Mortgage Broker Quits to Become Prison Guard

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the sign of times in the mortgage industry:

Shelly Long is a 44-year-old mortgage broker from Northeast Philadelphia who has tired of battling a depressed housing market. She's hoping to start a new career that's a bit more stable - as a Philadelphia prison guard.

Amanda Biviens, a single mother of 4-year-old twins, has the same idea. She's tired of working two near-minimum wage jobs to pay her bills, often not knowing if she'll be able to cover her children's medical expenses. "I want a job that has benefits and better pay," said Biviens, 22.

If hired, they would be part of a quietly growing trend in the Philadelphia prison system: Women now account for 49 percent of correctional officers and supervisors - guarding more than 9,000 inmates who are 90 percent male. In contrast, just 11 percent of city correctional officers were women in 1985.

Great moments in real estate.No word yet from the National Association of Realtors.