Buy an Apartment in Ascona on Lake Maggiore

The closest comparisons are Locarno next door and Minusio, which are somewhat cheaper. Bellinzona and Lugano are bigger Ticino centres within an hour. Sierre and Crans-Montana are in Valais, on the other side of the Alps, and are separate alpine markets.

Ticino is a tourist canton, but Lex Koller still limits non-resident foreigners: approvals are discretionary and subject to quotas, mostly for holiday apartments in designated tourist zones. Foreigners with C permits are free to buy. Notary and registration fees vary by canton, so confirm them. Banks lend up to about 80% to residents and often less to non-residents. Check the building's renovation fund and whether short-term letting is allowed.

Read our Switzerland buying guide and mortgage guide.

Ascona's old town, lake promenade and mild winters bring visitors from spring to autumn, but the town is quieter in winter. Residents who stay year-round value its cafés, golf and boat access, and the Locarno area has hospitals and a rail link north to Zurich through the Gotthard base tunnel. Running costs include the building's service charges, heating, and a property tax and imputed rental value regime that differs by canton. Check what applies to a non-resident holiday-home owner.