When applying for a home loan, borrowers often focus primarily on interest rates while overlooking essential elements like home loan processing fees and charges. However, understanding these expenses is crucial to assessing the true overall cost of your loan. Home loan processing charges can significantly impact your total financial commitment when purchasing a property.
This quick guide breaks down everything you need to know about home loan processing fees, along with other associated costs, to help you make informed borrowing decisions.

What Is the Home Loan Processing Fee?

Home loan processing fees are a one-time charge imposed by lending institutions to cover the administrative expenses involved in evaluating, verifying, and approving a home loan application. While most lenders charge this fee as a percentage of the loan amount, some may apply a fixed fee instead.
These charges typically cover costs related to:

• Document verification
• Credit assessment
• Property valuation
• Legal verification
• Application processing

Many financial institutions collect this fee regardless of whether your loan application is approved or rejected, making it an important consideration when comparing lending options.

Factors Influencing Home Loan Processing Fees

Several factors determine the processing fee charged by financial institutions. As noted above, lenders typically charge this fee as a percentage of the loan amount. Therefore, higher loan amounts usually lead to higher processing fees. Some lenders may offer reduced or waived processing fees during festive seasons or as part of limited-time promotional campaigns.

Other Charges Associated with Home Loans

In addition to the basic processing fee, several other charges may be applicable throughout the home loan process. Common charges include:

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Application Fees/IMD Fees

IMD stands for Initial Money Deposit. This is usually a one-time, non-refundable fee collected to initiate the application process.

Documentation Fees

Documentation fees are usually required for verifying and processing the documents that were submitted with your loan application. In most cases, these charges are levied only in disbursed cases.

Stamp Fees and Charges

Stamp duty and registration charges are mandatory government levies paid at the time of registering the property transaction. The stamp fees and charges are applicable as per the state laws. If the stamping is done by the lending institution, a service charge is usually applicable.

Late Payment Charges

These charges are imposed when you fail to make your monthly loan repayments or EMIs on time.

Prepayment Penalties

Prepayment charges may apply when a borrower chooses to repay the home loan before the end of the agreed tenure. Note that, as per the guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), prepayment charges cannot be levied on floating-rate home loans taken for non-business purposes. Fixed-rate home loans, however, may still attract such charges, depending on lender policy.

Collateral Handling Fees

A one-time fee may be charged for processing, evaluating, and documenting the property used as collateral for the loan.

Factors to Consider Before Signing the Home Loan Agreement

These charges affect the overall cost of the loan and can catch you off guard if not accounted for early. Reputed lenders disclose all fees and charges transparently on their websites and include a breakdown in the loan agreement. Before signing, review all associated costs carefully and don’t hesitate to seek clarification on any unclear component.

Conclusion

Understanding home loan processing fees and charges is essential for making informed borrowing decisions. By evaluating all associated costs beyond just the interest rate, you can better understand the true financial commitment involved in your home loan.
SMFG Grihashakti offers home loans of up to 90%* of the property’s value with competitive interest rates and flexible loan tenures. We prioritise transparency regarding all fees and charges, helping you achieve your homeownership dreams without unexpected financial surprises. Use our home loan eligibility calculator to estimate the maximum loan amount you may qualify for and apply online today!