1. “Mortgage company” means a person who, directly or indirectly:
(a) Holds himself or herself out for hire to serve as an agent for any person in an attempt to obtain a loan which will be secured by a lien on real property;
(b) Holds himself or herself out for hire to serve as an agent for any person who has money to lend, if the loan is or will be secured by a lien on real property;
(c) Holds himself or herself out as being able to make loans secured by liens on real property;
(d) Holds himself or herself out as being able to buy or sell notes secured by liens on real property; or
(e) Offers for sale in this State any security which is exempt from registration under state or federal law and purports to make investments in promissory notes secured by liens on real property.
2. The term includes a wholesale lender.