Properties worth below 30 lakh to get 90% loan `

Mumbai, Oct. 8: Banks can now provide home loans up to 90 per cent for properties that cost ` 30 lakh or below, RBI said on Thursday. Earlier, the facility was available only in cases where the cost was up to ` 20 lakh.

This will benefit those home seekers who plan to buy properties in the range of ` 20-` 30 lakh. The RBI’s decision comes in the wake of all major banks reducing interest rate on home loans.

The Reserve Bank, through a circular, said that in the case of ‘ individual housing loans’ falling under the loan category of up to ` 30 lakh,

The RBI said that in the case of ‘ individual housing loans’ falling under the loan category of up to 30 lakh, the LTV ratio is now up to 90 per cent

the LTV ratio is now up to 90 per cent. For properties above ` 30 lakh and up to ` 75 lakh, the LTV is up to 80 per cent and those above ` 75 lakh, the ratio comes in at 75 per cent. It has also modified the provisioning or risk- weights norms for home loans.

Welcoming the RBI’s decision, realtors’ apex body Credai president Getamber Anand said this will boost sentiment of the real estate sector, which is facing a huge slowdown for the past 2- 3 years. Housing sales would rise in tier II and III cities where apartments are available at below Rs 30 lakh, he said.

Mr Anand demanded that the limit be increased to Rs 40 lakh, from Rs 30 lakh, for metros.

Home sales fell to 1.75 lakh units in primary markets of seven major cities in 2014 compared with nearly 2 lakh units in the previous year, according to JLL India.