Getting approved for an FHA loan: My step-by-step (and a few hiccups)

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a different experience. When I pushed back (politely) on a couple of document requests that didn’t make sense, my lender did drop one of them after double-checking with underwriting. It took an extra day, but saved me some hassle. I guess it depends on the lender and how you approach it - sometimes they’re just following a checklist and don’t mind clarifying if you ask. Not saying it always works, but it’s not always a dead end either.

Title: Getting approved for an FHA loan: My step-by-step (and a few hiccups)

That’s interesting, because I’ve had lenders who were sticklers for every single document, no matter how much I tried to reason with them. There was one time I was refinancing a duplex and they wanted a letter explaining a $200 deposit from six months prior - literally just a birthday gift from my aunt. I tried to explain, even sent them a screenshot of the Venmo note (“Happy Bday!”), but nope, they still wanted a signed letter from her. It felt like they were just ticking boxes without really thinking about what made sense.

But then again, I’ve also had the opposite happen. Last year, I was working on a small infill project and the lender asked for a copy of an old lease that didn’t even exist anymore. I pushed back, explained the situation, and after a couple of emails, they dropped it. Maybe it depends on who you get on the other end - some folks are more flexible or just willing to double-check with underwriting, like you said.

I do wonder if it’s partly about timing too. When things are busy, underwriters seem less likely to budge. But if you catch them on a good day, or if you’re polite but persistent, sometimes they’ll actually listen. It’s kind of a gamble.

Honestly, I’ve started keeping a folder of “weird lender requests” just for laughs. Some of them are so random - like the time they wanted proof that my business partner’s dog wasn’t living at the property (don’t ask). Makes me think half the process is just seeing how much paperwork you can survive before closing.

Anyway, I guess there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Sometimes pushing back works, sometimes it doesn’t... but it never hurts to try, as long as you’re not burning bridges.

That dog story cracks me up - I've seen some wild requests too. Had a deal last year where the lender wanted a notarized letter from a seller’s ex-spouse confirming she’d never lived at the property. No idea how that made sense, but we jumped through the hoop anyway. In your experience, do you find certain banks or brokers are more likely to get stuck on these oddball details, or is it just luck of the draw? Sometimes I swear it depends on which underwriter skipped their coffee that morning...

Title: Getting approved for an FHA loan: My step-by-step (and a few hiccups)

- Had a similar experience during my refi last year. The lender wanted a signed letter from my neighbor (??) confirming that my fence wasn’t encroaching on their property. Never mind that there was a survey and the fence had been there for 15 years.
- I’ve noticed it’s not always the same bank or broker, but more about who’s handling your file that day. Sometimes you get someone super chill, other times it’s like they’re looking for reasons to slow things down.
- One time, I had to dig up an old divorce decree from 2008 because the underwriter wanted “proof of no outstanding marital liens.” Never came up with any other lender before or since.
- My theory: some underwriters are just more by-the-book (or maybe just bored?), while others use common sense. It’s like spinning a wheel - sometimes you land on “normal,” sometimes you get “please provide a notarized letter from your childhood dentist.”
- I do think certain big banks have more rigid checklists, but even then, it seems to come down to the individual. Smaller brokers can be just as picky if they’re worried about getting dinged in an audit.

Honestly, half the time I feel like these requests are just to see if we’ll actually do them. Makes me wonder what hoops they’d invent if we pushed back harder...

I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think a lot of these “weird” requests are less about the individual underwriter and more about the way the system’s set up. The banks and lenders have to cover themselves from every possible angle, especially with FHA loans - there’s so much regulation and potential for buybacks if something’s missed. I’ve had my share of head-scratchers (once had to get a letter from my employer explaining a two-week gap between jobs... in 2012), but I don’t think it’s just about seeing if we’ll jump through hoops.

Honestly, I’d rather deal with someone who’s annoyingly thorough than someone who misses something and causes bigger problems down the line. It’s frustrating, sure, but I don’t think pushing back would get us anywhere - if anything, it might just slow things down more. At the end of the day, I’d rather be over-prepared than risk the deal falling apart at the last minute. Maybe I’m just jaded from too many closings, but I’d rather play it safe than sorry.

Had a similar situation last year - underwriter wanted a signed letter from a subcontractor explaining why a $500 payment showed up in my account. I remember thinking, “Really? For five hundred bucks?” But like you said,

“I’d rather deal with someone who’s annoyingly thorough than someone who misses something and causes bigger problems down the line.”

Yeah, I totally get the frustration. Had a lender once ask me to explain a $200 Venmo transfer from my cousin - felt like overkill, but I guess they’re just covering every base. Like you said,

“I’d rather deal with someone who’s annoyingly thorough than someone who misses something and causes bigger problems down the line.”

