After Freeze, Dira b’Hanacha Discounted Housing Lottery Is Back: 7,600 Units, 50% of Them for Reservists

After months of disagreements between the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Finance, registration for the 10th Dira b’Hanacha discounted housing lottery will open this coming Sunday offering thousands of affordable apartments in over 20 communities across the country. Up to 50% of the units will be allocated to active reservists, with approximately 25% reserved exclusively for combat soldiers.

By Asaf Kravitz, Nadlan Center

Registration for the 10th Dira b‘Hanacha discounted housing lottery will open this Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Israel Land Authority (ILA) announced on Tuesday. Approximately 7,600 apartments will be raffled in more than 20 communities across the country, though the full list of locations has yet to be published. For the first time, up to 50% of the units will be reserved for active reservists, including approximately 25% specifically for combat soldiers.

Israel’s housing lottery program is reopening after a six-month freeze, largely due to disagreements between the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Israel Land Authority (ILA), and the Budget Department and Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance.

In order to be eligible for the discounted housing lottery, individuals must not own a home and hold a valid eligibility certificate. As in previous rounds, participants can register for up to three cities and enter all lotteries held in those locations. Registration will remain open for five weeks, until September 14, 2025. The window to obtain eligibility certificates is currently open and will close on September 4. After that date, no new certificates will be issued until the lottery registration period ends.

Eligibility certificates can be obtained entirely online, with no need to visit a physical office. The process is managed through the digital branches of the authorized registration companies: Milgam, Alonim, and Maof. The cost to obtain a certificate for the Dira b’Hanacha discounted housing lottery is NIS 200. Processing takes up to 10 days in most cases, and the certificate remains valid for one year. Renewing an existing certificate costs NIS 50.

Minister of Construction and Housing Haim Katz said: “Since taking office, I’ve made it a priority to remove bureaucratic barriers that hold back housing supply and keep prices high—especially for our dedicated reservists and combat soldiers. For the first time, they’ll receive significant priority in the discounted housing lottery. Following a meeting I held with the Israel Land Authority and the Accountant General, we reached agreements yesterday on several points of contention. Thousands of additional affordable housing units will soon be released to the market.”

Yehuda Morgenstern, Director-General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing, added: “This 10th round of the Dira b’Hanacha discounted housing lottery is one of many steps we’re taking to make homeownership possible for all Israelis. We’re working on multiple fronts: expanding the supply of housing across the country, removing roadblocks to move projects forward, allocating funds to speed up development, and increasing manpower in the construction sector. These efforts are already delivering results, as seen in the recent decline in housing prices.”

Israel Land Authority Director Yanki Quint concluded: “The Dira b’Hanacha program is moving forward. We hope that in the near future, the discounted housing lottery will also return to the central region, offering real solutions for young couples and those without homes—while continuing to give priority to reservists throughout the country.”

To register, please visit the official page for Dira b’Hanacha.