Ticino Welcome °85, March - May 2025 - New look for secondary houses
Meeting with Philipp Peter and Iradj Alexander David, co-owners of Wetag Consulting, at the Lugano office to discuss the numerous changes underway. The company’s administration has been moved from Locarno to Lugano, while the Ascona office, located at 1 Viale Monte Verità, has been expanded. The marketing department also has a new home: manager Mauro Delrio and his team will work from the Lugano headquarters at Riva Caccia.
Among the many changes, there is also the new role of Ueli Schnorf, who, as of January 1st, remains in the company as honorary president and consultant…
PHILIPP PETER: "We will miss Ueli as a person and as a friend because we used to talk almost daily, exchanging opinions, seeking advice, and getting updates on the many ongoing negotiations. His invaluable experience has helped us grow significantly over the years. We planned his departure gradually—over the past few years, Ueli had already reduced his working days. If the name Wetag today represents the luxury market in Ticino and is internationally recognized, it is thanks to the teamwork we have built over the past ten years—balancing experience and a desire to grow while maintaining an avant-garde and future-oriented approach."
What will change now?
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "Considering the excellent results Wetag continues to achieve year after year at an entrepreneurial level, it would be unwise to overturn our strategy. For this reason, we will maintain the right continuity concerning what has been achieved so far, fully respecting what has been built in the past. Wetag is a solid and growing company, a success made possible by Philipp and me constantly identifying new opportunities. We are already working on a new project, but at the moment, it is still too early to reveal the details."
We decided to talk about Ticino and its secondary homes. Will the new possibility of demolishing vacation properties and rebuilding them with a 30% expansion lead to an improvement in the landscape?
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "Absolutely yes, it gives the region a chance to renew its image. In this way, we will be able to restore value to properties that have become dilapidated over time, especially since we are talking about secondary homes, which are often unoccupied and have lacked maintenance for decades. We all, not just in the luxury sector, want modern, eco-sustainable comfort (when possible), so the opportunity to rebuild is a real advantage—both for new owners and for further enhancing the landscape of our beautiful canton. I would like to remind you that previously, secondary homes could not be altered in their volume unless they were converted into primary residences."
Let’s stay in Sopraceneri—this decision must affect you particularly…
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "Certainly. In Sopraceneri, especially in the Locarno area, where we primarily operate, we mostly sell secondary homes. So, this new possibility will allow us to refresh our portfolio and will motivate many buyers who, in the past, had given up on purchasing a vacation home simply because they could not modify it. Often, when talking about properties built between the 1960s and 1980s, a simple restyling was not enough and still required a significant investment. Now, being able to demolish and rebuild is an attractive prospect."
Additionally, the new construction can be 30% larger than the previous one…
PHILIPP PETER: "Not only that, but properties will also be able to change their position on the plot, always respecting the necessary regulations. However, I would like to highlight that increasing a house’s size by 30% does not mean that foreigners can now buy properties over 200 square meters in Ticino. From this perspective, the LAFE law, which regulates real estate acquisitions by foreigners, has not changed—in fact, it has become even stricter. In the 200 square meters, areas occupied by built-in wardrobes, kitchen islands, etc., are now included, whereas in the past, only the livable floor area was considered."
But does this 30% increase primarily benefit Swiss buyers who want a secondary home in Ticino?
PHILIPP PETER: "It depends on the size of the property in question. If I have an old house of 150 square meters and I have the opportunity to expand it by 30%, by renovating the existing part or developing a new project, I can add approximately 50 square meters of living space… You can see how this makes the property more attractive, especially because, in this way, I can have a home of almost 200 square meters."
Will this also benefit the Lugano area?
PHILIPP PETER: "I am convinced it will, but at the same time, we must consider the significant economic impact on land prices. Those selling a property will assign value to the existing house—not just an economic value, but often an emotional one too. This will directly influence the cost per square meter of gross usable area, known as SUL—the total area of a property."
A significant step for a canton that truly wants to enhance its territory and preserve its landscape while respecting nature and promoting energy efficiency.
WETAG CONSULTING IMMOBILIARE SA
Luxury Real Estate for sale in Ticino, Switzerland
Riva Antonio Caccia 3
CH-6900 Lugano
Via Monte Verità 1
CH-6612 Ascona
www.wetag.ch
www.journal.wetag.ch
[email protected]
+41(0)91 601 04 50
