Couldn’t agree more about scrutinizing those fees—lenders love to pad the closing statement with random charges hoping nobody blinks. I’ve refinanced a few times and every single time, there’s some “processing” or “review” fee that magically disappears if you push back. It blows my mind how many people just accept the numbers as gospel.
One thing I’d add is to actually compare the Closing Disclosure and Loan Estimate line by line. I caught a $175 “courier fee” once—no idea what they were supposedly shipping, since everything was digital. When I asked, they just shrugged it off and removed it. If you’re refinancing, especially with a VA loan, don’t assume the lender’s got your best interests at heart. They’re in it for profit, not charity.
Being nitpicky might feel awkward, but it’s your money. Five minutes of uncomfortable questions can save hundreds, sometimes thousands. And honestly, if a lender gets annoyed by you asking, that tells you everything you need to know about how they do business.
Couldn’t agree more with this:
That’s pretty much the whole game, right there.“Five minutes of uncomfortable questions can save hundreds, sometimes thousands.”
My take, from having gone through a bunch of these (and not just VA loans):
- “Processing” and “review” fees are almost always negotiable—or just made up. If you ask what they’re for, half the time you’ll get a vague answer or a quick removal.
- The “courier fee” thing cracks me up. Had one lender try to charge me for overnighting documents... to themselves. Everything was digital. They dropped it the second I flagged it.
- I will say, sometimes being too nitpicky can backfire if you’re working with a smaller lender or broker—they might just walk away if the margin’s thin. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask, but just be aware.
- Comparing the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure is absolutely key. I’ve caught title fees that magically increased by $300 at closing—no explanation, just “whoops.”
- Don’t forget to look at prepaids and escrows. Some lenders try to pad those too.
End of the day, if the numbers don’t make sense, push back. If they get annoyed, that’s a red flag. If they’re legit, they’ll walk you through it without attitude.
Title: Thinking about refinancing my VA mortgage, curious what others are doing
- You nailed it with the “processing” fees. I swear, every time I’ve refinanced (VA or not), there’s always some “admin” fee that seems totally random. I usually just ask, “What’s this for?” and half the time it disappears like magic. Like, if you can’t explain it, why am I paying it?
- The courier fee thing is hilarious. Last year, my lender wanted to charge $50 for “document delivery.” Everything was email and DocuSign. I told them unless they’re sending me a pizza with those docs, I’m not paying for it. Fee vanished.
- I get what you’re saying about smaller brokers maybe walking if you push too hard. Had that happen once—guy just ghosted me after I questioned a few hundred bucks in junk fees. Not ideal, but honestly, if someone’s that touchy, probably dodged a bullet.
- Comparing the Loan Estimate vs Closing Disclosure is a must. Found a $400 “miscellaneous” bump on my last refi—no explanation, just “uh, market conditions.” Nope. They fixed it after I called them out.
- Prepaids and escrows are sneaky. My taxes and insurance were padded by a few hundred bucks “just in case.” It’s always worth asking them to show the math.
- One thing I learned: always triple-check the payoff amount on your old loan. My servicer tried to tack on a “release fee” at the last second. Didn’t even know that was a thing.
Refinancing is already stressful enough without feeling like you’re being nickel-and-dimed at every turn. I treat every line item like it’s negotiable until proven otherwise. Sometimes I feel like a pain, but hey, it’s my money... and I’d rather be annoying than broke.
Refinancing is already stressful enough without feeling like you’re being nickel-and-dimed at every turn. I treat every line item like it’s negotiable until proven otherwise.
Couldn’t agree more with this approach. I always go through the disclosures line by line, and if something looks off or just doesn’t make sense, I ask for a breakdown. Sometimes it feels awkward, but I’ve saved a few hundred bucks just by being persistent.
One thing I’d add—watch out for the “optional” add-ons that sneak in, like credit insurance or weird title endorsements. They’re not always required, even if they’re pre-checked on your paperwork. I made the mistake of glossing over those once and ended up paying for stuff I didn’t need.
Also, when comparing Loan Estimate vs Closing Disclosure, I keep a spreadsheet handy. It sounds nerdy, but it’s the easiest way to spot changes or “miscellaneous” fees that pop up last minute. If you see something new, just flag it and ask why it’s there.
And yeah, those padded escrows... every time. I get wanting a cushion, but sometimes it’s just overkill. If you can show them your tax bill or insurance renewal, they’ll usually adjust it down.
Refi is a hassle, but being detail-oriented pays off.
I always go through the disclosures line by line, and if something looks off or just doesn’t make sense, I ask for a breakdown.
That’s honestly the best way to do it. I’ve seen folks get tripped up by “processing” or “courier” fees that don’t really have to be there, or at least can be trimmed down. Lenders sometimes throw in stuff just because most people won’t question it.
One thing I’d add—especially with VA loans—is to double-check the funding fee. Sometimes it gets miscalculated, especially if you’re exempt (like with a disability rating). It’s not super common, but I’ve caught it before. Also, title companies love to pad their side of things with “junk” fees. You can usually push back on those.
The spreadsheet idea is gold. I’ve had clients catch last-minute changes that way—like a recording fee that suddenly doubled for no reason. It’s a pain, but better than overpaying.
Escrow cushions are another one... lenders want to cover themselves, but you don’t need to let them hold more of your money than necessary. Just gotta keep an eye on all the moving parts.
