|
|
NEWS
Housing Ministry to Increase Mechir Lemishtaken Apartment
Sales
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
The Ministry of Construction and Housing is increasing its
apartment sales program known as "Mechir Lemishtaken." In
2004 a total of 604 apartments were sold under this program
and in 2005 the numbers are expected to reach 2,000
apartments.
According to Construction and Housing Ministry Director-
General Shmuel Abuav, the elimination of mortgage grants
obliges the Ministry to find alternative ways to allow
eligible buyers to purchase homes. A Mechir Lemishtaken
apartment can be purchased for 20 percent less than its usual
market value.
According to the Mechir Lemishtaken system, contractors bid
to the Housing Ministry for the lowest price per apartment.
Abuav says this system can provide a partial solution for
peripheral towns, give the lagging real estate industry a
boost, and lessen the blow to the weaker classes following
the cessation of apartment grants.
A survey conducted by the Department of Housing, which is
responsible for issuing the tenders, showed a total of 17,045
Mechir Lemishtaken apartments currently under construction or
being transferred to their new owners. The program offers two
types of apartments: a regular track in which apartments are
subject to Mechir Lemishtaken guidelines and a second track
in which only the smaller apartments built in the project are
subject to Mechir Lemishtaken guidelines. To date a total of
18,943 housing units have won tenders—15,689 small
apartments and 3,254 regular apartments.
|
