Home Loan Benefits for Women in India

Home Loans are a secured loan under which the property bought with the loan money serves as collateral. The lender sanctions up to 90%* of a property’s value, depending on the market value of the property, as a Home Loan.

Lenders sanction the loan amount to the borrowers at a predetermined interest rate. Home Loan interest rates are on the lower side as compared to unsecured loans, which makes these loans a cost-effective way of owning a home. Further, these loans come with several Home Loan tax benefits, which allow borrowers to save a lot of money in the long run.   

These days, more and more women have been investing in real estate and there are a few rebates and offers provided to encourage women homeownership. In this article, we look at Home Loan benefits for women.  

Home Loan Benefits for Women in India 

1. Low Home Loan Interest Rates

When it comes to Home Loans, the interest rate is important as it determines feasibility of the loan. A high rate of interest on your Home Loan will increase your EMIs as well as the total interest you pay the lender, whereas, a low Home Loan interest rate may help one with more manageable EMIs. Further, they also help borrowers reduce the overall cost of borrowing the loan. One of the biggest Home Loan benefits for women is that they may get offered lower interest rates, subject to lenders' policies and offers. 

2. Rebate in Stamp Duty Charges

Whenever a homebuyer purchases a home, they pay legal tax to the state. This legal tax is known as the Stamp Duty and it varies from state to state. The stamp duty certificate serves as proof that the transaction took place and therefore, serves as proof of purchase in case of a legal dispute. It is, therefore, an important document that all homeowners must possess. Women homeowners may have to pay a lower stamp duty in a few states, depending on the policy of the state.  

3. Simple Housing Loans Eligibility Criteria

Most lenders offer easy Home Loan eligibility criteria for borrowers including women homebuyers. For instance, if you are a working woman and want to qualify under Bajaj Housing Finance’s eligibility criteria for Home Loans for women, you should be an Indian citizen between the ages of 23 and 67 with 3 years of work experience. The eligibility criteria also include employment type and income among other factors.

4. PMAY has Made Female Co-Ownership Mandatory

The PMAY or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was launched in 2015 and it aims to make housing affordable to all. It does so by offering interest subsidy on Home Loans to those belonging to the economically-challenged sections of the society. However, to be able to avail of the benefits of PMAY, the borrower must meet certain criteria and one of it is that to be eligible for a PMAY subsidy under EWS and LIG categories, the borrower must co-own the home with a female member of the family. Thus, when a borrower buys a home with a female member of the family and adds their name to the Home Loan, all co-owners become eligible for better Home Loan deductions. 

5. Flexible and Longer Repayment Tenure

When it comes to Home Loans, the repayment tenure is important. A short tenure can allow you to repay your Home Loan sooner and allow you to save on the total interest outgo. However, a short loan tenure leads to high EMIs. A long tenure, on the other hand, helps one keep their EMIs on the lower side but it also increases the total cost of borrowing the loan. In general, borrowers should try to opt for a tenure that allows them to keep their EMIs manageable. 

Why Should Women Opt for Home Loans?  

Now that we understand the benefits that women can get on Home Loans, let us look at the benefits of Home Loans and why women should opt for this financing tool.  

• Home Loan interest rates are low as compared to unsecured loans, which can make it possible for homebuyers to fulfil their dream of owning a home easily.  

• Housing loans come with a long repayment tenure. Borrowers can choose to repay their loan over a period extending up to 32 years with Bajaj Housing Finance. T

• Borrowers can get access to a high loan sanction, basis eligibility. This higher loan sanction can make it possible for borrowers to buy the home they have always wanted to buy. 

• Home Loans also offer several Home Loan tax benefits using which borrowers can save up to Rs.3.5 Lakh in taxes each year, under the old tax regime. Under Section 80C, one can claim tax deductions up to a maximum of Rs.1.5 Lakh and under Section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act, one can claim deductions up to a maximum of Rs.2 Lakh. 

Home Loans are a long-term commitment and should be taken after proper planning to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience during the repayment tenure.