What security is required for a loan?

A security interest in a loan is a legal claim on collateral provided by the borrower that allows the lender to seize and sell the collateral if the loan defaults. A security interest reduces a lender's risk, allowing them to charge a cheaper interest rate on the loan. This is what the lender uses as protection in the event you can't repay the home loan debt. If the worst happens and you stop paying your home loan payments, the lender knows they can take possession of the asset you secured the loan with, and sell it to recover their costs.