home loan rates

A Reddit user's decision to pay off a ₹45 lakh home loan eight years early sparked debate. While financial advisors highlight potential investment gains versus loan interest, the user emphasizes the peace of mind and guaranteed savings from debt freedom. Ultimately, personal happiness and security trump pure financial optimization for many.

Buying property in India demands meticulous legal checks. Essential documents like Sale Deeds, Encumbrance Certificates, and RERA registration ensure clear title and prevent future disputes. Verifying land use, construction approvals, and dues clearance at each stage safeguards your investment and avoids costly legal battles. A thorough review is paramount.

A young couple's struggle to buy a home in Bangalore, despite dual incomes, contrasts sharply with their swift purchase of a three-bedroom house in the UK on a single salary. The viral X post highlights India's 'broken' real estate market, marked by exorbitant prices and a lack of transparency, while the UK offered affordability and a smooth, honest buying process.

In this By Invitation column, author, art historian and curator Dr Alka Pande shares how the Indian art is experiencing a boom, with auction records being shattered for modern masters like Husain and Raza, fetching hundreds of crores. Despite global market caution, wealthy Indian collectors are driving demand, viewing art as a symbol of heritage and identity.

Today's forecasts offer guidance across various life aspects, from home harmony and self-care to financial prudence and career advancements. Personalized advice, based on the first letter of your name, highlights opportunities for progress, stability, and well-being. Embrace diligent work, financial knowledge, and mindful choices for lasting success and happiness.

'Too Expensive', Only 1-2% Of Homeowners in India Buy Policy: Experts

Indian aviation faces unprecedented turbulence due to a perfect storm of factors. From pandemic fallout and engine failures to airspace closures and a Middle East war driving fuel prices sky-high, airlines are struggling. Passengers face rising fares and cancelled routes as the sector grapples with deep financial distress and operational chaos.

Global oil markets face turmoil due to the Iran-US conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. India, heavily reliant on oil imports, feels the pinch through rising inflation and borrowing costs. The Reserve Bank of India monitors the situation, opting for stability over aggressive action. Households may experience a gradual tightening of budgets as costs rise and monetary easing is delayed.

The Reserve Bank of India's decision to maintain the repo rate at 5.25% has been welcomed by real estate stakeholders and homebuyers. This move ensures stability in home loan interest rates, fostering confidence among prospective buyers, particularly in the mid-income segment. Industry experts believe the predictable EMIs will support sustained growth in the real estate sector amidst global uncertainties.

On Friday, Mukul Choudhary became an overnight sensation in the IPL, smashing an unbeaten 27-ball 54, including seven massive sixes, to help Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pull off a heist against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens. The 21-year-old was bought by LSG for Rs 2.60 crore.

Buying a property involves significant hidden costs beyond the initial price. Buyers must account for stamp duty, registration fees, home loan expenses, ongoing maintenance, property taxes, utility deposits, interior furnishing, legal documentation, and miscellaneous charges. Understanding these expenses is crucial for informed financial planning and a smooth homeownership journey.

For salaried individuals, this transition marks more than just a procedural change. It signals quite a shift in how income is reported, assessed, and taxed. The reforms seek to simplify compliance, reduce ambiguity, and align India’s tax administration with global best practices.

The country’s largest lender SBI has said on its website that its home loan rates will start from 6.95%, effective April 1. Last month, the public sector bank had announced a special offer valid till March 31, wherein home loans were available starting from 6.7%.

A year ago, lenders were wooing homebuyers with a decadal low-interest rate of 6. 5%. But in the last 10 months, home loan borrowers have seen a sharp 250-basis-point (100bps = 1 percentage point) increase in interest rates. Those who borrowed at 6. 5% in April 2022 are now billed 9%, resulting in their repayment tenure extending beyond retirement.

For retail borrowers lulled by the prolonged benign interest rate regime, the spike in repo rate is a clear signal to tighten the purse strings, as marketwatchers expect at least one more round of policy rate hike.

State Bank of India on Wednesday announced concession of up to 25 basis points (bps) on its home loan rates on above Rs 75 lakh, based on their CIBIL score and if they are applying through YONO. The bank is offering a credit score-based concession of up to 20 bps from 10 bps earlier, for a home loan of above Rs 30 lakh to Rs 2 crore across the country, a release said.

Repo-linked home loans have drastically reduced borrowing costs for customer. For instance, SBI's home loan rate dropped to 8.05% after it linked its advances to the repo rate which is nearly half a percentage point lower than the 8.55% it charged customers in June under the marginal cost of lending rate (MCLR).

With the RBI slashing home loan rates, there’s a renewed interest in sale of apartments in the city and suburbs. While the demolition of flats at Maradu created negative sentiments among buyers and investors, it took a further beating with the outbreak of the pandemic and resultant lockdown in 2020.

Even though home loan rates are expected to come down, prepayment will save you more than what you earn from fixed income options. High-cost and long-term loans should be retired as early as possible.

Middle East tensions are impacting the US bond market, causing mortgage rates to tick upward. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.11%, reversing recent declines. This surge, driven by inflation concerns from higher oil prices, is overriding softer economic data and potentially delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts, further pressuring the already slow housing market.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has significantly reduced the repo rate by 50 basis points, bringing the total cut to 1% since February, a move set to lower home loan EMIs. Experts suggest this could push home loan rates closer to sub-8%, benefiting borrowers.