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Ramalingam Kalirajan |8093 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 12, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 30, 2023Hindi

Hi, Earlier, i had asked a question regarding a home loan i have. following is my question. "Hello Sir/Madam, I bought an apartment from a standard builder in Hyderabad. the possession of house supposed to happen after an year. So, i have taken house loan from a Bank for this house. Now, i have started the regular EMI for this with interest rate of 9%. so, my question is, monthly i have some surplus amount after the EMI and expenses, is it good idea to use that for repaying my home loan or do i need to wait till possession. My wife suggests to wait till the possession, then start repaying. Please suggest what do you think is better?" the answer i got was : yes, repay the house loan as the interest rate is high. However, as the possession of the apartment happens only after an year, is it good idea to repay the loan or not. the builder is a standard builder from Hyderabad. If we don't repay the amount any risk from builder is borne by the Bank, not me, hence i am asking this question. So, please answer. thank you Nagaraju

Ans: Unfortunately, I don't have access to your previous queries.Best Regards,

But generally, for a home loan with a high interest rate of 9%, it's usually recommended to start repaying the loan as early as possible to minimize the total interest paid over the loan term. Even though you haven't received possession of the property yet, repaying the loan can bring you benefits like:

Reduced interest burden: The sooner you start repaying, the less interest you will accrue over the loan term.
Improved credit score: Regular EMI payments can improve your credit score, making it easier to secure loans in the future and potentially at better interest rates.
However, there are also some factors to consider before making a decision:

Prepayment penalty: Some banks might have prepayment penalties for paying off the loan before the end of the term. Check your loan agreement for any such clauses.
Need for emergency funds: It's important to maintain an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. Ensure you have sufficient funds set aside before using your surplus for loan repayments.
If you're unsure about whether to start repaying the loan now or wait until possession, it's advisable to consult with a financial advisor. They can consider your specific financial situation and recommend the best course of action.
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.

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Answered on Dec 24, 2019

Question by Pavan - Dec 24, 2019Hindi

I stay in Bharuch, a city in Gujarat. I am planning to book a flat of 2bhk in this city. The apartment is still under construction and I need home loan to buy that home. My queries are: How much per cent can I get home loan (I require 90 per cent of total cost). So it is possible by any bank? If the apartment is under construction and I have applied for loan then what will be the EMI condition. Few say till I get possession of house I will be charged only interest as EMI while other says I will be charged EMI with interest and principal amount. So what is correct and best way to me to do? Presently am staying in a rented house. So if EMI starts I will be in trouble as I need to pay both loan and house rent. So please guide me.

Ans: If the apartment cost is below 33 lakh then you can get a 90 per cent of the flat cost (not including stamp duty/registration charges) as a loan.

As long as the project is registered with RERA and approved by the concerned lender you will get a choice between paying just interest till possession (called pre-EMI in banking jargon) or starting off the EMI on the disbursed amount. The choice is yours.

During the years in which the property remains under construction no tax benefits are available for any loan payment – whether interest or principal.

Finally, don’t buy under-construction flats where delays are rife. Just buy a ready to move in flat.

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