I'd be too nervous about renting into my old age. Who's to say the govt in 20-30 years time won't have a more capitalist outlook and allow rents to rise with rises in property prices and price you out of your home? I agree foreign ownership should be limited, but I think there will always be local demand due to people wanting security for themselves. But maybe this is a UK style view-point (I'm not British, but live in London), maybe the Swiss have faith that renting for the rest of your life is safe enough?