Rosh Hashanah 5787: Israel, Properties, Community & Building the Future Our Annual Review of Israel, the Property Market, What We’re Building — and Where We’re Going Next
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A Rosh Hashanah Message from Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners
As we prepare to welcome Rosh Hashanah 5787, it feels appropriate to do more than simply wish our families, clients, friends and professional partners a Shana Tova.
Rosh Hashanah gives us an opportunity to reflect.
To look back at the extraordinary year Israel and the Jewish people have experienced.
To consider what has changed in the Israeli economy and property market.
To share what we have learned from our buyers, developers and professional partners.
To look at how Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners itself has evolved.
And, most importantly, to look forward.
The past year has once again reminded us that Israel rarely moves in straight lines.
There have been periods of war and uncertainty, economic and political pressures, reserve duty and disruption to families and businesses, challenges within construction, higher financing costs and changing buyer confidence.
Yet alongside all of this, another story has continued to unfold.
Israel Keeps Building
Homes are still being built.
New neighbourhoods are still being developed.
Infrastructure continues to move forward.
Families around the world are still planning Aliyah.
International buyers are still purchasing homes.
Developers are still investing in Israel’s future.
And Jewish families around the world continue to ask us one of the most important questions we hear:
“Where in Israel could we build our future?”
For us, that question increasingly defines everything we do.
5786 at a Glance
This has been an important year in the evolution of Israel Properties.
Among the major developments:
We strengthened our position as a buyer-first boutique property advisory, representing buyers, investors, Olim and sellers.
Selected new developments became an increasingly important core focus of our business.
We rebuilt and repositioned Israel-Properties.com as a property, information and education platform.
We significantly expanded our Resource Centre, blogs, FAQs, market information and community content.
We developed the Israel Anglo Communities Series to help buyers answer not only “What should I buy?” but “Where should I live?”
We continued developing our Carmei Gat community initiative and saw first-hand the potential of community-led property buying amongst Anglo families.
Our international activity, including London, reinforced the potential of combining international relationships, community and Israeli property opportunities.
We successfully developed and ran our professional webinar series for international buyers, investors and Olim.
We strengthened relationships with developers and selected projects across Israel.
We implemented stronger CRM, buyer-registration and client follow-up systems.
We invested significantly in AI, digital marketing, video, social media and professional education.
We expanded our ability to work nationally through strategic cooperation with strong local professionals.
We have also strategically partnered with selected land development opportunities across Israel, expanding the choices available to our buyers and investors beyond traditional property purchases.
Our approach now includes opportunities to acquire land and potentially participate in future development, alongside our carefully selected residential properties and new developments.
For some clients, the journey may therefore begin before the apartment even exists.
Land first. Property next. A broader strategy for building your place and your future in Israel.
All of these developments form part of a larger transformation.
Local & International Buyers → Communities → Land & Selected Developments → Professional Guidance → Long-Term Property Support
That is the business we are building for the future.
Israel in 5786: Resilience Under Extraordinary Conditions
Any serious discussion about Israeli property must begin with Israel itself.
The property market does not operate in isolation.
It is affected by the economy, interest rates, employment, government policy, population growth, construction, immigration, infrastructure, geopolitics and national confidence.
Israel has operated through extraordinary conditions since October 2023, and those conditions continued to influence the economy and property market throughout 2025 and 2026.
Businesses have adapted.
Reservists have spent substantial periods away from normal employment.
Construction has dealt with labour shortages.
Government spending has increased.
Families have postponed or reconsidered financial decisions.
Developers have adapted their sales strategies.
And buyers have had to make significant financial decisions in an environment where circumstances can change remarkably quickly.
Yet Israel's economy has continued to function and recover.
According to the Bank of Israel, real GDP grew by approximately 2.9% in 2025.
Its July 2026 baseline forecast projected growth of approximately 4.0% in 2026 and 5.5% in 2027, with 2026 inflation projected at approximately 1.8%.
These forecasts are, importantly, conditional.
