Published date: 27 Jun 2023

Find Tips to Reduce Home Loan Tenure in House Purchase

by Godrej Properties Limited

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    Everyone aspires to possess their own residence. The process of constructing or buying a home holds great importance for the majority, and many individuals depend on a housing loan to finance it. Home loans have enabled early homeownership by offering substantial funding with flexible repayment schedules. However, understanding how loan tenure works and tracking home loan interest calculation can help borrowers significantly reduce the total interest outflow.

    Home loans have facilitated early home purchases for individuals in their careers. These financial tools offer substantial funding and afford a comfortable repayment schedule. Although longer loan durations have their advantages, being knowledgeable about housing loan minimum tenure empowers you to minimize the overall interest paid. 

    Here are a few tips that will help you reduce your home loan tenure and become debt free earlier: 

    Tips for Shortening the Term of a Home Loan
     

    If you wish to shorten the duration of your home loan, consider the following: 

    1. Opt for Partial Prepayments

    Making partial prepayments directly leads to home loan principal reduction, which lowers the outstanding balance while keeping EMIs unchanged. Regular prepayments can shorten the tenure by several months or even years and result in substantial interest savings.

    2. Approach the Lender for Loan Restructuring

    During loan reset periods, you can request your lender to revise the tenure. If your income has increased, opting for higher EMIs helps reduce the loan term. This approach works best when planned as part of the best home loan strategy suited to your financial growth.

    3. Increase Your Down Payment

    Lenders typically finance 70–80% of the property value. By increasing the down payment, you reduce the loan amount and the total interest payable over time. This is a simple yet effective way to reduce home loan interest from the start.

    4. Explore an Overdraft Facility

    If you have a consistent surplus income, consider incorporating an overdraft facility into your home loan account. This allows you to deposit any extra funds into the account alongside your regular EMI payments. As long as the surplus amount remains in the home loan account, it serves as a pre-payment towards the principal. With each additional payment made to the home loan account, the overall principal amount decreases, leading to a reduction in both the interest charged and the loan tenure.

    5. Increase Your EMI Amount

    Making higher EMI payments than required is a simple strategy to reduce the maximum tenure of your home loan and, consequently, lower your interest expenses. By allocating surplus funds towards home loan EMIs, you can effectively decrease your debt burden. 

    6. Loan Refinancing 

    Loan refinancing provides an opportunity to reduce the loan term by switching to a new lender and negotiating better terms. It allows you to restructure the repayment duration according to your financial goals. This is an effective way to shorten the loan tenure. 

    7. Home Loan Transfer

    A home loan transfer or balance transfer shifts your outstanding loan to a new lender at a lower interest rate. Keeping the EMI constant while benefiting from reduced rates helps borrowers understand how to close home loan early without additional financial stress.

    Which Should be Reduced, the EMI Or the tenure?
     

    When it comes to picking between home loan prepayment, reduced EMI, or tenure, the decision depends on the borrower's circumstances. Lowering the EMI can ease monthly cash flow while reducing the tenure and saving up on interest payments. Consider your budget, long-term goals, and seek advice to make an informed choice.

     

    FAQs
     

    1. How can I lower my home loan interest rate?

    To lower your home loan interest rate, you can negotiate with your lender for a reduced rate or consider refinancing with another lender offering better rates.

    2. Can I reduce my EMI tenure?

    Yes, you can reduce your EMI tenure by either increasing your EMI amount or making prepayments towards the principal. By doing so, you can get the best tenure for a home loan and even reduce the overall interest paid.

    3. How to close a home loan in 10 years?
     

    To close your home loan in 10 years, consider opting for a shorter housing loan tenure from the beginning. Make higher EMI payments, utilise any surplus funds to make prepayments, and avoid extending the loan duration.

    4. Is it good to have long tenure for a home loan?
     

    Having max tenure for a home loan can have its advantages, such as lower EMIs and improved affordability. However, getting the maximum possible tenure for a home loan also means paying more interest over time. 

    5. How do I clear my loan before my tenure?
     

    The answer to how to reduce home loan tenure is to increase your EMIs, make regular prepayments, and utilise any windfalls or additional income towards reducing the principal amount.