Real Estate Lawyer
in Israel
A property deal does not end at signature, and it is almost always closed opposite someone who has done it before. We act for buyers, sellers, landowners and developers, from the first title check through to registration.
Four situations that bring people to us
Most enquiries arrive at the moment a document is already on the table. That is exactly the moment it can still be changed.
Buying or selling a home
Second hand or from a developer, with or without a mortgage. Title checks, drafting, tax exposure and registration.
Landowners and developers
Combination transactions, urban renewal, TAMA 38, partition of co-ownership and land consolidation.
Facing the planning committee
Building permits, relief, objections, demolition orders, appeals and administrative petitions.
Non residents buying in Israel
Purchase tax at non resident rates, signing from abroad, notarial powers of attorney and the exemption rules.
Three mistakes that cost the most
All three look small at the moment they are made, and all three surface late.
Signing a memorandum of understanding
A half page written at the kitchen table can bind you exactly like a full contract, without a single one of the terms that would have protected you.
Skipping the planning check
What the land registry says is not what you are allowed to build. A deviation, a zoning designation or a pending plan changes both the value and what can be done with it.
Discovering the tax at the end
Capital gains tax, purchase tax and the betterment levy follow the structure of the deal. After signature there is almost nothing left to plan.
Five stages, from the first call to registration
You know at every moment which stage the transaction is at and what comes next.
Initial call
What the property is, what you intend to do, and the timetable you are working to.
Title and planning check
Land registry extract, permits, applicable plans, charges, and everything that affects value.
Deal structure and tax
We fix the structure before drafting, including the tax exposure and the payment schedule.
Drafting and negotiation
The contract, the securities, the payment mechanism and the delivery dates, opposite the other side.
Reporting and registration
Reporting to the tax authorities, transfer of rights and completion of registration in your name.
Four commitments you can hold us to
A reply within one business day
Every enquiry gets a human answer, including when the answer is that we need more information.
Fees agreed in advance
A written quote before work begins, setting out what is included and what is not.
No promises of outcome
You will be told the prospects and the risk, including when that is not what you hoped to hear.
One lawyer who stays with you
The same point of contact throughout the file, not a hand off between departments.
Everything the department covers
Each subject leads to a dedicated page with the full explanation. If you are not sure where you belong, the card at the end of the list is the place to start.
Purchase and sale
Real estate transactions Memorandum of understanding Buying from a developer Parcels and sub parcels Selling a home on divorce Combination transactionsReal estate taxation
Transaction taxes Taxation of an inherited apartment Capital gains exemption for non residents Return on investment calculatorLeases
Residential lease agreement Commercial lease agreement Ten points for landlords Rent arrears and evictionRegistration and co ownership
Condominium registration Partition of co owned property Splitting and consolidating land EV charging in condominiumsPlanning and construction
Applying for a building permit Relief from a building permit City building plans Rezoning requests Representation in planning proceedings Appeals in the planning system Objecting to a demolition order Administrative petitionsUrban renewal and expropriation
Urban renewal TAMA 38 Objecting to expropriation Diminished property value claims Not sure where this belongs?Where this touches other departments
Property matters rarely stand alone. A home sold as part of a divorce also rests on family law, and is handled together with our family and inheritance department. A property passing through an estate raises questions of taxation of an inherited apartment alongside the distribution of the estate itself.
A purchase by someone who is not an Israeli resident is subject to separate tax rules, and is handled together with our foreign residents department and the capital gains exemption for non residents. Deals that require signature authentication or a notarial power of attorney are completed through the firm's notary services, and transactions between companies and shareholders also bring in our commercial law department.
Alongside these, a dispute arising from construction defects or damage to a property may also be pursued in tort, and the starting point for every practice area at the firm is collected on the areas of practice page.
Eight questions that come up in almost every enquiry
What does it cost to have a real estate transaction handled?
I signed a memorandum of understanding. Can it be cancelled?
What is checked before buying a second hand home?
Can a non resident buy property in Israel?
When must a transaction be reported to the tax authorities?
I received a demolition order. What comes first?
What is the difference between the betterment levy and capital gains tax?
Do you act outside Jerusalem?
Tell us in one sentence what is happening
There is no need to arrive with organised documents. A short description is enough for us to say whether this needs a lawyer and what the next step is. If the answer is that you do not need one, we will say that too.