Business
From Phygital Models To AI Scores: The Future Of Home Lending In Tier 2 & 3 Cities
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Atul Monga of BASIC Home Loan highlights how fintech, local agents, and partnerships are making home loans more accessible in Bharat’s smaller towns.
In smaller towns, one of the main challenges is that a lot of people don’t have formal income proof or a credit history.
Home loan accessibility in India has long been a challenge, especially beyond metro cities. While urban borrowers often have easier access to credit thanks to formal incomes and established credit histories, millions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities continue to face hurdles ranging from lack of awareness to documentation gaps. With the rise of fintechs, local partnerships, and technology-driven solutions, the landscape is gradually shifting.
In this interaction, Atul Monga – CEO & Co-Founder, BASIC Home Loan, shares insights on the biggest challenges, innovations, and the road ahead for making homeownership more inclusive across Bharat.
1- What are some of the biggest challenges in making home loans accessible in smaller towns and cities?
In smaller towns, one of the main challenges is that a lot of people don’t have formal income proof or a credit history. Additionally, financial literacy tends to be lower, which can confuse the loan process. Lack of awareness about loan eligibility, benefits, and the application process often leads to consumer inertia, and many borrowers simply don’t take the first step. Additionally, things like inconsistent documentation, limited lending options, and the need for physical verification of the property further create more friction.
Today, banks and fintech companies are attempting to address this scenario in various ways. The solution lies in a phygital approach, which brings together digital tools and a strong network of local agents. These agents work directly with customers, guiding them step-by-step, building trust, and making sure even those with limited financial paperwork can navigate the process smoothly.
2- What are some of the challenges that people and lenders face when it comes to Last Mile Connect?
Last Mile Connect in home lending can be quite challenging, especially in smaller towns. The digital infrastructure is still developing in many areas, which means things like poor internet access, patchy documentation, and low financial awareness can make it hard for lenders to accurately assess a borrower’s profile or risk level.
Many borrowers feel unsure about navigating the process online without any personal guidance. There’s also a fear of fraud, and the cumbersome paperwork involved can feel overwhelming. Without someone local to assist, even well-intentioned or eligible borrowers often drop off halfway through.
The good news is that things are gradually improving now, thanks to steady advancements in fintech and digital infrastructure that are making loans more inclusive and accessible than ever before.
3- How are fintechs helping people with informal incomes or no credit history get access to home loans?
Fintechs have made home loans more accessible for people without formal incomes or credit history. Traditionally, lenders relied heavily on salary slips and credit scores to determine the borrower’s creditworthiness, but this leaves out a major chunk of the population, especially from the informal sector.
Now, with the help of technology, we are able to look beyond such traditional indicators. By using alternative data like bank transaction patterns, utility bill payments, and digital footprints, we can create a reliable credit tracking system for people who don’t fit the conventional mold.
4- What are the common concerns or roadblocks that first-time homebuyers in unreserved areas usually face?
First-time homebuyers in unreserved or semi-urban areas often struggle with unclear or incomplete property titles, which can create legal complications and make it difficult to get a loan approved. Many of these areas also lack RERA-approved projects, which adds another layer of risk for both buyers and lenders.
There’s often limited awareness about how home loans work, what’s required, how interest rates are structured, or what documents are needed. Another common hurdle is that property values in these regions tend to be modest, but lenders may still have high minimum loan amounts, making it harder for buyers to qualify.
Lenders, Fintechs like BASIC Home Loan, and local real estate developers are working together to bridge the gap and create more accessible loan products, streamline documentation, and guide homebuyers through the process. This collective effort would certainly help unlock home ownership for a segment that has long been underserved.
5- Why is local presence important like field agents or developer tie-ups, important in driving home loan adoption beyond metro areas?
Local presence plays an important role when it comes to building trust, especially in the heartland of Bharat, where digital-only models still feel distant or unfamiliar. For many first-time borrowers, human interaction still matters, and this is where the field agents come in. They don’t just help with the paperwork, but also build confidence, address consumer concerns and guide them through every step of the journey.
Developer tie-ups are equally important. When we work with trusted local builders, we can ensure that the properties are already verified and pre-approved for financing, which significantly reduces the loan process. Which is why we have partnered with real estate developers to offer curated property options and faster loan turnarounds to customers.
6- How are strategic partnerships between lenders, fintech platforms, and HFCs unlocking housing loan access in India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities?
Strategic partnerships are at the heart of expanding home loan access, especially in India’s smaller cities. By working together, fintechs, lenders, and HFCs will be able to bring speed, flexibility, and trust to markets that have long been underserved, thereby making home ownership a more realistic goal for millions across Bharat.
7- What are some innovations or changes you see coming that could make home buying easier and more inclusive across India?
Homebuying in India is witnessing crucial transformations, especially outside the metros. Digitised property records, e-KYC, and geo-tagging of properties are already beginning to ease long-standing verification bottlenecks.
AI-led credit scores will further open doors for borrowers with informal incomes or limited credit backgrounds. Embedded finance options, where home loans are integrated directly into real estate platforms, can further make the process seamless for borrowers.
The future of home ownership in India will be shaped by a combination of hyperlocal support and smart, scalable technology. It’s about bringing the same ease of access and trust that metros enjoy to Tier 2, Tier 3 cities, and eventually to every corner of Bharat.
