Housing Costs![]() Finance Ministry reports 5-year low in housing salesFinance Ministry reveals October 2016 had lowest number of homes purchased since 2011.![]() Israel's doctor shortageOngoing healthcare crisis continues to worsen, with close to half of general practitioners nearing retirement age.![]() MK Moses: High mortgages preventing couples from buying homesRabbi Menachem Eliezer Moses, the head of UTJ, called on the Treasury to subsidize the cost of mortgages for young couples.![]() Finance Minister: We've chosen to stand with the young couplesMoshe Kahlon refuses to back off tax for 3rd apartments; 'Coalition members will have to choose between the top percentile and the young.'![]() Kahlon proposes new apartment tax - but who will pay it?Monthly tax of 1,000 shekels per apartment to be levied. But who will end up flipping the bill?![]() 'Mayors unwilling to absorb haredi communities are racist’Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked fights discrimination against haredim.![]() Housing Minister: I'm not trying to lower housing costs anymoreHousing Minister Yoav Galant and Kulanu party are changing goals from reducing cost of housing to providing apartments to young couples.![]() 'Housing Czar' Kahlon Gets Ready to Take On Home PricesFinance Minister Moshe Kahlon unveiled the first segment of his plan to lower housing costs in Israel.![]() Kahlon's Real Estate Tax a 'Declaration of War,' Says ExpertAnyone who is expecting home prices to fall with Moshe Kahlon as Finance Minister will be sorely disappointed, claims industry expert.![]() Exclusive: Deal Reached for Expansion in Judea and SamariaArutz Sheva has learned that settlement figure Ze'ev Haver has come to a quiet understanding with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.![]() Greens Seek to Stymie New Jerusalem SuburbEnvironmental groups filed petitions against construction of a new city, to be located in the hills between Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem.![]() Court: Absentee Property Law Kosher, But Avoid If PossibleThe Absentee Property Law applies in Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, the High Court ruled - but it should be used only when necessary.![]() Netanyahu, Lapid Snipe At Each Other Over Housing CostsState Comptroller to release report assigning responsibility to both men – as well as to Ehud Olmert – for rise in real estate values.![]() New Comptroller Report to Slam Netanyahu on Housing ProblemsA new report being prepared by Comptroller Yosef Shapira on housing could be a big problem for the Prime Minister.![]() Israeli Home Sales Break 13 Year RecordThe period between October and December 2014 was the most active on the Israel real estate scene since 2002, statistics said.![]() Jewish Home, Yesh Atid Snipe Over Housing SalesHousing Minister Uri Ariel said that some 50,000 housing units came on the market in 2014 - an all-time record.![]() Housing Ministry Unveils New Plan for Cheaper HousingThe Housing Ministry announced a new plan in which the state would be the guarantor for construction of apartments.![]() Leshem: Samaria's Best-Kept Housing SecretBeyond the negative headlines of conflict, a beautiful new community is budding in Samaria.![]() More 0% VAT Fence-Sitting Evidence: Mortgages Down in SeptemberEvidence is mounting that Israeli homebuyers are sitting on the fence, waiting for the passage of Yair Lapid's zero-VAT initiative.![]() Obama 'Can't Buy Control of Israel With Military Aid'MK Danon fires back at US criticism of Jerusalem building, after White House cites Iron Dome in spat with Netanyahu.![]() Apartment Glut Develops as Israelis Wait for Zero VATAs of June 30, there were 94,450 homes and apartments under construction in Israel; by August 31, 26,920 were still unsold.![]() Housing Minister: Reverse Mortgages Can Help Elderly Live BetterUri Ariel hopes a new reverse mortgage program will help out elderly Israelis who are short on cash but own valuable apartments.![]() Sources: Uri Ariel, Naftali Bennett at Odds Over VAT PlanSources close to Uri Ariel said that he would support the plan to exempt home buyers from VAT payments only if it applied to all.![]() Target Price Program 'Guaranteed' to Bring Down Home PricesBesides Yair Lapid's VAT discount, the government has another way to help make homes more affordable.![]() Cautious Celebrations As Housing VAT Cancelled for New BuyersCutting VAT on apartments is nice, but there are better ways that Yair Lapid can help the middle class, says one consumer group.![]() CEO: Lapid's 'Cost-Cutting' Plan Likely to Drive Up Home PricesWhen government promises a 'discount,' it's time to watch your wallet, warns the CEO of a large Israeli construction company![]() Young Couples May Get VAT Break for First HomeFinance Minister will propose the tax break – that will cost the treasury about 2B shekels – on Monday.![]() Report: Half of New Yorkers Can't Afford to Pay Their RentHigh housing costs, low vacancy rates, and falling incomes are conspiring to make housing unaffordable for many New Yorkers![]() Jump in Settlement Building is an Illusion, Says Yesha CouncilYesha Council says statistics showing tremendous growth in Judea, Samaria