From home loans to debt consolidation, explore the wide variety of loan terms and learn how each term can affect your financial future. What Are Loans? Loans are a way to borrow money from a lender to purchase an item, such as a house or a car, or to pay for a specific task, such as consolidating debt. People use loans every day to finance major purchases, education expenses, and basic living necessities. Types of Loans Lenders offer a variety ...