In depth · Property
Buying property in Zurich: the steps for buyers
The official steps for buying a home in Zurich. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Updated October 2026
The public deed
In Switzerland, a contract to buy land or a home must be recorded as a public deed. In the canton of Zurich this is done by the public notary’s offices, the Notariate, which publish their fees and procedures on notariate-zh.ch.
The land register
Ownership passes when the transfer is entered in the land register, the Grundbuch, which the Notariate im Kanton Zürich also keep.
The Lex Koller
The federal law on the acquisition of real estate by persons abroad, the Lex Koller, limits purchases by buyers who live abroad or are not EU/EFTA citizens. Ask a Zurich notary or lawyer how it applies to you before you sign anything.
Where people live
See our property guide for the Zürichberg, Seefeld, Enge and Wollishofen, the Gold Coast and Zurich West. We don’t publish prices or yields.
Questions and answers
Who records a property sale in Zurich?
The public notary’s offices of the canton, the Notariate im Kanton Zürich.
Can foreigners buy property in Zurich?
It depends on the federal Lex Koller rules: ask a notary or lawyer.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every step with a Zurich notary or lawyer.