Selling property in Werthenstein: figures and rules

There is no official price series for Werthenstein. Unlike the Canton of Zurich, the Canton of Lucerne publishes no median prices by municipality. What portals quote for Werthenstein are asking prices, not prices paid.

What is on record is the stock: Werthenstein has 475 buildings with residential use in the Entlebuch constituency. 200 of them are single-family houses, or 42.1%. The cantonal figure is 45.3%. Werthenstein ranks 3 of 9 in the Entlebuch constituency. In total, Werthenstein has 988 dwellings. 50.3% were built before 1981, against 49.9% in the canton. 11.3 hectares of 69.9 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 16.2% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Werthenstein ranks 8 of 79 in the canton.

What your house in Werthenstein is worth follows from comparable sales, the plot and its condition. The free assessment provides a written range with its explanation.

In Werthenstein, 239 of 475 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 50.3%. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 20, counting from the highest share. In the Entlebuch constituency: rank 7 of 9. Werthenstein therefore has about the same share as the canton at 49.9%. Compared with Werthenstein, the figure in Wolhusen is 56.1%.

In Werthenstein, oil or gas heats 110 buildings with residential use, 23.2%, against 39.7% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 67, counting from the highest share. Oil and gas are less common in Werthenstein than the cantonal average.

Anyone selling in Werthenstein adds records of heating, roof and windows to the sale documents. From 1 January 2029, owners living in their home in Werthenstein lose the imputed rental value and the maintenance deduction.¹ The calculation before a renovation is in Renovate or sell.

Werthenstein has 2,161 residents. 364 of them, 16.8%, are 65 or older, against 19.4% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 61, counting from the highest share. In the Entlebuch constituency: rank 9 of 9. Compared with Werthenstein, the figure in Wolhusen is 17.6%.

On 1 June 2026, 5 homes in Werthenstein were empty, 0.51% of the stock, against 0.70% in the canton. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 44, counting from the lowest vacancy. The rate for Werthenstein covers rented and owner-occupied homes, not the supply of houses.

The municipal tax rate of Werthenstein is 2.15 units. Among the 79 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 62, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 79 minutes away from the Schachen LU stop, with 2 changes.

In Lucerne, property gains tax follows the income tax scale for single people, even for married couples. The law multiplies this by 4.2 units, the same everywhere. Under five years owned, the tax rises by up to 50 per cent. After more than nine years, it falls by up to 25 per cent.²

Sellers of an owner-occupied home may defer the tax. They must buy or build a new Swiss home within two years before or after the sale. A holiday or second home does not count. Only the part by which it costs more than their acquisition costs is deferred. Deferred does not mean waived. The deferred gain is taxed when the new home is sold.²

A property transfer tax of 1.5 per cent of the purchase price also applies. The buyer alone owes it.³

Only a Lucerne notary may certify the purchase contract. This can be a lawyer with an office in the canton, or a licensed municipal clerk.⁴