The home loan playbook: Tips to save time, money

With digital tools and a few smarter tricks, navigating today's home loan process is easier

- Anil Poste

Buying a house may be a dream, but getting a home loan can feel like a maze filled with paperwork, fine print, and financial jargon.

The good news? It doesn't have to be that way. With digital portals, smarter tools, and a few insider tricks, navigating the home loan process today is easier than ever—if you know what to watch out for.

In recent years, applying for a home loan has become much smoother, especially with private banks going digital. Most now offer online portals and standard document checklists, making the process faster—often completing disbursals within 15 days.

In contrast, public sector banks like SBI and Bank of Baroda still rely on physical paperwork and can take 30-60 days, particularly for properties that need extensive legal checks.

"If your apartment is in a pre-approved project, private banks will move quickly. But if it's a standalone property or in the outskirts, PSU banks will take their time with legal checks," says Jagadeesh, founder of Emisaver.com and a former PhonePe executive.

From choosing the right bank to negotiating interest rates and using hidden hacks like overdraft-linked loans, this Mint guide unpacks everything you need to know to save time, money, and stress on your path to homeownership.

Banks ask for different sets of documents depending on the property type.

If you're buying directly from a builder, you'll need to submit the agreement to sell, cost sheet, builder NOC (no-objection certificate), demand letters, and payment receipts," said Umang Gupta, co-founder of Refresh, a home loan porting platform.

"The builder should ideally be able to provide these in one go, including property-related documents like encumbrance certificate (EC), occupancy certificate (OC), and khata if applicable."