Lost Property Documents – What happens if your property documents are lost or misplaced? How you will prove ownership on the property? Well, recently I got a case of lost property document. My friend wanted to purchase a property. He selected one property at prime location and reasonably priced. He was about to buy the property. However, before finalizing the deal he asked for the original paper from the owner. The owner was unable to produce all property documents. The owner expressed that the old sale deed is misplaced by his banker due to negligence. Now my friend is in confusion about what to do next? He has taken advice from the advocate and decided to proceed further.
Misplacement or loss of property documents such as sales deed, property registration documents, and the title deed is a serious matter. You should not take it lightly. If any of your property documents are missing or lost you may face problems at the time of selling a property.
Here is complete information about what you should do to get a duplicate copy of documents, in case your property documents are missing.
To get a duplicate copy of property documents you need to follow the following steps.
File police complaint immediately
The first thing to do once you realize that property documents are missing you need to file a police complaint about missing papers. The police will file FIR (First information report). The FIR copy contains details about missing, misplace or stolen documents. The FIR copy is to be filed by the owner of the house. Once FIR is registered keep a copy of FIR with you. Sometimes a buyer of a property may ask for FIR copy.
Publish information on Local News Paper
The second important and mandatory step if you lost your property document is to publish an advertisement in a regional or local newspaper. The advertisement should clearly state information about missing documents. The advertisement is generally given by the advocate. Once an advertisement is published you need to wait for 15 days to see if anyone finds the document and returns in the time frame.
Register Undertaking with Notary
Now you need to prepare an undertaking about the loss of property documents with the help of an advocate. This undertaking is based on the advertisement published in the local newspaper and police complaint (FIR) document. Once the undertaking is prepared it should be notarized by the advocate. Once notary of an undertaking is done it will be a legal document.
File an Application for the Share Certificate
If you are living in a flat, you must have a share certificate of the society. To obtain a duplicate share certificate copy, you need to apply to a housing society office. The application should contain attachments of FIR, advertisement copy and undertaking copy. The society representative may call society meeting and verifies past records as well as produced documents. If everything found to be ok the housing society will charge a fee and issue duplicate share certificate. You should also ask for the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the society.
Get Duplicate Sale Deed
The final step is to get a duplicate copy of the sale deed. To get a sale deed duplicate copy, you need to apply at sub-registrar office. The application should contain attachments such as police complaints, newspaper advertisement copy, and notarized undertaking.
The sub-registrar office verifies the correctness of records and issue duplicate sale deed. You need to pay fees for getting duplicate sale deed. It generally takes 15 to 20 days to issue duplicate documents.
Over to you
Although the process described above is easy, you need to spend a lot of money and time to complete the process given above. You will surely get a duplicate legal copy of the sale deed and other relevant documents.
Please note that it is difficult to get a home loan when property documents are lost. Especially when sales deed or share certificates are not available. The approval of loan in such cases take time and up to sole discretion of the bank.
ULIP – Unit Linked Insurance Plan is a combination of investment cum insurance. Recently I got a marketing call for selling a unique product that provides life cover, investment, and tax benefit. The guy started with a sales pitch that product is like a fixed deposit and it comes with additional insurance benefit. It even gives you tax saving and you need to invest with a lock-in period of 5 years. It was a clear case of mis-selling ULIP. This incident inspired me to write about ULIP as a product.
How ULIP works?
ULIP is an insurance cum investment product. You need to pay a premium to purchase unit linked insurance plan. The premium amount of ULIP is divided into two parts. Part of the premium is kept exclusively for buying life or health insurance while the remaining amount is used for making investments. The investment is made in equity or debt or both. The total invested corpus is divided into units and allocated to you as per the invested amount. The net asset value (NAV) of the allocated unit is decided and declared from time to time.
ULIP is managed by a fund manager. Fund managers invest the fund and responsible for tracking and making changes. (If required). You can switch your ULIP portfolio based on risk appetite.
Types of ULIPs
The Unit Linked Insurance Plans are classified based on three broad parameters.
Investment Portfolio
Financial Goal
Death Benefits
(1) Investment Portfolio
Equity Funds – In equity funds, the premium amount is invested in equity funds. This type of fund is risky in nature.
Balance Funds – The fund that invests a premium amount in equity as well as debt to minimize risk is known as balance or hybrid funds.
