Went down a similar road myself and totally get what you're saying. Couple quick thoughts from my own experience:
- Builder's lenders can be convenient, sure, but convenience isn't always the best deal in town. Sometimes they're banking (literally!) on you taking the easy route.
- Shopping around felt like a chore at first...but man, did it pay off. Ended up with someone who was responsive and actually seemed happy to answer my endless questions (bless their patience).
- Yeah, there were a few days where it felt like pulling teeth trying to get paperwork lined up, but once past that hurdle, smooth sailing.
- Bottom line: if your gut's whispering something isn't right, trust it—it's usually smarter than your brain giving you excuses to stay put.
In short...a week or two of hassle is nothing compared to years with a lender who drags their feet. Just my two cents from someone who's been there!
Went through something similar recently and here's what I found:
- Builder's lender seemed easy at first, but their rates weren't exactly competitive once I started digging around.
- Took me a weekend of comparing quotes online—tedious, yeah, but ended up saving quite a bit monthly.
- Honestly, the paperwork was annoying either way...but at least the outside lender was upfront about timelines and didn't leave me hanging.
Might be worth checking out other options before committing long-term.
"Honestly, the paperwork was annoying either way...but at least the outside lender was upfront about timelines and didn't leave me hanging."
Yeah, totally agree on this. Going custom was stressful enough—last thing you need is uncertainty from your lender. Shopping around saved me headaches and cash, definitely worth it in my book.
Totally get where you're coming from—custom builds can be a rollercoaster, and the last thing you need is extra stress from financing hiccups. Did you find that having clear timelines helped you plan out your interior choices better? I've noticed with my clients that when lenders are upfront about schedules, it makes picking finishes and furniture way less overwhelming. Plus, knowing exactly when funds will be available can really help avoid those awkward delays or rushed decisions at the end. Glad shopping around worked out for you; sounds like it was worth the extra legwork. Hope you're enjoying the new space now that the paperwork drama's behind you!
Totally agree that clear timelines help, but honestly, even with a solid schedule, I still found myself scrambling at the end. Maybe that's just me being indecisive though... Did anyone else feel rushed despite having financing sorted early?
