Mortgage broker's bubble burst
Mortgage broker's bubble burst
Stacie, Delilah, Abbie and Gary Parkes

Gary Parkes
Woodstock, Ga

I've had a diverse career, and owned several businesses in my day, including a floral shop and a residential cleaning company.

Then, in 2001 I entered the mortgage business. I was one of the honest, ethical, always-do-the-right-thing people, and in 2008 I was even named a Top 25 producer by the Georgia Association of Mortgage Brokers.

But then, the housing bubble burst, and my mortgage business started a gradual decline. My income was reduced by two thirds in 2009 and 2010.

Now, I'm actively job hunting while trying to originate mortgages with no success. I have applied for 100s of positions, I network with people constantly, and I proudly have over 100 endorsements on my LinkedIn profile.

I do not know what else to do to get a consistent income stream.



Last updated July 19 2011: 5:37 PM ET
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