How Repo Rate Changes Impact Home Loans and Car Loans

What is the Repo Rate? The repo rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends money to commercial banks. It plays a crucial role in determining loan interest rates in the economy. When the repo rate changes, banks adjust their lending rates, affecting everything from home loans to car loans and even business financing. How a Higher Repo Rate Affects Loans 1. Impact on Home Loans When the RBI increases the repo rate: Banks also raise interest rates on home loans. Your home loan EMI goes up, making monthly payments more expensive. Some banks may offer to extend your loan tenure instead of increasing EMI—but you’ll end up paying more interest over time. Result: Home loans become less affordable, and some buyers may delay purchasing property. Example: If you had a home loan of ₹40 lakhs at 8% interest, your EMI was around ₹33,000. If the rate goes up to 9%, your EMI becomes ₹36,000—a ₹3,000 monthly jump. 2. Impact on Car Loans Car loans also get costlier when repo rates r...