Among the many new features, there is also the new position of Ueli Schnorf, who from 1 January remains in the company as honorary president and consultant…

Philipp Peter : " We will miss Ueli as a person and as a friend, especially since we spoke practically every day to exchange opinions, offer advice, and provide updates on the numerous negotiations. His invaluable experience has allowed us to grow significantly over the years. We planned his exit gradually; in recent years, Ueli had already reduced his working hours, and if the Wetag name today represents the luxury market in Ticino and is recognized internationally, it is thanks to the teamwork we have achieved together over the past ten years, a balance between experience and the desire to grow, while maintaining a cutting-edge and forward-looking approach."

What will change now?

Iradj Alexander David: " Given the excellent results that Wetag continues to consolidate year after year at a business level, it would be unwise to overturn our strategy. For this reason, we will maintain the appropriate continuity with what we have achieved to date, while fully respecting what has been built in the past. Wetag is a solid and growing company, a success made possible by Philipp and I's constant focus on seizing new opportunities. We are already working on a new project, but it is still too early to reveal details at this time."

We decided to talk about Ticino and its second homes. Will the possibility of demolishing holiday properties and rebuilding them by enlarging them by 30% bring an improvement in terms of landscape?

Iradj Alexander David : " Absolutely, it means giving the area a chance to revitalize its image. This way, we'll be able to restore value to buildings that have become dilapidated, especially since we're talking about second homes, which are often uninhabited and have often lacked maintenance over the decades. We all desire modern, eco-sustainable comfort (when possible), and not just luxury. So, being able to rebuild is a real opportunity, both for the new owners and to further enhance the landscape of our beautiful Canton. I'd like to point out that previously, second homes couldn't be touched in their entirety unless you wanted to use them as a primary residence."

Let's stay in Sopraceneri, I imagine this decision affects you particularly…

Iradj Alexander David : "Certainly. In the Sopraceneri region, especially in the Locarno area—where we operate most—we primarily sell second homes. Therefore, this opportunity will allow us to rejuvenate our portfolio and will re-motivate many buyers who previously had put off purchasing a vacation home because they couldn't modify it. Often, when we're talking about properties built between the 60s and 80s, a simple restyling wasn't enough and required a significant investment. Now, being able to knock down the walls and rebuild everything is tempting."

Furthermore, the new building could be 30% larger than the previous one…

Philipp Peter: " Not only that, properties will be able to change their location on the land, always in compliance with the established restrictions. However, I would like to point out that enlarging a house by 30% does not mean that foreigners will be able to purchase properties in Ticino with more than 200 square meters of floor space. From this perspective, the LAFE, the law on real estate acquisitions by foreigners, has not changed; in fact, it has become more stringent: for some years now, the 200 square meters have also been calculated to include the surface area occupied by, for example, built-in wardrobes, kitchen islands, etc., whereas in the past, only the habitable square meters were considered."

But does this 30% increase especially benefit Swiss people who want a second home in Ticino?

Philipp Peter: «It depends on the size of the object in question. If I have an old house of 150 square meters and I have the possibility of expanding it by 30%, renovating the existing part, or making a new project, I find myself able to add approximately 50 square meters of living space... you will understand that the object begins to gain interest, also because in this way I can have a home of almost 200 square meters».

A move that will also benefit Lugano?

Philipp Peter: "I'm convinced of this, but at the same time, we must consider the significant economic impact on land prices. Whoever sells the property will place a value on the existing home, primarily financial, but often also sentimental. This will be directly reflected in the price per square meter of the gross floor area, or GFA, or total floor area of ​​a property."

A challenge for a Canton that actually wants to restore value to the territory and take care of the landscape, respecting nature and energy saving.

Second Homes: What You Need to Know

Second home owners will be able to demolish the existing building and rebuild it, with an additional volume of 30% compared to the original structure.

· The incentive applies if certain criteria are met, such as the implementation of energy improvements, compliance with local planning regulations and ensuring that the expansion does not damage the landscape or the surrounding environment.

· It is essential that the renovation or reconstruction project meets high sustainability standards, so as to contribute to the objectives of energy improvement and reduction of environmental impact.