Honestly, I’ve seen underwriters flag the weirdest stuff—like a $15 Venmo from a friend for pizza. Makes me wonder if they’re just following a checklist or if there’s any room for common sense. Ever notice how sometimes a simple “gift from family” note is fine, but other times they want a full paper trail? I always tell folks, less is more when explaining. Over-explaining can open a can of worms you didn’t even know existed...
Over-explaining can open a can of worms you didn’t even know existed...
Totally agree with that. I’ve actually had a deal nearly fall apart because a buyer tried to clarify a $100 deposit from their grandma—next thing you know, the lender wanted three months of grandma’s bank statements. Has anyone found a way to predict which underwriters are going to be sticklers about this stuff, or is it just luck of the draw?
Honestly, I wish there was a way to know which underwriters are going to go full detective mode. Sometimes it feels totally random—one deal, they barely glance at the docs, next time they want a DNA sample for a $50 Venmo. I’ve tried asking loan officers if they know their underwriter’s style, but even they seem surprised half the time. Has anyone noticed if certain lenders are more chill about small deposits, or is it just the individual underwriter’s mood that day?
one deal, they barely glance at the docs, next time they want a DNA sample for a $50 Venmo
Story of my life, honestly. Here’s what I’ve noticed after juggling a few dozen loans:
- Some banks are way more “by the book” than others, but even then, it’s kind of a roulette.
- Credit unions? Sometimes chill, sometimes “explain this $12 Starbucks from three months ago.”
- I’ve had an underwriter ask about a birthday gift deposit once. Like, sorry Aunt Linda is generous?
- Mood swings are real. Friday afternoons = more relaxed, Monday mornings = full CSI mode.
Wish I could say it’s just the lender, but the human factor is wild.
Mood swings are real. Friday afternoons = more relaxed, Monday mornings = full CSI mode.
That’s honestly spot on. I’ve seen underwriters go from “no big deal” to “let’s dissect every cent” in the span of a week, and there’s rarely any warning. The inconsistency can be frustrating, especially for clients who expect a straightforward process. I’ve noticed it’s not just the institution, but sometimes even the same underwriter will apply different levels of scrutiny depending on their workload, recent audits, or even just their mood that day.
Out of curiosity, has anyone here actually tried prepping clients for this unpredictability? I’ve started telling folks to expect questions on literally anything that looks even slightly out of the ordinary—gift deposits, side gigs, even random transfers. It helps a bit, but I still get pushback when the questions start getting personal. Wondering if anyone’s found a good way to set expectations without scaring people off.
