If Switzerland was human, it would have starred in Gattaca alongside the young Jude Law. Not only is the country beautiful in that gene manipulated way, it also possesses other attractive qualities such as excellent infrastructure, a good banking system, great healthcare and a population of multilingual and generally hardworking natives. Other desirable national characteristics include political and economic stability, as well as, perhaps most importantly, low tax rates. No wonder, then, that Brits and investors from other European countries fall over themselves to land a piece of real estate in the clean and efficient nation that is Switzerland.

While the housing markets in most European countries are in tatters, or at least weakened, Switzerland’s property sector remains almost superhumanly strong. Not only is the influx of foreign investors on the increase, the market is also boosted by the large number of natives moving their rocky investments from abroad back to the relatively predictable domestic shores. The low interest rates certainly contribute to the demand, and the entire property spectrum is in demand, from family houses and pied a terres to alpine chalets.

Eased restrictions for non-natives
In the past, restrictions on the Swiss housing market for foreign would-be investors made it near impossible for non-natives to buy properties in the country.  In the past few years, however, the Swiss Federal government has eased its restrictions and has set an annual quota permit that allows non-resident foreign nationals to purchase Swiss properties. To improve the buying process further, the Cantonal authorisation policy has been relaxed, which has helped to speed up transactions significantly. Still, bear in mind that regulations and rules vary slightly from canton to canton. Also, the buy-to-let market is only open to foreigners for subsidised housing, and authorisation has to be granted.

Switzerland is certainly no bargain basement for property, and the real estate supply in the country is far from vast. There are still properties available and, in terms of investment specifics, there are different niche markets to consider and investors have distinctly different agendas. Some choose to buy a property in the Alps in order to capitalise on holiday lettings, whereas others look to relocate permanently to one of the country’s many worthy cities that boast good business opportunities.

The appeal of Villars
Since Switzerland is such a tourist draw, it’s easy to see why buying a holiday home to let is an attractive proposition. However, as mentioned above, the buy-to-let market is only open to foreigners for subsidised housing, and the acquisition of residential real estate by foreigners for rental requires prior authorisation. If opting to buy a chalet with plans to cash in on the vacation lets of the skiing season, the prime alpine area of Verbier might be the first destination that comes to mind. Although the locale is world-famous for its quality skiing and certainly a sought-after winter holiday destination, it’s not necessarily the locale that is going to yield the biggest returns, since the short winter season limits the period during which funds can be raised. Another point to consider, and a contributing reason why the purchase might be less of a commercial success than hoped for, is that prices for chalets in the region can be expensive, with prices starting at SFr.500,000 and stretching to about SFr.6m.

To turn your real estate venture in to a lucrative affair, opt to purchase a property in
an alpine spot that offers good renting prospects all year round. Villars is one such place.

Far from a tourist magnet, this little resort is mainly known to family holiday makers, as it’s revered for its child-friendly services that combine outdoorsy activities and culture, all year round. The family-focused format of the resort is very much a niche that could be capitalised upon to the full.

When considering the buy to let option in the Swiss Alps, particularly when attempting to attract guests of the family type, easy access to the amenities and services is paramount. Visitors decamping to Villars for their annual skiing holiday have the benefit of direct lift linkage to Les Diablerets that offers glacier pistes up to 3000m.

Aside from the vast plethora of skiing and snow sport activities served up, Villars is just as suitable a summer resort. Some snow free activities include Nordic walking (endurance walking equipped with walking poles), mountain biking, climbing, and trekking. Far from isolated, Villars lies in close proximity to other interesting destinations such as Bex, which is situated only a hop and a skip away down the valley. Aigle is located nearby, too, as is the neighbouring community of Gryon, which is located 4km away, and reachable via the Bex–Villars train line.

The cultural heritage of Basel
Compact yet with a cosmopolitan feel to it, Basel should be a particularly attractive option to culturally inclined minds looking to settle in Switzerland. Despite its pintsized format, many international corporations and smaller enterprises have set up base in the city, which also plays host to world-renowned fair Basel World, showcasing the latest in the world of watches and fine jewellery. The impact of the Basel World fair is so pronounced that the city has almost become synonymous with fine time pieces and jewellery, and the entire industry descends on the picturesque town every spring.

Sparkling jewels and watches aside, Basel is also something of a draw for architects. The city is home to a respectable string of buildings conceived by internationally renowned names in the world of architecture. The Beyeler Foundation, for example, is designed by Renzo Piano, while Frank Gehry is the creative force behind the design museum. Tadao Ando, meanwhile, lent his creativity to the conference centre, and Mario Botta to the Jean Tinguely Museum and the Bank of International settlements. Herzog & de Meuron, the architects behind Tate Modern, are also very much present in town, and even run their architectural practice in Basel.

Basel is certainly a destination with a thriving cultural life, particularly so when it comes to music. Founded in 1933, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a respected institution and serves as the centre for research on music from the Medieval through the Baroque eras. The school also performs notable music productions. To map Basel’s music heritage further, the largest orchestra in Switzerland, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, is based in town. It is also the home of the Kammerorchester Basel, and the baroque orchestras La Cetra and Capriccio Basel.  For the lover of the theatre, Theater Basel presents a respectable schedule of plays, but also serves as the main gathering point for the city’s opera and ballet companies.

If the cultural wealth and compact living of Basel appeals, landing a property in town is not out of reach. In the past couple of decades, plenty of new residential developments
have sprung up. The most sought after residential areas in Basel are found along the banks of the river Rhine: Wettstein in Kleinbasel St, Alban in Grossbasel and Gellert, an area signified by its many old, imposing estates. At the very top end of the market, some of the most luxurious apartments are located in the old historic town. Further afield, yet no more than 15 minutes drive away from the city, is Bettingen – a picturesque village nestling high above the city.

Zurich, city of bankers
It might seem a predictable spot to cover, but since Zurich is such a niche destination it shouldn’t be overlooked. Attracting a vast number of international businesses, Zurich is a leading financial centre, and most Swiss banks operate from headquarters in town, as well as a respectable number of foreign banks that spread out in the Greater Zurich Area. The Swiss Stock Exchange is also located in Zurich – established in 1877, it’s now one of the top stock exchanges in the world. Adding yet more to its wealth of business focused
ventures, Zurich is the world’s largest gold trading centre. Moreover, many of the
country’s largest companies have chosen to base their headquarters in town. To mention
but a few: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss Re and Zurich Financial Services are all gathered in Zurich, along with a host of media and entertainment companies.

As a product of the city’s financial and business-led profile, it’s a given top spot for high flying professionals and the society has adapted to cater to the tastes and need of this particular demographic. As such, Zurich is by no means an easily affordable place to live, with steep house prices and a lifestyle to match.

Big banks and global corporations are not all Zurich has to offer: perched on the bank of Limmat River and with alpine peaks visible in the distance, the city is often referred to as the portal of the Alps. Although know to be squeaky clean and highly efficient, in recent years the city has boosted its presence both in the world of the arts and the sphere of popular culture. Another prominent aspect of the city is its medieval architecture. The imposing church that is Grossmunster is something of a city landmark, as is the Kunthaus art gallery.  The medieval Old Town, meanwhile, stretches over a considerable area of the city centre and is defined by the steep, cobbled alleyways of the Niedderdorf district.

Over to the real estate market, most residential areas are located in the suburbs of Zurich, but more centrally located properties are available, too. Overall, standards are high, and newer apartments often feature floor heating and additional heating systems near windows to combat the chilly winter temperatures.