My experience with valuu was top!
They apparently closed their platform to private customer. Sad.
Through them I discovered new mortgages providers (for ex. Pension funds). I considered this as added value.
Today, I would try ubs platform to find providers.
I was playing a bit with hypotheke.ch
Nothing specific, just to get a feeling about my situation. What do you think, how reliable are the offers that one gets? Is it really possible to get the quoted rates, or it is rather a honey pot trap, when your data are being scanned and the counterparty will want to renegotiate the conditions after you apply?
I have very good experience with Hypotheke.ch.
I got a Saron mortgage with a margin of 0.49% as they were advertising at that point in time.
The bank also agreed with me an early termination option that was not part of the initial offer.
Very pleased with the result.
I can recommend hypotheke.ch as well. I renewed a mortgage back last year, and got a Saron margin of 0.46%, which was by far the best offer I got, and I did not even needed to negotiate with them (but tried so with other banks without success). The rate I finally got was exactly the rate which was shown for my parameters on their landing page. If I remember correctly, there was one phone call with them where they wanted to clarify, but they never pushed or tried to sell anything. It was a very nice and uncomplicated experience. A few years ago, I also tried other such platforms, but that was by far not such a nice experience and also the offers were not better than the ones I was able to negotiate myself.
The website is only in German as far as I see. Did you have to speak German with them on the phone?
I indeed spoke German with them, but I assume they would also be fine with English or alternatively you could also do everything via email or online platform in written form.
How much did you pay for the service of hypotheke.ch? It’s not clear from their website. Also, were you free in your choice of a hypothek provider? Just asking because other providers force you to use their first choice, otherwise you pay a considerable “penalty”, but obviously you still want the freedom to be able to pick whatever provider you want.
How much did you pay for the service of hypotheke.ch?
There was no fee associated for me. In fact, I even got a cashback after closing the contract. If I remember correctly, they have set an internal fee for each case. In case the kickback they get from the bank is higher than that, you get a cashback. In case the kickback is lower than their “fee”, you have to pay that part.
Also, were you free in your choice of a hypothek provider?
After entering your data (probably 20-30 input fields w.r.t. your financials and the property you want the mortgage for,) a list of offers is displayed including the name of the bank. Until that point, you do not have to pay anything. When you agree that you want to close your mortgage with one of the banks in that list, and then after getting the displayed rate, reject the offer, you would have to pay their fee. In case the bank would not confirm the rate, but all your entered information was correct, I think you would not have to pay for it.
In my opinion, their offer is really fair. I got exactly the rate closed as shown on their landing page. There were no hidden fees or any other fishy actions involved.
Old post, suddenly relevant for me 
Any experience with Swisslife (and Swisslife Select)?
Was mentioned few times on connection with 3a Life insurance, I think 
.
OK, thanks - will let you know if they try some dirty tricks
Personally, I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. The advisors seem mainly focused on pushing products people don’t need, just to boost their own commission, often using aggressive tactics.
I strongly advise against it, unless you really know what you’re getting into and go in with your eyes wide open.
I used them as a mortgage broker in the last 6 months, and had a good experience.
They were very responsive - far more responsive than any of the banks I contacted directly. Since I had left dealing with the mortgage later than optimal, there was real value in that.
The deal they found was better than the best offer I had directly or via hypotheke.ch, but not as good as their initial estimate on their web site was.
For indirect amortization they suggested their garbage insurance hybrid 3a products, but only once, and didn’t push it at all when I said I wasn’t interested in an insurance-based 3a.
They didn’t charge me anything directly, and the contract didn’t have any kind of exclusivity requirement or penalty clause if I didn’t take their best offer. (I would not have signed a contract requiring any of the above.)
This! I have hardly found any mortgage broker agreeing for this. They either have a penalty clause or want to have exclusivity.
After speaking to lots of them, found PropertyOwner which did not ask for exclusivity or have a penalty clause. Working with them currently - so, will hold on for review/feedback.
Thanks @jes and @hyper, I’m talking with their non-Select branch, should receive a contract draft today, let’s see what’s in it.
So far responsiveness was so-so, though they sped up since putting some pressure.
I’ve clarified in advance that I already have offers from three banks, whom I want my relationship to remain with me, and I’m not gonna accept any 3a-linked or similar products, hopefully they’re going to listen
I’m happy to pay for the service of saving time and hassle with other banks.
Curious as to why not have a 3a account for indirect amortisation?
Because the 3a products from insurances have very high fees, hidden costs and you pay a hefty amount (5-10k) as a commission to the broker. Just don’t, you’re always better off having a separatr life insurance and 3a.
Also have 3a with VIAC and based on common wisdom would make sense only accept WIR or possibly ZKB (Frankly) for indirect amortization.
(Happy to know if any other)
I was referring to the equity-linked Pillar 3a from the banks (BLKB, UBS, etc.).
While VIAC is recommended, if you want to do an indirect amortisation, makes sense to go with the bank (not insurance) that is providing the mortgage?
Apart from VIAC and Frankly (don’t know if ZKB allows pledging 3a from Frankly) the pillar 3a solutions from banks are way too expensive using funds with way too high TER. Better than insurance linked solutions, but still bad.