Pramod Kathuria is the Founder and CEO of Easiloan, India’s first digital home loan marketplace. A seasoned professional, Pramod is on a quest to bridge the existing gap in the home loan market by building a technology-based customer-centric and innovative solution. In his current position, Pramod is responsible for charting the company’s business roadmap and overseeing the expansion and fundraising. With an MBA in Marketing from Pune University, Pramod has over two decades of experience in the Home Finance, Banking, and Real Estate industry.
Purchasing a home is a crucial and emotional decision in one’s life – and innumerable individuals have made this decision post the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, many people renting homes in metros or other cities returned to their hometowns to be with their families. At this juncture, paying rent for vacated homes added to the existing pandemic stress. As a result, many previous renters have been looking to move into their own home rather than paying rent to a landlord. The tailwinds of 10-year low home loan rates, drop in property prices and stamp duty sops by the government further abetted this trend.
Against this backdrop, let’s look at some of the factors that make 2022 the best time to buy a home.
Reap the benefit of low-interest-rate
Currently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lowered home loan interest rates to their lowest level in a decade (keeping it unchanged only in the most recent monetary policy). As a result, if you’re thinking about buying a house, it is best to reap the benefit of the lowest interest rates. In addition, many state governments are considering cutting stamp duty to make homeownership more affordable. With the cutthroat competition in the housing market, developers are also offering incentives, such as flexible payment plans and GST exemptions, to encourage buyers.
However, given the current state of increased fuel prices and inflation, the policy rates can go up in the coming quarters. This will lead the lenders to raise their home loan rates. So given the builder rebates and low-interest rates, it’s a definite plus for anyone looking to purchase a new home right now.
Risk of the rising price of the house
While the real estate market performed well in 2021, increasing costs and inflation could pose a problem in 2022. Though the industry gained traction towards the end of Q2 2021 due to decreased borrowing costs, duty cuts, and tax incentives, rising raw material costs and an increase in construction costs required real estate developers to operate on razor-thin margins. However, with the situation normalizing, demand for homes has increased, and prices are rising. Furthermore, it is expected to go up in the coming months, making this an excellent time to purchase a home.
A gamut of options is available
Thanks to the emergence of digital lending platforms, people now have a plethora of options to compare and choose from. As a result, selecting a lender with a low-interest rate and associated benefits on processing fees etc. can help you save money on interest while getting a home loan.
Government initiatives make buying a home affordable
This year’s budget exhibited the government’s commitment to achieving its “Housing for All” mission. In the financial budget 2022, the government increased the expenditure on PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana), a central government affordable housing scheme, by additional Rs. 18,000 Crores. Furthermore, a new credit-link subsidy scheme has been introduced to strengthen the real estate sector and make buying houses affordable. Under this scheme, banks can lend at reasonable interest rates.
Hence, if you’re considering purchasing a home, the year 2022 presents you with an array of options and low-interest rates, making it a perfect time to act.
Conclusion
Keeping all these factors in mind, such as rising property prices, low-interest rates, and government policies, now may be a good moment to buy a house to live in or for immediate personal use. We have always suggested that while 2021 was a comeback year for home buyers and sellers alike, 2022 is when either parties can leverage the market conditions to their benefit. In our view, this year should continue to be a win-win scenario for all stakeholders, hence as a home buyer go for that dream home if possible. A mix of low-interest loan offers and developer-led discounts will make this an attractive proposition for the buyers.