India, Jan. 7 -- Planning to buy a house in 2026? Before finalising an apartment purchase, ensure your credit profile is healthy and, ideally, that previous loans have been fully paid off to improve your chances of securing a lower rate.

Financial experts also recommend keeping your home loan EMIs within 40% of your monthly take-home income to avoid overstretching your budget. This helps keep your finances comfortable even after accounting for everyday expenses. Borrowers with strong credit profiles, typically those with a score of 750 and above, are considered lower risk by lenders and are more likely to qualify for the most competitive home loan interest rates.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 4, 2025, reduced the repo rate...