Mortgages And Loans. Islamic Finance Avoids Interest.

Word Count:
1397

Summary:
Two million Muslims in the UK face an ethical dilemma if they want a mortgage or a loan. Conventional mortgages and loans all require the payment of interest and “riba” as interest is called under Islamic law, is forbidden by the Koran.

British financial institutions are increasingly catering for Muslims’ specialist needs through a number of alternative arrangements that respects the teachings of the Koran. Here are just two of them:

Ijara with diminishing Musharaka ? t…

Keywords:
islamic,finance,glossary

Article Body:
Two million Muslims in the UK face an ethical dilemma if they want a mortgage or a loan. Conventional mortgages and loans all require the payment of interest and “riba” as interest is called under Islamic law, is forbidden by the Koran.

British financial institutions are increasingly catering for Muslims’ specialist needs through a number of alternative arrangements that respects the teachings of the Koran. Here are just two of them:

Ijara with diminishing Musharaka ? the mortgage alternative.

Ijara with diminishing Musharaka is an Islamic alternative to a conventional UK mortgage and has been adopted by several British banks and building societies.

In essence, Musharaka means partnership. Under this Islamic financial concept, the bank buys the house and legally becomes its owner. Then throughout the pre-agreed period, say 25 years, a monthly payment is made. Each monthly payment includes a charge for rent and a charge that buys a small proportion of the house itself. It’s form of variable shared equity plan with the proportion of the house being owned by the purchaser, steadily increasing as payments are made. Once the final payment has been made, the house is owned outright. Ijara

Here you tell the bank or financial institution what you want, for example a car, and they buy it. In return for a monthly payment that covers the cost of the bank’s capital, the bank then allows you to use the asset for an agreed period. In reality, it’s a form of leasing

Islamic finance is not widely available in the UK ? so where can find it? Here are three suggestions:

Over the last few years Lloyds TSB has introduced Islamic products to 33 of its branches. Their spokesperson says, “It’s important for our customers to see that we are following the right procedures. We have a panel of four Islamic scholars who over-see the products. They offer guidance on Islamic law and audit the products”.

Another high street bank, HSBC, is developing a special range of Islamic products under the Amanah brand name. This range includes home finance plans, home insurance, commercial finance, and various current accounts and pensions. Hussam Sultan, the Amanah product manager says, “As a bank, we are not here to moralise or tell our customers that Amanah finance is the way to please Allah. We’re just here to provide them with a choice”.

The Islamic Bank of Britain has three branches in London, two in Birmingham and one each in Leicester and Manchester. They’re the only British bank specifically providing for Muslim customers and claim to be halal throughout their operations. All their financial products are approved by their Sharia’a Supervisory Committee ? all Muslim scholars who are experts in all aspects of Islamic finance.

For your interest we show below, definitions of some words used widely in connection with Islamic finance.

A Glossary of selected Islamic words used in finance.

Amanah : Means trustworthiness, with associated aspects of faithfulness and honesty. As a central supplementary meaning, amanah also describes a business deal where one party keeps another’s funds or property in trust. This actually the most widely used and understood application of the term, having a long history of use in Islamic commercial law. It can also be used to describe different financial activities such as deposit taking, custody or goods on consignment.

Arbun : Means a down payment. It’s a non-refundable deposit paid to the seller by the buyer upon agreeing a sale contract together with an undertaking that the sale contract will be completed during a prearranged period.

Gharar : This means uncertainty. It’s one of three essential prohibitions in Islamic finance (the others being riba and maysir). Gharar is a sophisticated concept that encompasses certain types of uncertainty or contingency in a contract. The prohibition on gharar is often used as the grounds for criticism of conventional financial practices such as speculation, derivatives and short selling contracts.

Islamic financial services / Islamic banking / Islamic finance : Means financial services that meet the specific requirements of Islamic law or Shariah. Whilst designed to meet specific Muslim religious requirements, Islamic banking is not restricted to Muslims. Both the customers and the service providers can be non-Muslim as well as Muslim.

