i was thinking of moving to the italian part of switzerland near and or around lugano from the us. Mother is a duo swiss citizen and would come with me.
Wanted to go into a partnership with other another interested party 50/50 with the purchase of a small house for either retirement or small make a small Bed and Breakfast. anyone with ideas, suggestions, advice, or if you have ever had similar interest to private email me.

There is no lack of holiday locations in the Italian side of Switzerland, and it's very seasonal.

To be honest, if our guests want to go to Lake Como, they go to the Italian side of the border because it's cheaper...

As swisspea alluded to, the tourist hotel business has become most difficult in Switzerland due to the overvalued Swiss franc. Many small hotels are expected to close as business from other European countries has fallen away, according to newspaper reports.

An approach to find an existing B&B/ small hotel or a structure suitable for a B&B would be to search homegate.ch, e.g.:

http://www.homegate.ch/buy/105499770

Boarding houses, which are dependent more on business than on tourism, can sometimes be reasonable businesses in Switzerland. Here's an example of one for sale in the German-speaking area:

http://www.homegate.ch/homegate-war/kaufen/105447054

Your mom, as a Swiss citizen, can of course live in Switzerland at any time. If you do not have Swiss or EU/EFTA citizenship, you should further review whether you would be able to obtain a residence/ work permit. Also, if you are an American, ordinary retail banking has become a challenge in the past several years due to a US law called FATCA.

Well, profile says Swiss/Italian/Swedish. However if you/she hold a Green Card you'd still be liable to file US tax returns and possibly owe the US tax on top of Swiss ones. You/your mom would need to give up the Card properly using an I-407 form and file partial year return and 8854 form to exit the US tax system cleanly. If you/she has US citizenship then you're stuck with US filing unless you renounce the citizenship. More on your US tax filing obligations here:

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Inte...-Aliens-Abroad

If you/she are American citizens you may also find it extremely difficult to get any business account or even a mortgage from a Swiss bank here.

To add to my post above, these websites lists hotels and pensions for sale in Switzerland/ Ticino:

http://www.freeimmo.ch/5072111493-ga...ufen-in-tessin

http://www.icasa.ch/immobilien_inser...n/1300_1307/de

http://www.immoclick.ch/de/index/sea.../country:214//

Thanks Medea , and everyone who replied.

Doing more research with the wonderful links you provided, I really appreciate you taking the time to provide this information. it really sets me straight on how very
difficult it could be - My other original option for a B&B was on the island of cyprus where I already own a number of property lots overlooking the sea (Greek Sector) Next to a very magnificent Winery/vineyard where I would need zoning and build housing on it. (however a little leery living in Cyprus due to the current war situation so close. Thanks Again

I was in Cyprus recently (christmas) and despite it's proximity to the war zone there is no sign of it. In the European part you would never know that a war is happening so near by.

However talking to people in Switzerland, Cyprus is not as popular a destination as it once was, not sure why.

It is a really nice place.

For anyone who has been to Cyprus- do read Victoria Hislop's latest book on the partition of Cyprus and the war in 1973- and the fall and sad fate of the tourism industry there: the Sunrise.

Not a good time at the mo for Swiss tourism due to the Swiss Franc being far too high. Many Hôtels and B&Bs are failing or for sale.

SwissChalet, bear in mind too that the banking problems will occur anywhere outside the US, not just here in Switzerland. Due to the US's FATCA law banks have to report American clients worldwide. So even in Cyprus you will sign need to sign a W-9 and may have trouble getting a business account/mortgage if you move there.

May be Italy could be a better option for you and your mother?

Fixed that for you - im Cypriot

Just in case you still check this thread -

I've just moved from Cyprus, been there for three years and have now moved over here with my girlfriend for a bit before probably going back.

The 'war' that some mentioned, really doesn't have any effect on the island whatsoever. And regardless of the proximity of the problems in Syria etc, with the high amount of military bases and the presence of all the military personnel, it's possibly one of the safest places to be!!

Also the tourism - several people mentioned the tourism dropping or not being what it once was, and this is completely inaccurate. I was based in Paphos on the west coast, and tourism has been on the increase each year through summer and winter! There are also a lot of new hotels being built which shows an obvious demand.

In just the three years I was there, the number of tourists per month went up consistently. I was working in one of the largest hotels in the area teaching scuba diving and we would regularly go around each of the hotels in the area giving free 'try dives' to promote the business, and I can without a doubt say that it did just get busier and busier.

On a side note though, it is true that some of the reports coming from the hotels state a drop in British tourists, but this is purely because of a massive influx of other nationalities that have started going there such as Russians and Polish, that would have normally gone to Egypt, but no longer do due to the issues there. And while some workers constantly state that the Brits aren't coming over, there are still a healthy amount visiting week to week.

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE - Paphos is going to be awarded the European cultural capital of 2017 which is expected to be a HUGE boost in the tourism trade.

LAST SIDE NOTE - FINALLY a bid for a new mariner has gone through after all of the corruption problems, and will be built in the Paphos area, which closely links to a recent bid for new casinos to be built too. The plans for the mariner look amazing, and if it all goes through as planned, it could soon become one of the hottest places to go in Europe for both summer and winter sun. They had already started digging out the groundworks while I was there, so it looks like it's happening. OH, and the fairly new motorway (which is always quiet), also means getting from the Napa area or the airport at Larnaca is pretty quick and painless too.

Hope that helped somewhat.
Thanks
Danny

As a Cypriot whose parents had to move out of their home with literally no notice in order to save their lives, i find this part of your post insulting.

I agree with everything else you say though. Cyprus is a very safe place to be, great for tourism and Pafos is beautiful.

I apologise for you being insulted - possibly because you have completely misunderstood what I wrote or was referring to!?

I am not referring to the 1974 Turkish invasion, most tourists don't consider this as a current 'war-like' situation, but the 'war' in Syria that is a stones throw from the island - that most tourists ask about from the moment they land

I think Cyprus is still a popular destination for holidays and it matters a lot how you market your place.
I see it as a more feasible business development option than starting something in Ticino. There s more sunshine in Cyprus thus you can host for longer months a year.
Best of luck!

Fair enough- but 'groan' Gata ???

Tourism in Switzerland is really suffering due to high CHF, high costs, and the currencies from many countries going down, especially Sterling.
So perhaps not a good time for a new B&B, as many are on the brink.

Unless you can find a 'niche' market - and offer something others do not offer- like guiding, wiht a good knowledge of local culture, history, flowers, wildlife, etc- which as a newcomer you just won't have. Or offer residential courses, art, yoga, tai-chi, whatever ...

What I will do if I have to return to work, but then I know this part of the world like my back pocket and have all the necessary contacts- and speak the local language, as well as several others, which would truly help.

BTW, what is the area around Famagusta like these days? (the setting for The Sunrise, by Victoria Hislop).