Owner-occupied housing is property that the owner uses themselves. In Switzerland, this is usually a private home or an owner-occupied flat.

• Buildings insurance: This insurance product protects the home you own in Switzerland from the financial fallout of damage caused to the building itself by the likes of fire, storms or hail. It covers the repair or restoration costs.
• Legal protection insurance: This provides protection in the event of conflicts or legal disputes relating to your property.
  
• Household contents insurance: This protects your home furnishings and personal belongings against damage and theft.
  

• When the home owner dies, different things may happen to their home depending on the arrangements made. Their home forms part of their estate and is included in estate planning.
• If the deceased has left a will, their wishes outlined in the will concerning their home are followed. The deceased may have specified in the will who is to inherit their home, whether it is to be sold or how it is to be divided among the heirs.
  
• The rules of intestate succession apply if the deceased did not have a will. The home is then divided among the legal heirs (e.g. spouse, children or other relatives).
  
• If several people inherit a house or a flat, they can either use it jointly or sell it and split the proceeds. If one person takes over the property, they must buy out the other heirs. This can pose financial problems in some cases.
  
• Estate planning involving home ownership can be complex. Get professional advice to avoid disputes.
  

Early pension fund withdrawal for home ownership in Switzerland:

• Yes. In Switzerland, there are two ways of using your pension fund to finance home ownership: early withdrawal and pledging.
• Early withdrawal for home ownership: Under certain conditions, you can withdraw capital from your pension fund early to buy a home. However, this has negative consequences for your insurance coverage and your pension after retirement.
  
• Pledging pension fund assets: You can use the assets of your BVG pension as collateral for your mortgage by pledging them to the bank. The insurance coverage and the pension remain unaffected.
  
• You can also use your pillar 3 savings for home ownership. You can draw capital from your pillar 3a for financing purposes.
  

• You can cover a maximum of 10% of the purchase price (i.e. half of the required equity) with funds from pillar 2. 
  
• You may use the pension fund assets to build, buy, renovate or pay off the mortgage on your owner-occupied home.
  
• Holiday homes are residential properties that are used as second homes or for leisure and holiday purposes. You cannot withdraw assets from your pension fund early to finance a holiday home, since it is not your primary residence.
  
• Building land is undeveloped land that your own home may be built on. You cannot use an early withdrawal from your pension fund to finance this without the construction project being approved.
  

Estate planning with home ownership:

• Canton of residence: Inheritance tax is regulated at cantonal level. Tax rates and allowances vary from one canton to the next.
• Degree of relationship: The degree of relationship between the testator and the heirs is a decisive factor in calculating inheritance tax. Find out about the specific regulations and tax rates in your canton. In some cantons, close family members such as spouses and direct descendants benefit from tax exemptions or reduced tax rates. There are usually tax-free allowances.
  
• Partnership: Whether you are married or simply cohabiting is relevant when it comes to estate planning. Find out about inheritance law, statutory portions and inheritance taxes.