It’s wild how those “junk fees” get bundled in—sometimes I wonder if they’re just hoping buyers are overwhelmed and won’t notice. I always tell people to get the Loan Estimate early and compare it line by line across a couple lenders. If something looks fishy or is labeled twice, call it out. I’ve seen lenders back off fees the minute you question them. Texas does regulate some stuff, like you said, but a lot of those admin fees are just…extra padding. It’s not perfect, but a little pushback goes a long way.
I had a lender try to sneak in a “processing fee” twice—once under admin and again under some vague “services” line. When I pointed it out, they dropped one without even arguing. Makes you wonder how many folks just pay it without noticing...
That’s a sharp catch—those “services” fees can be so vague it’s almost like they’re hoping you won’t ask. I always tell folks to go line by line on the loan estimate and closing disclosure. If something looks off, question it. You’d be surprised how often things just... disappear when you push back. Good on you for catching it early.
