PNC Mortgage Review for 2022
PNC mortgage rates
PNC Bank mortgage rates tend to be lower than some larger competitors. In 2021, its average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.08% — which fell below mega-lenders like Wells Fargo. PNC also appears to offer competitive underwriting and origination fees.
Average mortgage rates at major lenders
| PNC Bank | Rocket Mortgage | Wells Fargo | Freedom Mortgage | |
| Avg 30-Yr Interest Rate, 20211 | 3.08% | 3.00% | 3.14% | 2.66% |
| Median Total Loan Costs, 2021 | $3,820 | $4,670 | $3,600 | $3,880 |
| Median Origination Fee, 2021 | $1,110 | $2,430 | $1,330 | $0 |
Average rate and fee data were sourced from public rate and fee records required by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Mortgage interest rates have risen since 2021, and your rate will depend on factors such as your loan type, credit history, and debt-to-income ratio. Be sure to compare quotes from three to five lenders before choosing the rate and fees that are best for your personal finances.
PNC refinance rates
PNC refinance rates should mirror its mortgage rates: Near, or a little below average compared to other major lenders.
But remember, your refinance rate depends on your credit score, current loan-to-value ratio, and other key parts of your application. So you’ll have to check personalized refi rates from PNC — as well as a few other lenders — to see how it compares.
PNC mortgage review for 2022
PNC’s home lending team says its objective is to reduce the stress, complexity, and anxiety of applying for a mortgage.
The quality of its online tools suggests it’s taking that promise seriously. PNC can make it feel as if you have a knowledgeable friend holding your hand throughout the entire mortgage process.
PNC is licensed to underwrite mortgages in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Home buyers who live in one of the 28 states with a branch location will also be able to apply for a mortgage face-to-face. PNC keeps a brick-and-mortar presence in many of the largest real estate markets, including Texas, California, Illinois, New York, and more.
Furthermore, PNC receives above-average customer reviews from J.D. Power survey respondents.
One word of caution: Read your post-application Loan Estimate from PNC carefully before you decide to accept the offer. There are suggestions that some people find details in those estimates that weren’t immediately clear from the pre-application information you see online.
Of course, this is a best practice for any lender. Be sure to get multiple Loan Estimates and then compare them side by side and line by line.
Working with PNC mortgage
PNC’s online Home Insight service comes in two flavors.
The first is called Home Insight Planner. It lets you input your personal household budget and lifestyle details, and then guides you to the loan that should suit you best.
The second component, Home Insight Tracker, takes over when you’ve made an application. It has two main functions: First, to help you manage your application and access existing documents and status reports. Second, to upload documents and exchange messages with your loan officer in a secure environment.
Moreover, home buyers can begin both preapproval and loan applications online.
PNC’s website also offers some helpful information to borrowers, including articles, guides, and tools. Its mortgage calculator allows you to forecast your potential monthly mortgage payments and it adjusts for assumptions, such as homeowners insurance and property taxes.
PNC customer service reviews
PNC Mortgage was ranked 10th out of 23 lenders in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study. It scored 851 out of a possible 1,000, which is above the industry average. J.D. Power’s top spot went to Guild Mortgage, with a score of 884 out of 1,000.
Customer service reviews at major lenders
| CFPB Complaints, 20214 | Complaints Per 1,000 Mortgages, 20215 | J.D. Power Satisfaction Score, 20216 | |
| PNC Bank | 74 | 0.57 | 851/1,000 |
| Rocket Mortgage | 376 | 0.24 | 876/1,000 |
| Wells Fargo | 488 | 0.58 | 832/1,000 |
| Freedom Mortgage | 262 | 0.35 | 829/1,000 |
Along with PNC’s satisfaction scores, we checked its customer complaints using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) online database, where borrowers can file complaints against lenders. For PNC, the results in the database look good. It has fewer than one official complaint filed per 1,000 mortgage customers.
Mortgage loan products at PNC
PNC has an especially broad range of mortgage options. It offers conventional mortgages and all the major government-backed mortgages (FHA, VA, and USDA).
PNC even has a couple of special mortgage programs for medical professionals and lower-income home buyers.
