The APR is a comparsion shopping tool that includes not just the interest rate but also points, broker fees and certain other credit charges. The list of closing fees, known as a good faith estimate, will cover these charges as well as everything else you'll be asked to pay at settlement.

If yours is considered a "high-rate, high-fee" loan, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, gives you additional rights and protections. For example, if total fees and points exceed a certain amount for 2003, the figure is $488 or 8 percent of the total loan amount you must get some disclosure three business days before closing.

All of this is valuable information, so take as long as necessary to read it. And if you don't understand it, consult with someone you trust for an explanation. That could be an attorney, financial advisor or your local credit counseling agency.

Lenders may not give you the actual filled-in papers in advance, but they should be willing to give you blank documents that have not yet been filled in so you can take them home and review them or show them to a trusted advisor. If they won't, wonder if they have something to hide.

And if the lender won't give you copies of what you've signed at closing, cancel the deal right then and there. These papers contain important information about your rights and obligations. If your lender doesn't want you to have a set, something's terribly wrong.