The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) requires lenders to ______.

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) primarily aims to protect consumers in the real estate settlement process by promoting transparency and preventing unethical practices. One of the key requirements of RESPA is that lenders must provide borrowers with specific disclosures regarding the costs associated with settlement services in a timely manner. This includes the Good Faith Estimate, which outlines the anticipated costs related to the mortgage and closing process.

Additionally, RESPA prohibits kickbacks and referral fees between settlement service providers, ensuring that consumers are not subjected to unnecessary costs that result from non-transparent practices. This prohibition helps to reduce conflicts of interest among real estate professionals and ensures that consumers can make informed decisions without undue influence from parties in the transaction.

While the other options address various aspects of real estate practices, they do not align as closely with RESPA's primary objectives as the requirement to provide disclosures and prohibit kickbacks. Option A relates to fair lending laws, B refers to regulation of fees which is not strictly under RESPA, and C pertains to advertising laws rather than settlement disclosures. Therefore, the correct answer aligns well with the fundamental goals of RESPA in supporting consumer rights within the realm of real estate transactions.