Fees are where a good-looking offer goes to get worse. Origination (0–6% in the example directory, taken out of your proceeds before they arrive), prepayment penalties (a fee for the crime of paying early, the best lenders charge none), late fees, draw fees on credit lines, and the occasional 'documentation' invention. The full guide prices each one against a real $50,000 example, shows how fees flow into est. APR* (which is why we insist on APR comparisons), and lists the fee questions to ask any lender before signing, plus which fees are actually negotiable more often than borrowers assume.

What the full guide covers

• Origination: the fee you pay from money you never see
• Prepayment penalties and why the best lenders skip them
• Line-of-credit draw and maintenance fees
• How fees flow into APR
• The pre-signing fee checklist

The full guide is publishing soon. The short version above is accurate and current, and the concierge already knows everything in it.