Selling property in Walenstadt: almost no vacancy, a new local plan

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

What is on record is the stock: Walenstadt has 1,629 buildings with residential use in the Sarganserland constituency. 970 of them are single-family houses, or 59.5%. The cantonal figure is 59.2%. Walenstadt ranks 4 of 8 in the Sarganserland constituency. In total, Walenstadt has 3,349 dwellings. 60.8% were built before 1981, against 58.9% in the canton. 13.7 hectares of 190.9 hectares of building zone are undeveloped, or 7.2% (as of 2022). For the share of undeveloped zone, Walenstadt ranks 30 of 75 in the canton.

For a single house in Walenstadt, location, plot, age and condition count, measured against comparable sales. You receive a written price range with its reasoning in the free assessment.

In early August 2024, the municipal council enacted the spatial concept, made up of a plan and a report dated 5 August 2024.¹⁴ It sketches the main development goals of the municipality. As a strategic basis, it binds neither owners nor authorities.¹⁴ With the coming revision, its content will feed into the municipal structure plan. That will make it binding on the authorities.¹⁴

Residents could comment on the municipal street plan from 15 April to 14 May 2024.¹⁵ Municipalities in St. Gallen must renew their street plans together with their local plan revision by 2027 at the latest. The municipality also reviews how all roads and paths are classified.¹⁵

For a sale in Walenstadt, this means the direction of the future local plan is sketched in the spatial concept. The binding zoning rules only follow with the revision. At the same time, only 0.15% of homes stood empty on 1 June 2026. That is rank 6 of 75 municipalities in the canton, counting from the lowest vacancy.

In Walenstadt, 991 of 1,629 buildings with residential use date from before 1981. That is 60.8%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 25, counting from the highest share. In the Sarganserland constituency: rank 5 of 8. Walenstadt therefore has a higher share than the canton at 58.9%. Compared with Walenstadt, the figure in Mels is 58.4%.

In Walenstadt, oil or gas heats 567 buildings with residential use, 34.8%, against 50.0% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 61, counting from the highest share. Oil and gas are less common in Walenstadt than the cantonal average.

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

Walenstadt has 6,083 residents. 1,338 of them, 22.0%, are 65 or older, against 19.9% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 17, counting from the highest share. In the Sarganserland constituency: rank 3 of 8. Compared with Walenstadt, the figure in Mels is 19.2%.

On 1 June 2026, 5 homes in Walenstadt were empty, 0.15% of the stock, against 1.16% in the canton. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 6, counting from the lowest vacancy. The rate for Walenstadt covers rented and owner-occupied homes, not the supply of houses.

The municipal tax rate of Walenstadt is 110%. Among the 75 municipalities in the canton, that is rank 29, counting from the lowest tax rate. It applies to income and wealth; the municipality atlas compares all municipalities. By public transport, Zurich HB is 64 minutes away from the Walenstadt 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