http://villageisrael.com Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:38:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en While Jerusalem is expecting snow this Shabbat, the Galilee is blooming! In the Yavne'el Valley we're at about sea level. The winter rains have done their job of turning the hills and valley green, and the almond trees are beginning to blossom. Now it's time to plant some flowers in the garden. ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /snow-in-jerusalem-time-to-plant-in-the-galilee-video / Last week we reported that the Bank of Israel dropped interest rates but were hoping it wouldn't affect housing prices. However, one leading economist has already spotted an upward trend. Haim Natan, Chief Economist with Menorah Mivtachim, comments that signs have been building in recent weeks that the fall in ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /israel-house-prices-to-go-up / Here's a charming home if you've been thinking of retiring to the north of Israel, or if you're looking for a vacation home in the Galilee at a reasonable price. Be our neighbor and enjoy quiet country living only 15 minutes from Tiberias. This 70 meter, 2 bedroom cottage sits on ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /country-cottage-yavneel / The Bank of Israel dropped interest rates by a quarter of a point to 2.5%. Usually as interest rates go down, housing prices go up, but the Bank of Israel hopes that won't be the case this time. The central bank is hoping that the recent softening of the housing market ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /interest-rates-down / We had a lot of response to last week's Country Estate in Migdal (click for details) asking for a video walk-thru. Here's a closer look of this great 400 meter home surrounded by 3.375 dunam of fruit orchards with a glimpse of the nearby 100 dunam (25 acres) of olive ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /migdal-walk-thru / Here's a rare film from 1913 showing a one-armed Joseph Trumpeldor plowing a field in Migdal shortly after he arrived in Israel from Russia. You can see the Arbel mountain and the Kinneret in the background. Trumpeldor was the most highly decorated Jewish soldier in the Russian army (where he ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /trumpeldor-migdal / After checking this morning, the US dollar was 3.54 shekels a year ago. Today it's 3.78. That's an increase of 6.7%. At the same time, the real estate boom has slowed and prices have dropped on average 3.7% in the last four months (more in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, less in ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /yavniel-vill / We were looking at some farms in Migdal for a client and spent some time walking through olive, grapefruit and mango orchards. It was a beautiful and even spiritual experience. Here's Chana enjoying a lucious grapefruit and explaining how she's enjoying being in the orchard even more... If you are ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /grapefruit-olive-orchard / This dream country estate and farm was lovingly developed over 30 years. It's located in Migdal on the northern shores of Lake Kinneret, only 8 minutes from Tiberias. (view full slide show at bottom of post) [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="View of the Kinneret, Tiberias and Arbel from the Balcony"][/caption] The main ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /country-estate-in-migdal / When you are visiting the Galilee and staying with us at Villa Rimona Zimmers, it's a short drive to Tsfat.  After visiting all the historic sites including the Ancient Synagogues, graves of the Tzaddikim and the Ari's Mikvah, take some time out to visit the Artist's Quarter in the Old ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /tsfat-safed-artists-quarter / It was a very busy summer for us (I apologize for the lack of weekly vids). Our daughter Miriam was married to Yaakov, son Eli and Leah had a baby boy (Coby), and son Yonah became engaged to Sara. (wedding is b'h' next week!). In between all that bracha ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /jerusalem-light-rail-train / Prime Minister Netanyahu cancelled a trip to eastern Europe to deal with the growing tent-city protests around the country demanding a solution to the housing crisis for young couples. It's become almost impossible for a young couple to purchase an apartment in the center of the country where there are employment ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /israel-housing-shortage / This is one of the largest, most exclusive Villas in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Built on a 470 meter lot on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Dolev neighborhood, this unique home is a rare opportunity to have a large American-style home in one of the most sought after Anglo communities in ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /luxury-villa-ramat-beit-shemesh / The good news is that Israel's economy is probably the strongest it's ever been. - GDP grew 4.7% in 2010. - GDP projection for 2011 is 5% and 2012 is 4.2 % (conservatively). - Unemployment has fallen to an all time low of 6% closing in on full employment. - Interest rates are low. - ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /fischer-israel-home-prices-may-double-in-5-years / Have you ever seen a Marzipan Elvis? Just down the road from us is a unique family attraction - the Marzipan Museum at Kfar Tavor. Part of the new visitor center at the popular Tavor Winery it's a fun activity for the whole family. There are amazing sculptures of celebrities and ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /land-of-honey-and-almond-paste / I guess by now you all realize we love the Galilee and Tiberias. For years Tiverya slept under the radar of most Israelis. In the last few years there as been a lot of development and upgrading of the commercial centers and tourist areas of town. And a significant increase ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /tiberias-luxury-apartment-with-lake-view / In a strange but creative way to increase the supply of residential housing, the Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is offering an incentive for professionals to sell homes that they purchased to house their practices. "Currently, 50,000 apartments or more, mostly in central Israel, are used for businesses by dentists, lawyers, ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /finance-minister / Here is a rare family estate or country retreat on about 30 dunams (7.5 acres) in the Upper Galilee north of Rosh Pina. There is a large 4 bedroom family home with two private guest apartments (zimmers) on the upper level. In addition there is a second smaller 3 ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /country-estate-upper-galilee / One of the most beautiful and popular health retreats in the Roman Empire was the spa at Hamat Gader on the southern ascent to the Golan Heights. Today you can see the remains of the incredible Roman Baths and an ancient amphitheatre. The popular modern hot springs and mineral baths fed by ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /hamat-gader-hot-springs-parrot-show-aligator-park-roman-antiquities / If you are holding US dollars, now might be a good time to invest in Israel Real estate. Many people are expecting Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer (who is a candidate to be the new head of the IMF) to raise the interest rates gradually throughout the rest of the ... http://villageisrael.com/blog /israel-interest-rates /