About Citi Mortgage
Citi Mortgage (NMLS #412915) is the mortgage lending arm of Citibank. Borrowers can obtain a primary mortgage or refinance their existing mortgage through a variety of loans. Existing Citibank customers with eligible balances may qualify for special pricing. Citi Mortgage shows current rates online and offers its SureStart preapproval process so you can shop for homes with the lender’s backing.
- SureStart preapproval
- Cost-saving promotions
- Affordable HomeRun Mortgage product
- Financial industry leader
- No USDA loans
- No home equity loans or HELOCs
Featured Reviews
Rates
Citi Mortgage publishes its current lowest rates for both conventional mortgages and refinancing. You can check purchase and refinance rates on 15- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
To get adjustable loan rates, customers must call Citi Mortgage directly. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) usually start with a low interest rate before the rate begins changing regularly. Be aware that, with an ARM, you might end up paying more over the lifetime of the loan, depending on what happens with interest rates.
Citi Mortgage’s home purchase rates from 2019 to 2021 were lower than the national average. The lowest rates are only available to the most highly qualified individuals. Customers are seen as more qualified if they have a high credit score, high down payment, high income or low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
Citi Mortgage average home purchase rate vs. national average
Year | Difference from national average |
---|---|
2021 | -0.34% |
2020 | -0.30% |
2019 | -0.57% |
Application process
Getting a mortgage through Citi Mortgage starts by requesting a call from one of its mortgage officers. You can do this by filling out a simple online form that collects very little information — just your name and contact information. The company will then connect with you to discuss options and kick off the application process.
With Citi Mortgage, plan on allowing around 30 minutes to complete the application. The company calls this its SureStart preapproval, which comes with a “firm commitment to lend.” A mortgage representative will be available to assist you throughout the application process. You can expect the entire mortgage process (from application through closing) to take between 30 and 60 days.
A ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Kendallville, Indiana, had this to say about applying with Citi Mortgage: “They were so easy to work with. It was incredible! I have tried to work with other companies but they were way too complicated: repetitive questions and overkill with the paperwork. Citi Mortgage was very easy to work with.”
Once your loan is closed, it will be serviced by Cenlar FSB. You can make mortgage payments, access monthly statements and manage your account through Cenlar’s loan servicing site.
Citi Mortgage application features
Features | Availability |
---|---|
Online application | |
Mobile document upload | |
Physical branches | Select states |
Publishes minimum rate on website | |
Rate lock | 60 days |
Pre-qualification (no hard credit pull) | X |
Certified approval letter |
Loan types
Citi Mortgage offers standard loan options, including fixed- and adjustable-rate conventional loans and jumbo loans, plus government-backed mortgages like FHA and VA loans.
Where it stands out is with its Citi HomeRun Mortgage plan, which offers down payment options as low as 3% and flexible credit guidelines on loans up to $647,200 in most areas.
From 2019 to 2021, Citi Mortgage received 62,775 applications for home purchase loans and closed on 35,922 (57%). The company denied 4,543 applications (7%).
Loan applications for home purchases only by year
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|
Home purchase applications | 19,010 | 22,591 | 21,174 |
Home purchase loans closed | 11,418 | 12,899 | 11,605 |
Home purchase applications denied | 1,143 | 1,784 | 1,616 |
Home purchase preapprovals denied | 206 | 721 | 1,910 |
Refinancing
Citi Mortgage offers pretty standard options for refinancing. Options include rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing. According to federal data from the past three years, rate-and-term refinancing has been a more common choice among Citi customers than cash-out refinancing. As interest rates increase after bottoming out in 2020 and 2021, refinancing may not be as popular.
Home purchase vs. refinance loans by year
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|
Home purchase loans | 39.81% | 35.91% | 34.45% |
Refinance loans | 37.85% | 39.72% | 34.62% |
Cash-out refinance | 13.55% | 10.42% | 10.97% |
HELOC and home equity loans
As of publishing, Citi Mortgage is no longer offering home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).
Requirements
Citi Mortgage doesn’t publish its required minimum credit score for borrowers, but the industry average is typically 620. The company does offer FHA loans and its HomeRun Mortgage, two products that are good for those with lower credit scores.
Apart from your credit score, other factors Citi uses to determine which loans you qualify for and how much house you can afford include your income, your debts and the amount of your down payment.
National mortgage requirements by type
Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Compare with other lenders | |
---|---|---|---|
Conventional | Typically 620 | Typically 3% | Mortgage lenders |
FHA | 500 | 3.5% with 580 credit score | FHA lenders |
VA | Set by lender (often 580) | 0% | VA lenders |
For other loan types, read our guide on USDA loans.
Cost and fees
Citi Mortgage costs and fees on a mortgage include closing costs. According to the company, closing costs usually add up to 1% to 4% of the home value. It divides these costs and fees into three categories:
- Loan-related costs and fees (e.g., application fee, credit report fee)
- Title-related costs and fees (e.g., title search fee, lender’s title insurance, owner’s title insurance)
- Taxes and insurance (e.g., property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance)
When you apply for a mortgage with Citi, it sends you a Loan Estimate with a list of estimated costs and fees.
FAQ
How does Citi Mortgage work?
Citi Mortgage helps homebuyers and owners obtain home loans. Depending on your loan officer, you can do this either online, in person or by phone. Once your loan is funded, Citi transfers its mortgages to Cenlar FSB for servicing.
Is Citi Mortgage legit?
Citi Mortgage is a division of Citibank. Citi is one of the largest financial services companies in the U.S. and has a history stretching back over 200 years.
Where is Citi Mortgage available?
Citi Mortgage is available in all 50 states, though services may be unavailable or limited in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.
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- 4,572,091 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Sources
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, “ HMDA Data Publication .” Accessed Sept. 7, 2022.
Citi Mortgage Company Information
- Company Name:
- CitiMortgage
- Website:
- www.online.citi.com