Buy your Tel Aviv apartment with people on your side.
Israel's most exciting city is also its most expensive, and its fastest-moving market. We help you choose the right neighborhood and the right building, introduce you to licensed brokers who deal fairly with buyers from abroad, and stay with you until you have the keys.
Our help costs you nothing. We're paid only if you buy, from part of the broker's commission, and your broker's fee never goes up because of us.
Can foreigners buy property in Tel Aviv?
Yes. Buyers living in the US, the UK, France or anywhere else can own an apartment in Tel Aviv in their own name, without Israeli citizenship.
You'll work through your own Israeli lawyer, open an Israeli bank account for the transfer, and usually sign a power of attorney so the purchase can go ahead while you're abroad. Non-residents pay a higher purchase tax than Israelis buying their first home, and banks typically lend them around half of an apartment's value. Both are explained further down.
Why buyers from abroad choose Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv draws a different buyer from Jerusalem: often younger, often secular, often thinking about the sea, work and a city that never quite sleeps.
- Life by the beachMorning swims, the promenade at sunset, a café on every corner. The reason many buyers fall for the city in the first place.
- A base for the childrenA son or daughter working in tech, studying, or finishing army service in the centre. Owning beats rent that rises every year.
- The city we'll move toFor many families planning aliyah, Tel Aviv is where the jobs, schools and social life they want are.
- A pied-à-terreA small, well-placed apartment for regular visits, business trips and the holidays.
- Value that has heldA city with very little land left to build on, where demand from Israelis and buyers abroad has stayed strong over decades.
- A foothold in IsraelA home in the country's economic heart, for whatever the coming years bring.
What makes buying in Tel Aviv different
In Tel Aviv, the building often matters as much as the apartment, and the questions to ask are not the ones you'd ask at home.
Prices, and how fast they move
Tel Aviv is Israel's most expensive city, and good apartments in the best streets can sell within days. Without a local yardstick, it's hard to know whether a price is fair or a "foreign buyer" price.
Safe rooms
Many older buildings have no mamad, the reinforced room built into newer apartments. Since the wars of recent years, apartments with one sell at a clear premium. Whether you need one depends on how you'll use the apartment.
Old buildings, new rules
Much of central Tel Aviv was built in the 1930s to 1960s. Some buildings are slated for renewal, some are protected as part of the White City, and the national TAMA 38 scheme no longer applies in the city. Each changes what you're really buying.
Brokers without exclusivity
The same apartment can reach you through several brokers at different prices, and in Israel the buyer pays their own broker. Talking to all of them can mean paying more than one.
Free for you, from first question to keys
- We listen first.How you'll use the apartment, your budget and currency, your timeline, and what matters to you about a neighborhood.
- We narrow the city down.Which neighborhoods and which kinds of building fit, with an honest view of each.
- We introduce the right broker.One or two licensed brokers who know those streets and that price range, and whom we've seen treat buyers from abroad fairly.
- We bring in everyone else.Whatever the purchase needs, so you never have to search on your own.
- We stay a phone call away.Ask us before you sign, offer or transfer anything.
- A lawyer who acts only for you
- A mortgage advisor in your language
- A bank used to overseas clients
- A currency transfer service
- An engineer to check the building
- An architect or contractor
- An accountant for both countries
- A property manager for rentals
- What you pay us
- Nothing, whether you buy or not. No fee, no retainer, no contract.
- What you pay the broker
- Their standard buyer's fee, as on any purchase in Israel. Our share comes out of their commission, and every broker we work with agrees in advance that your fee stays the same.
- Lawyers, advisors, banks
- Our introductions are free. You agree terms with each of them directly.
- If you don't buy
- Nobody owes anybody anything.
Brokers pay you. Whose side are you on?
Yours. A broker keeps receiving our introductions only while our clients come away happy. One poor experience, and we stop sending buyers their way. Your trust is the only thing we have to offer them.
Tel Aviv neighborhoods for buyers from abroad
Tel Aviv changes character every few streets. A first orientation, from north to south:
Ramat Avivרמת אביב
North of the Yarkon, near Tel Aviv University. Green and calm, with older blocks beside new towers.
Bavliבבלי
Beside Yarkon Park, with tall residential towers and older buildings. Popular with families and retirees.
Park Tzameretפארק צמרת
A cluster of luxury towers: high floors, sea views, lobbies and concierge services.
Kikar HaMedinaכיכר המדינה
An upscale area around one of the city's largest squares, with new projects and high-end shops.
