The world's most hated blogger on real estate, gold, and the pains of being pure at heart

Two years ago, it's fair to say, Casey Serin hit bottom. A bottom lower than most of us could go -- a bottom that would make most of us nauseous and curl into fetal position, whimpering.

A young Uzbekistan expat who grew up in Sacramento eyeing the American dream, Serin observed as a mighty wave of real-estate speculation swept over the state and the country. But when he tried to hang 10, he wiped out. Big time.