SWITZERLAND
A winter playground for the one percent, the Swiss Alps offers world-class skiing, a central European location and a luxury lifestyle. But perhaps just as importantly, it offers discretion, security and a respect for privacy. The highly regulated real estate market prevents foreigners from amassing a property empire in Switzerland. But home purchases can be made in tourist areas.
Swiss ski regions where foreigners can buy include Verbier, which has access to more than 400 kilometers, nearly 250 miles, of runs. Virgin CEO Richard Branson owns a chalet there. The alpine resort town of Gstaad has long been a holiday destination for celebrities and the wealthy elite, according to luxury specialists with FGP Swiss & Alps, who reported that homes there sell for CHF 33,000 (US $36,000) per square meter on average. Swiss philanthropist and businessman Ernesto Bertarelli is reported to have homes both there and along Lake Geneva. And Formula One president Bernie Ecclestone lives in Gstaad at what was once his holiday home. Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, is known for its characteristic Swiss secrecy. That’s good news for the paparazzi-eschewing movers and shakers. A lesser-known fact: Zermatt allows only electric cars. St. Moritz, which has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, has long been a mecca for royalty, billionaires and celebrities. The glamorous resort town is awash in Michelin-star restaurants and mansions. FGP Swiss & Alps is the exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties in Switzerland and the French Alps
“Some high-net-worth-individuals have purchased a second home in the Swiss Alps, opting to either split time at or use the snow-covered peaks as their main residence.” –Quentin Epiney, FGP Swiss & Alps