Blonay, Vaud: Villas and Houses above Vevey

Blonay sits on the slopes above the Vevey and Montreux Riviera, with views over Lake Geneva and the Alps. It is reached by road, and a rail link connects it to the lakefront; the Blonay-Chamby heritage railway runs nearby. Lausanne is about 20 to 30 minutes by car, and Geneva's airport around an hour.

Residents are mostly well-off Swiss and international families, executives from multinational firms in the Lake Geneva basin, and retirees seeking a quiet hillside location.

Foreign ownership in Switzerland is limited by Lex Koller. Non-residents and non-EU citizens without a settled permit generally cannot buy holiday or investment homes outside designated tourist zones, whereas some residents may buy a main home. Rules and quotas vary by canton, and Vaud applies them strictly. Take advice from a notary before making an offer.

Costs include notary fees, land registry charges and cantonal transfer duty. Banks typically require 20% equity. See the Swiss buying guide and mortgage guide.

La Tour-de-Peilz, Montreux and Veytaux are close. Aigle and Ollon are in the Rhône valley, and Lausanne is the cantonal capital. See the Switzerland overview.