"Buying an Apartment on Paper"

 If that statement made your ears hurt, well, I get where you're coming from. It now sounds totally normal to me, though :)

In Israel, there are no "condominiums". You can "buy an apartment" or "rent an apartment", but it's still called an apartment. 

"Buying on paper" means that you are purchasing pre-construction or during construction.

2.5 years ago, we bought an apartment on paper and, two years later it was ready (about 6 months later than their projected date ["due to the war", which doesn't work as a reason since the war had already been going on for several months when we bought....]).

We actually got the keys and had the walkthrough the day my mother died, which makes me get teary and also feels like a good sign (and huge thanks to my dear husband who supported me from afar, did the first walk-through with the company after receiving the keys, and then went to the airport to fly to Boston).

Our new place is about a 20 minute walk (there's a hill) or 3 minute drive from our current one. We will still attend the same shul. It's a fair bit smaller than where we live now, but we're really looking forward to to owning a place in Israel.

Next up: actually moving! Send us strength as we pack and pack and pack some more. Moving at the end of May.