The Bank of Israel today published mortgage figures for June showing that mortgages totaled NIS 5.57 billion, up from NIS 5.34 billion in May. The monthly total in June was the highest this year, but less than the NIS 5.63 billion in mortgages taken in December 2015. Variable interest mortgages totaled NIS 2.91 billion in June, and fixed interest mortgages totaled NIS 2.66 billion. While the Israeli housing market is booming, Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon is trying to restrain demand, among other things by consideration of a tax on investors with three or more housing units and restoring a yearly purchase tax of 2.5% of the value of private land for owners who do not build on it. Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 28, 2016 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016
