Buy property off-market in Switzerland: register your search profile
To buy a home in Switzerland before it reaches Homegate or ImmoScout24, register a search profile with Offlist: we check your identity and proof of financing, then match your profile privately with owners who sell without a public listing. Access is currently free; partner agencies that run a search mandate for you set their own fees, which are agreed before you commit.
Updated 15 October 2026
How buying off-market works
- 1
Register your search profile
Regions, property type, size, maximum purchase price and timing. Your profile stays private and is never published.
- 2
Verification
Before any introduction we verify your identity and proof of funds or financing. For buyers resident abroad, we clarify eligibility under Lex Koller first.
- 3
Private matching
When a property fits, you first receive an anonymous summary. The address, photos and documents follow once the owner approves you, under a non-disclosure agreement where required.
- 4
Viewing, offer and notary
Viewings are private and one-to-one. Once terms are agreed, the purchase contract is notarised and registered in the land register exactly as in any Swiss sale.
Cost, time and eligibility
What it costs
Creating a search profile and receiving proposals is currently free. If you work with a partner agency on a search mandate, it sets its own fee, which is discussed transparently before you commit. Notary, land register and transfer costs depend on the canton.
How long it takes
In our experience, a public search for a premium property can take three to six months, while a dedicated search mandate often leads to a result in four to eight weeks. The actual time depends on the region, the budget and how precise your profile is.
Can foreigners buy?
EU/EFTA nationals living in Switzerland and C permit holders buy like Swiss citizens. Other B permit holders may buy their own main home. Buyers living abroad are restricted by Lex Koller; holiday homes are possible only in designated areas under a quota.
Read the Lex Koller guideWhere we match buyers
Most off-market sales we see are in these regions.
- Zurich city
- Apartments, penthouses and period homes in Kreis 1, Enge, Seefeld and on the Zürichberg.
- Lake Zurich
- Villas and family houses on the Gold Coast (Küsnacht, Zollikon, Erlenbach, Herrliberg, Meilen) and the left shore.
- Zug
- Penthouses in Zug and Baar, lake-view villas in Walchwil and Oberwil.
- Geneva
- Apartments in Champel and Eaux-Vives, villas in Cologny and along the lake.
- Mountain resorts
- Chalets in Verbier, Gstaad, St. Moritz and Zermatt, within the rules for second homes and Lex Koller.
Questions from buyers
How can I buy a home in Switzerland off-market, before it reaches the portals?
Register a verified search profile with a private network such as Offlist and back it with proof of financing. Owners who sell without a public listing then see that a qualified buyer is looking, and suitable properties are presented to you privately.
Is there a buyer's agent in Switzerland who searches off-market homes for me?
Yes. Through Offlist you can work with partner agencies on a search mandate: they search actively for you, including properties that are not listed. The agency's fee is agreed before you commit.
What does it cost to register as a buyer?
Creating a search profile and receiving proposals is currently free. Partner agencies that run a search mandate set their own fees. Notary, land register and any transfer tax depend on the canton.
Which documents do I need?
A valid ID and proof of funds or a financing confirmation from your bank for your price range. If you live abroad, we also clarify whether Lex Koller allows the purchase.
Is buying off-market legal in Switzerland?
Yes. There is no obligation to advertise a property publicly. Every sale, listed or not, is notarised and entered in the land register, and the same Lex Koller rules apply.