Navigating a singular market
Real estate markets around the world operate differently, and Israel presents some fascinating contrasts to the American property scene.
For potential buyers considering an investment in Israel – whether as future residents (olim), investors, or those seeking connection to this historically significant land– understanding the differences is essential to navigating the market with confidence and fewer surprises.
The authentic Israeli ‘showing’
Open houses and property viewings reveal some of the most striking cultural differences between American and Israeli real estate practices. These distinctions reflect varying approaches to privacy/personal space, presentation, and market dynamics, which shape the entire buying experience.
The polished American standard
American property showings follow well-established protocols designed to maximize appeal and minimize distractions.
Homes often undergo professional staging or at least some styling with carefully selected furniture, strategic lighting, and curated decor that creates “aspirational lifestyle imagery.”
Even those that aren’t staged are cleaned and polished to the max, with many personal items put away.
Homes smell good – often thanks to strategically placed candles, diffusers, or freshly baked cookies – while floors gleam and surfaces sparkle.
Homes smell good – often thanks to strategically placed candles, diffusers, or freshly baked cookies – while floors gleam and surfaces sparkle.
This approach creates pristine, almost museum-like environments where every detail serves the singular purpose of facilitating a sale. The idea is that they’re beautiful and impersonal enough for buyers to picture themselves living there.
Most significantly, American showings typically take place in vacant properties. Current owners go out during viewings, allowing potential buyers uninterrupted exploration. Buyers feel completely open to exploring, inspecting, and questioning, without any awkwardness or inhibition.
The unvarnished Israeli reality
Israeli property viewings, on the other hand, operate from entirely different cultural and practical norms. Current occupants – including children who may observe visitors with undisguised curiosity (prepare for the stare!) – typically remain present throughout showings. You’ll encounter authentic, lived-in spaces complete with family photographs covering walls, children’s artwork displayed on refrigerators, coats draped over chairs, towels hanging askew on hooks, and personal belongings scattered throughout rooms.
The preparation level varies dramatically from property to property and resident to resident. While some sellers maintain extremely tidy homes, others make minimal effort to clean up before viewings. Don’t be surprised to encounter dishes in sinks, overflowing laundry baskets, unmade beds, or full garbage bins.
Some properties showcase years of accumulated family life: books stacked on every surface, toys scattered across floors, and walls bearing the creative expressions of resident children (yes, that’s a euphemism for “scribbles”).
The forces behind the difference
This contrast stems from multiple factors that define both Israeli society and real estate dynamics. Cultural norms around personal space and hospitality differ significantly from American expectations. Israeli families rarely regard property showings as formal presentations and are much less likely to think that artificial perfection is required.
Practical considerations also influence this approach. Israeli homes typically offer limited storage space compared to American properties. Walk-in closets, basement storage, attics, and spacious garages – standard features that allow American homeowners to hide possessions during showings – remain rare luxuries in Israeli construction. People often don’t have anywhere to put away their belongings for viewing purposes.
More importantly, market dynamics eliminate the pressure for elaborate staging. Israel has maintained a robust seller’s market for decades, with consistent demand exceeding available inventory. Property owners understand that motivated buyers will emerge regardless of presentation, thus reducing incentives for extensive preparation efforts. That is, they’ll sell the place even if they don’t clean it up first.
Understanding these cultural and market dynamics is where The Getter Group’s expertise becomes invaluable. Our deep knowledge of Israeli real estate customs helps American buyers navigate these differences with confidence.
Turning challenges into advantages
While this authentic approach initially seems disadvantageous (for the buyers at least), informed buyers can extract significant value from what we’ll call the “unfiltered property experience.” The Getter Group regularly guides clients through this process, helping them see beyond the surface to identify a property’s true potential and value.
Here are some advantages that staged homes can’t provide:
- Assess the functionality: Observe exactly how families utilize each room, identifying traffic patterns, storage solutions, and lifestyle adaptations. Notice where occupants place furniture, how they manage limited space, and which areas serve multiple purposes. This insight proves invaluable for planning your own space and identifying potential modifications.
- Evaluate the atmosphere: Experience authentic sound patterns throughout the property. Hear how conversations carry between rooms, notice street noise, and assess privacy from neighboring units. Occupied properties reveal acoustic realities that empty spaces cannot demonstrate.
- Check the conditions: Witness natural light patterns with furniture and belongings in place, providing realistic expectations for regular living conditions. Observe how current residents manage heat, ventilation, and privacy through window treatments and spatial arrangements.
- Gather some intelligence: Current residents have irreplaceable knowledge about building management responsiveness, neighbor relationships, local service quality, parking challenges, and community dynamics. They can share insights about utility costs, maintenance issues, renovation policies, and seasonal considerations that influence quality of life.
The Getter Group can also connect you with our network of local contacts to provide additional insights about specific neighborhoods and buildings.
- Get market context: Seeing multiple lived-in properties provides a realistic perspective on local standards, helping calibrate expectations and identify genuinely exceptional opportunities versus typical market offerings.
Your path forward
The Israeli real estate market offers unique opportunities that reward informed buyers. While the process differs from American standards, these differences often work to your advantage, providing authentic insights, creative financing options, and exceptional value propositions.
Success in any market requires thorough research, expert guidance, and a clear understanding of local practices. In Israel’s dynamic property landscape, the right preparation transforms unique challenges into compelling advantages.
Ready to explore your options? The Getter Group specializes in helping buyers navigate Israel’s distinctive real estate market, ensuring that you maximize both opportunities and protections throughout your property journey. Contact The Getter Group to find out how we can bridge your journey home. Reach us at contact@thegettergroup.com; call +1-732-806-0816; or visit us online at thegettergroup.com.
This article was written in cooperation with The Getter Group.