Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa April/May 2019 | Page 58

SWITZERLAND
The ski holiday
that won’t end
Policy exemption allows SA investors to buy into top Swiss resort
S
outh Africans seeking to diversify their investment port-
folios are now able to buy into the biggest ski resort in
Europe at competitive prices with significant tax incen-
tives and highly attractive returns, according to a local proper-
ty commentator and motivational speaker.
The Andermatt ski resort in the Swiss Alps has been
transformed by Orascom Development from a traditional
alpine village into one of the world’s most sought-after,
affordable, safe and secure, year-round property investment
destinations.
The development is exempt from regulations restricting
foreign investors from buying property in Switzerland and
buyers also benefit from attractively low tax rates.
SA property expert, Toni Enderli, says pricing in Andermatt
is on par with property on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard
and at the V&A Waterfront. The resort offers full turn-key
investments in one-bedroom apartments from around R5-
million. Luxury chalets start from about R90-million -- all
fully managed and serviced by the Radisson Blu group with a
guaranteed net 3% annual return.
Enderli’s father, Paul, a Swiss national and chairman of
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APRIL/MAY 2019 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
Realtor of Excellence, said diversifying mitigated risk and is
a common practice which is why Americans, Europeans and
others are flocking to Andermatt.
‘In an unstable global economy, Switzerland is a popular
safe-haven for investors due to its political neutrality, policy
stability, strong currency and low levels of inflation and
unemployment. South Africans can now invest in this stable
year-round destination for the first time. It’s a great legacy
investment for families as there are no death duties,’ added
Paul.
Andermatt can be reached from SA in about 13 hours.
It boasts one of Europe’s best ski and hiking facilities, a
championship 18-hole golf course, a fitness and wellness
centre, mountain biking, top quality restaurants and luxury
hotels, apartment buildings, chalets and shopping facilities.
The village centre is a car-free zone, contributing to a
harmonious community environment.
Toni added that Andermatt provides property opportunities
for both high end and middle-class investors and the process
from signing to name change can take as little as one week to
complete.