With interest rates the lowest they’ve been in a while, you may be thinking about refinancing your existing mortgage into a new one. As a homeowner, there are good reasons to consider this option: to get a lower interest rate, to drop private mortgage insurance, or to pull cash from your home’s equity to consolidate debt or make home improvements. The short answer, of course, is to have more money each month for groceries, car payments and the orthodontic’s bill.

You’re buying your first house! No more fighting over parking spaces, unexpected rent increases or putting up with noisy neighbors. If you’re planning to make a move this year, here are five tips that can set you on a path that leads to your very own front door.