Andermatt tops price rankings for European Alpine destinations, bolstered by international buyers: Knight Frank
The Lex Weber, passed in 2012, reduces the share of secondary or holiday homes in Swiss communities to 20% of the existing housing stock. Several resorts have currently struck the limit, effectively banning new-build 2nd homes, the record adds.
Ultimately, alpine residences have come to be “durable, year-round resorts incorporating way of life, stability and solid investment performance”, the record includes. As attention continues to expand, the Alpine market is anticipated to see further activity in the coming years, supported by the 2026 Winter Olympics that will be kept in Italy’s Milano Cortina, in addition to evolving regulations and rising summer demand.
As Andermatt is exempt from these laws, it is one of the few prime Alpine destinations where foreigners can buy and resell real property freely. Knight Frank’s record notes particular interest among United States purchasers for Andermatt real properties.
According to the record, Andermatt’s solid performance is underpinned by its exemption from Switzerland’s Lex Koller and Lex Weber laws. The Lex Koller restricts international ownership by permitting non-residents to only acquire holiday homes inside designated visitor zones, with a highest living space of 2,152.78 sq ft.
Switzerland’s Andermatt has become the top-performing alpine spot in Europe, according to the 2026 Knight Frank Alpine Property Record. The village in the Swiss Alps viewed the top annual development in prime property costs as of June this year, at 14.6%.
This is considerably higher than the market average of 3.3%, and beats other well-known alpine destinations such as Switzerland’s Davos (10.5%) and Italy’s Cortina (10%). Knight Frank adds that on standard, Swiss Alpine markets recorded 5% yearly expansion, exceeding the 1.2% common progress for French markets.
More extensively, Knight Frank’s record reveals Alpine real estate markets are evolving beyond their traditional part as holiday vacations. Instead, more purchasers are seeing it as a year-round location, sustained by remote work trends, an increase in summer tourism, and more way of living offerings and amenities available throughout the year. A study among high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) by Knight Frank discovered that 73% would think about dwelling permanent in the Alps.
Nevertheless, interest is also growing from Asian customers. Maureen Yeo, local director of Asia for real estate developer Andermatt Swiss Alps, says enquiries from Hong Kong and Singapore purchasers have ascended roughly 20% in the past year. She includes that purchasers seeking security, asset maintenance and a currency hedge are attracted to Andermatt, in which they have the opportunity to obtain a freehold, Swiss-Franc-denominated property.
