In the summer of 2007, the Real Estate Market changed dramatically. In a span of a few short months, well over 100 mortgage companies went out of business. The sub-prime mortgage market fell apart and with it, many people in real estate related businesses were jolted out of work entirely, or at the very least, had their incomes reduced.  Builders, contractors, appraisers, roofers, realtors, lenders, title and escrow officers, artists, interior designers, stagers, sign companies and installers, insurance salespeople, landscapers, etc., all had their business affected or lost their companies or jobs. Read the rest of this entry