Home > Money > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help

Should I stay with my home loan at ICICI HFC or switch to a personal loan?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8291 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 13, 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
Anonymous Question by Anonymous on Jul 29, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money

Dear Sir, i had taken a loan of 26 Lakhs from ICICI HFC, the current rate of interest is 13.45 %, the current Principial balance is 17 Lakhs and recently checked whether they can reduce the interest to 10.35 % and which they are checking, I was also thinking to get a personal loan and close this and personal loan rate of interest is 10.75%. Request you to kindly whether i should stay with ICICI and reduce the tenure of loan by reducing the interest or should go for Personal loan so that I can have my land documents back with me.

Ans: It's better to stay with ICICI and negotiate the interest rate down to 10.35% rather than taking a personal loan. The reduced rate will lower your EMI and interest costs without the added burden of a new personal loan. Additionally, this approach helps you keep your land documents as collateral, which is typically safer than unsecured personal loans.

Best Regards,

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.
Money

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8291 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 27, 2024

Listen
Money
Hello Sir, I have taken a home loan from HDFC. Now only 27 EMI are to be paid. My current rate of interest is 8.55%. Yesterday, I received an email from HDFC saying that I can opt for a fixed rate of interest for the remaining tenure. They have not given that fixed rate of interest in the email. My question is that should I opt for the offer? Can you please suggest if it would be beneficial for me or not? Thanks in advance for your advice. - Satish
Ans: Satish, it's great that you're considering your options carefully when it comes to your home loan. Opting for a fixed interest rate can offer stability and predictability in your monthly payments, which can be comforting, especially as you near the end of your loan tenure.

However, before making a decision, it's important to weigh the pros and cons. Consider factors such as the current interest rate environment, your financial situation, and any potential future changes in interest rates. While a fixed rate can shield you from fluctuations in interest rates, it may also mean missing out on potential savings if interest rates decrease in the future.

As a Certified Financial Planner would advise, evaluate the terms of the fixed interest rate offer from HDFC, including the rate itself and any associated fees or conditions. Compare it with your current variable interest rate to determine if the switch would be beneficial for you in the long run. Remember, every financial decision is unique, so take your time to make an informed choice that aligns with your goals and circumstances.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8291 Answers  |Ask -

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

Listen
Money
Hello Sir, I have taken a home loan from HDFC. Now only 27 EMI are to be paid. My current rate of interest is 8.55%. Yesterday, I received an email from HDFC saying that I can opt for a fixed rate of interest for the remaining tenure. They have not given that fixed rate of interest in the email. My question is that should I opt for the offer? Can you please suggest if it would be beneficial for me or not? Thanks in advance for your advice. - Satish
Ans: Hello Satish,

It's great that you're considering your options regarding your home loan. Opting for a fixed interest rate can provide stability and predictability to your monthly payments, but it's essential to evaluate whether it's the right choice for you. Here are some factors to consider:

Fixed vs. Floating Rate: Compare the current floating rate of interest (8.55%) with the fixed rate offered by HDFC. If the fixed rate is lower than your current floating rate, it could potentially save you money over the remaining tenure of your loan.

Future Interest Rate Trends: Assess the prevailing economic conditions and interest rate outlook. If there's a possibility of interest rates rising in the future, locking in a fixed rate now could protect you from potential increases in your monthly payments.

Your Financial Situation: Consider your financial stability and ability to afford potential fluctuations in your monthly payments. Fixed-rate loans offer certainty, but they may have slightly higher initial EMIs compared to floating-rate loans.

Loan Duration: Since you have only 27 EMIs remaining, the impact of interest rate fluctuations may be limited. Evaluate whether the potential savings from switching to a fixed rate justify any associated costs or changes in your monthly budget.

Terms and Conditions: Review the terms and conditions of the fixed-rate offer carefully. Understand any associated fees, penalties, or restrictions that may apply.

Ultimately, the decision to opt for a fixed interest rate depends on your individual preferences, risk tolerance, and financial goals. If you prioritize stability and prefer knowing exactly what your monthly payments will be, opting for a fixed rate may offer peace of mind.

Before making a decision, I recommend reaching out to HDFC to request the specific fixed interest rate offered and to clarify any doubts or concerns you may have. Additionally, consider consulting with a financial advisor or mortgage expert who can provide personalized advice based on your situation.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4463 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 25, 2025

Career
Sir my daughter got 90% in jee mains she can get NIT cse course sir I. Am genral category
Ans: Miranalini Madam, Here is, How to Predict Your Daughter's Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your daughter's admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Her Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Her Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Her JEE Main percentile
Her category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Her Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Her Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If she is open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on her preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Her Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories both Home State (HS) i.e. State your daughter belongs to & also Other State (OS).
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in, separately for HS & OS Categories for a quick reference.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Her Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.

Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust her expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your daughter's admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x