That's a fair point—internal organization definitely plays a huge role. I've dealt with lenders of varying sizes, and honestly, I've found that smaller lenders can sometimes offer more competitive rates because they're often trying to carve out a niche or compete with the big guys. That said, their processes can be a bit less streamlined, leading to occasional delays or paperwork headaches.
On the flip side, larger lenders usually have their systems down pat, but they might be less flexible when it comes to negotiating rates or terms. I recall one refinance I handled with a smaller lender—great rate, but the process dragged on due to internal miscommunications. In the end, patience paid off, but it wasn't exactly smooth sailing.
So yeah, size isn't everything... it's really about weighing the trade-offs between efficiency and flexibility.
Totally get what you're saying about smaller lenders. Last year, I had a client who went with a smaller lender for a refi—killer rate, but man, the paperwork was like playing whack-a-mole. Every time we thought we were done, something else popped up. But hey, we laughed through it (mostly), and in the end, they saved a decent chunk of change. Sometimes you just gotta buckle up and enjoy the ride...or at least survive it, haha.
Smaller lenders can def be a mixed bag, but honestly, the big banks aren't always smoother. Had a friend refi through one of the "big names" recently, thinking it'd be easy street, and they still hit roadblocks left and right. Sometimes it's less about lender size and more about how organized their team is behind the scenes. I'd say shop around and trust your gut—paperwork headaches seem universal either way, haha.
Yeah, big banks aren't always the magic bullet people think they are. When I refinanced, I went with a smaller lender—skeptical at first—but honestly, they were way more responsive. Still had paperwork nightmares though... guess that's unavoidable no matter who you pick, lol.
"Still had paperwork nightmares though... guess that's unavoidable no matter who you pick, lol."
Haha true, paperwork seems to be the universal language of mortgages. But honestly, my experience with a big bank wasn't terrible—having everything in one app was pretty convenient. Maybe I just got lucky?
