NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Reader question: Gerri is this a good time to refinance? I want to lower my payments. - Darryl

The answer is...it depends.

Interest rates have come down and refinancing is a smart move if your credit has improved and you'll now qualify for a lower rate; if you're facing an Adjustable Rate Mortgage reset; or if you think you'll be in the house longer than you originally planned.

Figure out if it would be worth your while to refinance. It's not cheap. Closing costs alone can be $3,000. Compare the costs and rates of your current lender, plus two other lenders. Check out the calculator at bankrate.com to determine what you would save by refinancing your home.

Reader question: Should I trust online savings accounts? - Patrick

Online savings accounts can offer you more bang for your buck. First of all, interest rates at online banks tend to be higher. And security concerns shouldn't keep you offline. Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized transactions.

But of course, you should keep your guard up. Don't give out personal information - including bank account numbers, passwords and Social Security numbers - to anyone in an e-mail or over the phone.

Before providing information on a Web site, confirm that the site is legitimate, not a copycat designed by a crook, by verifying the Web site's address in literature from the company. To check the highest yielding savings rates, go to bankrate.com.

Reader question: My taxes are nearly $12,000. That's nearly double from 8 years ago. How can I get my taxes down? - Haydee, New Jersey

We all share in your pain. Property tax collections are up 35 percent in the past four years. But you can fight City Hall. You just have to find an error in your home's assessment. And that may be easier than you think considering that about 60% of homes have assessment mistakes.

Dig out your report and make sure your home is listed with the right number of bedrooms, baths and that the lot size is correct. Watch for details that could knock down the value of your home, like a crack in your home's foundation or a shared driveway.

Then you compare the tax assessor's take on how much your home could sell for compared with how other homes are selling in the neighborhood. You can check out recent sale prices at Domania.com. If you find a big disparity between those numbers, you'll have a better argument.

And your efforts are likely to pay off - 70 percent of homeowners who fight back, walk away with a lower tax bill.

Gerri's Mailbox: Got questions about your money? We want to hear them! Send e-mails to toptips@cnn.com or click here - each week, we'll answer questions on CNN, Headline News and CNNMoney.com.