Renting and buying in Hashmonaim

Housing in Hashmonaim works differently from many yishuvim, and differently from a city. Here's what the council and the community's own sources say.

No admissions committee

The Mateh Binyamin council's page for Hashmonaim says there is no admissions committee (va'adat kabbala): buying and renting are done privately, for religious residents only. Next door, Kfar HaOranim also has no absorption committee, and joining is by buying or renting a home.

What's on the market

There's little new building. In 2008 the community website said most lots had been sold, with a small stock left with the developer Ramat Modi'im Ltd, and advised buyers to search the open market; that answer is dated, so check the current picture locally. Today the newsletter reports a 14-unit project on HaMoriya / Etz Hadar, opposite the synagogues, with access from Etz Hadar St only. The Ramat Modi'im company, not the yishuv, will market it, and marketing hadn't started as of Elul 5786.

NBN notes that many young couples who grew up in Hashmonaim stay in the community.

When you move in: arnona

• Tell the council who the occupant (machzik) is for arnona; the council's page says renters pay the landlord.
• If a property is split into separate housing units, the council will not register the tenants as arnona holders or change occupants.
• If you're not yet registered in your ID as a Binyamin resident and you apply for an arnona discount, attach confirmation that you get no discount from your registered residence. Applying doesn't pause your duty to pay.
• Discounts and payments go through the collection call centre, 02-6492929.

Buying: the council certificate

Transferring rights in a property needs a council certificate that there is no debt on it. Building-file information is ordered through the council's online engineering form, and the archive at Sha'ar Binyamin receives the public Sun and Tue 09:00-14:00, by appointment.

Tax benefit

Hashmonaim is not on the council's list of yishuvim eligible for the residents' income-tax benefit (the list covers 25 other Binyamin yishuvim).

A bit of history

Houses began to be built in December 1983 and the first families moved in in August 1987; Hashmonaim was declared a yishuv in 1988. Hebrew Wikipedia's history also mentions 243 lots sold on the "western hill" in 1982 and a long dispute that ended with a revised plan in 2004.

For costs, the cost-of-living worksheet lets you fill in your own numbers privately. If you know of a reliable English-speaking agent who works in Hashmonaim, send me their details and a source and I'll add them.