Posts for topic Real Estate Investments Direct Switzerland

ESG criteria are steadily gaining in importance in the real estate market, especially when it comes to investment properties. Demand is rising for sustainable property solutions that are equally attractive, both environmentally and economically. Real estate projects that promote energy efficiency, make careful use of resources and offer healthy living spaces are finding increasing favour.

What is the best way for property owners to meet tenants’ requirements in terms of convenience, organisation and sustainability? In order to cover these factors and offer tenants the most comfortable living conditions possible, a broad-based tenant survey was carried out by the SF Sustainable Property Fund in the first half of 2023.

The canton of Geneva is currently debating whether the GEAK standard established in Switzerland should be used in future to reduce CO2 emissions in buildings instead of the heat consumption index (IDC) currently in use. Philippe Bach, Asset Manager Real Estate Direct, explains which solutions are possible within IDC and GEAK using the example of a property in the portfolio.

In the current article, Markus Karl, Head Construction Manager Real Estate Direct at Swiss Finance & Property Funds Ltd, uses two construction projects in the SF Sustainable Property Fund to illustrate the challenges that arise when renovating a building while it is still occupied. He also describes in a clear manner the regulatory hurdles that have to be overcome in such a project.

Expectations of modern-day living spaces are continuously rising. Not only have the needs of tenants changed, but so have those of investors and society. The following article explains what should be kept in mind for sustainable neighbourhood development, and provides examples of successful implementation.

“Faster, Higher, Stronger”, or “citius, altius, fortius” in Latin – this is the Olympic motto. And we can certainly ascribe Olympian qualities to commercial rental contracts. They contain more comprehensive and ambitious conditions than the standard rental contracts for residential properties. In particular, the fast and extensive adjustment of rents to inflation seems to be setting a record in these times of rising inflation.

The pipeline for the current capital raise by SFP AST Swiss Real Estate, which will close on 21 March 2023, continues to be integrated. The incoming new funds are being invested immediately and the intention is to keep the borrowing ratio low.

After many years of constantly falling interest rates and the option to sometimes borrow capital at negative interest rates, rising borrowing costs are now confronting real estate funds with new challenges – and investors with new risks.

The SFP AST Swiss Real Estate investment group is invested in core and core-plus properties throughout Switzerland.

The SF Retail Properties Fund invests in properties with retail space throughout Switzerland and exploits the potential to continuously increase the value of the portfolio through prudent and sustainable portfolio management.

The SF Sustainable Property Fund is able to further improve the portfolio in a challenging environment, thus continuing the positive performance of previous years.

The TER has become a much more relevant factor in investment decisions, and it has become much easier to compare the figures for different peers thanks to efforts undertaken by the self-regulating industry associations to bring about standardised definitions and harmonisation. Improvements in efficiency, as reflected by lower TERs, can be largely attributed to the degression of fixed costs such as accounting, marketing, foundation board fees and bank charges.

SF Urban Properties Ltd is sticking to its summer forecast of a strong result for the year as a whole. This is due to successful lets and important progress on development projects.

The SF Commercial Properties Fund owns commercial properties throughout Switzerland, with a focus on logistics, warehousing, business, industrial and manufacturing buildings in locations with outstanding transport connections.

Since the Walzwerk site was acquired by the real estate company SF Urban Properties Ltd (SFUP) in 2017, SFUP has been pursuing its vision to expand the site by developing the former industrial quarter. At the same time, new tenants from a variety of fields are to complement the existing businesses. This article provides a brief overview of the past, current and planned future development work at the site, and also reveals what activities are raising the Walzwerk site’s profile outside Münchenstein and Arlesheim.

Investments in residential property favour high earnings security over an attractive return. Investments in commercial properties, on the other hand, offer good potential in the current climate of growing demand for commercial space and moderate entry opportunities.

This article looks at figures relating to Zurich's market for office space based on an analysis and evaluation of data from the City of Zurich's Statistics Office.

The call for sustainability in the real estate sector has been considerable for some time. This is clear from the fact that more and more companies are publicising their CO2 reduction paths for the coming decades.

The work of an asset manager could not be more varied. You are asked to handle a vast array of tasks in connection with the organisation and management of a real estate portfolio and entrusted with a great deal of responsibility at an operating level. One aspect of an asset manager’s work that is important but often underestimated is tenant relations, the details and relevance of which are discussed below.