2007 was the year with the highest percentage of purchase by foreign residents, which was 40% higher than in 2009. Between 2007 and 2008, the economic crisis led to a 33% drop of purchase by foreigners . After they saw that their investments around the world declined while they rose in Israel real estate, they realized that their emotional purchase in Israel had turned out to be a good business investment as well, and they returned to invest in Israel.

That is how according to the Ministry of Finances in 2009, 2,800 apartments in Israel were bought by foreign residents (2,100 second hand and 700 new ones), for a total of 4.3 billions NIS.

According to Real Estate Today, in 2009, 30% of the transactions at the high end part of the Jerusalem market were done with foreign residents whereas in Tel Aviv, they accounted only for 10%.

It is to be noted that in 2009, 20% of the foreign purchase was for luxurious apartments.