Coming to Jerusalem for a Week to See Apartments? How to Plan a Focused Property Tour
Flying in for a week to see apartments in Jerusalem? A focused property tour is a plan that starts weeks before you land: a clear budget and shortlist of neighborhoods, pre-screened properties (including some that never reach the listing sites), a day-by-day viewing schedule, and financing and legal work running in parallel. This tour is planned and led by Amir Azraf, a licensed Jerusalem realtor with 16 years of experience and owner of Amirim Real Estate Solutions, a boutique brokerage at 2 Ahad Ha’am Street in Talbieh, serving clients in English and Hebrew.
Let’s be clear from the start: one week is enough to choose an apartment and begin negotiating. It is not enough to start searching from scratch.
Why a Week in Jerusalem Goes By Too Fast
Without preparation, most of the week is spent viewing apartments that were never right for you. Three main reasons:
- Outdated listings – many apartments you find online are already sold, or priced far from what similar homes actually sell for.
- Jerusalem changes from street to street – the German Colony around Emek Refaim is lively and full of cafés; a few minutes’ walk away in Baka, the atmosphere is quiet and family-oriented. Even within Talbieh, a busy main road and a quiet side street are worlds apart. Photos don’t show this.
- The best properties aren’t always advertised – in the most sought-after neighborhoods, some deals close through the network between brokers before a listing ever goes up.
Step 1: What to Do 2–4 Weeks Before You Land
The real work starts on a video call, not at the airport.
- Set a total budget – not just the price of the apartment: purchase tax, legal fees, brokerage fees, and renovation if needed.
- Choose 2–3 candidate neighborhoods – based on lifestyle, community, synagogues, schools and access. Neighborhoods in high demand among buyers from abroad include Talbieh, Rehavia, the German Colony, Baka, Arnona, Katamon and Kiryat Shmuel.
- Define your must-haves – number of rooms, elevator, parking, safe room (mamad), sukkah balcony, floor.
- Define the purpose – a permanent home, a holiday apartment or an investment. Each leads to very different properties.
- Pre-screening – we check every candidate property before it goes on the schedule: building condition, fit with your requirements, and how the price compares with recent closed transactions in the area.
- Financing – a non-resident buyer can usually get a mortgage of up to 50% of the property value. Arrive with a bank pre-approval. Amir holds a diploma in mortgage consulting and has a finance background, so financing can be planned from the first call.
- A real estate lawyer – choose one before your flight, not after you’ve found an apartment.
Step 2: What the Tour Week Looks Like – Sample Schedule
| Day | What we do | The goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Arrival | Driving tour of the candidate neighborhoods, without entering apartments | Rule out neighborhoods, not apartments |
| 2–3 | 4–5 viewings a day, grouped by neighborhood | A shortlist of 3–4 properties |
| 4 | Second viewing of the top properties, at a different time of day | Check light, noise, parking and neighbors |
| 5 | Offer and negotiation; the lawyer starts due diligence | Agree on price and terms |
| 6 – Friday | Continue negotiating; Mahane Yehuda market or a morning at a neighborhood café | Feel the neighborhood like a resident |
| 7 – Shabbat | Walk the neighborhood, pray at the local synagogue, meet the community | Know whether this is your community |
A rule of thumb from the field: no more than five viewings a day. After the sixth, every kitchen looks the same.
What to Wrap Up Before Your Flight Home
- Power of attorney for your lawyer – so the contract signing, payments and registration can move forward while you’re abroad.
- Legal due diligence – Land Registry extract (Tabu), building permits, debts, and any TAMA 38 or urban renewal (pinui-binui) plans that could affect the property.
- Contract timeline – when you sign, when you pay, when you get the keys.
Important: your return flight is not a reason to sign. If due diligence isn’t complete, it continues remotely. Better to sign two weeks later than to regret it for years.
Costs to Know in Advance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Purchase tax | A non-resident buyer is taxed as a buyer of an additional home: 8% on the value up to ₪6,055,070 and 10% above (as of October 2026, under a temporary order – verify with your lawyer). New immigrants (olim) and returning residents are subject to different rules. |
| Mortgage | For non-residents – usually up to 50% financing. |
| Lawyer | Fees by agreement, often a percentage of the purchase price. |
| Brokerage fee | Per the brokerage agreement, plus VAT. |
From the Field: A New Jersey Family Who Found Their Home in Baka
About a year and a half ago, a lawyer from New Jersey referred clients of his to me after they decided to make aliyah. We started with a long Zoom call to understand what they needed: community life, schools, and the type of home that suited them. After some preparation, we held a second Zoom call, where I showed them photos and videos of properties in Baka, the neighborhood I believed fit them best.
Two and a half months later they came to Israel. Ahead of the visit, we screened the properties that were relevant at the time. Over two days of tours we saw eight properties in total. They fell in love with one of them and bought it after a quick but meaningful negotiation, at an excellent price.
“There is no greater satisfaction than being a true partner in the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel.” – Amir Azraf
Why Plan Your Tour with Amirim Real Estate Solutions
- Real local knowledge – Amir was born in Jerusalem and has worked here for 16 years. He knows which street gets noisy on Friday night and which building is waiting for TAMA 38.
- Access to properties before they’re listed – Amir serves as Vice Chairman of the Jerusalem Real Estate Brokers Association, and his network of brokers across the city opens doors to properties you won’t find online.
- End-to-end support – from the first call, through financing and negotiation, until the deal continues remotely after you’ve flown home.
- Service in English and Hebrew – for you and the family members who are part of the decision.
Coming to Jerusalem soon? Book a planning call for your property tour: +972-54-647-6577 | WhatsApp
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy an apartment in Jerusalem in one week?
You can choose an apartment, agree on a price and start legal due diligence. Signing a contract the same week is possible only if all checks come back clean – and there’s no reason to rush.
When should I start planning a property tour from abroad?
At least 2–4 weeks before you land, to allow time to screen properties, schedule viewings and get a mortgage pre-approval.
Can I complete the purchase after I return home?
Yes. With a power of attorney for your lawyer, the signing, payments and registration continue without you being physically present.
How many viewings should I plan per day?
Four to five, grouped by neighborhood. More than that makes it hard to compare properties.
How much purchase tax does a buyer from abroad pay?
A non-resident buyer pays as a buyer of an additional home – 8% from the first shekel up to ₪6,055,070 and 10% above (as of October 2026). New immigrants and returning residents may be eligible for benefits.
Ready to plan your week? Contact us and we’ll start with a video call.
Featured photo: Railway Heritage Project, via PikiWiki
