• Step 1:Figure out how much you can afford. What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment and the interest rate. The calculators can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that down payment!
  
• Step 2:Know your rights
  
• Step 3:Shop for a loan. Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, and negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan.
  
• Step 4:Learn about home buying programs
  
• Step 5:Shop for a home. Choose a real estate agent, Wish list - what features do you want, Home-shopping checklist - take this list with you when comparing homes.
  
• Step 6:Make an offer. Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale.
  
• Step 7:Get a home inspection. Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs.
  
• Step 8:Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around.
  
• Step 9:Sign papers. You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign!
  
• Step 10:The House is yours now. Have Puja or hawan.

• EMI: Equated Monthly Installment till the loan is paid back. It consists of a portion of interest and the principal 
• Floating Rate of interest: Rate of interest which varies with the market lending rate. This means that there is an element of risk of paying more than budgeted amount in case the lending rates goes up 
• Monthly Reducing balance: In this system interest reduces monthly with repayment of Principal amount 
• Annual Reducing Balance: In this system principal is reduced annually at the end of the year so you end up paying interest even for the portion of principal you have actually paid back 
• Fixed rate of interest: Rate of interest remains unchanged throughout the period of the loan 
• Processing charge: It's a fee payable to the lender on applying for the loan 
• Prepayment Penalties: When loan is paid back before the agreed term of the loan, then banks/ institutions charge penalty for the prepayment 
• Commitment Fee: Some institution charge commitment fee in case the loan is not availed within a stipulated period, after it is processed and sanctioned 
• Miscellaneous Cost: It is quite possible that some lenders may charge documentation or consultant charges .

What are the types of home loans available?
There are a variety of home loans available. They are:

1. HOME PURCHASE LOAN 
   This is the common loan for purchasing a home. 
2. HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN 
   This loan is given for implementing repair works and renovations to your home. 
3. HOME CONSTRUCTION LOAN 
   This loan is available for the construction of a new home. 
4. HOME EXTENSION LOAN
   Home extension loans are given for expanding or extending an existing home. For example, addition of an extra room, etc. 
5. HOME CONVERSION LOAN 
   Available for those who have financed the present home with a Home Loan and wish to purchase and move to another home for which some additional funds are required. Through a Home Conversion Loan, the existing loan is transferred to the new home, including the additional amount required, eliminating the need for pre-payment of the previous loan. 
6. LAND PURCHASE LOAN 
   This type of loan is sanctioned for purchase of land, for both home construction or investment purposes.
7. BRIDGE LOAN 
   The Bridge Loan is designed for people who wish to sell the existing home and purchase another. The bridge loan helps finance the new home, until a buyer is found for the old home. 
8. BALANCE TRANSFER LOAN 
   Balance Transfer loans help you pay off an existing home loan with a higher interest rate, and avail of a loan with a lower rate of interest. 
9. REFINANCE LOAN 
   This loan helps you pay off the debt you have incurred from private sources such as relatives and friends, for the purchase of your present home. 
10. STAMP DUTY LOAN 
    This loan is sanctioned to pay the stamp duty amount that needs to be paid on the purchase of a property. 
11. LOANS TO NRIs 
    This loan is tailored for the requirements of NRIs wishing to build or buy a home in India

