Islamic banks and mortgages have been in the UK for a while now but many people are put off by the idea that only a Muslim is applicable to join. This is not true, Islamic banks are open to all and if one can get around the unfamiliar jargon used they can provide home owners with an interesting option for home financing.

Islamic banks differentiate themselves from mainstream banks as they follow the Sharia law; prohibiting the ‘making of money from money’. This therefore means the banks do not charge interest. But instead, they make profit more on a renting/reselling basis.
There are three different types of Sharia mortgage; Ijara, Murabaha and Musharaka.

An Ijara is comparable to the council housing schemes involving renters having the option to ‘buy out’ the council should they live in the house for a certain number of years, however here the propertypayments are spread equally over time, or in financial jargon; a lease-to-own HPP. The companies make money on the rental payments made over time.

The second type is a Murahaba, and works very much like a direct loan. In this kind the bank buys the property for you, then immediately sells it back for a higher price, arranging installments over a suitable period of time.

The last type is the Musharaka. This is proving to be one of the most popular choices with UK home buyers as it works like a joint ownership scheme in which you buy out consecutively higher proportions of the house from the bank, who sell you their part over time, charging a rental fee on the un-owned proportion while doing so. One of the main reasons for the popularity of this type is that the bank charges for proportions of a house’s current market value, not that of its buy value. This means it provides home owners with an opportunity to buy portions at a discounted rate, should house prices go down- therefore slumps in housing markets will not leave you with negative equity as buyers can cancel the loss of value against the cheaper house share price. Obviously this is also at risk of a person paying more when house prices are higher. But remember that the rental costs are also dependant on the share the bank holds-the buyer pays less over time.

While these mortgages seem to be good deals, like any mortgage deal it pays to shop around-mainstream mortgages could offer similar or better deals, just presented in a different way.

One of the other key reasons some choose an Islamic bank is that of ethics. They will never invest money in things associated with gambling, alcohol, tobacco or pornography.

Most people have been a tenant in a rented flat or house at some point in their lives. Looking back, could there have been anything that a landlord could have done better? Is there anything that they did not do that should have done? Most likely the answer is ‘yes’

For those people looking to go into renting out an apartment, it pays to consider not only the financial side of things but also how you, the landlord can be good to your tenants. The benefits of this may be difficult to see from an initial standpoint, however try to look at your role from a service provider perspective.

In any business client retention is classed as the one of, if not the most important issues governing their business; too many times have landlords make the mistake of thinking; “This tenant will most likely move out, I don’t need to worry too much as I can always find another”.

In today’s market there is no shortage of properties and choice. Making sure to attract and keep customers could make the difference between a loss and profit, especially if you are paying mortgage instalments with rental payments. Think also that the tenant, whilst they may have paid a bond also hold a lot of leverage over a landlord in terms of what they could potentially do to a property. Many big companies are considering these issues so independent landlords may find benefits in following suit.

Among some key issues raised by tenants in a recent survey were the following:

1. Communication-A key issue raised has been the availability of contact options with either a landlord or agency. From serious issues such as emergencies like fire or vandalism, to something as simple as ‘where is the fuse box’ or ‘I’m locked out’ will be thrown a landlord’s way from time to time. Being there for someone will really help in raising their opinion of you.

2.Regularity/Expectations-Being regular in your behaviour will help in establishing a client-customer relationship, dropping in from ‘time to time’ will only serve to build annoyance or mistrust.

3. Don’t skimp on essentials-While the cost of furnishing or refubishing a whole house can be inhibitively expensive. Make sure that your house is not only presentable but also live-able in. Paint, quality furnishings, structural issues such as damp, leaks, draughts; all of these will affect whether a tenant will rent or stay in a property.

In conclusion; think about your house as a service. The better the service the better the prospective for regular income and thus better investment potential.

Whilst HIP sounds like a kind of disease, it means Home Information Pack. These are recently enforced mandatory information that must be compiled before any transaction takes place on either side and apply to all homes in the UK.

But why do we need these home information packs? What do they give us that we didn’t have before?

This pack was aimed to speed up the purchasing process by giving home owners more initial information on the house they are buying. They also aim to allow the buyer more information before they buy to aim to avoid any unpleasant surprises upon purchase of their home.

Every HIP pack must contain the following:

• Home Information Pack Index- this is a listing for everything contained in the pack such as documents, surveys etc.

• Property Information Questionnaire – This is a kind of FAQ sheet to allow to ask the questions that should be asked and answered satisfactorily before purchasing a home.

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) – This gives the house rating in terms of the houses energy efficiency.

• Sustainability information- This is required for newly built homes and shows the house was built in accordance with the correct guidelines.

• Sale statement- This confirms the type and purpose of the house.

• Evidence of title-This shows that the house owner will have the title to the land and the house. Leasehold properties require a copy of the lease.

• Standard searches- This gives background information on the local area and gives information on the local council and facilities.

• Extra optional information-This is dependant on the compiler of the HIP and may give any range of information on the house, its history or its surrounding area.

But a recent study showed that the relatively new Housing Price Packs have considerable differences assigned for between different providers.

According to a recent comparison the biggest high street providers, in some cases, were charging almost 50% over the cost of some online retailers for the price of ‘constructing’ the HIP. The biggest stated difference was in Halifax whose charge for an HIP on a 2 bedroom flat was £516 whereas a comparative quote from a direct online provider clocked in at £292.

It therefore pays to shop around as HIP’s can vary in depth and quality. Always check your HIP provider is an authorised one but it also helps to see how they justify the quoted price. What does one provider put in that others may not?

It is on everyone’s lips ‘Global Warming’. The government wants everyone to updgrade their homes to be energy compliant to meet their future targets for CO2 emission reduction.

But what about the cost? One of the main arguments in the past against home upgrades has been a fiscal one. But this is a misnomer. In fact, in today’s coming markets home buyers will be looking more and more at homes in terms of their ‘carbon neutrality’ and may make you money in long run.

To put it in context, would you consider buying a house that keeps in more heat, therein saving you money, or not?

The following are key points that can help you; the home owner to prepare your home for the future.

1/. Make sure walls and attics are insulated.

House insulation has been practiced since house building began (at least in good houses anyway). Heat loss is the key factor in making savings on energy bills. Most individuals are aware of this, however many people don’t realise that their insulation is, in fact not as good as it should be-get a professional in to check for insulation gaps with an infra-red camera. Having a professional certificate of insulation could be a home buying clincher.

2/. Upgrade windows

Even though windows can be expensive, getting energy star compliant glass can save up to 24% on monthly bills. Thus raising a homes saleability.

3/. Planting trees or shrubs

What? That’s right, in older houses sometimes its not easy to upgrade but foliage keeps poorly insulated houses cool in the summer and let sun in in winter, or evergreens could block strong winds from stealing the heat away. Also, touches of nature sell houses. No one wants to just see concrete.

4/. Upgrade the house furnace or boiler and your plumbing

Many old boilers and wood stoves are horrendously inefficient; upgrading these could really help to save on those bills. Pipe insulation would also help on heat loss. For a home buyer a boiler is a big expense, help put their mind at ease.

5/. Investigate tax credits

The government offers a number of tax incentive and grant schemes to help you upgrade your home, contact your local council or go online for more information on your area 8/. Schedule an energy audit These are new ideas but there are some companies and also government agencies that can provide you with (often free) audits.

While these measures may seem expensive, they often are not and will help your homes’ value increase, and secure it as a future investment .

At the height of the colonial period in Vietnam, hundreds of French-style villas were built. Now, decades later, those homes are judged to have historic value. Up until recently, they were to be sold, but now the authorities in Hanoi have instead to preserve them.

There are 600 villas in old Hanoi. Preservations had long wanted to preserve them, and there had been fears that if they were allowed to be purchased by developers, the homes would be razed and new properties built on the sites.

Architects requested that these 600 historic homes be classified into those that ought to be maintained, those that need to be updated and those that will have to be re-built.

Hoang Dao Kinh, Deputy President of the Viet Nam Architecture Association, said French colonial villas were original architecture that brought beauty to areas where they were built.

"We fear the former French colonial quarter will disappear and with it part of the capital city’s special character,’ he said."

Now, at least 260 of the villas are expected to be protected.

Some of the homes are rather dilapidated, however, and will probably be demolished.

Of the 206 villas already identified for preservation, 45 are rented by companies and 105 are state offices.

There were 2,000 French style villas left in Hanoi in the late 1980s; by 2008 there were only 1,000 left.

Sheikh Ghaith Pharaon, the developer of a new tourism village near the Jordanian city of Petra, stated that construction work on the $50 million project  project will start late in 2009 and be finished in 30 months.

Maha Khatib, Jordanian minister of tourism and antiquities, said the scheme will create jobs for locals and attract a greater numbers of tourists.
 
She pointed out to concerned individuals that the government was taking all care to ensure that the archaeological site and environment around the ancient city of Petra would not be harmed.
 
The development features a handicrafts market, restaurants, a spa and swimming pools. A   100-bed five-star hotel and multi-purpose conference hall are also planned.
 
During August the Department of Lands and Surveys reported sales of residential properties in the country showed an increase in June and July compared to the preceding months.

Petra is an archaeological site in the Arabah, Ma’an Governorate, Jordan. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. UNESCO described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage." In 1985, Petra was designated a World Heritage Site.

Gamemaker Hasbro has teamed up with Google to offer a massive on-line, multi-player version of Monopoly, called Monopoly City Streets. It’s free to play, and for the next four months, anyone who wants to can play it.

It’s a scheme to generate interest in Google’s application, Google Maps. Google Maps is the playing board.

According to Hasbro, players will be able to purchase practically any street in the world, with enough funds.

New players receive $3 million to build their empires.

Players can purchase streets, build properties, and charge rent. Streets can be traded or sold to other players. Chance cards are more interactive in this game  – players can build rubbish tips, prisons or wind farms on their property – to reduce the rent value of their neighbours!