Illustration
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
More Israelis want to be real estate agents
Number of people applying for realtors' certification exam reaches 2,000 - all time high
The number of people who want to take the Israeli realtors' certification exam in 2010 has hit a new record, reaching 2,000, Yedioth Ahronoth economic newspaper Calcalist has learned.
Realtors' certification in Israel is under the Justice Ministry's jurisdiction. Etti Moyal, the ministry's real estate agents' registrar said the rising number of applicants can derive from several factors, such as demand and the market's recovery.
Previous years have seen an average of 1,200-1,600 apply to take the test. The realtors' certification exam is held four times a year, and is a direct result of the Real Estate Agents Act which was passed in the late 1990s.
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Another reason noted was an improvement in the profession's standing in the business community. Nevertheless, Moyal said about 20% of those taking the last test failed and reapplied, which could also account for the spike in applicants' numbers.
Yehuda Baruch, a senior lecturer at the Nadlanline realty college noted that a recent college survey found that the majority of people who wish to become estate agents said they recognized the potential for financial success in the business.
Other reasons arising from the survey were the increasing demand for realtors, the improvement in the profession's standing, the relatively law academic threshold and the opportunity to own their own business.
