Home Loan Happiness: RBI’s Rate Cut Delivers a Welcome Windfall

Image Source: DNA India

Indian home loan borrowers are smiling as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 5.5% in its recent monetary policy, a total of 100 bps (1%) cut since February 2025. Combined with a 100 bps cut in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), this action is going to bring huge relief to new and existing home loan borrowers, particularly those with repo rate-linked loans.

Key Highlights

Instant EMI Cut: For a ₹50 lakh 20-year home loan, the recent 1% interest rate cut can cut EMIs by about ₹1,500–₹1,700 per month, depending on the bank and your credit history.

Total Interest Saved: The borrowers save ₹7–14 lakh of total interest during the entire loan period without altering EMIs.

Lowest Rates in Years: Home loan rates are now falling below 8% for prime borrowers, with the best rates at 7.85% for high credit score borrowers (over 750).

Quicker Transmission for Repo-Linked Loans: Repo-linked loan borrowers (approved post-October 2019) will gain from the lower rates earlier, while others under the previous MCLR/base rate regimes will have to refinance or shift in order to take advantage of the lower rates.

Broader Impact: The rate cut should increase housing demand and household consumption as reduced EMIs raise disposable incomes.

FD Rates to Decline: Borrowers stand to gain, while fixed deposit (FD) rates will decline, particularly for short- and medium-term FDs.

Policy Stance Altered: RBI altered its stance from 'accommodative' to 'neutral', marking the end of further rate reductions unless inflation stays soft.

What Borrowers Must Do

Check Your Loan Type: If you hold a repo-linked loan, you can anticipate a sharp decline in EMI. Otherwise, opt for a refinancing or a repo-linked loan to avail maximum savings.
Choose: Lower EMI or Shorter Tenure: You could lower your EMI by paying more each month or maintain it as usual to repay your loan earlier and avoid paying interest.
Watch Bank Deals: Not all banks pass on the full benefit immediately, so compare and negotiate with your lender.

"The market rates are already at 7.85%, which is mostly offered to top borrowers with credit scores above 750. Another rate reducing action can make sub-8% rates the norm—something we haven't witnessed since the early days of 2022." — Adhil Shetty, CEO of BankBazaar

In short: If you own a ₹50 lakh home loan, your EMI will come down by as much as ₹1,700 a month, or save lakhs of interest if you keep paying your EMI. The RBI's aggressive rate cuts are a game-changer for homebuyers and current borrowers alike.

Source: DNA India, Economic Times, Business Today, Times of India, CNBC TV18, Moneycontrol