In contrast to a loan for the acquisition of a piece of commercial or industrial property, a house mortgage is a loan provided by a bank, mortgage company, or other financial institution for the purchase of a residence—a primary residence, a secondary residence, or an investment housing. In a house mortgage, the owner of the property (the borrower) transfers the title to the lender with the understanding that the title would be returned to the owner following the completion of the last loan payment and the fulfilment of all other mortgage requirements.