So, in this sideways two-step, backwards cha-cha, there might actually be progress on the house project. The two recours against the project were rolled into one, and then adjudicated. The Tribunal de Premier Instance rejected all the concerns of the plaintiffs. That was November. In January, in a 14 degree (celsius) living room, I started… Continue reading Progress?
Category: Finances
Latest news on the house
Happily, in April, on the recommendation of the excellent environmental engineer I was working with, I started working with an architect. It has been a very happy relationship so far. The dossier to ask for construction permits and authorization was submitted yesterday. Now we wait. It will take about 60 days for the dossier to… Continue reading Latest news on the house
The bank
I was approved by the fellow on vacation, but it was a fairly tense few weeks waiting. I went in, signed some documents, and everything seemed to be going swimmingly. Then with less than two weeks to go, my banker sprung on me the cedule hypothecaire (which translates roughly to mortgage codicil). Real estate transactions… Continue reading The bank
The Notaire
I debated about whether I should write about the notaire or the architect first, but I'll go with the notaire as she was much more part of the process. First, how did I find the Notaire? I asked on a regional group on Facebook. This may not have been the best method in retrospect, but… Continue reading The Notaire
I was buying a house
I committed to purchasing the house at the end of June. I really wanted to be out of my apartment. I wanted to stop paying rent. I wanted a shorter commute. My life was going to change radically with this house! And I was excited! Buuut, the owner didn't want the sale to go through… Continue reading I was buying a house
A word about my house purchase process
I'll step out of the linear story for a moment to explain a little more about my own process of buying a house, which I believe is by no means typical. But here's hoping I'm only doing it once... I found the properties I wanted to look at by sifting through dozens of websites where… Continue reading A word about my house purchase process
So how do the mortgages work?
Keep in mind, this is my understanding of it. Filtered through my non-fluent French. In most places: the US, the UK, Canada, France... your goal when you buy a house is to pay it off and own it. Switzerland is not like that. Because of its tax system. You can own your property completely here,… Continue reading So how do the mortgages work?
Why was I looking for a house
I have lived in Geneva for a long time. Moved into a lovely if over-priced apartment when I arrived, and have been here since. The housing market always seemed way out of reach for me. I'm from NoVa, and even compared to that, the Geneva market is batshit. And the Swiss real estate market operates… Continue reading Why was I looking for a house
La Marmite de Chocolat 