Israeli listings use terms such as dira, dirat gan, penthouse and duplex. These help describe a home, but the approved plans and registered rights establish what is legally included.
For the rest of the vocabulary, from Arnona to Tabu, see the ultimate Israeli real estate glossary.
A dira is an apartment, usually within a residential building. Dirat gan describes a garden apartment; verify the garden’s registered ownership or exclusive-use rights. A penthouse is at the top of a building and may have a roof terrace, subject to its actual rights and plan. A duplex normally has two internally connected levels.
Kotayj commonly describes a house with more than one level, sometimes attached to another home. Dirat martef means a basement apartment. For a basement, check permitted residential use, light, ventilation and the relevant safety requirements; a low price or listing label does not establish legality.
Israeli Apartment Types: Dirat Gan to Penthouse
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Dirat gan: A garden apartment; verify the garden’s registered or exclusive-use rights.
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Penthouse: A top-floor apartment; confirm any terrace or roof rights in the documents.
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Duplex/cottage: Terms commonly used for homes with more than one level; compare the actual area, layout and legal status.
To compare current homes for sale, see our buy property in Israel page.
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