How Top up loans are good alternatives of Personal Loan ?
POSTED BY ON November 3, 2014 COMMENTS (114)
Imagine you already have a home loan and now after few years of payment, you again need some extra loan for some purpose? What would you do? One would ideally think of applying for a fresh loan from scratch and might get it too. But there is a faster option to get a loan if you already have a running home loan and its called top-up loan.
How does top-up loan works?
When you take a home loan for the first time, you have some home loan eligibility up to which you can take the loan. If you have consumed that full limit, then you are not eligible to get any further loan immediately, but over the years when you have paid back some part of your loan and if your income has also increased, then it may happen that your loan eligibility has gone up. At that point, you are eligible to take up a top-up loan which is over and above your existing home loan. What exactly happens if you get a loan up to an amount of your loan eligibility minus your existing outstanding loan.
Almost all the bank rules say that you are eligible for a top-up loan only after 6-12 months of paying off the earlier loan because only after some time is over, your loan eligibility changes.
Let’s take an example
Assume that Ajay, a software engineer working in Bangalore has an income of Rs 10 lacs a year. Assume that his loan eligibility was Rs 50 lacs and he takes a home loan of Rs 45 Lacs. Now assume that he has serviced the loan EMI for the next 3 yrs and now his overall income has gone up to 12 lacs per annum and his outstanding loan balance now is only Rs 38 Lacs. Now based on his current income, his new loan eligibility is 55 lacs.
Now if he applies for a top-up loan, the bank will deduct the 38 lacs of an outstanding loan from his new loan eligibility of 55 lacs and only provide him 17 lacs (55-38) of the top-up loan. The documentation and the overall process will be faster in this case, as there is an existing relationship and also the history is known by the bank. Below is the graphical representation of the same example I took above.
You need to have a good repayment track record to avail a top-up loan. Just because you have some loan eligibility does not mean that there is a guarantee of getting a top-up loan. The final decision is always with the loan provider. The bank will also investigate with you the purpose of taking the top up loan. Below you can see for what purpose the top up loan can be taken.
- Renovation at home
- To be used as a personal loan
- To buy another property
- To buy a plot or Land
- Purchase of consumer durable products
- Children’s marriage/education
- Business requirements
- Medical expenses
5 Benefits of Top-Up Loan
Benefit #1- Tax Benefits on a top-up loan
You will get tax benefit on a top-up loan only if the loan amount is used for buying a house (on principle and interest) or if you are using it for renovation purpose (interest part). For any other purpose, if you use the money, you will not get any tax benefits.
Benefit #2- The interest rate for a top-up loan
A The interest rate for the top up loan is around 1.5% to 2% higher than the home loan interest rate of the bank, which means it can go up to 11.5% to 14% finally.
Benefit #3- No Security Required
A top-up loan does not need you to mortgage some asset, because its given on top of your home loan and anyways your home documents are with the bank. So one important point to note here is that even if you close your original home loan, you need to also close your top up loan before you can ask back your original house papers from the bank.
Benefit #4- Top-up loan amount
Generally, the amount of top-up loan cant exceed the original home loan amount you have taken and also there is always an upper limit defined by the bank for the top up loan, which can range anywhere from 15-40 lacs. So if you have taken a Rs 30 lacs home loan, you can take the maximum top-up loan of another Rs 30 lacs if your eligibility supports you after some years.
Benefit #5- Processing Fees
Almost all the banks will charge a processing fee for approving the top up loan . The charges are same as their home loan processing charges . For example – if you take a case of HDFC LTD , the charge 0.75% of the loan amount or Rs 2,000 which ever is maximum as the loan processing charges for the top up loan.
Top up Loan is a good alternative of Personal Loan
By now you must have understood that a top up loan is a much better alternative to a personal loan. there are a much higher chances of getting a top up loan if you already have a home loan and have a clean and good track record of payment in past. Also if you have already passed 3-4 years of your home loan repayment , you can get a decent amount of top up loan. Given the interest rates of personal loan can be as high as 18-24% , its always a good idea to try for top up loans.
Let me know if you knew about this concept or not ?
Hello sir, I have a home loan since last year. Now I am applying for additional loan. i had no idea about top up loan and i have prepared blue print, valuation and search report. should I go for additional loan or top up. which is more beneficial for me?
