Two recent rulings dealt with serious deception in residential real estate transactions in Israel. Although the homebuyers finally received compensation, it took many years of heartache and struggle, and in each case, a saga could have been avoided — In this article, Buyitinisrael brings to your attention pitfalls to be avoided when purchasing a home...

Every year, during the month of January, Israel Tax Authority publishes new thresholds for Mas Rechisha (Purchase Tax in Israel) according to the Central Bureau of Statistics Home Prices Index for the previous year. The Mas Rechisha or Purchase Tax thresholds are updated annually, in mid-January, with consideration for the Home Prices Index of the...

When a property inheritance is received in Israel, the heirs are often overwhelmed and fearful that the process of transferring ownership will be difficult. Combine this with the fact that they are still in the grieving process over their loved one, this may create an emotional overload that may prevent this from being taken care...

While a strong wave of interest rate increases sweeping the Western world has led to price declines in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, the Israeli housing market, in the meantime, is showing resilience and even continuing to become more expensive. Is there something unique about this market, or will it eventually feel the...

About a month ago, a young man lost his life at a pool party after being sucked into a sinkhole that opened beneath the swimming pool. Was this due to bad luck or an unavoidable accident? Not really — pool owners have a lot to do in order to avoid unnecessary disasters – from orderly...

New legislation that protects buyers of new homes from unpredictable price increases of hundreds of thousands of shekels; an increase in interest rates that is expected to moderate the sharp price increases of the past year and a half; and an upturn in the dollar-shekel rate that almost eliminates the price increase of the past...

The Israeli public is livid, following the government’s failure to enact the Metro Law before the dissolution of the Knesset. Despite the fact that its immense importance is undisputed on all sides of the political spectrum, the law has fallen victim to shortsighted and petty political considerations. The urban planning councils are now in a...

The betterment levy, known in Israel as hetel hashbacha, is one of the only taxes that may actually make you feel quite lucky. This tax is levied when a municipal planning decision significantly increases the value of your property. However, before you rush to pay it, there are a few important things to understand: How...

A series of tax amendments introduced this month by the Minister of Finance seeks to “release” tens of thousands of apartments from owners who do not live in Israel, by abolishing tax benefits worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Another amendment is expected to significantly reduce the purchase tax on medium value apartments, and increase...

A new bill seeks to cease linking the entire purchase price of a new apartment to the Construction Price Index.  Until now, this linkage had the potential to increase the amount that buyers of new homes have to pay by tens of thousands of shekels. Instead, the government has proposed that only construction costs, which...