#18: Carlos Camacho – Guam’s Low-Income Housing Explained

In this episode, we sit down with Carlos Camacho—Executive Director of the Micronesia Community Development Corporation—to unpack how one man’s persistence turned paper-napkin ideas into more than 600 affordable homes across Guam and the CNMI.

Carlos shares how a lack of access to down payments inspired him to pioneer Guam’s first 100% financing program through USDA Rural Development, and how he later leveraged the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to bring large-scale attainable housing to market. He breaks down the origins of Ironwood and Summer Homes, why the “missing middle” continues to fall through the cracks, and what new policy tools like the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) could mean for working families.

We cover:

• The origins of Guam’s 100% financing movement and USDA partnerships

• How the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit transformed the island’s rental inventory

• The “7 out of 10” problem—why most families still don’t qualify for homeownership

• The upcoming MCC program and how it could close the gap for middle-income earners

• Barriers to new construction—from zoning and permitting to workforce housing

• The future of public-private partnerships in Guam’s housing ecosystem

If you’ve ever wondered how affordable housing actually gets built—or how developers navigate complex federal programs to make it happen—this episode reveals the mechanics, mindset, and mission behind Guam’s most impactful housing projects.

Listen now to learn how collaboration, creativity, and policy reform can unlock Guam’s housing future—one unit at a time.

Data Points is presented by Pinpoint, Guam’s leading real estate data company. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions on real property purchases through detailed market analysis and insights.