May–July 2026: new apartment sales up 42%, unsold inventory growth halts for first time since 2022 — Full CBS report breakdown
Full breakdown of the CBS report «Apartments in real estate transactions», May–July 2026
Published 10 September 2026
Over three months, May to July 2026, 25,162 apartments were sold in Israel — 14.6% more than a year ago, and 20.8% more than February–April. All growth came from new construction again: new apartment sales rose 42% year-over-year, while the secondary market added less than one percent. Unsold new inventory remained at 85,000 units, and by CBS estimate, its growth, which continued for the past four years, halted as of early 2026.
What the three months showed
| Indicator | May–July 2026 | Feb–Apr 2026 | May–July 2025 | Quarter-over-quarter | Year-over-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total apartments sold | 25,162 | 20,827 | 21,950 | +20.8% | +14.6% |
| New construction | 10,468 | 8,027 | 7,370 | +30.4% | +42.0% |
| of which under subsidy | 3,532 | 2,106 | 1,946 | +67.7% | +81.5% |
| Secondary market | 14,694 | 12,800 | 14,580 | +14.8% | +0.8% |
| New construction share | 41.6% | 38.5% | 33.6% | +3.1 p.p. | +8.0 p.p. |
Source: Table 1 of CBS report 283/2026; three-month figures calculated by us from monthly rows, percentages match the report text. "Quarter-over-quarter" — compared to February–April 2026, "year-over-year" — compared to May–July 2025. New construction share: p.p. — percentage points, the share grew from 33.6% a year ago to 41.6%.
The secondary market did not grow year-over-year. New apartments are selling 42% better than last summer, while private sellers moved the same volume as a year ago. Adjusted for seasonality, CBS gives the secondary market plus 4.2% year-over-year and new construction plus 46.5%. The gap between the two markets keeps widening: buyers are moving toward developers offering discounts, installment plans and selection.
Every third new apartment bought under state programme
Of 10,468 new apartments, 3,532, or 33.7%, were sold under state programmes with subsidies. A year ago, the share was 26%. This is an important correction to the 42% growth headline: on the open market, approximately 6,900 new apartments were sold versus 5,400 last summer, a rise of roughly 28%.
Month by month: May and June strong, July weaker
| Month | Total | New construction | of which subsidy | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | 5,335 | 2,242 | 746 | 3,093 |
| May 2026 | 8,561 | 3,785 | 1,207 | 4,776 |
| June 2026 | 9,003 | 3,753 | 1,214 | 5,250 |
| July 2026 | 7,598 | 2,930 | 1,111 | 4,668 |
Source: Table 1 of CBS report 283/2026. April–June revised by CBS retroactively compared to the August release (June was 8,807, became 9,003). July is preliminary.
June was the strongest month of the year: 9,003 transactions. July dropped to 7,598, with 2,930 new apartments sold versus 3,750–3,790 in May and June. Last year July was stronger than June, so this is not seasonality but a pause after two powerful months. CBS trend lines, however, are rising: since January 2026, total sales have grown an average 0.8% per month, new construction 1.7%. The secondary market, though, has been losing 0.8% per month since April, though CBS cautions that it is too early to call a trend reversal.
Unsold new apartment inventory: 84,990 units, 26.9 months of supply
| End of month | Unsold new apartments | Months of supply |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | 86,095 | 30.2 |
| March 2026 | 85,312 | 28.8 |
| April 2026 | 84,004 | 28.1 |
| May 2026 | 84,127 | 27.5 |
| June 2026 | 84,283 | 27.1 |
| July 2026 | 84,990 | 26.9 |
Source: Table 2 of CBS report 283/2026. Months of supply for past months recalculated by CBS (June in the August release was 26.0).
Inventory rose by 700 units in July to 84,990. But sales momentum grew faster, so the time to sell at current demand fell to 26.9 months. The key finding in the report is not the number but the trend: by CBS calculation, from April 2022 through December 2025 inventory grew an average 1.4% per month, but starting January 2026 the trend stabilized. This is the first halt in growth since April 2022, though inventory itself remains at historic highs.
Where this inventory sits: 30.8% (approximately 26,170 units) in the Tel Aviv district and 24.7% (approximately 20,990) in the Central district. Among major cities, Jerusalem has the most unsold new apartments (approximately 10,100) and Tel Aviv–Jaffa (approximately 9,720). Among smaller cities, standouts include Lod (3,060), Kiryat Gat (2,410), Yehud–Monosson (1,780), Be'er Ya'akov (1,530), Ramat ha-Sharon (1,500) and Ra'anana (1,470).
Geography: South and Tel Aviv drive new construction
| District | New, May–July | vs. Feb–Apr | Secondary, May–July | vs. Feb–Apr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide total | 10,470 | +30.4% | 14,690 | +14.8% |
| Jerusalem | 663 | +7.5% | 1,397 | +7.6% |
| North | 917 | +58.7% | 1,617 | +14.2% |
| Haifa | 1,355 | +40.9% | 2,380 | +12.6% |
| Central | 2,167 | −1.3% | 3,614 | +15.3% |
| Tel Aviv | 2,392 | +51.9% | 2,093 | +13.6% |
| South | 2,671 | +45.2% | 2,972 | +20.2% |
| Judea and Samaria | 300 | +15.8% | 620 | +18.8% |
Source: Table A of CBS report 283/2026. "Nationwide" includes transactions without specified district.
For new construction, the South leads: 25.5% of sales, followed by the Tel Aviv district (22.9%) and the Center (20.7%). The Central district is the only one where new apartment sales did not grow quarter-over-quarter, but it holds a quarter of the country's secondary market.
Among cities by new apartment sales, Tel Aviv–Jaffa leads (1,157 units in the quarter, up 22.6%), followed by Kiryat Gat (768, more than doubled) and Haifa (522, up 57.7%). Sharp jumps came from cities where major projects opened: Ashdod (510 versus 138 the quarter before), Or Yehuda (351 versus 33), Herzliya (196 versus 64), Migdal ha-Emek (178 versus 39). Jerusalem declined 6.3%, Netanya 20%, Rishon le-Zion 17.3%.
On the secondary market, leaders are Jerusalem (937 transactions), Haifa (879) and Be'er Sheva (688). Bat Yam ranks 16th on this list: 227 secondary transactions in the quarter, up 18.8% versus February–April. Bat Yam did not make the list of cities with new apartment sales above 150 per quarter.
What buyers should do
- Negotiate. An inventory of 85,000 units and over two years of supply means developers still have room to offer: discounts, finishes, payment terms. Especially in the Tel Aviv and Central districts, where 55% of unsold apartments sit.
- Check your subsidy eligibility. A third of new apartments go through state programmes, and this share is growing. If you qualify, the price is different.
- Look at the secondary market realistically. Sales there haven't grown year-over-year, and the trend is slightly negative again since April. Private sellers are weaker than developers now, and negotiating room exists there too.
All figures recalculated by us directly from CBS report tables. Three-month totals are the sum of monthly values; verified by matching percentages in the report text.
Market figures calculated by APPartment from published transaction data (source: Israel Tax Authority; CBS) and are approximate. Errors and omissions are possible; this is neither an appraisal, nor advice, nor confirmation of rights. Use at user's risk; in case of discrepancy, official government publications apply.