Yeah, that spreadsheet struggle is real. I remember my first deal—thought I was being super organized, but halfway through, I had like three tabs open and still missed a “courier fee” that made zero sense. It’s wild how many little charges sneak in if you’re not watching.
You’re spot on about lenders expecting questions. I’ve pushed back on stuff before and honestly, they barely blinked. Sometimes they’ll even drop a fee just because you noticed it. Doesn’t hurt to ask, and it definitely doesn’t make you look difficult. If anything, it shows you’re not just signing whatever they put in front of you.
One thing I’d add: don’t be afraid to ask for explanations in plain English. Some of those line items sound like rocket science, but if they can’t explain it simply, that’s a red flag for me. Keep at it—it gets easier the more deals you do.
Some of those line items sound like rocket science, but if they can’t explain it simply, that’s a red flag for me.
Couldn’t agree more on that. I’ve seen “processing fees” that are just a fancy way to pad the bottom line. The worst is when someone tries to gloss over it with jargon—if they can’t break it down in plain English, I start wondering what else they’re hiding. I’ll admit, I’m pretty blunt about it. If something looks fishy, I call it out. You’d be surprised how fast some of those “required” fees disappear when you push back a little.
Honestly, I always tell folks to ask for a detailed breakdown of every single fee—line by line. If the broker can’t explain each one without resorting to buzzwords, that’s a red flag for me too. Sometimes I’ll even suggest comparing two different lenders’ closing disclosures side by side. That way, you can spot which charges are legit and which ones are just fluff. Ever had a lender try to convince you something was “standard” when it clearly wasn’t?
Totally agree—if a broker can’t walk you through every fee, that’s a problem. I’ve seen “processing” or “admin” fees pop up that are just padded in. Comparing disclosures is smart, but honestly, some lenders get creative with their labels to make junk fees look legit. It’s wild how often “standard” just means “we hope you won’t notice.”
It’s wild how often “standard” just means “we hope you won’t notice.”
That’s the truth. I remember when I bought my last place, there was a “courier fee” for $75—no one could explain what it actually covered. Here’s what worked for me: I asked for a full itemized list of fees before signing anything, then literally Googled each one. If something looked fishy or vague, I pushed back. Sometimes they’d just drop it, no questions asked. It’s a hassle, but worth it to save a few hundred bucks here and there.
