Home prices continue to rise; more flexible discounted train tickets are now available; and other news in our Wednesday roundup.
Swiss property prices continue to rise
Due to high demand fuelled by low mortgage rates, houses and apartments have became more expensive in the first six months of 2025.
Concretely, prices for single-family homes went up by 3.4 percent and for condominiums by 2.4 percent nationally.
On the regional basis, prices for single-family homes increased by 3.6 percent in French-speaking Switzerland, and by 3.2 percent in the German part.
Prices for condominiums have risen by 2.4 percent in German-speaking Switzerland and 2.3 percent in French-speaking Switzerland since the beginning of the year.
Year-on-year, the increase was 4.5 percent in French-speaking Switzerland and 3.8 percent in German-speaking regions.
Swiss commuters can benefit from more flexible discounted train tickets
The SBB and the SwissPass Alliance are now offering the “Sparbillett Flex” (the Flex Saver ticket) — a discounted, train-specific ticket available digitally via an app or online shop.
Unlike conventional saver tickets, customers can cancel the Flex Ticket independently and without giving a reason up until departure and receive a 50 percent refund, Swiss Pass announced on Tuesday.
Until now, saver tickets were only valid for specific trains and times, and were rarely refundable.
With this new option, the SwissPass Alliance “is responding to the increased demand for more flexible refund conditions,” the company said.
The goal of the Flex Saver Ticket is “to enable affordable yet spontaneous travel and make using public transport more attractive.”
Saver offers also help to better distribute traffic flows and maximise the use of less frequently used routes.
READ ALSO: How you can get cheaper Swiss train tickets in future
Advertisement
Covid had no impact on the survival rates of cancer patients in Switzerland
The pandemic claimed many lives, in Switzerland and elsewhere, but some positive health-related news is emerging nevertheless.
While research conducted in other countries has highlighted marked effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on cancer progression, the situation in Switzerland appears different, according to the National Cancer Registry.
The pandemic did lead to a temporary drop in the number of diagnosed cases, but it had no significant negative impact on the stage of tumor progression or on patient survival over the following year, the company pointed out.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
