Respite for the first timers

Are you looking to buy a house for the first time? Thanks to the Union Budget of 2013, you can heave a sigh of relief as new loans up to Rs.25 lakh will be eligible for an additional tax deduction of Rs.1 lakh for interest payments. This is their way of encouraging people to buy their first home ever. Good move, and definitely deserves a sigh of relief.

However, this is of course on for the financial year of 2013-14 as of now. So that means, a person taking a loan of up to Rs.25 lakh for his first home between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014, will be entitled to an additional deduction of interest of up to Rs.1 lakh. Apart from being beneficial to first time buyers, this move will also boost a number of industries like steel, cement, brick, wood and glass, besides giving jobs to thousands of construction workers. With this, the total deduction for interest payment for 2013-14 will be Rs.2.5 lakh. If the interest component is less than the deduction limit, the balance can be claimed in the next financial year.

With the advent of this benefit, taxpayers can continue to claim deductions up to Rs.1 lakh for repayment of home loan principal within the overall limit of Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. There are a few areas to look into though, as can be the case with any rule or law.

1. A deduction of up to Rs.1.5 lakh for interest payment (under Section 24B) is allowed if the house is ready and occupied by the taxpayer.

2. Any pre-construction interest is allowed to be deducted in five equal instalments within the Rs.1.5 lakh limit after the house is ready.

3. If the house has been let out, the taxpayer can claim the entire interest component as deduction from the rental income.

This move is definitely very encouraging for buyers on the lookout as well as opportunities in real estate, both of which will see a significant rise as per predictions of many.

What IIT and MBA grads need to look for while buying a house

Homes are the pillars on which families are built. It is the dream and ambition of every professional to build or buy a really comfortable and beautiful home. It is always good to inquire about things before venturing on something big like building or buying a home. Finding the suitable locale is the primary thing when it comes to choosing houses and it differs from person to person. Some prefer houses that are situated in a serene and isolated location which could be just outside a busy city which could prove to be safe haven from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Homes like these can be a perfect setting for anyone but access to the city is a question to ponder over. Big cities can be difficult to navigate because of the traffic and distance involved. Getting to places in time can be a real burden. This is the reason why others choose to live inside the city limits. Living in the heart of the city has its own perks as there is easy access to every place in the city. Schools, hospitals, banks and other day to day businesses when they are close to the residence is a real benefit.

Another vital part of buying a house is the budget. By setting a minimum and a maximum limit for how much you are willing to spend for your dream home makes your choices narrower enabling you to get a clear picture of where you are going to stay. There are residential apartments available for every budget and depending on its location there are villas for a song. In the case of high rise residential apartments one can opt for the lower stories you can save money and if you want a splendid view from your living room you can throw in some more cash opt for the higher stories available.

Apartments can save you the time and labor on furnishing your new house. Safety factor too is an important point to consider with the unbelievable rise in crime in recent times. There are apartments with state of the art built in security and you can be rest assured you and your family live in a safe- house. Buying a house has numerous advantages against building one on your own with which also comes with numerous amenities you would love to have and that’s all there is to it.