> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.hometrics.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Understanding the professionals who provide financing for real estate purchases and refinances

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.

## What This Section Covers

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

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Loan Officers & Brokers" icon="users" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/loan-officers-and-brokers">
    The people involved in mortgage lending and their roles
  </Card>

  <Card title="Local vs National Lenders" icon="map" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/local-vs-national-lenders">
    Trade-offs between local service and national rates
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pre-Approval" icon="file-check" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/pre-approval">
    The verification process that protects earnest money
  </Card>

  <Card title="Loan Types" icon="list" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/loan-types">
    Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and other programs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mortgage Timeline" icon="timeline" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/mortgage-timeline">
    Process from application through closing
  </Card>

  <Card title="Comparing Lenders" icon="scale-balanced" href="/service-categories/mortgage-lenders/comparing-lenders">
    Questions to ask and how to evaluate options
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

<Card title="Compare Mortgage Lenders" icon="magnifying-glass" href="https://hometrics.com/mortgage-lenders">
  Research local mortgage lenders with verified reviews and transaction volume.
</Card>