A mortgage is a loan provided by a financial institution to help individuals purchase a property. It typically involves a large amount of money and is repaid through regular installments over a specified period of time.

One of the key factors to consider when obtaining a mortgage is the interest rate. This is the cost of borrowing and can significantly impact the overall cost of the loan. It's important to shop around and compare interest rates from different lenders to find the most favorable option.

Another crucial aspect of a mortgage is the down payment. This is the initial amount of money that the borrower contributes towards the purchase price of the property. Generally, a larger down payment will result in lower loan amounts and potentially better loan terms.