I am 36 and I want to buy a house worth 1.2 crore in 3 years. I have accumulated 15 lakhs in mutual funds (mostly equity) and invest 40,000/month across equity and hybrid funds. I also have 15 lakhs in FDs. Should I shift some money to a debt fund or REITs for down payment safety? What SIP amount or asset mix will help me achieve the goal comfortably?
Ans: Buying a house in three years is a short-term goal. You already have a strong start with Rs. 15 lakh in mutual funds and Rs. 15 lakh in FDs. Your monthly SIP of Rs. 40,000 also adds strength. However, when a goal is near, your investment strategy must shift. Let us do a 360-degree review of your situation.
Here is your personalised, simple, and detailed plan.
Understand the Short-Term Nature of Your Goal
Buying a house in 3 years is not a long-term goal.
Equity funds are ideal for long-term goals above 5 years.
In the short term, equity can show big ups and downs.
You must protect capital for short-term goals like home purchase.
A wrong move may reduce your house budget or delay the plan.
So, the focus must now shift from high returns to safety.
Review of Your Current Investments
You have Rs. 15 lakh in equity mutual funds.
This is a high-risk holding for a 3-year goal.
You also have Rs. 15 lakh in fixed deposits.
FDs are low risk and offer guaranteed returns.
You are investing Rs. 40,000/month in equity and hybrid funds.
This is a good monthly saving habit.
However, equity SIPs are risky for a short 3-year goal.
Hybrid funds reduce some risk but still have equity exposure.
So, a shift is needed in strategy for safety.
Should You Invest in Debt Funds?
Debt mutual funds are better than equity for short-term goals.
They give stable returns and are more tax-efficient than FDs.
If you hold debt funds for over 3 years, you get indexation benefits.
But from 2023, debt funds are taxed as per your income tax slab.
Still, they offer better flexibility than FDs and can beat inflation.
You can choose low-risk categories like short duration funds or banking & PSU funds.
These are suitable for a 2-3 year horizon.
So yes, shifting to debt funds is a better idea than keeping it all in equity.
Why REITs Are Not the Right Option for This Goal
REITs are not like FDs or debt funds.
They are linked to real estate market performance.
Their prices also fluctuate like equity stocks.
They may offer dividend income, but capital value can drop.
For a house down payment, safety is key.
REITs can’t offer that safety.
So REITs are not suitable for this short-term goal.
Recommended Asset Mix Till the Goal Year
Shift your current Rs. 15 lakh mutual fund corpus gradually to safer assets.
Move it slowly, in steps, to debt funds over 6-9 months.
Keep Rs. 15 lakh in FD as emergency and part of house funding.
Stop equity SIPs meant for this house goal.
Use part of Rs. 40,000/month to increase allocation to debt mutual funds.
You can continue equity SIPs separately only for long-term goals.
Example: Retirement, child education, or wealth creation.
Estimate Your House Buying Readiness
You want to buy a house worth Rs. 1.2 crore in 3 years.
A bank may fund 75% of this, i.e., Rs. 90 lakh as home loan.
You will need Rs. 30 lakh as down payment.
There will be 7-8% extra costs like stamp duty and registration.
That adds up to around Rs. 9-10 lakh more.
So total needed from your pocket is Rs. 40 lakh.
You already have Rs. 30 lakh in mutual funds and FDs.
You invest Rs. 40,000 per month.
In 3 years, that may add Rs. 15 lakh more if invested in safe funds.
So, you are already on track to reach Rs. 45 lakh by the third year.
That will cover the down payment and other house expenses.
Keep Emergency Fund Separate
Do not use emergency funds for house buying.
Keep 6 months’ expense ready in liquid form.
You can park it in liquid funds or sweep-in FDs.
This helps handle sudden job loss, medical needs, or delay in property deal.
What You Should Do Month-by-Month
Start reducing equity fund exposure step-by-step.
Begin moving lump-sum into short-term debt funds.
Rebalance over 6 to 9 months to avoid market timing risks.
If market rises, you benefit before exit.
If market falls, staggered exit reduces loss.
Start SIPs into low-risk debt funds with Rs. 40,000/month allocation.
Keep watching interest rates.
If FD rates go up more, shift some portion from debt funds to FD.
Review your plan every 6 months.
Re-check goals and fund performance regularly with a Certified Financial Planner.
Should You Take a Home Loan?
If you want to retain liquidity, home loan helps.
A home loan of Rs. 90 lakh will come with a high EMI.
Check if EMI fits your future income with child plans.
Or, if you prefer no loans, increase monthly SIP to target Rs. 50 lakh corpus.
You can then buy without any loan.
Discuss both options with a Certified Financial Planner for better tax planning.
Direct Funds Are Not Recommended
Many people invest in direct mutual funds to save commission.
But they miss regular monitoring and expert guidance.
Direct funds need self-review and rebalancing every few months.
That is difficult during busy work life or life events like childbirth.
Investing through regular plans with a CFP ensures discipline and review.
You also get emotional support during market ups and downs.
Avoid Index Funds for This Goal
Index funds follow the market blindly.
They fall when market falls, with no protection.
They offer no active fund manager to control risks.
In a 3-year goal, market crashes can wipe out gains.
Actively managed funds can control downside better.
For this reason, actively managed debt funds or hybrid conservative funds are better.
Think About Insurance Too
You are buying a house and starting a family.
You must get a pure term insurance plan.
It must cover at least 10 to 15 times your yearly income.
Avoid ULIPs or insurance-cum-investment plans.
Just take term insurance for protection.
Also, take family health insurance with Rs. 10 lakh or more coverage.
It protects savings during medical emergencies.
Review this with a Certified Financial Planner.
Final Insights
You are doing very well with savings and discipline.
Now, as your goal is near, reduce equity risk.
Shift to debt funds slowly over 6 to 9 months.
REITs are not suitable for short-term safety.
FD is fine but debt funds give more tax efficiency and liquidity.
Increase SIP in debt funds and review asset allocation regularly.
Keep emergency fund intact and insurance up-to-date.
Keep equity only for long-term wealth building, not for house purchase.
You are on the right track.
Take final decisions with help from a Certified Financial Planner.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment