It is cheaper to buy a home than to rent one in 39 of the nation’s 50 largest cities, according to a quarterly report by real estate search and marketing site Trulia. Trulia’s rent vs. buy index compared the median list price with the median rent on two-bedroom apartments, condominiums and townhomes listed on Trulia.com as of April 1, 2011, in the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. While 72 percent of the cities favored buying in the previous quarter’s report, 78 percent favored buying in this latest report. "With home prices nearing a double dip and more foreclosures expected to flood the housing market over the next two years, the decision between renting and buying a home across most of the country has clearly moved in favor of buying," said Ken Shuman, Trulia’s spokesperson, in a statement. "As we head into the summer buying season, those looking to buy a home should be encouraged by improvements in the market and feel optimistic about their chances of finding an affordable home — much more so than in previous years." Source: Inman News
Bringing Families Home - The Sharia Way
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Thursday, May 19, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Real Estate News
Housing’s troubles may have a silver lining. If you’re a homeowner, the steep fall in prices is calamitous. But if you’re a future buyer, it’s a godsend. What we’re seeing is a massive wealth transfer from today’s older homeowners to tomorrow’s younger homeowners. From year-end 2006 to 2010, housing values fell $6.3 trillion, reports the Federal Reserve. Assuming there’s no sharp rebound in prices — a good bet — that’s $6.3 trillion the young won’t pay. Up to a point, the lower home prices merely deflate the artificial “bubble.” But there’s evidence that the declines transcend that. The National Association of Realtors routinely publishes a housing "affordability" index, which judges the ability of median families to buy the median-price home at prevailing rates. By this measure, existing homes are the most affordable since the index started in 1970. Young buyers “will be able to enter the housing market at bargain prices,” argues NAR economist Lawrence Yun. When home prices again rise, increases will parallel income gains, meaning that the relative burden of housing costs will remain roughly stable, Yun says. He expects only modest increases in rates. Crises pass and have unintended consequences. The young just might catch a much-needed break from this one. Source: The Washington Post
If you plan to live out your retirement years in your own home, adding universal design features will make aging in place safer and more comfortable. And if you should later sell the house, you’ll find that buyers appreciate how these upgrades anticipate their future needs. Unlike home improvements designed to make an immediate impression, universal design additions with the most sales appeal are those that go unnoticed until you point them out. "The beauty of universal design is when you’re able to incorporate something that looks great and doesn’t jump out at you," says Paul Sullivan, a remodeling contractor in Newton, Mass. In other words, says Armand Christopher, a Realtor who is designated a Seniors Real Estate Specialist: "You don’t put in hospital-grade grab bars in a bathroom when you are remodeling." Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for the institutional look. From ergonomically designed faucet handles to skid-free flooring, today’s universal design products are stylish and subtle. Financing options include home equity loans and reverse mortgages. The best time to add aging-in-place upgrades to your home is before you need them, says Pat Rowen, an interior designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist in Hillsdale, Mich. Rowen had to tackle a rush job when a client in his 80s fell and broke his hip just before Christmas, and she scrambled to track down materials and workers to do the needed remodel. She says the experience underscored the importance of planning ahead. "If you have to do it under the gun at Christmastime, and you know that your husband is coming home in two weeks and you have a bathtub that he can’t get into — that’s not the time to do the remodeling," Rowen says. Source: BankRate.com
If you plan to live out your retirement years in your own home, adding universal design features will make aging in place safer and more comfortable. And if you should later sell the house, you’ll find that buyers appreciate how these upgrades anticipate their future needs. Unlike home improvements designed to make an immediate impression, universal design additions with the most sales appeal are those that go unnoticed until you point them out. "The beauty of universal design is when you’re able to incorporate something that looks great and doesn’t jump out at you," says Paul Sullivan, a remodeling contractor in Newton, Mass. In other words, says Armand Christopher, a Realtor who is designated a Seniors Real Estate Specialist: "You don’t put in hospital-grade grab bars in a bathroom when you are remodeling." Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for the institutional look. From ergonomically designed faucet handles to skid-free flooring, today’s universal design products are stylish and subtle. Financing options include home equity loans and reverse mortgages. The best time to add aging-in-place upgrades to your home is before you need them, says Pat Rowen, an interior designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist in Hillsdale, Mich. Rowen had to tackle a rush job when a client in his 80s fell and broke his hip just before Christmas, and she scrambled to track down materials and workers to do the needed remodel. She says the experience underscored the importance of planning ahead. "If you have to do it under the gun at Christmastime, and you know that your husband is coming home in two weeks and you have a bathtub that he can’t get into — that’s not the time to do the remodeling," Rowen says. Source: BankRate.com
Monday, May 9, 2011
Islamic Finance Presentation
IjaraCanada will be holding an Islamic Finance Presentation. The key speaker will be Br. Shoeb Sharieff, president of Ijaraloans.com and IjaraCanada.com. HE will be speaking on how Islamic Finance is applied in the purchasing of a home/business.
If you are interested in learning more, you are welcome to come on May 21, 2011, 11 AM at 2380 Tedlo St. Mississauga ON L5A 3V3
If you are interested in learning more, you are welcome to come on May 21, 2011, 11 AM at 2380 Tedlo St. Mississauga ON L5A 3V3
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