What Are the Advantages of Taking a Home Loan?
Updated: Mar 21, 2022
One of the biggest financial decisions in your life will be purchasing a dream home for you and your loved ones. Add to that the decision to take a home loan and it becomes an even greater commitment.
Top 10 Advantages of Taking a Home Loan
For the average middle-class Indian, the home loan can be viewed as a huge liability that has to be repaid to the lender over several years. Therefore, one has to be absolutely convinced about the home loan advantage factors before deciding to take it in the first place.
Here is a list of home loan benefits.
A Home Loan Makes It Affordable to Purchase Property:
Whether you are self-employed or salaried, availing of a home loan to buy your dream property is the most convenient method of funding the purchase. If the prospective borrower has a good CIBIL score of above 700 and a positive credit history, getting the loan is much easier. This is because the lender feels reassured of the applicant’s sense of financial responsibility.
Must Read :What is CIBIL Score - How Does it Impact Your Home Loan Application
Moreover, home loans come with long repayment tenures of up to 30 years. If you opt for the maximum tenure, the monthly instalments will not burn a hole in your pocket. Plus, you will be able to diversify the surplus funds towards your retirement planning or perhaps a luxury purchase.
A Home Loan Offers Cost Effective Credit:
Home loans are offered by lenders at attractive and low rates of interest in comparison to other types of loans such as loans against gold or even a personal loan. Generally, the rate of interest ranges starts at 10%*, depending on the borrower’s profile and the lender’s policy. If you have an existing relationship with a lender, then you can negotiate preferential interest rates based on your credit and repayment history.
Generally, the interest rates on a home loan are low because the borrower pledges the property purchased as collateral to the lender until such time that the loan has been repaid in full.
A Home Loan Helps in Enhancing Net Worth:
Many people tend to invest in real estate as the market has shown consistent growth in India over the years. With appreciation in real estate prices, it is a sure shot route to grow your net worth.
A home loan is a logical way to finance if you wish to acquire one or more real estate properties for investment purposes. Even with paying the interest component across the entire repayment tenure, the appreciation capital will be higher in the long run. If you wish to sell the property, the return on investment will result in greater profit.
A Home Loan Supports Compounding Savings:
Availing home loans and repaying them through affordable monthly instalments ensures that your dream home does not become a burden on your pocket. As a matter of fact, with longer repayment tenures you can have leftover funds from your earnings. These funds can be then channelised towards financial instruments that offer potentially higher returns.
In the long run, this helps in compounding your savings, thus helping the borrower in wealth creation and accumulation.
A Home Loan Guarantees Property Safety:
When you purchase a property, it is important to make sure that the investment is free of any legal disputes. However, for an ordinary borrower, running a check of this magnitude can be overwhelming.
This is an added home loan benefit for salaried and self-employed individuals as availing this type of finance automatically triggers a full background check on the credibility of the builder as well as the property itself. The chosen lender undertakes this exercise on behalf of the borrower. The outcome is to make sure that the property is legal, and the real estate developer has all the necessary documentation and certificates from the relevant authorities. Once the lender receives a positive report, the borrower is absolutely assured that the property is free of any legal disputes making it a safe purchase.
It is also recommended to get insurance along with your home loan, to protect your property and your loved ones in case of any unforeseen events. SMFG Grihashakti enables borrowers to access top insurance products from reputed providers. To know more, visit our insurance pages, or contact us.
A Home Increases Loan Eligibility:
As you keep paying off the loan in a timely manner, the act categorizes you as a responsible borrower to the lender. Making your repayments on your home loan has a significant impact on your CIBIL score and credit report. This improves your eligibility to avail of more loans in the future.
Once you repay the loan in full, you can avail a number of other loans at competitive rates of interest.
Home Loan Offer Tax Benefits
Another key home loan advantage for self employed and salaried individuals is claiming tax exemptions on the principal component of the home loan repayment. Under Section 80C of the Income Tax in India, the borrower can tax benefit on a home loan up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs in a given financial year.
Furthermore, you can do a lot more tax saving with a home loan by claiming deductions on the interest part of the loan repayment too. This falls under Section 24B of the Income Tax Act. The deduction has been capped at Rs. 2 lakhs per year.
