Budget 2017 — Salient Points

This year’s Union Budget is a mixed bag for salaried class and the real estate investors. Here is a look at key budget announcements. Reduction in tax rate from 10% to 5% for income tax slab of Rs 2.5 lacs to Rs 5 lacs (Positive) Introduction of Surcharge of 10% for taxable income between Rs… Continue Reading

Your Credit Score Will Determine Your Home Loan EMI

You know that your credit score plays an important role in getting a loan. A lower credit score can simply ruin your chances of getting a loan. What you perhaps didn’t know was that a good credit score could get you better interest rates. Although it may already be happening internally, nothing was out in… Continue Reading

Factors to Consider When Refinancing Home Loan

I have been getting many queries from home loan borrowers pertaining to shift from base rate to MCLR? I have discussed this aspect in an earlier post. Even though the option of switching from base rate to MCLR is worth exploring, there is another option that many borrowers can exercise when it comes to Home loans:… Continue Reading

Tax Matters When You Are Selling the Property

If you have purchased a residential property as an investment, you must be on a lookout to exit your investment with heavy capital gains. Finding a buyer at a price that you are willing to sell at may be a difficult task these days. However, amidst this concern about finding the right buyer, don’t forget about… Continue Reading

Fixed Rate or a Floating Rate Loan

You have finalised your dream house to purchase. You have also finalised the bank to take home loan from. You have a long relationship with the bank. You have been informally told that you will get the loan easily given your high repayment ability. You are planning to visit the bank branch tomorrow. The spirits… Continue Reading

Another Reason Not to Opt for HLPP

I got an e-mail from one of the regular readers at EMICalculator.net. He brought to my notice an aspect I had failed to cover in my earlier post on Home Loan Protection Plans (HLPPs). Case Summary His father had taken a loan of Rs 8.95 lacs for a tenor of 17 years from a leading… Continue Reading

Tax Benefits on Home Loans Are Overhyped

You have excess cash in hand from the last bonus you received and the fixed deposit that just matured. You have been thinking about how to use the funds. Your financial advisors that include your friends, doctor, lawyer and grocer have suggested that you take exposure to equity mutual funds. Your parents have advised you… Continue Reading

How Do You Invest More?

In one of the earlier posts on Retirement Planning, I had discussed the importance of starting early, portfolio diversification and a few psychological investments to get you on right financial track. By starting early, you get the power of compounding behind you and your small (involuntary) contributions can result in a significant corpus by the… Continue Reading

ICICI Bank Home Safe Plus — A Review

When it comes to financial planning, everyone wants to leave behind an asset for their families. Nobody wants to leave behind a liability. And when it comes to your house, you want to ensure that your family inherits your house and not your home loan. Repayment of a home loan is a long term activity.… Continue Reading