Joint Home Loans Offer Multiple Benefits: Increased Loan Amount, Lower Interest, and Tax Exemptions
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: March 11, 2024 01:12 PM2024-03-11T13:12:55+5:302024-03-12T11:31:35+5:30
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For many aspiring homeowners lacking upfront funds, home loans serve as a viable solution. However, opting for a joint home loan with one's wife presents numerous advantages.
If encountering difficulties securing a home loan independently, opting for a joint home loan presents a viable alternative. Not only is it more readily accessible than a standard home loan, but it also allows for a potentially higher loan amount.
There are no specific limitations on joint loans; they can be taken with any individual. However, having a woman as a co-applicant offers several advantages. Women can jointly own a home with their husbands, and men often opt to include their wives or sisters as co-applicants.
Having your wife, who is also a professional, as a co-owner of a home loan enhances the benefits in numerous ways.
Applying for a joint home loan with your wife enables both individuals to claim income tax benefits under Section 80C. Additionally, upon prepayment, each co-owner is eligible for a separate tax benefit of up to Rs 2 lakh in interest. Furthermore, there is a tax exemption of a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh on the principal amount per year.
Many banks and NBFCs provide discounted interest rates on joint home loans for women buyers, often as low as 0.05 percent. Additionally, there are exemptions from stamp duty and registration fees if the property is co-owned by a woman. However, to avail of all these benefits, the woman co-owner of the property is required.
For first-time homebuyers, an additional discount of Rs 50,000 on home loan interest is available. However, this discount is applicable only if the loan amount does not exceed Rs 35 lakh and the value of the property does not surpass Rs 50 lakh.
In order to qualify for an additional discount of Rs 1.5 lakh on interest payments, the value of stamp duty must also be Rs 45 lakh or less.
After obtaining a joint home loan, the bank accounts of both applicants will be linked, reducing the likelihood of missing EMIs. However, both parties must ensure that before the EMI deduction date, one of the linked bank accounts contains sufficient funds to cover the installment.