Debt Funds – In debt funds, the premium amount is invested in debt instruments to reduce the risk. The return offered by this fund is less.
(2) Financial Goal
Retirement planning – The primary aim of this fund is to generate a corpus for retirement. This type of unit linked insurance plan is generally identified with suffix retirement.
Child Education – This type of unit linked insurance plan fund is made for child education. The product here is identified with the suffix of child education.
Wealth Generation – If your financial goal is to generate wealth you can use wealth generation type funds for investment.
(3) Death Benefits
Type I ULIP – This type of unit linked insurance plan pays higher of the assured sum value or fund value to the nominee in case of death of the policyholder.
Type II ULIP – This type of unit linked insurance plan pays the assured sum value plus the fund value to the nominee in case of the death of the policyholder.
Type of Fees and Charges
When you invest in ULIP you need to pay multiple fees and charges. This makes this product costly. The charges associated with this product are given below.
1 Premium Allocation Charges
The allocation charges deducted from premium in the initial years of the policy. It is charged at a higher rate. It includes initial and renewal expenses. It is kind of loading on the premium paid.
2 Mortality Charges
Mortality charges is charges to provide insurance coverage. This charge depends upon multiple factors such as age, sum assured etc. This charges are deducted on a monthly basis.
3 Fund Management Charges
The fee imposed by the insurance company for the management of various fund in the ULIP is known as fund management charges. It is like expense ratio charges of the mutual funds.
4 Partial Withdrawal Charges
ULIP comes with a lock-in period of 5 years. However, few ULIP offers the option of the partial withdrawal. You need to pay extra money for the partial withdrawal of money from ULIP.
5 Policy Administration Charges
The policy administration is also charged separately in the ULIP. It is levied at a fixed rate or as a percentage of your premium.
ULIP vs Mutual Funds
The primary difference between Mutual Fund and ULIP is of return. Mutual Funds generally provide higher returns. Apart from returns, mutual funds can be withdrawn at any time. However, ULIP comes with lock-in period of 5 years. The comparison table of ULIP vs Mutual Funds are given below.
ULIP
Mutual Funds
Type
Investment cum Insurance option
Pure Investment option
Withdrawal
Lock-in period of 5 years
Can be withdrawn anytime
Return
At long run returns are low
Returns are higher at long run
Switching
Switching between ULIP is permitted without any taxation.
Switching is permitted. However, it is considered as capital gain and tax is applicable.
Charges
Morality Charges, Premium Allocation charges, fund management and administrative charges
Exit load as applicable
Things to consider before investing money in Unit Linked Insurance Plan
Looking at the product investors get excited as they see life insurance coverage and investment in a single product. However, you should note the following points before investing money in the ULIP.
The fee structure of Unit Linked Insurance Plan is complicated. You need to pay multiple charges in order to purchase this product. The fee charges impacts returns of the unit linked insurance plan.
Unit Linked Insurance Plan has lock-in period of 5 years. This means your money will be locked for 5 years after investment. If you are looking for liquidity you need to think twice.
The ULIP investment funds are generally not diversified this means risk associated with this unit linked insurance plan is high.
Compare all features and fees associated with unit linked insurance plan before investing your money.
As you can’t exit from underperforming ULIP, the performance becomes important factor when you are investing in the ULIP product. You should compare past performance before making investment decision.
Over to you –
I hope now you have got a complete understanding of ULIP as a product. If you ask my views, I would recommend keeping investment and insurance separately. You should purchase good mutual funds and term plans instead of investing in Unit linked investment plan. The combination of mutual funds and term plan will give higher returns compared to a unit linked insurance plan.
Another reason of not recommending ULIP is higher fees and charges which will reduce the performance of the product. If you still decide to invest in unit linked insurance plan you should go for low-cost ULIP.
Best Credit Cards 2025-26 – Which is the best credit card for 2025? Well, it is a known fact that the choice of best credit card is different for every individual. The reason is credit card choice depends on the purpose, goal, and lifestyle of the individual. That’s why I have compiled a list of the best credit card 2021 in all major categories like cash back, travel, premium and lot more. Explore Top Credit Card Picks from the list given below and select the best credit card for you.
#1 Best Credit Cards for Cashback and Rewards
#2 Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
#3 Best Credit Cards for Business
#4 Best Credit Cards Travel Category
#5 Best Credit Cards Premium Users
Before sharing a list of best credit cards let’s take a look at steps that you should follow to find out the right credit card for you.
