Understanding the Mortgage Loan Market

Understanding the Mortgage Loan Market
The mortgage business is a complicated and ever-changing industry. It is important that you understand how the mortgage market works and how the lenders make their profit. In doing so, you will gain an appreciation of loan programs and why certain loans are offered by certain lenders.

INSTITUTIONAL LENDERS

The first broad category of distinction is institutional versus private. Institutional lenders include commercial banks, savings and loans, credit unions, mortgage banking companies, pension funds, and insurance companies. These lenders generally make loans based on the income and credit of the borrower, and they generally follow standard lending guidelines. Private lenders are individuals or small companies that do not have insured depositors and are generally not regulated by the federal government.