I've seen this a lot too, and you're right—lender choice makes a huge difference. Big banks can be hit or miss; some are efficient, others are a nightmare. I've had clients breeze through refinances with major lenders, while others got stuck in paperwork limbo for weeks. Smaller lenders usually have fewer hoops to jump through, but they're not always perfect either. Had one local lender recently who was great at communication but still managed to misplace a client's appraisal report twice...
One thing I've noticed is that the loan officer themselves can make or break the experience. Even within the same company, some officers are super organized and proactive, while others seem overwhelmed or inexperienced. Did you find that your loan officer's responsiveness made a noticeable difference in your experience?
"Had one local lender recently who was great at communication but still managed to misplace a client's appraisal report twice..."
Haha, sounds familiar. Had a loan officer once who was super responsive—always quick to reply—but somehow kept asking for the same docs over and over. Felt like Groundhog Day: Mortgage Edition...
Haha, is this like some weird rite of passage for homebuyers? I'm starting to wonder if there's a secret training manual lenders use titled "How to Politely Lose Documents and Still Seem Professional." 😂
But seriously, is it normal for them to ask for the same paperwork multiple times? Mine recently asked me for my pay stubs again after I'd already uploaded them twice. I mean, do they vanish into some mysterious digital black hole or something...? Or maybe they're testing our patience levels as part of the approval process?
Honestly, though, hearing your stories makes me feel better—at least I'm not alone in this endless loop of paperwork déjà vu. How long did you guys have to wait before finally getting approved? I'm trying to stay optimistic here, but it's starting to feel like I'll be celebrating my loan approval anniversary before I even get the keys...
Yep, totally normal—unfortunately. A few reasons I've noticed from experience:
- Different departments handling docs separately (and not always communicating well).
- Automated systems flagging docs as incomplete or outdated.
- Underwriters double-checking everything repeatedly to meet compliance.
Hang in there...approval usually comes eventually.
Yeah, those automated systems can be a real headache sometimes. But honestly, shouldn't lenders streamline their departments better by now? Seems like they're stuck in the past—wonder if there's a reason they're dragging their feet on modernizing...
