I started in Real Estate finance back in 2003 and worked for a small brokerage for two years.  From there, I was recruited by the nation's largest mortgage lender at the time Countrywide Home Loans, working for both the retail & wholesale division over a five year period.  

What happened next, at the time was devastating.  However, it catapulted me into the position I'm in today. Due to the real estate bubble, I was laid off near the end ...