Selling property in Rorschach: the canton’s oldest building stock

Anyone selling in Rorschach will find no official price figure. The Canton of St. Gallen keeps no median prices by municipality; the Canton of Zurich does. Portal values for Rorschach rest on offers, not on completed sales.

What is on record is the stock: Rorschach has 1,182 buildings with residential use in the Rorschach constituency. 263 of them are single-family houses, or 22.3%. The cantonal figure is 59.2%. Rorschach ranks 9 of 9 in the Rorschach constituency. In total, Rorschach has 5,886 dwellings. 83.7% were built before 1981, against 58.9% in the canton. 2.7 hectares of 138.7 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 2.0% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Rorschach ranks 73 of 75 in the canton.

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

In Rorschach, 83.7% of buildings with residential use date from before 1981.¹⁴ That is rank 1 of 75 in the canton. The cantonal average is far lower, at 58.9%. Oil or gas heats 70.6%, rank 4 of 75, against a cantonal average of 50.0%.¹⁴ The town’s current building code has been in force since 20 April 2000 and has since been amended in places.¹⁵

Around the former hospital, the town is planning the new Rosenberg quarter. It is meant to offer homes for different age groups and ways of living: owner-occupied flats, co-operative housing and rented flats.¹⁶ The care home for older people also keeps its place there.¹⁶ Online participation ran until 3 October 2026. An urban design concept follows next, as the basis for the special land-use plan.¹⁶ According to the town, the development is still at a very early stage.¹⁶ Anyone selling in Rorschach therefore files records on heating and condition and keeps this planned supply in view.

In Rorschach, 989 of 1,182 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 83.7%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 1, counting from the highest share. In the Rorschach constituency: rank 1 of 9. Rorschach therefore has a higher share than the canton at 58.9%. Compared with Rorschach, the figure in Goldach is 68.0%.

In Rorschach, oil or gas heats 834 buildings with residential use, 70.6%, against 50.0% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 4, counting from the highest share. For many houses in Rorschach, heating is therefore on the agenda.

For a sale in Rorschach, 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 Rorschach, as everywhere, for owner-occupied homes.¹ Whether a renovation pays off first is explained in Renovate or sell.

Rorschach has 10,389 residents. 1,910 of them, 18.4%, are 65 or older, against 19.9% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 53, counting from the highest share. In the Rorschach constituency: rank 8 of 9. Compared with Rorschach, the figure in Goldach is 22.4%.

On 1 June 2026, 87 homes in Rorschach were empty, 1.48% of the stock, against 1.16% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 63, counting from the lowest vacancy. For Rorschach, the figure counts all homes; it does not measure houses on the market.

The municipal tax rate of Rorschach is 129%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 64, 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 Rorschach 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