Three values often diverge: market value (what a willing buyer would pay), assessed value (what the tax authority records, often below market) and insurable value (the rebuild cost, often independent of land value).
Property values are driven by location, condition, size, planning regime and macro factors like interest rates, demographics and credit availability. Online estimates (Zillow, Homegate, Realadvisor) are useful first looks but rarely accurate enough to anchor a real transaction.
A four-room Zurich apartment has a market value of CHF 1.4m (recent comparable sales), an assessed tax value of CHF 950k (cantonal cadastre) and an insured rebuild value of CHF 800k — three valid numbers for three different purposes.