An amazing story of the lead up to the housing bubble
http://www.workingre.com/interview-appraiser-who-brought-down-countrywide/
Among the many firms and individuals who acted irresponsibly, and maybe criminally, perhaps none did so with such flair and recklessness as Countrywide Financial. Before its rescue-sale to Bank of America (BOA), Countrywide was the largest mortgage lender in the United States.