A mortgage company is, simply put, a company that finances property for its customers. The property financed would be a real property such as a home, a car, a two-wheeler, a piece of land, etc. Mortgage companies look after the payments on the properties, which enable their customers to buy the property. The mortgage buyer is then entitled to repay this loan gradually in the form of monthly payments. The monthly payments would include the applicable interest on the mortgage, plus taxes and insurance.

Mortgage companies have created a lot of dynamism in the real estate market. Earlier, people were not able to purchase expensive property without having total liquidity. But due to mortgages, they are able to buy even huge properties and pay for them in easy installments. Properties that were considered unaffordable have now come within the realm of affordability thanks to mortgage companies. In short, mortgage companies boost the buying capacity of an individual.

All mortgage companies have pre-requisites to be met before granting a mortgage. They would scrutinize the financial position of the person in order to insure whether payments would be made. This involves a check on the creditworthiness of the person. However, today there are mortgage companies that provide mortgages to bad credit people also, albeit at a higher rate of interest. Some mortgage companies may keep the property deeds with them as collateral until such a time as the total repayment is done. This is done especially in the case of bad credit.

Even after taking all these precautions, there are defaulters. Hence, mortgage companies get themselves appropriate coverage on their mortgages through mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is not needed if the mortgage is below 80% of the property value, or if a down payment of at least 20% has been done by the buyer. Mortgage companies pass on the premium payments onto their buyers, which are added in their monthly payments.

There is tremendous competition today in the field of mortgage selling. Hence, mortgage companies rely on other professional companies to provide them with potential buyers, called leads. Mortgage leads can be acquired through call centers and lead-generation websites. Mortgage companies do not mind paying lead companies thousands of dollars, if there is a prospect of increased business.

Following the trend of technological development, several mortgage companies also have begun dispensing their businesses online. Pre-qualification of loans is done through an online application form. Later, the origination, processing and disbursement of the mortgage is done in their office, with a signed agreement between the mortgage buyer and the mortgage seller.

Mortgage companies may adopt stringent measures for people who default on their payments. They have the right to file a case and attach the said property, which may be sold in the market. This is called a foreclosure of the mortgage, which adds terrible bad credit to the mortgage buyer.