The better would be TOPUP loan, because its more easy to get and also at the same rate of interest (home loan one) . The only thing is you will have to check how much is your eligibility. Talk to your home loan company
Hi manish, i took a personal loan of 2 lakhs in the month of July and Emi is 6800 per month for 3 years. When I took loan my package was 1.86lakhs per annum and now my package is 2.65lakhs per annum. I want to take another loan now. I thought I can re an either repay full amount and avail new loan for a bigger amount as I would be eligible for a bigger amount now or take a loan top up. I have paid only 2 emis till now and 3rd Emi is due next week. Can you let me know the options which I have. My loan is with hdfc bank and Salary ac is also with Hdfc bank.
Only the bank will be able to tell you if you are eligible for more loan.
Will top up loan emi be clubed with my original emi or is it separate? And can I repay only top up loan after some years?
Hi Sachin Desai
It will be clubbed.
Can I use this top up loan for commercial car purchase and how many days this procedure takes?
Yes you can use it for any purpose
Hello,
What is the procedure and documents required to avail top up loan. Does that loan coterminate with the HOME LOAN
Hi Manish
There is no special process for it. Its very simple . You just need to visit the branch and tell them you are looking for top up loan. They will ask you for basic documents like your address proof and identity and the filled form along with the recent bank statements and income proof (ITR)
Manish
Hi,
I want to know if i use home loan top up for business, then will it be considered as business expense.
Yes you can . In case of top up loan , it does not matter how you spend that money. The bank will only increase your home loan by that additional top up loan amount and your EMI will change. Nothing else..
Manish
Nice article. If a top-up loan is taken for acquisition of a new property, can one claim tax benefit on principal amount paid as well as interest component?
The certificate issued by the bank will only include the amount of top-up, interest/ principal component as well as details of the borrower. The certificate won’t mention anything about the address of new property.
Yes, it can be done !
Do I have to pay Intimation and stamp duty charges in case of a top up loan?
No
Bank officials did take money for this from me and already did it. They said without it we can’t disburse the loan. I don’ know who to trust.
You should have waited more on this at that time.
Hi Manish,
Nice Article, though I was aware of this concept through your portal only.
I think there is a typo in second last line under heading “Top up Loan is a good alternative of Personal Loan”, Also if you have already passed 3-4 hours of your home loan repayment , you can get a decent amount of top up loan.
It should be “Years ” and not hours.
regards
Bhanu Pratap Singh
Thanks for sharing that. I fixed it 🙂
one year back i have availed Homeloan+topupLoan+mortgage loan from HDFC. They issue It-Exemption certificate only for Home-loan. Do I get Interest paid part from Top-Up loan to avail Tax exemption. Because I have utilised some part of amount from top-up loan for house renovation and painting.
You need to check this with bank only !
Hi Manish,
I have taken up a Top up loan with ICICI bank. They have given a different loan account number but the property address and name remains the same.
Can i consider the interest paid for the top up loan clubing up with the home loan for tax exemption.
I think you should consider that with bank !
Hi Manish,
I have taken a home loan from SBI (joint with wife), and want to apply for a top up loan, so I can repay the loan for the other property (on my wife’s name only). Can this top up loan will be exempted from tax as I am using that amount to clear my other home lone only?
Topup loan is nothing but extending the same old home loan. If your home loan was X earliar, it becomes X + Y later. The tax benefits can be continued in the same manner !
Thanks for response. I went to SBI to enquire about it and they said it’s a personal loan with low rate of interest. It will be treated like a different loan account altogether and will not be clubbed with home loan itself.
Some other banks offer the loan as an increased amount on same HL itself. So if someone is taking a top up from SBI and wish to claim deductions under Housing Loan sections, it wouldn’t work.
Is it ?
Because in HDFC I enquired for it and it was being given as a part of home loan extention . Anyways see if it fits your situaton or not !
Hi, what is the age bar for availing SBI top-up loan? Will the tenure increase or stay the same? What if the borrower is above 70 yrs old, will he be eligible?
I dont think at that age, bank will give a topup loan !
