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Geneva marketNotary fees in Geneva: the real cost of a purchase
Transfer tax, fees, land registry: what a Geneva buyer really needs to budget beyond the advertised price.
Contents
The advertised price is not the price paid
The listed amount only covers the acquisition of the property. On top of it come unavoidable costs, collected by the State and the notary, which an informed buyer budgets for from the outset, before even making an offer.
The three items of acquisition costs
The bill breaks down into three lines. Transfer tax weighs the most, well ahead of notary fees and land registry fees.
How much is that in francs?
Applied to the price of the property, these percentages quickly translate into substantial amounts. On a 1.5 million acquisition, the total comes to around 67'500 francs.
An offer is prepared with the full cost in mind, not just the advertised price.
The weight of each item
Compared with one another, transfer tax alone accounts for more than two thirds of the costs. This is the line on which most of the budget is decided.
New or existing: a different basis
Buying a home sold off-plan (VEFA) does not treat the land and the construction in the same way. The final bill may be lighter as a result, a point to check case by case with the notary.
What to remember
- Budget 4 to 5% of the price on top of your down payment and financing.
- Ask for an estimated notarial statement before any firm offer.
- Distinguish between new and existing: the calculation basis is not the same.
Who pays the notary fees in Geneva?
In Geneva practice, the buyer bears most of the acquisition costs (transfer tax, fees, land registry).
How much is the transfer tax?
It amounts to 3% of the purchase price of an existing property in the canton of Geneva.
Do these costs need to be planned on top of the down payment?
Yes. Acquisition costs (4 to 5% of the price) are added to the personal contribution required by the bank; they are not financed by the mortgage.
Estimation argumentée, mise en marché discrète, suivi jusqu'à la signature.
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