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A mortgage lender is a financial institution that provides loans secured by real estate. Lenders evaluate borrower finances, determine loan amounts, and fund transactions at closing. Most property purchases require financing. The lender selected affects interest rates, closing timelines, and how problems are handled during the transaction.

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What This Section Covers

This section explains mortgage lending from foundational concepts through lender selection.

Loan Officers & Brokers

The people involved in mortgage lending and their roles

Local vs National Lenders

Trade-offs between local service and national rates

Pre-Approval

The verification process that protects earnest money

Loan Types

Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and other programs

Mortgage Timeline

Process from application through closing

Comparing Lenders

Questions to ask and how to evaluate options

Compare Mortgage Lenders

Research local mortgage lenders with verified reviews and transaction volume.