Guide for new olim · 7 min read
Buying an apartment in Israel as a new oleh
Making aliyah and planning to buy? Here is how the process works in Holon, Bat Yam and the Tel Aviv area — the checks, the people involved, the benefits worth asking about and the mistakes newcomers make.
How buying works in Israel
The Israeli process is different from what many olim know from abroad. There is usually no binding 'offer' stage: once price and terms are agreed, each side's lawyer checks the property and drafts the contract, and the deal becomes binding when the contract is signed. Payments are typically split into instalments according to the contract.
- Agree on price and main terms with the seller
- Your own lawyer checks rights, registration and planning
- Arrange mortgage approval in principle before signing
- Sign the contract and pay the first instalment
- Report the deal to the Tax Authority and register your rights