shareholder for the company is a Swiss resident.

We can advise you on all aspects of non-resident property purchase.