Mortgage rates can be confusing. Do you have the best rates on your loan? For many people, a home purchase is simply the most important investment they will take on through the course of their lives.

Mortgage rates are an important part to the home buying purchase and therefore need to be understood. Here are some things for you to consider prior to signing any paperwork.

Although you bought your home for $200,000, you are more than likely paying back at least 150% of that. One of the principal determining factors of how much you will pay back is your rate. To know what your rates are on your current mortgage, simply look at your paperwork or contact your lender.

Over the course of the last few years, rates of all types have dropped due to the Federal Reserve dropping the prime rate, although they have now started to increase. How does this affect you, though? For those who already own a home and have a mortgage, they may feel trapped into a higher rate on their adjustable mortgage. If there is a large difference in the amount of your rates and those offered in today’s market, you may want to consider lowering them through refinancing.

You can get an idea of what a fair interest rate is at CNN.com. This will serve as a good comparison for your home loan comparison.

If you are new to the home buying game, the wisest move you can make in saving money is to search out and compare today's mortgage rates. Look at all online and traditional lenders who handle mortgages including banks, credit unions, and especially mortgage lenders online. Compare who offers the best of the best in rates on a mortgage. And, look at the different options as well. For example, the rates for a 15 year mortgage may be one thing and for a 30 year mortgage they may be even lower. Also, look at the type of rates you can consider. This means looking at mortgages like the fixed rate mortgage and the adjustable rate mortgage.

When it all comes down to it, getting the most valuable mortgage rates means saving money. It also means that you will need to do a thorough comparison of rates and terms. Do not just go with the first lenders that come to mind, but look for any and all who can offer you the best overall deal. Again, this is the largest investment you are likely to make over the course of your life. To make it the best one, consider all of these things when looking for mortgage rates. It will save you a lot of money through the course of time.