I am taking a top-up loan for renovation. My property is let out and I am staying in a rented house. On the top-up loan, can we claim tax deduction benefit on both principal and interest amount. Please help clarify this question with suitable income tax sections applicable.
yes, you can claim all that because its the same thing as home loan . Your home loan amount will just increase !
I utilised top up home loan to purchase another home on my wifes name.
Is there any tax benefit option available?
Your top up loan must have got added to the first loan itself . You can avail the same benefits like you did before
what documents required for top up home loan from SBI .
I am having existing Home loan from SBI. And recently taken top up loan on existing property to buy another home.
Can I get tax benefit for the interest paid on top up loan?
Yes
I had taken the housing loan from SBI, whereas the sanctioned amount is more but I had taken less then the sactioned amount, but now I required some more amount to complete the house (ie finishing work), so can I get the tax benefit in this case.
Yes
Hi Manish,
i have a home loan with IDBI and after some time i also took top up loan from the same bank. Whether interest paid on top up loan (mentioned as home loan in the disbursement letter for Purpose: Top Up loan for interior works ) is eligible for tax exemption? The original home loan account is also mentioned in the disbursement letter of top up loan.
Yes, its eligible , because anyways your existing home loan gets increased !
Thanks Manish for a very quick reply…
can i club the interest from 2 different premium paid certificates and claim as total interest paid on home loan? (original home loan and top up loan account numbers are different and hence 2 different premium paid certificates..). In top up home loan disbursement letter, original house loan number is mentioned and also top up loan is for renovation is also mentioned ..
thanks a lot for your advice..
Yes you can do that
Hi,
I currently have 2 houses bought with home loans, one is at fixed rate (ICICI), the other is a floating rate one (HDFC).
The HDFC loan ends earlier due to prepayments in 2018 (originally was to end in 2033)
The ICICI loan ends in 2020.
After reading this informative article, I goth the thought of consolidating the two loans. Can you please clarify the following doubts?
a) Can I apply for a transfer of the fixed rate loan (ICICI) into the floater rate(HDFC)?
HDFC has already pre-qualified me for a top up amount that covers the principal outstanding with ICICI.
b) If I close the ICICI loan with these proceeds, would I be able to qualify for tax rebate on the consolidated amount?
Hi Dhiraj
This is very specific query which you should follow up with the concerned authority only. We wont be able to comment on that
Manish
Hi,
Why do you think top up loan is better than a personal loan? Even though the EMI is less in case of top up, aren’t we paying more interest to the bank since the tenure is high? Please share your thoughts.
You can take a topup loan first and then lower the tenure if you wish so that the EMI is higher and the interest part is lower.
AS you said there can be few cases where one thing is better than other.
i have already opted the top up loan once. Can i take it for 2nd time
Yes, if you are eligible as per bank rules
hi
I have a home loan at idbi and want to transfer to hdfc bank for getting top up benefit. After transferring the loan can I immediately opt for top up because I need to buy a new property or will I have to wait for few months to get the top up facility ?
Yes, you can opt for topup if you are eligible as per their rules
Hi Manish,
I have already taken home loan(maxgain) from SBI for my Pune home in 2011. Now I am constructing new home at my native place(Kolhapur) and takent loan from BOI. I need top up loan of around 5 lacs from SBI to finish the construction work at native place.
Should I claim the top up loan against ‘buy another property’ or ‘Personal loan’ ?
Please guide me on this. Also any idea how long normally it takes to complete the process at SBI ?
Thanks & Regards,
Nitinkumar Shinde
Yes, But u have two loans one from SBI & another from BOI, first of all if u top up ur home loan from SBI then bank consider ur income. u have two home loan so bank consider both EMI added if it is more than 60% of ur per month salary then ur not eligible but less than that then ur eligible for that percent of EMI & u will top up ur home loan.
Its totally depends on income u will bear both loan with top up amount.
You should take a top up loan
Hello Sir,
I am trying to get top up loan from State Bank of India(SBI) where I have already home loan from 2 years.
However, I have applied for the top up loan in January-2015 but still they haven’t approved my top up loan OR not giving any clear information.
What should I do ?
Regards,
Rohit Pundlik
If they have not approved, then it might happen that you dont have any loan elegibility itself or have some issue in your case, hence check with them on this
Dear Sir,
Thanks for the information. Usually how many top up loan can be granted by the Bank specially HDFC Ltd
Unlimited, but you need to be qualifying for it
Dear sir
I am having housing loan(20years) with one bank.
