Selling property in Mels: figures and rules

Official statistics on prices paid are missing for Mels. The Canton of St. Gallen does not collect them by municipality, unlike the Canton of Zurich. Portal values for Mels rest on offers, not on completed sales.

What is on record is the stock: Mels has 2,453 buildings with residential use in the Sarganserland constituency. 1,632 of them are single-family houses, or 66.5%. The cantonal figure is 59.2%. Mels ranks 1 of 8 in the Sarganserland constituency. In total, Mels has 4,738 dwellings. 58.4% were built before 1981, against 58.9% in the canton. 6.7 hectares of 226.3 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 3.0% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Mels ranks 71 of 75 in the canton.

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

In Mels, 1,432 of 2,453 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 58.4%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 31, counting from the highest share. In the Sarganserland constituency: rank 6 of 8. Mels therefore has a lower share than the canton at 58.9%. Compared with Mels, the figure in Bad Ragaz is 54.9%.

In Mels, oil or gas heats 1,121 buildings with residential use, 45.7%, against 50.0% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 43, counting from the highest share. Oil and gas are less common in Mels than the cantonal average.

For a sale in Mels, records of heating, roof and windows show what has been renewed; they belong in the sale documents. On 1 January 2029, the imputed rental value and maintenance deduction end in Mels, as everywhere, for owner-occupied homes.¹ Whether a renovation pays off first is explained in Renovate or sell.

Mels has 9,581 residents. 1,840 of them, 19.2%, are 65 or older, against 19.9% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 41, counting from the highest share. In the Sarganserland constituency: rank 7 of 8. Compared with Mels, the figure in Bad Ragaz is 21.4%.

On 1 June 2026, 11 homes in Mels were empty, 0.23% of the stock, against 1.16% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 9, counting from the lowest vacancy. The rate for Mels covers rented and owner-occupied homes, not the supply of houses.

The municipal tax rate of Mels is 125%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 60, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 73 minutes away from the Mels 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