Ijara : Means an Islamic leasing agreement. Ijarah permits the financial institution to earn a profit by charging leasing rentals instead of lending money and earning interest. The ijarah concept is extended to hire and purchase agreements by Ijarah wa iqtinah.

Maysir : Means gambling. It’s another of three fundamental prohibitions in Islamic finance (the other two being riba and gharar). The prohibition of maysir is often used as the basis for criticism of standard financial practices such as conventional insurance, speculation and derivative contracts.

Mudarabah : A Mudarabah is a form of Investment partnership. Here, capital is provided by the investor (the Rab ul Mal) to another party (the Mudarib) in order to undertake a business or investment activity. Profits are then shared according to pre-arranged proportions but any loss on the investment is born exclusively by the investor and the mudarib then loses the expected income share.

Mudarib : The mudarib is the investment manager or entrepreneur in a mudarabah (see above). It is this managers responsibility to invest the investor’s money in a project or portfolio in exchange for a share of the profits. A mudarabah is essentially similar to a diversified pool of assets held in a conventional Discretionary Managed Investment Portfolio.

Murabaha : means purchase and resale. As opposed to lending money, the capital provider purchases the required asset or product (for which a loan would otherwise have been taken out) from a third party. The asset is then resold at a higher price to the capital user. By paying this higher price by instalments, the capital user effectively gets credit without paying interest. (Also see tawarruq the opposite of murabaha.)

Musharaka : This means profit and loss sharing. It’s a partnership where the profits are shared in pre-arranged proportions and any losses are shared in proportion to each partners’ capital or investment. In Musharakah, all the partners to the commercial undertaking contribute funds and have the right, but without the obligation, to exercise executive powers in that undertaking. It’s a similar concept to a conventional partnership and the holding of voting stock in a limited company. Musharakah is regarded as the purest form of Islamic financing.

Riba : This means interest. The legal concept extends beyond interest, but in simple terms, riba covers any return of money on money. It does not matter whether the interest is floating or floating, simple or compounded, or what the rate is. Riba is strictly prohibited under Islamic law..

Shariah : This is the Islamic law as disclosed in the Quran and through the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A Shariah product must meet all the requirements of Islamic law. To facilitate this, a Shariah board is usually appointed. This board or committee is usually comprised of Islamic scholars available to the organisation for guidance and supervision for the development of Shariah compliant products.

Shariah adviser : Means an independent professional, usually a classically trained Islamic legal scholar, appointed to advise an Islamic financial organisation on the compliance of its products and services with Islamic law, the Shariah. While some organisations consult individual Shariah advisers, most establish a committee of Shariah advisers (often known as a Shariah committee or Shariah board).

Shariah compliant : Means the activity that ensures that the requirements of the Shariah, or Islamic law are observed. The term is often used in the Islamic banking industry as a synonym for “Islamic”- for example, Shariah compliant financing or Shariah compliant investment.

Sukuk : This has similar characteristics to a conventional bond. The difference is that that they are asset backed and a sukuk represents the proportionate beneficial ownership in the underlying asset. The asset is then leased to the client to yield the profit on the sukuk.

Takaful : This is Islamic insurance. Takaful plans are designed to avoid the characteristics of conventional insurance (i.e. interest and gambling) that are so problematical for Muslims. They structure the arrangement as a charitable collective pool of funds based on the comcept of mutual assistance.

Tawarruq : When used in personal finance, a customer with a cash requirement buys something on credit on a deferred payment basis. That customer then immediately resells the item for cash to a third party. The customer thereby obtains cash without taking an interest-based loan. Tawarruq is the opposite to murabahah.

Refinance With Bad Credit

Word Count:
261

Summary:
Just because you have bad credit, it does not mean you will be unable to get a loan, nor does it mean that you are at the mercy of the mortgage companies. You are not.

