It’s that time of the year again, a time when the whole nation is gearing up to celebrate festivals spread across the next few months. During this time most families invest in new things, clothes, jewelry and what tops the list is a new home.The thought of buying a home is a journey by itself.  Finding the right home and the right builder is the biggest milestone in that journey.  With the host of options available these days, how does one void falling prey to the sycophantic offers that devout you from making the right choice.So here I am sharing some of my experiences while dealing with customers and decoding few festive marketing gimmicks for you.

1. Weigh out the Freebies and Offer

‘Free Gold Coins’, ‘a luxury sedan on booking’, ‘and a family vacation’ – you will be bombarded by many such offers with one builder trying to beat the other.If what the builder is offering has been on your agenda for a while, then there is no harm going with it. Some builders may also offer you a discount equivalent to the freebie in order to retain a prospective customer.Some others offer upfront direct discounts that range anywhere between 5-12% on the selling price and even waiver off stamp duty and registration. This could save be quite a breather on your budget. Keep tab on your priorities and pick what best suits your needs.

2. Festive Versus Non-Festive

You must consider if this property is what you consider ideal in terms of type and location. You don’t want to make such a crucial investment at the whim of an offer and then regret it.Also, check what the prices the builder offers during the non-festive period to check how much you are benefiting from it or if you are benefiting from it at all.Some builders hike prices prior to the festive period and then rain "attractive offers/discounts" during the festive season. Follow the price trends of the builders you have shortlisted.

3. Pre-EMI financing Offers

In the festive period, many developers introduce offers whereby buyers do not have to pay EMIs until occupation. Under such schemes, you pay 20% of the price as down payment at the time of booking and the remainder 80% during possession.The builder offers to pay the pre-EMI for a fixed time period (which could be a pre-decided time frame or till the construction is completed), on the home loan you taken. The pre-EMI is the interest payable on your home loan till the project is completed.It is a very advantageous scheme, which you should avail of, if offered. You are saved the burden paying both EMIs & rents at the same time. It also an inducement for the builder to complete the project on time

4. Get the best deal on pre-approved Home Loans.

This is a very hectic time for real estate and in an ideal scenario you would rather have a pre-approved loan from a loan provider. To get this in place, make sure you have all your documents in order and also know your credit rating.Also, make sure you get the best deal in the market. Several banks have slashed their home loan interest rates so this may work in your favor. With soaring competition, banks and NBFCs have already slashed rates by 20-50 basis points.This is expected to go down a notch further by 10-20 basis points in the peak festive season. Major home loan providers, such as HDFC, are even offering a standard rate of 10.15% for loans up to 75 lakhs. This rate was only applicable for loans up to 30 lakhs earlier. So if interest rates where your scare factor, this may be your chance to stretch your budget.Key takeaway - Don't be confused by the sway of offers coming your way. Make your housing investment based on your priorities in terms of location, budget and goals.However, don't be too overly skeptical; keep in mind that there are many genuine offers out there and you need to do your homework thoroughly before making this critical decision.