Home Loan

While most banks are in a wait-and-watch mode on their lending and deposit rates after the Reserve Bank of India’s decision on Tuesday to hike key policy rates—repo and reverse repo—by a modest 25 basis points (100 basis points=1%), it is certain tha Full Article

Realty firms and property consultants today said both consumers and developers are likely to be affected by the hike in key policy rates by RBI as loans would become dearer, though the impact would be marginal. Full Article

1. For what purposes can I seek a first time home loan?You can generally seek a first time home loan for buying a house or a flat, renovation, extension and repairs to your existing house. Most banks have a separate policy for those who are going for a second house. Please remember to seek specific clarifications on the above-mentioned issues from your commercial bank. Full Article

Direct Taxes Code Bill, 2009, could soon set the tone for all our future wealth-creation decisions. If enacted, the bill will not only change the amount of tax you pay, but also transform how you invest, borrow and spend your money. While most tax breaks may be taken away, the process of filing taxes will be simpler. Full Article

In a clear signal of a rising interest rate regime, country’s largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank, on Thursday said it has hiked its auto loan rates by up to 0.5 percent and withdrawn its 8.25 percent special home loan scheme. “Auto loans rack rates have been raised by 0.25-0.5 percent depending on segment and tenor with effect from March 5,” an ICICI Bank spokesperson said. Full Article

The government may modify the draft direct tax code to retain tax shelters on interest and principal repayments for home loans to make the proposed new code more attractive for the average Indian, a finance ministry official told .The proposed direct taxes code, which has been unveiled for public debate and is due to become operational from April 2011, does not provide tax incentives to loan-funded house purchases that are for personal use. Full Article

Banks are making a strong pitch to the government for permission to issue tax-free bonds to fund infrastructure projects. Bankers, who are expected to again take up the issue with the finance ministry next week, are arguing that the bonds will help them raise long-term resources and reduce dependence on retail fixed deposits, whose maturity is getting shorter. In recent months, banks have been saddled with deposits in the one-year maturity bucket, while infrastructure lo.. Full Article

We are producing below the  clarification in regard to the above published on ICAIs website. 13th September, 2009 The Editor. The Economics Times, Times House, 7, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002 This has reference to the lead news item entitled “ICICI Bank’s Rs. 10K-cr bad loans under lens“ by Mr Anand Rawani published in your esteemed [...] Full Article