In addition to borrowing funds for the purchase of a ready-to-move-in house or for booking an under-construction property, you can also avail of home loans to get a house constructed on a plot. Such loans are commonly termed as construction loans and are provided by all leading financial institutions in India.
Also be mindful of the fact that home construction loans are not the same as home loans and plot loans. Apart from their different pricing, these three types of loans also have varying terms and conditions. There is also a difference in the repayment tenure.
The process of approval and disbursement of a construction loan is slightly different from that of a regular housing loan.
What is a home construction loan?
A home construction loan is a type of loan one can avail of for construction of a residential property for personal use or investment purposes. Through a home construction loan, one can obtain a loan of up to 100 per cent of the construction value, with a maximum of 90 per cent of market value. Typically, this loan is a part of a home loan.
Loan for home construction
Home construction loan: Eligibility
For getting a loan for home construction, the applicant must fulfill the following criteria:
- Age: 18 years to 65 years.
- Residential status: Must be an Indian or non-resident Indian (NRI).
- Employment: Self-employed and salaried individuals.
- Credit score: Above 750.
- Income: Minimum income of Rs 25,000 per month.
Documents required
In addition to the regular ‘know your customer’ (KYC) and income documents, to avail of a home loan for constructing a house on a plot of land owned by you, you will have to provide the prospective lender with all the relevant documents that establish your title and ownership of the plot of the land. The plot of land can either be a freehold land / plot, or it can be allotted by any development authority, like CIDCO, DDA, etc. You can also avail of a loan on a leasehold land, where the lease is for a reasonably long period of time. You will also have to submit a no- encumbrance certificate pertaining to the property.
In addition to the documents of the plot, you will have to submit the plan and layout of the proposed house, duly approved by the local municipal authority or gram panchayat. You will also have to submit an estimate of the cost of construction, which has been certified by a civil engineer or an architect. Based on these documents, if the lender is satisfied about your overall eligibility and the estimate of the cost submitted by you, it will sanction the home loan subject to the usual terms and conditions.
Margin money
As with any other home loan, the borrower will have to contribute the margin money towards construction of the house, depending on the amount of home loan that is requested. While calculating your contribution, the cost of the plot is also taken into account, in case the same has been purchased recently. However, the value/cost of the plot is not taken into account while computing your contribution, in case the same has been inherited by your or is received as a gift or if it was purchased long back.
See also: How to do due diligence for land purchase
Disbursement of the loan
The disbursement of the construction loan is done in parts, and the money is released, based on the progress of the construction, similar to the process followed when an under-construction flat is booked with a developer. However, the lender will not disburse any money till you bring in your own contribution as agreed and provide proof of the same. For availing disbursements from the bank, you will have to submit photographs of the house and certificates from an architect or civil engineer about the stage of completion of the house.
The lender may rely on the certificate and photographs submitted by you, or it may decide to depute its own technical person to verify the same. So, if the construction is completed quickly, the disbursement of money by the lender will also be faster.
Leading lenders like SBI, HDFC Ltd, ICICI Bank, etc., are active in the construction loan segment. However, not all the lenders that provide home loans, will also provide construction loans. Some lenders are not comfortable funding such self-constructed properties.
See also: RBI complaint email ID and RBI complaint filing process
SBI home loan for construction
Public lender SBI provides ‘Realty Home Loan’ for the purpose of home construction. You can also get the loan for construction of house on a plot financed under SBI Realty. Those taking the loan have to ensure that the construction of the house takes place within five years from date on which the loan has been sanctioned. The maximum amount of loan that can be offered to a customer can range up to Rs 15 crore, with a repayment period of 10 years.
See also: All about SBI CIBIL score
HDFC home construction loan
Private lender HDFC also provides loans for home construction on freehold, as well as leasehold plot, or on a plot allotted by a development authority. The borrowers will have to meet several conditions to get the best rate on construction loans.
Note here that home construction loans are not the same as plot loans. At HDFC, plot loans are a different product. Rates on plot loans are different from home construction loans. The paper work involved in the two loan applications is also different.
Things to remember
Borrowers who plan to get a construction loan, should know that not all lenders provide loans in this category. So, check on the bank’s website first, whether they offer constructions loans, before you proceed to their nearest branch. Another point that borrowers should be aware of, is that banks do not disburse the entire loan amount in one go and might provide you the money in tranches, depending on the progress of the construction work.
See also: Are you eligible for the reduced home loan interest rates?
Before applying for a home loan
- Calculate the EMI: Individuals applying for home loans need to pay an EMI that consists of the principal amount and the interest rate. It is crucial to calculate the EMI one needs to pay and compare the same with their income. Such an evaluation helps in understanding whether the individual is capable of repaying the loan with his given income.
- Interest rate: There are several kinds of loans and their interests differ. The longer the tenure, the greater is the interest paid. Thus, the individuals should efficiently choose the right tenure and the interest rate, so that they can repay the loan without any financial burden.
- The right institution: There are a number of financial institutions that provide loans for purchasing or constructing a new home. It is important for individuals to choose a secured and credible institution, to have their loans sanctioned.
Home loan vs construction loan
| Home loan | Construction loan |
| Home loan is a loan borrowed for purchasing or constructing a house. | A construction refers to a loan availed for constructing a house. |
| Maximum loan tenure is 30 years | Maximum loan tenure is 10 to 15 years. |
| Documents required to avail of the loan include KYC documents, property papers, income proof, etc. | Documents required to avail of the loan include the documents needed for home loans. In addition, one must submit approval from the Municipal Corporation and architect-approved construction blueprint |
| Interest rates tend to be lower than the home construction loan | Interest rates tend to be higher as these loans are not widely available |
| After the loan approval, the lender transfers the entire loan amount to the applicant’s bank account | The lender will transfer the construction loan amount in instalments. |
(The author is a tax and investment expert, with 35 years’ experience)
FAQs
What is home construction loan?
People can avail home loans to get their house constructed – either by themselves, or by employing a contractor to construct the house – on a plot that they own. Such loans are commonly termed as ‘construction loans’. Leading lenders like SBI, HDFC Ltd, ICICI Bank, etc., are active in the construction loan segment. However, not all the lenders that provide home loans, will also provide construction loans.
How to apply for home construction loan?
In addition to the regular ‘know your customer’ (KYC) and income documents, to avail of a home loan for constructing a house on a plot of land owned by you, you will have to provide the prospective lender with all the relevant documents that establish your title and ownership of the plot of the land.
How is construction loan disbursed in phases?
The disbursement of the construction loan is done in parts, and the money is released, based on the progress of the construction, similar to the process followed when an under-construction flat is booked with a developer.
How much loan can I get for home construction?
One can get up to 90% of the total value of the property as a home loan.
Can one apply for a home construction loan without deciding the property?
If one is undecided about the property and yet, wants to apply for a home construction loan, they should apply for a pre-approved home loan that is provided on the basis of one’s income, credit score and other factors.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
