Mortgage in Valais: financing your property in Switzerland’s premier alpine canton

• Valais: between glaciers, vineyards and art de vivre
• The Valais real estate market: opportunities and constraints
• Financing a property in Valais: available mortgage solutions
• Estimate the cost of your loan for a Valais property
• Essential checks before buying in Valais
• Make your real estate project in Valais a reality

Are you looking to buy a property in Valais? This bilingual alpine canton, famous for its world-renowned ski resorts and vineyards, is one of the most diverse real estate markets in Switzerland. Here is the key information to prepare your mortgage financing.

Valais: between glaciers, vineyards and art de vivre

Valais (Wallis in German) is the third largest Swiss canton by surface area. Traversed lengthwise by the Rhône, it stretches from the alpine massifs of Upper Valais to the shores of Lake Geneva. With approximately 355,000 inhabitants, it is renowned for its natural and cultural diversity.

Key locations and highlights:

• Sion (Sitten), the cantonal capital and seat of institutions, standing under the double watch of the castles of Valère and Tourbillon
• Zermatt and the Matterhorn, symbols of international alpine tourism and one of the most expensive real estate markets in Switzerland
• Verbier, a trendy and international resort in the 4 Vallées ski area
• Crans-Montana, a bilingual high-altitude resort with a wealthy international clientele
• The Valais Lake Geneva region (Monthey, Martigny, Saint-Maurice) — more affordable prices, excellent rail connections
• The Valais hillside vineyards, producers of Switzerland’s finest wines (Fendant, Humagne, Cornalin)

Valais is officially bilingual. French dominates in Lower Valais (Martigny, Monthey, Sion) and German (the Alemannic dialect of Upper Valais) prevails in the eastern part (Brig, Visp, Leuk). Many Valaisans speak both languages fluently.

Valais real estate: opportunities and constraints of the Valais property market

Valais has one of the widest price ranges in Switzerland:

• Zermatt and premium resorts: apartment prices commonly exceed CHF 1,500,000 to CHF 3,000,000. Zermatt is a fully pedestrianised, car-free zone — an exceptional market
• Verbier, Crans-Montana, Nendaz: mid-range to premium market, between CHF 700,000 and CHF 1,800,000 depending on quality
• Rhône Valley (Sion, Sierre, Martigny): more accessible residential market, between CHF 400,000 and CHF 750,000
• Strict Lex Weber: Valais is the canton most affected by restrictions on secondary residences. The vast majority of tourist municipalities are subject to Lex Weber limitations — mandatory verification before any approach

Buying a house in Valais: available mortgage solutions to finance your property

Types of loans available in the canton:

• Fixed-rate mortgage: stable and predictable monthly payments over 2 to 15 years — the reference solution for both primary and secondary residences (mortgage rate Valais)
• Variable-rate mortgage (SARON): variable rate indexed on the Swiss money market — to be considered with caution given the often high amounts in tourist areas
• Combined mortgage: structuring into two tranches to limit interest rate risk
• Second home mortgage: subject to Lex Weber rules. The purchase of an existing property as a secondary residence in a protected zone remains possible under certain specific conditions — to be verified with an expert
• Construction or renovation mortgage: for chalet conversion projects or new construction in authorised zones

Estimate the cost of your loan for a Valais property

For a primary residence apartment in the Rhône plain (apartment purchase Valais) at CHF 550,000, you must bring a minimum of CHF 110,000 in equity. For an apartment in a resort at CHF 1,200,000, the minimum contribution will be CHF 240,000. In all cases, the total theoretical carrying cost must not exceed one third of your annual gross income.

Our mortgage calculator allows you to simulate different scenarios based on your target area and contribution level.

Essential checks before buying in Valais

This canton requires strict preliminary checks:

• Lex Weber status of the municipality: it is essential to verify whether the municipality is subject to restrictions before making any offer or financing approach
• Property use: primary residence, secondary residence or tourist rental — the rules differ significantly
• Transfer fees: the canton of Valais applies a transfer duty of 0.3% and a notarial fee. The total transaction costs can represent 1 to 2% of the property price
• Compare the Cantonal Bank of Valais (BCVs), national banks and insurers
• Work with a mortgage broker specialised in the Valais market — particularly for tourist areas where the rules are complex

Make your real estate project in Valais a reality

Valais is one of the richest and most complex real estate markets in Switzerland. Whether it is a house in Sion, a chalet in Verbier or an apartment in Zermatt, every acquisition requires thorough preliminary analysis and well-structured financing.

Submit your request online to receive mortgage proposals tailored to your Valais project.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. The Lex Weber applies in the vast majority of tourist municipalities in Valais — consult a specialist lawyer before any purchase of a secondary residence. No rate is guaranteed. Consult a specialist before making any purchase decision.

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