Ask the first thing they look at while opting for a home loan, and most borrowers would collectively point at the home loan rate of interest. The reason is simple. Home loan interest rate is directly proportional to EMIs paid by a borrower, affecting the overall cash outflow. Hence, it’s advisable to compare the interest rates and avail of a loan from a lender offering the most competitive rates.

However, have you thought about the factors affecting your home loan rate of interest. Two aspects affect your home loan interest rate - customer-centric and macroeconomic factors.

In this two-part series, we will dig deep into both. Part I of the blog will talk about the customer-centric aspects, while part II will focus on the macroeconomic ones.

Customer-centric Factors Affecting Home Loan Rate of Interest
● Credit Score
Lenders pay close attention to your credit score while evaluating your loan application. A three-digit score, ranging from 300 to 900, reflects your creditworthiness. A good credit score (above 750) not only enhances your Home Loan eligibility but also increases the chances of availing of a loan at a competitive rate of interest.

A good credit score reflects prudent and responsible financial behavior, and lenders perceive you as a low-risk borrower. In other words, lenders are assured of loan repayment for borrowers with a high credit score. It gives you more negotiating power, and you can avail a home loan at a lower rate of interest.

To build a robust credit score:

• Pay existing EMIs and credit card dues on time

   

• Keep credit utilization ratio low

Equally essential is to constantly monitor your credit report and rectify any anomaly at the earliest.

● Job Profile

The job you are in plays a crucial role in determining the home loan rate of interest. If you are in a stable job that offers a competitive salary, you are more likely to get home loans at lower interest rates. This is because a stable job ensures you have a regular cash flow that will help you pay EMIs on time. Also, lenders evaluate the overall work experience to gauge the borrower’s growth prospects.

On the other hand, if you are a frequent job hopper, it raises questions about your credibility and repayment abilities, and lenders perceive you as a high-risk borrower. Therefore, they raise interest rates, which subsequently pushes up the EMIs. Therefore, make sure to stick to one stable job for a long time to benefit from lower interest rates.

● Debt-to-Income Ratio

Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is the percentage of your monthly income that goes towards paying monthly debts. Along with credit score, lenders use this metric to analyze and determine borrowing risk.nA low DTI ratio signals a good balance between debt and income. On the other hand, a high DTI ratio indicates that a large portion of your monthly income is channelized towards paying existing debts.

If you have a high DTI ratio, it can increase your home loan interest rate. This is because lenders put you in a high-risk category with increasing chances of default. Also, a high DTI ratio raises a red flag and raises questions about your repayment capacity, pushing up the interest rate. Hence, it is advisable not to eat more than what you can chew and keep this ratio on the lower side.

● Property Location

While buying a home in a location with good amenities has its perks, it also affects the interest rate. On most occasions, a home located in an area with proper amenities and ready access to transportation invite lower rates This is because houses in such areas have higher resale value than in under-developed locations.

Also, properties at premium locations are pre-sanctioned by lenders, which brings down home loan interest rates. Therefore, it pays to buy a home in an up-and-coming locality.

● Down payment

Down payment is the amount you need to pay upfront, and it generally constitutes 15 to 20% of the property’s value. The lender finances the rest through a loan. The higher the down payment, the lower the loan quantum, and subsequently credit risk.

This subsequently helps in lowering the home loan interest rate. Thus, if you wish to secure a home loan at a lower interest rate, save aggressively and make a higher down payment.

Conclusion
As evident, almost all the customer-centric factors are within your control. Use them to your advantage to avail home loan at a lower rate of interest.

Godrej Capital is the financial services arm of Godrej Group which offers home loans, Loan Against Property and other secured loans. With innovative products and offerings, customers can get hassle-free loans on easy terms and conditions. Click here to know more about the offering.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to the product or service document and/or connect with our customer representative prior to making any financial decision.