A coach for the week you shop for a mortgage
Asking a lender to improve an offer
Coach's call
Share a competing Loan Estimate and ask whether the lender can improve its own terms on the same loan. Keep the request specific: name the section that differs. Lenders are not required to match, and a lower fee is only better if the rest of the estimate stays the same.
Last reviewed against the primary sources listed below.
Before you ask
- Confirm both estimates are for the same loan type and term.
- Note the date each estimate was issued.
- Decide which differences matter most to you.
Shoppers ask the coach
Can I ask a lender to beat another offer?
Yes. Share the competing Loan Estimate and ask.
Does a lender have to match?
No. Matching is the lender's choice.