I get wanting to look at the total cost, but I’ve seen some of those “fluff” fees add up fast—like, way more than I expected. One lender tried to sneak in a $500 “document processing” fee that wasn’t even mentioned until the closing docs. Made me wonder what else they weren’t being upfront about. At what point do you start worrying it’s a sign of how they’ll handle the rest of your loan?
Title: When A Mortgage Quote Makes You Go “Hmm…”: What’s Your Dealbreaker?
That’s exactly the kind of thing that gets my guard up. I’ve been through this twice now, and both times I basically had to turn into a detective just to make sure they weren’t slipping in extra junk fees. The first time, I actually walked away from a lender because they tried to tack on a “courier fee” for $350—like, who even uses couriers anymore? It felt shady, and honestly, if they’re being sneaky before you’ve even signed, what’s stopping them from pulling more nonsense once you’re locked in?
For me, it’s pretty simple: if I see hidden fees or anything that smells like they’re not being transparent, that’s my line. I’d rather deal with a slightly higher rate from someone upfront than get nickel-and-dimed by a lender who’s playing games. The trust just isn’t there after stuff like that. Maybe some folks don’t mind digging through the fine print every step of the way, but I’d rather not have to babysit my lender.
That “courier fee” thing is wild—definitely not something I’d expect to see in 2024. You’re right, if a lender starts off by sneaking in those kinds of charges, it’s hard to trust anything else they’re offering. I get why people say you have to read the fine print, but honestly, should it really be that much work?
I always tell people: if you feel like you need a magnifying glass just to understand your mortgage quote, that’s a red flag. Transparency should be the bare minimum, not some bonus feature. Sure, some lenders might offer a slightly lower rate, but what’s the real cost if you’re constantly on guard for hidden fees?
I’ve seen clients walk away from deals over stuff like this, and honestly, I think it’s the right move. If a lender can’t be upfront now, why would they be any different down the line? Trust matters more than shaving off an extra tenth of a percent on the rate, at least in my book.
Had a lender try to tack on a “document prep fee” once—$450 for what basically amounted to sending me a PDF. I remember thinking, if they’re nickel-and-diming me now, what’s next? Ended up walking away and found another lender who was upfront about every cost. Honestly, I’d rather pay a slightly higher rate than spend the whole process second-guessing what else might pop up. Peace of mind is worth something too, you know?
I hear you on the “document prep fee”—I’ve seen that one sneak up on folks more than once. Had a client get hit with a “courier fee” once, too. For what, sending an email? It’s wild. I always tell people, if the lender’s not transparent from the start, that’s a red flag. Sometimes the lowest rate isn’t worth the stress of wondering what surprise charge is waiting at closing. Peace of mind really does have value... and sometimes it’s just worth paying for clarity.
