Is it good to change to fastened charge dwelling mortgage when rates of interest are shifting up?

I took a floating charge dwelling mortgage three years in the past. The prevailing charge of curiosity is 6.75%, however I’m informed this might quickly go up as rates of interest are shifting up. Should I swap to a set charge dwelling mortgage now? That approach I can keep away from the hike in charges.

–Name withheld on request

(Query answered by Raj Khosla is Managing Director at MyMoneyMantra.com)

The key distinction between fastened and floating charge loans is who bears the rate of interest danger. In a floating charge mortgage, the borrower bears the chance if charges transfer up and will get rewarded once they decline. In a set charge mortgage the lender bears the chance. To compensate for this danger, lenders cost 75-100 foundation factors increased curiosity on fastened charge loans.

The prevailing charge for floating charge loans is about 6.5-7%, whereas fastened charge loans cost 7.5-7.9%.

It is true that dwelling mortgage charges might go up within the coming months. The prevailing charges are very low and if the RBI hikes rates of interest to regulate inflation, dwelling mortgage charges will clearly go up. So it would make sense to shift to a set charge dwelling mortgage now.

But earlier than you turn, calculate how a lot you stand to achieve from switching to a set charge mortgage. As talked about earlier, fastened charge loans cost the next curiosity, so your equated month-to-month instalments (EMIs) will go up after the swap. If the distinction is greater than 100 foundation factors, it might not end in any actual financial savings for you as a result of floating dwelling mortgage charges might not go up by that a lot. Keep in thoughts that additionally, you will should shell out processing payment and different refinance prices whenever you swap to a brand new mortgage.

Most importantly, learn the superb print very rigorously whenever you make the swap. Many loans are solely quasi fastened charge dwelling loans, the place the speed is fastened for preliminary 2-5 years after which they change into floating charge loans.

Interest charges could also be headed upwards on this inflationary situation, however dwelling loans are long-term contracts and in the end rates of interest are prone to average when inflation cools down.

(Please ship your queries and views at mintmoney@livemint.com)

Subscribe to Mint Newsletters

* Enter a sound electronic mail

* Thank you for subscribing to our publication.