realestate

Navigating Israel's Real Estate Market for Overseas Jewish Investors

Alberto Shemaria's real estate ventures simplify Aliyah with tailored housing solutions for new immigrants.

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lberto Shemaria's real estate ventures are revolutionizing Aliyah by offering tailored housing solutions for new immigrants, creating a gradual transition to life in Israel.

    Life in Israel has undergone significant changes since its establishment as the country transformed from an Imperial backwater to a modern Western state. Emigration to Israel has also evolved, and Alberto Shemaria's business model reflects this shift. "Many years ago, coming to Israel was a super-Zionist thing to do and extremely sacrificing," Shemaria said. New immigrants often had to leave behind comfortable lives abroad for a country still in its formative stages.

    Shemaria describes modern Aliyah as a staggered process with steady steps into Israeli society rather than a sudden plunge. His company, Isracap Grand, is working to facilitate this transition by building housing projects designed specifically for olim and facilitating real estate investment in Israel from the diaspora.

    Shemaria believes his project will serve as a bridge between Diaspora Jewish communities and living in Israel. "The big thing is that many people are accustomed to many things outside of Israel," he said. "Types of buildings, types of people. The culture here is completely different." Shemaria's projects cater to the needs of foreign buyers, offering luxury facilities and amenities similar to those found in their home countries.

    While some may worry about creating ethnic enclaves or bubbles in Israeli cities, Shemaria believes his projects will result in a "beautiful merging" of cultures. He argues that Israel has a strong culture that can absorb new immigrants, and they will become part of it. Some tenants may not move to Israel immediately but use their homes as vacation properties or investment opportunities.

    Shemaria's project is also aimed at strengthening ties between Jews in the diaspora and Israel through investment. By giving people access to investment in Israel, he hopes to create a tangible connection to the country. However, his projects could potentially exacerbate Jerusalem's housing problems, including a shortage of affordable rentals and "ghost apartments" used as vacation homes or investments.

    Shemaria acknowledges these issues but believes they are unavoidable and have been happening since before foreigners started buying real estate in the city. He suggests that the government is better equipped to address these problems by releasing more land for development.

Israeli real estate agents assist overseas Jewish investors in property transactions.