Approx 32% of Swiss householders are owners.

The market is small and as the Swiss generally don't move if they buy, the available property is very limited and much of what you see advertised have some sort of problem otherwise property sells by word of mouth.

That said Swiss property is IMO a bargain - compared to the south of England anyway. Prices are starting to move up gently, but the market has not shown much more than 10% increase over 10 years. Though establishing the facts is difficult due to the small turnover.

Mortgages are tax deductable (without limit), but this is changing as the 'Eigenmietwert' (the money you save not paying rent) is removed from the tax system. Your property is valued and this figure is derived from teh valuation and added to your income.

Those working for banks/insurance companies will be able to get 1/2 to 1% off the already low martgage rates. We just went up from 1.5% for 3 years to 2.7% for 5 years - borrowing money at these rates is near to stealing - I once paid 15.5% in the UK.

Profit on the sale of a property is subject to a capital gains tax to reduce speculation (Grundstuckgewinsteuer). This reduces with the number of years you live in the property and varies from canton to canton. If you sell and rebuy at the same price or higher and put the money back into a property anywhere in Switzerland within 2 years, then you are not subject to this tax.

Why don't the Swiss buy? The 20% legally required deposit is a very big hurdle. The lack of avaibalbe property and then when no-one you know is buying, why would you?

Finally: what to look for? I have bought/sold 5 proprties in the UK and 1 in CH. I always ask the question when buying "could I sell this again?". If there are things that would put off a buyer, like a busy road, view of the back of a factory, no off-street parting, view that could be blocked by future building etc. Then don't buy...