Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. The inconsistency between underwriters can be maddening—sometimes it feels like you’re prepping for a pop quiz where the teacher changes the rules every time. That said, there are a few ways to minimize surprises, even if you can’t eliminate them entirely. I’ve found that documenting everything up front, especially any large deposits or transfers, tends to reduce the number of follow-up questions. It’s not foolproof, but it helps.
One thing I’ve noticed is that some lenders have more standardized review processes than others. If you’re working with a lender that’s notorious for being unpredictable, it might be worth exploring alternatives, even if their rates aren’t quite as low. At the end of the day, I wish there was more transparency and consistency across the board, but until then, over-preparing seems to be the safest bet—even if it feels like overkill half the time.