What you should know about home loan interest rates before you get a loan

Gudi Padwa just went by, and like every year banks and finance institutes all over the country are offering attractive deals on home loans. This is the time of year when everyone is in a hurry to get their finances in order. With loan rates being favourable, now perhaps the best time to get your housing finance. The financial is coming to an end soon, which means most of us will be receiving handsome bonuses as well. This makes the coming few days the best times for us to invest in new things, be it property, automobiles or any other sort of investment.

For someone who is new to the world of finance or, has recently started earning, understanding home loans and home loan interest rates can be quite daunting. But this knowledge can help you make good financial decisions, in the future if not immediately.

The most basic thing you need to know about house loans is that they have two main types of interest rates. These are fixed and floating interest rates. Banks and non-banking financial companies offer both fixed and floating interest rates. Since home loan interest rates are the most important aspect of the loan, getting it right is the key to repay without any financial stress or default over time.

Here are a few key things that you should know about home loan interest rates.

1.      Fixed rate of interest on a loan means that the equated monthly instalments or EMIs are constant over the tenure of the loan. On the other hand, for floating interest rates, the EMIs fluctuate as per the market dynamics as interest rate increases or decreases.

2.      Fixed interest rates are always set higher than floating interest rates, by 1 to 2.5% at the time of the sanction of the loan. This can be both and advantage and a disadvantage. Since these rates remain constant you don’t have to worry if there is a hike in the housing loan interest rates due to the passing of a bill or implementation of a new rule, but at the same time if the rates see a dip, there is no benefit to you.

3.      Floating interest rates are usually lower than fixed interest rates although parameters like inflation and current account deficit are used in calculation of base rate by RBI which can mean an uncertainty and different EMI for each repayment or instalment for the loan. This can be difficult to keep track of as each instalment may be different.

These are the most basic things you should know about housing finance, there is much more to learn, but as they say, if you’re clear on your basics you should be able to make wise decisions about your finance.

Your guide to understanding income tax benefit on home loan

Just like property in India is a good investment, home loan India too are a great investment. With property rates soaring, it’s not really possible for the common man to purchase a property of his own without opting for home finance. But with so many taxes that already get deducted from your income can you really afford to pay your monthly EMIs?

Well, the Income Tax Act has made provisions for home loan borrowers, so that they can finally fulfill their dream of having a home of their own. There are three sections in the Act that give you tax benefits on home loan. You should know these because they are handy tax saving calculators. Here’s what they are.

1.  Section 80C: This section states that you can claim tax benefits of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs on repayment of the principal amount of your loan.

2.  Section 24: This section states that you can claim tax benefits of up to Rs 2 lakhs on repayment of interest on housing loan but this is only applicable for a self-occupied property. If you are renting out your property then there is no maximum limit on the tax benefit amount. So, you can claim the entire interest amount as a tax benefit. You can do this even if the amount exceeds Rs 2 lakhs.

3.  Section 80EE: This section states that if you are a first-time buyer then you can claim an extra Rs 50,000 as tax benefits on the interest repayment.

There are many tax benefits on home loan but, there are certain conditions that you need to fulfill to be able to claim them. The first and foremost condition is that you can only start claiming income tax benefit on home, once the construction of your new property is complete. These tax benefits do not apply to under construction properties, even if the borrower has already started paying EMIs. But there is an exception to this rule. You can get a benefit if the construction ends within five years of you taking the loan. Earlier this was only three years. This period has been revised because of the rising number of stalled constructions in recent times.

If you opt for a joint loan, to enjoy income tax benefit on home loan, the second party has to be a co-owner as well as a co-borrower. They can then claim tax benefits on their home loan interest rate separately. They can only do this when their individual share of the property is clearly defined. The ratio of tax benefit is the same as the ratio of the property share.

How the Union Budget has brought relief to Housing Loan Borrowers

The Union Budget for 2018 has been announced and it has brought some relief for those with home loans. This budget has brought with it a number of tax benefits on home loan. This has come as quite a relief for tax payers and has made it a little bit easier for people to become home owners. With financial year winding down, you’re probably wondering how to save income tax. You should also know whether, after paying your Income Tax for the year 2017-2018, it will still be a feasible option to buy that new flat you’ve had your eye the whole year.

