Shopping Around for Home Loans: A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure?

I just got my first set of disclosures and there’s a “processing fee” that nobody can really explain. When I asked about it, the guy just kind of shrugged and said “it’s standard.” Uh, okay?

That “it’s standard” line cracks me up every time—like, is there a secret club where they invent new fees just for fun? Honestly, you’re not wrong to be suspicious. Some lenders toss in junk fees hoping you’ll just gloss over them. If someone can’t break down what a fee covers, that’s a red flag in my book. There are legit costs, but “because we always do it” isn’t one of them. Keep poking at those numbers... sometimes they magically shrink when you ask too many questions.