Selling property in Altstätten: figures and rules

Official statistics on prices paid are missing for Altstätten. The Canton of St. Gallen does not collect them by municipality, unlike the Canton of Zurich. What portals quote for Altstätten are asking prices, not prices paid.

What is on record is the stock: Altstätten has 3,377 buildings with residential use in the Rheintal constituency. 2,162 of them are single-family houses, or 64.0%. The cantonal figure is 59.2%. Altstätten ranks 11 of 13 in the Rheintal constituency. In total, Altstätten has 6,653 dwellings. 59.7% were built before 1981, against 58.9% in the canton. 33.1 hectares of 450.8 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 7.4% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Altstätten ranks 28 of 75 in the canton.

The price of your house in Altstätten depends on location, plot and building, measured against similar sales. The free assessment gives you a written price range with its reasoning.

Altstätten has set out its goals in its Vision 2036. Under the heading Schaffenskraft, or creative power, it makes a clear statement on urban development. The FREI|RAUM master plan is being put into practice.¹⁴ In the development areas around the hospital, the station and Kugelgasse, forward-looking concepts for their use are to be realised.¹⁴ The town links this vision to its goals for the 2028 term of office. For owners, a property's position relative to these three areas may carry more weight in future.

What applies in law today is set out in the town's building code. It was brought into force on 1 October 2016.¹⁵ It also includes a separate section on work zones, dated 12 November 2019.¹⁵ A vision alone does not change these rules. New building rules for an area always require a planning procedure of their own. Anyone selling now therefore sells under the rules in force, not under future plans for the three areas.

In Altstätten, 2,016 of 3,377 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 59.7%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 29, counting from the highest share. In the Rheintal constituency: rank 3 of 13. Altstätten therefore has a higher share than the canton at 58.9%. Compared with Altstätten, the figure in Widnau is 46.5%.

In Altstätten, oil or gas heats 1,670 buildings with residential use, 49.5%, against 50.0% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 33, counting from the highest share. Oil and gas are less common in Altstätten than the cantonal average.

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

Altstätten has 12,788 residents. 2,529 of them, 19.8%, are 65 or older, against 19.9% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 34, counting from the highest share. In the Rheintal constituency: rank 3 of 13. Compared with Altstätten, the figure in Widnau is 17.6%.

On 1 June 2026, 66 homes in Altstätten were empty, 0.99% of the stock, against 1.16% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 46, counting from the lowest vacancy. The rate for Altstätten covers rented and owner-occupied homes, not the supply of houses.

The municipal tax rate of Altstätten is 107%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 25, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 83 minutes away from the Altstätten SG stop, with 1 change.

The canton taxes the gain on sale, price minus costs, on a progressive scale.² After more than 15 years of ownership, the tax falls yearly, by up to 40.5% if you lived there 15 years or more.² This applies to the gain up to CHF 500,000; otherwise the cap is 20%.² Within 5 years, the tax rises.²

Selling a home you lived in permanently and exclusively can defer all or part of the tax.³ You buy a similarly used home in Switzerland from 1 year before to 3 years after the sale.⁴ Deferred does not mean waived.³

The buyer owes a 1% transfer tax (Handänderungssteuer) on the price.⁵ The seller is jointly liable; between parents and children, half the rate applies.⁵

The municipal land registry where the property lies notarises the sale contract.⁶ The registry fee is 0.2% up to CHF 2 million, 0.05% above.⁷ If the land registry also notarises the contract, the fee doubles.⁷