I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience a couple times. Like,
For me, the lenders that started off super flexible sometimes got a little “creative” with fees later on. I almost missed a weird processing charge buried in the fine print once. Now I’m just as wary of the “easy” ones as I am of the hardliners. Sometimes a flat-out no is just more straightforward—at least you know what you’re working with.“the ones willing to negotiate usually end up being more flexible on other terms too.”
That’s a really fair point—sometimes the “friendly” lenders are just better at hiding the extras. I’ve seen those random admin fees pop up late in the process too. It’s frustrating, but you’re right: sometimes a straightforward answer is less stressful in the long run.
Couldn’t agree more—transparency beats “nice” every time. I’ve seen lenders who act super accommodating, then suddenly there’s a $400 “processing” fee you never heard about. It’s wild how many folks just accept it because they’re tired of the process by then. Honestly, I’d rather deal with someone blunt about costs up front than get nickel-and-dimed at closing. At the end of the day, a lower rate means nothing if you’re getting gouged on fees.
Yeah, those “surprise” fees are the worst. I’ve had lenders try to sneak in a “courier” charge—like, who even uses couriers anymore? It’s wild what they’ll tack on when you’re already exhausted from paperwork. I get that everyone needs to make a buck, but just be upfront about it. I’d rather have a slightly higher rate and know exactly what I’m paying than get hit with mystery charges at the end. Transparency shouldn’t be a rare thing in this industry, but here we are...
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes those “courier” fees are actually legit—especially in states that still require wet signatures or physical docs. I’ve seen folks opt for a higher rate thinking it’s simpler, but over the life of the loan, those little fees can end up being less expensive than a higher interest rate. It’s not always apples to apples, unfortunately… transparency would make it easier to compare for sure.