Home Loans
Home Loans
Among the many aspirations of today’s working class, the one which ranks on top would be a home of their own. However, most of us cannot afford one either due to high real estate prices or lack of surplus cash. A home loan takes you one step closer to your dream destination- a home of your own, to either start a new family, shift to a bigger house or plan your retirement getaway.
- What is a Home Loan?
- What are the different types?
- What is a Loan Against Property? What are the interest rates?
- What is the maximum amount that can be borrowed?
- What is the typical repayment duration?
- What are the types of interest rates?
- What other costs will I incur while applying for a Home Loan?
- How do I know if I am eligible for a loan?
- What are the documents required to apply for a home loan?
- What are the tax benefits on Home Loan?
- What do lenders look for?
Home Loan is the sum of money borrowed from a bank or a financial institution to purchase or construct a house. It is a secured loan where the property is mortgaged to the lender as a security till the repayment of the loan. The bank or financial institution holds the title or deed of the property till the loan has been paid back with the interest due for it.
There are different types of home loan available in the market to cater a borrower’s different needs:
- Home Purchase Loan is the most common type of home loan meant for purchase or construction of a new house/apartment.
- Home Improvement Loan is taken to renovate an existing home.
- Home Extension Loan is for consumers who want to extend or expand their house such as add a new room or a new wing.
- Loan Against Property is for individuals seeking loan against an already existing property.
- Land Purchase Loan is sought for buying land as an investment or to build a house in future.
- Balance Transfer Loan is availed to pay off an existing home loan, enabling borrowers to take a loan with a lower interest rate.
What is a Loan Against Property? What are the interest rates?
A Loan Against Property (LAP) as the name suggests is a loan taken by the borrower from a lender by mortgaging an existing property that can be residential or commercial in nature. It is a secured loan where the borrower gives a guarantee by using his property as security. The loan amount sanctioned by the lender is based on certain percentage of the property's market value, which is usually around 40% - 60%. The interest rates for loan against property range between 12%-16%.
What is the maximum amount that can be borrowed?
Lenders generally offer loan amount up to 80-85% of the value of the property. The amount that is financed typically depends on the status of the borrower (resident/non-resident), type of home loan (renovation, property purchase, property extension) and the lender.
What are the types of interest rates?
Lenders offer either fixed or floating interest rate:
Fixed Interest Rate is fixed for the entire tenure of the loan and a fixed EMI is paid for the entire duration of the loan.
Floating Interest Rate means that your interest rate varies during the loan tenure depending on changing market conditions.
Interest rates can also be partly fixed or partly floating, suiting the needs of the borrower.
What other costs will I incur while applying for a Home Loan?
For a Home Loan, basic registration charges, transfer charges and stamp duty costs are added to the cost of the home. Some other charges include:
Processing charge or booking fee – paid to the lender when you apply for the loan. It could be fixed or a percentage of the loan amount.
Pre-payment penalty – if the loan is repaid before the agreed duration, some lenders may charge a penalty, up to 2% of the amount pre-paid.
Miscellaneous costs – there could be a documentation or legal fee, also known as ‘application fee’.
How do I know if I am eligible for a loan?
Loan eligibility criteria varies from one lender to another. However a few key requirements are:
- Salaried or Self Employed Individual
- Minimum age should be 21 years
- Steady source of income with good employment history
- Lenders check your CIBIL Score before approving your loan application. The higher your score, the higher are the chances of your loan application getting approved.
Click here to check your home loan eligibility.
What are the documents required to apply for a home loan?
The documents to be submitted when applying for a home loan varies from lender to lender. However, the common documents required by most lenders include:
Documents for Salaried Individuals:
- Identity Proof: Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License, Voters ID or PAN Card
- Address Proof: Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License, Voters ID or Utility Bills
- Latest 3 months Bank Statement
- Salary slip for last 3 months
Documents for Self-Employed:
- Identity Proof: Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License, Voters ID or PAN Card
- Address Proof: Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License, Voters ID or Utility Bills
- Income proof: Audited financials for the last two years
- Last 6 months Bank statement
- Office address proof
Lenders look at several factors while determining your home loan application:
CIBIL Score and Report: It is one of the most important factors when it comes to your loan approval. A high CIBIL Score is an assurance for lenders that you are a responsible borrower with a good track record of making timely repayments.
Employment Status: Apart from a good credit history, lenders check for your steady income and employment status.
Clean Title to the House/Property: Any legal or property issue related to your home/land might deter lenders to decide in your favor. Hence, always take legal advice before finalizing a property.
Location of the House: Sometimes lenders also take into consideration the location of the house before approving your home loan application.
Click here to check your free CIBIL Score and Report and ensure that your credit history and personal details are in order so as to avoid rejection from the lender.
Document Checklist
* This is an indicative list and may differ from lender to lender.