Swiss Banking
November 17, 2008 by Pegagus Pendrean · Leave a Comment
Swiss Banking and Switzerland are well known internationally for its Swiss Bank Secrecy. What is probably not as well known is the fact that, historically, Swiss banks have been among the strongest, if not the strongest banks in the world, in terms of tier 1 capital and reserves. Read more
Swiss Events Calendar
November 13, 2008 by Pegagus Pendrean · Leave a Comment
Swiss Events Calendar Here is a list of the major upcoming events in Switzerland during November…Please make a note in your diary or, better yet, keep checking back with us…
NOVEMBER 2008
- Zurich Auto Show – www.auto-zuerich.ch – The largest multi-brand car show in German-speaking Switzerland at Messe Zurich;
- Nov. 13-24 – Geneva Fair – www.foiredegeneve.ch – Over 600 exhibitors from the fields of habitat, gastronomy, fashion and art.
- Nov. 13 – Dec. 31 – Salto Natale circus, Zurich – www.saltonatale.ch – The new show is a fusion of artistry and dance with a wonderful story. For full concert, cinema and theater listings in Switzerland try these sites: Ticketcorner; sortir.ch (French only);starticket;Classicpoint.ch (German only);MySwitzerland.com;
- Nov. 14 – Jan. 3 – Solothurn Swiss Art Supermarket – www.kunstsupermarkt.ch
Over 5,000 unique works of modern and contemporary art at affordable prices - Nov. 16 – Concert: Morgan Heritage – Lausanne – Reggae (CHF 35/40) 8 pm – lesdocks.ch
- Nov. 17-23 – Lucerne Festival at the Piano – e.lucernefestival.ch – Top pianists from all over the world perform.
- Nov. 20 – Lecture: Fashion Photography, The Seductive Appeal – www.samah.ch – Shawn Waldron, Archive Director for Publications, talks about the four commandments of the fashion photographer: lighten, brighten, slim and smooth at the Museum d’art et d’histoire in Geneva.
- Nov. 20-23 – Creativa, Lausanne – www.creavenue.com – Get inspired at the annual arts & crafts exposition at Beaulieu.
- Nov. 20 – Jan. 2 – Lighting of the World’s Largest Timepiece, Zurich – www.bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch – The installation on Bahnhofstrasse by two young Zurich architects features 275 rods with almost 250,000 individual light-emitting diodes.
- Nov. 21 – International Sports Night Davos – www.sportnacht.ch – Gala evening to honor Swiss athletes
- Nov. 21 – Concert: Puppetmastaz – Lausanne – Hip-Hop (CHF 25/30) 9 pm – lesdocks.ch
- Nov. 21-23 – Blickfang – www.blickfang.com/Zuerich – Design fair for furniture, fashion and jewelry
- Nov. 22-26 – Basel tanzt – www.baseltanzt.ch – International dance festival featuring world class ballet at St. Jakobshalle
- Nov. 22-30 – 39th Salon des Antiquaires – www.e-antiquites.ch – One of the most popular antique shows in Europe, this year featuring works by Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel at Beaulieu
- Nov. 22 – Jan 4 – Live on Ice – www.liveonice.ch – Ice-skating on Lake Zurich at the Lake Side Casino Zurichhorn. Entrance is free, skates can be rented.
- Nov. 24 – Bern Onion Market – berninfo.com – The colorful Zibelemarit festival is a favorite local tradition. Every year on the fourth Monday of November, Bern’s area farmers bring more than 50 tons of onions and garlic to sell in braided strands in the federal capital’s center, some starting as early as 5 am. Expect bushels of merriment, particularly in the form of confetti tossing and gluwein guzzling, well into the evening.
- Nov. 25 – Dec. 23 – Basel Christmas and Christmas Market – www.messen-maerkte.ch or www.baslerweihnacht.ch. In the heart of the seasonally decorated historic Old Town
- Nov. 26 – Concert: Dagoba + Soulless – Lausanne – Metal (CHF 20/25) 8:30 pm -lesdocks.ch
- Nov. 26 – Dec. 24 – International Christmas market, Geneva – www.wwsa.ch – Vendors sell Christmas decorations, crafts and gifts at Place de la Fusterie.
- Nov. 27 – Lecture: Fashion Photography, The Seductive Appeal – www.samah.ch – Tony Penrose, director of the Lee Miller Archive and the Roland Penrose Collection, speaks about Lee Miller, a female pioneer in fashion photography at the Museum d’art et d’histoire in Geneva.
