HomeGain Audio Interviews
Since 1999, HomeGain has provided innovative Internet tools and services to meet the needs of real estate professionals and consumers. Listen to the interviews below to gain insight into HomeGain's latest concepts, as well as home values and home prices market and other trends. These audio clips are a collection of real estate radio episodes, radio ads, interviews and teleconference discussions.
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007Louis Cammarosano on Real Estate 360 Live With Ryan Sloper 01/23/12
January 23, 2012
Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain was a guest on the Real Estate 360 Live radio show on The Big Talker 1580 AM, hosted by Ryan Sloper. Listen to highlights of the show!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Part 1: Ryan and Louis discuss the Republican Primary, gold and silver prices and HomeGain's 2012 Home Ownership Satisfaction Survey. Ryan notes that when mortgage rates move up, they move up fast. Ryan urges rate shoppers to lock in now. Ryan predicts higher mortgage rates in 2012. Louis discusses how the networks were able to project Newt Gingrich the winner of the South Carolina primary based on exit polls. Ryan notes that Texas governor Rick Perry has dropped out and has endorsed Newt Gingrich. Ryan notes that Romney is attacking Gingrich based on his relationship with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Louis notes that in Iowa and New Hampshire Gingrich was crushed as a result of the focus of voters on Newt Gingrich's activities with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae. Louis notes that during the South Carolina primary process, when the focus moved away from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and towards Mitt Romney's activities at Bain Capital, the voters shifted away from Romney and towards Gingrich. Louis notes that Gingrich benefited in South Carolina from appearing strong in responding to a debate question relating to his personal life. Louis notes, however, that Gingrich won't be able to win based on those types of answers. Louis notes that as the attention shifts back to Gingrich's activities at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Romney will benefit and Gingrich will suffer. Louis notes that Gingrich is the non Romney flavor of the month - his predecessors being Santorum, Cain, Perry and Bachman. Louis notes that Republicans are looking for a conservative alternative to Romney. Louis notes that as people peek under the cover they will notice that Santorum and Gingrich are not as conservative as they claim. Louis notes that Ron Paul has been consistent in his view for 30 years and that his support in the polls has not fluctuated wildly like the other candidates and has grown steadily. Louis notes that the media constantly discusses Ron Paul's supposed non electability but never discussed the electability of the other candidates like Herman Cain whose qualifications including running a "pizza parlor", Michelle Bachman who has only been in congress a few years and Mitt Romney who was governor of a state that instituted "RomneyCare" a precursor to "ObamaCare" which is anathema to conservatives and Newt Gingirch with 20 years of "baggage". Louis notes that Ron Paul has won 12 elections to congress and has increased his vote totals by 4-5X since 2008 in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Ryan notes that Ron Paul's issues, excessive spending, civil liberties, the Federal Reserve have not been discussed much in the campaigns and the debates. Louis notes that the Tea Party came into existence largely as a protest against the bail outs and the irony that the two front runners Romney and Gingrich were in favor of them and the stimulus packages. Louis notes that Ron Paul has gained currency with younger voters and that younger voters are discovering Austrian economics. Louis and Ryan discuss Ron Paul's interest in reinstituting the gold standard and that Newt Gingrich has jumped on that bandwagon. Louis notes that during the debates they have not talked about each candidates plan to cut spending - other than Rick Perry's attempt to name three Federal Agencies that he would cut. Louis notes that only Ron Paul has a plan to cut spending - $1 Trillion in his first year as President.
