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If I take a loan for 1.000,000 and try to pay it in five years, I'll have to pay approx 20000 as EMI. My uncle tells me to keep the tenure as 20 years (with interest rate at 10%), and my EMI will be just 7000. He says it's an advantage because due to the rate of inflation being about 7%, the value of this 7000 will be very less in 10 or 20 years time, and will be a much better option than trying to pay it off in 5 years. Is it really better?

[this is in India, where the house prices are rising]

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Welcome to SE, can you tell us what EMI is? Either in words or a link to a good definition. – JoeTaxpayer Feb 13 at 16:45
Sorry. Added it to the question as a link. EMI is Equated Monthly Installment. – Nav Feb 13 at 16:48
Actually, it's my own ignorance. And posters from outside the US help educate us. – JoeTaxpayer Feb 13 at 18:13

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

As a general principal if you are able to comfortably afford Rs20 K every month, with contignecy, you should go ahead. The value of Rs 7000 may be less in later years, however it does not impact anything, the other consideration you need to make is if you can afford 20 K, then paying 7 K in interest will leave you with 13 K. Are you comfortable to make an investment of 13 K in something that will return you more than 10% [the rate you are paying as interest]. If you don't believe you can get more return, then you should take the loan for shorter period.

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+1 - It's simple, if the opportunity cost of 13K is greater than 10%, then pick 20 years else try to pay it off as soon as you can. – YetAnotherUser Feb 20 at 23:52

The 5 year offer looks like a fully amortizing loan, i.e. paid off in five years. And 7.42% interest.

I'd take the shorter loan at 7.42% vs the3 10% for 20 years, but of course, it's nearly triple the payment. Can you afford this?

Interesting that the longer term rate (10%) is about 3% higher than your current inflation rate. That stands to reason, as the US rate is sub-4% with inflation in the 1% range.

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