Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

Pros

  • Rates are on the low side, according to the latest federal data.
  • An online tool makes it easy to customize a rate quote online, with no contact information required.
  • “Lock & Shop” lets you secure a rate for up to 90 days while you house-hunt, and switch to a lower one if rates drop while you shop.

Cons

  • Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.
  • Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit or renovation loans.
  • Online chat is available only in the logged-in experience.
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Full Review

What borrowers say about Pennymac mortgages

NerdWallet’s lender star ratings assess objective qualities, including rates, fees and loan offerings. To assess borrowers’ subjective experiences with lenders, NerdWallet has gathered customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Zillow.

  • Pennymac receives a score of 706 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study. The industry average for origination is 730. (Mortgage origination covers the initial application through closing day.)

  • Pennymac receives a score of 592 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. The industry average for servicing is 601. (A mortgage servicer handles loan payments.)

  • Pennymac receives a customer rating of 4.37 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The rating reflects 325 customer reviews.

Pennymac’s mortgage loan options

  • 4 of 5 stars

Pennymac is a large lender that offers a wide range of conventional and government-backed mortgages. That amount of choice can be helpful when you’re weighing your options, such as deciding between an FHA vs. conventional loan. We found it easy to navigate the website and understand all available mortgage options.

Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (7)

Pennymac specializes in mortgages backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also offers loans from the Federal Housing Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2022, 27% of new Pennymac mortgages were VA loans and 19% were FHA loans, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. For USDA loan borrowers who have Pennymac as their servicer, a streamlined assist refinance loan is available to lower their monthly payment without additional appraisals or inspections. VA borrowers can apply for interest rate reduction refinance loans, known as VA IRRRLs.

For conventional purchase mortgages, Pennymac offers fixed-rate loans with 15-, 20- and 30-year terms, as well as adjustable-rate mortgages. The lender also offers HomeReady, HomePossible and HomeOne loans, which provide low-down-payment options and are often a good fit for first-time home buyers. Jumbo loans and loans for second homes and investment properties are also available. However, Pennymac does not offer renovation or construction-to-permanent loans.

Pennymac has numerous refinance options, including conventional and government-backed cash-out refinances. Flexible-term refinances give borrowers the option to customize their term length. The lender also offers home equity loans, but not home equity lines of credit.

Pennymac home equity loan

The lender also offers a home equity loan. These second mortgages are a way for homeowners to access existing home equity without refinancing or selling their home. Funds obtained with a second mortgage can be used for expenses such as home improvements, education costs or debt consolidation.

Pennymac offers home equity loans in a range of lengths, including 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year terms. There is no prepayment penalty, and the lender tells us that most applications close within 30 days. Pennymac does not offer a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

» MORE: Best home equity loan lenders

What it’s like to apply for a Pennymac mortgage

  • 4 of 5 stars

A self-service mortgage application is available on Pennymac’s website. This makes it easy to apply for a mortgage on your own time, as opposed to waiting for a loan officer to call you back.

Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (8)

Once you register through the Pennymac website, you can apply for a mortgage, upload documents and track the progress of your application fully online. If you prefer to talk to someone along the way, dedicated support for active loan applications is available by phone during extended business hours, Monday through Friday.

The phones are also staffed on Saturdays for general questions, including starting a new application or making a payment by phone. Online chat is available, but only for users who are logged in to their Pennymac account.

We called the Pennymac customer service line during our research and experienced minimal hold time of less than a minute. After we navigated through a brief phone menu, a live agent answered our questions efficiently.

Pennymac also has a highly rated mobile app for Apple and Android devices. The app doesn’t offer the option to apply for a mortgage, but has plenty of convenience for existing Pennymac customers. Through the app, you can make or schedule payments, view and download documents and calculate ways to save.

» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage

Pennymac’s mortgage rates and fees

  • 2.5 of 5 stars

  • Pennymac earns 1 of 5 stars for average origination fee.

  • Pennymac earns 4 of 5 stars for average mortgage interest rates.

NerdWallet analyzes federal data to compare mortgage lenders’ origination fees and offered mortgage rates. We measure annual averages across all loan types, as reported by the lenders. Pennymac’s interest rates are on the low side compared with other lenders reviewed by NerdWallet; however, its origination fee is among the highest of that group.

Borrowers should consider the balance between lender fees and mortgage rates. While it's not always the case, paying upfront fees can lower your mortgage interest rate. Some lenders will charge higher upfront fees to lower their advertised interest rate and make it more attractive. Some lenders just charge higher upfront fees.

» MORE: How to get the best mortgage rate

Pennymac’s mortgage rate transparency

  • 5 of 5 stars

Pennymac stands out for how easy the lender makes it to shop and compare mortgage rates.

The website displays rate and fee estimates for many available loan types, including conventional, government-backed and jumbo purchase and refinance mortgages. Customized estimates are available online through an instant quote widget, a convenience not offered by all mortgage lenders.

Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (10)

Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (11)

You don’t have to enter any contact information to use the rate tool, either. Just answer some simple questions and you can see a personalized rate and fee estimate. The rate tool is available for purchase or refinance loans.

» MORE: Compare current mortgage interest rates

Alternatives to a home loan from Pennymac

Here are some comparable lenders we review that borrowers can consider.

NBKC offers a wide selection of loans and ample online conveniences. USAA, which uses a membership-based model and serves the military community, specializes in VA loans.