It’s wild how granular they get, right? I remember during my last refi, the underwriter wanted a letter explaining a $75 PayPal from my sister for concert tickets. At first it felt like they were just trying to trip me up, but after hearing some horror stories about missed details sinking deals at the last minute, I kind of get it. Still, it can feel a bit much.

Keeping a folder of docs and template letters is honestly a smart move. I started doing that too - makes it way less stressful when they start asking about every little thing. Sometimes I wonder if they even read half the explanations we send, but better safe than sorry. The process is tedious, but at least being over-prepared means fewer surprises down the road. Hang in there... it really does pay off once you get that approval.

I swear, the level of detail they want is like prepping for a tax audit and a pop quiz at the same time. I once had to explain a $40 Venmo from my mom labeled “dog food” - which, for the record, was literally for dog food. I get why they do it, but sometimes I wonder if they’re just bored and looking for entertainment. Did you ever get pushback on any of your explanations, or did they just accept whatever you sent?

I once had to explain a $40 Venmo from my mom labeled “dog food” - which, for the record, was literally for dog food.

Yeah, they’re relentless with those explanations. I had to clarify a $25 deposit from my sister for “pizza night” - felt ridiculous, but they just wanted a screenshot and moved on. Never got pushback, but it always feels like overkill.

Honestly, it does feel a bit much sometimes. I get that lenders have to check for “seasoned” funds and all that, but when they’re asking for proof of a $15 transfer from my cousin labeled “lunch,” it borders on absurd. I get the fraud concerns, but there’s gotta be a more efficient way. Still, if you want that FHA approval, you just play along... screenshots and all. It’s annoying, but at least they usually don’t make a big deal if you’ve got the receipts.

when they’re asking for proof of a $15 transfer from my cousin labeled “lunch,” it borders on absurd.

I remember feeling the same way - my lender once questioned a $20 Venmo from my sister for movie tickets. It’s tedious, but I get why they’re strict. Honestly, I found that keeping a folder with all my bank statements and random receipts made things go smoother. Not perfect, but it saved me some headaches when those oddball questions popped up. The process is clunky, but at least once you’re through, it’s done.

Honestly, I found that keeping a folder with all my bank statements and random receipts made things go smoother.

Funny, I tried the same thing - kept a whole spreadsheet tracking every weird Zelle or PayPal. Still got flagged for a $12 “pizza” memo from my brother. I get the compliance side, but sometimes it feels like they’re just looking for reasons to slow you down. It’s a headache, but yeah, once you’re past it, you almost forget how ridiculous it was.

That “pizza” memo thing cracks me up - my lender flagged a $20 Venmo labeled “dog food” and wanted proof I wasn’t laundering money for a canine cartel. I started color-coding my spreadsheet just to keep track of which transactions might get questioned. Did anyone else have to explain random cash gifts from family? That was a whole saga for me...

my lender flagged a $20 Venmo labeled “dog food” and wanted proof I wasn’t laundering money for a canine cartel.

That’s wild, but honestly, I’m not surprised. Lenders are hyper-cautious these days - sometimes to the point of absurdity. I had to dig up a six-month-old birthday card just to prove a $100 deposit from my aunt wasn’t some shady side hustle. Did your lender also make you explain every transfer between your own accounts? That one always gets me - like, who else’s account would I be moving money to?

Did your lender also make you explain every transfer between your own accounts? That one always gets me - like, who else’s account would I be moving money to?

Right? I’ve seen clients get flagged for moving money from checking to savings and back, like it’s some big conspiracy. Did they ask you for a paper trail on cash deposits too? That’s the one that always trips people up - nobody keeps receipts for every $40 they put in the bank. Curious if they grilled you about any “unusual” paychecks or side gigs, too.

Yeah, the whole process feels a bit over the top sometimes. I had to explain a Venmo transfer to myself - literally just moving money between my checking and savings. They also wanted documentation for a $100 birthday gift from my aunt. It’s wild, but I guess they’re just trying to cover every base. Hang in there, it’s annoying but you’ll get through it.

It’s wild how granular they get, right? I had to dig up a screenshot for a $50 transfer from my own business account - felt a bit much. Do you think all this extra scrutiny actually helps prevent fraud, or is it just bureaucracy run amok? Sometimes I wonder if they even look at half the stuff we send...

Sometimes I wonder if they even look at half the stuff we send...

Honestly, I’ve thought the same thing. But I’ve seen cases where someone’s random $100 deposit turned into a full-on headache, so I get why they check. Still, it feels like they’re just covering themselves more than actually stopping fraud. The $50 transfer thing is overkill, though. Seems like the process is designed more to protect the lender than to actually catch anything shady.

Seems like the process is designed more to protect the lender than to actually catch anything shady.

That’s pretty much spot on. I’ve seen underwriters get hung up on a $60 Venmo transfer from a roommate - total overkill. But at the same time, I guess they don’t want any surprises down the line. It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone in thinking it feels like a box-ticking exercise half the time. Just gotta keep jumping through those hoops…