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Planning to take a home loan? Choose a bank over housing finance company

The benchmark that banks follow is more transparent. HFCs, however, are more flexible

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Tinesh Bhasin
Last Updated : Dec 30 2018 | 8:43 PM IST
  • For a long-tenure loan, opting for the lender offering cheapest interest rates is the obvious choice
  • But if you have a choice, go for a bank over housing finance companies (HFCs)
  • The benchmark — MCLR (marginal cost of funds based lending rate) — that banks peg their rates to is more transparent than the benchmark HFCs use.
  • Soon, MCLR, too, will be replaced. Banks will need to link interest rates to an external benchmark, which will make interest rates movement on your loans completely transparent
  • HFCs, however, are more flexible in evaluating your credit profile. Many are willing to lend to individuals with a low credit profile
  • HFCs can also offer a higher loan amount. But beware of the compulsory bundling of life and home insurance products