What kind of homes are there in Israel?

There is a wide range of home types in Israel catering to the needs of its residents. From detached houses to studio flats, here are the most popular types of housing you will find in Israel between Eilat and Mutula, and everywhere in between.

Apartment – Dira

An apartment, flat, or condominium (condo), is a single unit in a multi-unit or high-rise building. An apartment is usually on a single story and sits above or beneath another apartment.  In most apartments, one or more walls are shared with a neighboring unit, but sometimes, there are no shared walls at all. Apartments usually have an attached balcony (mirpeset) or porch which may be open or covered by the property above.

Common areas in an apartment building, such as the lobby, gym, function room, workspace, and gardens, are shared between residents with each one paying the va’ad bayit toward the upkeep and maintenance of these areas and the building’s exterior.

Since Israel is a relatively small country, there is a scarcity of land available for development, particularly in desirable areas, and thus apartment buildings are most common in cities and urban areas. When it comes to Yishuvim and Moshavim, however, it is hard to find apartments.

Garden Apartment – Dirat Gan

A garden apartment is similar to an apartment unit in a building, but with a private garden that, in most cases, is accessible from the apartment.  The garden is instead of, or in addition to, a mirpeset.  Garden apartments are usually on the ground floor of a building, unless built on a mountain (see medurag below), which allows for gardens on different levels.  In general, there is high demand and lower supply of garden apartments and thus they are usually more expensive than standard apartments in a building.

Duplex

A duplex is a home on two or three levels (triplex), with internal stairs, that sits either above or beneath another unit. A duplex sometimes has a garden (garden duplex) or a balcony, or both.   Interestingly, some duplexes are “upside-down” with the bedrooms being a level below the entrance level.

Medurag

Medurag homes are in a building that was built on a mountainside.  These units are built at different levels to accommodate the slant and height of the mountain.  Usually, medurag homes are accessible by stairs or elevators from both the top and bottom of the complex.    Any of the above types of property in Israel could be built in a medurag complex.

Penthouse

A penthouse is an apartment on the top and highest floor of an apartment building.  It usually spans the entire blueprint of the building, which means it’s a very large unit with a big balcony and no attached neighbors. In some cases, there are two penthouse apartments on the top floor of a building.

Mini-Penthouse

A mini-penthouse apartment is located on one of the top floors of the building, not the top floor.  These units are bigger than the standard apartments in the building and usually have very arge apartments.

Roof Apartment – Dirat Gag

A roof apartment is on the highest floor of a building and enjoys rights to all or part of the area on the roof. The roof is usually accessible by either internal stairs or the shared stairwell.  In some cases, owners of a roof apartment may be able to apply for permission to build an extension on the roof.

Semi-Attached, Cottage – Du-Mishpachti

A cottage is a semi-attached house that is tzamud lekarka, i.e. attached directly to the ground.  A cottage also shares a common wall with a neighbor and has a private garden with a shared fence.  This sort of home grants a relatively good level of privacy and living space, more so than apartments.

Detached – Villa

A detached house stands alone, sharing no walls with any other properties. This type of home often has a front and/or back garden, which is ideal for families. Due to the size, privacy, and garden area that a villa offers, this is generally the most expensive type of home you can purchase in Israel.