Discounted Housing: Who Can Now Participate in the Lotteries

Israel is scaling back its subsidized housing program: fewer cities and apartments, but higher quotas for reservists. Participation is only possible where the price per square meter including VAT does not exceed 20,000 shekels, and the discount remains 25% (maximum 500,000). Rishon LeZion, Netanya, and others are excluded. Lotteries will continue in Ramla, Lod, and Ashkelon. Reservists will get up to 50% in priority zones and 35% elsewhere. Yeshiva students without IDF status are barred from participation.

Israel is radically reshaping its state-subsidized housing program. The authorities have decided to reduce the scope of the lotteries, decreasing the number of participating cities and available apartments, while significantly increasing quotas for military reservists. This was reported by Calcalist. According to the updated rules, only localities where the cost of one square meter of housing including VAT does not exceed 20,000 shekels will be able to participate. For a standard four-room apartment of 90 square meters, the price ceiling is about 1.8 million shekels. The state discount remains at 25%, but will not exceed 500,000 shekels. Due to strict price limits, Rishon LeZion, Rosh HaAyin, Be'er Ya'akov, Yavne, Modi'in, Netanya, and Beit Shemesh are excluded from the program. Drawings will continue in Ramla, Lod, and Ashkelon, and will also cover Sderot, Yokneam, Tiberias, Safed, and Ofakim. In Sderot, tenders for 4,300 apartments are already being prepared. Significant changes affect quotas for reservists: up to 50% of housing is allocated in national priority zones, and up to 35% in other cities. Yeshiva students who have not regularized their status with the IDF are barred from participating in the drawings, according to a High Court ruling. The rules will be in effect at least until December 31, 2027.