Yeah, I’ve run into the same thing. Last year, I thought I’d be clever and just “negotiate” my way into a better rate, but the lender barely blinked. It’s like they’ve all read the same script—no competing offer, no movement. The only time I got anywhere was when I literally brought in a quote from another bank, and suddenly they were willing to talk numbers. Otherwise, they just shrugged.
I do wonder if it depends on the size of the loan or maybe even the region. My buddy in a smaller town said his local credit union was way more flexible than the big guys I dealt with in the city. Maybe there’s just less competition in some markets? Or maybe commercial lending is just more cut-and-dry these days.
It’s kind of wild how much leverage you need just to get a tiny concession. Makes me miss the days when you could at least haggle a little…
