Published: April 30, 2026 · Updated: 2026-05-01 · Tedros Editorial
The community mortgage — updated 2026 guide
What this right is
The community mortgage is a state loan dedicated to Ethiopian-Israelis — a fixed amount of ₪600,000 over 25 years, 0% interest for the first 10 years and 2% for the next 15. The loan was allocated by lottery, about 200 families a year. Registration is closed — there is no open round, and the ministry's programme pages now return 404 (checked September 2026).
Who fits
Any household meeting one of the following:
- One spouse was born in Ethiopia
- One of the spouses' parents was born in Ethiopia
- The spouses are defined as "Falash Mura" who immigrated to Israel
How to register — step by step
There is currently nothing to register for — see above. The steps below describe how the programme worked while it was open, and are kept for reference only:
- Choose a participating bank
- Submit an application at a branch with national ID, marital status proof, income proof
- Wait for the lottery results
- If selected, the bank sends an approval to sign a purchase contract
Things to know
- The loan is for first-home purchases only
- Required equity: 5% of property value (vs the standard 25%)
- By 2024, ~3,200 families had used the right since 2017