I totally get what you're saying about shorter terms looking tempting but not always being practical. A few years back, I went through a similar situa...

Glad you mentioned smaller lenders—I had a similar experience. When I refinanced, the big banks made it feel like I was applying for NASA or something...

Haha, love stories like these. Had a similar experience with an old porch—planned on tearing it down "soon," but a quick fix turned into a permanent s...

Yeah, paperwork definitely matters, but I've also noticed the loan officer's responsiveness can make a huge difference. Had one refinance drag on fore...

Yeah, ARMs can definitely be tempting if you're pretty sure you'll sell or refinance before the rate adjusts. Had a buddy who did exactly that—worked ...

Yeah, I've noticed the same thing. Had a similar experience with a smaller lender once—thought it'd be a breeze, but ended up chasing paperwork around...

Haha, isn't it wild how those little tweaks can shift things? I once got dinged on an appraisal for having some scraggly bushes in the front yard—neve...

Yeah, padding the escrow cushion is a smart move. I used to keep mine pretty thin, figuring I'd just deal with stuff as it came up... until my water h...