Catégorie : English

Spending the holidays in Israel with family is a dream for many. It is also when demand for nightly rentals peaks, especially in Jerusalem, Netanya, Tel Aviv and Ra’anana.

Book early

For Passover, Sukkot and Rosh Hashanah, families often start looking several months ahead. The earlier you book, the more choice and better prices you get.

Choose the right neighbourhood

• Within walking distance of a synagogue if you do not drive on the holiday.
• Close to shops, to do your shopping before the holiday starts.
• With room for a sukkah on the balcony for Sukkot: ask the owner.

What to check in the apartment

• The kitchen: dishes, hob, oven and, if needed, a Shabbat hot plate.
• A Shabbat timer for lights or air conditioning.
• Enough beds and chairs for the whole family and guests.
• A key or entry method that works without electricity if you are observant.

Direct with the owner

On Yad le Yad you choose your dates, see the available apartments and message the owner directly on WhatsApp. No service fees, no commission.

See nightly rentals · Holiday rentals guide

Eilat is Israel’s holiday city: the Red Sea, sunshine all year, diving and the desert. Demand is high, so nightly and weekly apartment rentals are very popular, especially during Jewish holidays and school vacations.

When to go

• Autumn, winter and spring: warm without being scorching, the best time for the beach, diving and desert hikes.
• Passover, Sukkot and summer: peak demand, book early.

Why Eilat is good value

Eilat is a VAT-free zone, so many goods and services cost less. Ramon Airport is just north of the city, with the coral reserve and Timna Park nearby.

What to check in the apartment

• Air conditioning in every room, essential in summer.
• Distance to the beach and the promenade.
• Parking, a mamad or shelter, Wi-Fi.
• Minimum stay and what is included (cleaning, linen).

Eilat owners

On Yad le Yad you choose your dates on the calendar and your nightly price, and guests message you directly on WhatsApp. No commission, for you or for them.

Apartments in Eilat · Short-term rentals · List my place by the night

Founded in 1882 by pioneers of the First Aliyah, Rishon LeZion is now one of the largest cities in Israel. About fifteen minutes from Tel Aviv, it offers a real quality of life at noticeably lower prices.

Why people love Rishon

• The sea: the city beach and the new western neighbourhoods near the coast.
• Everything close by: large shopping centres, Superland amusement park, the historic centre with Rothschild Street and its famous winery.
• Transport: two train stations and quick access to Tel Aviv.
• A family city: parks, schools and a very diverse population, including a large Russian-speaking community.

Which neighbourhood?

The older central neighbourhoods are cheaper and close to everything; the western neighbourhoods offer new buildings with a mamad, parking and sometimes sea views, at higher prices.

Finding an apartment

On Yad le Yad you message the owner directly, with no agent and no commission. Listing in Hebrew? The “Translate” button shows it in English.

Apartments in Rishon LeZion · Apartments for rent in Israel

An Israeli mortgage (mashkanta) is built differently from most mortgages abroad. The amount is capped by the Bank of Israel, the loan is split into several “tracks”, and each bank negotiates every rate separately.

How much can you borrow?

• Single home: up to 75% of the price.
• Replacing your home (you sell one and buy another): up to 70%.
• Investment property and non-residents: up to 50%.

The rest comes from your own funds. New immigrants buying their first home are generally treated as single-home buyers.

What the bank checks

• Repayment ratio: the monthly payment cannot exceed half of your disposable income, and most banks prefer to stay below 40%.
• Income stability: payslips, tax returns for the self-employed, and for olim and non-residents, income earned abroad.
• Valuation (shamaut): the bank sends an appraiser, and the loan is calculated on the lower of the price and the valuation.

The tracks (maslulim)

A mashkanta combines fixed-rate, prime-linked and index-linked tracks. Bank of Israel rules require at least one third of the loan at a fixed rate, over a maximum of 30 years. The right mix depends on your age, income and plans.

Why use a mortgage broker

A broker puts several banks in competition, negotiates each track and explains every step in your language. On Yad le Yad you can contact mortgage brokers directly.

The rules above are those known at the time of writing: confirm them with your bank or broker before deciding.

Where you live shapes your first years in Israel: schools, community, commute and budget. Here are the cities where English speakers most often settle, and what each one offers.

Ra’anana

Green, calm and close to Tel Aviv, Ra’anana has one of the largest English-speaking communities in the country, with synagogues, clubs and services in English. Prices are high, but demand stays strong. Rentals in Ra’anana.

Modi’in

A planned city halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, popular with young families for its parks, schools and train connections.

Jerusalem

Neighbourhoods such as Baka, the German Colony, Katamon and Arnona have long attracted English speakers. The city offers a rich cultural and religious life, with a wide range of prices. Rentals in Jerusalem.

Beit Shemesh

More affordable than the centre, with large English-speaking communities, especially among religious families.

Tel Aviv

The economic and cultural heart of the country, ideal for young professionals and remote workers. Rents are the highest in Israel; short and mid-term rentals help newcomers start. Rentals in Tel Aviv.

Herzliya, Netanya and Zichron Ya’akov

Herzliya combines beaches and high-tech; Netanya offers sea views at lower prices, with a large French-speaking community; Zichron Ya’akov attracts families looking for a smaller town atmosphere.

Compare prices by city, then contact owners directly on Yad le Yad, with no agent and no commission.

Finding a home is one of the first challenges after making aliyah or relocating to Israel. A little preparation saves a lot of stress.

