What are Kibbutz Expansions?  In the past 20 years, one of the attracting elements in Zichron Yaacov, Binyamina and the area has been the opportunity to live the Israeli dream of living in a villa, and the option of doing so in a much more reasonable price than in the center of Israel (Ramat Hasharon, Hertzlyia and such). The real-estate supply for this type of construction decreases in Zichron Yaacov due to a policy of refusing to rezone agricultural plots for residential purposes, and the same policy is implemented in Binyamina and Givat-Ada in the last few years. The result - small offer, and drastic increase of land prices.
A new option emerged for people interested in having an improved place of residence - purchasing an expansion house in one of the area's Kibbutzim. Two necessary processes occurred, and most kibbutzim are either going through or have gone through the process of privatization, meaning that every family became an independent economic unit, and allocation - meaning transferring the ownership of the house to the family of kibbutz members residing in it. An expansion area has been allocated next to several kibbutzim in which private individuals are allowed to purchase houses. These kibbutzim turned in fact to small rural community settlements. In regard to managing the settlement, the old kibbutz members and new expansion residents have equal rights. The high attraction to expansions is of those seeking for quality of living. And indeed, the advantages of living in a kibbutz expansion in our region include a good educational system from nursery age, through elementary and high schools. Living in a community in which everyone know everyone, and everyone meet for public activities during holidays, the ability to attract high quality residents and to filter out inadequate people, and the obvious - living in a green settlement, with greenery, lawns, a swimming pool, petting zoo etc., that unlike the artificial program made community settlements, have been developing organically over the previous decades. In the area, people joining expansions benefit from every regional advantage - accessibility to highway 6 and railway, living near the sea and living close to work in Tel-Aviv or Haifa. But this doesn't mean that an expansion house will fit anyone. Some people will find living in a community of several hundred families too "crowded". Purchasing an expansion house is purchasing a house, but also "a way of life". The acquisition of an expansion house is usually done "on paper", meaning that the deal is closed before construction is commenced or ended, in order to fit the house to the specific family's needs. Purchasing such a house is more complex than purchasing a house in the city, as buyers are required to have contractual agreements with three bodies: the Israel Land Administration, owners of the land, the entrepreneur building the house, and the settlement itself. An acceptance committee approves new members in all expansions. Our region currently offers three expansions in which houses can be purchased. In Regavim, about 2km east of Givat-Ada, In Ramot-Menashe (near Yokneam Eilit), and in Magal (east of Baka interchange on highway 6). Prices begin in 250,000$ for a villa on ½ km². This is a very attractive price compared to the house prices in Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina.
A version of this article by Yoav Etiel appeared in the "Magazin Hamoshavot" weekly Yoav Etiel is a Partner at BarEl Properties, Ltd. © 2006 BarEl Properties, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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