- Nov. 27-30 – Whiskyship and Cigar Festival – www.whiskyship.ch – International experts and bon vivants meet at Zurich’s Burkliplatz Pier to taste more than 850 traditional single malts and 300 selected cigars from around the world.
- Nov. 27 – Dec. 28 – Montreux Christmas Market – www.montreuxnoel.ch – One of Switzerland’s most beautiful Christmas markets, with more than 100 stands along the lakefront.
- Nov. 28-30 – St. Moritz City Race – www.stmoritz-cityrace.ch – Celebrities and slopes mix as this long weekend celebrates the new season with a charity race, live music, a fashion show, and sledging for all. Proceeds go to Right to Play.
- Nov. 28 – Dec. 24 – Zurich Christmas Fair – www.christkindlimarkt.ch – Europe’s biggest indoor market, held at Rail City, with more than 160 wooden chalets and a 50-foot Christmas tree decorated with over 5,000 Swarovski Crystal Ornaments.
- Nov. 28 – Dec. 24 – Marche de Noel, Lausanne – www.noel-lausanne.ch – Christmas market at the city center in Place St-Francois
- Nov. 28 – Dec 31 – Barstreet Festival Lucerne – www.barstreet.ch – More than 30 bars host special party events
- Nov. 28 – Jan. 4 – Festival Arbres & Lumieres, Geneva – www.arbresetlumieres.ch – Light installations and decorations add artistry throughout the city center.
- Nov. 29 – Concert: Everlast – Lausanne – Hip-hop Blues (CHF 35/40) 8:30 pm – lesdocks.ch
- Nov. 29 – Basel City Run – www.stadtlauf.ch – A race that passes along the longest illuminated Christmas road in Europe, famous for its unique atmosphere.
- Nov. 30 – Christmas procession Zurich – www.samichlaus-zuerich.ch – At 5 p.m. the procession starts at Usteristrasse between Globus and Bahnhofstrasse and continues through Bahnhofstrasse until Burkliplatz.
- Nov. 30 – Dec. 23 – The Singing Christmas Tree – www.singingchristmastree.ch – At Werdmahleplatz, a unique holiday treat: the city’s best children’s choirs sing out from inside the tree, with traditional Christmas market and hot wine in the surrounding platz.
Swiss News and Events
November 11, 2008 by Pegagus Pendrean · Leave a Comment
Here is a synopsis of the major Swiss News and Events from the blogosphere world of Switzerland…
24/7 Wall St.: Transocean Taking Taxes To Switzerland From Cayman … – Transocean Inc. (NYSE:RIG), one of the world’s largest offshore drilling companies, is proposing to move its incorporation location from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland. To make the move, the company needs approval from the Cayman …
WRS | All aboard for a glass of wine – A dozen boats are anchored at the northern tip of Lake Zurich for Switzerland’s largest wine fair. Expovina is in its 55th year and runs until November 13. At 170 stalls aboard the boats, Swiss wine dealers and producers are exhibiting …
Center for Switzerland Progress – FYI — I’m right now at JFK airport about to depart for a week-long trip to Switzerland courtesy of the Swiss-America Foundation during which time I’ll be learning important things about the Switzerland, the Swiss-American relationship, …
Mountain Project: Climbing Switzerland > Herbstwind – Mountain Project’s complete description, photos, and comments for climbing Herbstwind.
WRS | Former UBS head forfeits millions – 88.4 FM IN GENEVA DAB, CABLE & SATELLITE ACROSS SWITZERLAND LISTEN )) ONLINE. Skip Navigation. Home · News · Swiss News · Daily Briefs · Special Series · Programs · Bookmark · Classifieds · Dig It · Gadget Guru · Health Matters …
Switzerland may join the passport-free Schengen zone on December … – Switzerland may join the passport-free Schengen zone on December 12, the Swissinfo news portal said on Saturday citing the country’s justice office. The date.
Non-Terminal People Increasingly Seeking Assisted Suicide in … – ZURICH, November 6, 2008 (LifeSIteNews.com) – A recent study has revealed that a large number of non-terminally ill men and women are seeking assisted suicide in Switzerland, which has some of the most liberal laws in the world …
Agro-food talks bring EU and Switzerland closer – NEW EUROPE – The … – BoelAgro-food talks bring EU and Switzerland closer – The latest European and international news with special sections on energy news, european union news, economic news, european commission news, european parliament news, business news …
A Blog about life in Switzerland » Blog Archive » Helping Hedgehogs – Living in Switzerland and experiencing Swiss customs, traditions and daily life in Switzerland. Swiss News. News from Switzerland. Informations about Switzerland. Swiss way of life. Switzerland way of life. Storys from Switzerland.
