Housing: Rents fall, purchase prices rise
According to the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index of September 2016, asking rents and prices for single-family homes each fell by 0.6 percent compared with the previous month. Prices for owner-occupied apartments, on the other hand, recorded an increase of 1.9 percent following a downward trend.
Following a brief period of slight growth in asking rents in August, the downward trend seen in previous months continued in September. The Swiss Real Estate Offer Index for asking rents, compiled by ImmoScout 24 and IAZI, stood at an annual average gross rental price of around CHF 263 per square meter of living space as of September 30, down 0.6% on the previous month of August.
The reductions in the asking prices of condominiums in July and August of this year were neutralized again in September. In figures, this means an increase of 1.9 percent last month. "The next few months will show whether this is just a summer hole that has been closed again or whether prices will continue to rise above the 7,150-franc mark for a square meter of net living space," comments Martin Waeber, Director of ImmoScout24. The price increase on an annual basis was most recently 3.3 percent.
Single-family homes were quoted at a median asking price of CHF 6,020 per square meter of net living space in September, 0.6 percent lower than in August. On an annual basis, there was nevertheless a moderate increase of 0.6 percent across Switzerland. (ah)
