Are we now facing a “silver tsunami”?

The baby boomer generation tends to have a high proportion of owner-occupied property. Now that their children have moved out, many older owners live alone in their often oversized houses or flats. Demographic ageing is one of the greatest challenges facing developed economies in the current century. This megatrend is also leaving its mark on the Swiss property market, writes Raiffeisen Schweiz. The bank has taken this development as an opportunity to clarify in its study “Immobilien Schweiz – 3Q 2025” whether a “silver tsunami” is now looming – in other words, whether the real estate market is facing a wave of sales of residential property by baby boomers willing to sell.

In summary, Raiffeisen comes to the following conclusion: “Baby boomers mostly remain in their own homes after retirement, which is why a wave of sales is not to be expected. The willingness of retired homeowners to move remains very low into old age. Despite demographic ageing, prices for residential property are not expected to fall in the future due to scarcity effects.”

No “silver tsunami” expected

However, according to real estate market experts at Raiffeisen Switzerland, a “silver tsunami”, i.e. a large wave of home sales due to a growing number of baby boomers willing to sell and fewer buyers from younger generations, is not to be expected. Rather, the vast majority of homeowners are very satisfied with their living situation and remain in their own homes for a long time after retirement.