I use email a lot as well, but don't like to invite someone into my home who I haven't actually talked to over the phone. It just seems unsafe as through email I have no idea who these people really are. Plus, over the phone I am able to get a feel for the family and things come up in conversation that don't come up in an email...sometimes these things are deal breakers and i can save myself the time of inviting them for an interview (ex. food sensitivies that I cannot accommodate, etc).