Firstly, decide what is the purpose of availing a credit card? This means to decide what you will use the card for. E.g if you are looking for a credit card for general spending you should go for low-interest credit card. If you are looking for a card for travel cashback you should go for a card providing travel benefits.
Look at your Spending Habits
To find out your usage or to decide the purpose of the card, look at your spending habits. You can divide your expense into major categories such as groceries, fuel, business spending, restaurant, etc. it is advisable to look at the past few month expense sheet to see what type of expenses are made by you frequently. Choose a card that provides maximum rewards in the category where you are making frequent expenses.
Compare Key Features
You should look at the key features offered by the card. The key features of the card include cashback, rewards, cash withdrawal fees, security features, minimum payment, sign up bonus, other perks, add on card, Flexi pay option, etc. Choose the card that offers maximum features.
Look at Annual Fees and Interest rates
The next point to consider while selecting a credit card is annual fees and interest rate applicable on the card. Select the card that offers lowest interest rate on the default. It is advisable to go for life time free credit card without any annual fees.
Credit limit and Penalties
You should check applicable credit limit and penalties applicable in case of default or delay in the payment. Credit limit means amount that is allowed per month by credit card issuer. If your usage is high it is recommend to go for card with higher credit limit.
Best Credit Card 2025 – Top Credit Card Picks
#1 Credit Card for Cashback and Rewards
Citi Cash Back Credit Card
Citi Cash Back Credit Card is one of the best credit card that provides cashback and rewards. You can enjoy saving, cashback and multiple other benefits using this card. The key features of Citi Cash Back Credit Card are given below.
5% cashback on movie ticket, telephone and utility bill payments. The maximum cashback is Rs.100 for each category per month.
0.5% cashback on any other spend.
Up to 15% saving across participating restaurants.
Cashback redemption in multiple of Rs.500 credited automatically.
Facility to convert bill in to EMI.
Joining Fee – NIL
Annual Fee – Rs.500
Interest rate – 3.5% per month
HDFC MoneyBack Credit Card
HDFC MoneyBack Credit card is one of my favorite credit card. Accelerated rewards and saving of fuel expense are plus points of this card. Key Features of HDFC MoneyBack Credit Card are given below.
2 Reward points on every Rs.150 spent using card.
2X more reward points on online purchase.
Enjoy saving up to Rs.250 with 100% fuel surcharge waiver.
Redeem point for gifts and air miles.
Zero liability lost card benefits.
Joining Fee – Rs.500
Annual Fee – Rs.500
Interest rate – 3.49% per month
#2 Credit Card for Online Shopping
SBI Simply Click
SBI Simply Click as name indicates it is credit card for online users. This card provides exclusive benefits for online shopping on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cleartrip etc.
Amazon Gift Card of Rs.500 on joining.
10X rewards on online shopping with exclusive partners.
5X rewards on any other online spending.
Milestone base spend reward of Rs.2000.
1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spend.
Annual fee reversal facility.
Contactless Technology.
Joining Fee – Rs.499
Annual Fee – Rs.499
Interest rate – 3.35% per month
ICICI Bank Coral American Express Credit Card
ICICI Bank Coral American Express Credit card is next in the list of best credit card for online shopping. This card is projected as extra reward card that provides multiple benefits on shopping, travel and entertainment.
2x reward points on online spends.
2 Payback reward on every Rs.100 spend.
Get complimentary movie ticket per month.
Save 15% money on dining bills at participating restaurant.
Fuel surcharge waiver.
Easy redemption of payback points.
Joining Fee – Rs.500
Annual Fee – Rs.500
Interest rate – 3.40% per month
#3 Credit Card for Business
SBI Corporate Platinum Card
SBI Corporate Platinum Card is privilege credit card for the business owners. From travel to spend management this card provides multiple benefits. Key features of SBI Corporate Platinum Card are given below.
Globally accepted credit card.
Analyze entire organization spending pattern using spend management tool.
Real time dashboard for expense management.
Multilayer spend control facility.
Fraud related insurance coverage of 2 Lakh.
Discount offer on the travel tickets.
Joining Fee – NIL
Annual Fee – NIL
Interest rate – 3.35% per month
MY Business Credit Card
MY Business Credit card from axis bank is one of the best credit card for managing your business expense. This card comes with exclusive business saving plan and multiple other benefits.