Keywords:
Finance, refinance, mortgage, home loan, credit, real estate, broker, banker, lender, borrowing, money, rates, closing costs, home purchase

Article Body:
If you have bad credit and believe you are out of luck when it comes to refinancing or purchasing a new home, you may want to reconsider your options.

Just because you have bad credit, it does not mean you will be unable to get a loan, nor does it mean that you are at the mercy of the mortgage companies. You are not.

The mortgage industry is a very diverse one with literally thousands of lenders across the country that just might offer a program that fits your needs.

These lenders that offer programs to consumers with poor credit are known as wholesale lenders.

Wholesale lenders work directly with mortgage brokers, whose job it is to assist you in finding a mortgage lender regardless of your credit score.

It is also the responsibility of the mortgage broker to counsel and educate you through the entire mortgage process.

If you decide that you do not want to do the shopping around yourself, than you should seriously consider finding a mortgage broker to help you. They have relationships with hundreds of wholesale lenders, and they will work to find a program that fits your needs.

Keep in mind, brokers are paid on commission, so it is just as important to them as it is to you to get to the closing table.

A good place to start for tracking down a mortgage broker is the internet. Contact a few brokers, allow for them to assess your situation, than work with the one that best fits your needs and budget. Best of luck.

Credit After Bankruptcy ? Getting Approved For A Mortgage

Word Count:
414

Summary:
After a recent or past bankruptcy, most people want to get on the path toward establishing good credit. To accomplish this goal, some choose to purchase a home. While a new home purchase is a good way to rebuild credit and increase your credit score, purchasing a home after a recent bankruptcy may result in higher interest rates and fees.

Establishing Credit after Bankruptcy

A bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for seven to ten years. During this time, purchas…

Keywords:
mortgage loan, bankruptcy

Article Body:
After a recent or past bankruptcy, most people want to get on the path toward establishing good credit. To accomplish this goal, some choose to purchase a home. While a new home purchase is a good way to rebuild credit and increase your credit score, purchasing a home after a recent bankruptcy may result in higher interest rates and fees.

Establishing Credit after Bankruptcy

A bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for seven to ten years. During this time, purchasing a new home, car, or obtaining a credit card with a prime interest rate will be tricky. Nonetheless, you need to establish or rebuild your credit. When lenders review your credit application, your score is a key determining factor in whether you are approved. If you have not opened new credit accounts since your bankruptcy, lenders cannot accurately judge your creditworthiness.

There are many ways to re-establish credit after a bankruptcy. Getting a department store charge card or a credit card is an option. If you cannot get approved for an unsecured credit card, consider applying for a secured card. Typically, this involves putting a down payment on the card.

When Should You Apply for a Home Mortgage Loan?

If possible, delay applying for a new home loan for at least two years following your bankruptcy. This will allow you ample time to rebuild your credit and boost your credit score. By doing this, you may qualify for better or comparable interest rates.

Several lenders will approve a mortgage loan application one day following a bankruptcy discharge. Unfortunately, the interest rates on these loans are several points higher than current market rates. This rate increase will significantly increase your monthly mortgage payment.

How to Get Approved for a Home Loan after Bankruptcy?

Fortunately, it is possible to get a home loan following a recent or past bankruptcy. If you are applying for a loan before re-establishing credit, contact at least four sub prime lenders and obtain online quotes. While the rates you receive will be high, you can always refinance in two years for a better rate.

If you have established new credit accounts, frequently check your credit report. If you pay your creditors on time and avoid late payments, your credit rating will improve considerably. After two years, begin contacting mortgage lenders. Likewise, you should also obtain several quotes. To speed up the process, apply through a mortgage brokerage site. A single online application will produce multiple quotes from many different lenders.

When Mortgages Go Bad

Word Count:
439

Summary:
When mortgages go bad, what do we do? has the interest rate left you struggling to repay your mortgage? If so how can we solve the problem

Keywords:
bad credit mortgages, mortgages gone bad, poor credit mortgage

Article Body:
Mortgages can and some do go bad. Its not uncommon for people to take out mortgages beyond their able repayment status, or those whom take out mortgages that borderline their outgoings, So what happens when mortgages go bad? and how do we deal with it?

