Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make. Most people use a mortgage broker to find a loan. But Consumer Report Money Adviser says be on guard for unscrupulous brokers who could cost you thousands. Here's how to avoid getting ripped offAna and Maria DeBarros are sisters. They're looking to buy a home together

"She wants to move out, she's still living with our parents. And we thought it would be good idea to get something together," says home buyer Maria Debarros.

Finding your dream home can be hard enough. Then you have to worry about how to pay for it. Sixty-five percent of homebuyers turn to a mortgage broker. Brokers are supposed to do the legwork for you, so you don't have to go from bank to bank looking for the best mortgage rate.

But Consumer Reports Money Adviser says mortgage brokers may be a lot more interested in their bottom line.

"The more a broker can get you to pay for your loan, the more he makes as a commission," says Consumer Reports Money Adviser Lisa Lee Freeman.

Consumer Reports says home buyers should be aware of unscrupulous practices so they don’t end up paying more than they have to. Those unscrupulous practices include: • Lying to you about your credit rating in order to get you to pay a higher interest rate. • Or giving you a lowball estimate of closing costs, then charging thousands more at the time of the closing. • The most pervasive scam — raising interest rates at the last minute, the day you lock-in the loan.

"Over the life of a loan, you could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars more for a loan than you would have if you had gone straight to an honest, a lender or to a more honest broker," adds Freeman.

Consumer Reports says to protect yourself, be sure to monitor the going mortgage rates. Armed with this information, homebuyers like the DeBarros sisters can make sure the mortgage broker they’re using is giving them an honest deal. .

Consumer Reports' Money Adviser says if you’re thinking about buying a new home, get a copy of your credit report before you starting looking. That way you’ll know your credit rating so no one can dupe you.

It's also important to check your credit report closely. Mistakes can ruin your chances of even getting a mortgage.

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