Changing financial circumstances, difficulty making loan payments, and the possibility of saving money push lots of debtors towards refinancing. Done properly, refinancing can give you better monthly payments or can save you thousands of dollars. According to the experts, there are seven basic mistakes that most people make when seeking to refinance loans, though. These mistakes can cost you thousands of dollars in lost money:

1. Not doing enough research. Sure, all of us are busy, but not researching well in advance could cost you a lot of money in the long run. You need to compare interest rates, terms, lenders, and various refinancing possibilities.

2. Not checking credit scores or credit ratings. These are the tools that lenders use to determine what interest rates you will get, so you need to make sure the information credit bureaus report about you is accurate.

3. Not doing the math. If you are considering refinancing, you need to calculate all the fees that are associated with refinancing. Is there any penalty fee for getting out of your existing loan? Are there any hidden fees the lender is keeping from you? If the refinancing is to lower monthly costs, will the overall costs of the debts be much greater? If the refinancing is to save money over time, will you really save money? You need to check and recheck the math to ensure that your savings are really as substantial as you think they will be.

4. Assuming that refinancing will resolve all problems. Before refinancing, you need to know that refinancing is basically another loan – it does not make your payments each month disappear and it does not instantly save you money. You need to approach refinancing with the same caution you would approach any other loan.

5. Assuming that all lenders are the same. Many people simply choose their current lender or the lender that offers the lowest interest rate, but this can be a costly mistake. You need to make sure that any lender you choose is reputable and will not charge you hidden fees. You also need to choose a lender that not only offers good rates but also offers you good refinancing terms as well.

6. Not getting everything in writing. A lender may promise you all sorts of things when you go in to discuss refinancing. It only counts if it is in writing, though.

7. Not reading the fine print. You need to read every contract before you sign it. No matter what you are promised, it is only what is in the contract that counts. Any lender who is serious about helping you refinance your loan will let you take a contract home to read before signing it.

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