What is the pros and cons of Islamic property financing?

Islamic banking and financing, particularly Islamic property financing, in Malaysia is considered one of the most renowned and established in the world. Islamic banking which follows Shariah laws has been in operation since the enactment of the Islamic Banking Act in 1983 and the establishment of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad on the same year.

The new law and the institution of a new bank paved the way for the continuous development of Islamic banking and finance in Malaysia.

What is the standard procedure of buying a subsale property?

1. Upon agreeing to buy a property, an earnest deposit (sometimes referred to as booking fee) amounting to 2% – 3% of the agreed selling price is collected in the name of the stakeholder (usually the real estate agent).

2. Earnest deposit is collected and the Letter of Offer is completed and signed by purchaser. Owner (or vendor) will also sign the Letter of Offer to indicate acceptance of Offer.

3. Balance of 10% (i.e. 7% or 8%) of the purchase price is payable within 14 working days and upon signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) ......

Household debt and what it means

The difference between ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ loans

Household debt is basically all forms of loans with interest rates taken from entities that provide financing. The loans can be secured with assets such as real estate loans (housing and commercial properties), or without any collateral such as personal and credit card loans.

10 steps to buying your dream house in Malaysia

1. Understand and draft your budget

With the skyrocketing property prices in Malaysia, one must be really clear about managing budgets and debts. To own a real estate, first thing to take note is your budget. If you are a first time buyer, understandably banks will approve you a loan of 90% for as long as it does not exceed one third of your income. But exceptional cases may occur if you hold good past credit records and the bank may permit the monthly installment to go up to half of your net income.

There are also other expenditures to take into account such as legal fees, stamp duty and goods and services tax (GST) so do not allocate just an exact amount for the property you are purchasing as you may very well go beyond your budget.

2. Search for property

You can never be totally clueless about property searching. At least....................

This post has been edited by 2msia: Jul 24 2015, 11:26 PM

Are you financially ready to buy a house in Malaysia?

1) Do you have enough for the upfront costs?

In Malaysia, most banks offer up to 90% of the property’s price (margin of financing) for your first two residential properties. If you receive that 90%, you need 10% cash to pay for the rest of the property’s price.

Say you’re targeting to buy a condo in Cheras for approximately RM400,000, you must have a minimum RM40,000 to pay upfront, be it from your savings or money from your parents, siblings or partner.

2) Do you have extra cash for miscellaneous fees and charges?

First-time home buyers may not know it; but buying and financing a home takes more than just the deposit and the loan, it also involves miscellaneous fees and charges that include............

Indonesia temporarily bans all Australian citrus imports except lemons

Indonesia foreign affairs spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed what he called a “temporary restriction” on the import of Australian oranges and some other fruit, after “Queensland flies” were found in a shipment.

Thailand leading Asia in cracking down on drinking

Under amendments to the Alcohol Control Act endorsed by the government Wednesday and to be implemented nationwide late next month, bars, clubs and retailers will be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages within a 300-metre radius of higher-educational institutions. The measures are aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and tackling alcohol-related problems, including underage sex, the Ministry of Public Health said.

Why we love ‘Nasi Lemak’ as breakfast?

No thanks to hectic lifestyles, busy mornings of beating traffic jams to work – more often not we tend to forget that having a good, healthy breakfast is the best way to kickstart the day.

For many people, one of the most preferred breakfast choices is the infamous ‘Nasi Lemak’ – which you can find at practically every food stall, restaurant and kopitiam across the country.

Health benefits of coconut water

Coconut water is a very refreshing drink to beat tropical summer thirst. Its liquid is packed with simple sugars, electrolytes, and minerals to replenish dehydration conditions inside the human body.
Research studies suggest that cytokinins (e.g., kinetin and trans-zeatin) in coconut water found to have significant anti-ageing, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic (anti-clot formation) effects.
Coconut water has been generally offered to....

Breastfeeding not a source of shame

Supporting moms who breastfeed is crucial to their dignity and would help to improve our infant survival rates, says Ena du Plessis.

