MK Uri Maklev feels a new proposed law to tax a third apartment is unnecessary and will harm the chareidi community. He is calling on officials to give the bill a second thought before pushing it forward.
Maklev explains that he has spoken with many families and he has learned they prefer to invest their money in another apartment rather than rely on foreign banks or other investments. Using apartments as an investment permits them to eventually marry off their children in a respectful fashion. Maklev explains the families explain that even if an additional apartment does not generate income, it is as sure as an investment as one can find and they are seeking the stability factor.
Maklev explains the additional tax will not compel these apartment owners to sell while the amount that will be generated in levied taxes will not be significant. However, he feels it will have an unwanted impact, increasing the price of apartments even more and this will be passed on to tenants, who will be compelled to pay higher rent.
Maklev feels the true solution is to sharply increase the supply of apartment rather than seeking the small money among citizens who are simply drying to live with dignity.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
MK Maklev is spinning a phony and disingenuous argument to protect the real estate speculators (whether Chareidi or secular)who are part of a much bigger problem of skyrocketing housing prices in EY. If they want to invest, that is their right, but don’t expect the government to subsidize them by dragging in the issue of marrying off their children “with dignity”. They can invest like everyone else in banks, stocks, fine art etc. or in real estate. But the government likewise has an interest in encouraging more widespread ownership of housing
Marrying off their kids with dignity?? What about the rest of us nebuchs who can’t afford to buy for ourselves nevermind our kids… what about us living with dignity? My wife and i both work and don’t make amazing ramat gan hi tech salaries but we make a decent living and we can’t get out of debt and al pi derech hateva will never be able to afford an apartment i this
Clicked submit too soon – bkitzur theres no way outside of a miracle we could ever buy while both working yet basically every kollel couple i meet owns their own apartment somewhere. Maybe i should give up struggling to make a living with an honest days work and just go schnorring
#1: Sage advice from overseas. Thanks for your understanding. You have no idea how families here are struggling. Silence or empathy would be preferable.
It will definitely harm renters and there are many of them, especially in Chareidi communities.