Now, on to the nitty gritty... we have chosen Maale Adumim, due to its close dati leumi community, the moderate number of English speakers, and (also very important!
) the Community Absorption program benefits that are being offered. Part of the benefit program offers a free 2 week stay in an Absorption Center. Our shliach signed us up for Beit Canada. However, due to the stipulations of the program, apparently we cannot extend our stay past the two week time frame, even if we are willing to pay for the extra time. I'm finding that nice apartments in the prime sections of Maale Adumim are scarcer than hens' teeth, and I'm having visions of becoming homeless two weeks after making aliyah.If anyone has ANY leads on 2-3 bedroom apartments that will be available in May 2007, please let me know! Usually somebody has a good idea, and gets me on the right track!
BTW, I've already gone to www.houses.co.il, and I'm searching the assorted nadlan sites every day, so the help I need is more a "friend-of-a-friend" or "I know this agent who..." kind of thing. We'd be more than happy to pay the "finder's fee" of a month's rent, if we can get a decent apartment. We actually had a landlord tell the Maale Adumim Apsorption Coordinator that the apartment we found online wasn't good for an American family because it wasn't in very good condition... a little weird, but as the coordinator said, "At least he's honest!"
Thanks!
Malynnda