Consider the following sentences:
引越しをして本当に良かったと思います。
引越しをして本当に良かったと思っています。
If I use と思います, does the sentence become more formal?
Answer
It's not about formality, but meaning difference.
Both are translated "think", but the plain ending 思います（思う） stands for an instant judgment at that moment, reacting to an event or responding to a question; or begin to think. The stative 思っています（思っている）, on the other hand, means holding an idea or belief in one's mind for a duration.
Another explanation, if you prefer, is that 思う : 思っている is analogous to put on : wear.
私を誰だと思っているのだ。 Who do you think I am!?
× 私を誰だと思うのだ。
In the examples above, only the first one tells the meaning in English. The second is very, um... prosopagnostic (if grammatical in any way).
この映画を見たら、人生も捨てたものじゃないと思いました。 When I watched the movie, I thought the life is not as bad as it seems.
× この映画を見たら、人生も捨てたものじゃないと思っていました。
In these examples, たら indicates immediate trigger, so only the first sentence is grammatical.
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