The troubling combination of a shortage of building plots and a rapidly increasing population has led to a steady rise in the number of urban renewal projects in Israel over the past decade. Today, 20% of all new residential projects in Israel are either the demolition of old structures followed by new construction in its...

Minister of Construction and Housing Yaakov Litzman’s new plan for affordable housing in Israel, “Housing at Reduced Prices” (Mechir Mufchat) is finally underway, following approval last week by Minister of Finance Israel Katz of the Israel Land Council’s decision to promote the plan, which had been accepted back in September. According to the affordable housing plan,...

According to the new master plan, the number of residents living in the Mediterranean coastal town of Caesarea is expected to reach 12,000. The plan will add hundreds of hotel rooms and 5,000 square meters of commercial space. Today, the town is home to Russian oligarchs, high-tech entrepreneurs, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite its...

In the most expensive region of the country, along several kilometers of coastline between Tel Aviv and Herzliya, there are major plans underway for the construction of three new neighborhoods in Israel. The plans for the first 5,000 apartments – to be built on the former site of the Sde Dov Airport – were recently...

Almost all the plans approved are located in settlements characterized by ground-level construction. While many people choose to buy homes in the West Bank for ideological reasons, in recent years, many middle-class buyers seeking a better quality of life for a more affordable price are buying homes in these areas.  With large homes, spacious yards,...

Israel urban renewal plan TAMA 38 , 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, the...

Just days after a new plan for subsidized housing in Israel was approved, 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...

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...

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 residential real estate in Israel; however, the plan has received widespread criticism by local municipalities. While Buyitinisrael...

Considering the high cost of housing in Israel and the difficulty for many people – mostly young couples – to buy a home, Israel’s Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, together with the Ministry of Construction & Housing, introduced the “Mechir Lemishtaken” (Buyer’s Price) scheme in 2016, to generate affordable housing and to slow down the escalation...