Housing Finance, Prices, and Tenure in Switzerland

Bourassa, Steven C.; Hoesli, Martin; Scognamiglio, Donato Flavio

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1407609

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Housing Finance, Prices, and Tenure in Switzerland

Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper No. 09-16

40 Pages Posted: 21 May 2009 Last revised: 17 May 2015

See all articles by Steven C. Bourassa

Martin Hoesli

University of Geneva - Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM); Swiss Finance Institute; University of Aberdeen - Business School

Donato Flavio Scognamiglio

University of Berne, Institut für Finanzmanagement

Date Written: October 8, 2009

Abstract

In contrast to many other countries, Switzerland generally has not seen soaring house prices in the 2000s and house prices have only recently started to diminish slightly. Also, Swiss authorities do not engage in trying to increase the homeownership rate much above its current level. In this paper, we present the main aspects of housing policy and finance in Switzerland which can help to explain these idiosyncrasies. We also analyze house prices and rents. The policies which are discussed in this paper may be useful to housing policy makers in other countries.

Keywords: Housing policy, housing finance, house prices, rents, taxation, homeownership, Switzerland

JEL Classification: R31

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Bourassa, Steven C. and Hoesli, Martin Edward Ralph and Scognamiglio, Donato Flavio, Housing Finance, Prices, and Tenure in Switzerland (October 8, 2009). Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper No. 09-16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1407609 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1407609