Geopolitical uncertainty remains significant.
For property buyers, the lesson is straightforward:
Optimism should never replace proper due diligence.
We can believe strongly in Israel's long-term future while remaining realistic about short-term risks.
Both can be true.
Interest Rates: A Major Part of the Property Story
One of the most important factors affecting Israel's property market in recent years has been the cost of money.
For years, buyers became accustomed to an exceptionally low-interest-rate environment.
Inflation and rising rates changed the equation.
Suddenly buyers needed to consider not only what an apartment cost, but what it would cost to finance.
This affected local mortgage borrowers, investors calculating yields, developers financing construction and international buyers deciding how best to fund purchases.
On 6 July 2026, the Bank of Israel reduced its policy rate to 3.5%.
Its July research forecast envisaged further moderation, with the average rate reaching approximately 3% in the second quarter of 2027, although this remains a forecast rather than a guarantee.
Lower rates could gradually improve affordability and confidence.
But our guidance remains clear:
Never Buy a Property Solely Because You Expect Interest Rates to Fall
The property should make sense today.
The financing should be manageable today.
The payment schedule should be realistic.
Any future reduction in financing costs should be viewed as potential upside rather than something required for the transaction to work.
There Is No Single “Israel Property Market”
One lesson we repeatedly emphasise to international buyers is that there is no single Israeli property market.
There are many markets.
Jerusalem behaves differently from Tel Aviv.
Netanya behaves differently from Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Ramat Beit Shemesh behaves differently from Carmei Gat.
New construction behaves differently from second-hand property.
Luxury property behaves differently from entry-level housing.
And even two neighbourhoods in the same city can behave very differently.
During 2025, the national market experienced softer transaction activity and moderate price weakness while housing starts remained exceptionally high.
That combination matters.
It tells us that buyer demand softened in parts of the market while significant construction continued.
It also helps explain one of the most visible developments in the new-build market.
Developer Incentives Have Changed the New-Build Market
Buyers have become familiar with advertisements offering:
10/90 and 20/80 payment structures
Deferred payment programmes
Contractor financing
Reduced or limited indexation
Launch incentives
Legal-fee contributions
Upgrade packages
Other financial incentives
These structures can be genuinely valuable.
For an international buyer wanting to secure a property today but perhaps only needing the home several years from now, a deferred-payment structure may provide time to plan Aliyah, sell another asset, move funds internationally, arrange future financing or simply prepare financially for completion.
But:
A Good Payment Plan Does Not Automatically Mean a Good Property
Before becoming excited by “10/90” or “20/80”, ask:
What is the real purchase price?
What is the price per square metre?
How does it compare with competing projects?
What is included in the specification?
How much could be linked to the construction input index?
What will the neighbourhood look like at completion?
What competing supply will be delivered?
What is the likely rental market?
What happens when the final 80% or 90% becomes due?
Will the expected mortgage actually be available?
And perhaps the most revealing question:
Would I still want to own this apartment if the special payment plan did not exist?
If the answer is no, the payment structure may be selling the property rather than the property selling itself.
The International Buyer Has Changed
One of the biggest changes we have observed is in the questions international buyers ask us.
Previously, many conversations started with:
“I have X amount to invest. What can I buy?”
We still receive those enquiries.
But increasingly we hear:
Where are English-speaking families moving?
Where could we make Aliyah?
Which areas have established Anglo communities?
Which communities are emerging?
Where are the schools and shuls?
What religious infrastructure is available?
What transport connections are planned?
Where could our children afford to buy?
Could we buy now and use the property in five years?
Could we rent it until then?
Which locations combine community, lifestyle and investment potential?
And perhaps most importantly:
“Where in Israel Could We Belong?”
That question has had an enormous influence on our strategy.
Property has always been emotional.
But for many Jewish families internationally, having a home in Israel increasingly represents something that cannot be measured solely on an investment spreadsheet.
For some, it is an investment.
For some, an Aliyah plan.
For others, somewhere for children studying or living in Israel.
