I once had a low-level job at a mortgage company. At the orientation (which took place 4 months after I started--awful co.), we were asked what a mortgage was. When no one raised a hand, the trainer took a blank piece of paper, and wrote the word "mortgage" on it. Holding it up, he said, "That's a mortgage." He went on to explain that some companies make houses, some make paper clips, etc., and we "make mortgages." He specifically said that a mortgage is nothing but a piece of paper and that mortgage companies simply specialize in making this particular product.