Home loans are provided based on the market value, mainly estimation given by banks or the registration value of the property. Availing various types of house loans to suit your individual needs at the lowest rates & easy financing can now fulfill the need for a house of your own.

Home loan is not a one-time decision, do review the market periodically before availing them. Today there are unlimited numbers of banks in the country wanting to give out Home loans. Given this scenario, it may seem easy getting yourself a loan. But is it really??
Buyers tend to make mistakes while entering into deals, which may not be beneficial for them, so better compare all the variables before signing a loan agreement by different banks. However the loan agreement should be finalized only after reading the terms and conditions carefully.

You can apply for a Home loan even before you select your property. The loan amount would be sanctioned or approved for you, based on your repayment capability.

Each bank has its own list of documents that one must submit at the time of application. The common documents that the banks require at the pre-approval stage are:
• Passport size photograph.
• Proof of Age.
• Copy of Bank A/C statements for the last 6 months.
• Copy of latest credit card statement.
• Signature verification from your banker.

If you are self-employed you require:
• Your business track record .
• Copy of audited financial statements for the last 2 years.

If you are salaried, you need:
• Salary and TDS certificate
• Latest pay slip.
• Letter from employer.

And at the disbursal stage (for property already located), you need to submit the following:
• Allotment letters.
• Photocopies of title deeds.
• Encumbrance certificate.
• Agreement to sell .

For self-construction:
• Approved plans and clearance certificates along with estimates.

• When can I apply for a Home Loan?
• How do I make an application?
• How is my Home Loan eligibility determined?
• How long does it take to get the loan sanctioned?
• What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
• What security/collateral do I have to provide?
• How is the interest rates calculated on my loan?
• What are the bases of interest rates calculation?
• What is the Fixed Rate of Interest?
• What is Floating Rate of Interest?
• What are the repayment period options?
• Can I repay my loan ahead of schedule?
• Who can be a Co-Applicant??
• Do I get a tax benefit on Home Loan?
• Does the agreement for sale have to be registered?

When can I apply for a Home Loan?
You can for apply for Home Loan at anytime. You may apply for it after you have decided to acquire/construct a property, and even in case, the property has not been selected or the construction has not commenced, you can still apply. What's more, you can also avail for Home Loan facility if you want to renovate or expand your home.

How do I make an application?
You need to submit the application form along with the necessary documents. The bank, after going through your application will review it, ask questions wherever necessary and will also informally tell you the loan amount you are eligible for and the terms and conditions of the same and put across its decision to you. You are as always, advised to shop around for more than one bank so as to get better terms/larger loan amount/lowest interest etc.

How is my Home Loan eligibility determined?
Your Home Loan eligibility is determined by your repayment capacity, taking into consideration, factors such as: Your:
• Income
• Qualifications
• Age
• Spouse's income
• No. of dependants
• Stability and continuity of occupation
• Assets/LiabilitiesM.
• Savings history.
The most important concern of banks in determining your loan eligibility is that whether or not you are contentedly able to pay off the amount you borrow.

How long does it take to the loan sanctioned?
It takes around two weeks for processing of one's application if all the necessary documents are in order and takes another week for the bank to inspect the property papers and make the disbursement.

What is the maximum amount I can borrow?

The maximum amount that you can borrow depends on factors such as:
• The purpose of the loan.
• Whether it is for purchase of property or improvement or renovation.
• Or purchase of land for development etc.
Besides, your residential status (whether resident Indian or Non-Resident Indian) will also be significant on the maximum quantum of loan that you can borrow. Typically Home Loans are provided for in the range of 75%-85% of the cost of the property, including cost of land.

What security/collateral do I have to provide?
Banks usually take some additional securities which are called collateral securities. Collateral could be in the form of guarantee from one or two persons, assignment of life insurance policies, the surrender value of which should be equal to the loan amount, deposit of shares, and units or other securities. These additional securities are taken just incase a loan is not paid back; recourse may be taken to such securities instead of depending upon the mortgage of the property which is the last resort .

What are the bases of interest rates calculation?
The interest on Home Loans is usually calculated on Monthly Reducing or Yearly Reducing balance. In Monthly Reducing Balance, the principal on which you pay interest reduces every month as you pay your EMI. However in Yearly Reducing Balance, the principal is reduced at the end of the year, therefore you continue to pay interest on a certain part of the principal which you have actually paid back to the bank, which basically means the EMI for the Monthly Reducing system is effectively lesser than the Yearly Reducing system of calculating the interest.

What is the Fixed Rate of Interest?
Fixed Rate of Interest means that the interest rates remain FIXED for the entire duration the loan. This basically means that you do not benefit, even if the rates of interest drop in the market.

What is Floating Rate of Interest?
This is the rate of interest that fluctuates according to the market lending rate.

What are the repayment period options?
The maximum period over which one can pay the loan varies for every bank, and is also different for every scheme. Also your residential status makes a difference. If you are a resident Indian, you could avail of a loan for duration of 5-20 years. Few banks offer a 20-year repayment period, generally at a higher interest rate. As a Non-Resident Indian, you can only avail of a loan for a maximum period of 7 years.

