Please note: advisory meetings and the service itself are provided in Hebrew only. These guides are here so you can read and understand the topic in your own language.
The price in the contract is only the beginning. Here are all the costs worth planning for in advance.
Transaction costs
| Cost | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Purchase tax | By brackets – purchase tax explained |
| Lawyer | About 0.5%–1% + VAT |
| Real estate agent | Usually about 2% + VAT (if there is one) |
| Appraiser | Several hundred to a few thousand shekels |
| Bank file-opening fee | Varies, negotiable |
| Life and building insurance | Monthly, for the whole term |
| Mortgage advisor | As agreed in advance |
Costs that come after
- Moving – thousands of shekels, depending on distance and volume.
- Renovation – from a light paint job to a full renovation.
- Furniture and appliances.
- Municipal tax (arnona), building committee, utility connections – at first there are sometimes double payments.
When buying from a contractor
- Linkage to the construction inputs index.
- The contractor's lawyer fee – capped by law.
- Additions and changes – usually expensive.
- Rent until handover.
How much to plan for?
A rule of thumb: beyond the equity for the apartment itself, plan for another 3%–6% of the price for the extra costs, depending on purchase tax, the agent and renovation.
Elia's tip: Open one spreadsheet with all the costs before signing. When everything is written down in front of you, it is much easier to see how much money you really need.
To calculate: equity calculator (in Hebrew).
This article is general information and is not personal advice or a commitment. Rules, interest rates and taxes change from time to time, so check the current situation and your own figures before any decision.