I want to shift from that bank to other bank(takeover)
Shall I get top up loan in new bank with out completing one year service in 2nd bank?
In first bank I have completed 3 Years emi repayment.Pl clarify
You can directly move to other bank.
Good information..Thankyou Mr Manish..
Regards
Hi,
Good info. I have a home loan wtih SBI max gain overdraft facility account. If i top up the loan to the amt of 4lakhs, will that be included into overdraft facilty as well?
Thanks
arjun
Hi arjun
Not aware of this.
Can I re-pay top up loan anytime similar to home loan without any pre payment penalty? And is the interest rate is same as him home loan?
Yes
If i purchase a residential plot with home equity loan, mortgaging my second house, is the interest paid is tax deductible? I show my loan for this second house under section 24b.
Yes if you got a home loan on that and not a plot loan
I have availed a home loan of 23 Lacs and now suppose i have to enhance it to 30 Lacs since i am upgrading from 900Sq.Ft to 1200 Sq.Ft my unit (ie. extra 10 Lacs), so i have to go for Top-up loan only or also there is a possibility to increase the existing loan home amount. The reason is i want to avoid paying extra ROI and processing fee since i am utilizing the top-up only for Home loan since i am moving to bigger unit. Please advise.
Increase in existing home loan is called “Top up loan” . so you need to pay processing fees !
Very useful information. I got Home Top up loan from SBI for personal expenses. Can I do a part payment and borrow at a later point ( say 6 months) if there is an emergency need. Basically can I use this as a flexible loan . Are there any additional charges banks charge
Hi Seetharaman
I think only the bank will be able to comment on that.
Very useful. Thank You
Hi. I have bought a property in vasundhra ghaziabad and availed housing loan from Canara bank but in the mean time i also got offer from Hdfc for top up loan at lower rate of interest. Can i repay the amount outstanding to Canara bank and avail same tax benefits from payment to Hdfc bank for top up loan? Or no deduction is allowed on new top up loan to repay new loan at higher interest rate?
Regards,
Summit
You can get the tax deduction if the final amount is used for real estate only .
I have applied for the State bank home loan in the month of Dec 2014 and my construction work is going on it is still in progress. my loan amount is 34 lacs. My EMI starts from Nov 2015. My construction work is expected to complete by end of the month May 2015. I am in need of money to complete my construction work
a) Am i eligible for the Top up loan from SBI?
B) what is the procedure to get top up loan from SBI ?
Hi Meenakshi
I think its a very specific question related to SBI . You can check this with SBI only !
Hi Manish
For top up loan what documents are required or it will be processed with last KYC only
It would depend on the bank finally, but if its been applied after a long time, you might have to give the documents again !
Thanks Manish for this & other articles. I have a query on top-up loan. I am planning to take a top up loan to buy a plot. Can I avail tax benefits? I checked in SBI bank, they told me there is not any kind of tax benefit on any top-up loan.
Thank you!
Hi Akhtar
You can not get it for land !
I think so it’s not a rule.
I have home loan at SBI and top-up also from SBI.
i think if SBI can give more than main loan then other bank also do the same.
Generally the amount of top up loan cant exceed the original home loan amount…
i think we have to correct it…
i am having home loan of Rs. 10 Lac and recently i got processed new TOP UP loan for Rs. 13 Lac.
which is higher than main home loan amount.
Is that rule in your bank or every bank ?
I think so it’s not a rule.
I have home loan at SBI and top-up also from SBI.
i think if SBI can give more than main loan then other bank also do the same.
Its the rule from bank . So check with bank on what they follow !
I want for business loan
Thanks Manish for the article. I am regular reader of you blog and thought of sharing my view. Last month i took a top loan from SBI (called as Home Equity loan in SBI). I took this topup loan after 1.5 years of home loan.
One of the biggest advantage SBI top up loan is that they provided this loan with over draft facility where interest will be calculated only for used amount (same as SBI Maxgain home loan). When compared to other PL, home topup loan another advantage like long duration which will reduce EMI. Generally all PL loan will have mostly 5yrs for repayment wheres topup can get up to home loan balance period (like 15,10 etc). I think this loan scheme is very much suitable for businessmen since they need capital for longer time.
