Interview with Dr Steffi Buzziol-Labas, licensed partner at VON POLL REAL ESTATE Lake Zurich Platinum Coast
The district of Horgen is located in the Swiss canton of Zurich and stretches along the left bank of Lake Zurich – also known as the ‘Platinum Coast’. It comprises the municipalities of Kilchberg, Rüschlikon, Thalwil, Oberrieden, Horgen, Wädenswil, Richterswil, Langnau am Albis and Adliswil. The region offers a unique combination of high quality of life, a moderate tax burden compared to other cantons, excellent transport links and close proximity to the lake. It is no surprise that the Lake Zurich Platinum Coast is one of the most sought-after residential areas in Switzerland. Dr Steffi Buzziol-Labas, licence partner at VON POLL REAL ESTATE Lake Zurich Platinum Coast and herself a resident of the district for 20 years, knows the region inside out and has been successfully brokering properties here for many years. She provides a detailed insight into the property market along the left bank of Lake Zurich and explains what international buyers in particular should look out for.
Dr Buzziol-Labas, how has the property market developed in your region on the left bank of Lake Zurich in 2025? Are there any significant changes compared to the previous year?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
The residential property market in the Zimmerberg region on the left bank of Lake Zurich remained robust in 2025. While premium locations on Lake Zurich continue to gain ground, a slight sideways movement is evident for the first time in classic residential areas – albeit at a high level. Kilchberg remains the most expensive location in the region. In Rüschlikon, selective consolidation can be observed in the premium segment, which is not surprising after years of strong growth. At the same time, Horgen is catching up noticeably. Overall, the market remains stable, with clear momentum in the upper segment and sustained excess demand in the Zurich area.
How can the price increases be explained – and which factors have the greatest influence on price developments in your region?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
One important aspect is the development of interest rates. The Swiss National Bank has lowered key interest rates several times since 2024, which has made financing significantly cheaper. At the same time, the Basel III regime has increased pressure on banks, meaning that affordability and equity requirements for buyers remain high and continue to pose an obstacle for many. Another very important factor is the shortage of supply. In our region around the left bank of Lake Zurich, demand significantly exceeds the available supply. The limited amount of building land, combined with restrictive building regulations, exacerbates this imbalance.
In addition, the quality of the location is of course essential: security, proximity to the lake, good accessibility, infrastructure and views have a strong impact on prices. Another important factor is municipalities with low tax rates – they attract an above-average number of wealthy buyers, which further influences demand and thus prices. The influx of international buyers with high purchasing power also has an impact on price developments in the premium segment.
You just mentioned the influence of international buyers on property prices. What market share do they account for?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
Property buyers with an international background account for around 80 per cent of buyers, as property prices are hardly affordable for many local households. Swiss families often move to the surrounding areas, where the price-performance ratio is more attractive. In the Zurich area, most international buyers come from Germany, followed by Italy, France, England and the USA. In fact, most of these international buyers are resident in Switzerland. The reason for this is the severe restrictions imposed on non-residents purchasing property in Switzerland by the Lex Koller law. In addition, Lake Zurich is not designated as a region for holiday accommodation. The proportion of international prospective buyers looking to purchase a holiday property or second home is therefore rather low, accounting for only one to two per cent of the total market at the local level. It is interesting to note that for about a year now, we have been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from German buyers who are considering moving to Switzerland permanently. We have already been able to successfully assist many customers in this regard.
What distinguishes the region around Lake Zurich and makes it so attractive to international investors in particular?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
Switzerland is located in the heart of Europe – neighbouring countries such as Germany, France, Austria and Italy are within easy reach. The left bank of Lake Zurich has an excellent infrastructure with direct motorway connections to Zurich, Zug, Bern and Basel, as well as a fast connection to Zurich Airport. The proximity to the mountain regions, the high recreational value and the clean environment also make the area particularly attractive.
Furthermore, Switzerland as a whole, benefits from a high degree of economic and political stability. The location stands for planning security and stable value retention – factors that are of great importance to international buyers. Lake Zurich thus offers a unique combination of international accessibility, high quality of life and stable conditions.
