A home loan is a secured loan taken from a financial institution for the purpose of buying a residential property. You can avail a home loan to buy a ready-to-move in house or apartment or one that is under construction. Home loans can be availed from both banks and Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

These have varying interest rates which are often linked to your credit score. Home loans typically have a tenure of up to 30 years and have to be repaid as Equated Monthly Installments. You can also get tax deductions on both the principal and interest component of your home loan under Section 80C and Section 24 respectively of the Income Tax A

1. Before signing up for a home loan product, it’s best that you compare loans offered by different banks and lending institutions. While comparing, consider the interest rate, Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio, processing fees, and tenure offered by the bank. Use a home loan EMI calculator and calculate your EMI based on these factors. Compare multiple home loan products by various banks by using this method. Also, certain lenders roll out home loan offers with reduced interest rates from time to time. Keep an eye on that too while looking for a loan. Also, know your requirements first before applying. You can go through the above list to get an idea regarding which bank’s home loan would suit your requirement.

Banks/financial institutions consider the following factors when determining your loan eligibility:

• Age
• Annual Income
• Occupational stability
• Resident type [Indian Citizen, Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO)]
• Number of co-applicants
• Co-applicants’ income
• Credit score
• Other ongoing loans, if any