8 Home Loan Tips

1. Learn the basics of taking a home loan

Approval of home loan is a long drawn process and you have to do your homework inadvance. Find out as much about the process as possible, (i.e.) the time taken by banks to approve the documents needed by the bank, details regarding inspection of the property, checking of legal documents, the actual loan disbursal, etc.

2. Get your credit score

Before approaching any bank for a home loan, you should request for your credit report online, from the credit bureau. A good credit score is essential to get a loan approval. The higher the credit score, the better. Anything above 700 is good, but if your score is below 550, it would become difficult to get approvals.

3. Learn how much loan you are eligible for

You can check your loan eligibility online using home loan eligibility calculator from citibank. You can avoid last minute surprises, by knowing whether you are eligible for the loan amount you are expecting. Ideally, you will be eligible for a loan whose monthly EMIs are within 50% of your monthly income. You can also check your EMI using home loan EMI calculator from Citibank. Banks also consider this while approving home loan applications. Knowing this in advance will ensure a smooth home buy.

4. Make arrangements for down payment

If you don’t plan well for the down payment you may end up exhausting all your savings. Banks provide loans for a maximum of 80-85% of the property value. This means, if you are buying an apartment worth Rs. 1 crore, the maximum loan you may get is Rs. 85 lakhs. You have to raise the balance Rs. 15 lakhs from your personal savings.

5. Choose the bank which has your salary account

Do a comparative study of the interest rates offered by various banks and choose the best for you. However, if the differences of rates are negligible, choose the bank where you have your salary account. This will help you get a quicker loan approval, than from a bank which is not known to you.

6. Floating or fixed rate of interest

Choosing a fixed or floating rate completely depends upon your situation and the market trends deciding the rates. If the rates are quite low, going for a fixed rate will make sense as the rate will continue for the entire tenure of the loan. However, if market trends reveal that the rates are high, going for a floating rate will help you take advantage when there is a correction in the market.

7. Choose projects that are approved

Banks usually approve a project only after doing a thorough security check of all the property related documents and authority approvals. Choosing projects that are approved by banks assures you that the property is free from encumbrances and makes it easy to get loan approvals.

8. Claim your tax benefits

Home loans are a major source of tax savings. You should also remember to claim the due benefits when you file your tax returns.

Quick Links

Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to transfer your existing loan or leveraging your property's equity to expand your business, Citibank has different kinds of home loans that come with a host of benefits and competitive interest rates.

• Citi Home Loans - Easy Home Loans up to Rs 10 Crore at attractive interest rates with repayment tenure up to 25 years.
• Citi Loan against Property - Allows you to leverage your residential property's value by availing a loan against property.
• Citi Home Loan Takeover Plus Enhancement - Enjoy lower interest rates with our home loan balance transfer facility and then top up your loan to supplement further financial requirements.
• Top-up Existing Home Loan - Avail of the home loan top-up facility and get more money on the basis of your repayment record and the current property value.

View all home loan options and apply for home loan with Citi to start with your home loan journey today!