Most people do not shop around very much when they get a Mortgage. In fact about half ask only one lender for a Rate, and three quarters apply to only one lender.

This can cost you a lot of money. The difference in payments on a $200,00 mortgage from, say, a 4% rate to a 4.5% rate is about $3,500 in just five years.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has just launched some tools to make it easier for you to check rates. If you’re in the market for a mortgage it easy to shop around.