Kiryat Gat & Jerusalem

Real Estate in Israel is constantly changing , growing, and giving families many options.Hopefully as part of these  positive changes our greenery, forests, are also taken into consideration.

Kiryat Gat and Jerusalem’s prices keep rising as expansion keeps growing.

The National Planning and Building Committee for Priority Residential Sites will approve the expansion of Kiryat Gat.The plan will add 9,500 housing units with 25% of it consisting of 80-sq.m. apartments.

It will also include 40,000 sq.m. in business space in the residential neighborhood, 16,000 sq.m. of commercial frontage, public buildings and institutions, plus  open space .

In Jerusalem, the Kiryat Yovel neighborhood, 59 housing units will be demolished  making way for  new buildings that will have a total of 255 new housing units.Part of the plan is to make room for the Jerusalem Light Rail train. The intention is to maintain the characteristic of the neighborhood while bringing in new improvements.

Gas price reduction starts next week

The price of 95 octane gasoline  will fall from NIS 5.99 to NIS 5.84 on January 1st. The main reason for it is the sharp fall of oil prices on the world markets.

Bill by MK Karin may help disabled people

Mk Karin Elharrar who is physically disabled due to Muscular dystrophy proposed a bill helping disabled people receive a mortgage from banks .
This bill that passed on Sunday does not allow the banks to deny disabled people a mortgage on the basis of lacking life insurance.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the requirement of the government to prefer using
companies that employ disabled people. There are 900,000 disabled adults and over half of them are unemployed.
As Robert M. Hensel said ” There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more .”

Tips on how to keep your home warm in the winter

Use heavy curtains to stop heat escaping from your windows

Heat escaping from your home in the winter is from uncovered windows. Heavy, lined curtains which extend below the window frame will insulate your windows and help keep the warmth in. You can even make your own. All you need is a sewing machine or borrow one.

Seal up cracks and gaps around doors and windows,  cracks in the walls . One can use a simple door snake for the bottom of the door.

A great way to keep the heat where you want it is to keep the doors to your living space closed. And if your heating system will let you, turn it off in empty rooms.

Warm yourself rather than your whole house. A warm pair of ugg boots and a snug sweater (or a snuggly thermal) could save you hundreds in heating and energy bills!

It’s intuitive, but fluffy blankets should be closer to your skin. Thin, dense blankets should be on top to prevent convective heat loss. Bonus tip: Don’t put your bed directly against an exterior wall. You’ll be warmer if you leave a little space.

If you’re already interested in composting, here’s another reason to do it: The microbial breakdown of organic material produces heat. Some people use it to warm up showers and greenhouses, but even small-timers in studio apartments can feel a difference.

How to care for 2 parents ….

This article is meant to  give ideas to children who have elderly parents or parents that can’t care for themselves. I am not sure if the ideas in this article is ideal. Owning a home is a goal we all try to achieve, at least in Israel. To consider a reverse mortgage one must weigh its merits heavily.The new trend in purchasing a home or apartment is having a smaller unit attached to the property so it can either be rented out or used to care for elderly parents.

How to care for two parents at once  without going broke

YOUR MONEY

By Chris Taylor

New York (Reuters)- For years, Madeleine Smithberg has been at the forefront of American comedy as cocreator of The Daily Show and a talent coordinator for Late Show with David Letterman.

That sense of humor was especially handy during the last few years. That is because Smithberg had to cope with not one but two elderly parents in rapid decline.”It’s heartbreaking”, says Smithberg, 56 who has a production company in Los Angeles. “And yet it’s invisible, because nobody talks about it”.

Dealing with one aging parent is challenging enough, whether you are helping navigate the complex health-care system,  paying for an assisted-living facility or struggling with cognitive decline as the parent slips away. But the emotional and financial stress can be more than double if you are caring for both parents at he same time.