KATHMANDU, Feb. 11 -- Banks and financial institutions (BFIs) invested Rs 32.74 billion in personal home loans in the first half of the current fiscal year, along with an increase in demand for housing loans.

According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the BFIs have invested Rs 380 billion in home loans as of mid-January of the current fiscal year. In the first six months, the BFIs' investment in personal home loans increased by 9.40 percent from Rs 348 billion in mid-July.

The business of the real estate sector had slumped in the past few years with the NRB tightening the gauge in the segment. After the NRB introduced flexible measures through the monetary policy for 2023/24 last year, the demand for home loans started to increase. Through i...