What is an EMI?
EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) is the amount payable to the lending institution every month, till the loan is paid back in full. It consists of a portion of the interest as well as the principal.
How is an EMI calculated?
EMI Formula: l x r [(1+r)n /(1+r)n-1 ] x 1/12 
l = loan amount 
r = rate of interest 
n = term of the loan
What are the incentives offered by lending institutions?
a) Some of the lending institutions sanction the loan without requiring you to identify property as a prerequisite for eligibility 
b) Free accident insurance 
c) Discounts 
d) Waiving of pre payment penalty 
e) Waiving of processing fee 
f) Free property insurance
What are the eligibility conditions for a home loan?
To qualify for a home loan, most of the lending institutions in India require you to be: 
a) An Indian resident or NRI 
b) Above 21 years of age at the commencement of the loan 
c) Below 65 when the loan matures 
d) Either salaried or self employed
What are the interest rates offered for home loans? What are: Daily Reducing, Monthly Reducing and Yearly Reducing?
Interest rates are different from institution to institution and generally range from about 9.25% to around 12 %. The interest on home loans in India is usually calculated either on monthly reducing or yearly reducing balance. In some cases, daily reducing basis is also adopted.
Annual reducing: 
In this system, the principal, for which you pay interest, reduces at the end of the year. Thus you continue to pay interest on a certain portion of the principal which you have actually paid back to the lender. This means the EMI for the monthly reducing system is effectively less than the annual reducing system.
Monthly reducing: 
In this system, the principal, for which you pay interest, reduces every month as you pay your EMI.
Daily Reducing: 
In this system, the principal, for which you pay interest, reduces from the day you pay your EMI. EMI in the daily reducing system is less than the monthly reducing system.
What is the best way to select the cheapest home loan?
Keep the loan period constant and calculate the total amount paid for the home through the different loan options available.
What is a fixed rate of interest?
Some institutions have a fixed rate of interest, which means the rate of interest remains unchanged for the entire duration of the loan. This means you do not benefit, even if rates of interest drop in the market.
What is a floating rate?
This is the rate of interest that fluctuates according to the market lending rate. This means you stand the risk of paying more than you budgeted for in case the lending rate goes up. 

What are the other costs that usually accompany a home loan?
Home loans are usually accompanied by the following extra costs: 
a) Processing Charge: It's a fee payable to the lender on applying for a loan. It is either a fixed amount not linked to the loan or may also be a percentage of the loan amount. The loan amount required by you cannot be less than the processing fee.
b) Pre-payment Penalties: When a loan is paid back before the end of the agreed duration, a penalty is charged by some banks/companies, which is usually between 1% and 2% of the amount being pre-paid.
c) Commitment Fees: Some institutions levy a commitment fee in case the loan is not availed of within a stipulated period of time after it is processed and sanctioned.
d) Miscellaneous Costs: It is quite possible that some lenders may levy a documentation or consultant charges.
e) Registration of mortgage deed. 

What are the repayment period options?
Repayment period options range generally from 5 to 15 years.
How do HFCs decide on the loan amount?
Usually, most companies give up to a maximum of 85% of the cost of the house. The 15%, sometimes called 'seed money', will have to be provided by the loan applicant. The amount, for which the applicant is eligible, is determined by the age, income, no. of dependents, monthly outgoing and repayment capacity. This varies from case to case. 

Are securities required for home loans?
In most cases, the property to be purchased itself becomes the security and is mortgaged to the lending institution till the entire loan is repaid. Some institutions may ask for additional security such as life insurance policies, FD receipts and share or savings certificates.
Do I require a guarantor to get a home loan?
Some institutions ask for 1 or 2 guarantors, others require no guarantor at all.
What is the time required for loan application approval?
About 0-15 days.
What is the time required for loan disbursement?
On an average, loans are disbursed within 3-15 days after satisfactory and complete documentation and completion of all relevant procedures, including proof that 15% of the cost has been paid upfront to the seller of the property.
Can I make joint applications for home loans?
Most institutions are willing to consider the joint incomes of the applicants for deciding the loan amount. Some institutions do not require the co-applicants to be co-owners of the property to be purchased. 

What are the tax benefits of home loans?
Both principal as well as interest of home loans attract tax benefits. With effect from 1st April 2005 (i.e. assessment year 2005-07) under section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1965:
Principal amount of repayment of loan along with other savings such as PF, PPF, Life Insurance premium etc up to a maximum of Rs 1,00,000/- will be eligible for deduction from gross income.
Interest paid on loan after completion of construction will be deductible from income from property

For self occupied - Income will be treated as nil and interest payment will be treated as minus income which will be adjusted against other income. 
For rental property - It will be adjusted against rental income.