Old Northהצפון הישן
Leafy streets close to the beach and the port. One of the most sought-after areas for families and buyers from abroad.
New Northהצפון החדש
Quieter residential streets east of the Old North, close to Yarkon Park.
Lev Ha'irלב העיר
The heart of the White City: Rothschild Boulevard, Sheinkin and some of Israel's most expensive streets.
Kerem HaTeimanimכרם התימנים
Low-rise lanes between the Carmel Market and the sea. Small homes with character, and little supply.
Neve Tzedekנווה צדק
Tel Aviv's first neighborhood outside Jaffa, founded in 1887. Restored houses, boutique streets and premium prices.
Florentinפלורנטין
Young and creative, with workshops, cafés and nightlife. More affordable, and changing fast.
Jaffaיפו
The ancient port city: sea views, historic stone buildings and new projects, with prices that vary widely street by street.
Comparing Tel Aviv with other cities, such as Herzliya, Ra'anana or Netanya? See our guide to buying across Israel.
Old building or new tower?
It's the first real choice most Tel Aviv buyers face, and it shapes the price, the risks and the paperwork.
| Older building | New tower or project | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Central streets, Bauhaus and post-war architecture, trees and balconies | Views, lifts, parking, lobby and services |
| Safe room | Often none, unless the building was renovated or extended | Standard in every apartment |
| Price | Usually less per square metre than comparable new apartments | A premium for the safe room, the newness and the amenities |
| Running costs | Lower building fees, but repairs can fall to owners | Higher monthly building fees |
| What to check | Renewal plans, preservation status, the roof and shared areas | Bank guarantees for every payment, index linkage, delivery date |
Urban renewal after TAMA 38
For years, the national TAMA 38 scheme let owners of older buildings add floors and a safe room in return for strengthening the building. It expired in Tel Aviv in August 2024, and the city is preparing its own renewal plan to replace it. An apartment in a building with a signed renewal deal can be worth more; one with only talk of renewal is a promise, not a plan. Your lawyer should read every agreement.
Buying in the White City
Central Tel Aviv's modernist buildings were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. About 2,000 of them are listed for preservation, which limits changes to the façade and structure. In return, owners of many listed buildings can add up to three floors if they restore the whole building. Beautiful to own, but check what you're allowed to change before you buy.
The cost of buying an apartment in Tel Aviv
On top of the price, budget roughly 11–13%. As a foreign resident, purchase tax is the biggest part.
| Item | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase tax for non-residents | 8% / 10% | 8% up to about ₪6.06M, then 10% on the rest. Many Tel Aviv apartments cross the line. |
| Buyer's broker | ~2% + VAT | Agreed in writing; VAT is 18%. |
| Your lawyer | ~0.5–1% + VAT | New projects often add a developer's legal fee. |
| Engineer, appraisal, mortgage | Varies | Worth it for any older building. |
| Our help | ₪0 | Only ever from the broker's commission. |
Estimate your total
- Purchase tax
- —
- Broker (2% + VAT)
- —
- Lawyer (about 0.75% + VAT)
- —
- Engineer and appraisal
- —
- Our help
- ₪0
- Estimated total
- —
For planning only. If you might make aliyah, ask your lawyer about the much lower purchase tax for new immigrants before you sign.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
How to buy an apartment in Tel Aviv from abroad
- Set your budget in shekels, not dollars or euros.Include tax and fees, and leave room for the exchange rate to move while you search.
- Get a mortgage view early, if you'll borrow.Non-residents usually borrow around half the value, and approvals take time. We'll connect you with an advisor.
- Appoint your own lawyer.Before you make any offer. We can suggest a few who work with buyers from abroad.
- Choose one broker per search.Sign their written order knowingly; it's what entitles them to a fee.
- Check the building, not just the flat.Renewal plans, preservation status, safe room, building committee and repairs. An engineer's visit pays for itself.
- Sign, pay, register.Your lawyer registers a warning note in your favour at signing, payments follow the contract, and ownership is recorded in your name.
Mistakes buyers from abroad make in Tel Aviv
- Buying the renewal story instead of the apartment"The building is going to be renewed" is worth nothing without a signed agreement and approved plans.
- Ignoring the safe room questionDecide whether you need one before you start viewing. It changes both the price and who you can rent to.
- Falling for a street, not a buildingTwo buildings side by side can differ completely in condition, fees and future.
