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Frequently asked questions

Buying a house on the Gold Coast: What should I pay particular attention to?

The Gold Coast is not a homogeneous market. Küsnacht, Zollikon, Erlenbach, Herrliberg; each municipality has its own price structure, its own buyer base, and its own micro-location differences. Those who are unaware of this can quickly buy in the wrong place or pay too much for the wrong thing.

The first thing I point out to every homebuyer on the Gold Coast: Lake view and lake access are not the same. A house with a lake view on the hillside and a house with direct lake access at the bottom can sometimes differ in price by CHF 1 to 2 million, and rightly so. Also, check the infrastructure/accessibility. Hillside locations can be appealing but also mean complicated access roads, high maintenance costs for retaining walls, or unfavorable sun exposure.

What many underestimate: On the Gold Coast, many properties are never publicly advertised. Those who only search on portals see only a fraction of the actual market. Through our RE/MAX network, we have access to properties that are discreetly passed on through trusted contacts. This is the norm on the Gold Coast, not the exception.

Buying apartments on the Gold Coast: What are the current market prices?

Short answer: Depending on the municipality and location, between CHF 12,000 and 25,000 per square meter.

To be more precise: In Zollikon and Küsnacht, you currently often pay CHF 15,000 to 20,000 per square meter and more for well-located condominiums with lake views. In Erlenbach and Herrliberg, comparable properties are sometimes 15 to 20% cheaper, with very similar location quality. This is one of the reasons why we always show prospective buyers both options.

For concrete price comparisons: 4 to 5-room condominiums in Gold Coast communities currently start at around CHF 1.8 million and easily go up to CHF 4 to 6 million for lakeside locations. The range is wide because "Gold Coast" covers a large geographical area.

What keeps the market stable in 2026 is the limited supply. New apartments are being built slowly; building permits, objections, and densification debates significantly slow down the volume of new construction. Those who buy are buying in a market with structurally little competition on the supply side.

Buying real estate on the Gold Coast: Which communities are particularly in demand?

Küsnacht and Zollikon are in highest demand. This has been the case for years and hasn't changed. Küsnacht due to the combination of lakeside location, schools, and discreet atmosphere. Zollikon due to its direct connection to Zurich and proximity to the city while offering tranquility.

Erlenbach and Herrliberg are gaining importance because buyers looking for the Gold Coast but shying away from Küsnacht prices find a very real alternative there. Both communities have low taxes, good infrastructure, and in many cases, the same lake quality.

Zumikon is a category of its own: not a lakeside community in the classic sense, but often the most sensible choice in the segment for buyers who want to combine space, tranquility, and proximity to Küsnacht and Zollikon.

What all these communities have in common: Supply is limited, demand is stable. Through the RE/MAX network, we have active insight into all Gold Coast communities simultaneously. Anyone who places a search mandate with us doesn't have to set up five different listing alerts on five portals.

How does BC Living support you in buying a house or an apartment?

We accompany you throughout the entire process, not just the viewing.

The first step is a conversation: What are you looking for, why, within what budget, and with what timeframe? This information goes into a search mandate that we actively manage. We inform you as soon as something suitable appears, including properties that are not publicly advertised.

If a property is suitable, we accompany you to the viewing and help you ask the right questions: condition, documents, STEG (condominium association) minutes for condominium ownership, any renovation costs. These are things that are easily forgotten during the first visit because the apartment looks so beautiful.

If you decide on a property, we conduct the price negotiation on your behalf. And then we coordinate with the notary, bank, and all other parties involved until the notarization.

The RE/MAX network also plays a role for buyers. We have access to properties throughout Switzerland and can refer you to colleagues in other regions if needed. Conversely, prospective buyers from abroad often reach us through the network before they actively start searching themselves. This sometimes creates opportunities that would otherwise never have arisen.

What ancillary costs are incurred when buying real estate in Switzerland?

First, the good news: ancillary costs in Switzerland are lower than in many other countries. Nevertheless, you should be aware of them and factor them in from the start.

In the Canton of Zurich, a property transfer tax of approx. 0.2% of the purchase price is incurred. In addition, there are land registry fees and notary costs, which together amount to about 0.2 to 0.5% of the purchase price. As a rule of thumb: expect 2 to 4% of the purchase price as total costs, which are incurred in addition to the purchase price and must be paid in cash. They cannot be co-financed.

For CHF 1.5 million, that means CHF 30,000 to 60,000 that you must have liquid, in addition to your equity.

What is often forgotten: If a real estate agent is mandated by the seller, the seller usually pays the commission. As a buyer, in most cases, you do not pay an additional agent's fee. We always clarify this transparently in advance.

After the purchase come the ongoing costs: cantonal and municipal property taxes, property maintenance (rule of thumb: 1% of the building's insured value per year), and for condominium ownership, the STEG ancillary costs. These are not surprises if you know about them from the start.

Buying Real Estate on the Zurich Gold Coast

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Frequently asked questions