For some, retirement.
For others, a second home.
And for many:
It is the knowledge that they have a place in Israel.
Emotion, however, should never replace financial judgment.
When a purchase carries such emotional significance, professional analysis becomes even more important.
How Israel Properties Has Changed
The past year has been one of the most important transformation periods in the development of Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners.
We have spent considerable time deciding what we want this company to become.
And we have become increasingly clear.
We do not want to be another property portal.
We do not want to collect thousands of listings and hope something appeals to somebody.
We do not want every conversation to begin:
“Here is the property we have. How can we sell it to you?”
Our direction is different.
We Start With the Client, Not the Property
We want to understand:
Who are you?
Why are you buying?
What stage of life are you at?
Are you planning Aliyah?
Is this investment-driven, lifestyle-driven, retirement-driven or a combination?
What is your real budget?
How will you fund the purchase?
How important is rental income?
What kind of community suits you?
Do you want an established Anglo community or would you consider being part of something new?
Only then can we meaningfully discuss property.
This is why our philosophy is:
We Don't Simply Sell You Property. We Represent You.
The Buyer Journey We Are Building
Our model is designed around five broad stages.
1. Discovery, Strategy & Area Selection
Understanding the client, family, objectives, timeframe, budget, financing position, community requirements and where in Israel actually makes sense.
2. Property & Project Selection
Comparing carefully selected developments, land opportunities and, where appropriate, second-hand properties.
3. Analysis, Negotiation & Deal Structuring
Reviewing price, price per square metre, specification, payment schedules, competing supply and overall value — and negotiating not only price but terms, timing, upgrades and the economics of the transaction.
4. Professional Coordination & Project Management
Working alongside lawyers and, where appropriate, mortgage, foreign-exchange, engineering, design and other professionals — and remaining involved after contract signature through construction and handover.
5. Keys and Beyond
Where required, assisting with rentals, property management and the ongoing requirements of ownership in Israel.
Your Israel Property Journey — Guided Every Step of the Way, Way Beyond Purchase.
Selected New Developments: An Increasingly Important Focus
Selected new developments have become increasingly central to our work.
Second-hand property remains important and we will continue assisting buyers where appropriate.
But for international buyers in particular, new projects can provide:
Modern construction
Longer completion periods
Structured payment plans
Time to organise funding
Time to plan Aliyah
Modern specifications
Developer warranties
Exposure to neighbourhoods still developing
The critical word, however, is:
Selected.
Having access to a project does not mean that project deserves to be recommended.
We want to understand the developer, track record, location, pricing, payment structure, specification, neighbourhood, infrastructure, community, competing supply, rental demand and resale potential.
Ultimately:
Is this the right project for this particular buyer?
The Israel Anglo Communities Series
One of the initiatives we are most excited about is our Israel Anglo Communities Series.
It developed from recognising a major information gap.
There is plenty of information online about property.
But international families need much more than apartment listings.
They want to understand:
Community and lifestyle
Housing and neighbourhoods
Schools and education
Shuls and religious infrastructure
Transport
Healthcare
Shopping and everyday life
Leisure and culture
Property pricing
Rental markets
Investment context
Future development
Aliyah suitability
And importantly:
Who is this area right for — and who might it not suit?
Our long-term objective is ambitious:
To Build One of the Most Useful Resources Available for Anglo Families Deciding Where to Live, Relocate, Invest and Build Their Future in Israel
Where We Are Focusing in 5787
Our geographic strategy is becoming increasingly clear.
We don't want to be everywhere simply to say we cover all of Israel.
We want to focus where we see established or growing Anglo demand, meaningful development, community infrastructure, lifestyle or investment appeal, improving transport and infrastructure, relative value — and, most importantly, places where Israel Properties can genuinely add value.
