Housing finance regulator National Housing Bank expects a growth of 20% in loans this fiscal, up from 17% in 2011-12, with lenders slashing rates and reducing other charges. Mortgage lending business has become competitive with state-run banks aggressively cutting rates and waiving processing fees, besides doing away with the pre-payment penalty, making it easier for borrowers to switch lenders.
“Some banks are very aggressive in terms of lowering of interest rates,” said NHB chairman and managing director RV Verma. “The lowering of base rates and abolition of some of the fees have made the whole environment competitive and, going forward, we do not rule out further price wars among the banks and HFCs (housing finance companies),” Verma said.
Banks have the benefit of lower cost of funds through strong deposit franchise, while HFCs are constrained by higher cost of funds as they borrow from banks and other sources. Verma, however, said the HFCs can succeed by offering personalised service.
“Despite the slowdown in other sectors of the economy, all geographical locations for that matter, the demand for housing loans has been good and sustained, and we are seeing growth of close to 20% this year for 2012-13 as compared with last year’s 17% between banks and HFCs,” he said. NHB plans to disburse close to Rs 17,000 crore as refinance support to banks and housing finance institutions in 2012-13 against Rs 14,400 crore in 2011-12. Agencies
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