Before you arrive

• Choose two or three target cities and compare rents by city.
• Plan temporary housing for the first weeks: a short-term rental or a sublet lets you visit before committing.
• Prepare your documents: passport, teudat oleh or visa, proof of income, and references if you have them.

Signing your first lease

• Leases usually run for 12 months with an option to extend.
• The Fair Rental Law caps the security the landlord can ask for.
• Note the condition of the apartment with dated photos before moving in.
• Have the contract checked if you do not read Hebrew well.

After you move in

• Arnona: register with the municipality in your name. Many municipalities grant new immigrants a discount during their first year: ask at the arnona office.
• Electricity, water and gas: transfer the accounts to your name with the meter readings on the day you move in.
• Internet: compare providers; installation can take a few days.
• Vaad bayit: introduce yourself to the building committee and ask about the monthly fee.

On Yad le Yad, you contact owners directly in English, French or Hebrew: apartments for rent in Israel.

Before putting an apartment on the market, a few well-chosen improvements can shorten the search and improve the price. A full renovation, on the other hand, does not always pay for itself.

Improvements that pay off

• Paint: bright, clean walls transform the photos and the first impression.
• Small repairs: dripping taps, handles, shutters, sockets, damp stains. Buyers and tenants notice every detail.
• Lighting: simple, modern fittings and bulbs of the same colour temperature.
• Kitchen and bathroom: new cabinet fronts, taps and sealing are often enough.
• Air conditioning: service or replace an old unit; tenants always ask.

Check before you start

• Permits: any change to the structure, the façade or a balcony must be checked with the municipality.
• The mamad: the walls, door and window of the safe room must not be altered.
• Neighbours and vaad bayit: warn them in advance and respect the city’s permitted working hours.
• Quotes: ask for at least two or three, in writing, with a schedule.

Need a professional? See renovation and trades. When the work is done, take photos in daylight and list your home in minutes, with no agent and no commission.

In most Israeli property deals, there is no notary as in France: lawyers do the legal work. Buyer and seller each usually have their own.

What the buyer’s lawyer does

• Checks the Land Registry (Tabu) or Israel Land Authority extract, mortgages and liens.
• Checks the building permits and any planning issues with the municipality.
• Negotiates and drafts the sale contract, including the payment schedule.
• Files the purchase tax return and registers the caveat (he’arat azhara), then the ownership.

Fees

Fees are free to negotiate. They are often a percentage of the price or a fixed amount; ask for a written quote that says whether VAT is included.

And for a lease?

A lawyer is not required to rent, but having a contract checked is useful when the amounts are high, when the lease is long, or when you do not read Hebrew comfortably.

Buying new-build

For an off-plan purchase, the developer’s lawyer represents the developer. Use your own lawyer to check the guarantees, the technical specification and the delivery terms.

Find a real estate lawyer on Yad le Yad and contact them directly.

Israeli listings use words and conventions that surprise newcomers. Here are the ones you will meet most often.

Rooms (chadarim)

In Israel, the living room counts as a room. A “4-room apartment” therefore has three bedrooms and a living room. Half rooms (“4.5 rooms”) usually mean a small extra room or study.

Mamad

The reinforced safe room, required in residential buildings built since the early 1990s. It often doubles as a bedroom or office. Older buildings rely on a shared shelter (miklat).

Arnona

The municipal property tax, calculated on the apartment’s size and location. It is usually paid by the occupant, so by the tenant in a rental.

Vaad bayit

The building committee and its monthly fee, which covers cleaning, the lift, the garden and common electricity.

Tabu

The Land Registry. A “Tabu extract” shows who owns the apartment and whether there are mortgages or liens.

Other common words

• Machsan: a storage room, often in the basement.
• Chaniya: a parking space, sometimes registered with the apartment.
• Mirpeset / mirpeset shemesh: a balcony / an open sun terrace.
• Dira chadasha mikablan: a new apartment bought directly from the developer.
• Tama 38 / pinui binui: urban renewal programmes that strengthen or rebuild older buildings.

Now that you speak the language, browse apartments for rent and for sale in Israel, direct from owners.

Israel places no general restriction on foreigners buying an apartment. Every year, buyers from France, the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere purchase homes for family use, for a future aliyah or as an investment. A few things work differently when you are not an Israeli resident.

Purchase tax (mas rechisha)

A resident buying a single home pays a reduced purchase tax, with a first bracket at zero. Non-residents are taxed like buyers of an additional home: a flat rate on most of the price, with a higher rate above a high threshold. The brackets are updated every January, so ask your lawyer for the current figures before you make an offer.

New immigrants (olim) are entitled to a reduced rate on one apartment bought within a set period around their aliyah date. If you are planning aliyah, it is worth checking the timing before you sign.

Mortgage limits

• Israeli banks can finance up to 50% of the price for non-residents and investors.
• Your income abroad is accepted, but the bank will ask for full documentation and often a local account.
• Comparing several banks makes a real difference: a mortgage broker can do it for you.

Buying from abroad

• Power of attorney: you can sign through an Israeli lawyer, with a power of attorney signed before a notary or at a consulate.
• Checks before signing: your lawyer checks the Land Registry (Tabu) extract, liens, building permits and the seller’s identity.
• Payments: in a resale, the price is usually paid in instalments, with the last one at handover.

Where to start

Browse apartments for sale and new projects, compare prices by city, and contact the owner or the developer directly. On Yad le Yad there is no agent and no commission.

This article gives general information. Rates and rules change: have them confirmed by an Israeli lawyer before you commit.