| Wth a fifty per cent top rate of tax, hedge funders | | | | If you can afford it the cream de la crème |
| have become increasingly interested in sampling a | | | | of Swiss housing is located along the 'gold coast' |
| little bit of the Alpine air. Geneva has a massive eight | | | | shores of Lake Zurich, surely one of the most |
| per cent of all the hedge funders in the world, which | | | | tranquil and aesthetically pleasing spots on earth. |
| compares favourably with the twenty per cent who | | | | Otherwise small outlying villages like Bubikon have |
| live in London. Expensive developments such as the | | | | fantastic converted barns with views out over alpine |
| Hotel du Parc are being built to cater to this new jet | | | | meadows and the Swiss Alps. Although property in |
| set and the 24 apartment complex has a spa and | | | | Geneva is pricey, it still costs much less to buy |
| some unforgettable alpine views. | | | | something a well-to-do area than it would do in |
| Life is Geneva is certainly good with the excellent | | | | London. |
| mountain resort of Verbier only a short one and a | | | | There are of course the elite options such as a |
| half hour drive away. Verbier is one of the world's | | | | seven and an half million CHF three bedroom |
| best off piste ski resorts and top skiers as well as | | | | property which has 2,000 acres overlooking Lake |
| families are attracted to its mix of ski competitions | | | | Geneva and includes a swimming pool and garages. |
| and great nightlife. In Verbier there are 33 standard | | | | Places such as Cologny, where the World Economic |
| ski runs, 35 lifts and two snow parks. Celebrities such | | | | Forum is located, have huge detached houses with |
| as James Blunt and Richard Branson have all skied | | | | wonderful lake views, some of which are available to |
| there. | | | | buy. This municipality in the canton of Geneva is also |
| These attractions have all contributed to creating a | | | | close to some world class golf courses. All in all |
| cosmopolitan environment in Geneva and Zurich as | | | | Switzerland is a luxurious place to live which rewards |
| people from all around the world want to live there. | | | | you with a very high standard of living. |
| However, property does not come cheap and is also | | | | According to Dean Foley, international sales manager |
| scarce in the cities, meaning that many people | | | | at Hamptons estate agents, property in Switzerland |
| choose to rent in Switzerland. Living outside of the | | | | is a good investment. He stated: "Swiss property has |
| city is therefore a much more attractive option. The | | | | yielded a 5-8 per cent yearly return over the past 10 |
| country is small and the roads and public transport | | | | years. |
| are excellent so that commuting is never a nightmare. | | | | |