Tag: wfh

Buyers confident about the economy are set to cash in on low rates to buy homes.

Housing sales have jumped over two-fold during the July-September period at 62,800 units across seven major cities on better demand driven by low mortgage rates and hiring in IT/ITeS sector, according to property consultant Anarock.

Sales of residential properties stood at 29,520 units in the year-ago period and 24,560 units in the previous quarter.

Housing prices appreciated by 3 per cent across the seven cities to Rs 5,760 per square feet in Q3 of 2021 calendar year from Rs 5,600 per square feet in Q3, 2020.

The ongoing WFH (Work For Home) culture continues to influence residential sentiment on two major fronts – overall housing demand and unit sizes.

About 80 per cent of respondents to a survey by consultant JLL expected to make a purchase in the next three months.

Fierce competition

Competition among lenders in the home loan space is also set to boost home loans.

Kotak Mahindra Bank is offering home loans at a lower rate of 6.50 per cent is a festive period offer available only for two months till November 8, and the lowest offering is for those having the highest credit scores coming from the salaried segment.

In the past, its rivals which include HDFC and SBI, have responded to rate cuts by slashing their own offering. The rate cut comes at a time when demand for home loans is falling in the country and may spark similar offers from rivals.

Large banks like the State Bank of India already offer home loans at as low as 6.65 per cent and 6.75 per cent, respectively, while the interest rates for HFCs is between 7.45 per cent and 10 per cent.

Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities said in a note, “The demand momentum seen in housing loans last year has tapered off and organic growth for the housing finance industry has been softening,” the brokerage house said. The organic growth in the home loan segment for large banks has been slowing over the last 45-50 days.

Home loan AUM growth

Even as lenders jostle for home loan pie, the assets under management of the segment across banks and non-banks are likely to grow by 15% over the next three to five years, according to ICICI Securities.

This would be on the back of the rise in disbursements and improved affordability.

“Factors such as low interest rates, stamp duty cut, benign real estate prices, etc. have improved affordability to own a house. ‘Work from home’ has kindled incremental housing demand. Construction too was not adversely impacted during the second wave,” the brokerage said.

Home loan growth fell to 8% over the previous three financial years as compared to 17-18% earlier while disbursements fell to Rs 5.3-5.5 lakh crore due to the pandemic. However, it has now risen to a run-rate of Rs 7-8 lakh crore.