Can I repay my loan ahead of schedule?
Yes, you can pay your loan ahead of schedule, if you want to. However, it must be noted that banks charge a fee for early redemption of loan. This fee can vary between 1-2% of the loan amount being pre-paid.

Who can be a Co-Applicant?
A Co-Applicant(s) is/are the Co-Owners of the property in respect of whom the financial assistance has been sought. However all co-applicants need not be co-owners. Usually co-applicants are: husband/wife, father/son, mother/daughter etc.

Do I get a tax benefit on Home Loan?
Yes, you are eligible for tax benefits on the principal and interest components of the loan under the Income Tax Act, 1961. However as the benefits could vary each year, do check out the current benefits available.

Does the agreement for sale have to be registered?
Yes, and you are advised to do so too as the Agreement for Sale between the builder and the purchaser is required by law to be registered. You can register at the office of the Sub-registrar appointed by the State Government under the Indian Registration Act, 1908.

So if you are planning to avail a home loan, here are some tips:
Firstly, take your own time and evaluate your expenses and do a market survey about the property buying process. Buying a house, which is way beyond your range, could affect you financially; banks help in financing your dream home via home loans.

Eligibility Banks determine your eligibility based on your repayment capacity and discuss about the loan amount up front. The eligibility for acquiring a home loan is augmented by clubbing income of your father/spouse/mother/son, by clearing your outstanding debts, by stretching your loan tenure, Salaried individuals can increase their eligibility by showing their performance linked income or bonus earned.
Secondly, Do your own analysis and check the impact of your repayment of home loan on your monthly expenditure, as a thumb rule, it?s recommended to make sure the EMI of your home loan do not exceed more than 40% of your gross monthly income.

Interest rates best suited An important factor that goes into your EMI calculations is the interest rates, which may vary from bank to bank, so do compare them. Also do a complete and detailed analysis of the various options like the interest rates i.e. fixed and floating rate of interest.
Thirdly, if two banks give you the same amount of loan but at different interest rates do your math and work out what's best for you.

Fixed interest loans charge an interest, which remains the same through out the tenure of the loan. This means that the consumer is immune to market risk or the possible upward movement in the interest rates.
Hence, fixed rate is a good option when the interest rates are expected to move up in the future.

As for floating rate loan, a consumer is exposed to market risk and his gain or loss depends on the interest rate condition prevailing in the market. Floating rate is beneficial if the interest rate falls in the future. A floating rate is considered non-transparent and is also known as 'adjustable rate'.
Fourthly, if you decide to opt for a fixed rate loan, you can still switch to a floating rate loan in the future and vice versa as and when rates go in your favour and if you do decide to switch, you should take into account the cost of doing so and the interest rate benefits of switching.
For a given interest rate, loan with a daily or monthly reducing balance is better than an annual reducing balance loan. Interest rates vary depending on the tenure of the loan, the amount of the loan and your personal profile.

Insurance cover (an added cost) Also, many banks may insist on getting your home insured to safeguard their interest. There are various kinds of insurance covers available for you. Apart from getting the mandatory ones you should try to get insurance as per your circumstances. You also have a choice of getting insured from another company without any objection from your bank.

Other costs The interest rates and EMIs are not the only cost factor. A 1% administration fee and a 1% processing fee on a Rs.10 lac loan, would amount to Rs.20,000.
Processing fees, administration fees, valuation fee, legal fee, is to be paid when you apply for a loan and other fees paid at closing. Many of these fees are negotiable. You should ask for zero processing fees and zero-penalty for pre-payment option. If this were not available, then lowest cost would be better.
Make sure you work out as to how much these other costs add up to. So even though the interest rate may be lower, it usually adds up to being expensive. If the EMIs may come out a lot more than what you can afford on a monthly basis; try to redo the math with changes in the tenure and loan amount (if possible).

Document required Most importantly, all deals and offers agreed upon are supported by relevant papers. Self employed and salaried require different documents to support the deal.
So make sure you always ask for a letter on the banks letterhead mentioning the likes of, exact rate of interest, processing fees, pre-payment charges along with interest-schedule.
Before signing the documents, make sure you recheck all terms and conditions.
Do make sure you understand and agree with each of the clauses in the documents. Do not sign any blank documents. Even if it takes you a few hours to fill-up the form, please do so.
Do not leave anything for the executive to fill-up. It?s always better to get a legal opinion from someone on your loan papers.
Do not under any circumstance give any false information. This may amount to fraud and could land you in trouble.

Penalties Once you have received the loan do your best to pay it back as quickly as possible. But this early payment might invite a pre-payment clause.
Banks make their money off the interest they charge and the sooner you pay back a loan the less money you will have to pay in interest. When it comes to Home loans, penalties are binding, like if you chose to pay up your entire money before the tenure, a Pre-payment penalty is charged. So you should know about such penalties beforehand to avoid future misunderstanding between you and the bank.