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.
New reform proposed for urban renewal in Israel with increased building rights and reduced tax benefits
The TAMA 38 urban renewal plan in Israel, 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,... Read more
Purchase Groups – an alternative way to purchase an apartment in Israel
Building an apartment as part of a purchase group in Israel is a popular and less expensive way than buying a new apartment 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... Read more
Minister of Construction and Housing resigns days after he introduces new subsidized housing in Israel
Just days after a new housing plan was approved, Israel’s 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 housing policy that... 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?” 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 buying? First-time buyers who are residents... Read more
Mabat HaShuk: Real estate transactions in Israel — August 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 6-room villa, 178 sqm on 4 floors, located on Yair Street, Baka, was sold for NIS 5,950,000 (Jackie Bitensky... Read more
Green building in Israel will become mandatory from March 2022
The Green Building Standard has existed in Israel for 15 years but, until now, it has been non-compulsory. In 2013, several wealthy cities in central Israel began obligating building contractors to adopt green standards and regulations. Last week, the Interior Minister signed the official standard, and within a year and a half green building in... Read more
Where in Israel can you buy an apartment for a million shekels or less?
Despite the high cost of housing in Israel, it is possible to find apartments for a million shekels or less in most cities, including the most desired city of Jerusalem, as well as some parts of the expensive Gush Dan region. In Haifa and Be’er Sheva, you can even buy an apartment for three to four hundred thousand shekels. Buyitinisrael went to ten cities to see what you could buy for a million shekels or less. Read more
Israel is stuck with huge amounts of office space – Government plans to convert some of it into residential real estate
Vast construction of huge office towers in central Israel over the past few years has resulted in excess supply in areas that, currently, no one needs. The government is initiating a move to convert large-scale office space into apartments; however, the plan has received widespread criticism by local municipalities. The Corona crisis caught the Israeli... Read more
Positive signs in the Israeli housing market: slight increase in prices and record number of transactions in June
While the Israeli economy attempts to recover from the negative effects of Covid-19, the residential market shows positive signs, including an increase in demand for apartments, as well as a slight rise in the price of apartments. The latest price index, published on Friday by the Central Bureau of Statistics, indicates a slight increase of... Read more
Bank of Israel estimates that housing prices in Israel will fall in the short-term, but rally in the long-term
According to the Bank of Israel’s Financial Stability Report, which analyzes the level of stability of the various economic sectors in the first half of 2020, housing prices in Israel are expected to fall in the coming months as a result of the devastating effects that COVID-19 has had on the job market, and the... Read more