Final answer:
Subprime mortgage lending applies to loans given to borrowers with less favorable credit characteristics, which include poor credit history, high debt-to-income ratios, and low down payments. These loans are associated with higher interest rates and were a contributing factor in the financial crisis of the mid-2000s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Subprime mortgage lending applies to:
Subprime mortgages are a type of mortgage offered to borrowers who do not qualify for prime rates due to various high-risk factors, which include poor credit ratings, high debt-to-income ratios, and low down payments. They often have higher interest rates to compensate for the higher risk of default. During the financial crisis in the mid-2000s, such lending practices were particularly problematic when banks sold these risky loans as securities, leading to a widespread economic downturn when many borrowers defaulted on their loans.