Thank you very much to Eiferman Properties Ltd. for preparing this article.
You can reach Eiferman Properties at 02-651-4030 or www.eifermanrealty.com.
Adrichal – architect
Ambatia – bathroom, which may or may not include a toilet
Areivut Banka’it – bank guarantee. In new construction, the developer must protect the purchaser’s payments by providing a bank guarantee. The buyer pays a percentage to the bank for such a guarantee.
Arnona – property tax payable to the Municipality either annually or monthly, according to your preference. Based on net square meterage, not including walls and public areas. Payable by the person occupying the apartment.
Balatot – floor tiles
Bayit – house, home
Bayit Hameshutaf – condominium document that includes plans identifying each owner’s property, rights & responsibilities (deed restrictions)
Binyan – building
Binyan Even – building with stone exterior
Boidem – a storage compartment found above the bathroom and/or hallway in many Israeli apartments
Chaniah – parking
Chatzer – courtyard, usually a paved yard
Chozeh – contract
Cottage – semi-detached home or a duplex with a private entrance
Dira (plural dirot) – apartment
Dirat Gag – roof apartment
Dirat Gan – garden apartment
Dud Shemesh – solar-powered water heater
Dunam – measurement of land equivalent to 1000 square meters, approximately .25 acre. (NOTE: The size of a “dunam” varies according to country; this information refers to an Israeli dunam.)
Gemish – flexible
Gina – garden or yard
Gina B’shimush – garden “in use,” not registered in TABU as belonging to the apartment
Gush – Each section (gush) of the country has its own unique number & is further subdivided into individually numbered plots.
Haeret Azhara – cautionary note filed with the Government Lands Office at the beginning of the home purchase process to secure & protect your rights as the apartment’s owner
Helka – individually numbered plot within a section of the country. (See Gush.)
Heter B’nia – permit to build
Hevra HaMeshakemet – This office registers property in progress, eg, an apartment or office building under construction.
Hivun – capitalization
Installator – plumber
Installatzia – plumbing
Irya – municipality
Ishur – permit
Kablan – building contractor
Kior – sink
Kivunim, Kivunei Avir – air exposures
Knisa – entrance
Knisa Pratit, Knisa Nifredet – private entrance
Koma – floor, storey
Komat Karka – ground floor
Maalit – elevator
Machsan – storage room
Madregot – steps
Mamad – security room
Martef – basement
Mas Hachnassa – income tax to be paid on any rental income above a certain range
Mas Mechira – sales tax, to be paid when property is sold, although private individuals are exempt for residential properties
Mas Rechisha – purchase tax, up to 5% of the price of your home, which you must pay within 50 days of the signing of the contract.
Mas Shevach – capital gains tax of 25–50% on the profit from the sale of your property. You are entitled to an exemption once every 4 years. If you have already used this exemption, you may be exempt if you immediately invest the gains in another residence.
Mashkanta – mortgage
Mazgan – air-conditioning
Mechir – price
Metavech (masculine), Metavechet (feminine) – real estate agent
Miflasim – levels
Mifrat Techni – technical specifications
Minhal Merkarkei Yisrael – Government Lands Authority, which oversees all property in Israel. It is the agency that provides the initial 49-year leases for housing on government land, which will automatically renew for an additional 49 years. All records in this office are confidential unless owners give permission for the information to be made public.
Mirpeset – balcony
Mitbach – kitchen
Mitbach Americai – open kitchen, kitchenette
Nadlan – real estate
Nof – view Poneh l’nof – facing the view
“On paper” – buying an apartment to be constructed in the future, from a builder’s plans
Optzia – option, usually referring to the possibility of expanding
Orech Din (masc), Orachet Din (fem) – lawyer
Pinat ochel – dining nook
Reshum, Reshuma – registered
Salon – living room
Seragim – window bars
Shaish – kitchen countertop, usually granite or marble
Sherutim – toilet
Shetach – area of an apartment, expressed in square meters. Netto = net meterage. Bruto = gross.
Shikun – A building of 4 storeys that has multiple entrances, no elevator and often no succah balconies. This type of building was used to provide low cost housing and can be found in the older neighborhoods.
Shiputzim – renovations
TABU (Lishkat Rishum M’Karka’in) – Government Lands Registry Office, where your purchase must be recorded. It is subject to open records law, which means anyone can check the ownership of property registered in this office.
Tat Helka – identifying number given to an individual’s apartment built within a helka (plot) within a gush (section) of the country
Terrassa – terrace, patio
Trissim – window blinds
Tzinor – (plumbing) pipe
Vaad Habayit – required monthly tenants’ committee fee, equivalent to a condo fee in America, paying for upkeep of common areas and related services, such as elevator and garden maintenance. In some buildings, it includes winter heating during certain hours of the day. If you rent out your property, the tenant is generally expected to pay this fee.
VAT – value-added tax, currently 17%, charged on any goods and services in Israel
Villa – usually a freestanding house (In the Wolfson Towers complex, this term refers to a terraced apartment with a large balcony.)
Yazzam – developer
Yechidat Horim – master bedroom with bathroom en suite
Yipui Koach – Power of attorney; form you must sign that permits your attorney to sign all government registry documents on your behalf