Title: First-Time Buyer in Dallas: My Experience Finding the Right Mortgage Lender
Curious, did anyone here ever have a lender push back hard on a fee you questioned, or do they usually just drop it?
It’s funny—some lenders act like those fees are set in stone, but most of the time, if you press a bit, they’ll at least “check with their manager” and suddenly a mysterious $300 admin fee disappears. I’ve seen it go both ways though. Had one client where the lender flat-out refused to budge on an underwriting charge, claiming it was “required by corporate.” We ended up switching lenders over that... and magically, the new lender’s fees were lower across the board.
People underestimate how much padding gets baked into these estimates. The Loan Estimate vs. Closing Disclosure comparison is crucial—little stuff like courier fees or “processing” charges can sneak in at closing if you’re not careful. I always tell folks to treat every line item as negotiable until proven otherwise. If a lender digs in their heels on something minor (like a $50 doc prep fee), that’s usually a red flag for me. Either they’re inflexible, or they’re hoping you won’t notice bigger issues.
I wouldn’t say most lenders push back hard unless you’re challenging something pretty standard (like title insurance premiums, which are often regulated). But for junk fees? They’ll usually drop them if you call their bluff or mention shopping around. It’s amazing what a little skepticism can save you—sometimes hundreds, sometimes more.
Long story short: don’t be afraid to ask questions and push back. Worst case, they say no... best case, you keep more cash in your pocket for moving day pizza (or furniture that isn’t from your college days).
I always tell folks to treat every line item as negotiable until proven otherwise.
Totally agree with this. When I was comparing lenders, I made a spreadsheet and literally went line by line. If something looked weird, I’d ask about it. Sometimes they’d just say “oh, that’s standard,” but if I kept pushing, a couple fees just vanished. One lender tried to insist on a $200 “processing” fee, but when I pointed out another lender didn’t have it, suddenly it was “optional.” It’s wild how much is up for grabs if you’re persistent.
That’s exactly the right approach. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen “standard” fees just disappear when you push back a little. It’s almost like some lenders are testing to see if you’ll notice or care. I always tell folks, if it doesn’t make sense, challenge it—worst case, they say no, but more often than not, there’s wiggle room.
One thing I’ve noticed lately is that some lenders will try to bundle a bunch of tiny fees together under vague names—“miscellaneous,” “courier,” “document prep”—and hope you won’t question them. Sometimes they’re legit, sometimes not. Curious if anyone here has ever actually gotten a lender to break down those bundled charges? Or is it usually just a take-it-or-leave-it situation?
It’s wild how much you can save just by being a little stubborn...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes I think the “challenge everything” approach can backfire. I once pushed back on a doc prep fee and the lender just shrugged and said, “Fine, we’ll pass the file to someone else.” Not every lender is willing to negotiate, especially these days when demand’s up. I guess it depends on the lender’s mood—or maybe how much coffee they’ve had that morning. Still, I agree those vague fees are shady. Just wish there was a magic word to make them vanish every time...
Yeah, I’ve seen that happen more than once—sometimes lenders just aren’t in the mood to haggle, especially if they know there’s a line of buyers behind you. I remember a client who tried to negotiate every single line item and the lender just stopped responding altogether. It’s frustrating because some fees really are just fluff, but pushing too hard can make them walk away. I usually tell folks to pick their battles—focus on the big stuff, and if a fee seems truly bogus, ask for an explanation. Sometimes just asking for clarity makes them rethink it... but not always.
