18% drop in new home sales

Contractors Association president Nissim Bublil: Demand for apartments is very heavy, but deals are delayed because of false promises by decision-makers that prices will fall.

1,057 new homes were sold in October 2011, 18% fewer than in September, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today. Demand totaled 2,470 new homes in October. New home sales were down over 50% from the 2,260 sales in October 2010, although there were 18 business days in October this year, compared with 21 work days in October last year.

Association of Contractors and Builders president Nissim Bublil said, "Demand for apartments is very heavy, but deals are delayed because of false promises by decision-makers that prices will fall. This cheap talk by decision-makers about the housing and real estate market is creating confusion in the market and will result in prices continuing to rise in 2012."

The Central Bureau of Statistics added that home sales in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem districts were stable in October, compared with September, but that sales in the Central District fell 33% to 495 homes from 741 homes. October sales in the Haifa District were halved to 75 homes in October. In contrast, home sales rose 54% in the Southern District and 34% in the Northern District.

The housing inventory totaled 18,718 homes in October, 2% more than in September and 23% more than in October last year. 42% of unsold homes were in the Central District, 20% in the Southern District, 14% in the Tel Aviv District, 12% in the Jerusalem District, 6% in the Haifa District, and 5% in the Northern District.

The housing inventory is up 75% since the end of 2010 in Southern District, 40% in the Haifa District, 28% in the Central District, 12% in the Jerusalem District, 5% in the Northern District, and 2% in the Tel Aviv District. The housing inventory is sufficient for 16 months nationwide at the current pace of sales. It is sufficient for 30 months in the Southern District, 20 months in the Jerusalem District, 15 months in the Tel Aviv District, 14 months in the Central District, 13 months in the Northern District, and 11 months in the Haifa District.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 27, 2011

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011

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