(14:23)
Part 2: Louis and Ryan discuss rising gold and silver prices. Louis notes that the gold silver ratio is still high. Louis notes that silver is more volatile than gold and is more thinly traded. Louis notes that the dollar amounts purchased recently in the physical market are nearly equal, which is bullish for silver. Louis notes that the historic high in silver is $50 back in 1980 and that number is the nominal non-inflation adjusted value. Louis notes, in 1980 there were no purchasers from China and India who are now large participants in the silver market. Louis notes that silver is a monetary and industrial metal and notes that silver is used in electronics and solar technology. Louis also notes that governments don't own silver the way they own gold. Louis notes that gold and silver have never been worth nothing. Ryan notes the upcoming Fed meeting next week. Louis notes that there is a perceived safety in US treasuries. Louis notes that most people probably don't expect the US to be able to pay back a bond in ten years. Louis predicts long term higher interest rates (and inflation) and if you agree locking in a long term low interest loan now make sense. Louis notes that people try to time mortgage rates as you can't dollar cost average (like you can with stocks or silver purchases) you only can take out your mortgage once. (13:42)
Part 3: Louis discusses the results of the 2012 HomeGain Home Ownership Satisfaction Survey. An interesting discussion ensues.(13:15)
Part 4: Ryan discusses how to improve your credit score. Louis notes the advantages of using a professional. (13:08)
Louis Cammarosano on Real Estate 360 Live With Ryan Sloper 01/09/12
January 9, 2012
Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain was a guest on the Real Estate 360 Live radio show on The Big Talker 1580 AM, hosted by Ryan Sloper. Listen to highlights of the show!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Part 1: Ryan and Louis offer their predictions for 2012 on the general economy, real estate market, interest rates, the presidential election, the price of gold, oil, silver, and foreclosures. Louis notes that the beginning of the year will be a continuation of low interest rates, working off inventory and a tepid market but predicts a financial shock at some point in 2012 perhaps based on a European debt crisis or something in the US. Louis notes that there is no way to solve the housing crisis or the general sovereign debt crisis other than to allow the debt to be liquidated, but notes that the central banks are not willing to allow it. Ryan notes of a new tax on mortgages that helps Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which Louis characterizes as a back door bailout of these entities. Louis notes that many home buyers are holding off on purchasing a home because they think interest rates might go lower or that they will stay low for a long time or that home prices will fall further. Louis notes that more likely rents will rise and that it makes sense to get a long term low interest rate to protect against the rise in the real cost of shelter. Louis notes that if interest rates rose it would be a disaster for the US government as it would make it even more difficult for the US to pay off the interest. Louis notes that the Fed's operation twist is intended to keep long term interest rates down. Louis notes that institutional investors purchase US government bonds for their perceived safety. Louis notes that the US is actually printing LESS physical currency as the cost of paper and its components (cotton and ink) are getting more expensive. (14:56)
Part 2: Louis and Ryan discuss the employment situation. Ryan predicts a worsening employment market. Louis notes that the employment rate does not include those that have stopped looking for jobs and notes that no president has ever not been re-elected if the unemployment trend is improving. Louis quotes Mark Twain regarding three types of lies "lie, damned lies and statistics." Louis notes how inflation statistics can be manipulated using hedonics. Louis also notes that productivity numbers can also be manipulated. Louis notes that the strong DC employment numbers are largely based on Federal spending and government jobs. Louis notes that if Federal spending gets cut, it could have an impact on the DC market. Louis notes that only Ron Paul is talking about cutting Federal spending. Louis notes that 401K plans have limited options. Ryan says he would invest in gold, silver and real estate. Louis notes that 401k plans have choices that generally underperform the market. Louis notes that gold and silver are vastly under-owned and not generally offered in most 401k plans. Louis points to these factors as reasons that gold and silver are not in a bubble. (12:10)
Part 3: Louis and Ryan discuss the direction of gold and silver prices. Louis notes the downsides of owning gold and silver including storage costs and the potential of government putting a surtax on gold and silver profits. Louis predicts that the prices of gold and silver should go higher absent of market manipulation. Louis notes that the central banks of an interest in keeping the price of both metals low. Louis notes that both markets are thinly traded. Louis notes that the physical market is fairly robust. Louis notes that since silver hit its high in 1980, it has developed an international market which should help prices rise. Louis notes that there has been a recent dollar rally in the past six months largely because of the problems in Europe. Louis notes that it may make sense to take advantage of a long term artificially low mortgage interest rate. Louis notes that just because it is inevitable that interest rates will rise, doesn't mean that its imminent. Ryan notes that according to RealtyTrac one in three homes are underwater. Louis notes that if the government got into the rental market it would be a disaster. Louis notes that foreclosed homes used to be undesirable options for potential home buyers. Louis notes that according to the recent unreleased HomeGain homeownership satisfaction survey that satisfaction rates among homeowners who bought in foreclosure were more satisfied than those who bought non-foreclosed homes. (12:14)
Part 4: Ryan notes that in his experience that foreclosures are popular among potential home buyers. Louis notes that short sales make more sense for the bank and seller. Louis notes that banks however don't have an incentive to do them due to accounting rules. Ryan predicts an increase in short sales in 2012. Ryan asks whether there will be more government programs in 2012. Louis responds of course there will be, but that they will be ineffective. If you can't get a loan modification, you are in a short sale situation on the way to foreclosure. Louis notes that it seems that banks are less interested in having real money than they are in making their accounts look good. Louis notes the problem with any subsidy or bailout is that the government is favoring one entity over another. Louis talks about the real estate information available on HomeGain.com. (10:53)