Investing in property in India has always been a great way to ensure that you get heavy returns. But with the property rates always soaring, home loans are the only way one can afford property here. Now, the Income Tax Act already has some provisions and tax exemption on Home loans. Like the Section 80C where you can claim upto Rs. 1,00,000 as a deduction for repayment of home loan. But has this year’s Union Budget brought any more relief to home loan borrowers? Let’s find out.

As per this year Union Budget, those who have availed homeloans before April 2016, and are stuck in the older base rate regime, may get cheaper. The RBI has decided to "harmonise the methodology of determining benchmark rates by linking the Base Rate to the MCLR or Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rates with effect from April 1, 2018". 

The RBI, in a bid to reduce the burden of home loan interest rates on the borrowers, had introduced a Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) system with effect from April 1, 2016. This was done due to the limitations of the base rate regime. With the introduction of the MCLR system, it was expected that the existing base rate-linked credit exposures would move to the new system. This effort was taken after huge amounts of funds were deposited into banks during demonetization drive in India. 

Banks and NBFCs have cut their home loan interest rates by as much as 50 basis points. This makes a huge different in the amount of EMIs and the number of EMIs borrowers have to pay. This benefit will mainly affect those who have acquired a home loan after April 2016, but others can avail of its benefits too, by opting for a home loan balance transfer.

If you were waiting for the Union Budget to find out if it offers you any new housing loan tax benefits then you will not be disappointed.

Expand your home with a home expansion loan

Spaces can get cramped easily. We live in a materialistic work where we buy new things almost every week, with every trip to the mall. But new stuff requires new space and that is something we cannot afford. Taking housing loans for a new home is not always possible, as they are a long term commitment. There are a lot of reasons why you may need more space. Some of them are, family expansion, inviting parents or in-laws to live you, or just a lack of space. A two bedroom home may have been okay when your kids where toddlers, but when they become teenagers, they will need their own separate rooms and more space. At this time, instead of buying new property, you can simply expand your existing home.

Home finance has created a lot of tools to help you arrange for money for anything related to your home. You can get a home renovations loan in order to expand or redo your space. This loan can still be taken if you have any existing home loans. You can simply avail of this loan through a top-up. When you take this loan as a top up the interest for this loan gets added to your housing loan interest and this way you only have to pay a single EMI.

If you’re in need of a home expansion and are in the process of seeking a loan, then here’s a guide to help you apply.

1.  What can I do with the loan: A home renovation loan can be used for building additional structures on your existing property, like a new floor, a new garden or a garage and redoing the existing property?

2.  How to apply: If your home is under a co-ownership then you should have your loan co-signed by the other owner.

3.  What about the tenure: The tenure for a home renovation loan is very flexible. You can get loan from anywhere between 12 to 360 months.

4.  What documents do I need: Both you and your co-signee would have to give your documentation, including your KYC, salary slips, bank documents, your house agreement, and the expansion layout that you want to undertake, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the municipal/building/ housing board. Make sure all your plans are authorised by your local authority.

5.  What about EMIs: If you apply for this loan as a top-up for your home loans, then the EMI will be added to your existing interest rate and you will have to pay only one EMI.

Why you should get a Top-up Loan for you Home Renovations

Buying a new home is a big moment for anyone. But after living in a new home for a while, a new home can seem a little boring. You can always do it up with a little renovations, but to make any changes you need to spend money and that can be difficult when you’re already paying off home loans. To make it easy for you to keep your home as good as new, banks have introduced home renovation loans. 

A home renovation loan can be taken as a top-up to your house loans or can be taken by itself. When you take a home renovation loan as an add-on, the interest is added to your home loan interest rates. This way you don’t need to pay separate EMIs for two loans. This loan is great home finance tool, it can help you keep your home looking as good as new.

If you wish to avail a top-up loan for your home renovations here’s everything you have to know about it.

1.  Eligibility: Top-up loans can be availed only by someone who has an existing house loan. There are other preconditions too that you need to fulfill before you become eligible for such a loan. Here are some of the criteria that are taken into consideration.

•  Minimum period: You need to have started repayment of your housing loan and paid interest for a certain period before you are eligible for your home loan. This period may differ from bank to bank.

•  LTV limit: Loan-to-value (LTV) is the amount you’re allowed to borrow on your existing housing loan. The LTV ratio is fixed at 80-85% of the present value of your property. 

