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INSIST ON A TIMELY HUD-1. Most lenders will give it to you early if they can. Compare the final closing costs with those in your good-faith estimate, which you should have got when you applied for the loan. Ask for an explanation if the two differ greatly.
CHECK YOUR APR. That's the annual percentage rate you'll pay when certain fees are factored in. If it's higher than what you were promised, the bank may have slipped in an origination fee or given you a higher interest rate.
QUESTION YOUR ESCROW PAYMENT. The amount should be based on the time between closing and the due date of property taxes. Some lenders plug in 12 months, requiring you to come up with more cash, and then rebate the difference at year-end. You can also save cash at closing by asking that escrow payments to date be applied to the new mortgage.
ASK EARLY IN THE PROCESS FOR THE "REISSUE" RATE ON TITLE INSURANCE. In a refi, odds are very low that someone will emerge with a claim on your property. the insurance premium should reflect that lower risk, saving you $200 or more--and giving you something extra to crow about on Saturday night.