25/10/2021
4 key differences between PAG-IBIG and bank loans
#1 Loan Purposes Slightly Differ
Securing a home loan will require you to disclose the purpose of the loan. For most commercial banks and also PAG-IBIG, they consider a new or re-purchase of a property like a townhouse, condo unit, completion of home construction and refinancing of your property.
Meanwhile, PAG-IBIG allows home loan applicants to purchase a lot, not exceeding 1,000 sqm. Commercial banks offer other services such as home equity.
#2 Interest Rates and Maximum Amount to Borrow
PAG-IBIG offers its members access to borrow up to P6,000,000 and for those who are earning minimum wage, they can enjoy a lower annual interest rate per annum from 3% to 4.5% under the Affordable Housing Program.
However, to be eligible for this offer, the home loan applicant must have less than P15,000 as gross monthly income in the NCR region and P12,000 outside Metro Manila. They can avail up to P450,000 of housing loan only.
Interest rates in commercial banks are lower than PAG-IBIG but have limited fixed rate terms that are good or as valid as 1, 2, 3 or 5 years, unlike PAG-IBIG that offers up to 30 years.
Acquiring an interest rate with a fixed term of 15 years means youβre spared from the marketβs fluctuating rates (if your loan tenure is 15 years), which are usually higher than your original rate when you apply for the loan.
Once your fixed rate from the bank expires, you are at the mercy of the marketβs prevailing interest rate. And that could be the same or higher, depending on the condition of the market and economy.
#3 PAG-IBIG loans are better when it comes to repayment options
Repayment is the process of repaying the lender the amount you borrowed, including the principal and interest rate based on the contract. When it comes to PAG-IBIG loans, the repayment scheme is less complicated when it comes to the computation as the fixed rate is consistent for the loan tenure.
You can pay in a lump sum or at any time pay it in full or you may wait until its maturity date, the maximum of loan tenure is 30 years.
However, when it comes to home loans in commercial banks, the process and the computation is quite complicated and varies because the fixing period is shorter and you also need to pay for the early repayment fee. Banks can provide you at best 1-5 years of the fixed rate.
If you have a stable income, PAG-IBIG home loan is a good option if you donβt want to mess with the fluctuating rates from the banks once the fixing period ends.
#4 Banks have stricter requirements and qualifications for borrowers
Compared to the list of requirements and qualifications between PAG-IBIG and commercial bank home loan applicants, the former is more lenient even to the new or first-time applicant.
PAG-IBIG members should have 24 months of contribution and no existing multi-purpose loans in arrears. Members can also pay 24 months of that contribution in a lump sum. And no history of PAG-IBIG loan had been cancelled, foreclosed, or bought back.
On the other hand, if you apply for a home loan in banks, you donβt have to be a member of PAG-IBIG, but your monthly family income must be more than P40,000 and have a stable income.
Business owners and the self-employed must submit requirements to prove the profitability of their businesses or profession over the course of at least 2 years, including financial statements and other supporting documents.