The Old City
Throughout Israel, when a buyer decides to purchase property, s/he either finds the property that s/he intends to buy, or contacts a real estate agent. The property is located, a price is agreed upon by the buyer and seller, and the sale is made.

Tzfat's Old Jewish Quarter is different. As is the case with a select few other areas of Israel, the Old Jewish Quarter is made up of properties that belonged to Jewish owners hundreds of years ago. These properties are "tabu", and buying them involves tracking down the descendents of the original owner in order to complete the sale.

This is one reason that there are so many unclaimed properties which have fallen into ruin in Tzfat's Old City, and are not being developed, even though the Old City is a desirable area where people both wish to live and to invest.

People have, however, managed to research ownership of properties and buy them, and slowly, more and more properties are being bought and renovated.

One well-known story in Tzfat concerns a young man who, upon completing a stint of volunteering in the city, located an abandoned property in the Jewish Quarter with one story visible. In the days before emails and internet, he spent months and years tracking down the dozens of descendents of the original owners, and one by one, succeeded in purchasing each one's percentage of ownership.

Once ownership was ascertained (more than 20 years later, he is still attempting to locate the owners of the last few percentages), he began to excavate the property. Centuries of landslides caused by earthquakes, and subsequent disintegration due to neglect had created a property which was almost totally buried under dirt and rubble, and when excavated, was shown to be a massive 3-story house with more rooms still to be excavated which are presently underground.

A second story, equally famous in Tzfat's modern history, concerns a buyer who had almost despaired of locating the owners of a property that he wished to buy. Just as he was about to give up, he heard about a family wedding that would be taking place in Tel Aviv for one of the descendents of the original owner. The prospective buyer went to the wedding and mingled among the guests, gathering names and addresses - after the wedding, he was able to complete the sale.

Different Neighborhoods
Real Estate in Tzfat is divided, more of less, into neighborhoods: " Old City/Artist Quarter - Old stone houses, each built differently than its neighbors. Some are renovated, some are not. Some are damp, some are not. Prices in this area tend to be among the most expensive in the city. " Darom/Cana'an - neighborhoods built in the '50s, '60s and '70s. Mostly apartments. Generally the least expensive properties in Tzfat. Many of these neighborhoods are the "Haredi" (Ultra Orthodox) neighborhoods of Tzfat, including Meor Chaim and Kiryat Chabad, though religious and Haredi residents live throughout these areas. Although these are "cheaper" areas, and often the residents are low-income, there is no problem of increased crime or "undesirable elements" in these neighborhoods - people are friendly and family-oriented. " Northern and Southern neighborhoods - called "B'nei Beitcha, Neve Oranim, Menachem Begin and Ramat Razim, to name a few. Mostly detached homes or duplexes, suburban-looking. These are generally the more expensive areas, outside the Old City/Artist Quarter. Mostly families.


Real Estate Agents in Tzfat:

Following is a list of SOME real estate agents in Tzfat. Phone numbers are given as if calling within Israel - if calling from outside of Israel, dial "972" and then drop the first "0" of the number.

TzfatRealEstate  www.tzfatrealestate.com  Speaks fluent english
Aviva and Eliyahu Shachar, Tivuch Yashir  (054)431-3394 Fluent in Hebrew and English
Ya'akov Hadad (050)8577790
Yigal Realator 972-52 5-323-070 specializing in Old City/Artist Quarter. Speaks english.
Doron Tzur (04)6922207
Tivuch HaGefen (04)6921031
Tivuch Ya'akov (specializes in Old City/Artist Quarter) speaks english
Tivuch HaGalil
Yad2  This is not a real estate agency - people advertise here privately and there is no fee for finding an apartment

Posted March 9th 2010
Apartment for rent in Canaan: Very nice apartment in Cnaan. 3 bedrooms, Like new, very close to Kiryat Chabad. Available after Pesach. estherkibudi@gmail.com

Posted March 4th 2010
Hot Rentals DO NOT LAST IN TZFAT!
5 Bedroom Furnished, Available before Pesach, 2600 nis
4 Rooms Furnished, Old City, 3000 nis
Midrahov studio, furnished, vacant now 1200 nis
Old City , 3 rooms , currently being remodeled 1600 nis
5 Rooms, Matszuda available now.
Neve Oranim several newer properties 2-4 rooms, with views and gardens 1500-2000 nis
All these and more from Tzfat Real Estate. Com, Get your piece of the rock !
www.tzfatrealestate.com or call 050-874-4275 We speak ENGLISH

Posted March 4th 2010
3 ROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT:
In Moar Chaim (Rechov Tzahal 7) a large 3 room apartment with a lot of light and air, 2 bath rooms, a Sucha porch , a remodeled kitchen and a beautiful view is available for rent immediately after Pesach. Call Dovid 0504-897880. dturk@015.net.il

