Category: Tips & Trends

In Israel’s sweltering Middle Eastern climate, almost every house comes equipped with an air conditioner. These usually do a good enough job cooling down your space – while simultaneously jumping up your electricity bill! Thankfully, today there are more aesthetic, energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly cooling options available on the market, and those who are building a...

Israel’s high real estate prices make the “vacation home” that is common in some Western countries rare among Israelis. However, more and more foreign residents are buying vacation apartments in Israel, often as the first step toward Aliyah or retirement. The most common locations for vacation apartments in Israel are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Eilat,...

While owning a vacation home is common in some Western countries, high real estate prices in Israel make it quite prohibitive for most Israelis. However, for foreign residents who wish to spend the Jewish holidays or summer months in Israel, owning a holiday home is not a rare phenomenon. In the first of this two-part...

Experts in the housing market estimate that the wave of anti-Semitic incidents sweeping Europe and North America will lead to an increase in demand for apartments in Israel from foreign residents. The last major military confrontation between Israel and Hamas in 2014 led to a sharp rise in apartment purchases, in particular by French Jewry....

One of Israel’s greatest protective measures from incoming missile attacks is known as the mamad (an acronym for merchav mugan dirati) – referring to a room in an apartment built of reinforced concrete. Despite the fact that it has been thirty years since the government required the construction of such a space in every new...

In which areas are the rental yields high? How can I find a good tenant? Which expenses are the tenants expected to cover, and which are the responsibility of the landlord? How much is property tax? These are the questions that should be addressed when seeking to make a profitable return on your real estate...

Almost anyone purchasing a home in Israel faces the same dilemma between buying a brand new apartment versus a second-hand home. On the one hand, the new, modern design and finish of a new build, the price, the payment terms, and the potential for greater appreciation in value may be attractive, while on the other...

It is quite fascinating how Jewish tradition and customs have such a strong effect on home design, both in Israel and around the world. Aside from the obvious: the impact that keeping Shabbat has; the location and size of the sukkah and its distance from the kitchen; planning a dining room to accommodate major Shabbat and holiday meals, sheva...

Thanks to the warm climate in this country, most people do not give much thought to the various methods of heating homes in Israel. Since heating isn’t necessary most of the year, the vast majority of Israelis have settled for using the heating mode of their wall-mounted air conditioning units. The last decade has seen...

Dampness and condensation are probably the most common construction/structural issues found in homes in Israel and can be the cause of serious and expensive problems to repair. If neglected they can dangerously harm a property and seriously affect the quality of life of those who occupy it.  The accumulative damage caused by dampness can result...