A Surprising Growth Engine: One in Five Israeli Seniors Plan to Buy a Home in the Coming Years

A new study by Geocartography reveals that many of Israel’s seniors are not settling for assisted living — they’re actively planning to buy apartments, whether to upgrade their housing, help their children, or invest. The most popular destination may come as a surprise: Petah Tikva tops the list.

According to the survey, conducted by Geocartography to mark Israel’s Senior Citizens Day (October 1), Petah Tikva ranks as the leading destination among Israelis aged 65 and older who intend to purchase a home in the next two years — cited by 10.3% of respondents.

While home purchases are usually associated with younger buyers, the survey found that the share of seniors in Israel’s housing market is far higher than commonly assumed.

How high? One-quarter of respondents aged 65+ expressed interest in purchasing an apartment within the next two years. The most common motivations were upgrading or downsizing (nearly 40%), followed by buying an apartment for a child (34%), and investment (approximately 17%). Remarkably, around 2% of respondents said they intend to buy their first home.

Even more surprising: only 3% of those surveyed said they plan to move into assisted living. The study, conducted between June and August 2025, included 3,000 Jewish households, among them over 230 participants aged 65 and above.

Today, Israel is home to roughly 1.2 million seniors aged 65+, representing about 12% of the population. Their numbers are growing at an average annual rate of 3.85% — more than double the national average of 1.86%. By 2030, an additional 170,000 Israelis will join this age group, with the 75+ demographic expanding particularly rapidly due to rising life expectancy.

Petah Tikva and Haifa Lead the Way

While slightly lower than younger age groups, the rate of seniors planning to buy property remains significant. About a quarter of Israelis aged 34–44 reported being in the market for a home or planning to enter soon, compared to around 20% of seniors. Roughly 9% of the 65+ group said they are already actively seeking a property — a rate similar to that of younger buyers under 34. Another 20% plan to buy within one to one-and-a-half years, while only 11% foresee a purchase beyond two years — the lowest proportion across all age groups.

Among seniors considering a purchase, the most common reasons were proximity to children, accessibility, and adapting their living environment to a new life stage.

Geographically, Petah Tikva and Haifa share the top spot for senior buyer interest, each with 10.3% of responses, followed by Ashdod and Tel Aviv–Jaffa (about 8.4% each), and Ashkelon (7.5%).

Dr. Rina Degani, CEO of Geocartography, explains: “These are all large metropolitan cities offering hospitals, cultural centers, public transportation, and community facilities — meaning seniors want to remain at the center of life, not move away from it.”

Degani added, “Petah Tikva and Haifa are both established cities with diverse populations and major medical centers. Tel Aviv attracts thanks to its accessibility and services, while Ashdod and Ashkelon offer more affordable alternatives with easy access to the center.” She emphasized that “although their percentage seems modest, seniors are a segment not to be ignored — more than a quarter express willingness to buy a home in the next two years, representing tens of thousands of households.”

Why Do Only 3% Choose Assisted Living?

Despite the strong potential, just 3% of Israeli seniors plan to move into assisted living facilities — a figure expected to remain low even as the senior population rises to around 2 million by 2045.

Architect Danit Shenhav, co-founder of Canaan Shenhav Architects and an expert in senior housing design, attributes the low interest primarily to affordability: “Our challenge is to make assisted living accessible to all income levels. The state must intervene by lowering land costs to enable reasonable pricing,” she explains. “Today, assisted living caters mainly to the top three income deciles, but it should also be available to the middle class. Encouragingly, many new neighborhoods now designate space for assisted living as an integral part of community planning — an important step toward enabling seniors to age with dignity and remain part of their community.”

Shenhav adds that, contrary to popular belief, assisted living complexes can actually enhance social connectedness: “These facilities are increasingly integrated into mixed-use urban environments, allowing residents to remain part of the surrounding neighborhood alongside younger populations, leisure venues, and retail spaces. Leaving one’s longtime home and familiar surroundings can be difficult, but mixed-use design brings vitality and opportunities for intergenerational interaction and engagement.”