Totally agree—lenders bank on you not wanting the hassle. Had a buddy who pushed back too, saved himself a chunk of cash. Just gotta pick your battles and know when it's worth the headache...
"Just gotta pick your battles and know when it's worth the headache..."
Exactly—it's all about weighing the hassle vs. savings. Curious, did your buddy negotiate directly with the lender or bring in a broker? I've heard brokers can sometimes smooth things out...
"Exactly—it's all about weighing the hassle vs. savings."
Totally agree with this. Brokers can definitely streamline things, but I've also seen direct lender negotiations work out surprisingly well...depends a lot on your comfort level and how much legwork you're willing to do yourself.
Yeah, brokers can definitely make things easier, but honestly, I found going direct wasn't nearly as daunting as I expected. Did a refinance last year, and at first, I dreaded the idea of dealing with all the paperwork and back-and-forth myself. But once I got into it, it wasn't too bad—just had to stay organized and patient (and maybe have a glass of wine handy for those extra frustrating evenings, haha).
One thing I noticed was that lenders seemed pretty open to negotiating directly, especially if you've done your homework and know what rates competitors are offering. I ended up getting a better deal than I initially thought possible, and it felt pretty satisfying to handle it myself. But yeah, it's definitely not for everyone—depends on how much you value your time and sanity versus the potential savings.
Totally get where you're coming from—going direct can definitely pay off if you're organized and ready to negotiate. But honestly, I've seen plenty of people underestimate the stress involved. Sure, lenders are open to negotiation, but only if you're confident enough to push back and know exactly what you're after. If you're not comfortable playing hardball or digging into the fine print, a broker can save you headaches (and maybe a few bottles of wine, haha). Either way, it's all about knowing your comfort zone and how much legwork you're willing to do.
