This is evident from Elder Marketing's data on projects across the country • In most transactions the price level remains stable

• Construction site, archive

  Photo: 

  Dudu Greenspan

קור The Corona does lift its head, but the real estate market is at least partially back to normal. Last June saw a 30% jump in house purchases compared to May, according to data from Elder Marketing, collected from about 90 projects nationwide.

The figures refer to dwellings sold only in the free market and not to dwellings sold to eligible persons at a cost to the buyer. In most transactions, the price level remained stable. However, in light of the new Minister of Housing Jacob Litzman's plan to start marketing land in the middle of the country at a price, it is unlikely that there will be a renewed rise in prices. 

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Evidence of a jump in sales can also be seen from a report by the Parshkovsky Stock Exchange, according to which the company sold 42 new apartments in Herzliya, Haifa, Ramla and Rishon Lezion in June, totaling NIS 82 million. In comparison, in May the company reported the sale of 17 apartments, and in April the sale of only 6 apartments - that is, in both months almost half of the apartments were sold in June alone. 

Investor influence

Roni Cohen, CEO of Elder Marketing, notes that the volume of sales in June is the same as the volume during the pre-crisis period. "We identify several reasons for the increase in sales," notes Cohen, adding: "First, we see many housing enhancers whose Corona accelerated their decision to move For more spacious apartments, garden apartments or apartments with large balconies. We identify young couples who understand that the CPA is fading and have decided to "get off the fence." Investors also bought apartments this month, some investors who borrowed money from the capital market, as well as investors who decided to buy residential apartments in Israel instead of investing in offices or trading. We expect the trend to increase in transactions to continue in July. "

Tali Cohen, VP Marketing & Sales at Shapir Residential, added: "We are seeing a rapid recovery of the real estate industry. As early as May after the closure was released, we saw customers returning to the sales offices. Customers took advantage of the fact that they were home in March and April and had time To carry out a market survey on projects of interest to them by phone or digital means, and in May they already came ready and consolidated into sales offices. ". 

Combine residential and office space 

In the meantime, against the backdrop of the Corona office crisis, will there be a plan to incorporate residential capsules into office towers? 

Due to the Corona crisis, many companies in the economy, especially high-tech companies, financial institutions and law firms, allow workers to work from home, yet tens of thousands of square meters of office space remain vacant. This is due to the fact that there are currently no customers who sign rental deals .

Jackie Mokamel, chairman of CBRE Israel, offers a revolutionary plan, he says, which is considered an out-of-the-box breakthrough in the office industry. 

It's about making office buildings multifunctional and incorporating residential capsules for young workers, allowing employees to "work from home" but within The workplace environment, so that they can receive the services that the workplace provides, and bring the employee closer to the workplace without the need to work more closely with other employees.

Mokmal points out that in many of the world's metropolitan cities, especially in the high-tech sector, companies have built residential capsules for some employees and made office buildings multi-purpose. This way you can save the young workers the high cost of high rents in metropolitan cities, travel time and finding a parking space and also ease the congestion on the roads.

Abroad, many companies have taken another step, and around the office complexes have set up a recreation environment for the younger generation of restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs to allow full-time employees around the workplace.

According to Mokmal, "In about six months, with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior and the local authorities, about 10% of the residential capsule area will be able to be erected in a 12-square-meter capsule area." 

Mokmal added that "over 5,000 residential capsules can be erected in office towers within two to three years, and the phenomenon will spread throughout the country and within a decade, tens of thousands of residential capsules will be in office complexes. The capsules will be managed by the company or building management company." He notes that this is also a solution to the plight of real estate developers who have left tens of thousands of square meters of vacancy.