Resale Apartment Checklist in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut

The property itself

• Damp and sealing. Common signs: ceiling stains, bubbling paint, mold in corners, a musty smell in closets. Check exterior walls especially, around windows and under balconies.
• Plumbing and electrics. Open several taps at once and check water pressure. Ask when the electrical panel was last replaced and whether grounding is proper.
• Windows and shutters. Open and close everything. A stuck electric shutter is not a small expense.
• Air conditioning. Age of the units, whether the system is central or split, and the condition of the piping.
• Safe room (mamad) or shelter. Older apartments in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut don't always have one — check what exists and where the protected space is.
• Actual vs. registered floor area. Discrepancies exist, and it's worth knowing about them upfront.

The building and shared property

You're buying an apartment, but you're also getting a building. Shared property is the easiest expense to overlook:

• Elevator age and condition — replacing an elevator is a major cost split among residents.
• Condition of the lobby, stairwell and underground parking.
• The size of the building-committee fee, and what it actually covers.
• Whether a renovation fund exists, and whether major works are planned soon.
• Whether there's an active, organized building committee — or nobody managing it at all.

Registration and rights

This is the part where your lawyer does most of the work, but it's worth knowing what gets checked: an up-to-date title deed extract (nesach tabu), the identity of the registered owners, any mortgages or liens, cautionary notes, whether the physical layout matches the registered plan, building deviations, and attached rights — parking, storage, and roof access. A parking spot or storage unit that "was always part of the apartment" but isn't officially registered is not actually yours. This is one of the most common sources of disputes after handover.

The surrounding area

• Evening parking. Visit the street after 8pm. That's the real picture.
• Weekend noise. Proximity to a playground, shopping center or main road feels very different on a Saturday.
• What's planned nearby. Worth checking with the local planning committee what's slated to be built on any open land nearby.
• Slopes and walking distances. Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut is built on hills — check what that means for your specific street.

Read this guide in Hebrew →