Posted March 3rd 2010
Beautiful, spacious apartment for short or long-term rental in Tsfat:
5 room (4 bedroom) apartment in amazing location in Tsfat available for rent, either for remainder of current lease (mid-March through June 30) or for long-term renewal. This apartment is mere steps away from the midrechov (R. Yerushalayim) and the old city but in a quiet, traffic-free area. The view from the front mirpeset is of Metsuda (a park where the former citadel stood) and the view from the back mirpeset is of Meron and the mountain range offering the most phenomenal sunset views!
Features:
- 4 large bedrooms with aronot in 3 of them
- 2-1/2 bathrooms
- laundry room
- giant kitchen
- two mirpesot that offer a great breeze to beat the summer heat
- purpose-built apartment building with va'ad bayit on site (but not in your business in any way)
- safely tucked off the street -- no traffic -- safe for kids to play outside (and the nearest streets are both slow-traffic street due to their narrowness)
- nice neighbours, about 50/50 split between olim (mostly from U.S.) and sabres.
- rent: 2800 nis/mo. (negotiable with landlord)
Perfect for someone making aliyah and not ready to make a year-long commitment, equally perfect for someone who knows they want to settle into a spacious apartment in the heart of Tzfat at an amazing price! To arrange a visit, call Dena at 054 812 5973.

Posted March 3rd 2010
APARTMENT For Rent - Long Term:
Light and airy, newly-painted apartment: on Rechov HaNassi. 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, up 3 flights, top floor with beautiful views (including Meron and Yam Kinneret) 1450 shekels per month 15-minute walk to the Old City. For further details, please contact Chaim 052 7639019

Posted February 25, 2010
Spacious Property for Sale in Old City Tzfat: 400/1200. Ottoman-era home, in last stages of a thorough renovation. Privacy, quiet, mountain views, large historic courtyard. Legally divided into two units. See www.villasafed.com for pictures, details. Adam, 0523-817847. Price reduced!!

Posted February 24 2010
Looking to house swap for the summer: From mid-June-end August. We want to come from Chicago to Tzfat on a pilot trip. We have a large house in West Rogers Park. Contact sgurewicz@sbcglobal.net

Posted February 24 2010
Apartment for rent:
short term to long term apartment for rent in old city 2 bed room available for rent for month of March with option to renew by the month 052 779 7083

Posted February 22 2010
House with Balcony for Rent in Givat Shoshannah:
From Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the end of Tishrei a beautiful 5 bedroom apartment is available to rent. For all the details call 04- 682-6045 or 052 677 0543

Posted February 21 2010
3 ROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT:
In Moar Chaim (Rechov Tzahal 7) a large 3 room apartment with 2 bath rooms, a Sucha porch , a remodeled kitchen and a beautiful view is available for rent immediately after Pesach. Call Dovid 0504-897880. dturk@015.net.il

Posted February 19th 2010
Light and airy, newly-painted apartment: on Rechov HaNassi. 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, up 3 flights, top floor with beautiful views (including Meron and Yam Kinneret) 1450 shekels per month 15-minute walk to the Old City. For further details, please contact Chaim 052 7639019

Posted February 16th 2010
Apartment for rent: ground floor of a 2 floor house, 4 rooms, yard, parking, near Nachum Ish Gamzo 054-431-3394  Eliyahu

Posted February 16th 2010
A large studio is available for rent in the heart of the Old City of Tsfat. Perfect location, great landlords and neighbors, beautiful and spacious with mountain view, within walking distance from all shuls and stores, ideal for a single person. The place is nicely furnished and has a large kitchen counter space and a modern bathroom. Available March 1st. For more details please call 052-748-2398.

Posted February 15th 2010
Short term apartment for rent:
In old city. Two bedroom apartment is available for rent till end of March, with option to continue. please call 052 779 7083

Posted February 10th 2010
Two bedroom apartment for sale at 18 Recov HaAri. The price is $206k firm and the apartment is in perfect condition.  077-4311651

Posted January 8 2010
HOUSE FOR SALE - PRICE REDUCED:
Split level 3-bedroom 2-bath townhouse for sale in Nof Kineret which is the
last neighborhood in Tzvat at the border with Rosh Pinah. The home is
located on a nice size corner lot with a big tree. Spectacular view from the
Hermon mountain to all of the Ramat HaGolan and almost all of the Kineret. The
house has a balcony. The home has a large kitchen with two separate sinks
(milk and meat) and the entire home gets excellent natural light. Nof Kineret
has a Beit Knesset, two mikvas (one for men and one for women), an eiruv and
a market. The communty is a mixture of religious and secular. For those who
are interested please call 057-672-1029