I get what you’re saying, but sometimes I wonder if lenders actually expect us to push back or if they’re just banking on most people being too intimidated to ask. I’ve had a couple of situations where I questioned a “processing fee” and suddenly it disappeared—makes you think, right? Has anyone ever had luck getting the appraisal fee lowered, or is that one truly non-negotiable? I’ve heard mixed things.
I’ve had a couple of situations where I questioned a “processing fee” and suddenly it disappeared—makes you think, right?
That’s been my experience too, and it really does make you wonder how much of these fees are just “try your luck” for the lender. I’ve pushed back on underwriting and admin fees and had them reduced or waived, but the appraisal fee seems to be a tougher nut to crack. From what I’ve seen, lenders usually claim the appraisal is a third-party service, so they don’t have much wiggle room.
That said, I did once ask about it, and while they wouldn’t lower the fee itself, they offered a lender credit elsewhere to help offset the cost. Not exactly the same, but it helped with the bottom line. It never hurts to ask, even if you feel like you’re being a pain. The worst they can say is no, and sometimes they’ll surprise you.
It’s wild how many fees are “negotiable” if you just question them a bit. Makes me think there’s a lot more room for us as buyers than we realize...
It’s wild how many fees are “negotiable” if you just question them a bit. Makes me think there’s a lot more room for us as buyers than we realize...
That’s a fair observation—there really is more flexibility than most people expect, especially with processing or admin fees. I do want to add, though, that while some lenders will remove or reduce certain charges, it’s important to look at the full picture. Sometimes, when one fee goes down, another might quietly go up, or the rate itself could shift slightly. It’s not always intentional, but it does happen.
On the appraisal side, you’re right—it’s usually a third-party cost and less negotiable. I’ve seen cases where the lender will offer a credit to offset it, but rarely does the fee itself budge. Out of curiosity, has anyone here actually managed to get an appraisal fee reduced directly? Or maybe found a lender who covers it as part of a promotion? I’ve only seen that in very specific circumstances, but maybe Texas is different...
Sometimes, when one fee goes down, another might quietly go up, or the rate itself could shift slightly.
This is exactly what happened to me. I got all proud for talking my lender into waiving the “processing” fee, only to notice later that my “document prep” fee had mysteriously doubled. It’s like playing whack-a-mole with these charges. As for appraisal fees, mine was set in stone—no wiggle room at all. Maybe I just don’t have the right negotiation face...
I hear you, but I’ve found that if you really comb through the loan estimate line by line and ask about every single charge, sometimes they’ll actually drop or reduce a couple without bumping up others. It’s tedious, but I guess my paranoia paid off... at least that time. Appraisal fees though—yeah, those seem untouchable everywhere I’ve tried.
