As for the original question, KiwiJay, you really have to get down deep into the details of land prices, zoning, height, roof pitch restrictions, size of house per plot, style restrictions etc, etc, etc. These vary quite a lot by canton and commune. In some places, for example, you can't build anything besides a chalet. I'm not sure about restrictions on materials. But I wouldn't be surprised if there were.
As this is an expats site I just figured I'd ask
We searched all over our area here in Switzerland for a house we would like to live in. Unfortunately the older houses on the market are rarely ever upgraded and can be difficult to modify to the standards we would want. New houses typically built by developers, squeeze every dollar and have no concept of what luxury truly means. We are working with a local architect and it's been a challenge to bring him along and away from the standard boxy concrete flat roof style that is the biggest trend here. After numerous meetings he is finally starting to get the concept.
We ended up buying an old holiday house for the location and land value. The houses in our area have numerous architectural influences and few follow any set Swiss style. We think our biggest challenge will be the Baueinsprache from the neighbors but thats probably another thread.
It sounds like you have a good concept, experience in the country along with connections here already so don't listen to this lot of naysayers.
The houses the OP posted don't look like they would particularly out of style here if they are covered in stucco. If it were some clapboard house, that probably would a bit strange.
My guess would be the communes will not let him build anything to out of place.
My road has a Swiss log style chalet and also a matter of taste. It sticks out compared to the rest of the modern square concrete boxes around, and I think that is ok. It gives us something to talk about...
As much as I'd love a house with decent walk-in closets - and better yet, an architect who understood why this is an important point and was actually willing to build what the client wants - the problem in much of Switzerland, especially in small villages (where building land might be available), is that everything depends on connections.
We made the mistake of hiring an architect from Zürich to rubberstamp the renovation plans for our house in SZ. (In order to get the local construction manager we wanted to work with, we had to add on his architect.) But ours is one of those tight knit villages; we found out later that the reason that our permits were denied was the architect. Had we gone with a local guy we would have been granted the permits. It's all about one hand washing the other in these little towns.
So something to think of: could you deal with this kind of village administration?
And don't gloss over the problem of finding land. For instance, I live in an area where no piece of building land has been for sale in the 10 years I have lived here. Yet new buildings have sprung up all around me. Rumor has it that all the farmers in the area have optioned off their land to developers. Once a zoning change is allowed (which happens because the developer's brother-in-law's cousin's wife went to Kindergarten with the big cheese in the Gemeinde) the developer is sitting pretty. 'Unconnected' folks do not have a chance to buy land.
And if you are targeting the luxury market, reputation is everything. Now - you and I and any other American knows that we do actually build top-quality homes when we want to. But as you can see from the comments on this thread, many Swiss and Europeans have a very poor impression of US-anything. You will have to fight the 'McMansion' image. Think about how you would go about establishing a reputation for quality.
I don't mean to rain on your parade. If I ever find my plot of land I'd love to build a home with the best of 'american-ish' features, one that isn't a concrete box fish bowl. But as a foreigner myself I lack the connections to get the project through (been there, done that - or rather, wasn't allowed to do that) and so I must rely on a locally-connected builder to do that for me. Which means I'll likely be stuck with a depressing cookie-cutter concrete box.
Good luck with your plans - but make sure you fully understand the lay of the land.
But that is a horse of a different color.
Yes, but are there enough US finance guys moving to make a viable business? Given the increasing reluctance of anyone to hire Americans here I’m not sure you’d find enough clients. And unless they’re prepared to pay you in cash - quite possible I grant you if they’re as wealthy as you make out - they may find it impossible to get a mortgage. If they’re rich enough it might not pose a problem, but I do know some people here have been refused a mortgage simply because of the blue passport.
Is it to get advice from a bunch of (random) ex-pats about building regulations... really?
Or rather is it to drum up potential business? In which case, shouldn't this be in commercial?
From your original post, I'm just not sure what you are trying to do. Why would anyone employ a middle man, who by your own admission uses Swiss architects (or has in the past) and has already worked here, so should know most of the answers to the questions he has and if not, already has access to people who do...
Confusing and brings me back to the original question of my post...
Note the amount of useful info also given.
Born-and-bred-in-the-valley gazillionaire gets what he wants when he wants it regardless of rules and regulations.
Outsider gazillionaire (that means anyone whose great great grandfather was not born in this valley, including those diabolical Zürcher newcomers) gets what he wants only if he has a local frontman and himself keeps a discrete low profile*.
Nothing brings smiles 'round the Stammtisch as much as taking an uppity furriner who has made the mistake of flashing his money down a peg or two.
* Discrete low profile often includes living in a tiny shoebox of a house. Which is something the OP needs to understand as he defines his target market.
People here in the edges of Canton St. Gallen seem to be a nicer breed, perhaps!
I think rebuilding historical architecture in its own place is crime that should bring capital punishment, but for rebuilding it out of its area there is not one strong enough, but I am sure you will find buyers for it (and if google show me right what Hampton style luxury home is). And at least prince Charles would support you.
On the other hand this thread is professionally interesting for me. I came here to work as an architect in a rather small office with the idea of superior precise ultra modern Swiss architecture full of innovation in (re)building methods, researching new engineering methods and materials. What I found is very conservative building that is taking a lot (too much) from the end-of-19th-century-bourgeoisie apartments buildings. Not just how to organize them but also how they are build. Yes, now after one year of living here I understand why. So we are far from the top architecure you can find in Netherlands, Scandinavia or Austria.
Thing that should be interesting for your business is how things are moving here with buildings codes etc. I have a friend who is making plans for NZ office so I know that the ways are as different as the locations of both countries are far away. A lot of the land is not available to be built right away but you have to go through the changing of community plans. That means a lot of expensive and time consuming procedures where you have to deal with many neighbors, usually by paying them compensations. You can go official way but it will take you at least year more. Even where you can build immediately you will have to deal with them and the-not-so-clear rules. There is a lot of negotiation. You should know by now that Switzerland is land of (un)written rules which they are able to apply. And as it was written before, people are taking local architects just for this purpose. You will not see many buildings from non-Swiss architects here.
Buildings are very expensive here, to build a moderately luxury house on the outskirts of Luzern will cost 4-6 millions franks (land, compensations, building) and architects take a hefty part of this. We dont have just a coffee machine in a office but also fridge with Champagne. But the good part (for you) is that you dont need any proof of professional qualification for calling yourself architect and bring plans to Geminde.
And when I look on the market here, if you are able to finance the cost of the land during the time till you start building, plans and etc than I am sure you can succeed. Because foreigners are always astonished with the amount of effort you need here to spend your money on housing.