Buying a Home in Israel From Abroad with David Chester - Episode 147

In this episode of Definitely Uncertain, Darren Rockman and David Chester discuss what international buyers and new olim need to know before purchasing property in Israel. They explore how a buyer's representative differs from a traditional real estate agent, why Israeli purchase contracts are not conditional on financing, and why opening a bank account and securing mortgage pre-approval should begin long before the right property is found. David also explains the key protections to insist on when buying off-plan, the substantial purchase tax benefits available to olim, including their often-overlooked use for commercial property, and why he believes today's slower market offers a real opportunity for buyers.IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:• Buyer's representatives vs. agents• Financing and bank preparation• Off-plan purchase protections• Oleh purchase tax benefits• Israel's current buyers' marketABOUT DAVID CHESTERDavid Chester is a lawyer, IDF special forces combat soldier, and one of Israel's few real estate buyer's representatives working exclusively with international buyers, many of them high-net-worth families. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, David made aliyah at 20 as a lone soldier, serving in the Israeli Air Force's elite Shaldag unit. As a reservist, he has logged over 500 combat days since October 7, 2023. After earning his law degree at Tel Aviv University, David worked on cross-border M&A and international property transactions at a top Israeli law firm, and later led a nine-figure mortgage business partnering with major US financial institutions at one of Israel's leading high-tech companies. Today, he runs his own consultancy dedicated to representing international buyers, guiding them through the legal, financial, commercial, technical and cultural complexities of buying real estate in Israel and serving as a long-term, trusted advisor to the families he works with.ABOUT DEFINITELY UNCERTAINSince 2020, Goldrock has produced Definitely Uncertain, The Private Wealth Podcast. The podcast helps to unravel the many uncertainties facing high-net-worth families, covering topics ranging from investment strategies and macro trends to family governance and philanthropy.ABOUT GOLDROCKGoldrock is a trusted family office advisory firm - assisting significant families in the management of their affairs and financial assets. Goldrock understands the importance of wealth preservation and risk mitigation, and has first-hand experience managing significant family events and milestones. We are strong believers that asset allocation is the key driver to investment returns. We create our own global asset allocation which is applied uniquely to each family and work with the best investment managers from around the world. Our only interests are those of the families we serve. We are a fee-only, non-discretionary adviser. The firm was established in 1998 by Daniel Goldman.Learn more: https://www.goldrockcap.com/Subscribe to stay updated on how to navigate the uncertainties of private wealth.