Yeah, that's pretty common unfortunately. Big banks often have rigid processes and reps who aren't always familiar with the nuances of trusts or estate planning. Smaller lenders or specialized brokers tend to be more flexible and experienced with these scenarios. Glad you found someone who knew what they were doing—it really makes a difference when you're dealing with something as important (and stressful) as tapping equity through a trust.
Interesting points here. I'm currently navigating this myself as a first-time buyer, and honestly, dealing with big banks has been a bit of a headache. They seem pretty rigid about anything slightly outside their usual checklist. Did you find that tapping equity through a trust was significantly more complicated than traditional refinancing? I'm wondering if the flexibility of smaller lenders outweighs the convenience and familiarity of sticking with a bigger institution...
Honestly, big banks can be a real pain when things aren't cookie-cutter. I've seen clients try the trust route, and yeah, it can get messy—more paperwork, more back-and-forth, and sometimes the banks just don't get it. Smaller lenders can be more flexible, but they're not always the silver bullet either. I'd say weigh how much you value convenience versus customization. If your situation's pretty straightforward, big banks might still be worth the headache...but if you're doing something a bit creative, smaller lenders might save your sanity.
You're spot on about the big banks—been there myself when refinancing. It felt like pulling teeth to explain something slightly outside their standard checklist, even though it wasn't all that complicated. Smaller lenders definitely offer more flexibility, but like you said, they're not always perfect either. I found a local credit union that was pretty accommodating, but the trade-off was slightly higher rates and a bit less polished customer service. Still, saving myself from endless back-and-forth emails was worth it.
Your point about weighing convenience versus customization really nails it. Sometimes it's just about deciding what stress you're willing to deal with—paperwork headaches or slightly higher costs. Either way, good luck navigating it; sounds like you're thinking through all the right things already.
Totally relate on the credit union trade-off. Went that route myself a couple years ago—yeah, their customer service wasn't exactly five-star hotel quality, but at least they listened when I explained my situation. Honestly, tapping home equity makes sense if you're disciplined with money, but I've seen people get burned treating it like free cash. Traditional estate planning can feel tedious, but sometimes boring is safer long-term... Sounds like you've got your head around it though, so trust your gut.