Where are the hotspots? Which locations are particularly sought after?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
Most of the demand in our region is concentrated in the Kilchberg – Rüschlikon – Thalwil – Oberrieden – Horgen area. These municipalities offer an ideal combination of proximity to the lake and the city, as well as excellent infrastructure. Direct connections to Zurich, the local airport and international schools make these locations particularly attractive. Those looking for larger plots of land, quieter neighbourhoods and a more Swiss-style environment will find what they are looking for further south in the municipalities of Wädenswil and Richterswil.
Locations in the Zimmerberg region such as Schönenberg, Hirzel, Langnau am Albis and Adliswil are also becoming increasingly attractive – especially Adliswil, which, like Wädenswil, is home to an international school. These municipalities are particularly interesting in terms of value for money: prospective buyers pay significantly less here for an apartment with up to 140 square metres of living space than in locations directly on Lake Zurich, while still enjoying excellent transport links and quality of life.
Are there specific search criteria or price segments in which international clients are particularly active? Are there differences between nationalities in this regard?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
The budget issue naturally always plays a key role: those with a higher budget usually seek central proximity to the city and the lake – such as in the Kilchberg to Thalwil area. Buyers with a lower budget often turn to the more southerly or slightly more remote municipalities yet must also consider the sometimes-higher municipal tax rates there.
However, certain trends in purchasing behaviour can be identified. International customers are disproportionately active in the condominium segment priced between two and five million Swiss francs and in the single-family home and villa segment with lake or panoramic views priced between four and eight million Swiss francs.
What are the most common mistakes international buyers make when purchasing property in the Lake Zurich region?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
As a general rule, international buyers need a residence permit to purchase property in Switzerland. Under the Lex Koller regulation, non-residents may only purchase property with cantonal approval. Furthermore, there is no traditional holiday accommodation quota on Lake Zurich, meaning that second homes are not common in our region.
Some also underestimate the regulatory and financial framework conditions. Many are surprised by the high property prices and financing requirements, which differ significantly from other countries. Swiss banks expect an affordability interest rate of around five per cent and require at least 20 per cent equity. Another challenge is that buyers do not allow enough lead time for financing confirmation or underestimate the cantonal and municipal building and neighbourhood regulations. For international buyers, additional documentation requirements may apply depending on their residence status, which prolongs the process. This makes early and thorough preparation all the more crucial – because with the current demand, decisions on attractive properties must be made quickly.
Given the aforementioned hurdles for international buyers, what services do you offer to reliably guide them through the purchasing process?
DR STEFFI BUZZIOL-LABAS
At VON POLL REAL ESTATE Lake Zurich Platinum Coast, we offer our international clients a comprehensive service to provide them with the best possible support in their property purchase. We help with Lex Koller checks, provide translation services, arrange financing partners, coordinate with notaries, solicitors and banks, and establish the relevant contacts. We also assist in obtaining construction and renovation quotes for refurbishment or renovation work. International buyers in particular often do not have a local network of tradespeople. That is why we work with trusted partners and coordinate the processes from a single source – so our clients do not have to worry about coordinating with individual tradespeople themselves. Of course, we continue to support our clients after the transaction, assisting with handover checklists and, if necessary, putting them in touch with specialist insurance partners.
Our local network of experts, which we have successfully built up through our many years of expertise and transaction experience, is therefore essential for providing optimal support. Overall, the following applies: those who take their time, prepare well and seek the assistance of experienced local experts at an early stage will avoid mistakes and find a long-term stable, value-retaining residential location in the Lake Zurich Platinum Coast region.
Dear Dr Buzziol-Labas, thank you very much for the interesting conversation.
Further information about the team around Dr Steffi Buzziol-Labas from VON POLL REAL ESTATE Lake Zurich Platinum Coast as well as the current property offers on site, contact details and much more can be found at https://www.von-poll.com/de/immobilienmakler/zuerichsee-thalwil
