Homewreckers : how a gang of Wall Street kingpins, hedge fund magnates, crooked banks, and vulture capitalists suckered millions out of their homes and demolished the American dream

In the spirit of Evicted, Bait and Switch, and The Big Short, a shocking, heart-wrenching investigation into America's housing crisis and the modern-day robber barons who are making a fortune off the backs of the disenfranchised working and middle class--among them, Donald Trump and his inner circle. Two years before the housing market collapsed in 2008, Donald Trump looked forward to a crash: "I sort of hope that happens because then people like me would go in and buy," he said. But our future president wasn't alone. While millions of Americans suffered financial loss, tycoons pounced to heartlessly seize thousands of homes--their profiteering made even easier because, as prize-winning investigative reporter Aaron Glantz reveals in Homewreckers, they often used taxpayer money--and the Obama administration's promise to cover their losses. In Homewreckers, Glantz recounts the transformation of straightforward lending into a morass of slivered and combined mortgage "products" that could be bought and sold, accompanied by a shift in priorities and a loosening of regulations and laws that made it good business to lend money to those who wouldn't be able to repay. Among the men who laughed their way to the bank: Trump cabinet members Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross, Trump pal and confidant Tom Barrack, and billionaire Republican cash cow Steve Schwarzman. Homewreckers also brilliantly weaves together the stories of those most ravaged by the housing crisis. The result is an eye-opening expose of the greed that decimated millions and enriched a gluttonous few Two Years Before The Housing Market Collapsed In 2008, Donald Trump Looked Forward To A Crash: I Sort Of Hope That Happens Because Then People Like Me Would Go In And Buy, He Said. But Our Future President Wasn't Alone. While Millions Of Americans Suffered Financial Loss, Tycoons Pounced To Heartlessly Seize Thousands Of Homes--their Profiteering Made Even Easier Because, As Prize-winning Investigative Reporter Aaron Glantz Reveals In Homewreckers, They Often Used Taxpayer Money--and The Obama Administration's Promise To Cover Their Losses. In Homewreckers, Glantz Recounts The Transformation Of Straightforward Lending Into A Morass Of Slivered And Combined Mortgage Products That Could Be Bought And Sold, Accompanied By A Shift In Priorities And A Loosening Of Regulations And Laws That Made It Good Business To Lend Money To Those Who Wouldn't Be Able To Repay. Among The Men Who Laughed Their Way To The Bank: Trump Cabinet Members Steve Mnuchin And Wilbur Ross, Trump Pal And Confidant Tom Barrack, And Billionaire Republican Cash Cow Steve Schwarzman. Homewreckers Also Brilliantly Weaves Together The Stories Of Those Most Ravaged By The Housing Crisis. The Result Is An Eye-opening Expose Of The Greed That Decimated Millions And Enriched A Gluttonous Few. The American Dream -- The Homewreckers Cast Of Characters -- Financial Freedom: The Salesman; A Squandered Opportunity; A Run On The Bank; Life On Park Avenue; The Vultures Circle -- Foreclosure Kings: A Mortgage Discovered; Foreclosure Machine -- The Greatest Thing I've Ever Done: Colfin Ai-ca5 Llc; Polo Ponies And Wine; For Infinity; Son Of A Linen Store Owner; Loading The Boat; Life On A Lease -- The New Redlining: A Bungalow In Los Angeles -- The Big Flip: Time To Make A Deal; The Community Fights Back; The New Debt Bundles; Too Big To Fail -- Enter The Donald: An Early Vulture; Trump University -- President Trump: Triumph Of The Homewreckers -- Epilogue: A Path To Shared Prosperity. Aaron Glantz. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 379-381) And Index. “[I] can’t recommend this joint enough. ... An illuminating and discomfiting read.” —Ta-Nehisi Coates "Essential reading." —New York Review of Books A shocking, heart-wrenching investigation into America’s housing crisis and the modern-day robber barons who are making a fortune off the backs of the disenfranchised working and middle class—among them, Donald Trump and his inner circle. Two years before the housing market collapsed in 2008, Donald Trump looked forward to a crash: “I sort of hope that happens because then people like me would go in and buy,” he said. But our future president wasn’t alone. While millions of Americans suffered financial loss, tycoons pounced to heartlessly seize thousands of homes—their profiteering made even easier because, as prize-winning investigative reporter Aaron Glantz reveals in Homewreckers, they often used taxpayer money—and the Obama administration’s promise to cover their losses. In Homewreckers, Glantz recounts the transformation of straightforward lending into a morass of slivered and combined mortgage “products” that could be bought and sold, accompanied by a shift in priorities and a loosening of regulations and laws that made it good business to lend money to those who wouldn’t be able to repay. Among the men who laughed their way to the bank: Trump cabinet members Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross, Trump pal and confidant Tom Barrack, and billionaire Republican cash cow Steve Schwarzman. Homewreckers also brilliantly weaves together the stories of those most ravaged by the housing crisis. The result is an eye-opening expose of the greed that decimated millions and enriched a gluttonous few. When the housing market collapsed in 2008, millions of Americans suffered financial loss-- while tycoons pounced to heartlessly seize thousands of homes, often using taxpayer money and the Obama administration’s promise to cover their losses. Glantz recounts the transformation of straightforward lending into a morass of slivered and combined mortgage "products" that could be bought and sold, accompanied by a shift in priorities and a loosening of regulations and laws that made it good business to lend money to those who wouldn't be able to repay. Among the men who laughed their way to the bank: Trump cabinet members Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross, Trump pal and confidant Tom Barrack, and billionaire Republican cash cow Steve Schwarzman. -- adapted from jacket "A shocking investigation into America's housing crisis and the modern-day robber barons who made money off the backs of the disenfranchised working class-among them, Trump and his inner circle"-- Provided by publisher