Israel real estate expert Shia Getter, author of the forthcoming book “Everything You Need to Know About Buying Real Estate in Israel,” (Feldheim) has been touring communities across the U.S., meeting people who are thinking of buying properties in Israel. His next stop will be in Miami on February 24^th.  Yeshiva World caught up with him:

 YW: Shia, how have you been enjoying your tour of America?

Shia Getter:  It’s great – I’m meeting wonderful people and seeing how many American Jews are interested in buying homes in Israel – either for vacations, or to move there with their families, or for their children to live there while learning and starting a family.

YW: Why do American Jews want to buy real estate in Israel?

Shia Getter: No city is more important to Jews around the world than Yerushalayim. Many people dream of living in the holy city or owning a vacation home there, and some want to invest in Israel’s buoyant Israeli property market. That being said, we also work with plenty of clients who buy property in other parts of Israel.

YW: How did you get started in Israeli real estate?

Shia Getter: I was born and educated in London, but I moved to Israel and started in the business in 2002, managing just one apartment. Today my company, the Getter Group, is the leading real estate sales and full-service property management company in Jerusalem and in other locations. Our team supervises construction projects and manages rentals across the city, brokering deals worth hundreds of millions of shekels. The articles that I write are syndicated in leading Jewish publications, and people turn to me for advice in particular about all aspects of Israel’s real estate market with a particular focus on the Orthodox real estate market.

YW: What do you mean by Israel’s Orthodox real estate market?

Shia Getter: Buying real estate in Israel is very different from North America or Europe, because every neighborhood has a different religious character. There are many differences between buying a home in a Haredi area, where the streets are closed on Shabbat, and in a secular or downtown area, where the noise and traffic never stops. You cannot take it for granted that every building will have a Shabbos elevator, or that every apartment comes with a kosher succah porch and a kitchen with counters and sinks for milk and meat.

YW: What does someone need to know before buying property in Israel?

Shia Getter:  The process of buying an apartment in Israel is complex. It helps to understand Israel’s diverse ethnic communities, because closing a deal may involve some Middle-Eastern haggling along the way! Before you deal with local banks and attorneys, you have to know who to trust and what they’re not telling you. Some people decide to buy un-built properties “on paper” or join “purchasing groups” – both options can save you money, but things can also go very wrong.

YW: Can you give us examples of what can go wrong?

Shia Getter: You might purchase an apartment with an amazing view only to discover that the adjoining plot was zoned for development and the view will totally disappear in the near future. This highlights the importance of checking local development plans. An apartment may be built with cheap pipes that burst at some point and cause a flood, so I always advise purchasers to employ an inspector.

YW: What do you advise people who are buying real estate as an investment?

Shia Getter: It is important to talk to someone who has their finger on the local pulse. Because of the volume of deals we are involved with, we tend to know which neighborhoods are on the way up and which new projects guarantee the best returns. We work with many investors who buy run-down properties and renovate them for rental as an investment. We can help them with important advice and helpful tips that will save them time, money and trauma. These include important clauses to include in your rental contracts, and how to manage the different construction standards and attitudes that you get from Israeli contractors, who think that all Americans are “greenhorns”!

YW: How can folks in South Florida meet with you during your upcoming trip?

Shia Getter:  I am really looking forward to this event – it will be great to escape the snow! The evening will be in Miami at the home of Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Salfer on February 24th at 7.30pm. While the event is free of charge, RSVP is required. This can be done by contacting 718-473-3950 ext 8 or [email protected]. I look forward to meeting you!

Shia Getter’s book – “Everything You Need to Know About Buying Real Estate in Israel” – (Feldheim) is currently available in stores everywhere