Selling property in Gossau: the city's largest building project

There is no official price series for Gossau (SG). Unlike the Canton of Zurich, the Canton of St. Gallen publishes no median prices by municipality. Portal values for Gossau (SG) rest on offers, not on completed sales.

What is on record is the stock: Gossau (SG) has 2,799 buildings with residential use in the St. Gallen constituency. 1,344 of them are single-family houses, or 48.0%. The cantonal figure is 59.2%. Gossau (SG) ranks 8 of 9 in the St. Gallen constituency. In total, Gossau (SG) has 9,201 dwellings. 59.9% were built before 1981, against 58.9% in the canton. 62.7 hectares of 586.6 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 10.7% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Gossau (SG) ranks 3 of 75 in the canton.

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

Gossau's zoning plan dates from 1980 and 1981.¹⁴ The city council has now fully revised the zoning plan and building code.¹⁴ After two rounds of public consultation and the cantonal pre-review, they went on public display in June 2026.¹⁴ They build on the municipal master plan, which the city parliament adopted in March 2024.¹⁴ It has a horizon of around 25 years.¹⁴

On 19 September 2026, the city opened the first stage of the Sportwelt Gossau sports complex.¹⁵ The new indoor pool has been in operation since then.¹⁵ The Sportwelt is the largest building project in the city to date.¹⁵ In total, three building stages are planned at the Buechenwald and Rosenau sites.¹⁵

The housing stock fits this picture. Only 48.0% of residential buildings in Gossau are single-family houses. That is rank 72 of 75 in the canton. Only three municipalities have a lower share. Selling here means selling into a city that is investing heavily in its infrastructure.

In Gossau (SG), 1,677 of 2,799 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 59.9%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 27, counting from the highest share. In the St. Gallen constituency: rank 3 of 9. Gossau (SG) therefore has a higher share than the canton at 58.9%. Compared with Gossau (SG), the figure in St. Gallen is 76.3%.

In Gossau (SG), oil or gas heats 1,718 buildings with residential use, 61.4%, against 50.0% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 15, counting from the highest share. For many houses in Gossau (SG), heating is therefore on the agenda.

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

Gossau (SG) has 18,943 residents. 4,101 of them, 21.6%, are 65 or older, against 19.9% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 21, counting from the highest share. In the St. Gallen constituency: rank 4 of 9.

On 1 June 2026, 64 homes in Gossau (SG) were empty, 0.70% of the stock, against 1.16% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 34, counting from the lowest vacancy. In Gossau (SG), rented and owned homes are counted; the figure does not show how many houses are for sale.

The municipal tax rate of Gossau (SG) is 116%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 40, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 68 minutes away from the Gossau SG stop, with no 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