High hurdles and scarce living space Home ownership? For many Swiss, it remains a wish
A detached house in the countryside remains a dream for many Swiss people - but high hurdles and a shortage of living space are causing growing dissatisfaction.
20.05.2026, 07:48
23.05.2026, 12:50
SDA
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- Many Swiss people continue to dream of a detached house in the countryside, but this wish often remains unfulfilled.
- Satisfaction is highest in rural areas and is particularly pronounced among homeowners, while tenants are much more likely to be dissatisfied.
- However, high prices and a short supply often prevent people from buying a house.
- At the same time, the concentration of jobs and infrastructure means that many people stay in cities despite their wishes to the contrary.
The dream home of the Swiss is still a detached house in the countryside. This is shown by the latest "dream home study" by mortgage and real estate specialist Moneypark. But this dream rarely comes true, and dissatisfaction is growing as a result.
According to the study published on Wednesday, 43 percent of respondents would prefer to live in the countryside, while half dream of a detached single-family home. Only 63 percent of city dwellers match their current and preferred living environment.
Accordingly, satisfaction with the current housing situation is lowest in the city. This is because only 41 percent are very satisfied there, while in the agglomeration this figure rises to 50 percent and in the countryside it is 58 percent. The divide between the French and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland is also evident, with more people in western Switzerland longing to own their own home.
Homeowners are the most satisfied
The situation is even worse when it comes to the type of property. For only 34 percent of renters, their apartment corresponds to their preferred property type. Owners of an apartment still achieve a satisfaction rating of 54 percent. By contrast, 89% of owners of a detached house are satisfied with their choice.
According to Moneypark, a closer look at the survey shows that the group of 25 to 40-year-olds who live in an apartment in the city have the greatest desire for change. They are also the most willing to buy when it comes to home ownership - over 70 percent of this age group would like to own their own home and many are planning to save for it. At the same time, however, only a few of the long-term owners want to sell their property, which keeps supply tight. The high financing requirements are also an obstacle.
Overall, housing preferences and actual development are becoming increasingly divergent. "Many people would prefer to live in more rural areas, but are moving to the centers because of jobs, infrastructure and the social environment. As a result, we are seeing less of a rural exodus and more of a continuing urbanization," explains Lukas Vogt, CEO of Moneypark. 1000 people were surveyed for the study.