Our Core Focus Areas
We have developed particularly strong knowledge, relationships and property networks in several of the areas most sought after by international and local Anglo buyers:
Jerusalem
Ramat Beit Shemesh
Carmei Gat
Modiin
Netanya
Tel Aviv
Ashkelon & Surrounds
These remain important markets whether clients are looking for a family home, planning Aliyah, purchasing a second home, preparing for future relocation or seeking a long-term property opportunity.
Emerging & Growth Markets
At the same time, Israel is changing — and so are our clients' requirements.
Affordability, infrastructure investment, new development and emerging communities are creating interest beyond the traditional Anglo centres.
We have therefore deliberately been strengthening relationships with developers, agents and local professionals in:
Sderot and the South
Yehuda & Shomron
Tzfat
Tiberias and the Kinneret region
Northern Israel
Our objective is simple:
When our clients' needs take them beyond the traditional Anglo centres, we want the relationships, local knowledge and access already in place to assist them properly.
Some clients want established Anglo infrastructure.
Others want more space and better value.
Some want an emerging community they can help shape.
Others are primarily investment focused.
There is no universal “best area”.
There Is Only the Right Area for the Right Buyer
Our geographic reach is expanding, but our philosophy remains the same:
We don't simply show clients what is available. We help them determine where they should be looking, what represents value and which property best supports the life or investment they are building in Israel.
National Reach Without Pretending to Know Every Street
Israel is too diverse for one individual to genuinely be the best local expert everywhere.
We therefore maintain the central client relationship, strategy, standards and process while increasingly cooperating with experienced local professionals where specialised knowledge is required.
For the client, that provides:
One Trusted Client Relationship
combined with:
Local Market Knowledge When Required
This allows us to broaden our reach without pretending one office knows every street and every building throughout Israel.
And particularly for an overseas buyer, our objective is to be:
Their Eyes, Ears and Trusted Point of Contact on the Ground in Israel
Our Priorities for 5787
As we look ahead, our priorities are clear:
Strengthen Buyer & Investor Representation
Continue developing our buyer-first advisory model.
Deepen Selected Developer Relationships
Build meaningful relationships with projects that genuinely suit our clients.
Expand the Anglo Communities Series
Provide deeper information about where Anglo and international families are living and considering moving.
Grow Community Buyer Groups
Where appropriate, develop the community-led model we have been building.
Expand Our Webinar Series
Continue providing property, legal, mortgage, community and developer education.
Build Our Resource Centre Into an Authority Hub
Expand our long-form guides, FAQs, market research and practical buyer information.
Strengthen AI and Search Authority
Position Israel Properties for the next generation of Google and AI-driven information discovery.
Develop More Video and Founder-Led Content
Allow clients to see the people, experience and values behind our brand.
Expand Project, Rental & Property Management
Continue supporting clients well beyond contract signature.
Strengthen Our International Bridge to Israel
Continue building relationships with Jewish and Anglo communities internationally and connecting families with suitable communities and opportunities in Israel.
What Do We Expect From the Property Market in 5787?
We remain cautiously constructive about Israel's longer-term property market.
But we do not believe in simplistic predictions.
There are supportive forces:
Potential economic recovery
Potentially lower interest rates
Long-term housing demand
Population growth
Infrastructure investment
Continued urban development
International Jewish demand
Limited desirable land in many established locations
There are also challenges:
Geopolitical uncertainty
Affordability
Construction costs
Financing costs
Developer inventory
Potential oversupply in individual neighbourhoods
Government policy
Taxes and regulation
Different areas may perform very differently.
Our guidance for 5787 is therefore not:
“Buy everything because Israel property always goes up.”
That would not be responsible.
Our message is:
Buy Selectively. Buy Intelligently. Buy for the Right Reasons.
We believe the right property should work on three levels:
1. Financial
Does the price make sense?
Can you afford it?
What are the payment terms, taxes and costs?
What is the rental potential?
What are the risks?
2. Lifestyle
Could you or your family genuinely use the property?
Does the neighbourhood suit you?
Could you live there?
Would your children or grandchildren want to use it?
3. Strategic
Where does the purchase fit into your family's longer-term relationship with Israel?
