READ THIS FIRST: What this subreddit is for, how to use it, and why it might save you thousands of dollars
Welcome. Glad you found this place.
Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing, pulling cash out, or just trying to figure out if your lender is giving you a fair deal — you're in the right spot.
This community exists for one reason: mortgage transparency.
Most people have no idea how to read a Loan Estimate. They don't know what's negotiable, what's a red flag, or whether the rate they were quoted is competitive or borderline predatory. Lenders know this. Some take advantage of it.
We're here to change that.
What you can do here
Post your Loan Estimate for a community review. Just redact your name, address, and lender's contact info. Everything else is fair game. This community will break down your rate, points, lender fees, Box A charges, closing costs, and overall deal quality. Real feedback from people who know what they're looking at.
Ask if your deal is good. Don't know whether to lock your rate? Not sure if 1 point to buy down your rate actually makes sense for your situation? Confused by what your lender is charging you in Section A? Just ask.
Get help with a tough scenario. Low credit score. Recent bankruptcy. Self-employed income that doesn't fit in a neat little box. High DTI. Investment property. Non-warrantable condo. Whatever it is — bring it here. These conversations help everyone.
Loan types and topics we cover
- Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and Jumbo loans
- Cash-out refinances, rate/term refinances, and HELOCs
- Investment property and second home financing
- First-time homebuyer programs and down payment assistance
- DTI, credit scoring, and qualifying income questions
- Appraisals, appraisal waivers, and property condition issues
- Rate locks, float-down options, and timing strategy
- Underwriting conditions, overlays, and approval timelines
- Escrow accounts, impounds, and property tax questions
- PMI, MIP, and how to get rid of mortgage insurance
- Lender tactics, junk fees, and what to push back on
How to post a Loan Estimate for review
Before uploading, black out the following:
- Your full name
- Property address (city and state are fine to leave)
- Loan application number
- Lender's contact information (company name is fine)
That's it. Everything else like the rate, APR, points, all the fees in Sections A through H — leave it visible. That's the stuff we need to see to give you useful feedback.
Pro tip: Include your loan amount, loan type, property state, and whether this is a purchase or refinance. The more context you give, the better feedback you'll get.
A note on who hangs out here
This community includes both consumers and industry professionals — mortgage bankers, loan officers, brokers, underwriters, and processors who are here to help, not to sell you anything. When someone in the industry weighs in, they're doing it voluntarily because they want to give back.
If you work in the mortgage industry: your experience is genuinely valuable here. Please contribute. A short answer from someone who's seen 500 loan files is worth more to a first-time buyer than an hour of Googling.
The bottom line
Mortgage pricing is not transparent by default. Most consumers comparison shop maybe two or three lenders — if that. Billions of dollars are left on the table every year because people didn't know what to ask, didn't know what was negotiable, or just trusted the first person they talked to.
You don't have to be one of those people.
Post your scenario. Post your Loan Estimate. Ask the question you think is dumb (it's not). The worst outcome is you get a second opinion. The best outcome is you save thousands of dollars and close with confidence.
>This is the place on Reddit to get honest mortgage feedback. No sales pitch. No agenda. Just real answers.
Now go post something.
Questions about the community or the rules? Message the mods. We're pretty responsive.