My partner has been a mortgage loan officer for 18 years.  He's always been a high producer but 2009 was a year you'd read about in one of those industry mags (um, in our bathroom).  However, despite the extension of the tax credit, people are still fence sitting this month.  January is generally a slow month in loans but he's far from un-busy.  He's certainly thought outside the box by creating websites and a 24 hour hotline for his Realtors this month.  And he's using a company within the States - one that both hires and benefits the blind which is pretty cool.

In ANY business, the times when the market is slagging is when the thinkers rise to the top.  

I  agree with Jessica on two things - I really don't follow the media crap much and negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Thinking the world sucks will make your world suck.

Watchdog - I don't think your post was particularly negative but I've been hearing cross country that things are a little slow and it doesn't hurt to hear others' input.  Business seems to be booming in the cell towers and Luke Wilson certainly needs more money, though he's decidedly looking more well-fed these days.