"Big banks tend to be more predictable in their terms, but then again, they rarely budge if your situation is even slightly outside their comfort zone."
Yeah, that's been my experience too. Big banks are like cruise ships—steady and predictable, but good luck turning them around quickly if you need flexibility. Smaller lenders can be great, but you've gotta watch out for those sneaky clauses. I always ask upfront about rate adjustments, prepayment penalties, and balloon payments...those three alone usually flush out most hidden surprises.
Yeah, smaller lenders can be flexible, but I've found they sometimes change terms mid-process, which can be a headache. Ever had a lender suddenly shift requirements on you halfway through underwriting? Curious how others handle that...
Had one lender pull that stunt on me right before closing—suddenly wanted extra docs about a property I sold years ago. Felt like digging through ancient history... Did you push back or just roll with it?
I've been following this thread closely because I'm about to start the whole loan process myself. Honestly, I get why you'd feel frustrated—digging up old documents sounds like a major pain, especially when you're already stressed with closing. But from what I've been reading and hearing from others who've gone through similar situations, sometimes lenders aren't just being difficult for no reason.
Here's the thing: lenders have strict underwriting guidelines they need to follow, and sometimes those guidelines shift or tighten unexpectedly (especially if they're selling your loan later on). When that happens, they might suddenly ask for documents that seem random or unnecessary to us. But in reality, they're probably just trying to check off a box required by their investors or compliance team.
Now, I'm not saying you should always roll over and accept whatever they ask without question—it's definitely worth politely pushing back a bit if something seems totally irrelevant or excessive. You could ask them directly why they need those specific docs now, after all this time. Sometimes just asking clearly and calmly can help clarify things and even get them to reconsider their request.
But... if they're firm about needing it, it might actually be faster (and less stressful) to just bite the bullet and provide what's needed rather than getting into a drawn-out back-and-forth. I've seen friends who pushed back too hard end up delaying their closings even more because it turned into a bigger issue than it needed to be.
Personally, when my time comes, I'll probably ask questions first—just to understand what's going on—but ultimately I'll be prepared to provide whatever they need. Better safe than sorry when you're this close to finally getting those keys in hand.
I've been through this a couple times, and honestly, your approach sounds spot-on. Push back gently if something feels off, but pick your battles... delays can get pricey fast if you miss your rate lock or have to extend closing. Better safe than sorry at this stage.