Check the detail here (see under Related home loan product section) –
https://www.sbi.co.in/portal/web/personal-banking/related-home-loan-products
Thanks for that information Muralikrishnan ! .. many thanks !
Hi Manish,
The article was very informative. I am very happy to have gained this small knowledge which most people are not aware about.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
I noticed a small Typo:
“there are a much higher changes of getting a top up loan ” -> Incorrect word: Changes
Correction : there are a much higher chances of getting a top up loan -> Correct Word: Chances
Keep sharing, keep learning 🙂
Thanks
Sahil
Fixed it 🙂 . Thanks for sharing !
Recently, I got a top loan to make the down-payment for my second home. I thought it is not possible to claim income tax deductions on top up loan. I had the following questions:
1. Under which section can this deduction be shown?
2. Can I claim a deduction every year for the principal and interest part, same as I do for my existing home loan?
3. What proof would I need for getting this deduction?
You cant claim deductions as neither you have used the money for any principle payment or interest payment for a loan .
Manish,
I used the topup loan to buy a house. Does that not count for tax deduction? Or, the tax deduction is available only if I use the topup loan amount to pay-off the principal or interest part of an existing home loan?
a loan to pay off another loan?
First qn is addressed in the article I think (qualifies for tax benefits). Second one – why do you want to do that? Already tax benefit is there for existing home loan, what additional benefit do you get by paying it off with top-up loan?
No, I did not take the topup loan to repay existing loan. I took it to buy another flat. All the articles that I have read elsewhere including this one, just say that the topup loan is eligible for income tax deductions but does not specify how.
Can the deductions be claimed for interest and principal every year or only in the year in which the top-up loan is taken? Also, under which section can this claim be made and what proofs need to be submitted?
If we take the topup on home loan, then it can be only used for home renovation, right?
How can it be used for some other personal needs?
Please comment.
No , its not correct . the top up loan can be used for any purpose . Its just that the tax benefits is available only when the money is used for renovation , else not !
Thanks Manish.
I was aware of the top up loan, but was under the impression that it can only be used for home renovation. This can be useful.
So EMI of topup loan will be different? or will it be adjusted in normal home loan EMI?
It will be different .. A separate loan !
Few months back Axis bank was offering top up loan at the same ROI as the home loan with ROI linked to home loan and for a period of 20 yrs as well. That was a good deal. As rightly said by Manish, it is indeed a better option than personal loan even if the ROI is 1-2% higher than home loan.
My question: If the amount obtained via top up loan is kept in bank FD, the bank will deduct tax on the interest generated. Since you are also paying interest on the same loan amount, can a set off be obtained on the tax at the time of filing returns. i.e. the interest obtained via FD should not be taxable since you are paying interest on the same principal amount.
NO , I dont think you can offset it like this .
It cannot be offset like that! Taxation doesn’t work that way!
Hello Manish
Thanks for the Information, When you say top up loan on home loan.. Is its different loan? How can I avail the tax benefit if I use for renovation? Wood works is also a part of renovation right?
Thanks
Vishnu
Its a different loan , and counted as seperate one .. You can claim interest part into tax exemption if you are using it for renovation work . How to avail is as simple as deducting the amount from your taxable income and not paying tax on that part. Keep your documents and proofs ready for future ! .. thats all
Manish
3-4(error-> hours)(correction->years)
Thanks for pointing that .. I just fixed it 🙂
This is very much informative. Was not aware of this before and I hope most of the people will not know about it as banks usually push for personal loans.
Thanks Manish for sharing this!
Thanks Abhay !
very nice information; Never heard abt this before…wondering why its not marketed so much.
Jassi
Its not a very famous product and mostly a sider product. You cant get to hear about everything 🙂 ..
Hi Manish,
Thanks for the article. Can you please explain in detail about the tenure of top up loan?
Last year i have done the interior work for my home and i spent around 9 lac, now if i apply for home loan and i can claim the tax on that.
Thanks & Regards,
Girish
Please read “home loan” as “home loan top up”.
If its already done last year , then it cant be claimed now .. It does not work backwards !
Manish