Glossary · Sell
Property gains tax is a Geneva cantonal tax levied on the capital gain made on the sale of a property, that is, the difference between the sale price and the purchase price (plus recognised investment expenses). Its rate depends on how long the property has been held: the longer the period of ownership, the lower the tax rate. This tax is payable by the seller and should be factored into the calculation of the net return on a sale.
Glossary
A direct sale via a notary is a property transaction concluded between a seller and a buyer without an intermediary, with the notary involved only to authenticate the final deed. This…
Sell
The droit de préemption (right of pre-emption) is the legal right granted to a person or public authority to acquire a property as a priority, ahead of any other buyer, when the owner…
Sell
Guides
Guide
In French-speaking Switzerland, a rental property investment yields between 2% and 3% gross in Geneva and more like 3% to 4% in the canton of Vaud, with higher levels…
14 min read
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Guide
In Switzerland, buying a main residence requires at least 20% equity, of which at least 10% must come from hard equity, meaning sources other than the 2nd pillar. For a…
10 min read
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Guide
Buying a property in Geneva without negotiating means leaving money on the table. In a canton where the median price of an apartment exceeds CHF 1.3 million and…
11 min read
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