Business saving plan that provides discount and cashback on flight, ticket and holiday offers.
Complimentary access to airport lounges.
Cash withdrawal up to 30% of your credit limit.
1% fuel surcharge waiver.
Convert major purchase to EMI.
Auto bill payment facility.
Joining Fee – Rs.999
Annual Fee – Rs.499
Interest rate – 3.25% per month
#4 Credit Card Travel Category
Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card
Citibank PremierMiles Credit card is best air mile credit card for travel. It is a best card for travel user. You need to pay higher annual fees for using this card. Key features of Citibank PremierMiles Credit Card.
10 Miles on every Rs.100 Spent on flight tickets.
Complimentary airport lounge access.
Air accident insurance coverage up to 1 Cr.
Up to 20% saving on various restaurants across India.
Redeem miles for any flight ticket.
Joining Fee – NIL
Annual Fee – Rs.3000
Interest rate – 3.5% per month
JetrPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card
JetPrivilage HDFC Bank Signature Debit card is specially designed for frequent travelers. This card provide facility to accumulate JP Miles to redeem for free flights.
5% discount on base fare for tickets booked on Jet Airways.
6 JPMiles per Rs.150 on retail spend, 12 JPMiles per Rs.150 on flight booking with jetairways.
Complementary airport lounge access.
Additional baggage allowance.
Cash Advance and Easy EMI Facility.
Joining Fee – Rs.2500
Annual Fee – Rs.2500
Interest rate – 3.5% per month
#5 Credit Card Premium Users
SBI Elite Card
SBI Elite Card is best credit card for the premium segment users. SBI Elite Credit Card comes with multiple rewards and privileges. If you want high credit limit and premium benefits on products and services you should use this card.
You will get e-gift voucher worth Rs.5000.
Complementary movie ticket of Rs.6000 every year.
5x rewards on dining, grocery & departmental store purchases.
Club Vistara Membership.
Lowest foreign currency markup charges.
Exclusive concierge service.
Fraud liability coverage.
Joining Fee – Rs.4999
Annual Fee – Rs.4999
Interest rate – 3.35% per month
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
HDFC Regalia Credit Card is luxury credit card for rich and premium customers. Priority customer services, rewards and travel benefits are major facilities that you can avail from this card.
4 Reward points on every Rs.150 spend.
Lowest Foreign currency markup fee of 2% on international transactions.
Travel Concierge Services.
Free accidental death insurance & credit liability coverage.
Earn extra reward spend on crossing annual spend limit.
A personal loan is any purpose loan. You can use this loan for any purpose like medical emergency, marriage expenses, renovation of a home, paying for a dream holiday, etc. It is one of the easiest ways to get money from the market. The interest rate offered on a personal loan is generally higher compared to any other loan. However, if you have an urgent requirement for money, a personal loan is a very good option. Services like UK Quick loans also offer fast approvals, making funds accessible when time is critical. You must be aware that many banks sanction and disburse the loan within 24 hours of your application. Even a few banks and lending organizations give pre-approved loan offers.
So, if you are planning to avail of a personal loan and want to reduce a cost by getting a low interest rate here are proven ways.
How to Get a Personal Loan with a Low-Interest Rate?
Maintain a Good Credit Score
A credit score plays a crucial role in deciding your loan amount, interest rate, and processing charges. You need to maintain or improve your credit score by repaying your debt over a period of time. Your credit score should be above 750. A credit score above 750 means a very good chance of getting one of the best loans for low-interest rates. There are multiple ways to maintain and improve your credit score. A few of them are listed below.
Pay bills on time
Keep your credit card balance low
Limit your application of new credit card and loans
Maintain a credit utilization ratio
Check your credit report at regular intervals
Employment History
Your employment history also plays a vital role in reducing the personal loan interest rate. If you are maintaining good job stability it affects your credit score positively. In addition to your employment history, a few lending companies also look at factors such as repayment capacity, income, and profile to decide on a personal loan interest rate.
Credibility of Employer
The credibility of an employer is one of the important factors in reducing personal loan interest rates. If you are working with blue-chip companies or multinational companies your chance of getting a personal loan with a low interest rate is high. The reason is the employer is able to provide steady and higher job security with a stable income.
Repayment History
Repayment history is crucial for getting a personal loan at a lower rate. Pay your credit card bill on time. Pay the EMI of your loan on time. If your repayment history is good you get a better chance to negotiate interest rates with lenders.
