So I'm t-minus-1 week away and I'm no closer knowing where the heck I'm going to live than I was 6 months ago.

I've been round in circles thinking a specific town is right for me then someone comes along and says "I wouldn't want to live there" - AHHHH

So I was wondering what is the best strategy - chose one area and stick to it, or go hell for leather and just look at all the towns and get an apartment wherever I can?

My criteria is fairly simple.



I have two kids (14months & 4yrs ) + the mrs. We're outdoor people and like being outdoors so our criteria is :

• Nice town with some parks / outdoor space / play areas
• Good expat community (We're English)
• Good with Kids for Kindergarten / day nursery
• Good supermarkets
• <40 mins from Zurich by train
• Doesn't have to be near the lake
• Looking for a 4.5 room apartment (100sqm)
• Rent circa 2500 PCM

So far these are the towns I'd short listed in order of preference (for today anyway)

1) Wadenswil - Supposed to have it all - good expat community and great with Kids. Not to expensive either
2) Adliswil - told Sunsets there early but good expat community and great with Kids. Not to expensive either
3) Horgen -
4) Pfaffikin SZ ( Lower taxes so might be worth the extra train journey)
5) Uster

Any pearls of wisdom you can offer me would be great!!!

Hi,
You could try around Baden. There is a large Expat community there and it's only 20 minutes max direct train from Zurich centre.

I think there are a lot of British families around there too, working at ABB and ALSTOM.

Not sure about the sunsets though.

that one... there's plenty of threads on how hard it is to find a decent place to rent, so if you find one don't be too choosy (obviously without too mucch compromise)..

enjoy switzerland! bring brown sugar

Dude, what about places further down the lake like Meilen, Mannedorf and Stafa? Seems to be a large expat family oriented population down there with plenty of outdoorsy stuff to do, especially in the summer. Max 30 minutes on the sBahn into Zurich city and good tax rates. you'll be able to find apartments of that size around your budget too, especially in Stafa.

Personally, narrowing the area for me when house hunting is important and definitely makes the search easier and less stressful. So I say to zero in on certain areas suitable for your family's needs and concentrate your searches there unless you hit a brick wall. But your budget seems healthy enough.

There was a house inc garden being advertised in Zug this week on EF for around your price.

Zug to Zurich HB in <40 Mins - is that posible? would be pushing it i'd have though.

The first 3 on your list are all meeting your requirements
(wädenswil, horgen and Adliswil)
Pfaffikon is further away and seems to have less character or centre of village and I personally would have killed my husband if he had moved me there, but thats just my preference.

I know less about uster, but there is good expat stuff there for kids, also some womens society with loads of activities for kids...
http://www.wac.ch/

Meilen has been on my list but thougth i may stick to the south side of the lake as I know a few people that side.

http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?

22mins on the fast train

Meilen is also definately part of the "gold coast" meaning basically less m2 for more money! If you stick to the Wädenswil side of the lake you'll get better value

Everyone has an opinion, the question is who are you going to listen to?
I would advise you to stay away from apartments but with a rental budget or 2,500 you won't get a house in Kt. Zurich.

Most families don't live in the centre of Baden, but in the surrounding villages, so you have to add a bit to the commute time, but it can be done for under 45 minutes. I have many clients living in the Baden and surrounding region and working in Zürich.

I find Stafa a charming place with incredibly good value houses. Its probably furthest down the lake on the gold coast but not too far off if you work in Zurich.

Hombrechtikon is a bit further down, and no direct train. But it's a quick bus to the S5 or S7. Not far from the lake, and they even have a mini lake of their own , the Lutzelsee, and a nice path around it.
There seems to be a growing number of English there, but not like more established expat areas like Meilen.
I heard the schools are good also.

whats the matter with Seebach?

Hey
Do you live in Stafa? I'm moving there and very keen to meet up with any expats there!