I totally agree—those little fees add up fast. When I refinanced last year, I actually found a “document prep” charge that was almost $400. I pushed back and it disappeared. Has anyone managed to negotiate down the title insurance costs? That’s one area I felt stuck on.
Title: Are you considering buying a home in Dallas? Read this before!
That’s a good catch on the doc prep fee—those can be sneaky. Title insurance is a tough one, though. In Texas, the rates are actually set by the state, so there’s not much wiggle room on the premium itself. Sometimes you can shop around for the escrow or closing fees, but the main title insurance cost is pretty locked in. Did your lender give you any options for title companies, or was it just one? Sometimes there’s a little flexibility with the ancillary fees, but not always.
Sometimes you can shop around for the escrow or closing fees, but the main title insurance cost is pretty locked in.
That’s mostly true, but I’d add a little caution—sometimes buyers forget that even if the premium is set, the service level between title companies isn’t always equal. I’ve seen deals get delayed because a “cheaper” company cut corners on research. If your lender only gave you one option, it’s worth asking for a couple more, even if just to compare how responsive they are. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a bit more than saving $50 on ancillary fees.
Honestly, I learned the hard way during my last refi—went with a title company that seemed fine on paper but getting updates from them was like pulling teeth. Saved a few bucks, but the stress wasn’t worth it. Sometimes you just want someone who picks up the phone and actually knows what’s going on with your file. Not all “savings” are created equal…
I totally get the frustration with unresponsive title companies, but I wonder if it’s just the luck of the draw sometimes. I’ve had “discount” companies that were actually super on top of things—maybe it comes down to the specific staff you get? I’m always torn between paying more for a “premium” service or just rolling the dice and hoping for the best. Does anyone really have a way to know ahead of time who’s going to be communicative? Even the big names have dropped the ball for me before.