•  Tenure: The tenure of top-up loan runs concurrently with that of your home loan. So if you have 10 years remaining for your home loan repayment, your top-up loan tenure cannot exceed the remaining term. 

2.  Benefits: The first and foremost benefit of a top-up loan for home renovations is that you don’t need to manage multiple loans when you get a top-up. The top-up amount is simply added to your existing loan amount and the top-up loan interest rates are also paid through a single EMI. There are no restrictions on the usage of this amount. You can use it for whatever you want, however you want.

3.  Other uses: If after a few years of paying interest on you house loan you have a big expense coming that is related to your business or family, you can opt for a top-up home loan, instead of going for a personal loan.

5 essential things you need to know before taking a Loan Against Property

Loan against property is an age-old way for lending and borrowing money. It has been done for centuries. Our ancestors mortgaged their homes and land to borrow money for farming, weddings and to educate their children. With time the system of taking loan against property too has become more sophisticated. You can now approach a bank and get a loan sanctioned by keeping your property as collateral.

A mortgage loan can get you a longer tenure and a higher sum. The amount you can get through mortgage loans depends on the size and valuation of the property you mortgage. The bigger the property, the higher amount of loan you can get.

You could use this loan amount at your own discretion. You can use to fund the education of your children, you can use it to fund their weddings, and you can use it to invest in other property, to invest in your business. You can even use to fund a medical procedure too.

Loan against property is the best way to get a loan. The loan against property eligibility is also minimal. You only need to have a good credit score and a property to mortgage. If you need to take a loan and are considering this kind of loan, then here are a few things you should know.

1.  Loan Against Property can get you a higher loan amount for your business or personal needs with the benefit of lower EMI. With easy documentation, speedy approvals and flexible repayment options, getting a loan is easier than any other time of loan.

2.  Loans can be applied for by individuals, either solely or jointly. Owners of the current property, in respect of which the loan is being sought, will have to be co-applicants. However, the co-applicants need not be co-owners. 

3.  To check your loan against property eligibility the lender will check the market value of your property. Banks and NBFCs give only a percentage of the market value as loan.

4.  Since a mortgage loan is a secured loan it is cheaper than personal loan. Mortgage Loan Interest Rates are way lesser than those of personal loans. Today interest rates for personal loans can range from 12.5% to 21% whereas those for mortgage loans are between 12% to 15%.

5.  The processing charge for this type of loan is 0.50% to 3% of the loan amount plus service tax. Service tax is currently 14% of the amount. The processing fee is usually deducted from the loan amount sanctioned to you.

Housing Loans: Refinance House Loans For Home Improvements

Your housing loans can help you get your dream home. You live there for a few years, while still repaying those loans but after a while your dream home isn’t all that your dreamt about. Dreams change, even dreams about you home can change. A house needs improvements at regular intervals, and renovations to keep it looking as good as new. While you’re still paying your housing loan interest, it can be difficult to fund a home renovation.   

An easy way to fund your home improvements is by opting for a home loan balance transfer. Housing loan interest rates are seeing fluctuations lately. This can be attributed to the demonetization drive. With the huge amounts of funds deposited into banks during demonetization in India, banks have reduced their home loan interest rites a great deal.

By opting for home loan balance transfer, you can save on your interest and those savings can be used by you to fund your home renovations. If you’re considering transferring your home loans then here a few things you should know.

1.      Savings is the main reason for transferring home loans. But make sure that you opt for a home loan balance transfer only if the total savings in interest pay-out is substantially higher than the cost incurred while transferring the loan. Usually, the new lender will charge various fees, such as conversion fee, processing fees and administrative charges during the loan transfer.

2.      Transferring your home loan to a new lender is similar to availing a fresh loan, where the new lender will have its own set of terms and conditions. You can use it to re-set your loan EMI and tenure and top up as well. Opt for a home loan transfer if your existing lender is not allowing you to reset the terms and conditions of your loan.

3.      Usually banks and NBFCs provide top up loans to existing borrowers. These are just like personal loans but their interest rates are lower than a separate personal loan. One may require a top up in case of funds required for an emergency or in case of a home loan for renovations. Transfer your loan only if your current provider is not allowing you a top or if the new provider is offering you a better rate.

Transferring your home loan and saving on your housing loan interest can save you the trouble of getting a personal loan.