u/FrenchyBoy_

I’m 31, Swiss, born and raised here, and living in the St. Gallen / Eastern Switzerland area. My partner and I are looking to buy a single-family house.

The problem is that newer or nicely renovated houses are often very expensive, so I’m increasingly considering buying an older house that needs renovation.

I’m a trained electrician, although I haven’t worked in the trade for several years. I could do some work myself, but I work full-time in a management position and don’t have enough time to take on a full renovation.

My main concern is that an older house could become a financial black hole due to hidden issues such as asbestos, moisture in the basement, roof or structural problems, old heating systems, poor insulation or unexpected costs once renovations start.

I’m not looking at a specific property yet, but I’d like to understand the risks better.

For those who bought and renovated an older house in Switzerland:

• Did the renovation stay close to budget?
• What problems did you underestimate?
• What would you definitely have inspected before buying?
• Would you buy an older house again?
• Would you recommend bringing in a building expert or architect before making an offer?

I’m also wondering whether building new might actually be more predictable, although I know very little about permits, zoning and the overall process in Switzerland.

I’m a 31-year-old male, employed full-time, currently living in Switzerland and trying to make my long-term goal a reality: buying a house.

My partner and I both come from very modest backgrounds. Neither of us will receive any inheritance, so everything we’re building is self-made through work and savings. Together we earn around CHF 160,000 per year (gross).

Over the years I’ve been quite disciplined with saving:

• ~CHF 100k in stocks
• ~CHF 60k in pillar 3a
• ~CHF 35k in pension fund
• ~CHF 30k in cash

My partner has been less focused on saving but still has:

• ~CHF 20k in cash
• ~CHF 20k in pension fund

We are currently looking for a single-family home in the St. Gallen / Eastern Switzerland region. Recently we found a property listed at around CHF 800k, but it ended up being bid up to ~CHF 950k. The bank financing was approved, but even at that price level, we would have very little left for renovations—which are often substantial in this price range. On top of that, the bank itself did not value the property as high as the final bid price.

What frustrates me is the gap between what banks are willing to finance and what the market actually demands in competitive bidding situations. It often feels like you either need a very large inheritance or extreme patience/luck to secure a reasonable deal.

My friends keep telling me to be patient and wait for the “right opportunity.” But I struggle with the feeling that in a market where properties consistently sell above valuation, how realistic is it for people like us—without family wealth—to actually enter the housing market?

I’m genuinely curious:

• What have been your experiences buying property in Switzerland?
• Is it still realistic to buy without inheritance?
• Did you wait it out, compromise, or change strategy entirely?

Any honest perspectives would be appreciated.