Your home is something you own that can appreciate over time. Any money you spend on renovations adds value to your investment. This value is called equity (the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what you can get in the way of fair market value for your home if you sell it).

You can get ahead financially by using smart borrowing solutions to finance your home and your renovations. Because your mortgage payments may not be any higher than your rent payments, it’s ideal to buy your home as early as you can. Scotiabank can show you how to find the right borrowing solutions to help minimize your cost of borrowing.

When you minimize your borrowing costs, you’re able to do other important things, like save for your child’s education, plan retirement, pay down your borrowing a little faster, or even start a business.

Get ahead with a good borrowing solution.

If you need to borrow, there are ways to find the money you need and the best ways to borrow it based on your financial situation. Here are three simple and easy borrowing strategies:

1. Choose the right mortgage – it’s as important as choosing the right home.

2. Use the equity in your home to help you borrow at lower rates.

3. Determine the right borrowing solution for your home renovations.

The Long and Short Mortgage

If you’re not sure whether you should go with short-term rates or more secure long-term borrowing options, Scotiabank has a simple solution as part of its unique Scotia Total Equity Plan. The Long and Short Mortgage takes the concern out of choosing – it lets you split your mortgage. Put half into a variable rate with an interest rate below the Scotiabank Prime Rate – offering a low payment and the flexibility to change your mind if you want. And the other half into a fixed rate to give you the security of knowing what your interest rate and payment will be.

This way, you protect against interest rate increases over the long term, and you also take advantage of current low interest rates in the short term. The Long and Short Mortgage under your Scotia Total Equity Plan give you flexibility and security in one innovative mortgage option.

This article was provided by Scotiabank. For more information, visit www.scotiabank.com and other helpful pages .