Was it during the Lex Friederich days? In those days I believe all non-Swiss residents (even C permit holders I think) had severe restrictions in purchasing just their primary residence!

Thankfully it is a lot easier now so the OP shouldn't be complaining.

It was 2 years ago. In our area you have to be a resident with B permit to purchase a property. We had actually paid for the house and had partially moved in - but as our house sale in the UK had fallen through and our move delayed - we nearly lost the house AND the money- and had to put the deeds in my name only at the last minute. (The Canton was going to cancel the sale due to no B permit for OH - and we would have had to recoup the money from the seller!! it was very scary.(: so yes, rules are extremely stringent, and B permit do NOT grow on trees.

Sooooooommmmmmeeeewheeeeerrrree over the rainbow...

at it's end you'll find the B-Permit and a pot of gold.

Or a perma-ban...

<rant>
How can you be tired of the beaurocratic process with which you have obviously had no experience whatsoever? The questions you ask clearly iondicate that you have't got off your backside to help yourself so you expect us to wipe it for you? Go to your local town hall and sort yourself out before the non-EU citizens here, who have it way tougher than you, come along in flaming mode .... oops, may be too late
</rant>