I've actually found that the level of scrutiny varies quite a bit depending on the lender. Some seem hyper-focused on every small Venmo or PayPal transaction, while others mostly skim past them unless there's something glaringly suspicious. Had a friend whose lender barely glanced at their statements, even though they had tons of random transfers labeled "pizza" and "concert tix." Seems like it really depends on the underwriter's discretion and how conservative the lender's policies are overall...
Yeah, that's been my experience too. Seems like lenders have their own quirks and comfort levels. Makes you wonder how much is down to the individual underwriter's mood that day... Glad your friend got through smoothly though!
"Makes you wonder how much is down to the individual underwriter's mood that day..."
Exactly this. I've noticed it's not just mood, but also timing and workload that seem to matter. A few years back, our mortgage sailed through quickly, but my brother applied with the same lender six months later—different underwriter—and got dragged through endless paperwork hoops. Seems like tighter rules amplify these inconsistencies even more... definitely pays to shop around and brace for surprises these days.
"Seems like tighter rules amplify these inconsistencies even more..."
Yeah, I can relate to this big time. Just went through my first mortgage application and honestly, it felt like playing roulette. One day everything seemed fine, next day they suddenly needed extra docs out of nowhere. My friend applied around the same time with another lender and had a totally different experience—smooth sailing all the way. Really makes you wonder how much is down to pure luck sometimes...
Totally get what you're saying—mortgage applications can be a real rollercoaster. From what I've seen, it often boils down to how each lender interprets the new rules, plus your individual credit profile. I've noticed that folks who actively manage their credit reports tend to face fewer surprises. Have you checked your credit files recently to see if there's anything unusual or inconsistent there? Sometimes small discrepancies can trigger extra paperwork and headaches...