» MORE: Best VA mortgage lenders

Explore mortgages today and get started on your homeownership goals

Get personalized rates. Your lender matches are just a few questions away.

Won’t affect your credit score

John Buzbee contributed to this review.

More from NerdWallet

  • Tips for first-time home buyers

  • Get preapproved for your mortgage

  • Calculate how much house you can afford

Pennymac Mortgage Review 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

What is the Pennymac controversy? ›

Overview Of The Cases. These cases involve claims that PennyMac systematically, and unlawfully, underpays its hourly employees despite their extensive overtime and engages in other unlawful conduct.

Is Pennymac easy to get approved for? ›

PennyMac doesn't share the exact minimum requirements it uses to approve or deny your application. However, based on nationwide data from 2022, we can say that PennyMac approved customers who — on average — had a 74% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or better. Most had a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio under 40%.

What FICO score does Pennymac use? ›

Pennymac will accept a FICO score as low as 620 for conventional loans, though the lender says that a conventional loan may be a good fit for a customer with a score of at least 680.

Is Pennymac trustworthy? ›

Pennymac receives a score of 592 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. The industry average for servicing is 601. (A mortgage servicer handles loan payments.) Pennymac receives a customer rating of 4.37 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication.

What is the class action against PennyMac? ›

The proposed class action claims PennyMac violated Connecticut business law, breached its contracts with proposed class members, and unlawfully enriched itself. PennyMac didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Reardon Scanlon LLP represents the plaintiff and proposed class. The case is Cyrus v.

Who is PennyMac owned by? ›

PennyMac was founded in 2008 with initial investments from BlackRock, HC Partners and the Company's founding management. Currently, approximately 20% of PFSI is owned by HC Partners, and 21% is owned by PFSI's executive officers and directors.

What is the hardest home loan to get? ›

Conventional loans

A conventional loan is any mortgage that's not backed by the federal government. Conventional loans have higher minimum credit score requirements than other loan types — typically 620 — and are harder to qualify for than government-backed mortgages.

Where does Pennymac rank? ›

Pennymac is the second-largest FHA lender by loan volume in the nation — and is rated by Yahoo Finance as the best overall FHA lender. It's also on our list of the best VA loan lenders and you'll find Pennymac in our review of the best lenders for first-time homebuyers.

Which lender is best for a home mortgage? ›

  • Bank of America. ...
  • Alliant Credit Union. Best for credit union home loans. ...
  • Wells Fargo. Best for conventional loans. ...
  • Veterans United Home Loans. Best for VA loans. ...
  • BMO Bank. Best for specialty loan programs. ...
  • PNC Bank. Best for first-time homebuyers. ...
  • Rocket Mortgage. Best online mortgage. ...
  • SoFi. Best for customer experience.

What credit score is needed for FHA loan 2024? ›

FHA Loan applicants must have a minimum FICO® score of 580 to qualify for the low down payment advantage which is currently at 3.5%. If your credit score is below 580, the down payment requirement is 10%. You can see why it's important that your credit history is in good standing.

What is an acceptable FICO score for a mortgage? ›

Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.

What type of mortgage is Pennymac? ›

PennyMac Financial Services
Company typePublic company
HeadquartersWestlake Village, California , United States
Area servedUnited States
Key peopleDavid Spector, CEO
Products30-year fixed-rate mortgages, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, FHA loans, VA loans, ARM loans, jumbo loans
13 more rows

How long does Pennymac underwriting take? ›

Underwriting mortgages is an essential part of the overall home loan process and generally takes about 30–60 days, depending on the type of loan, lender and current volume of borrowers.

Is Pennymac a FHA lender? ›

Whether customers are first-time homebuyers interested in an FHA mortgage or are looking to refinance their existing FHA loan, our specialists are equipped to help borrowers through each and every step of the FHA mortgage process. Interested to learn more about what Pennymac can do for you?

What are the reserve requirements for Pennymac? ›

Good credit – the minimum FICO for investment loans with Pennymac should be in a good or an excellent score range, although depending on the loan type and terms, it may differ for your unique situation. Cash reserves – at minimum it is best to have six months of cash reserves on hand, in addition to closing costs.

What is the mortgage protection scandal? ›

Regency, the FSA said, had sold PPI to "right-to-buy" mortgage customers who would not have been able to claim, or who already held insurance. Many more followed, with Liverpool Victoria Banking Services fined £860,000 in 2008 for adding PPI to many customers' loans without their knowledge.

What is the Freedom mortgage controversy? ›

In August 2023, the Bureau fined Freedom $1.75 million for paying illegal kickbacks to real estate brokers and agents for mortgage loan referrals, an example of "anticompetitive behavior" and "a clear violation of federal law," Chopra said at the time.

What is the PennyMac preferred stock lawsuit? ›

Plaintiffs allege that PennyMac unlawfully and unfairly replaced the LIBOR-based benchmark rate with the initial fixed rate instead of transitioning to the replacement benchmark under the LIBOR Act and LIBOR Rule, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).

What is the Fannie Mae accounting scandal? ›

May 2006: Fannie Mae's principal regulator, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, releases results of a special examination of Fannie Mae's accounting, alleging executives manipulated earnings to hit bonus targets. Company agrees to pay a $400 million fine and enact a raft of reforms.

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