I’ve actually managed to get a couple of those “junk” fees knocked down, but it really depends on the lender. Some just say no and won’t budge, others will shave off a bit if you push back or mention you’re shopping around. It’s worth asking, but I wouldn’t count on huge savings. Has anyone ever seen a lender actually waive the origination fee entirely, or is that just wishful thinking?
Title: Finding the best home loan rates without losing your mind
- I’ve actually tried to get the origination fee waived, but no luck so far. Most lenders I talked to wouldn’t even consider it. They’d maybe reduce it by a few hundred if I really pressed, but a full waiver? Didn’t happen for me.
- That said, you’re not wrong to push back—sometimes just asking gets a small reduction, especially if you mention competing offers. I had one lender drop their “processing fee” after I sent them a Loan Estimate from someone else.
- From what I’ve read and heard, the origination fee is kind of their bread and butter. Some places will roll it into the rate (so you don’t see it as a line item), but then you’re basically paying more over time.
- The only time I’ve seen a lender actually waive it was for a friend who was refinancing with the same bank—like, they already had her mortgage and wanted to keep her as a customer. Even then, she had to ask multiple times and threaten to walk away.
- It’s frustrating how much of this stuff feels like haggling at a car dealership... You’d think there’d be more transparency.
I get being skeptical about how much you can really save, but honestly, every little bit counts when you’re already dropping so much on closing costs. Even $200 shaved off is better in your pocket than theirs.
If you haven’t already, check out credit unions or local banks. Sometimes they have lower fees or will work with you more than the big-name lenders. Just be ready for a lot of paperwork and back-and-forth.
Hang in there—it’s a slog, but being detail-oriented pays off in the end.
- I’ve been down this rabbit hole too, and honestly, I’m not convinced most lenders are ever gonna fully waive origination fees unless you’ve got serious leverage. I tried the “I’ll walk” routine and all they did was knock off $150—barely made a dent.
- Agree on credit unions. Mine at least explained every fee, and I felt like I could actually ask questions without getting the runaround. Still had to sign a mountain of paperwork, though.
- It’s wild how much you have to negotiate just to not get fleeced. I’m always skeptical when a lender says “no fees” because they usually sneak it in somewhere else... You really have to read every line.
- At the end of the day, even small wins matter. But yeah, it’s a grind.
Honestly, I think the whole “fees are inevitable” mindset just gives lenders more room to nickel and dime us. I’ve seen people with average credit still get fees knocked down way more than $150—it’s all about timing and knowing when to push back. Sometimes it’s not just leverage, it’s persistence. And yeah, paperwork’s a pain, but I’d rather spend an extra hour reading every line than pay for junk fees hidden in the fine print.
- 100% agree—those “junk fees” sneak in if you’re not watching.
- I’ve had lenders try to slide in a “processing fee” that wasn’t even mentioned up front. Caught it just by reading the estimate line by line.
- Timing matters, but I’d add: don’t be shy about asking them to match a competitor’s offer. Sometimes they’ll drop fees just to keep your business.
- One thing I wonder—does anyone actually get out of paying ALL the fees? Or is it just about cutting what you can?
- The paperwork’s brutal, but honestly, it’s saved me hundreds more than once... worth the headache.