8-point RERA checklist before booking property – registration verification, escrow compliance, carpet area, possession penalty, approvals, builder track record, litigation. Prevents Rs.10-50 lakh of trapped capital.
PMAY CLSS gives first-time home buyers up to Rs.2.67 lakh interest subsidy. EWS/LIG/MIG-I/MIG-II tier eligibility, subsidy amounts, application process, common documentation mistakes.
Joint home loan doubles tax benefits (Rs.7 lakh combined deduction vs Rs.3.5 lakh single), improves eligibility. Who can be co-applicant, ownership structures, divorce implications, 8 mistakes to avoid.
When home loan balance transfer makes sense – 0.5%+ rate cut + 7+ years remaining rule, break-even math, 5-step process, costs to negotiate, top-up loan opportunity, hidden traps.
When to prepay home loan vs invest in equity, lump-sum vs increase EMI vs reduce tenure, tax benefit erosion math, the 10-year prepayment strategy, common mistakes.
Bank-wise home loan rate comparison (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, BoB, Bajaj, LIC Housing), RLLR vs MCLR vs fixed, hidden charges, negotiation script that gets 0.25-0.5% discount, tenure optimization.
11-phase first-time buyer playbook – financial audit, pre-approval, RERA verification, builder due diligence, agreement negotiation, registration, possession, interiors. Documents, timeline, costs, 12 mistakes.
Two rules govern home loan affordability – 30% EMI cap and 5x income cap. Salary-bracket-wise affordable property price, hidden costs banks ignore, ongoing ownership costs, EMI vs SIP opportunity cost.
Renting vs buying math for Indian metros – 7-10 year break-even, city-by-city comparison, 5 hidden costs of ownership, when buying truly wins, when renting wins. Mumbai/Bengaluru/Delhi/Pune/Chennai data.
12 specific money conversations Indian couples should have before marriage – debt + asset disclosure, savings habits, family obligations, kid timing, account structure, retirement vision. Scripts that work, red flags, deal-breaker handling.
The 8 money conversations Indian families avoid – parents retirement, inheritance, sibling responsibility, lending boundaries, spouse differences, adult kid support. Word-for-word scripts that work.
How to handle a sudden windfall – 60/30/10 allocation framework, tax implications by source, first 90-day playbook, family pressure handling, and 8 common windfall mistakes.