(haipo) According to data released today by the Central Bureau of Statistics, housing prices in Israel increased in February-March 2026 compared to the previous months, but decreased by 1.2% year-on-year. By district, Haifa District recorded an increase of 0.7% year-on-year, and the average price in the first quarter increased by 3.8%.
Monthly price increase alongside annual nationwide decrease
The apartment price index, which includes new and second-hand apartments, indicates an increase in prices in the months of February-March 2026 compared to the months of January-February 2026. However, comparing the transactions carried out in the current period compared to the corresponding period last year, that is, February-March 2026 compared to February-March 2025, it was found that apartment prices decreased by 1.2%. This is a continuation of a recent trend of annual declines, with two additional periods of annual declines recorded in the last decade, the first in 2018, which lasted about three quarters, and the second in the second half of 2023.
Price changes by district: Haifa with a moderate increase
In the district breakdown of the housing price index in February–March 2026 compared to January–February 2026, the following price changes were recorded: Jerusalem increased by 0.4%, North decreased by 0.1%, Haifa increased by 0.1%, Center decreased by 0.2%, Tel Aviv increased by 1.2%, and South remained unchanged. In a year-on-year comparison, price increases were recorded in the Jerusalem (4.2%), North (1.6%), and Haifa (0.7%) districts. In contrast, price decreases were recorded in the Tel Aviv (3.5%) and Center (2.9%) districts. In the South district, prices remained unchanged.
Decline in new apartment prices and changes in the new apartment market
New apartment prices increased by 0.4% in February-March 2026 compared to January-February 2026. The share of new apartments in all transactions under government support increased from 27.3% in the previous period to 28.6% in the current period. A review conducted shows that the new apartment price index excluding government support transactions decreased by 30%. In a year-on-year comparison, new apartment prices decreased by 3.8%. In the last five years, new apartment prices increased by 34.4%, compared to a 35.8% increase in all apartment prices during the same period.
Average prices: Haifa among the cheapest cities with a notable increase
The national average price in the first quarter of 2026 was 2,333.8 thousand shekels, a decrease of 1.6% compared to the previous quarter and a decrease of 0.8% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The highest average price was recorded in the Tel Aviv District (3,405.8 thousand shekels), and the lowest in the Northern District (1,506.0 thousand shekels). In the major cities, the average price in Haifa was 1,805.2 thousand shekels – one of the lowest among the major cities. However, Haifa stood out with a 6.9% increase in the average price compared to the corresponding quarter last year, alongside a 3.8% increase at the district level.
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