Insights/Loans

    Loans Insights

    Practical guides on personal, home and business loans to help you borrow and repay with your overall financial plan in mind.

    12 articles

    All Insights
    October 21, 2026• 11 min read

    Prepay Your Home Loan or Invest? The 2026 Maths, Tax and Risk

    Prepaying ₹10 lakh on a ₹40 lakh, 8% home loan saves ₹16.2 lakh of interest and ends it nearly six years early. Investing the same sum wins only if equities beat about 9% a year after costs, and that hurdle changes with your tax regime.

    Money n Wealth
    October 21, 2026• 11 min read

    Rent vs Buy in Pune 2026: A 10-Year Model With Real Numbers

    Pune home prices rose just 3.7% in the year to June 2026, the slowest of India's big metros on NHB's index, while home loans now cost over 8%. Our 10-year model of a ₹90 lakh flat shows when buying beats renting and investing, and when it does not.

    Money n Wealth
    October 19, 2026• 10 min read

    Home Loan Tax Benefits 2026: Old vs New Regime Under the New Act

    From 1 April 2026, home loan deductions sit in sections 22 and 123 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, not 24(b) and 80C. The new regime still gives nothing for a self-occupied home, and for most salaried buyers the ₹2 lakh interest deduction is no longer enough to make the old regime win.

    Money n Wealth
    October 19, 2026• 10 min read

    Home Loan Balance Transfer in 2026: When Switching Lenders Pays

    A 0.50% lower rate on a ₹50 lakh, 20-year home loan saves about ₹1,587 a month and ₹3.2 lakh net of switching costs. The same cut on a loan with five years left barely covers the fees, so timing and rate gap decide everything.

    Money n Wealth
    October 16, 2026• 11 min read

    EMI Calculator Guide 2026: How to Cut the Total Interest on Any Loan

    A ₹50 lakh home loan at 8.5% for 20 years costs ₹54.1 lakh in interest, more than the loan itself. This EMI calculator guide shows how the formula works, why early EMIs are mostly interest, and the four levers that cut the bill.

    Money n Wealth
    October 16, 2026• 13 min read

    Education Loan Guide 2026: India and Abroad, Collateral, Tax, TCS

    At SBI, an education loan up to ₹7.5 lakh needs no collateral, and interest is deductible for eight years under section 129 of the new Income-tax Act. Here is how collateral, moratorium, PM Vidyalaxmi and the 2% TCS on overseas fees work in 2026.

    Money n Wealth
    October 15, 2026• 12 min read

    Home Loan Guide 2026: Eligibility, Rates and Process After the Hike

    Banks raised repo-linked lending rates by 0.25% within a day of the RBI hike to 5.50% in October 2026. This home loan guide explains how much you can borrow, the RBI rules on loan-to-value, and the steps from application to the final disbursal.

    Money n Wealth
    October 15, 2026• 12 min read

    Car Loan or Pay Cash? The 2026 Maths of Opportunity Cost

    A ₹8 lakh car loan at 9% for five years costs about ₹1.96 lakh in interest. Paying cash only loses out if your spare money can reliably earn more than 9.4% a year after tax, which few safe options do in 2026.

    Money n Wealth
    October 14, 2026• 11 min read

    Credit Score (CIBIL) 2026: How to Check It Free and Improve It

    Since January 2025, lenders must update your credit record with the bureaus every fortnight, so good and bad habits show up faster. Here is how to check your CIBIL score free, read your report, fix errors with RBI-backed compensation, and lift your score before a loan.

    Money n Wealth
    October 14, 2026• 11 min read

    Credit Card Minimum Due Trap: Why ₹1 Lakh Can Take 16 Years to Repay

    Pay only the minimum due on a ₹1 lakh credit card balance at 3.75% a month and you need about 16.5 years and ₹3.17 lakh to clear it. Here is how card interest really works in 2026, and five ways out of credit card debt.

    Money n Wealth
    October 14, 2026• 12 min read

    Loan Against Property 2026: Rates, LTV, Costs and the Real Risks

    A ₹50 lakh loan against property at 11% over 15 years costs about ₹52 lakh in interest, more than the loan itself. This guide covers LAP rates after the October 2026 hike, how much you can borrow, RBI prepayment rules and what happens to your home if you default.

    Money n Wealth
    September 3, 2026• 15 min read

    Personal Loan vs Loan Against Mutual Funds vs Gold Loan: Which Is Cheapest?

    Need cash fast? Your income, your mutual funds and your gold can all secure a loan, at very different prices. Here is what each costs after RBI's 2026 rule changes and the October rate hike.

    Money n Wealth

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