I was introduced to the mortgage business in 1986 by my good friend Dave Dean. He had recently founded American Capital Mortgage Corporation. I learned many aspects of the business from him. I am forever grateful.

I left a year later, a misunderstanding. Jim Parsons of Tidewater Mortgage Company literally saved my life by taking me on as an originator. But the charm of the business wore off around 1990.

My family and I moved to Kent Island in July 1991. Oh my, the changes we have seen but that would take volumes to write. Most changes have not been good. I walked away from mortgages after we moved for two nearly years. By 1993 I was getting the itch to reenter the mortgage biz.

I went to work for Consolidated Mortgage and Moe Iacoboni in historic Stevensville in January 1994. He owned the Old Post Office. I enjoyed working for a local honest mortgage company that allowed me to work independently. About a year later In March 1995 the owner (Moe) of Consolidated Mortgage decided to sell or close the business. After two weeks of sleepless nights I decided to take a chance and buy it. I knew the business inside and out which gave me some confidence. I borrowed the money from an attorney friend and closed on the purchase for $15,500 in May 1995.

It was the best move I ever made. Luck had the timing perfect. I intentionally grew the biz slowly. Next thing you know the refi boom hit and the business really grew and took off. Three loan reps, a processor, and me. The company was very successful. We were closing $40,000,000 (yes million) a year in mortgage loans with the best year's revenue at just under $500,000. I had finally found my calling by owning a small business doing something that I loved, helping people, while being at the top of the pyramid. Every time a loan officer closed a deal, I got paid too. My wife and I traveled quite a bit, most of the time to destinations in Florida. Plus 4 cruises.

During that time I learned to create web sites for my business with help from Sam Guilianno of Amingo. I decided to open a Web Site Design business, American Web Page Design. Which led me to open a VHS Video to DVD Transfer business, DVD Video Services, and then a few years later become involved with a Data Recovery business with my friend Tom Tomkins, The Data Recovery Center. I was also selling links to other Mortgage Companies located outside of Maryland through my LowRateMortgages.com website which was also very successful. Maybe others that I don't remember (more on that later). I kept very busy.

I was the owner of Consolidated Mortgage and Consolidated Mortgage Corp. (a closely held corporation) on Kent Island for 13 years (1995 until 2008). The Great Recession of 2007/2008 forced Consolidated and many other mortgage companies to close their doors. It also forced my other business projects to close. I hung in there until 2008. Everything was shuttered. I then went with Countrywide Home Loans for 6 months while they were closing down. What a mess that was. 2008 turned out to be a very bad year. 2009 was even worse.

On top of having to close my businesses, on New Year's Eve 2008 around 4 p.m. my wife rushed me to the hospital. I had a 105.7 fever and arrived unconscious.

As I lay in the E. R. naked the doctors could not figure out a diagnosis. My brother in law Navy Fireman, EMT, Army Combat Medic, Special Forces 82nd Airborne, (and all around bad ass) Jeff Hahn pointed out my feet which were purple and said "this guy has sepsis". He was right. The sepsis was caused by a prostate biopsy on December 30 (the day before). It was positive.

I was unconscious on a respirator for the first 3 days in the Critical Care Unit. The fever peaked the afternoon of New Year's Day 2009 at 107.8. The doctors did not expect me to make it through the night. They told my wife Terri to inform my family. I did make it through that night thanks to the many prayers from friends and family, and maybe even divine intervention. Of course excellent medical care helped too. I ended up being in the CCU for 8 days and was released after 11 days.

I still have not figured out why I made it through the night. I was discussing it with my dear friend John Wayne Kennedy one night a few years before he passed. He said it was not yet my time and that I am destined for success and greatness. He was serious. All I could do was laugh! I still chuckle when I think about it. May John Rest In Peace.

Funny thing, during a time in my room there is a memory of hearing ocean waves breaking on the beach and Hawaiian reggae type music playing. I felt at peace and very relaxed. Music wasn't playing and no one else heard it. Kind of weird. I have no explanation.

Anyway, that high fever caused a brain injury that affected my memory. I have been told I am not the same person.

Bottom line is that I have never felt the same health wise since that battle with sepsis. On top of that I have not been able to figure out a way to make decent money again. It bothers me.

I'm still waiting for that success and greatness John Wayne Kennedy was so certain of. Maybe writing a book about my view on Music Theory and how it can be applied to the guitar? A book for guitar players to advance past the plateau they are sometimes stuck on. Teaching guitar. Worth a try.

Maybe my DuvalStreetCrawl.com website? Selling LowRateMortgages.com or USALowRates.com? Selling links to other Mortgage Companies in each Maryland county on MarylandLowRates.com? I don't know.

Getting back to 2009. It was a bad year. I almost died 1/1/09. Lost my Mother in April. Lost my younger Brother in June. Lost my Step Father in August. I had to place my Father in an assisted living facility in October. 2009 sucked.

We sold our Disney Vacation Club timeshares for Old Key West, The Beach Club, and Hilton Head Island along with other Timeshares. We cashed in our IRA's,annuities, investments, cashed out our savings trying to keep Consolidated Mortgage afloat. We failed. 2008 & 2009 were indeed very bad years.

Burt

burt120@gmail.com