How does the house – buying process work?
House prices have historically been very stable in Switzerland, and with capital gains tax levied on individually owned real estate, house purchase in Switzerland is best considered as a lifestyle choice rather than as an investment decision. If the purchase is primarily investment driven, you should be considering a 10 year term if you wish to optimise total returns compared against total purchase costs. By contrast, France has recently seen quite significant property price growth, and this is particularly true of the French departments which surround Geneva. However with a strengthening Euro v Swiss Franc exchange rate, prices have fallen from their highs recently. Even so it is generally still true to say that you can buy more for your money in nearby France than Switzerland. There may be resale restrictions on the bought property; in some Swiss cantons, notably the Valais, foreign buyers cannot sell their property within 5 or 10 years of purchase. There may also be restrictions on
