Switzerland, a preferred destination for UHNWI

Each year, more than 800 ultra-high-net-worth individuals relocate to Switzerland. This dynamic provides long-term support for demand in the high-end residential real estate market.

A steady inflow of large fortunes

Every year, Switzerland attracts more than 800 ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI), defined as individuals with a net worth exceeding USD 30 million. Behind this figure lies a structural trend driven by Switzerland’s unique combination of political stability, legal security, competitive taxation and exceptional quality of life. These attributes make Switzerland a safe haven for large fortunes in a world marked by geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Geneva, with its role as an international financial centre and its proximity to the headquarters of major global organisations, lies at the heart of this attractiveness. The city consistently ranks among the most sought-after destinations for UHNWI, alongside London, New York and Singapore.

Geneva: a high-end residential market under pressure

The steady arrival of new UHNWI places increasing pressure on Geneva’s residential real estate market. The most sought-after areas — Cologny, Vandoeuvres, Collonge-Bellerive and the Left Bank — experience sustained demand, while supply remains structurally constrained. The scarcity of buildable land, combined with strict urban planning regulations, limits the market’s expansion.

As a result, prime residential properties continue to see their values rise steadily. Waterfront villas, lake-view apartments and renovated character properties have become rare assets, highly sought after by both local wealthy families and international investors.

An environment conducive to long-term investment

Geneva’s high-end real estate market benefits from exceptional resilience across economic cycles. Unlike more volatile global markets, Geneva stands out for its near-inelastic demand. Switzerland’s political and monetary stability, combined with the strength of the Swiss franc, provides an additional layer of security for investors.

Moreover, UHNWI buyers often adopt a long-term wealth preservation mindset. Acquiring property in Geneva is not solely a residential decision, but also a strategy for capital preservation and appreciation.

Structural factors supporting sustained demand

Several factors explain why demand for prime real estate remains strong in the canton of Geneva:

• Competitive taxation: Switzerland’s tax framework, while varying by canton, remains attractive for large fortunes, notably through lump-sum taxation regimes for certain profiles.

• Exceptional quality of life: natural environment, safety, and excellence in educational and medical infrastructure.

• International accessibility: Geneva Airport provides direct connections to major European and global capitals.

• Geneva’s international role: the presence of the United Nations, NGOs, financial institutions and multinational corporations reinforces its status as a global hub.

Together, these factors sustain structurally strong demand, largely independent of short-term economic fluctuations.

An opportunity for investors

For specialised asset managers such as LakeRock, this environment creates particularly favourable conditions. Limited supply and resilient demand allow for a targeted strategy: acquiring high-end residential assets, enhancing their value through renovation or development, and reselling them into a constrained market.

This “institutionalised real estate trading” approach, applied in Geneva and in attractive surrounding areas such as the Vaud coast, follows a dual objective:

• creating tangible value through the transformation of rare assets, and

• offering investors attractive returns within a secure regulatory framework (FINMA-regulated funds, independent audits).

Geneva looking ahead: an increasingly exclusive market

Medium-term prospects reinforce this trajectory. Construction constraints, combined with increased protection of natural areas and built heritage, will continue to limit supply. At the same time, UHNWI interest in Geneva remains strong — whether for fiscal, wealth planning or lifestyle reasons, the city continues to serve as a preferred refuge for international wealth.

For investors, this equation translates into solid and sustainable return potential. In a world characterised by volatility and uncertainty, Geneva offers a rare certainty: high-end residential real estate remains a safe long-term asset.