"I've always wondered if lenders have a threshold—like, what's considered 'minor' vs. something they absolutely won't budge on."
From my experience, lenders usually push back when there's uncertainty that could affect property value or marketability. Minor fence line issues often slide, but anything hinting at potential legal disputes...they'll probably want a full survey to be safe.
Totally agree with this. From what I've seen:
- Lenders seem pretty chill about minor stuff like fences or sheds slightly over the line. My cousin bought a house last year and the neighbor's fence was off by like half a foot—lender didn't even blink.
- But yeah, anything that smells like it could turn into a legal headache later, they're gonna want to cover themselves. My realtor warned me about easements especially...even if they're old and seem harmless, lenders can get weirdly cautious.
- Also, I've noticed it depends a bit on the lender. Some are stricter than others. My friend had a small encroachment issue and one lender said no way without a full survey, but another lender was fine with just a quick affidavit from the neighbor.
So I guess there's no hard rule, but if there's potential drama involved, expect pushback.
"My realtor warned me about easements especially...even if they're old and seem harmless, lenders can get weirdly cautious."
Yeah, easements can be sneaky little headaches. Did your realtor mention anything about title insurance covering stuff like that? Usually, minor fence issues aren't a biggie, but I've seen lenders get twitchy over shared driveways or utility easements. Have you had a survey done yet, or are you still in the "crossing fingers and hoping for the best" stage?
Yeah, easements can be a real pain sometimes. Had a property once with an old utility easement running right through the backyard—didn't seem like a big deal until we tried refinancing. Lender got super cautious and asked for extra documentation before they'd move forward. You're smart to look into title insurance and surveys early on; saves you from surprises later. Sounds like you're already ahead of the curve on this one.
Totally agree—easements can sneak up on you in ways you'd never imagine. Had a client once who was all set to close on their refinance when the lender flagged an old access easement from a neighbor's property. It hadn't been used in decades, but the lender wouldn't budge until we got it officially vacated. Took weeks of back-and-forth with attorneys and county records, not to mention the extra costs involved.
You're definitely smart to tackle the survey and title insurance early. I'd also suggest getting your hands on a full title search report if you haven't already. Sometimes those preliminary reports lenders provide are pretty basic—they'll show obvious issues, but smaller details can slip through. A complete title search digs deeper into past deeds, liens, and any recorded agreements or restrictions that might affect ownership. It's usually worth the extra expense upfront to avoid headaches around closing or refinancing later on.
Another thing that helps is having a good relationship with your local title company or real estate attorney. If you run into something tricky like an easement or boundary line uncertainty, they can guide you step-by-step through how to handle it—whether it's negotiating with neighbors, filing paperwork with the county, or even going to court if it comes down to it (hopefully not!). I always tell my clients: Easements and property rights can feel messy at first, but they're manageable if you're proactive and thorough.
Sounds like you've got a solid handle on things already, though...just keep asking questions and double-checking everything now, so you're not scrambling later.
