How Much Home Can You Afford in India — A Practical Guide

## The affordability myth Banks will often approve the maximum loan you're eligible for. That doesn't mean you should take it. The bank optimizes for their interest income — you should optimize for your financial security. ## Working backwards from EMI comfort Choose an EMI you're genuinely comfortable with — not the maximum possible. Test yourself: if you were paying this EMI for 6 months already, would you feel financially stressed? Start there. **Example:** Household income: ₹1.5 lakh/month Comfortable EMI: ₹40,000–50,000/month (not the 40% maximum) At 8.75% for 20 years, ₹50,000 EMI → loan eligibility: ~₹55 lakh With ₹15 lakh down payment: home up to ₹70 lakh ## True cost of buying For a ₹80 lakh property in Maharashtra: - Property price: ₹80,00,000 - Stamp duty (5%): ₹4,00,000 - Registration (1%): ₹80,000 - Interior fitout (₹800/sq ft × 1,000 sq ft): ₹8,00,000 - Moving and misc: ₹1,00,000 - **Total: ₹93,80,000** Budget for this total, not just the sticker price. ## Cities where affordability is worst Mumbai: Income to EMI ratio makes most 2BHKs unaffordable for households below ₹2 lakh/month. Delhi NCR/Gurgaon: More affordable than Mumbai but premium micro-markets are still stretched. Bengaluru: Better value — tech salaries have grown faster than property appreciation in many areas. Hyderabad/Pune: Best affordability among major cities.