[Switzerland] Scholarship 2009-2010 of the Swiss Government | Open … – These scholarships are intended preferably for post-graduate students with a clearly defined aim of studies and who, by staying in Switzerland, will be able to further their education and to undertake research work in the fields in …
ghumakkar.com | Trip to Switzerland: Part 5 – The city of Lucerne … – Table of contents for Trip to Switzerland – Interlaken and Luzern. Trip to Switzerland: Part 1 – Reaching Interlaken · Trip to Switzerland: Part 2 – Interlaken and trip to Jungfrau · Trip to Switzerland: Part 3 – Jungfrau: Top of Europe …
Switzerland gives U.S. information on undeclared UBS accounts … – In the past, Switzerland generally required the U.S. to identify the owner of an account and provide evidence of criminal activity before authorizing the release of account information. Washington Post, The (11/10) …
Bertrand Piccard calls for Switzerland to take a lead in renewable … – swissinfo – swiss news and information platform about Switzerland, business, culture, sport, weather. swissinfo covers Switzerland from every angle in English with news and up-to-date information for a worldwide audience.
Buying a Ski Chalet in Switzerland
November 11, 2008 by Pegagus Pendrean · Leave a Comment
Buying a Ski Chalet in Switzerland – Source: www.Isnare.com Visit Investors in Property for Ski Chalets for Sale
Buying a Ski Chalet in Switzerland - With its majestic mountains, good snowfalls and well-established ski culture, Switzerland is an ideal location to look at ski chalets for sale. Buying that dream in this well-organised country couldn’t be easier as Switzerland has clear regulations and laws that govern the sale of resort properties to foreign buyers. Providing you follow these rules, you will have a hassle-free experience and soon be on the piste.
The Swiss restrict the sale of second homes to foreigners and have an annual quota of 1,500 permits. In addition to that only certain properties in some Cantons, or regions, are authorised for sale. These are usually in tourist resorts, which is good news if you are hoping to earn some income from letting out your property. You can own one property per family and you or your friends must use the property for at least three weeks of the year. During the other 11 months and one week you can rent out the property.
When it comes to finding a ski chalet each Canton has slightly different rules, such as what you can purchase and how long before you can resell. These rules can vary from commune to commune, (the local areas within that region). You will need to employ a Swiss notary to help you with your purchase so they can explain the finer details to you throughout the process.
In general Canton Vaud is the most liberal, where you’ll find the resort of Villars. Obwalden (which boasts the resort of Engelberg) has plenty of foreign purchase permits and few restrictions. Where demand is high such as in Canton Valais, where the popular resorts of Zermatt and Verbier are located, there are less permits and stricter rules about new builds. In Canton Berne, foreign buyers seeking a property in Grindelwald can buy any apartment or chalet over 750,000Sfrs, whilst in Wengen you can only buy apartments. All these restrictions ensure the market is not flooded with foreign buyers and resorts don’t become overcrowded.
Once you’ve found a ski chalet that ticks all your boxes, your Swiss notary can navigate you through the paper work. They will require you to sign over a Power of Attorney so they can sign any papers and act on your behalf during the sale. As with any house purchase, various fees are incurred and each Canton requires a purchase fee, varying between 2.5% and 5% of the purchase price. Your notary will draw up the relevant documentation including the contract of sale, authorisation to purchase on your behalf if you are not resident in Switzerland and will liaise with the bank for registration of the required mortgage. Swiss banks will loan you 60% to 65% of the purchase price and interest is payable every six months.
Once you become the proud owner of your chalet you will have annual running costs to consider, including national and local taxes and a service charge for maintenance of the building, communal services such as water and electricity, structural insurance and maintenance of the roads (including snow clearing). Renting out your property either locally or through a larger tour operator in the UK can easily cover most of these costs, and a local agent can handle the day-to-day running of your chalet. Its also worth considering the tax benefits as there is no tax on rental income from a property owned by a foreigner unless you are resident in Switzerland and you can offset the interest on your loan and other expenses against tax in the UK.
Famous Swiss People
November 11, 2008 by Pegagus Pendrean · Leave a Comment
Famous Swiss People – Henry Dunant (1828-1910), Humanist; His exceptional vision led, as co-founder, to the creation of the Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva (now International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC). Joint recipient of the first Nobel peace prize 1901). Read more
