A lender in real estate is a financial institution or individual that provides financing related to real estate, such as mortgages and other home-related loans. They offer funding towards the purchase, construction, or improvement of land and property, and the real estate in question usually acts as collateral for the loan. There are various types of mortgage lenders, including retail lenders, direct lenders, mortgage brokers, correspondent lenders, and wholesale lenders. Retail lenders, such as banks, credit unions, and mortgage bankers, work directly with consumers to complete a real estate transaction. Direct lenders, such as mortgage banks and portfolio lenders, originate their loans and can walk borrowers through the mortgage process without involving intermediaries like mortgage brokers. Wholesale lenders offer loans through third parties, such as mortgage brokers, other banks, or credit unions, and dont work directly with consumers. Mortgage brokers, on the other hand, are intermediaries between mortgage borrowers and direct or retail lenders, and they help borrowers comparison-shop from their network of lenders. In summary, a lender in real estate provides financing for the purchase, construction, or improvement of land and property, and there are various types of mortgage lenders to choose from depending on the borrowers needs and circumstances.