You found the place to get up-to-date information, tools, and advice for helping you make sound decisions throughout the process of buying, building and maintaining a home in Israel. All this is brought to you by our editor, professional in-house staff and selected experts in their respective fields.
Five effects of Covid-19 on the property market in Israel
So far, one of the most severe economic crises in the history of Israel has barely affected housing prices and has caused a drop of only 5% in apartment sales. However, supply indexes reveal a significant decrease in construction projects, land purchases, and the approval of new building plans, which will likely cause a major... Read more
Holy Real Estate: What is the status of thousands of apartments built on Church land in Jerusalem?
The Greek Orthodox Church owns hundreds of acres of valuable land in downtown Jerusalem, on which thousands of apartments are built. In the last few years, the Church has begun selling land owned by various Christian denominations to private companies. This is a cause for serious concern for both the residents and Israeli authorities. In... Read more
Covid-19 leads to historic low in apartment purchases in Israel by non-residents
Covid-19 has caused a sharp decline in the number of cross-border transactions for the purchase of apartments in Israel by foreign residents around the world. There was a 60% decrease in the number of apartment purchases in Israel compared to both the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2019, and a 27%... Read more
New Tel Aviv metro system expected to lead to massive increase in building rights and appreciation of Tel Aviv real estate
Plans underway for the establishment of the first metro system in the densely populated Gush Dan region (Tel Aviv metropolis) are expected to stimulate intensive construction, lead to huge increase in the value of Tel Aviv real estate, and reduce severe traffic congestion in the area. While residents of Tel Aviv and its surrounding areas... Read more
Mabat HaShuk: Get a sense of property prices in Israel — September 2020
The following is a selection of Israel real estate deals that took place throughout the country during September 2020. The idea is to give our readers a general idea of property prices in Israel, the real estate market, and activities taking place around the country. Tel Aviv: A 5-room apartment, 120 sqm with a 25... Read more
The Sukkah balcony – a mandatory feature for many people buying a home in Israel
The “Sukkah balcony” has become a must-have for almost any religious person interested in buying an apartment in Israel. According to Israel real estate appraisers, a Sukkah balcony may raise the value of an apartment by around 5%, while the planning committees use it to funnel ultra-orthodox buyers into certain neighborhoods and turn them away... Read more
New reform proposed for Israel urban renewal with increased building rights and reduced tax benefits
Israel urban renewal plan TAMA 38 , which resulted in thousands of new apartments being built each year in old areas of the country, is expected to be canceled in two years’ time. Recently, the highlights of a new plan proposed to replace TAMA 38 were revealed. While building rights are expected to increase, the... Read more
Purchase groups in Israel– an alternative way to purchase an apartment
Purchase groups in Israel are a popular and less expensive way to buy a new apartment than through a developer. But with potential savings up to 20% of the apartment price, this route bears a greater risk and the Government is now considering tightening regulations to protect purchasers. Increasing signs of instability followed by legal... Read more
Minister of Construction and Housing resigns days after he introduces new subsidized housing in Israel
Just days after a new plan for subsidized housing in Israel was approved, Minister of Construction and Housing, Jacob Litzman has resigned, leaving behind a confused housing market. The reason: a protest against a closure decided by the government as part of the fight against Coronavirus. Analysts say that the resignation will not influence the... Read more
How much can I borrow to buy a home in Israel?
One of the most commonly asked questions by people seeking to buy a home in Israel is “how much can I borrow to buy a home in Israel?” The response to this question is twofold and can best be answered by asking two further questions: 1. What is the value of the property you are... Read more