With a growing Muslin population in the US and interest in housing, an age-old dilemma come to the forefront. [Purchasing a home with a mortgage is not religiously acceptable.](http://www.submission.org/islam/usury.html) This is because _interest_ is seen as [effortless profit](http://www.allaahuakbar.net/islaamic_banking/RIBA.HTM).

Without mortgage, [the purchase of a home for cash for many Muslims is not possible](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3035292.stm). In recent years, banks have come up with different [solutions that are compliant under Islamic Law](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2525635.stm).

[Avoiding _riba_ or interest payments [Note: Subscription]](http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050508/news_1h08muslims.html) has made home ownership difficult. One solution has been the _lease-to-own_ model. Another way has been to [form a housing coop.](http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20000714.asp)