- Conventional loans: This loan program conforms to loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are currently $ in most areas of the country. In some instances, borrowers can qualify for a conventional mortgage with as little as 3% down payment
- Jumbo loans: For borrowers who need loan amounts more above the conforming loan limit. PNC lets you borrow up to $5 million if you qualify. You can pick an FRM or ARM and choose a loan term between 15 and 30 years
- FHA loans: Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration that let you pay as little as 3.5% down and have flexible requirements for borrowers to qualify
- VA loans: Loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with zero down payment available for qualifying service members and veterans
- USDA loans: Affordable “Rural Housing” loans with zero down payment, for those buying in rural or suburban areas who have low- to moderate-income
- PNC Community Loan: A low-down-payment loan option that does not require private mortgage insurance (PMI). This type of mortgage only requires a $500 down payment contribution from the borrower. The rest of the 3% down payment can be gift funds from a family member or acquaintance or a down payment assistance program (DPA)
- Medical Professional mortgage: A no-PMI loan from PNC reserved for medical professionals
- Fixed-rate mortgages: Most people opt for FRMs, with loan terms that last 10-30 years, down payments starting as low as 3%, and a rate that never changes
- Adjustable-rate mortgages: ARMs let you fix your rate for an initial period of 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. After that, it will float with the market
PNC also says its mortgages typically come with fees and costs totaling 3-5% of the loan value.
$5,000 closing cost grant from PNC
If you’re getting a mortgage from PNC, you might be eligible for up to $5,000 in grant money to help with your closing costs. PNC closing cost grants are available on 15- and 30-year loans with fixed or adjustable rates. To qualify, you must either live in a designated “low- to moderate-income” census tract, or have an income that does not exceed 80% of the local median.
Refinancing with PNC Bank
PNC offers a lineup of loan options to homeowners looking to tap their home equity. Not only can borrowers secure a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC), they may also qualify for cash-out refinancing.
Refinancing involves replacing your current mortgage with a new one. The new loan should help you save money or meet another financial goal, like owning your home sooner, investing in real estate, or tapping home equity.
Where can you get a mortgage with PNC?
NMLS ID: 446303
PNC Mortgage has a strong online presence and it underwrites home purchase and refinance loans in all 50 states, including Washington D.C.
Its Home Insight planner and tracker are first-class and can be genuinely useful tools. That goes for all borrowers, but especially first-time homebuyers who will appreciate a little bit of extra guidance along the way.
However, not everyone is comfortable making online applications. If you prefer an in-person experience, you may have access to one of PNC’s 2,600 branches. If so, it should be simple for you to set up a face-to-face meeting with a specialist advisor.
PNC mortgage FAQ
PNC is worth considering for a mortgage if you want a conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA loan. It offers both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages with down payment options starting at just 3 percent (or 0 percent for a VA loan). Its rates and fees are at or slightly below average. PNC also has special mortgage programs for medical professionals and lower-income home buyers that are worth looking into if you fit one of those categories.
PNC Bank gets its initials from the Pittsburgh National Corporation and Provident National Corporation. PNC was created when these two banks merged in 1983.
PNC requires a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a home purchase loan. You’ll likely need a score in the high-600s to 700s to qualify for a conventional loan, while you might qualify for a government-backed loan (like FHA, VA, or USDA) with a score in the lower 600s.
From a credit standpoint, it’s not quite as easy to get a loan from PNC as some other banks. For instance, PNC requires a credit score in the mid-600s to get an FHA loan, which typically has the lowest credit requirements. Other banks will approve an FHA loan with credit starting at just 580 (or 500 in rare cases). Aside from credit score requirements, PNC mortgages are not especially hard to qualify for. You only need a 3 percent down payment, and PNC even offers special mortgages with no private mortgage insurance for lower-income home buyers. So it’s worth a look if you’re looking for a low-down-payment mortgage and your credit report is in good shape.
PNC offers digital preapproval for home purchase loans. That means it can verify your income, assets, and employment online, so you don’t have to submit physical documents. Digital preapproval is typically faster than traditional preapproval methods, though PNC does not say how long it takes to approve loan customers on average.
Is PNC the best mortgage lender for you?
If you prefer a DIY application and online resources, PNC might be a good mortgage lender for you. It’s also a convenient choice for borrowers who have access to one of PNC’s more than 2,600 bank locations.
Either way, it’s important to compare multiple lenders before choosing a mortgage company. PNC mortgage is only as good as the rate it can offer you. The same goes for any lender.
Get started by comparing rates and closing costs from at least three reputable mortgage lenders to find the mortgage loan that makes sense for your personal finances.
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