I did notice some credit unions were a bit more transparent, but it’s never totally straightforward.
That’s been my experience too. Credit unions seem to lay out the fees a bit more clearly, but there’s always something that pops up last minute. I remember getting hit with a “processing fee” that wasn’t mentioned until the final paperwork—felt like a gotcha moment.
One thing that helped me was asking for a full fee breakdown before even starting the application. Some lenders will actually send you a sample closing disclosure if you push for it. It’s not perfect, but at least you can spot the weird charges early.
Also, if you’re on H1B, some lenders try to tack on extra “risk” fees, which isn’t always justified if you’ve got a solid credit history. Don’t be afraid to shop around or even negotiate those down. It’s a hassle, but sometimes just asking “what’s this for?” makes them rethink adding random charges.
Those “processing fees” are the worst—like, just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, bam, another $200 out of nowhere. I’ve actually walked away from a lender over stuff like that. They act surprised when you push back, but honestly, half the time they’ll drop it if you make a fuss. It’s weird how much you have to play detective just to get a straight answer… but I guess that’s the mortgage game.
Man, those “processing fees” are like the jump scares of home buying. You think you’ve budgeted for everything, then—surprise, another random charge. I’ve had lenders try to sneak in “document prep” fees that were basically just them hitting print. Gotta keep your eyes peeled or you’ll end up paying for their coffee runs too.
Totally get what you mean about those sneaky fees—had a “courier fee” once for documents that were just emailed to me. It’s wild. When I bought my place, I actually pushed back on a couple of those charges and the lender dropped them, so it’s always worth asking.
For H1B folks, did anyone run into extra fees or requirements because of visa status? I’ve heard some lenders tack on “international processing” charges, but not sure if that’s standard or just another way to pad the bill...