Aliyah?
Retirement?
Children?
Investment?
Legacy?
A property that works across all three dimensions can be extremely powerful.
Israel Continues to Build Because Israelis Continue to Believe in the Future
And So Do We.
A Personal Thank You
None of what Israel Properties has built would exist without trust.
To every client who appointed us to represent, advise and assist them — whether buying, investing, selling, project managing, renting or managing property — Thank you.
To every family who referred a friend or relative — Thank you.
To everyone who attended our webinars, reads our blogs and guides, or follows our videos and social media — Thank you.
To the developers and builders who work with us — Thank you.
To the lawyers, mortgage advisers, foreign-exchange professionals, engineers, designers, project managers and other specialists who support our clients — Thank you.
To our team — Thank you for everything we do together.
To our Shituf Peulah — cooperating partners across Israel — we are able to extend our reach because of your local knowledge, cooperation and trust. Thank you.
To our Carmei Gat community and everyone involved in helping us develop that vision — Thank you.
And to all our suppliers, service providers, colleagues and everyone with whom we work throughout the year — Thank you for helping make this journey so rewarding.
And on a very personal note, I want to thank my better half, Shirley.
I could not do any of this without her — and I would not want to.
She somehow manages our home, our family, our business and so much of our lives while continuing to inspire, support and challenge me every day.
Israel Properties is very much something we have built together, and I am enormously grateful to be sharing this journey with her.
And above everything else:
Thank You, Hashem
For all our blessings.
For our family.
For those we love.
For the opportunities we have been given.
For the strength to continue through difficult times.
And for the privilege of building our lives and helping others build theirs here in Israel.
Our Prayer as We Enter 5787
At Rosh Hashanah, perspective matters.
Business matters.
Property matters.
Economic growth matters.
But some things matter infinitely more.
Our greatest hopes for 5787 cannot be measured in square meters, prices or transactions.
We pray for peace.
For security.
For the protection of our soldiers and all those defending Israel.
For healing for those who have suffered.
For strength for the bereaved and wounded.
For unity amongst our people.
For the safety of Jewish communities everywhere.
For prosperity for the people of Israel.
For the continued rebuilding and strengthening of our country.
And above all:
For Every Person Who Still Needs to Come Home — May They Be Brought Home Soon.
May Hashem sound the Great Shofar for our freedom, heralding the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Third and final Beit HaMikdash.
May we merit to live together in peace and harmony with our families and loved ones in Israel, our eternal homeland — blessed with health, prosperity, happiness, simcha, shalom and abundant blessings.
May we live under the Divine protection and guidance of Avinu Shebashamayim, our Father in Heaven, the Master of the Universe.
May we merit to see the complete Geulah, speedily in our days.
כתיבה וחתימה טובהשנה טובה ומתוקה
Shana Tova U’Metuka
May we all be signed and sealed for a good and sweet New Year.
With our warmest wishes for a year filled with health, happiness, peace, prosperity, simcha and abundant brachot,
Toviyah & Shirley Stamelman Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners
At Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners, our purpose goes far beyond property.
We help international and local buyers, investors, sellers and Olim navigate their Israel property journey with confidence — whether they are making Aliyah, establishing a family home, purchasing a second home, investing for the future, acquiring land or strengthening their family's connection to Israel.
With more than 25 years of real estate experience, our business is built around one fundamental principle:
We Don't Simply Sell You Property. We Represent You.
From selected land opportunities and new developments to buyer representation, strategic negotiation, project management, rentals and ongoing property management, our aim is to remain alongside our clients from the first conversation to receiving the keys — and long after.
Because for us, Israel property is about much more than bricks and mortar.
It Is About Helping People Build Their Place, Their Home, Their Future and Their Legacy in Israel.
Israel Properties by Stamelman & Partners
Your Israel property journey — guided every step of the way, way beyond purchase.
Buyer Representation | Selected Developments | Anglo Communities | Project Management | Property & Rental Management | Seller Advisory
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