A loan offered by a bank, mortgage company or other financial institution for the purchase of a primary or investment residence. In a home mortgage, the owner of the property (the borrower) transfers the title to the lender on the condition that the title will be transferred back to the owner once the loan has been fully paid and all other terms of the mortgage have been met.

The person borrowing the mortgage money, who either has or is creating an ownership interest in the property.

Any organization lending the mortgage money, but usually a bank or other financial institution (Lenders may also be investors who own an interest in the mortgage through a mortgage-backed security. In such a situation, the initial lender is known as the mortgage originator, which then packages and sells the loan to investors. The payments from the borrower are thereafter collected by a loan servicer.).