Monthly Income
It may sound unfair but your monthly income also matters a lot when deciding personal loan interest rates. Your monthly income should be high to get a good deal on a personal loan.
Relationship with Bank
Your relationship with the bank also matters a lot while applying for a personal loan. If you are a loyal customer of a bank and maintain all your transactions with the same lender or bank, your bank/lender is likely to offer a personal loan with low interest rate.
Check Alternatives
You should check for other alternatives when seeking a personal loan with a low-interest rate, exploring alternatives like commercial hard money loans can offer distinct advantages. While traditional personal loans often come with stringent eligibility criteria and lengthy approval processes, commercial hard money loans provide a viable option for individuals seeking quicker access to funds. These loans, secured by commercial real estate, offer competitive interest rates and flexible terms, making them an attractive option for borrowers with substantial assets or businesses in need of capital. By leveraging the value of commercial properties, borrowers can secure financing with favorable terms, enabling them to meet their financial needs while minimizing interest expenses.
Smart Strategies to Get the Lowest Possible Rate
Now let’s dive into the good stuff—how to actually score that low-interest personal loan.
Keep That Credit Score High
It’s your golden ticket. Aim for 750 or above. Here’s how:
Pay EMIs and credit card bills on time
Keep credit utilization under 30%
Avoid too many loan applications at once
Compare, Don’t Settle
Never go with the first offer you get. Use online platforms like BankBazaar, PaisaBazaar, or your bank’s loan calculator to compare rates from multiple lenders.
Negotiate Like a Pro
Yes, you can negotiate your interest rate! Especially if:
You’re a long-term customer
Your credit score is excellent
You have pre-approved offers
Credit Cards vs. Personal Loans—Which Is Cheaper?
Factor
Credit Card Loan
Personal Loan
Interest Rate
24–36% p.a.
9–18% p.a.
Repayment Flexibility
Low
High
Loan Tenure
Short
Long
Best Banks for Low-Interest Personal Loans in 2025 (So Far)
Bank
Starting Interest Rate (p.a.)
HDFC Bank
10.50%
ICICI Bank
10.75%
SBI
9.60%
Axis Bank
10.49%
Kotak Mahindra Bank
10.25%
FAQs
1. How can I improve my credit score quickly to get a lower interest loan?
Start by paying off your credit card dues in full, avoid new loan inquiries for a while, and don’t miss any EMI payments. Consistency is the key.
2. Can I switch lenders if I find a better rate after taking the loan?
Yes! You can opt for a personal loan balance transfer, which lets you move your loan to another bank with a lower rate.
3. Is it safe to take personal loans from online apps?
Stick to RBI-registered lenders only. Some shady apps may charge crazy interest rates and harass borrowers.
4. Do women really get lower interest rates?
Yep! Many banks offer 0.25% to 0.5% lower rates as a perk for women borrowers. It’s part of financial inclusion initiatives.
5. What’s better—short tenure with high EMI or long tenure with low EMI?
Short tenure means less total interest paid. But if budgeting is tight, a longer tenure with smaller EMIs might work better.
6. Can self-employed people get low-interest personal loans?
Definitely—but you’ll need strong ITRs, audited financials, and a good credit history. Some lenders even specialize in these profiles.
7. Is it cheaper to take a loan from my salary account bank?
Usually, yes. Banks love existing customers and often offer preferential rates, especially if your salary hits their account every month.
8. Can I take a personal loan to pay off a credit card?
Absolutely. In fact, it’s one of the smartest ways to escape high credit card interest. Just ensure the loan rate is lower than your card APR.
9. What’s a good interest rate for a personal loan in 2025?
Anything below 11% p.a. is solid for unsecured loans this year. Of course, your credit score, income, and loan amount play a role.
10. Does applying for too many loans hurt my chances?
Yes, it does! Each application triggers a hard inquiry, which can lower your credit score and make you look credit-hungry.
Over to You –
Before taking a personal loan make sure that your need is unavoidable and can be fulfilled by only a personal loan. Because the higher interest rates of personal loans singapore will put you under great financial pressure. Ask the following questions yourself before taking a personal loan.
Do I really need a loan?
Can I postpone my expenses?
Can I manage without a personal loan?
Is it possible to get the money from somewhere else, like friends, relatives, or a part-time job?
