A Little Progress Perhaps?

I was hoping that I would be writing this entry with the knowledge that we had completed our purchase, as it's now over 2 years since we signed our contract.

When canton Valais changed the regulations regarding purchases by foreigners (again), we decided to write directly to the canton and ask when we would be getting our permit. We did not expect a reply, but received one teling us that our permit would be issued the following week. That was quite a coincidence I think.

Around 10 days later the solicitor who works for the Notary emailed to say that the permit would be granted and requested the remaining 50% of the funds. Since then, all is quiet, I sent several emails to the Estate Agent, and got no response, pity really, apparently we need an electrical inspection, and he's the man with the knowledge, oh, and insurance too.

So, we continue to wait, in limbo, we have now paid 100% of the cost, plus charges, and still have nothing to show for it. Welcome to our 3rd year on the permit list.

Tricky Little Gnomes

After my recent success with the bank account challenge, I may have been a little too smug. As we are on a long list waiting for a permit, we have to be quite patient, but we had been assured that we would eventually float to the top of the pile, and be able to complete.

Last weekend the Valais cantonal authorities changed their legislation regarding the permits. This year, they applied all 330 permits to the waiting list, which currently stands at 1290. Next year, they will give most of the permits to builders, and "Canton Approved Projects", and the list gets...wait for it...66 permits.

This means, that if you are at the bottom of the pile, then you could look forward to completion and legal ownership in....19.5 years. Whilst you wait on the sidelines, you will be able to observe foreigners view a newbuild being offered by a builder, and be given a permit...straightaway.

We await the release of next years' permit allocation. If we fail to be able to complete next time round, then we wait another year, and will have the option of cancelling our contract if either our Estate Agent or the canton are unwilling or unable to tell us when (if) we will be able to complete. We paid 50% of the purchase price 2 years ago, so our worst case scenario is, it's been a free loan to Valais canton for 3 years. So, a bit like the Swiss banking system really.

Unless, of course the canton changes the rules again.