I have heard that the Islamic banking system, especially the no-usury part, has been partially adapted to the US housing market. From what I've heard people will form a kind of house-buying union and contribute funds, and when they have enough money they'll buy a house for one of the members of the union. And that member will pay back in the value of the house without interest, with maybe a limited fee on top of the closing price, to enable the union to buy the next house. And they go round and round buying houses for people as they amass enough cash to do so. I understand they've run in to some trouble with US regulation but I can't remember what exactly.