If you are a homeowner carrying a home equity loan in addition to your mortgage, refinancing to one monthly payment could save you money. Consolidating these loans has the advantage of one lower monthly payment and you can even lock in a fixed interest rate. Here are several tips to help you refinance your primary mortgage and home equity loans without overpaying for the financing.Refinancing has many advantages for homeowners with multiple loans. Consolidating your primary mortgage and home equity line of credit will make your monthly budget easier to mange by providing you one lower monthly payment. Additionally, you will qualify for a lower interest rate on your new mortgage than the one you were paying on your home equity loan. Home equity loans come with higher interest rates than your primary mortgage because there is additional risk for the second lender. The home equity lender passes this risk on to the borrower in the form of higher interest rates.Refinancing is also not without risk. The main disadvantage of refinancing your mortgage is that you are starting your amortization all over again. At the beginning of your mortgage, most of your monthly payment is applied to interest and very little goes to repaying the loan principle. When refinancing your mortgage there is the additional risk of overpaying for the new mortgage loan. To avoid overpaying for the new mortgage it is important to shop around from a variety of mortgage lenders and brokers. When you compare loan offers be sure and compare all aspects of the loans, not just the interest rates. You can learn more about shopping for the most competitive loan offer by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.