MONEY MASTER

Switzerland will hold a national ballot on Sept 28 to decide whether to abolish its long-standing property tax, worth about  CHF1.7 billion (US$2.1 billion)  annually. Market Snapshot What’s at stake : Ending the tax on imputed rental value — the “theoretical rent” homeowners could earn from their property. Winners : Homeowners could see tax burdens cut by up to  22% . Losers : Renters (60% of the population) won’t benefit, while the cost hits government budgets. Housing impact : Raiffeisen estimates property price growth could accelerate to  5–7%  over the next year. Why It Matters Homeownership in Switzerland : Only 40% own homes, the lowest in Europe vs 70% in the EU. Perceptions of fairness : Many see the current “imputed rent” tax as unfair, even among non-homeowners. Bubble risk : UBS already flags a “moderate bubble” in Swiss housing, while the central bank warns of market vulnerabilities. Debt & Tax Trade-Offs Abolishing the tax also ends deductions ...

In a surprise comment from the Oval Office, President Trump announced that his administration is  "thinking about no tax on capital gains on houses." This could be a game-changer — not just for homeowners, but also for real estate investors and financial planners watching for macro signals. What’s the Proposal? Currently, capital gains from selling your  primary residence  are already partially exempt ($250K for singles / $500K for married couples). Trump’s remark hints at eliminating  all  capital gains tax on home sales — potentially extending even beyond those exemptions.   Why Does This Matter? Unlocking Housing Liquidity Many long-time homeowners hold off selling to avoid taxes. A full tax exemption could flood the market with high-equity homes, increase turnover, and boost transaction volume. Potential Market Acceleration In a high-interest rate environment, this move may stimulate real estate activity from the supply side — a clever offset to slow Fe...

New Property Tax Reduction for Low-End Homes Hong Kong will cut stamp duty to HK$100 ($12.80) for homes valued at HK$4 million ($515,000) or below . Previously, transactions between HK$3M-HK$4M were taxed up to 1.5% of deal value . Finance chief Paul Chan announced the move in his 2025 budget speech. Hong Kong’s Struggling Real Estate Sector Property prices have plunged 27% since 2021 , nearing  2016 levels  due to  high borrowing costs, weak economy, and oversupply . Despite scrapping all extra stamp duties & relaxing mortgage rules last year, home prices still fell 5% in 2024. The latest tax reduction will benefit ~15% of all property transactions, according to government estimates. Government’s Property Market Dilemma Hong Kong’s economy is heavily reliant on property revenue , making real estate stabilization crucial. Previous policy changes failed to stop the downturn, leading to this new tax cut targeting budget home buyers. Summary: Stamp duty cut to HK$100 for...