Benchmark rates for ten-year fixed-rate mortgages are higher than at any time since March 2025, even though the Swiss National Bank is keeping its key interest rate at 0 percent (20 Minuten). Blick writes that popular fixed-rate mortgages have not been this expensive at any point this year. Watson, Rhône FM, blue News and La Liberté report a rise in mortgage rates in the third quarter. 24 heures cites a rate of over 2 percent for ten years and writes that 43 percent of the contracts signed have a term of ten years or more. Whoever negotiates could save more than 35,000 francs; the basis of this calculation is not given by the paper in our summary. Cash and Finanz und Wirtschaft report at the same time that home ownership in Switzerland keeps getting more expensive.
For many households the mortgage is the biggest cost item. If long-term rates rise even though the Swiss National Bank stands still, a turn in rates on the capital market becomes noticeable for buyers and owners without the central bank having decided anything. At the same time home ownership itself is getting more expensive: the burden grows from two sides.
Anyone who has to extend or newly take out a fixed-rate mortgage in the coming months should collect several offers; 24 heures cites potential savings of over 35,000 francs without explaining the conditions. Tenants are not directly affected by the report. How higher mortgage rates affect rents is not stated in the reports.
The demand for contracts of ten years and more shows that many buyers value planning security more than a lower rate and therefore lock in now.
Whoever commits for a long time at the high of a year is betting that rates will not fall any more. Whether the bet pays off cannot be judged from the reports.
What is supported is a rise in benchmark rates to the highest level since March 2025, not a decision by the Swiss National Bank. We are watching two things: whether the banks raise their rates further in the coming days and whether the share of long terms in new contracts stays high. We do not know the exact measure behind the 43 percent, which is why we cite it only with its source.
20 Minuten · Blick · Watson · Rhône FM · blue News · La Liberté · 24 heures · Tribune de Genève · Cash · Finanz und Wirtschaft (Oct. 12–13)
Fixed-rate mortgages costlier than at any time since March 2025, even though the Swiss National Bank keeps its key interest rate at zero
Benchmark rates for ten-year fixed-rate mortgages are at their highest since March 2025, according to 20 Minuten; 24 heures cites over 2 percent. Buyers are barely bothered: 43 percent of the contracts signed run ten years or longer.
Benchmark rates for ten-year fixed-rate mortgages are higher than at any time since March 2025 (20 Minuten). This is the case even though the Swiss National Bank is keeping its key interest rate at 0 percent (20 Minuten). Blick writes that the popular fixed-rate mortgages have not been this expensive at any point this year; Watson, Rhône FM, blue News and La Liberté report a rise in mortgage rates in the third quarter. According to 24 heures, the rate for ten years is above 2 percent. There is no single figure, because banks and comparison platforms publish their own benchmark rates; the reports therefore give orders of magnitude, not a binding price.
According to 24 heures, buyers are hardly deterred: 43 percent of the contracts signed have a term of ten years or more. The paper also calculates that more than 35,000 francs can be saved by negotiating; which loan amount and term this refers to is not clear from our sources. Long-term mortgage rates usually follow yields on the capital market rather than the key interest rate; what triggered the latest rise is not stated in the reports. Cash and Finanz und Wirtschaft report at the same time that home ownership in Switzerland keeps getting more expensive. We are watching whether the banks raise their rates further in the coming days.