The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream
Now in paperback-an inside look at Countrywide Home Loans and the mortgage crisis, from a former mortgage lender executive.

In July 2004, Adam Michaelson attended a high-level meeting at Countrywide Financial headquarters about a new loan product that would allow borrowers to pay less than their minimum monthly payment. The "finance jocks" believed that the booming housing market would only get bigger, supporting homeowners in a cycle of borrowing against their houses and refinancing later. They were wrong. And when the bottom dropped out, Countrywide suffered the consequences-as did millions of Americans.

With an insider's knowledge and thorough reporting on the impact on American families and the ripple effects on the economy, Michaelson examines the marketing of a mirage and the bad business decisions that destroyed a company, confronts the ethical questions that have arisen in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, and offers creative proposals to prevent such a meltdown from ever happening again.
1111007577
The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream
Now in paperback-an inside look at Countrywide Home Loans and the mortgage crisis, from a former mortgage lender executive.

In July 2004, Adam Michaelson attended a high-level meeting at Countrywide Financial headquarters about a new loan product that would allow borrowers to pay less than their minimum monthly payment. The "finance jocks" believed that the booming housing market would only get bigger, supporting homeowners in a cycle of borrowing against their houses and refinancing later. They were wrong. And when the bottom dropped out, Countrywide suffered the consequences-as did millions of Americans.

With an insider's knowledge and thorough reporting on the impact on American families and the ripple effects on the economy, Michaelson examines the marketing of a mirage and the bad business decisions that destroyed a company, confronts the ethical questions that have arisen in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, and offers creative proposals to prevent such a meltdown from ever happening again.
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The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream

The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream

by Adam Michaelson
The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream

The Foreclosure of America: Life Inside Countrywide Home Loans and the Selling of the American Dream

by Adam Michaelson

Paperback

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Overview

Now in paperback-an inside look at Countrywide Home Loans and the mortgage crisis, from a former mortgage lender executive.

In July 2004, Adam Michaelson attended a high-level meeting at Countrywide Financial headquarters about a new loan product that would allow borrowers to pay less than their minimum monthly payment. The "finance jocks" believed that the booming housing market would only get bigger, supporting homeowners in a cycle of borrowing against their houses and refinancing later. They were wrong. And when the bottom dropped out, Countrywide suffered the consequences-as did millions of Americans.

With an insider's knowledge and thorough reporting on the impact on American families and the ripple effects on the economy, Michaelson examines the marketing of a mirage and the bad business decisions that destroyed a company, confronts the ethical questions that have arisen in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, and offers creative proposals to prevent such a meltdown from ever happening again.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780425233764
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 04/06/2010
Pages: 384
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Adam Michaelson is a former Senior Vice President of Marketing at Countrywide. He now runs the Michaelson Marketing Group and has provided marketing counsel to numerous Fortune 100 clients.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Paperback Edition v

Preface xxv

1 The Vault, and the Meeting That Changed America 1

2 Agency Man 33

3 Punching the Corporate Ticket 51

4 Welcome to "Countrywide 101" 80

5 A Corporate Dream Factory 100

6 Idol Worship 139

7 Building a Better Housetrap 148

8 The Art of Not Lying 182

9 The Doomsday Scenario 199

10 Taking My Concerns All the Way to the Bank 209

11 No More Options 242

12 A Kingdom Conquered 256

13 A Train Wreck in Slow Motion 279

14 The Great Debate: What Do We Do Now? 293

Afterword 336

Acknowledgments 343

Index 345

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