When looking for a housing loan, one should also focus on how much their monthly income can
accommodate
With the dizzying selections of financial schemes out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed in
choosing the best housing loan, especially one that fits your monthly income. Some people are
terrified of availing themselves of housing loans because they dread the prospect of having to
pay for something for years or even decades.
However, if you familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of mortgage or housing loans, it
should not be as daunting as it seems. As for the question of which housing loan is the best,
there is no quick and straight answer. In looking for a housing loan, one should rather focus on
how to get the best housing loan according to his or her income.
I Want to Get a Housing Loan, Where Do I Start?
The good news is you can with the right preparation and ample knowledge. Having a home will
give you a sense of independence and peace of mind that would allow you to kick off paying
those rents that are continually rising, and so a property would not only make for a good
investment but also a source of fulfillment for you.
First, get your monthly income after taxes and take no more than 30 percent of it. If your
monthly take-home pay is Php60,000, then your monthly installment for your housing loan
should be no higher than Php20,000, otherwise, you will find it very difficult to take care of
other expenses.
Another useful rule to follow is to get your annual income (again after all taxes have been
deducted) and multiply it by 2.5. The product will be the value of the property that person can
afford. Using the above example, a person making Php60,000 a month is earning Php720,000
annually, which when multiplied by 2.5 equals to Php1.8 million. However, do keep in mind
that these are just approximations and some people could better handle much larger monthly
installments or property values than others.
After you are done computing how much you can afford, it is time to get pre-approved for a
housing loan. With contracts and payment terms, the devil is in the details. Know the interest
rates first so you know how much you would be paying for the next years. Also, take note of the
difference between adjustable-rate loans and fixed-rate ones. The former features interest
rates that can change every so often, while the latter has rates that are fixed for a pre-determined number of years. One advantage of adjustable-rate loans is that they usually have
lower interest rates, but that they may change depending on the prevailing rates set by the
monetary authority. Fixed-rate loans, on the other hand, have higher interest rates, but there
will not be any surprises along the way should the prevailing rates astronomically shoot up (for
example, in the event of a financial crisis).
What if I Don’t Make That Much in a Month?
Several banks in the Philippines offer flexible payment options to give borrowers enough
breathing room to start saving up for the fees. BDO, for instance, offers affordable payment
options like All-in-Financing which spreads out payments of mortgage fees and loan-related
charges up to the term of the home loan. A 60-day Grace Period is also offered by the bank, as
well as Interest-Only payments for the first six months.
In a Nutshell, How Do You Nab a Good Housing Loan?
It is best to research and communicate with a mortgage broker if you feel the need to ask for
professional advice. Explore your options when it comes to lenders, and it is useful to
personally go to banks and consult with their loan officers. Further, watch out for interest rates,
but you should not base your decision solely on them. Normally, the shorter the payment terms
you agree to and the higher your down payment, the lower the interest rates would be.
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