Mistakes made while refinancing your mortgage can cost you thousands of dollars. If you neglect doing your homework before refinancing you are sure to make mistakes. Here is what you need to know to avoid these mortgage mistakes.

Many homeowners fail to take into consideration that refinancing the mortgage is going to cost them money. You will have to pay closing costs and possibly points in order to refinance. If you do not plan for this and shop accordingly it is easy to overpay for your new mortgage. Make sure you get written estimates of closing costs and any other fees while you are shopping for a mortgage. The closing costs need to be a part of your loan comparison along with interest rates, points, and penalties.

Clean Up Your Credit

Many homeowners fail to protect their credit before and during the mortgage application process. Many make large purchases such as automobiles or kitchen appliances before they concentrate on their mortgage. You want to have the lowest possible debt-to-income ratio before applying for your mortgage; financing major purchases before your mortgage will lower your credit score.

Before you start shopping for a new mortgage you need to focus on your credit. Review your credit records from each of the three credit agencies for errors. If you find errors, you will need to dispute them with the credit agency and the creditor that put it there before you start mortgage shopping.

Make sure you are making all of your payments on time for at least six months before shopping for a mortgage. Late payments hurt your credit score. Pay down the balances on your credit cards and close any unused accounts. Protect your credit by not allowing creditors to access your credit records. Too many credit inquiries can damage your credit score. To learn more about avoiding common mortgage mistakes register for a free mortgage guidebook.