I have a new job in Luzern starting in December, and would really appreciate a bit of advice on where to look for an apartment, since I'm not so familiar with the area. I appreciate there are old threads on this, but the housing market is evolving so quickly (just look at google street view and compare to new apartment block locations), that I imagine some of this existing advice is now out of date.
A bit about me:
- I've already been in Switzerland for 5 years. I lived in Bern for 3.5 years, and currently livine in Zürich. So I'm familiar with the system in general
- I'll be moving on my own, 33 year old man
- I much prefer new, modern apartments
- Not too bothered about living in the heart of the city
- I'm not big into going out/night life. Much prefer to be close to hiking/cycling places
I was looking at Horw, since there are lots of new building projects, it is close to the countryside and the tax is low for when I get a C permit. Kriens was another option, but the tax looks to be way higher than Horw. I have heard that Emmen/Emmenbrücke is to be avoided.
Any advice for the greater Luzern area would be hugely appreciated.
Let me preface this by saying that I don't know the canton personally, but the following are places we have previously considered or where we have colleagues or friends living:
Meggen: Quite a suburban area, but very nice. It's split into two parts (in my view): the lake front and then the upper part. The upper part is very nice with very well maintained buildings and gardens. Obviously the lakefront is also nice. I believe that tax may be better there. (But don't quote me)
Weggis: This would be my choice and we have come close to buying something there before. Purely for the amazing views of the alps and the lake! Tax is high, but property prices are very low (compared to Zug!), not sure about rent. Commuting to Luzern may also not be that convenient
You may also want to consider Kuessnacht am Rigi. Not a bad commute and in the canton of SZ, so tax likely to be better
I've been looking at Littau, which has lots of very well priced new apartments, is only 16 minutes away from my work and has great access to the countryside. Not sure what it's like to live in though.
5 minute train ride to Luzern, convenient access to the highway, most shops for everyday needs are found here (Pilatusmarkt, Coop, Migros, Landi, Denner, etc..)
There are some great picnic spots on the Horwer Halbinsel and also down by the lake is nice in Summer to bbq or swim (near Winkelbadi)
Weggis is beautiful but too far removed from everything.
Littau/Emmen/Emmenbrücke/Ebikon - meh. Im usually just passing through but have never thought to myself that it'd be nice to live in those places.
Adligenswil is nice, but not as convenient as Horw IMO.
Meggen is nice, with low taxes but high rent/property costs.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Checked out some areas yesterday, and was pretty disappointed overall. Ebikon and Littau were both fairly unpleasant. Horw was a building site (literally a giant building just started right in front of the building I was thinking of applying for). Kriens Mattenhof area was the most promising of the ones I looked at.
It does not matter too much. I live in the city and I am fine with it. Easy walking to the main station. But taxes are for sure higher than in Kanton Zug!
If you want to give a cooperative a try: www.abl.ch It does have a lot of apartments in the middle of Luzern.
Kriens Mattenhof would be a good fit for the criteria you mentioned in your first post, but it isn't great for getting to work in Maihof by car or by public transport (the rush hour traffic between Luzern station and Maihof is horrendous, especially in the evening).
On the other hand, if you want to bike to work it could be a good choice, although it would involve a bit of up and down and maybe a bit long if you want to avoid main roads (Mattenhof - Freigleis - Neustadtstrasse - Winkelriedstrasse - over the bridge by the Franziskanerplatz - then somehow up over the hill and down to Maihof).