A portfolio lender makes mortgage loans with the intent of keeping those loans in their own portfolio, so they make loans to some buyers who a standard mortgage lender might reject. Each portfolio lender has their own criteria that is often different from standard ones used by many other mortgage lending institutions. Most lenders make loans intending to sell them on the secondary loan market. This allows them to make an immediate profit. With a portfolio lender, the focus is on long-term returns for their portfolio of properties, so they choose properties that will give them a good rate of return. They offer mortgages to property buyers who do not qualify for the best market rates. These lenders also work as typical mortgage brokers and may offer loans intending to sell them immediately. A consumer often needs to seek portfolio lending as it is not a commonly offered option.
