Many foreign residents purchasing real estate in Israel are surprised by the prevalence of illegal extensions to the apartments they view prior to finding the property they will ultimately purchase. This phenomenon has its roots in many different factors, including the complicated and drawn out process for obtaining building rights and permits in Israel; the costs involved which can...

When dealing with real estate in Israel, the metric system is the standard system of measurement. The size of a property is recorded as either bruto (gross area) or netto (net area). The bruto includes common space such as elevator shaft, stairwell and area beneath walls. Netto is the actual living space of the property and does not include storage room (machsan), balcony (mirpeset), garden, parking area or garbage room.

Zev Shalev ז”ל was a dear friend, regular contributor, and professional advisor to Buyitinisrael.   For more than twenty-five years Zev was a residential space planner, primarily, although not exclusively, for the English-speaking, observant community in Israel and abroad.  His fields of specialization were creative space utilization in general, and planning kitchens and bathrooms in particular....