19,500,000 | For sale
4 Red Flags to Look Out For on
Your Jerusalem Property Search
The process of selling your home or searching for a new home to purchase can be quite challenging, let alone in another country where the language, currency, and laws are very different.
While we are constantly guiding our clients through their real estate journeys in the smoothest and most efficient ways possible, we would like to offer our readers some major red flags to watch out for while searching for property in Jerusalem.
1. Your agent has no outside connections.
If your real estate agent does not have connections with other real estate offices, lawyers, mortgage brokers, or inspectors - this is a red flag.
Your agent should be well established in their field, including having a broad network of contacts who work in industries related to real estate who can provide you with knowledge and value along your journey should you need any outside assistance.
Moreover, having connections to other brokers will open a whole new door to more real estate options that your agent may not have access to otherwise.
2. The seller isn’t communicative.
If you see photos or pay a visit to a property you really like, but the seller stops communicating with you and your agent - red flag.
There are thousands of reasons for a situation like this, and unfortunately it usually does not end up in the buyer’s favor. As disappointing as it is, it is best to move on if this problem arises and not waste too much time waiting for an answer.
If later down the road the seller does respond, proceed with caution and make sure you will be thoroughly protected through the means of a great lawyer and inspector.
3. The photos don’t match the apartment.
With today’s modern technology, we have seen photos being used to advertise a property that have been heavily edited. Angles, textures, and colors can all be changed to make a less-than-perfect home look like it’s straight out of Architecture’s Digest.
Sadly, it can be hard to tell if the photos are real or not until you pay a visit to the property. Pay close attention when doing a walkthrough of a home, taking note of things that may appear to be much different than in the photos.
While it is common for sellers to give their property a little facelift before putting it on the market, there shouldn’t be such drastic differences from the pictures to real life, unless a renovation is in the works.
4. The price is too good to be true.
As we know, the prices of real estate in Jerusalem have been steadily climbing over the last few years, with no indication of slowing down any time soon.
Your real estate agent should be able to tell you what the average prices are for whatever size apartment you are looking for, which may vary slightly depending on the neighborhood.
If a deal seems too good to be true, just know that it is. Low prices usually indicate a cover-up for a major problem, such as water or foundational damage or mold.
An inspector will tour the property thoroughly and let you know their opinions about proceeding and if the cost of the repairs would be worthwhile.
Low prices can also indicate that either the unit itself or the building is due to undergo total renovation, also known as TAMA38. If this is the case, the seller needs to be transparent about this information upfront.
Bearing these four factors in mind, and with the right team at your side, your real estate journey can be significantly less troublesome and perhaps even an enjoyable experience.
As always, the CapitIL team is here to help in any way, and is available to answer any questions you may have!
