There has never been a war between Israel and her terrorist enemies like the long, dragged-out war that is currently taking place in Gaza. It’s vital to point out that precisely because there is a war, there has never been a better time to buy a house in Israel.

For many of us, owning a home or a place to call our own in Israel has been the dream of a lifetime. But the objections against following through are often the same: the prices are too high and only getting higher.

In most places around the world, logic would dictate that the opposite would be true. But we Jews, with our intense desire to incorporate Israel into our lives, do not see it that way.

There are many reasons for this, some obvious, some not.

Two gentlemen whom I’ve come to know over the last few months might be the foremost experts on how to turn your dream of buying a house in Israel into a reality, which they can help you achieve smoothly and seamlessly using their combined legal and real estate expertise.

For many of us in the diaspora, with most of us reading these words in the United States, let me state it frankly: We would love to own a place in Israel for many reasons, but if we are to undertake this enormous endeavor, which is no doubt a giant step, we have to be certain that we understand all there is to know about buying real estate in Israel.

That’s where my friends, Yoad Perets and Nadav Kauderer of SFA come into the picture. SFA, or S. Friedman, Abramson & Co., is one of the premier real estate-law firms in Israel, with more than 80 years of experience to help you make your dream a reality.

There are multiple steps involved in purchasing a home in Israel. The first step is to figure out which part of the country you’d prefer to live in.

As an aside, let me say that if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent your entire life hearing about Israel from the perspective of a tourist. And although you might envision making Israel your home from the luxurious grounds of the Waldorf Astoria or the King David Hotel, while those places are certainly elegant to visit, they’re not necessarily where you would want to live full-time.

Before we get into the specifics, let’s talk about the fact that despite the rising cost of real estate in large cities around the world, due to the reality of the situation in Israel today, this might actually be the best time to buy.

And that is a direct consequence of the war with Hamas. Prices in real estate are currently dropping, but we know, no matter where you buy or what you buy in Israel, over the long term, the value of that property is only going to increase.

It’s important to note that despite the unrest in the Middle East, global investors are convinced that the war will not collapse the Israeli economy and the Israeli people will rebound from this disaster stronger than ever.

So, while the first step is to find a location where you would like to reside, whether Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ra’anana, or other parts of the country, there are three aspects you should know about or enlist the services of knowledgeable people in order to achieve your objective.

I spoke with Yoad and Nadav about several of these matters that are imperative to understand thoroughly, even if that entails hiring someone with the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the process.

The first and foremost issue is regarding financing and banking. One of the things I learned from Yoav the other day is that if you’re planning on living outside of Israel full-time (and use your property as a second, not primary residence), then you will be required to put down as much as 50% of the value of the property. If you’re planning on living in Israel full-time and gaining Israeli citizenship, then you only have to put down 25% of the value.

The second issue is to find qualified, professional legal representation. Yoad Perets lives in Tel Aviv and is well-acquainted with Israel’s legal landscape. Nadav Kauderer was born in Israel and now lives in the Five Towns, but is highly knowledgeable and able to advise clients on every aspect of buying real estate in Israel from his vast personal and professional experience. Nadav owns a Century 21 real estate franchise in the Five Towns.

In addition to these important issues when buying a home in Israel, the SFA Group can also guide you on the matter of interior design, so you can bring the vision of your dream home to life.

Nadav is available locally and Yoad is frequently in the States, so your dream can become a reality with relative ease. Both of them work closely with Israel’s leading developers all over the country, and the relationships they have nurtured will become your relationships over time.

For more information, you can reach Yoad and Nadav and SFA at SAFEHAVEN@C21KR.com or by calling 516-837-7558.

Israel is ready and waiting for you. The question is: Are you ready for Israel?

No News Is No News

Being a news junkie is nothing new. But this week I drew the line at the Democratic National Convention, which is taking place in Chicago. In contrast, the RNC was easy to watch and digest (except for the two-hour-long Trump acceptance speech), and it was gratifying to hear some of the Conservative luminaries when compared to the lies and deceptions that the Democrats were offering the other night. I’m pleased to report that I’m only aware of what transpired at the DNC because of the coverage that is presented on X.

Ordinarily, I would have no problem viewing this type of coverage on Fox News. But these days Fox News seems to have a problem with the idea that they are an outlet for Conservative viewpoints. Meanwhile, CNN and MSNBC are thoroughly proud of their leftist stance and coverage, combined with the outright lies and distortions they sprinkle on all their coverage of Donald Trump.

One of the great deceptions of the Democratic Party is the idea that Joe Biden saw himself as a transitional president, happy to pass the baton of leadership onto the next generation of Democrat leaders.

It appears that their key personalities are somewhat uncomfortable with that notion. The reality (as described by Maureen Dowd of The New York Times on Sunday) is that the ouster of Biden was a Democrat Party coup, a means of excising him from a race that he could not only not win, but would have caused a negative impact on all the down ballot candidates for the House and Senate, possibly leading to a Republican Party majority in the House and winning back the Senate.

In fact, if Kamala Harris wins the presidency, but the Republicans win a majority in the House and Senate, her tenure will be for the most part useless.

But back to the media coverage of this week’s DNC. While the Fox News coverage of the RNC was for the most part enjoyable, from the little I saw of the Fox News coverage of the DNC, it seems that the analysts that are covering the convention are somewhat uncomfortable because they know that most of what the Clintons and Obamas are saying is patently false. And they are counting on us believing their lies.

CNN has no problem interrupting a Trump speech to say that in their estimation what he’s saying is false. The Fox folks know that many of the Democrats are lying, but they lack the courage and conviction to say so, and therein lies the problem.

On Monday night, Biden fell into a trap he set for himself when he said that in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, there are good people on both sides. The disingenuousness of that comment passed mostly without remark from any of the journalists. The fact is that on the Hamas side, there are no good people. But Biden, Harris, and the Democrats believe that they have to say that in order to win. It would be nice if Fox pointed that out. Otherwise, it’s just Newsmax and me. n

Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.