About that "credit report/appraisal fee"...

 ...I'm doing the prequalification dance here in Dallas, before I can
seriously begin house-hunting, and I'm about to send off the second
wave of paperwork to the mortgage officer that I was referred to by
the mortgage officer I was already talking to.  And these guys want
$325 for a "credit report and appraisal fee."  A bit of research did
show that this probably wasn't all that unusual, but my question is
this: is this pretty much a one-shot?  Rather, no matter how the
application itself goes--rejected OR approved--this money is GONE
and completely unretrievable the second I sign the check, right?

- bill, a little wary of this

  I would encourage you to pay for the credit report. (should be around
$20.00)  I would pay for an appraisal when you find the property you
want to buy. The loan officers goal is to lock you into their office so
you won't shop rates on them. Once they have your $325 you are commited
to doing business with them.
Time to renegotiate or find a new mortgage office!

-BD