The core of every property transfer is the purchase contract, which in Switzerland must be publicly notarised (Art. 216 CO). This means buyer and seller sign in front of an authorised officer – depending on the canton at the notary's office or land registry. Only afterwards does the officer register the transfer with the land register; ownership officially passes with the entry. Until then the selling party remains the owner.
The process involves several steps: drafting and notarising the contract, arranging financing and the mortgage, securing payment of the price (often via a notary account or a payment guarantee), handing over the property with a protocol, and finally the land register entry. Secondary points matter too, such as taking over or redeeming existing mortgages, easements, and splitting running costs as of the cut-off date.
Several cost items arise. Many cantons levy a property transfer tax on the purchase price – rates range roughly from around 1 % to over 3 %, while individual cantons such as Zurich have no such tax (no guarantee). On top come notary and land register fees, which depending on canton and price often total in the range of about 0.1 to 1 % of the purchase price (no guarantee). Who bears the tax is partly set by law and partly negotiable – often buyer and seller share the costs or the buyer takes them on.
The transfer is relevant for anyone buying, selling, gifting or inheriting a property. With gifts and inheritance too, ownership changes and must be updated in the land register, although many cantons apply reduced or no transfer taxes here. Before notarisation it is always worth reviewing the land register extract for mortgages, easements and annotations – when in doubt, a real estate or legal professional can help.