If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
PNC Mortgage is a nationwide mortgage lender that offers many ways to get a mortgage with a low down payment. Some borrowers will even qualify for a non-repayable home buyer grant. If cash is what you are looking for, PNC offers home equity products in addition to cash-out refinance options.
Our PNC Mortgage review will help you decide if this is the best mortgage lender for your next home loan.
Best for: First-time home buyers
PNC Mortgage
Bottom Line
PNC is a large bank with a wide range of financial products. It offers an online tool called Home Insight Planner to help borrowers find a home that fits their budget and needs. It then matches a borrower to its diverse loan products and terms. PNC can accommodate many borrowers, including those looking for mortgage options with no PMI.
Min. Credit Score
Min. Down Payment 0% VA and USDA 3% conventional 3.5% FHA
Key Features
Loan Types
Fixed Rate Terms
Adjustable Rate Terms
It's important to consider multiple mortgage lenders to find a good fit for you. We've listed one of our favorite lenders below so you can compare your options:
This lender is a good fit for: Low- and moderate-income earners, jumbo loan borrowers, and medical professionals looking for a home loan with an affordable down payment and no private mortgage insurance. PNC Mortgage is also a great resource for anyone looking to increase their knowledge of the mortgage process.
PNC Mortgage offers a very wide variety of mortgage loans likely to satisfy the needs of most borrowers. Among PNC's offerings are the most popular government-backed mortgages, the standard conventional loan, low-down-payment mortgage options, and specialty loans. The variety is broader than the offerings of many other mortgage lenders.
PNC Mortgage offers several home loan programs to help borrowers attain homeownership without a large cash outlay.
Note that low down payment loans tend to come with a higher mortgage interest rate than a conventional mortgage with a 20% down payment.
PNC offers a special mortgage to medical interns, residents, fellows, and doctors who have completed a residency in the last five years. The loan must be used for a primary residence, and the maximum loan amount is $1 million. There is no PMI.
Eligible borrowers who qualify based on income limits or location can get a $5,000 grant toward the down payment or to help pay closing costs.
From the comfort of home (or just about anywhere else), using the device of your choice, you can provide basic information about yourself and the loan you want, plus electronically verify income, assets, and employment. PNC's pre-approval is a firm commitment to lend.
PNC Mortgage offers very good information, education, and online tools geared toward first-time home buyers and any other borrowers who want to learn more about home loans. It's always a good idea to use a mortgage calculator to see where you stand when you start your home-buying research. PNC offers its own set of interactive calculators on its website to help you figure out the loan size, the home price, and the monthly mortgage payment you can afford. Then you can use PNC's Home Insight Planner to identify the right loan and get ready to apply. PNC's Application Tracker helps you navigate the entire mortgage process, from application to closing. Mortgage rates are also easy to find on PNC's website.
PNC's Choice home equity line of credit (HELOC) could help you access equity at a lower cost than a typical refinance. It's more flexible than a typical HELOC. At PNC, borrowers can lock in a fixed rate on any part of an outstanding balance. A fixed-rate option usually applies to a home equity loan for a set amount. Variable-rate options are typically associated with a line of credit, which gives you access to more cash whenever you need it, up to your limit. Fixed- and variable-rate loan options both have pros and cons, and it may be to your advantage to have this level of control.
Did You Know? PNC Mortgage is one of the larger mortgage lenders in the United States. But who is the largest? Check out Motley Fool Money's research piece on the largest mortgage lenders.
J.D. Power ranks PNC Mortgage as one of the top lenders in the 2023 U.S. Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study.
Crossing the threshold of your new-to-you home is a champagne-worthy occasion, and the mortgage process doesn't make most people dance with delight. We all want to feel well cared for during this time, so there is something to be said for seeking out a mortgage lender whose service stands out.
Many lenders offer a discount on the origination fee or the interest rate to customers who meet certain eligibility criteria. PNC Private Bank or Hawthorn customers who maintain at least $500,000 in balances can inquire about special pricing. The rest of PNC's customers pay full price.
PNC Mortgage doesn't offer a way to accurately estimate closing costs without applying. That makes it hard to compare apples to apples when researching or shopping for loans. PNC estimates total costs at 3% to 6% of the loan amount, but doesn't narrow it down more than that. There is a tool on the website for calculating closing costs, but it makes many assumptions that may not apply to your situation. Your actual final cost also depends on your location and your loan type.
The documents required for a mortgage from PNC Mortgage are similar to what you need at most banks. You provide basic information about who you are and where you work (or what your other sources of income are). You're asked for recent tax returns, pay stubs, and financial account statements, as well as other information relevant to your situation. PNC provides a mortgage application checklist to help you.
PNC Mortgage requires a credit score of at least 620. Some loans have a higher credit score requirement. The best mortgage rates at PNC require a score of at least 740.
You'll have an easier time qualifying for a mortgage if you have a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 45% or less. That means your total required monthly debt payments, including your new mortgage payment, should not exceed 45% of your gross (before taxes) income. If your DTI is higher, don't give up. Many mortgage loan programs allow a higher DTI. The higher your credit score and the more cash you have for a down payment, the more flexible the lender can be with your DTI ratio.
You can expect PNC's mortgage refinance rates to be very competitive, since it's one of the biggest mortgage lenders in the nation. PNC's refinance rates, like those of many other lenders, are a little higher than purchase loan rates.
PNC Mortgage's rates trend about the same as the national average. Keep in mind that to get the best advertised mortgage rate, you'll need a good or excellent credit score. You'll also need to meet the lender's other requirements. And you may need to pay upfront for mortgage discount points. Not everyone will get the lowest rate.
You're low on cash for the down payment or you are a low- or moderate-income earner. The special mortgage programs offer a wide variety of options to fit many home buyers' needs. In particular, the low down payment mortgage with no PMI could be a long-term money saver.
You're a medical professional. PNC's medical professional loan has no PMI. It's available for eligible medical interns, residents, fellows, and doctors who have completed a residency in the last five years. PMI is a monthly cost that can add up significantly over time, so avoiding it is a boon no matter your income or the size of your loan.
You're a first-time home buyer or repeat buyer who still feels a little flummoxed by the process. The well-designed educational tools could help you gain the knowledge you need.
PNC's rates are right in line with the national average.
Yes. PNC Bank is a solid national lender that offers competitive rates and terms. Also, PNC offers a few nice perks like digital pre-approval (with a firm commitment to lend) for all applicants, and cash grants and low down payment options for eligible borrowers.
Yes. PNC Mortgage offers low costs and borrower-friendly terms on its refinance loans as well as purchase loans.
You'll need a credit score of 620. The lender will also look at your current debt, the amount of your down payment, and the amount of cash you have on hand to determine which loan program is right for you. You can qualify for a VA loan or a USDA loan with zero down.
Your debt-to-income ratio can be as high as 50% for some loans, and for the VA loan your DTI could be even higher.
PNC Mortgage offers different types of mortgage loans, including:
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.