In Switzerland, Most People Rent for Life. Is That Really What They Want? - The New York Times
Martin Hoesli, a professor at the University of Geneva who has studied Swiss homeownership for decades, said that even though the math favors homeownership in the long run, many Swiss cannot afford a down payment, which by law is a minimum of 20 percent of the purchase price. Add to that the 4 percent in transfer costs, and the minimum down payment for the average-priced house in Switzerland — currently $1.4 million, according to Wüest Partner — is $336,000.