Yeah, your experience sounds pretty typical, unfortunately. I've refinanced twice now, and both times it felt like the lender was inventing new hoops to jump through as we went along. I get that they have their own internal checklists, but the repeated requests for the same documents are baffling. Like you said:
"Cue another round of waiting and phone tag."
Exactly my experience. Patience and keeping everything organized helps, but honestly, it seems delays are just part of the process.
I get the frustration, but honestly, my refinance last year went surprisingly smooth. Maybe it depends on the lender or even the loan officer you're working with? I made sure to ask upfront exactly what documents they'd need, and luckily, they didn't come back asking for the same stuff twice.
"Patience and keeping everything organized helps"
Definitely agree with this, but I don't think delays should be considered normal... maybe we've just gotten used to expecting poor service?
Delays aren't exactly uncommon, but they shouldn't be the norm either. A lot depends on how organized your lender is and how clearly they communicate upfront. Sounds like you got lucky with yours. I've seen plenty of smooth refinances, but I've also seen some drag on forever because of poor communication or disorganization. Hang in there, though—once you're through it, the savings usually make the hassle worthwhile.
Yeah, delays definitely happen, but there's a fine line between normal processing times and just plain disorganization. I've seen lenders who seem to have their act together—clear timelines, regular updates—and others who leave borrowers hanging for weeks without a clue what's going on. Honestly, communication is the biggest factor here. If they're upfront about potential delays or extra paperwork needed, it makes the whole process way less frustrating.
One thing I've noticed is that smaller lenders or credit unions sometimes handle refinances quicker because they're not juggling as many applications at once. Big banks can get bogged down pretty easily, especially during busy refinance periods when rates drop. Either way, it's usually worth the wait financially—just wish more lenders realized how much smoother things could go with a little transparency and better organization...
Totally agree about smaller lenders usually being quicker. I refinanced with a local credit union last year, and the whole thing took maybe three weeks tops—super smooth, regular updates, no surprises. A buddy of mine went with a big-name bank around the same time, and he was pulling his hair out waiting almost two months. Definitely seems like transparency and communication are key...and maybe a little luck, lol. Hang in there, it'll probably be worth it once you're done.