is simply the result of a building freeze in the previous year.![]() Housing Crisis Continues: Prices Up by Another 8%Housing prices rose 8% in 2013. Price hike follows doubling in price over seven previous years.![]() MKs Pledge Further Hareidi-Religious Zionist CooperationHousing Minister Uri Ariel and his predecessor, Eli Yishai, pledge continued cooperation over housing.![]() Housing Minister Reveals Emergency Cost-Lowering PlanHousing Minister Uri Ariel commits to lowering prices by 2014, reveals ‘evict and build’ scheme.![]() 1,700 New Homes for Jerusalem, Judea and SamariaThe Housing Ministry announces that it is offering land for the construction of 1,700 homes in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.![]() Ariel: Govt. Plans to Spend Billions on Rental ApartmentsThe government hopes to build 150,000 rental units for Israelis in the next decade, and will spend billions to do it.![]() Uri Ariel: Yesha Building Will Bring Housing Prices DownThere's an obvious solution to Israel's housing crisis, said Housing Minister Uri Ariel. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister disagrees![]() Lapid's Latest 'Edict': Less Housing Aid for Hareidi FamiliesTwo key criteria that enabled hareidi families to receive aid from the government for the purchase of an apartment were eliminated Monday![]() Gov’t Won’t Repeat ‘Mistake to Announce a Construction Freeze’Likud Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis says the government won't announce a construction freeze in Jerusalem, Judea or Samaria.![]() Housing Prices Up 100% in Seven Years, Activists Blame NetanyahuActivist blames the Prime Minister for skyrocketing price of housing. ‘Homeowners in huge debt, nothing left to live on.’![]() Ketzaleh: Lower Housing Prices Not An 'Impossible Dream'To lower housing prices, said Ya'akov Katz (Ketzaleh), the government needs to remember housing crises of the past.![]() 50 New Jerusalem Homes to Be Built for Holocaust SurvivorsIsrael's Housing Minister Uri Ariel on Tuesday announced that 50 new homes would be built in east Jerusalem to house Holocaust survivors.![]() New Jerusalem Neighborhood Perfect for OlimNofei Israel, building in the heart of Jerusalem, is perfect for anyone considering aliyah or searching for the perfect home in Jerusalem.![]() UN Chief Warns Israel: Housing Plans 'Dangerous Path'UN calls on Israel to cancel Jewish housing plans; warns the move could be "an almost fatal blow" to peace hopes.![]() 2,610 Housing Units Approved for Jerusalem NeighborhoodOver 2,000 additional housing units have been approved for a southern Jerusalem neighborhood. More international ire expected.![]() Abbas to Pursue Israel at Criminal Court Over Housing PlansPA chairman Abbas said “Palestine” could pursue Israel at International Criminal Court if it pushes ahead with housing plans.![]() EU 'Deeply Dismayed' by Israeli Housing PlansThe EU is "deeply dismayed" by Israeli housing plans, saying the move threatens peace efforts.![]() Jerusalem Mayor: No City in World Regulated by US PresidentJerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat: “We need to connect the E1 area to Jerusalem without any reservations at all."![]() Netanyahu Thanks Prague for 'Courageous' UN SupportPM arrived in the Czech Republic to thank Prague for its "courageous" support in the UN vote, despite PA success.![]() US Calls on Israel to 'Reconsider' Housing PlansThe United States called on Israel Monday to "reconsider" a decision to allow 3,000 more Jewish homes in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.![]() Israel Won't Back Down on Housing, Despite Veiled ThreatsFrance and Italy say they're not ready to "start thinking of sanctions" but prefer "persuasion." Israel is firm on plans to build in E1.![]() No More Tax Funds from Israel to PAIsrael has decided to withhold taxes collected for the Palestinian Authority that were to be transferred later in the month.![]() Next Step Approved in Jerusalem Homes for Police, IDFIsrael has taken the next step in building new homes for retired police and IDF troops in outlying areas of Jerusalem, Peace Now says.![]() Israel to EU: Jerusalem Not NegotiableForeign Minister Avigdor Lieberman bluntly drew Israel's red line for the EU in a radio interview, saying “Jerusalem is not a settlement.”![]() PA: Netanyahu Planned 11,000 New Housing Units in JerusalemPalestinian Authority sources report the Netanyahu government planned more than 11,000 new housing units around Jerusalem last year.![]() Residents: Cops' Rental Decision Puts Us in DangerResidents of the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood in Jerusalem are up in arms over the rental of an apartment to an Arab family![]() Political No More: Buying in Judea and Samaria Goes MainstreamToday, buying a home in Judea and Samaria is a matter of money, not ideology![]() Housing Minister Launches New 'Hareidi Town'Lots zoned for 5,000 apartments for hareidim will be marketed next week in the town of Harish, about an hour away from Tel Aviv.![]() New Jerusalem Housing for American ‘Yeshivish’ CommunityA new Jerusalem luxury housing project will be marketed to the “yeshivish” community in the United States. |