Basel - Facts and figures
With around 200,000 inhabitants, the city of Basel on the Rhine is the third largest city in Switzerland and the economic and cultural heart of the canton that goes by the same name. Bordered by Germany, France and Switzerland, Basel is positioned as the centre of a tri-national conurbation with a total of more than 830,000 inhabitants.
Real estate in Basel - the market situation in 2018
The city of Basel is considered to be an extremely attractive and dynamic business hub. Basel's interesting location, coupled with international companies from the life science, financial and insurance services sectors, continue to attract a clientele with strong purchasing power. These factors, combined with the city's high quality of life, keep the demand for living space consistently high.
Mortgage interest rates are still at an all-time low. Housing prices in Basel have risen by 53% in the last ten years (according to real estate service provider IAZI). However, the pricing trends in the real estate market have somewhat stabilised.
The real estate market in Basel-City is experiencing an increasing appreciation due to the districts’ encouraging development policies. This results in new, high-quality construction and restoration projects that meet the needs of every target group. This development allows the residential property market to continue to flourish.
Business and real estate in Basel
Basel is a key location for the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Bordered by three countries, the city is home to one of the largest marshalling yards in Europe, making the logistics sector another economic contributor. The University of Basel, housing the internationally renowned “Biozentrum”, helps promote the city, making Basel attractive for private individuals looking to invest their money in real estate. Properties can be used simultaneously as apartments and offices, or the space can be split into apartments and offices to let.
Renting out in the university town is a good opportunity to earn back your property investment in Basel. At the beginning of each semester, new students are looking for a room or a 3 to 4 bedroom apartments (shared flat) to live in. Commercial areas are also in demand, meaning that large rooms in a house can be rented out as offices. The use of rooms as offices should not pose a problem for the tenants in the surrounding apartments, when activities are limited to administrative tasks and visitor traffic does not disturb the peace of the house.
What is cheaper - buying or renting?
This question cannot be answered across the board for everyone interested in real estate in Basel, because an objective comparison is not possible. Investors looking to invest their money into an apartment building, an apartment or a house can only compare among the current offers. There is no property prices indexing for Swiss price statistics. This is where your real estate agent comes in. He / she knows the housing market in Basel and the different locations within the region in and out. The location and lettability of a property play an important role for investors who want to buy an apartment or an apartment building in Basel.
Buying real estate in Basel is always worthwhile for interested parties interested in generating a secure long-term income or use the premises themselves. Those who want to buy the living space for personal use have specific concerns such as finding locations with bright, quiet and beautiful rooms, or properties with a balcony, a terrace or a garden. Parking spaces within the immediate vicinity may also be a criteria to certain buyers.
Find top properties in Basel
If you want to rent an apartment in Basel and compare market prices, the current rent index is a good place to start. In addition, our experienced real estate agents are happy to provide estimations on expected costs. Regardless of the exact location, you will generally pay less than CHF 20 per m², with the old town being the most expensive neighborhood. In districts such as Iselin, St. Johann, Clara, Wettstein, Hirzbrunnen, Rosental, Matthäus, Klybeck, Kleinhüningen and Riehen Bettingen, average rents can fall below CHF 15/m². Our brokers can help you find your ideal property for rent.
If you are thinking long-term and interested in buying a property in Basel, you are in excellent hands with our real estate consultants’ professional support. He / she knows the exact purchase prices within individual locations in Basel, and understands the real estate purchase methods in Switzerland very well.
Your real estate agent in Basel
Selling and acquiring a property is a big step - there are many details to consider. Trust the experience of an expert to be on the safe side in selling and buying real estate in Basel!
Links to Engel & Völkers regional Basel offices
=> Real estate agents in Rheinfelden & Fricktal
=> Real estate agents in Liestal & Upper Basel area
