Guides · Before you buy
Before you buy · 3 min readEMI Safety Rule for Homebuyers
Reviewed against MahaRERA rules · Informational, not legal advice
The short version: A home should protect your finances, not strain them. A simple rule keeps the EMI safe — and there's more to plan for than just the monthly payment.
The rule
All your EMIs together — this home loan plus any car, personal or other loans — should ideally stay under about 40% of your take-home income. Lenders themselves cap total obligations near 50% (the FOIR). Above 50%, you're in risky territory.
Beyond the EMI
Keep the down payment and charges in savings — banks fund the flat's value, not GST, stamp duty or the builder's extras, so those come from your pocket.
And keep a separate emergency buffer. If a purchase drains every rupee of savings, one bad month can put the home at risk. If your numbers are over the line, a longer tenure, a bigger down payment, or a cheaper home all bring it back.
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This guide is general information to help you ask better questions — it is not legal advice, and it doesn't replace your own advocate or the official MahaRERA portal. Rules, rates and builder practices vary; always verify against the current MahaRERA record and your project's documents before acting.