Spend a little time online and you'll be bombarded with ads screaming that the best home equity loan or home refinancing deal is just a click away. As a matter of fact it seems the most eye catching multi-colored 3D ads are all related to financing or refinancing your home.

It's no wonder there's all that hype, the home finance industry has begun to slow compared to it's robust history just a few years ago. That said you now see the big bold screaming ads "Low Mortgage Rates! Get A 125% Home Equity Loan! Refinance and Save Up To 800 a month!"

These offers sound almost to good to be true. But the fact is many home owners are grabbing up pretty good bargain loan deals these days. The question is how can you take advantage of todays low mortgage rates while not risking a lower credit score when applying for a loan?

There are four basic keys to getting a low rate while protecting your score.

1. Shop low mortgage rates online.
2. Apply for rate quotes over a few days time and not over a few weeks time.
3. Use your current lender or one that comes highly recommended
4. Put your lender of choice in a bargaining position.

By following these four simple steps you'll be on your way to getting the bargain loan deal you once only dreamed of.

1. Shop low mortgage rates online.
The great thing about Internet shopping is the speed and ability to print out rate quotes instantly. Simply access a lending marketplace where lenders compete for you business. One site, http://www.bcpl.net/~ibcnet, helps mortgage shoppers find low rates by introducing them to online loan marketplaces that force lenders to come up with competitive rates in order to beat out the competition. Mortgae rate shoppers are activily using this arena to find attractive bargain hunter loan deals.

2. Apply for rate quotes over a few days time.
When applying for rate quotes your giving lenders permission to acccess your credit. Each time this is done but no loan is acquired your score is reduced. That said, it's best to apply for several rate quotes over a few days time and not over a few weeks time. Settle on the lender offering the better deal, but do so with out procrastination.

3. Use your current lender or one that comes highly recommended.
If you are doing business with a lender and are pleased with professionalism and customer service why not stick with them. Still to get a great deal on rates you'll need quotes from other lenders. Take advantage of online lending marketplaces to get quick competitive low rate quotes for home loan purchases, home equity loans or home refinancing.

4. Put yourself in the best bargaining position.
Your lender is most likely able to send your loan request through processing speedily and efficiently. Why? They have immediate access to your loan documents. That said you probably better off dealing with your current lender. Still you'll want to put yourself in the best bargaining position in order to get the lowest rates possible. How? By presenting written rate quotes froms lenders accessed in the online lending marketplaces. Have your lender meet or beat these quotes.

Mark Askew is founder and editor of the Mortgage Loan Search Network. An extensive financing and home loan refinancing resource with tips and guides for mortgage rate comparison, establishing and repairing credit, lowering home loan interest rate charges and monthly mortgage paymets and finding bargain home loans.