WTP: I’m going into shidduchim soon, and my parents make just enough to get by, we are renting our apartment. The only way to pay for an apartment would be by fundraising, collecting, etc. I’m not sure that’s happening.
I hear the way you explain the system, and I don’t think that system is entirely used by everyone nowadays. I think it’s mainly israeli’s in the merkaz area. Even the american israeli’s don’t use that system, in turn I hear they pay for the first year or 2 in rent and expenses so the couple can save up for a down payment. There are many other ways they do it.
I also believe that more and more of the israelis are seeing this isn’t possible and are not determining their shidduchim on this. Besides for the fact I’m know the sefardim and chasidim do not use this way either. So in reality, the majority of frum jews are not using this system currently.