Yeah, I hear you on the origination fees. In my experience, lenders rarely budge there unless you’re bringing them a lot of business or threatening to walk. I’ve had better luck getting admin fees knocked down—those seem padded half the time anyway.
At the end of the day, it’s all about being that squeaky wheel... lenders don’t love it, but it’s your money on the line.
Couldn’t agree more. Curious—has anyone actually managed to get a third-party fee (like appraisal or title) reduced, or is that just wishful thinking? I’ve never seen it happen, but maybe I’m missing something.
I’ve wondered the same thing about third-party fees. Like, are those ever really negotiable? I’ve always been told stuff like appraisal or title fees are “set” and not up for debate, but then again, I’ve never tried pushing back hard on them.
Makes me think maybe I should’ve asked more questions. Has anyone actually compared title companies or appraisers to see if there’s any wiggle room, or is it just picking from a list your lender gives you?“At the end of the day, it’s all about being that squeaky wheel...”
I’ve been wondering about this too, especially after seeing those “estimated” numbers on my loan docs. Here’s what I tried: I actually asked my lender if I could pick my own title company, and they said yes, but only if I picked from their “approved” list. Not super helpful, but at least there was a choice. I called around to a couple of the companies and, weirdly, the fees weren’t identical—one was about $200 less for the same service. It wasn’t a huge difference, but it felt like a win.
Appraisal fees seemed more locked in. My lender said they use a third-party panel and can’t really negotiate that part. Maybe some lenders are more flexible, but mine wasn’t budging. I do think it’s worth asking, though. Sometimes just questioning things makes them double-check or explain what’s actually negotiable.
If I had to do it again, I’d definitely compare title companies earlier in the process instead of just going with whatever was listed. Even small savings add up when you’re already stretched thin.
That’s really helpful to hear about your experience calling around for title company quotes. I had a similar situation—my lender gave me an “approved” list and I assumed the rates would all be about the same, but when I actually called a couple, there was a noticeable difference. It wasn’t a huge amount, but honestly, when you’re looking at the final closing disclosure and every dollar seems to have already been spent somewhere, even $150 or $200 feels like it matters.
I completely agree on the appraisal fees, too. Mine were basically non-negotiable. The lender explained they use a rotation system for compliance reasons, and that was that. I tried to push a bit, but it didn’t go anywhere. Maybe some smaller lenders have more flexibility, but with the bigger ones it seems pretty locked down.
One thing I didn’t realize until late in the process is that some of these “service provider” fees can be shopped for, but the window to do it is tiny. By the time I really started comparing, I was already under contract and felt like I couldn’t risk delaying anything just to save a bit on title insurance or settlement fees. Next time (not that I want to do this again soon…), I’d try to get those quotes as soon as the loan estimate comes in, instead of waiting until things are already moving.
I also found out that some title companies tack on extra “junk fees”—like courier charges or document prep—that aren’t always obvious upfront. It’s worth asking for a detailed breakdown before you commit, even if you feel kind of awkward pushing back on what seems like standard paperwork. They’re used to those questions and sometimes they’ll drop a charge just to keep your business.
It does feel a bit overwhelming trying to catch every possible spot to save money, but I guess that’s just part of being cautious with such a big purchase. Even if it only adds up to a couple hundred bucks here and there, that’s still less debt in the long run... or at least enough for a decent pizza after closing.
Couldn’t agree more about those “approved” lists—sometimes I think lenders just throw darts at a board to pick them. I’ve seen title fees swing by hundreds, and don’t even get me started on the “courier” charges. Last time, I asked if they were hand-delivering my docs on horseback for that price. Honestly, it pays to be a little pushy. I’ve had companies drop fees just because I questioned them. It’s awkward, but hey, if it means more cash for pizza (or, let’s be real, fixing the leaky faucet you didn’t notice at inspection), it’s worth it.
