UBS warns on Tel Aviv housing bubble risk

Tel Aviv credit: Shutterstock
Tel Aviv credit: Shutterstock

UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2022: The probability of a sharp but short-lived correction is high, if mortgage rates rise further.

According to the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2022, a bubble has developed in the Tel Aviv housing market. This is the first time that Tel Aviv has entered the index as one of the 'bubble risks,' and a market where there is a serious risk of a significant downward correction in prices in the near future.

This is the first time Tel Aviv has been deemed a bubble risk since UBS researchers began publishing the annual report in 2015.

UBS writes, "Nominal house prices in Tel Aviv have roughly tripled between 2001 and 2017. Rents almost kept pace with the price increases, reflecting a fundamental housing shortage. Higher mortgage rates and stretched affordability did cause a brief period of correction, but by 2019, the market was back in another explosive phase of price growth. Between mid-2021 and mid-2022 alone, prices climbed by 18%, the highest rate since 2010. And outstanding loan volumes shot up by 18% as well, the fastest pace in 25 years. Consequently, the market ranks in bubble risk territory. A discussed relaxation of the maximum loan-to-value ratio for first-home buyers would heat up the market even more. However, the probability of a sharp but short-lived correction is high, if mortgage rates rise further." 

With a mark of 1.59, Tel Aviv is ranked as the world's eighth highest bubble risk after Toronto, Frankfurt, Zurich, Munich, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Amsterdam. After Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Miami round out the top ten bubble risks.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on October 12, 2022.

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2022.

Tel Aviv credit: Shutterstock
Tel Aviv credit: Shutterstock
Deflated unicorn credit: Shutterstock Big Tech 50 reports more huge falls in startup valuations

Israeli R&D partnership Big Tech 50 reports that an investment of $2 million in Orcam made in 2021, shrank to just $31,000 at the end of 2024.

NextFerm technologies based on yeast credit: NextFerm Food-tech co NextFerm suspends operations

The company, which produces food ingredients in yeast without genetic engineering, cannot pay its debts and is seeking a buyer.

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich credit: Shlomi Yosef OECD sees recovery in growth but high inflation

The OECD Israel Economic Survey 2025 recommends that the Israeli government take several restraining measures, in order to exit the economic storm created by the war.

Dano Ben-Hur credit: Dror Sithakol Statisticians contradict BoI on impact of housing finance deals

The Central Bureau of Statistics insists the impact of 20/80 buy now pay later financing deals on the real estate market and housing prices is minimal.

Governor of the Bank of Israel Amir Yaron  credit: Government Press Office Debt fears top Bank of Israel's concerns

Most unusually, Governor of the Bank of Israel Amir Yaron's press conference last week did not focus on inflation and the impending interest rate decision.

US President Donald Trump  credit: Reuters/Leah Millis Israel moves to avoid Trump's tariffs axe

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich has signed an order canceling all tariffs on imports from the US. The impact will mostly be on agricultural produce.

Forbes Rich List credit: Shutterstock Maslowski Marcin Wiz founders ranked in Forbes 2025 Rich List

There are a few dozen Israelis listed in the 2025 Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List including Wiz founders Assaf Rappaport, Yinon Costica, Roy Reznik and Ami Luttwak.

SatixFy CEO Nir Barkan credit: Ariel Barkan Canada's MDA Space to buy Israeli satcom co SatixFy

MDA Space will pay $269 million for the Israeli company, including taking on a $76 million debt and a 75% premium on SatixFy's closing price on Nasdaq yesterday.

Raising dollars credit: Shutterstock Israeli startups raised over $1b in March

Israeli privately-held tech companies have raised $2.1 billion in the first three months of 2025, according to IVC-LeumiTech, up 24% from the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Terminal 1 credit: Personal image Terminal 1 reopening revives Israel low-cost fare options

With the opening of the terminal for international flights, the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has returned to Israel and with it, double-digit US dollar round-trip fares.

Arkady Volozh  credit: Shlomi Yosef Analysts see Israel-linked Nebius challenging CoreWeave

Nebius, founded by Yandex founder Arkady Volozh, operates in CoreWeave's AI server market, but is growing "more rationally", and has far less debt.

Bezalel Smotrich and Amir Yaron credit: Knesset Spokesperson and Tali Bogdanovsky Retail chains, credit card cos could soon act as banks

Israel's financial regulators have proposed that supermarket chains, credit card companies and investment houses will be able to accept deposits and offer credit.

Elbit Systems rocket launcher  credit: Elbit Systems Elbit Systems wins $130m European rocket order

The order is for the supply of rockets for Elbit's Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS), which has an effective range of up to 300 kilometers.

Nvidia VP Ali Kani credit: Nvidia Nvidia intensifies efforts to compete with Mobileye

"Globes" talks to Nvidia VP and automotive team head Ali Kani about the chipmaker's autonomous vehicle activities and assesses the threat to Mobileye.

Fitch ratings agency credit: Shutterstock Fitch reaffirms Israel's A rating with negative outlook

The ratings agency said, "The negative outlook reflects rising public debt, domestic political and governance challenges and uncertain prospects for the conflict in Gaza."

Tamar rig credit: PR Sovereign Wealth Fund earned handsome returns in 2024

Israel's Sovereign Wealth Fund, known as the Citizens' Fund, had assets worth about $2 billion at the end of 2024, the Ministry of Finance reports.

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018