Never be a victim of mortgage scams.  It can be so easy to fall into the lure of a too good to be true deal.  Read on to find out about these pitfalls and how you can avoid them.   * The lender you are considering should be able to honestly provide you the details of what you need to pay and if there are any features in the mortgage that you need to know.   * Study your financial status.  Decide how much you want to borrow and how much you can actually afford to pay every month.   * Aside from the monthly dues, verify with the lender if there are other fees you need to be prepared for.   * Do ask your lender if they entertain payments that are in excess of the agreed monthly amount.  This can save you a lot of cash in the long run. * Lenders use different names for it; exit, sealing, administration, etc., but it only means one thing. You have to pay some charges should you decide to say goodbye to your deal.    * Whilst shopping around for a good mortgage deal, you would somehow get an idea of how much the going rate is. Some lenders close the deal with a few incentives like free legal fees. If you think the cost is slightly higher, then you might actually be paying for the supposed "freebies".   * Some lenders bundle your deal with building insurance.  Should you decide to have the insurance outsourced to another company, your lender could be charging you higher.   When getting a deal, read the contract very well.  Do not be in a hurry to sign the contract.  Remember that you have every right to ask questions because you will be paying for their services.