What is a Credit Union? What other Lenders are there? Local bank?

[Fahadbin Alam]

So I'm pretty confused on lenders. Right now I know that there is a regular bank that can give you up to 10 mortgages (correct me if I'm wrong)

1. What is a Credit Union? Are they private banks?

2. What are all the types of lenders?

3. So what is a local bank and how are they different from a bank? Like I have TD bank and how can you tell if they're local?

4. What is a portfolio lender and hard money? Don't they charge more interest? why would people use them?

5. Any other tips for using Lenders?