I’m curious, though: has anyone actually had luck negotiating things like title insurance or appraisal fees? Some folks say those are set in stone, but I’m not so sure anymore...
You’re right to question it. Title insurance rates in Texas are regulated, so you won’t get much movement there—those are pretty much locked in. Appraisal fees, though, can sometimes be flexible depending on the lender or appraisal management company. I’ve seen buyers save a bit by shopping around, but it’s not a huge difference. Still, every little bit helps. Just don’t expect miracles with the “set in stone” stuff... some fees really are what they are.
I tried to haggle on appraisal fees once, thinking it’d be like shopping for car insurance. Turns out, there’s not a ton of wiggle room, but I did get a small discount by asking around. Title insurance, though—yeah, that one’s a brick wall in Texas. Just gotta pick your battles, I guess.
Title insurance, though—yeah, that one’s a brick wall in Texas. Just gotta pick your battles, I guess.
Yeah, title insurance is basically non-negotiable here. I’ve seen folks try to shop around, but the rates are set by the state. Appraisal fees, you might get $50 off if you’re lucky. Honestly, closing costs in general are where most buyers get sticker shock... not much room to maneuver on the big-ticket items.
I get what you’re saying about title insurance being set in stone, but I’ve actually seen some buyers negotiate the split with sellers—sometimes you can get the seller to cover it, especially in a slower market. Not a massive win, but every bit helps. Closing costs are brutal though... no arguing that.
- Not gonna lie, I’ve seen sellers cover title insurance too, but it’s definitely not a given—depends a lot on how desperate they are to close.
- Closing costs are a killer, especially when you factor in lender fees, prepaid taxes, and all the random line items that pop up last minute.
- Curious—has anyone here actually managed to get a seller to pay for *all* closing costs recently? Or is that just wishful thinking in this market?
- Sometimes I wonder if buyers underestimate how much wiggle room there really is...