Cape Town – As a member of the social movement Normalise Public Breastfeeding in South Africa, I was shocked by the online response of readers to Cape Argus reporter Sipokazi Fokazi’s story “Call for law over breastfeeding”.

Although the story made it clear that protection of breastfeeding mothers from discrimination and harassment .............

9 benefits of sex during pregnancy

Between your raging hormones, morning sickness, and your ever-expanding waistline, sex might be the last thing on your mind when you’re pregnant.

Although vegging out in front of the TV is looking pretty good, having sex can do wonders for your health, your pregnancy and your relationship.

There are nine reasons why pregnancy sex is not only healthy, but why it might be even better than before.

General information about Breast Milk

Women all over the country buy and sell breast milk, but may not realize the inherent risks of doing so.

Any doctor will tell you that breastfeeding is the preferred method of infant feeding. However, some women are unable to produce enough for their babies and are forced to look elsewhere.

Some kids have an intolerance to milk, or eggs, or medications, so you have to disclose whether or not you drink caffeine. Just what your diet is.

How the Papaya Fruit benefits our health?

Papaya fruit is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya and grow in tropical climates and are also known as papaws or pawpaws. Their sweet taste, vibrant color and wide variety of health benefits are just a few reasons to add them to your diet.

The possible health benefits of consuming papaya include a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, aiding in digestion, improving blood glucose control in diabetics, lowering blood pressure, and improving wound healing.

What Good Inside Durian Fruit?

As we (South East Asian People) know, Durian is the South East Asian king of fruit. The Durian is distinctive for its large size, strong smelly odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.The Durian is the only fruit banned from airline cabins, hotels and public transportation due to its overwhelming, disgusting smell which the smell feel good for most of the South East Asia people.

Breastfeeding not as easy as it seems

I HAD always imagined breastfeeding to be a picture of serenity of a well-groomed mother lovingly nursing her adorable baby with her milk flowing freely.

But the reality, as far as I am concerned, is furthest from the truth.

Although my baby, named Cat in short, is quite well-behaved, my breastfeeding experience is a far cry from that perfect picture I had in mind. My hair and clothes are messy and I sweat profusely. There is a unique scent of milk on me.

No more pump and dump: IBM plans to ship employees’ breast milk home

Lactating is natural. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy—especially for working moms on the go.

In an effort to alleviate some of the logistical complications (and help attract and retain female employees), IBM will soon launch a service that allows working mothers to easily ship expressed breast milk back home to their babies while traveling on business.

The battle for breast milk in a surprisingly cutthroat industry

It could trade for 400 times more than the price of crude oil and 2,000 times more than iron ore. If sold off the shelf, it could cost more than 150 times the price of a gallon of cow’s milk and 15 times more than coffee.

Going for as much as $4 (U.S.) an ounce, human breast milk is a hot commodity that is emerging as a surprisingly cutthroat industry, one that states are seeking to regulate amid a battle for control between non-profit and for-profit banks that supply hospital neonatal units.

Delicious Strawberries Good for Health

The Strawberry is called ‘the queen of fruits” In Asian countries because it’s packed with health benefits. Compared to fruits like apples, oranges or bananas, strawberries have the highest amount of nutrients.

Like many other fruits, strawberries make their claim in history as a luxury item enjoyed only by royalty. It has been alleged that newly weds were entitled to strawberries with soured cream as a wedding breakfast, believing them to be an aphrodisiac.

Why more women than men suffer from Alzheimer’s?

WASHINGTON — Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women, and now some scientists question the long-held assumption that it’s because they tend to live longer than men.

A recent Alzheimer’s Association report estimates that at age 65, women have about a one-in-six chance of developing Alzheimer’s during the rest of their lives, compared with a one-in-11 chance for men.

What does your height says about your health?

Small comfort for all the short and tall women out there: There isn’t a perfect height for your health. Turns out, extra inches lower your risk of some common health problems, but increase the odds of others. Sigh.