Scotiabank's STEP (Home Equity Line of Credit) | Review and FAQ
Jordann Brown
This piece was originally published on March 16, 2020, and updated on October 11, 2023.
One of the most significant upsides to buying a home (besides having a place of your own) is that every month when you make your mortgage payment, you’re building equity in your home. Equity is the difference between the home’s value and the outstanding mortgage. You can use your home’s equity in several ways, including to fund your retirement or purchase your next home. Most of those uses require you to sell your house to access your equity, but not all!
If you want to take advantage of the equity in your home without selling it, you have options. One of these options is to open a home equity line of credit or HELOC.
What is a home equity line of credit?
A home equity line of credit or HELOC is a revolving line of credit that uses the equity in your home as collateral for the loan. The maximum size of your HELOC is limited by how much equity you have in your home. Because an asset secures it, the interest rate is often lower than unsecured lines of credit (such as credit cards, for example). A HELOC is a revolving line of credit, meaning you don’t need to use the entire balance at once, and you can repay it at your own pace.
You can use a HELOC for home renovations, down payments on vacation homes, post-secondary school tuition, to pay down high-interest debt and other major life events. You can open a home equity line of credit through Scotiabank, and this product is called the Scotia Total Equity Plan (STEP).
How much can I borrow on the Scotia Total Equity Plan?
With the Scotiabank Home Equity Line of Credit, you can borrow up to 65% of the value of your home. However, the total home debt (your mortgage + your HELOC) can’t exceed 80% of the value in your home.
For example, let’s say the value of your home is $400,000, and you have a $220,000 outstanding mortgage. The total maximum amount you can borrow, including both your mortgage and your HELOC, is:
$400,000 x 80% = $320,000
Once you subtract the $220,000 outstanding mortgage, you’ll see that the maximum possible size of your HELOC is $100,000. Next, you’ll need to make sure the $100,000 doesn’t exceed 65% of the value of your home. To be sure, simply divide the HELOC by the total value of your home:
$100,000 / $400,000 = 20%
In this example, the $100,000 you can access through your HELOC only amounts to 20% of the value of the home.
As the example above shows, you may be able to access a large sum if you’ve been diligently paying off your mortgage and growing your equity. This large amount, combined with the lower interest rates than regular lines of credit, makes HELOCs an attractive option for larger purchases.
Scotia Total Equity Plan interest rates
The Scotiabank Total Equity Plan is available with a variable interest rate, which will vary with changes to the Scotiabank Prime Rate.
Variable interest rates are expressed as the prime rate plus or minus some percentage. For example, your variable rate might be set at Prime + 1.00%. In this case, since the prime rate as of October 11, 2023 is 7.2%, then your rate would be 8.2%. If the prime rate changed to 8%, your rate would change to 9%.
Also read: The prime rate in Canada: Everything you need to know
How to access the Scotia Total Equity Plan
It’s simple to use the STEP. If you’re a Scotia mortgage customer, your STEP HELOC is available through the online portal. You can opt to withdraw the available credit as a lump sum, but you don’t have to withdraw the full amount at once. As a revolving line of credit, you can use as much or as little of your HELOC as you want, and you’ll only pay interest on the amount that you borrow. When you use your HELOC, you’ll make monthly payments like a regular line of credit. You can opt to make interest-only payments, or you can be diligent and repay the balance in full.
If you’re not a Scotia mortgage customer but are looking for a mortgage with a HELOC, then head to our HELOC comparison page to find the right one for you.
What are the pros and cons of the Scotia Total Equity Plan?
The Scotiabank HELOC is an excellent way to access the equity of your home, but it’s not perfect. Here are the pros and cons.
Pros
- Access funds at an ATM, online, by phone or at any Scotiabank branch
- Variable interest rates are lower than personal lines of credit
- Interest is calculated daily, so you’ll only pay interest on what you use
- Pay as little as just the monthly interest, or pay back the entire balance - your choice
- No pre-payment penalties or fees for full repayment
Cons
- Scotiabank will register a lien on your home, which means if you can’t make your payments and default on your loan, they can seize your home for payment
- Some homeowners find it difficult to manage access to such a large amount of cash and may find themselves in too much debt
- Variable interest rates fluctuate with the prime rate, meaning your monthly payment could increase unexpectedly
- If you make only the minimum payment on your HELOC, none of that amount goes toward paying off its balance.
The bottom line
Home equity lines of credit help you access the equity in your home without having to sell. You can use this equity to finance a renovation, purchase a second property or invest in your child’s education. The Scotia Total Equity Plan is a highly ranked HELOC from one of the reputable Big Five banks and is a flexible way to help you achieve your life goals.
If you’re thinking about leveraging your home, consider speaking with a mortgage broker to make sure a HELOC is the best choice for your financial situation. If you’re in the market for a mortgage with a HELOC, your best bet is to compare HELOC mortgage rates from providers near you.
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