Magazine Features

Geneva may be one of the most expensive cities in the world but it’s also high on the list of most desirable places to live – and that’s official

It could be said that ‘you get what you pay for’, as living in and around Geneva certainly doesn’t come cheap, but just look at the
benefits. Switzerland as a whole offers many tax advantages, then there is the superb lifestyle that can be enjoyed with world class ski resorts, sailing on the lakes and outstanding mountain scenery. An admirable environmental record together with first class health and education systems and political and economic stability make for an alluring lifestyle choice. What’s more, all this is supported by Mercer’s 2010 Quality of Living survey, which put Geneva third in its world rankings.

Naturally, all these factors prove a major enticement to property buyers. Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Knight Frank’s European business manager, comments, “Demand has increased dramatically from this time last year with many more viewings taking place throughout the market. Geneva remains the main focus of this activity with left bank lake view houses in particular demand, however the lakeside villages just past Nyon are also seeing much more interest due to the increased potential to own significant land on the lake as well as the low communal taxes and ease of access to the airport.

“The security of this destination along with the attraction of a stable economic environment continues to drive Switzerland in the forefront of the world’s high net worth community and there remains a healthy selection of houses to satisfy even the most discerning tastes.”

Switzerland’s fabulous landscapes serve as the perfect backdrop to Swiss Development Group’s projects which always set out to redefine the scope and depth of luxury property development.

Nicolas Garnier, CEO of Swiss Development Group, says:

“The country is also known by its warm welcome, tradition, direct democracy, quality of public services and infrastructures, high-end educational system, talented artists and architects, unsurpassed security, dolce vita way of life mixing prosperous economy and civic attitude, and a real estate value increasing yearly by 10 to 12 per cent or more in most Romande regions.”