Notify the Registry of Deeds about the sale contract
Agency: Registry of Deeds
The parties (usually the seller) must give notification to the competent notary office (Notariatsamt) regarding a sales contract. In the case of the Canton of Zurich, this is a public office, which is in charge of the public notary function as well as the land register. In Swiss legislation, a real estate transfer contract cannot be established between private persons. The contract does not legally exist until it is authenticated with the help of a notary or the corresponding officer. From a legal point of view, even if buyer and seller agree on the conditions of the future contract, there is no contract. With the result of their negotiations, they will go to the notary office to explain what they have agreed upon. The notary then will verify that these agreements are valid (conditions are legal, possible, seller and buyer are able from a civil point of view), and when necessary, the notary must help the parties to complete the contract to insure its validity.
Time and cost: 2 days, no charge
A notary public prepares the sale contract
Agency: Notary
Preparation of the sale contract by a notary is mandatory in the canton Zurich, due to the cantonal law concerning land registration. For e.g. in the canton Basel-Stadt the parties can do it themselves. The sales contract must include the price of the land, the land parcel number, the information on both parties, and the extract from land register concerning this land parcel, as well as all costs which emerge by this contract. In the case of the Canton of Zurich, the “Notariatsamt” (notary) is also the “Grundbuchamt” (land registry). Therefore the extract is obtained at the same time. Otherwise an extract in the Canton of Zurich is obtained in 7-14 days and costs approximately CHF 150 (for an excerpt from the Registry of Deeds about a specific property where all information can be taken out such as the measures of the property, the owner, the mortgages, etc.).
Time and cost: 11 days, CHF 150 (CHF 150 (Excerpt from the Registry of Deeds))
The contract is signed before the public notary
Agency: Notary
If the contract is in order for both parties, it will be signed before the public notary, who will inform the parties about duties and rights concerning this contract. After the parties have examined the contract, it is returned to the public notary who then arranges a meeting between the parties and himself. The stamp duty is included in the notary fees.
Time and cost: 1 day, CHF 4,066.61 (0.1% of property value (Includes the preparation in Procedure 2))
The title is registered at the Registry of Deeds
Agency: Registry of Deeds
If the contract has been signed and the money transferred the transfer of ownership title will be entered in writing in the register of the deeds by the registrar. In such contracts, before transfer of ownership title can take place, the money will be transferred to a blocked bank account and will only be released after registration. The registration fee (0.15% of property value) is paid at the moment of registration.
The voters approved a reduction of the fee for the registration at the Registry of Deeds on 28th February 2016 which will be amended in the Notaries Act of the Canton of Zurich. It will be effective as of 1st January 2017.
Time and cost: 2 days, CHF 6,099.92 (0.15% of property value)