There are different circumstances for a mortgage to turn into your worst nightmare, such as

1) Mortgage puts a servere strain on your outgoings If you find more then 85% of your outgoings are purely on your mortgage then you are a victim to a stretched income. If you took your mortgage out at an attractive rate, you may have come to the end of your deal, thus putting you in liability for a higher repayment amount with any elevated rises in the mortgage interest rate. When taking out a mortgage, you should always bare in mind changes of circumstance aswell as how much you have remaining a month for other essential items.

2) Interest rate rise puts your income out the window If you struggled to meet your mortgage repayments because of elevating interest rates, then it may be time to remortgage or to consider various other options. Pushing your income to its limits when you first apply for a mortgage is a bad idea, as after 2-3 years your rates can rise, your deal could come to an end, aswell as the Bank of england interest rate rises.

3) Unforseen circumstances can leave you in a disabling state of mind If you have been hit by unforseen circumstances and are not covered by payment protection insurance or any other form of repayment protection, then you may be bearing the brunt of the bore, unforseen circumstances can include injury by accident, illness or unemployment.

So that gift wrapped mortgage at 5% may have changed significantly since you first took it out, and as many people still do, you should always look at what you can afford on a mortgage in a realistic fashion. That extra lump of interest on your mortgage could make the difference between a good reliable payer to someone in arrears mounting up bad credit.

Mortgages are not always what they seem, it is vital to read any small print before proceeding with any form of mortgage application. There may be hidden interest charges and penalties to compensate a lower interest rate, so that 5.29% rate you saw in the high street window may be laced with charges exceeding £2000 – £5000 which is compensating for a slightly higher rate in order to look more attractive.

Good mortgages can turn bad, prepare yourself and save for rainy days and your mortgage can stay in your good books, rather then arrears.

Home Refinance Closing Costs – Things You Should Know

Word Count:
366

Summary:
Home refinancing closing costs should be consider before signing a contract. You can actually lose money on closing costs if you aren’t careful. Shopping lenders can help you find lower fees, but you may find other financing options have lower costs.

Length Of Time To Recoup Costs

While the general rule of thumb is to keep a loan for two years to recoup closing costs, it isn’t a hard fast rule. For one, if you only have five years left on your loan, then refinancing won…

Keywords:
mortgage refinance loan

Article Body:
Home refinancing closing costs should be consider before signing a contract. You can actually lose money on closing costs if you aren’t careful. Shopping lenders can help you find lower fees, but you may find other financing options have lower costs.

Length Of Time To Recoup Costs

While the general rule of thumb is to keep a loan for two years to recoup closing costs, it isn’t a hard fast rule. For one, if you only have five years left on your loan, then refinancing won’t save you money since you have already paid most of the loan’s interest. There are also other reasons for refinancing, such as reducing terms or improve caps on an ARM.

To know if you can save money by refinancing, take the time to do a little math. Add up your current mortgage’s interest costs for the rest of the term. Compare this with the cost of refinancing and the new loan’s interest cost. If you can see a savings, then refinance for those better rates.

Lenders Charge Different Fees

Most people are surprised to find that lenders charge different fees. While the standard is a couple of thousands, points can also increase costs. Since rates and fees vary so widely between packages, a better number to compare is the APR, which gives the true cost of the loan.

Online research can yield thousands of dollars in savings. Within a few minutes you can receive several quotes from a mortgage broker. You can also request quotes from individual lenders’ sites too.

Variety Of Refinancing Options

There are several ways to refinance your mortgage. You can choose an ARM, fixed-rate, or hybrid. You can also reduce your loan term or increase yearly payments to lower interest costs. Each option has pros and cons, and should be considered with your unique budget.

Another option to access your equity is to use a line of credit or home equity loan. These two options don’t have the closing costs of a traditional mortgage, but they don’t lower the rate on your principal.

Before refinancing, make sure that you will save money by researching both loans and lenders.