Israel’s Housing Prices Boom

Almost all of the land in Israel is owned by the central government. People buy 100-year leases and the like.

Until the last ten years, Israel had a strongly socialist economy. Now it is an envy of the world.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Meanwhile, some economists warn that Israel’s housing bubble is heading for a bust. If interest rates rise again, payments on adjustable-rate loans, which make up about two-thirds of the total mortgage market activity, will increase, potentially leading to defaults.

“People paying 3,000 shekels [about $800] today could soon find themselves paying 5,000 shekels [$1333], and it’s going to be a big problem,” said Ayelet Nir, chief economist at IBI Ltd., an Israeli investment broker.

Although foreclosures historically have not been a problem in Israel, where down payments average 30% to 40%, much of the recent activity has been fueled by investors and speculators, accounting for as much as half of the recent apartment sales in Tel Aviv.

A quick fix would be to continue raising interest rates, but the Bank of Israel is under pressure to prevent them from deviating too much from U.S. rates. The growing gap has strengthened Israel’s currency against the dollar and made its exports — which account for half of the country’s GDP — more expensive abroad.

About Luke Ford

Raised a Seventh-Day Adventist at Avondale College in Australia, Luke Ford moved to California in 1977. He graduated from Placer High School in 1984, reported the news at KAHI/KHYL radio for three years, attended Sierra College and UCLA, was largely bedridden by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for six years, and converted to Judaism in 1993. From 1997-2007, Luke made his living from blogging. Living by Beverly Hills (Alexander90210.com), he now teaches the Alexander Technique (moving the way the body likes to move). Lessons cost $100 each and last about 45 minutes. In 2011, Luke completed a three-year teaching course at the Alexander Training Institute of Los Angeles. His personal Alexander Technique website is Alexander90210.com. Luke is the author of five books, including: » The Producers: Profiles in Frustration » Yesterday’s News Tomorrow: Inside American Jewish Journalism
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