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.
Government announces tax cut for real estate investors and foreign buyers of homes in Israel
The purchase tax (known as Mas Rechisha) imposed on property investment in Israel has been significantly reduced in order to encourage activity within the local real estate market during the Corona crisis. The decision by the Minister of Finance, Israel Katz, was approved by the Knesset on August 29, and immediately went into effect. According... Read more
Purchase tax in Israel: Updated thresholds in August 2020
Israel Tax Authority has published new thresholds for Mas Rechisha according to the Central Bureau of Statistics Prices of Dwellings Index for 2019. Mas Rechisha is an acquisition tax, or purchase tax, that a buyer is obligated to pay upon purchasing real estate in Israel. Once a contract is signed, a self-assessment must be filed with the Israel tax authorities, and paid in full, within 60 days. Read more
Mabat HaShuk: Real estate transactions in Israel — July 2020
The following is a selection of real estate deals that were recently transacted in Israel. This gives our readers a general idea of the residential market and the activity taking place around the country. Jerusalem: A 5-room apartment, 79 sqm, located on Shalom Yehuda Street, Arnona, was sold for NIS 2,050,000 by Noam Homes. A... Read more
Why are homes in Israel so expensive?
A shortage of housing, an excessive amount of regulations, inefficient transportation systems, and a belief that prices will never come down. Why the cost of real estate in Israel is so high. Anyone who takes a look at the housing market in Israel will quickly learn that apartments are expensive. Extremely expensive. The average price... Read more
Choosing a new housing project in Israel — 10 factors to consider
You've decided to buy a property in Israel, and you even know where in Israel you want to buy. You checked out the various new projects that are being marketed and narrowed down the search to three or four developments. Each one sounds pretty much the same as the other, “5 rooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, balcony, storage room and two covered parking spaces”, so how in the world do you decide which new project in Israel is right for you? Read more
Buyers can now own two apartments in Israel for 25 months without being considered “investors”
With the difficulty of selling apartments during Corona-times, a seven-month extension has been granted to Israelis to sell their apartment before being considered “investors” — a definition that carries a tax of up to hundreds of thousands of shekels. Previously, buyers permitted to hold on to both their first and second apartments for only a... Read more
Is there any guarantee of the quality of construction in my new home in Israel?
When someone purchases a new apartment or an apartment “off-plan”, a question that often arises is how does the purchaser guarantee the quality of construction after taking possession? The Sales Law, with the primary objective to protect buyers against negligent builders, makes the prospect of buying a new apartment in Israel, a more secure exercise.... Read more
Coronavirus keeps property buyers indoors; home sales in Israel reach lowest point since 2003
The coronavirus pandemic slowed down the Israeli property market, and drove home sales to a historical low point, according to data published on July 14 by the Ministry of Finance. Findings show that the number of apartment transactions executed during May was the lowest number reported in the same month over the last 17 years.... Read more
Pools in Israel are still a status symbol, but no longer just for the millionaires
While in many regions throughout the world, private pools are associated with the middle class, until recently, pools in Israel have been considered a luxury item reserved for the extremely wealthy, or the millionaires. In the past, pools were found mostly in upscale towns, such as Herzliya Pituach, Savyon, and Caesarea. The main reason for... Read more
A guide to buying a home in Israel, without leaving your living room
For the first time in the history of the State of Israel, Jews from around the world are unable to enter the country as a result of the Corona virus. This article discusses how to buy a home in Israel when the borders are closed to non-Israelis. As of March 18 2020, in an attempt... Read more