Holiday Home in Israel for New Jersey Families
Holiday Home in Israel for New Jersey Families
A holiday home in Israel is a very personal purchase. For families from Teaneck, Englewood or the Deal community it often means a place to spend Pesach and Sukkot, to host children studying in yeshiva or seminary, or to escape the New Jersey winter. The right apartment is less about maximum yield and more about comfort, location and ease of management when you are not there. This guide looks at what New Jersey families usually want from a second home in Israel, which areas fit different lifestyles, and how to keep the apartment in good shape during the months it stands empty.
Match the Location to How You Will Use It
If you will be in Israel mainly for the chagim and want to walk to the Old City or to the synagogues of Rehavia and Baka, Jerusalem is the natural choice. If summers by the sea matter more, Netanya, Herzliya and the beachfront of Tel Aviv are popular.
Families from Deal and Long Branch, used to the Jersey Shore, often focus on Netanya, where the cliffside promenade and French and English speaking communities make it feel easy. Families with children in Jerusalem schools may prefer to stay close to them.
Features That Matter in a Holiday Apartment
A sukkah balcony open to the sky if you plan to be in Israel for Sukkot
Enough bedrooms, or a flexible room, for visiting married children
A kosher kitchen layout with space for separate areas
An elevator and a Shabbat elevator option in the building
Secure storage for personal items when the apartment is rented
Looking After the Apartment When You Are in New Jersey
An empty apartment still needs attention. Someone should check for leaks, air the rooms, handle building committee payments and take care of any issue with the water heater or air conditioning.
A local manager or a trusted family member can do this, and a simple arrangement with a cleaner before each visit makes arrivals smoother after a long flight from Newark.
Renting When You Are Away
Some owners rent the apartment to other visiting families for part of the year. Short-term letting brings its own municipal, building and tax questions, and some buildings discourage it. A medium-term rental to a family or student during the months you are not there can be simpler.
Ask your lawyer to check the building rules and speak with an Israeli tax advisor and a US CPA about how any rental income is treated.
Timing and Travel
With Israel usually seven hours ahead of New Jersey, it is easy to coordinate with a manager during your morning. The nonstop flights from Newark and JFK make even a long weekend visit possible, which is useful when you need to sign documents or check on renovations.
Additional Home Considerations
If you already own a home in Israel, or will own more than one, purchase tax is treated differently than for a single residence. The rules also differ for residents and non-residents. Have an Israeli tax advisor explain how they apply to you before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jerusalem or the coast better for a holiday home
It depends on how you use it. Jerusalem suits chagim and family visits, while Netanya, Herzliya and Tel Aviv suit summers and beach time.
Can we rent our holiday apartment when we are not there
Often yes, but building rules, municipal requirements and tax treatment vary. Check with your lawyer and tax advisors first.
Who looks after the apartment when we are in New Jersey
Most owners use a local property manager or a relative, with a checklist for regular inspections and pre-arrival cleaning.
Do we need an Israeli bank account
It is not always required but it makes paying utilities, municipal tax and building fees much simpler.
Elkayam Group
Elkayam Group operates from Rival Street 37 in Tel Aviv and continues a three generation family tradition that began in industry in 1945. The team speaks English, Hebrew and French, and its work in development, urban renewal and TAMA 38 means it understands buildings from the inside, not only the listings.
Picturing your next Pesach in your own apartment. Speak with our team about the right location.
+972-53-658-4252 · support@kobielkayamrealestateltd.com · Rival St 37, Tel Aviv