The market isn't what it used to be. That sounds more dramatic than it is. In fact, 2026 is a good year for property sellers on Lake Zurich, but only if you understand what has specifically changed. Those who ignore this risk either selling their property too cheaply or leaving it on the market for months until no one takes it seriously anymore.
I see this regularly. A well-located property, sound structure, but the initial asking price was CHF 200,000 too high. Three months later, a price correction comes, and suddenly all potential buyers wonder why the property has been on the market for so long. The first impression on the market is the most important. You don't get a second chance.
What the numbers are currently showing
Wüest Partner has forecast a price increase of 2.8% for condominiums and 3.1% for single-family homes for 2026. In the first quarter of 2026, purchase prices nationwide were already 3.5% higher than the previous year. In the Canton of Zurich, it was a 2.8% increase. These are solid figures, but not an explosion.
On Lake Zurich, a well-located square meter costs between CHF 10,500 and 20,000, depending on the area. Lake-view properties and direct lake access command even higher prices. What keeps prices stable is not primarily demand – which exists, but is no longer as fervent as in 2021/22 – but supply. New apartments are being built slowly: building regulations, objections, and complex building permits systematically slow down new construction volume. This means that anyone who owns an existing property in a good location has structural advantages.
The biggest mistake sellers make: They believe the market will forgive poor preparation if the location is good. It won't. Especially not in 2026.
What has specifically changed in 2026
The interest rate environment has stabilized. The SNB policy rate is 0%, 5-year fixed-rate mortgages are available from around 1.1%, and 10-year ones from 1.5%. This sounds like favorable times for buyers, and it is. But it also means buyers are more relaxed. The fear of having to buy even faster before interest rates rise again is gone. This changes negotiation behavior.
Prospective buyers are scrutinizing properties more closely today. They come with questions that hardly anyone asked three years ago. How old is the heating system? Is there an energy certificate? Has the roof been renovated? Are there still mortgage notes outstanding? These are legitimate questions, and sellers who don't have clear answers lose trust before an offer even reaches the table.
Preparation determines the price — not the other way around
A property that is ready for sale systematically achieves better prices than one where the buyer first has to imagine its potential. This is not an opinion, but experience from hundreds of transactions within our network.
Ready for sale means: complete documentation, an honest energy certificate, photos that show the property in the best light without misleading, and an exposé that immediately explains why the price is justified. No buyer buys a property; they buy a decision. The broker's job is to make that decision as easy as possible.
At BC Living, we start every sales mandate with a structured market analysis based on current transaction data. Not estimates, not gut feelings. Then comes the strategy. Which channels, which target group, which price positioning. And only then the listing.
What the RE/MAX network specifically offers here
We are franchise partners of RE/MAX Switzerland. That sounds like branding, but in practice, it's something different. RE/MAX is present in over 110 countries and at more than 8,300 locations. In Switzerland, there are over 80 offices with more than 200 broker specialists.
What this means for a seller on Lake Zurich: If a buyer from Zurich moves to Hamburg and wants to sell their house, I see that. If a family from Munich wants to move to Switzerland, a RE/MAX colleague in Germany can refer them directly to me with context, with a profile, without that family ever having been on Homegate. That's the difference between a local listing and a true network sale.
Off-market transactions operate precisely on this principle. Many of the best properties on Lake Zurich are never publicly listed. They are sold through the network, discreetly and efficiently. As BC Living, we have access to this channel for sellers who value discretion, and for buyers who know that the most interesting offers aren't found on Homegate.
A property that enters the market at the right price, with the right preparation, and through the right channels sells quickly. Most lengthy sales processes originate from one of these three points.
What you can do now
If you're considering selling your property, the best first step isn't to research on Homegate. It's a conversation with someone who knows the local market and can give you an honest assessment – not the number you want to hear, but the one that's accurate.
At BC Living, we provide free, no-obligation valuations. Not because we're just being nice, but because we know that well-informed individuals make better decisions. And better decisions lead to successful sales.
The 2026 market is strong. However, it's no longer as forgiving of mistakes as it was three years ago. Thorough preparation isn't an option; it's the strategy.
Tino Brodar is a real estate agent and Managing Director of BC Living, a franchise partner of RE/MAX Zollikon. BC Living specializes in the purchase, sale, and marketing of residential and investment properties on Lake Zurich and in the Canton of Zurich.
