Can you afford that Swiss mortgage?
Swiss banks use two fixed rules: at least 20% equity, and imputed costs under one third of your gross income. Enter three numbers to see where you stand.
Imputed costs are 40% of your gross income. Banks want this under 33%.
Your equity covers the 20% minimum.
At this income and equity, the standard rules support a price up to CHF 880'000.
This applies the standard Swiss lending rules (5% imputed rate, 1% maintenance, max 80% mortgage, 33% of income). Your bank's exact terms may differ. Not financial advice.
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hopli tracks your property, mortgage and net worth in one place.
The two rules behind every Swiss mortgage
Swiss lenders decide on two tests. The loan-to-value rule caps the mortgage at 80% of the property value, so you need at least 20% as equity. The affordability rule says your imputed annual housing cost must stay under a third of your gross income. A home has to clear both, not just one.
Why a 5% rate when mortgages cost less
Banks deliberately calculate affordability at an imputed rate of about 5%, well above today's market rates, plus 1% of the price for maintenance and upkeep. This is a stress test: it checks you could still carry the home if rates rose, which is why a place can feel affordable month to month yet fail the calculation.
Equity: 20%, and 10% must be hard
Of the 20% equity, at least half (10% of the price) has to be hard equity from savings, a 3a account or a gift, not from your second-pillar pension fund. You can use pension money for the rest, but the first 10% cannot come from it.
Amortization of the second mortgage
The part of the mortgage above 65% of the value (the second mortgage) must be paid down to 65% within 15 years. That mandatory repayment is part of the affordability cost, which is why a higher loan-to-value raises the monthly figure this calculator shows.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need to buy in Switzerland?
Enough that your imputed costs (5% interest plus 1% maintenance, minus amortization) stay under a third of your gross income. The calculator shows the income a given price needs.
How much equity do I need?
At least 20% of the price. At least 10% of the price must be hard equity from savings or a 3a account; the rest may come from your pension fund.
Why does the calculator use 5% when mortgage rates are lower?
It is the standard imputed rate banks use to stress-test affordability. It checks you could still afford the home if rates rose, so it is intentionally higher than current rates.
What counts as gross income?
Your combined annual income before deductions for everyone named on the mortgage. Banks generally assess affordability on gross, not net, income.
Is this a mortgage offer?
No. It applies the standard Swiss lending rules so you can sanity-check a price. Your bank will look at your full situation and may reach a different figure.