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al…Read More
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al… Read More
August 31, 2025, 16:38 IST
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Business
Ticketmaster parent Live Nation reaches settlement with Department of Justice over antitrust concerns
Signs are seen at the Live Nation NYC headquarters on May 23, 2024 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images
Live Nation Entertainment has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over antitrust concerns surrounding its Ticketmaster platform, a senior DOJ official said Monday.
The settlement would see Ticketmaster unwind some of its exclusivity agreements with musical artists and open up the ticketing industry to greater competition. It still needs approval by more than 20 states that had filed suit and by the court.
As part of the settlement, Ticketmaster will offer a standalone third-party ticketing system for other companies like SeatGeek to use its technology. Live Nation has also agreed to divest at least 13 of its amphitheaters and will no longer be able to require artists to use other Live Nation products tied to its venues. It has also agreed to pay roughly $280 million in civil penalties.
Shares of Live Nation rose 5% in morning trading. Live Nation and Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ticketmaster has long faced criticism that its dominance in the live events and ticketing space pushes up prices for consumers. The company has come under heightened scrutiny in recent years from fans who argue that it’s become harder and pricier to snag coveted event tickets.
In 2022, the backlash boiled over when the rollout of tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was mishandled, leading to a probe of the company. And in 2024, the DOJ — along with more than two dozen states — sued to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010.
In September, Live Nation was separately sued by the Federal Trade Commission over what the agency called “illegal” ticket resale tactics. The FTC said Ticketmaster controls roughly 80% of major concert venues’ ticketing.
In a Monday statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office would continue to fight against Live Nation’s alleged monopoly even after its agreement with the DOJ.
“The settlement recently announced with the U.S. Department of Justice fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers. We cannot agree to it,” said James, who is joined by the attorneys general of more than 20 other states.
The conflict in the Middle East could raise the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
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Oil prices surged past $115 (£86.47) a barrel on Monday as fuel shortages sparked rationing and violence in South Asia, as the Iran war continues to choke the world’s most critical energy route.
Brent crude rose to $115.31 (£86.47) a barrel, up 24 per cent from Friday’s close and the highest since 2022, as the US–Israeli war with Iran entered its second week. The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed to most operators.
West Texas Intermediate crude hit $116.33 (£87.41), up 28 per cent. Brent has not traded at current levels since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The surge in energy prices is causing rationing and closure of petrol stations in import-dependent South Asia.
In Sialkot, Pakistan, a man opened fire at a petrol station on Saturday after workers refused to fill jerry cans, killing one worker and critically injuring two others. Separately, a man was killed in Karachi in another fuel queue altercation.
Pakistan raised petrol prices by PKR55 (£0.15) per litre on Friday, the largest ever single increase, to PKR321 per litre, after weeks of warnings that its exposure to Hormuz-linked supply was among the highest of any emerging market.
In Bangladesh, authorities on Monday brought forward university Eid holidays as an emergency measure to cut electricity use and ease fuel pressure after Qatar suspended Liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries.
Officials said university campuses consume large amounts of electricity for residential halls, classrooms, laboratories and air conditioning, and the early closure would help ease pressure on the country’s strained power system.
Five of the country’s six fertiliser factories have also closed.
Bangladesh already imposed daily fuel limits last week – motorcyclists are capped at two litres, private cars at 10 – after panic buying emptied stations across the country.
“About 95 per cent of our fuel must be imported,” Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation said, urging consumers not to hoard.
Meanwhile, bigger economies are also affected. Japan said on Sunday it had instructed a national oil reserve storage site to prepare for a possible release of crude, the first such directive since 2022.
Japan holds 254 days of emergency reserves, one of the highest, but sources 95 per cent of its crude from the Middle East, with roughly 70 per cent shipped through the Strait.
India, which imports more than 88 per cent of its oil, sought to calm concerns. Oil minister Hardeep Puri said the country held “sufficient stocks” and directed all LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) refineries, public and private, to increase production.
Analysts are now warning that oil prices could exceed $150 a barrel – a level that could be catastrophic for the global economy.
“Oil prices have now gathered all the ingredients for a perfect storm,” Muyu Xu, senior oil analyst at Kpler, told Reuters. “If the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz persists for another one to two weeks, we could see prices move toward $130–150 a barrel.”
BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said Pakistan and India are the most vulnerable major emerging markets, citing their energy import dependence and high exposure to Hormuz. Egypt and Turkey, it said, face the greatest risk outside the Gulf because of fragile external positions and large energy subsidies.
The shortages come as Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE cut oil production as storage tanks fill due to the reduced ability to export through the Strait.
Iran‘s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the war’s impact on the oil industry “would spiral” after Israeli strikes on oil depots in Tehran and a petroleum transfer terminal killed four people overnight.
Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil, about 20 per cent of global supply, typically pass through the Strait each day, according to Rystad Energy.
The energy minister of Qatar, one of the world’s largest LNG producers, warned that it expects all Gulf energy producers to shut down exports within weeks if the Iran conflict continues.
“Everybody that has not called for force majeure we expect will do so in the next few days if this continues,” Saad al-Kaabi told FT on Friday. “All exporters in the Gulf region will have to call force majeure.”
US energy secretary Chris Wright told CNN on Sunday that gas prices would be back under $3 a gallon “before too long”, describing the spike as “a weeks, not a months thing”.
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