Owning a house is among the largest achievements for most people, yet it is also costly. Purchasing a home is not a small task, and funds should be gathered beforehand. However, you can opt for a home loan if you do not have the funds.
A house or housing loan is borrowed from a bank or other lending organisation. Depending on the loan conditions, you must return the principal amount plus interest in equated monthly instalments (EMIs). Home loans have flexible tenures, and you can get a home loan for 10-25 years or more.
What to consider when applying for a home loan?
The following are the most important considerations when applying for a home loan:
1. What is the total EMI you need to pay?
You will make monthly payments until the debt is paid off. Each EMI includes both principal and interest. As a result, your principal repayment will rise with each EMI, but your interest payments will decrease over time. Consider the total EMI you need to pay and determine whether it fits your budget.
2. What is the tenure of the loan?
Check the tenure of the loan based on the EMI you can afford. You may choose a loan tenure that works for you by changing your EMI. However, this will increase the rate of interest on your loan.
3. What are the interest rates offered?
Financial institutions charge interest on the loan they provide. The interest rate is determined by the tenure of the home loan and the principal amount you need. This rate is also affected by your credit history and income.
4. Can you make prepayments?
Partial prepayments are a great way of making a dent in your principal amount. You should prepay as much as feasible to reduce the debt without jeopardising your finances. Lesser the loan amount, the lower the interest rate.
Many banks, subject to qualification, may charge you a prepayment fee. Sometimes, this prepayment fee is too high, making this strategy ineffective. Therefore, evaluate whether you can may partial prepayments.
5. Will you get mortgage protection insurance?
If anything unfortunate occurs, the insurance provider will repay the principal amount used to obtain the insurance. This guarantees that the financial burden of overdue does not fall on your family. Furthermore, to avoid defaults in the case of an unexpected incident, many financial institutions need consumers to acquire a guarantee plan.
6. What are the additional charges?
In addition to EMIs, the lender may charge you additional fees. For example, you may be charged administrative fees, processing charges, or service costs after you submit the loan application. Before asking for a loan, go through all additional charges with the lender.
Determine whether these are regular or one-time expenses and alter your monthly budget to account for them alongside your EMIs.
Top Home loan tips
1. Use a loan calculator.
Finding out how much of a loan you can afford may be easier using a loan calculator. These straightforward house loan EMI calculators are available online. They display the various possibilities and your monthly payment amounts. You may use them to determine how much debt is appropriate given your income.
2. Compare home loan offers.
Loans with the same interest rates are not equal, so beware. Other elements may change the cost of a loan. For instance, additional fees will affect the total amount. You need to know all the elements before calculating the loan’s cost.
3. Conduct a pre-qualification.
Pre-qualification is conducted by real estate brokers to determine which type of home you are eligible for. Pre-qualification is a sensible approach to determine your financial situation, including how much you can borrow and the price range of homes you should consider. Only basic financial data, such as your salary and savings, will be required.
4. You can find the loan kind that is ideal for you.
The fact that your closest buddy chose a fixed-rate loan does not automatically indicate that it is the best choice for you. Because fixed rates are predictable, he discovered that they are better for him. You may prefer a floating interest rate. This is a market-related variable that fluctuates in line with a standard rate. It would be best if you did not necessarily choose this, either. Your particular financial circumstances should determine the sort of loan you choose.
5. Make sure you reply to your lender as soon as possible.
Your work is not done after you have applied for a mortgage. Your lender could want more information, which you will need to provide immediately. If you wait too long to respond to the lender, the loan may be postponed, which may cause problems with the house you want to buy.
6. Keep up with your credit score while the loan is being processed.
Never assume that just because a lender has examined your credit score before approving your application, they will not do so again. Before your loan closes, the lender may run another credit report to determine if the score has changed. Therefore, keep your credit score in good standing during the loan processing time. To do this, you must refrain from getting more credit cards, applying for additional loans, etc. To maintain good credit, you must continue paying all your expenses on time.
Conclusion
Not all home loans are ideal for everyone. Before applying for a housing loan in India, you should carefully study the conditions, which vary depending on the person or lender. Consequently, you should choose housing loans based on your loan needs, repayment capacity, and cash flow.
Piramal Finance provides home loans and personal loans at affordable EMIs with market-friendly interest rates. Check your eligibility now!