What does it mean to alienate a property?

An agreement in principle is an agreement between two parties on the terms of a future contract.

An authentic act is a contract drawn up by a public officer, generally a notary, and can also be called a notarial act. As soon as it is signed, it has an important legal value and allows to frame several operations.

The right to build is an easement granted to a person allowing him or her to build a property on land that does not belong to him/her. He or she can also buy an existing property on this same land. In both cases, the lessor receives an amount for making his/her land available. In a few words, the leaseholder is the owner of a property on land that does not belong to him/her.

The collateral value is the value of a property that is used by banks and other lenders as the basis for calculating a mortgage.

Condominium ownership is a widespread form of co-ownership in Switzerland. In a condominium, several purchasers own different parts of the same building and each has an exclusive right to certain parts of the building.

What is debt relief? Debt relief is a type of contract between the creditor and the debtor, allowing the latter to be released from his debts.

If you take out a mortgage to finance the purchase of your property, you will have to pay it back.

A draft deed is a draft of the sales contract drawn up by a notary. It is therefore not the final deed of sale, as changes may be made.

In real estate, a deposit is a sum of money paid by the buyer to the seller, which constitutes a partial payment of the total amount due.

A direct sale is the simplest and fastest way to sell. It is possible when the buyer and the seller agree on an immediate sale date.

An exclusive sales mandate grants the right to sell the property to a single estate agent chosen by the owner.

The External Surface concerns all the external parts of the dwelling and is not closed on all sides such as balconies, loggias or terraces.

Equity is the personal contribution you have to finance the purchase of a property.

An easement is an encumbrance imposed on a property for the benefit of one or more other property(ies) which forces the owner to accept certain constraints (parking of vehicles, water pipe, right of way, etc.) but can also prohibit certain acts (new construction, etc.). In the real estate sector, we speak of land easements which can be contractual or legal. Each easement must be the subject of an authenticated deed and a deposit in the land register.

A forward sale is a form of sale that takes effect at the end of the term defined between the seller, the buyer and the notary. It allows the different parties to have more time to organize a move or to end a lease for example.

The gross living area is made up of the net living area, the interior construction area, as well as the exterior and common walls, which are weighted at 50% of their total value.

The gross sales area includes in its calculation, almost all surfaces of a dwelling.

A hedonic property valuation is the estimation of the property value based on the analysis of comparable properties that have recently been sold. This method is usually carried out using specialised software.

When repaying your mortgage, you have two options: direct or indirect amortization.

The imputed rental value is a fictitious rental income to which property owners are subject.

The Interior Building Area is the area used by the building elements.

A land charge is an obligation imposed on the owner of a property. This means that the owner is required to perform certain services related to property ownership.

Limited right of first refusal is a type of contractual right of first refusal where the price of the sale (and possibly other terms) are laid down in advance.

The liberal notary's office is a type of notary's office in which the notary is independent at his own risk and expense. He is nevertheless under the supervision of the state.

The living area corresponds to the total of the surfaces that can be fitted out inside the dwelling.

The land register is a state administration that gathers all the information related to real estate. It contains all the rights and charges attached to a property (easements, pledges, etc.). Any modification, deletion or constitution must be reported to the land register. The cantons generally have several land registers organized by district or by arrondissement. They can be kept on paper or by computer.

Minergie is a Swiss construction label created in 1998 that certifies certain new or renovated buildings.

The mixed notary's office is a form of notary's office that combines the liberal notary's office and the official notary's office. Thus, the function of the notary is divided according to the fields.

A mortgage is a loan that a financial institution gives to a buyer to purchase a property.

According to the Swiss Code of Obligations, a mortgage note is "a personal claim secured by a pledge of real estate".

When you buy or sell real estate in Switzerland, it is mandatory to use the services of a notary.

The net sales area is used in the cantons of Fribourg, Vaud and Neuchâtel for the sale of a property.

The net living area is the sum of the areas of the various rooms in the property that are liveable.

The official notary's office, also known as the state notary's office, is a form of notary's office in which the notaries are employed by the state and are part of the administration.

The Official Gazette is a document published regularly by all the cantons.

Property gains tax is a contribution due when a profit is made when selling a property. In other words, if the sale price is higher than the purchase price and investment costs, then the amount of the gain is taxed.

Property is defined by law as "any area of land with sufficiently defined boundaries".

The purchase of an investment property is ultimately a form of capital investment. As with any investment, a key factor is how economical or profitable the investment is.

A resolutive condition is a condition that cancels a contract as soon as it is realized.

What is the Regime of Acquired Property? The regime of acquired property is the statutory matrimonial property regime in Switzerland.

A mandate is a contract between two parties which allows the fiduciary to act on behalf of another person called the mandator.

The right of pre-emption grants a preferential right of purchase which may be in favour of a natural person or a legal entity. In this case, the person having obtained this right of pre-emption will be able to acquire the property on which the right applies in priority if the owner decides to sell it. This right must be recorded in the land register and cannot exceed 25 years.

The right of purchase gives a person the right to acquire a property for a defined period. It must be authenticated before a notary and cannot exceed 10 years to be valid.

The second mortgage is equal to the difference between the total mortgage loan and the 1st mortgage.

A suspensive condition is a clause that conditions an act, mainly a sale in the real estate sector.

A semi-exclusive mandate allows only the owner and a designated estate agent to proceed with the sale of the property.

A simple mandate is a sales mandate that allows the seller to sell his property by himself but also to call on several agencies if he wishes. It is also called a non-exclusive mandate.

The transfer tax is a cantonal tax, levied by the cantons or their communes when a property is transferred between two people.

A person granted an unlimited right of first refusal may purchase a property ahead of any third party in the case of a sale at the same price as that third party.

Unfinished secondary floor space is defined as non-liveable areas that are enjoyed by the owner or tenant.

The cost approach is one of the commonly used methods for valuting a property. The cost approach method judges the value of a property based on the hypothetical costs of building an identical structure in the same location.

The 1st mortgage amounts to no more than two thirds, that is, 66 % of the value of the property.