In the IV quarter of last year the corresponding figures were 4%, and in general for the year 2009 the cost of apartments has increased by 16%, according Prian, citing data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel.

The country's authorities are taking various measures to make housing affordable in Israel for ordinary buyers. Managing land assets of Israel approved the reforms of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which enabled the purchase of private property, public land in urban areas.

Israel's parliament adopted a law on the allocation of additional sites for erection of dwelling. In January 2010 came into effect new rules for taxation of home buyers. (Read more about this in the article The Chronicles of success: the authorities against the real estate bubbles.)

Recall that in the upper price segment of the Israeli market prices of apartments in the I quarter rose by 4,1% on the previous one.