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If you signed your mortgage last year when rates were even higher than they are today, then you may be struggling to keep up with your monthly payments. And if so, you may be eager to refinance your mortgage.

Plus, there’s a good chance mortgage rates will fall before the end of the year from where they are today. And if that happens, it could lead to big savings on your housing payments.

But if you think you’ll refinance your mortgage before the end of the year, it’s important to set yourself up for success. To that end, here are three moves to make.

1. See if you can boost your credit score quickly

The higher your credit score, the lower a mortgage rate you might qualify for on a refinance. Now in general, boosting your credit score takes time.

For example, the factor that carries more weight than any other when calculating a credit score is your payment history. This means that a month or two of timely payments may not give your score an immediate boost. Rather, a pattern of on-time payments can have a huge positive impact.

But there are a couple of quicker ways to raise your credit score. First, if possible, pay off a chunk of your credit card debt. It will reduce your credit utilization, which is another big factor that goes into calculating your score.

Also, pull a free copy of your credit report from each of the three reporting bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — and read them carefully for mistakes. If there’s an error that makes you look like a less reliable borrower, getting it fixed could give your credit score a nice lift.

2. Shop around for a great rate

You may be in a rush to refinance if you’re struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments. But it’s important to shop around for the best refinance rate possible.

It’s also important to look out for closing costs, which are the fees you’ll pay to put a new mortgage in place. It may be that one lender offers a much lower interest rate than another, but also charges exorbitant fees to refinance. In that case, that seemingly good offer may not be so great when you dig deeper.

To get you started on your search for a new mortgage, check out this list of the best refinance lenders.

3. Ask yourself how long you intend to stay in your home

Refinancing your mortgage to lower your monthly payments may seem like a smart financial move. But do remember that if you don’t stay in your home long enough to recoup your closing costs, you’ll lose out financially. So think about how long you intend to stay put to see if refinancing makes sense in the first place.

You might save yourself $200 a month by refinancing your mortgage. But if it costs you $6,000 in closing costs to put your new loan in place, you’re looking at 30 months, or 2.5 years, just to break even on those fees.

If you think there’s a good chance you’ll move within the next three years, then refinancing becomes risky. But if you’re certain you’re staying where you are for another decade, then it could pay off.

Refinancing your mortgage could result in a world of financial relief. But tackle these essential moves first, so your refinance is as rewarding as possible.

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