Leading to Value Appreciation
When you get a house with a home loan, you are getting an asset that is typically thought to increase in value over time. This is value appreciation, as opposed to getting an asset that may lose value in a short time (depreciation).
Balance Transfer Facility
One of the many benefits of a home loan is the home loan balance transfer facility. This means that you can transfer the outstanding balance to another lender. It is usually done when you can get lower interest rates and more flexible payment terms that can potentially lead to savings. However, it is important to check for any processing fees or prepayment penalties associated with the transfer.
No Lock-in of Funds
When taking a home loan, you can opt for no lock-in of funds or an overdraft (OD) account. As opposed to a traditional loan where the down payment is locked in until the loan is closed, you can get access to a portion of them in case of an emergency. Thus, no lock-in serves as a precautionary measure for emergencies if you have used up your savings towards buying a house.
In Conclusion
Needless to say, the advantages of taking a home loan are many. Having said that, it is still a massive financial commitment. Therefore, it is recommended that you speak to your chosen lender before putting your application forward.
However, if you are in need of an immediate home loan, feel free to speak to SMFG Grihashakti’s home loan department for in depth information. Apply online today.
FAQ's
What are the benefits of a home loan?
There are several benefits of taking a home loan, including:
- Makes property purchase more affordable.
- Low interest rates depending on your eligibility and/or existing relationship with the lender.
- Increases net worth as property purchase can be a sound investment.
- Can compound your savings with flexible repayment tenures.
- Guarantees property safety as a full background check of the property is conducted by the lender.
- Timely payments build your credit score and history, increasing your creditworthiness for any future loan applications.
- Leads to value appreciation as you get an asset that typically increases in value over time.
- Potential for savings with the balance transfer facility where you can transfer the home loan to another lender with lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms.
- No lock-in funds or overdraft account option lets you access a portion of your loan funds in case of an emergency.
Is it beneficial to take home loans for the long term?
A home loan over a long term can help reduce monthly EMI burden and build a longer history of timely payments which benefits your credit score. However, a longer tenure leads to higher interest costs. It is important to consider both options and decide on a term that best suits your budget and financial goals.
How much home loan can I get on a 60000 salary?
Different lenders apply different methods to determine the loan amount based on the monthly income. It is also important to note that the loan amount will depend upon several other factors such as age, credit score, existing financial obligations, property value, and so on. You can use a home loan eligibility calculator to determine the maximum loan amount you may be able to borrow.
How can I save tax on my home loan?
You can get tax benefits on your home loan under the Income Tax Act. Under Section 80C, you can get deductions of up to INR 1.5 lakhs if you meet certain conditions. Under Section 24, you can get deductions of up to INR 2 lakhs if you meet the required criteria.
Is it better to increase EMI or tenure?
A shorter payment will increase your monthly EMI but save you on interest costs. A longer tenure will reduce monthly EMIs but increase your interest costs. The choice between an increased EMI or tenure depends on your current budget, expenses, and any potential expenses in the future.
How to pay a 25 year home loan in 10 years?
You can pay off a 25 year home loan in 10 years by increasing your EMI amounts or making lump sum payments whenever additional funds are available. Some factors to consider before doing this include prepayment penalties, making adjustments to your current lifestyle, and consider additional sources of income. It is recommended to get in touch with your lender and come up with a plan that does not put a strain on your financial well-being.
How to manage a home loan smartly?
Here are a few ways to manage your loan smartly:
- Carefully assess your budget, existing financial obligations, and potential future expenses before deciding on the loan amount. Ensure that you can comfortably pay off the loan through monthly payments.
- Search for lenders who can offer the most favourable terms such as low interest rates and flexible loan tenures. An existing relationship with a lender may get you preferential interest rates if you have a strong repayment history.
- Plan your EMIs in advance using an EMI calculator and review your budget regularly.
- Consider home loan balance transfer to get lower interest rates with another lender, especially if you have built a good credit history.
Disclaimer: *Please note that this article is for your knowledge only. Loans are disbursed at the sole discretion of SMFG Grihashakti. Final approval, loan terms, disbursal process, foreclosure charges and foreclosure process will be subject to SMFG Grihashakti’s policy at the time of loan application. If you wish to know more about our products and services, please contact us.