Hi sir,
My monthly take home was 107000 and I'm paying Home loan of 44K with 13 years.
Roughly my monthly expenses will be 20K and I'm investing 10K monthly in gold.
In equity I'm having around 1 Lakh rupees and in EPF around 3 Lakhs.
Now I'm little bit confused will I keep my home or should I sale it and move near to my work area since I'm traveling around 75kms up and down for my work. And my current home located area also not so good lack of facilities.
Could you please suggest how can move forward on these situations.
Ans: You are thinking wisely about long-term comfort and convenience. Evaluating such a big life change needs a 360-degree financial and emotional assessment. Let's explore each angle now.
» Current Financial Snapshot
Monthly income is Rs. 1,07,000.
Home loan EMI is Rs. 44,000.
You spend Rs. 20,000 on living.
Gold SIP is Rs. 10,000 monthly.
Equity investments are Rs. 1 lakh.
EPF has Rs. 3 lakhs corpus.
Commute is 75 km daily, which is time-consuming.
Local area lacks good facilities and comfort.
» Assessing Home Ownership Utility
A house is more than just a financial asset.
It also affects peace, health, and productivity.
If the area is inconvenient or uncomfortable, its real utility reduces.
A house far from your workplace drains your energy every day.
Long travel reduces your personal time and family balance.
Over 13 years, this adds up as a mental and physical cost.
» Key Factors Before Selling Current House
What is the current market value of the house?
How easy is it to sell in your area?
Is there any emotional or future family attachment to this house?
What will be your capital gain or loss after sale?
Are there prepayment penalties or home loan closure charges?
Will the proceeds be enough to close the loan and buy another house?
» Real Estate Is Not Always A Good Investment
House resale may not give inflation-beating returns.
Many areas grow slowly or stay stagnant for years.
Holding real estate locks liquidity.
Property tax, maintenance, and resale delay reduce real return.
» Commuting Is An Invisible Cost
You spend long hours travelling daily.
Your fuel, vehicle wear and tear, toll, and stress have a cost.
It lowers your health and your performance at work.
Even weekends may not feel restful due to long travel fatigue.
» Financial Planning If You Sell The House
If you sell, try to close the home loan fully.
Avoid taking another home loan immediately.
Live in a rented house near your workplace for 1–2 years.
Choose a rented home with better facilities and peaceful environment.
Use this stay to explore which location suits your long-term needs.
» Smart Use Of House Sale Proceeds
After repaying home loan, invest leftover amount wisely.
Prioritise building emergency fund of 6 months' expenses.
Balance investment between equity mutual funds and EPF.
Don’t reinvest into real estate quickly.
Keep some funds in liquid options for next home downpayment.
Monthly gold SIP of Rs. 10,000 is too high.
Consider reducing it to Rs. 2,000–3,000 monthly only.
Gold gives poor post-tax returns compared to equity funds.
» Emergency Fund Is Missing
Emergency fund is vital for financial health.
It gives peace during job loss or health crisis.
Set aside 6 months’ EMI plus household cost in liquid funds.
Keep it separate from daily savings.
Build it slowly over 6 to 9 months.
» Better Allocation Of Monthly Savings
You have monthly free cash flow:
Take-home: Rs. 1,07,000
Less EMI: Rs. 44,000
Less household: Rs. 20,000
Balance: Rs. 43,000
Current savings:
Rs. 10,000 goes into gold
Rs. 33,000 remains unallocated or maybe spent
You can improve your split:
Gold SIP: Rs. 2,000 only
Mutual fund SIP: Rs. 18,000 monthly
Emergency fund build: Rs. 8,000 monthly
Insurance (term + health): Rs. 3,000 monthly
Short-term savings: Rs. 10,000 for future rent or relocation
» You Need Proper Insurance
Life insurance is a must if you have dependents or loan.
Go for pure term insurance only, not ULIPs.
Term cover should be 12–15 times your annual income.
Take separate health insurance even if employer gives cover.
Personal cover of at least Rs. 5 lakhs is necessary.
Don’t combine insurance and investment.
Avoid investment plans from LIC or other insurers.
» Importance Of Equity Mutual Funds
Equity mutual funds give better long-term growth than gold or FDs.
Mutual funds help you build wealth for retirement and home goals.
Don’t choose index funds. They lack active stock picking and fund manager research.
Choose actively managed funds through MFDs with CFP guidance.
Don’t use direct plans unless you track markets deeply.
Regular plans offer support, tracking, and correction options.
» EPF Is Your Retirement Backbone
You already have Rs. 3 lakhs in EPF.
Keep contributing via salary till retirement.
Don’t withdraw EPF for relocation or home buying.
It grows tax-free and supports retirement corpus building.
» Family Planning And Future Goals
If you plan to start a family, plan the costs now.
Maternity, hospital, and newborn care need savings.
Emergency fund must be ready before baby.
Separate child care budget will rise monthly cost by Rs. 15,000–20,000.
Start one goal-based SIP for child education, even if small.
» If You Keep The Current House
If you don’t sell the house now:
Try to rent it out if possible
Shift closer to office on rent
Use rental income to support part of your EMI
This avoids total cash drain and also gives flexibility
But remember, being landlord involves mental and financial effort
» Home Ownership Can Be Delayed
At 33 years, buying another house can wait.
Comfort, time, and convenience matter more than ownership.
A bad location reduces home value even if you own it.
Renting gives freedom and flexibility till life goals settle.
» Final Insights
Selling the house is not a failure. It’s a conscious decision for better life.
75 km daily travel affects your mental and financial well-being.
Shifting closer to work will improve health, family life, and productivity.
Use the house sale to clear loan and avoid new EMI pressure.
Reallocate funds to emergency, equity SIP, and insurance.
Reduce gold SIP. Prioritise long-term financial freedom over fixed assets.
If you're unsure, test living near work for 6 months in rent.
Take every decision based on comfort, goals, and future needs.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment