I’ve had the same experience—asked for a breakdown and suddenly “processing” or “document” fees just disappeared. It’s like they’re hoping you won’t notice. I always double-check every line, even if it feels nitpicky. One time, I caught a $300 “courier fee” for paperwork that was emailed to me... not even mailed! It’s worth being a bit of a pain about it, honestly. Those little charges add up fast, especially when rates are low and you’re trying to make the most of the timing.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—some fees are just plain silly. But sometimes those “processing” or “doc” fees aren’t just made up; they cover legit admin work (even if it feels like you’re paying for someone’s coffee break). That said, $300 for an emailed doc? That’s wild. Still, not every line item is a scam... but yeah, always worth asking questions. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting someone to explain what’s actually behind the charge, and suddenly it gets “reviewed.” Funny how that works.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting someone to explain what’s actually behind the charge, and suddenly it gets “reviewed.”
Had that happen last year—asked about a “courier fee” even though everything was digital. Magically, it got knocked down by half. Always surprises me how flexible some of these charges are if you just push back a little.
I get what you’re saying about pushing back—sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. I’ve seen lenders dig in their heels on “processing” fees, even when they’re clearly padded.
That’s great, but I’d say don’t count on every fee being negotiable. Some folks just won’t budge, no matter how much you question it. It’s worth a shot, though.“Magically, it got knocked down by half.”
I’ve definitely run into the same wall with lenders on those “processing” fees. It’s wild how some of them act like it’s set in stone, even when you know it’s just extra padding. I remember when I was shopping around last year, I actually walked away from a deal because the lender wouldn’t budge on a $700 “document prep” fee. I pushed back, asked for a breakdown, and all I got was a canned response about “standard industry practice.” At that point, I figured if they’re this rigid on the small stuff, what else are they not telling me?
That said, I do agree with this bit from above:
“It’s worth a shot, though.”
Couldn’t agree more. Even if you only get one or two fees knocked down, that’s still money in your pocket. But I’m always wary of assuming everything is up for negotiation. Some lenders just aren’t flexible, and honestly, I’d rather know that up front than waste time haggling over every line item.
One thing I’ve learned: always get quotes from at least three different lenders. When rates are down, they’re all hungry for business, but the fees can vary wildly. I once had two lenders with almost identical rates, but one had $2k more in closing costs. If I hadn’t compared, I would’ve just assumed that was the going rate.
Bottom line for me—don’t be afraid to walk away if something feels off or if they won’t work with you. There’s always another lender out there, especially when the market’s competitive. And yeah, sometimes you just have to accept that not every fee is negotiable... but you never know unless you ask.
