Home loan limit for central govt employees to increased Rs 25 lakh

The government increased the maximum amount that a central government employee can borrow from the government to Rs 25 lakh, from Rs 7.50 lakh earlier. The government revised the House Building Advance (HBA) rules and incorporating the accepted recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, it also increased the amount that a central government employee can borrow for expansion of their homes to 34 months of basic pay to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh, from Rs 1.80 lakh earlier. Cost ceiling limit of the house which an employee can construct or purchase has been increased to Rs 1 crore, with a provision of upward revision of 25% in deserving cases, from Rs 30 lakh earlier. "People can now migrate from home loans taken from financial institutions and banks to HBA, if they so desire. This attractive package is expected to incentivize the government employee to buy house/ flat by taking the revised HBA along with other bank loans, if required. This will give a fillip to the housing infrastructure sector," the government said in a press release. Both spouses, if they are central government employees, are now eligible to take HBA either jointly, or separately. Earlier only one spouse was eligible for HBA. The government has also reduced the rate of interest on HBA to 8.5%, compared with 9.5% earlier. This rate will now be reviewed every three years. It has also withdrawn the proposal to for adding a higher rate of interest at 2.5% above the prescribed rate during sanction of HBA. There is no change in the payment schedule. People can pay the principal first in the first 15 years, in 180 monthly instalments, and interest thereafter in next five years in 60 monthly instalments. The house constructed or purchased with the help of HBA can be insured with the private insurance companies which are approved by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority.