I get what you’re saying about not sweating every detail, but I’ve seen a couple of “little” fees add up fast—especially with VA refis. That said, you’re right that the big stuff is usually front and center. I’d just say, don’t be afraid to ask questions if something feels off. At the end of the day, making sure the numbers work for your goals is what matters most. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the paperwork and forget why you started looking into a refi in the first place.
At the end of the day, making sure the numbers work for your goals is what matters most.
That’s spot on. I’ve refinanced my VA loan twice now, and both times I nearly missed a couple of “small” fees buried in the paperwork—like courier charges or random admin costs. Here’s what helped me: I made a spreadsheet with every line item from the estimate, then checked for anything that didn’t make sense. If something looked odd, I just circled it and asked. Sometimes they’d drop a fee or explain it better. Definitely agree—don’t be shy about questioning stuff, even if it feels nitpicky. Those little things can add up faster than you’d think.
Funny how those “miscellaneous” fees can sneak in, right? I always tell folks: if you don’t know what a fee is, ask twice. Ever notice how some lenders get real creative with names like “processing” or “delivery”? Makes you wonder if they’re shipping your paperwork by carrier pigeon...
Those “processing” and “delivery” fees drive me nuts. I’ve reviewed more closing disclosures than I care to admit, and it’s wild how much fluff gets tossed in. Honestly, I always tell clients: if you see a fee that sounds vague or unnecessary, push back. Lenders know most folks won’t question the small stuff, but it adds up fast. One time I saw a “courier fee” for $75—turns out it was just someone emailing a PDF. If you’re refinancing, get a full itemized list upfront and compare it line by line. Don’t be shy about negotiating or asking for things to be waived.
Title: Thinking about refinancing my VA mortgage, curious what others are doing
I get where you’re coming from on the fees—some of them do seem a little questionable at first glance. But I’d just add, not every “processing” or “delivery” fee is pure fluff. Sometimes there’s legit back-end work that isn’t obvious to borrowers, especially with VA loans. For example, certain lenders have to use specific systems or third-party vendors for compliance, and those costs get passed along. Is it always $75 for an emailed PDF? Probably not, but sometimes there’s more going on than meets the eye.
That said, I’m with you on reviewing the itemized list. But do you ever worry that pushing too hard on every fee could risk the lender just walking away or bumping up the rate somewhere else? I’ve seen cases where someone negotiated a lower fee, but then their rate wasn’t as competitive as they thought. Curious if anyone’s actually had luck getting fees waived without it biting them later...