- Assuming a holiday rental will pay for itselfShort-term rentals face rules and taxes, and need managing. Plan it with an accountant first.
- Hesitating on a good apartment, or rushing a bad oneTel Aviv rewards being ready: lawyer chosen, money organised, mortgage view in hand.
- Letting three brokers send the same listingChoose one, tell the others, and avoid a second fee.
The Tel Aviv market in 2026
6%how far Tel Aviv prices had eased from their peak by mid-2026, more than most of the country
₪5Mmedian price French buyers paid for a Tel Aviv apartment in early 2026
~20%price premium per square metre for four-room Tel Aviv apartments with a safe room
2,000White City buildings listed for preservation, out of about 4,000 modernist buildings
After years of rises, Tel Aviv prices have softened, and developers of new projects are offering more flexible payment terms. For buyers paying in dollars, the stronger shekel has offset much of that; for euro and pound buyers, less so. Good apartments in the most sought-after streets still sell quickly.
Sources: Globes, July 2026; Israel Ministry of Finance data via Buyitinisrael; Globes, August 2025; ESRA Magazine. Updated October 2026.
Questions Tel Aviv buyers ask
Can foreigners buy property in Tel Aviv?
Yes. You can own a Tel Aviv apartment in your own name while living abroad, with no need for Israeli citizenship. The purchase runs through your own Israeli lawyer, an Israeli bank account and, usually, a power of attorney so it can go ahead while you're overseas.
How much does an apartment in Tel Aviv cost?
Tel Aviv is Israel's most expensive city, and prices vary enormously by street and building. Jaffa, Florentin and parts of the south cost far less per square metre than Neve Tzedek, the Old North or the boulevards of the White City. A safe room, a lift, parking and sea views all add to the price.
Is your help really free?
Yes. You pay us nothing at any stage. If you buy through a broker we introduced, that broker shares part of their commission with us. You pay the broker their standard buyer's fee, which they agree in advance not to increase because of us.
Can you help me find a lawyer, mortgage advisor or bank?
Yes, and those introductions are free too. We can put you in touch with a lawyer who represents only you, a mortgage advisor who speaks your language, a bank used to overseas clients, an engineer, an architect, an accountant and a property manager. You agree terms with each of them directly.
Should my Tel Aviv apartment have a safe room?
It depends on how you'll use it. Apartments with a mamad, a reinforced room, sell and rent at a clear premium in Tel Aviv, and many buyers now insist on one. Older buildings often lack one but offer better locations and lower prices per square metre, and some have shared shelters nearby.
Is TAMA 38 still available in Tel Aviv?
No. The national TAMA 38 urban renewal scheme expired in Tel Aviv in August 2024, and the city is preparing its own renewal plan instead. Buildings already signed or approved under earlier arrangements can still go ahead, so check the exact status of any building with your lawyer.
Can I buy an apartment in a Bauhaus building?
Yes. Many apartments in Tel Aviv's White City are in buildings from the 1930s to the 1950s, and about 2,000 of them are listed for preservation. Listing limits changes to the façade and structure, so check what can be altered, and whether the building is planning a restoration, before you buy.
Can I rent out my Tel Aviv apartment while I live abroad?
Yes. Many overseas owners rent long-term until they move or visit. Short-term holiday rentals face extra rules and taxes and need active management. Rental income is taxed in Israel and may be taxed at home too, so set it up with an accountant.
What taxes do foreigners pay when buying in Tel Aviv?
The main one is purchase tax: non-residents pay 8% of the price up to about ₪6.06 million and 10% on anything above, which matters in Tel Aviv, where many apartments cost more. Broker and legal fees carry 18% VAT. There is no annual property tax beyond the municipal arnona.
Do new immigrants pay less purchase tax?
Yes. Olim pay much lower purchase tax on a home bought within a window around their aliyah. If a move to Israel is a real possibility, agree the timing of your purchase with your lawyer before you sign.
Is now a good time to buy in Tel Aviv?
Prices in Tel Aviv have eased from their peak, and developers are offering more flexible terms on new projects. For buyers paying in dollars, the stronger shekel has offset much of that. The right time depends on your currency, your plans and finding the right apartment.
Tell us what you're looking for
It's free, and it doesn't commit you to anything. You're interested; that's all it takes.
Write a few lines about what you have in mind. We'll get back to you within 24 hours to arrange an introductory meeting, by phone or video, at a time that works for you. What you tell us stays with us.