What To Know About Purchasing A Home In Israel

When purchasing a home in Israel there are some things that you should keep in mind and ask yourself before moving in for the actual purchase. First off, one of the most important things to consider is the actual ownership of the property itself. A lot of the land that you find in Israel is owned entirely by the government. A very small percentage of land is actually owned privately. If you happen to purchase an apartment or home that is built upon the government’s land, then you will obtain a long-term lease anywhere from 49 to 99 years. Once that lease period is up, it will be renewed for the same amount of time. The land that the government owns in Israel is managed and administered by an agency known as the Israeli Land Authority. To put it in terms that make sense and apply to your situation, you would indeed own the property, but the Israeli government would still hold ownership over the land that it is on. When looking at a house for sale in Israel, you need to keep in mind zoning – every city or residential area will have its own individual town plan. That plan will dictate how big or tall any property can be, as well as the distance from the road that it must be situated. It is worth checking out this plan before making your purchase to make sure that you can fully abide by the codes in that location. Make sure to check the home to see if it is taking advantage of its building rights. If that happens to be the case, then you will not be capable of making any additions to your home unless the town’s plan is eventually modified; that process can be pretty extensive and very costly.