This video is for general educational purposes only and should not be viewed as specific tax, legal or investment advice.
I was thrilled to host Mickey Levine, a legal expert who specializes in real estate, for our third episode of Aliyah Money Talks! We discussed the process of buying a home in Israel. Scroll down for a full list of topics covered.
To see more from Mickey, check out his Website, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Main topics discussed
- 1:18 – Buying a home on paper vs. the secondary market
- 3:55 – What protections can be put in place to stop the contractor from delaying construction indefinitely
- 6:40 – Is there an advantage to buying before Aliyah?
- 8:20 – What does it mean to “make an offer” and how is the process different than in the US?
- 10:00 – Should you sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU)?
- 12:45 – Once the buyer and seller agree on a price, what are some of the details the lawyers will be working on?
- 15:57 – What are some of the things the buyer should be working on while the lawyers are working on the final contract?
- 18:00 – Should you get the property you are buying appraised?
- 21:00 – Different methods for bringing in money from overseas and currency exchange?
- 27:30 – What does a typical payment schedule look like?
- 30:50 – Summary for calculating purchase tax
- 34:50 – Purchase tax benefit for Olim
- 36:50 – When is purchase tax due?
- 38:55 – What is the process for registering the home in the buyers name?
- About the author
- Latest from this author
I’m a California-licensed Investment Advisor (AWMA®), living in Israel and working remotely with clients in the U.S.
I co-founded Blue & White Finance to create clear, practical resources that help English speakers in Israel feel more confident about their money and take the next step forward. I write these guides because I’ve been in your shoes — and believe good financial advice shouldn’t be so hard to find. Feel free to reach out if you’ve got a question, idea, or just want to say hi.
Hi, do you have any update on the changes in purchase tax works for olim? Can these be used on a second home that is residential if the first home is an investment? Thank you
Hi Michael,
Here is a recent update that was published on this: https://www.gov.il/en/pages/olim-purchase-tax-discount