a|r|e Spring 2018

As a new generation of buyers comes into their own, the luxury market is rapidly evolving.

Randy Char and other luxury heavyweights tell us what luxury means today

Spring 2018

One of These Days

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The Great Pacific Northwest

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International Buyer Trends / Visiting Wulai, Taiwan

Proud supporter of AREAA

Give your clients the home loan resources they need Let’s work together. Whether your clients meet with a lending specialist in person or go online, with a Bank of America mortgage, they’ll know where they stand every step of the way.

Leverage our knowledge, resources and online tools — Home Loan Navigator ® is an interactive tool clients can use to keep up to date on the status of their home loan application, upload and sign certain documents electronically, and more.

Offer our loans with competitive rates to meet your clients’ needs, from loans with a low down payment to jumbo loans.1

Learn about the Affordable Loan Solution® mortgage, a fixed-rate loan for modest-income homebuyers with a down payment as low as 3% to help make buying a home more affordable. 2

Find out about local down payment and cost savings programs that can be combined with most home loans to help make home buying more affordable for your clients at bankofamerica.com/ downpaymentcenter.3

Contact a Bank of America lending specialist, or visit bankofamerica.com/neighborhoodlending today.

Minimum down payment requirements vary by property type and location. Loan amount, interest-only payment option, loan-to-value percentage, property and/or occupancy type may require a higher level of reserves and/or post-closing liquidity. Two separate full appraisals may be required. Excellent credit required, including proof of recent consistent housing payment history. Not available on all loan programs. Other restrictions apply, ask for details.

2 Available for fixed-rate purchase loans with terms of 25 or 30 years and on primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Borrower(s) must not have an individual or joint ownership interest in any other residential property at time of closing. Maximum purchase loan-to-value is 97% and maximum combined purchase loan-to-value is 103%. For loan-to-values > 95%, any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program; ask for details. Homebuyer education may be required. Restrictions apply regarding co-borrowers. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply.

3 Down payment and/or closing cost assistance programs may not be available in your area. Down payment and/or closing cost assistance amount may be due upon sale, refinance, transfer, or repayment of the loan, or if the senior mortgage is assumed during the term of the loan. Some programs require repayment with interest, and borrowers should become fully informed prior to closing. Not all applicants will qualify. Minimum credit scores may apply. Sales price restrictions and income requirements may apply. Homebuyer education may be required. Owner-occupied properties only. Maximum loan amounts may apply.

Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

LIFE/BETTER CONNECTED, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2018 Bank of America Corporation. ARY9LMM6 AD-02-18-0008.B 02-2018 THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. 1

S P RIN G 2 0 1 8 Vo l u m e 1 0 , I s s u e 1 ON THE COVER: Randy Char, photograph: Ray Alamo

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F E AT U R E S 22

You Don't Know Luxury As a new generation of buyers comes into their own, the luxury market is rapidly evolving. a|r|e sat down with 2018 National President Randy Char and other luxury heavyweights to find out what luxury means today.

By Scott Berman

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Journey Through the Great Pacific Northwest

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Imagine traveling through the Pacific Northwest by train, with 24 hour layovers in some of the North America’s most eclectic and unique cities. We asked our local chapters in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver to give us the inside scoop on what you absolutely must do should you find yourself in this situation.

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Bohemian Vagabond: Wulai, Taiwan Our globetrotting contributor Jacki Ueng takes us to Wulai, Taiwan, to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of aboriginal Taiwan.

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SPRING 2018

Focused on providing quality service that extends value over a lifetime.

Your affluent clients deserve the attention of a team of professionals, dedicated to understanding and meeting their needs.

Discover how our selection of home financing options and our exceptional service enable us to deliver the unrivaled experience your clients deserve.

Whatever your clients’ home lending needs and wealth management goals may be, we’re here to help — with options and services that meet a sophisticated level of needs and preferences.

To connect with your local team, contact: diversesegments@wellsfargo.com

Information is for real estate professionals only and not intended for distribution to consumers.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2018 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS4185979 Expires 05/2018

Greetings from ASIAN REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

NEW YORK MANHATTAN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 01/22 01/24 01/31-02/02 02/22 02/27 03/01 03/14 03/15-03/16 04/07-04/09 04/24 05/05 05/09 05/12 05/16 06/12 07/18 08/21 09/06 09/18 10/18-10/20 10/30 12/05

Lunch and Learn with Citizens Bank (242 Broome St.) CollabNet’s Connectors Forum Leadership Summit (Rancho Mirage, CA)* Areaa NY Manhattan Commercial Series Kickoff Blockchain & Real Estate Board Installation and Lunar New Year Party AREAA Luxury Designation - Kickoff Party AREAA Luxury Designation* Global Summit (Seattle, WA)* Tax Talk @ 100 East 53rd Street Policy Day (Washington D.C.)* Grand Havana Room - Commercial Series AREAA Building Community Day Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Mixer Continue Education Seminar Commercial / Residential Event Summer Celebration Trunk Club - Commercial Series Moon Festival National Convention (Las Vegas, NV)* 4th Annual East Meets West Holiday Party

NEW YORK MANHATTAN *National events **Dates are subject to change

WE’LL GIVE YOUR CLIENTS’ PLANS ROOM TO GROW.

UP TO .25% RATE DISCOUNT FOR CHASE PRIVATE CLIENTS • FINANCING UP TO 85% OF HOME VALUE • LOANS UP TO $3 MILLION We finance big dreams, but we also pay attention to the finest details along the way. From priority processing to relationship pricing, our home lending experts offer personalized help every step of the way.

Contact me today about working together to help your clients:

Edgar David Region Manager Phone: 714-671-9985 edgar.s.david@chase.com Mortgage rate discount of 0.125% for total deposits and investments of $500,000 – $999,999.99 or 0.25% for $1,000,000.00. For purchase and refinance transactions, these discounts apply to the full spectrum of residential mortgage types, including fixed- and adjustable-rate products for jumbo and conforming mortgages. For fixed-rate mortgages the Mortgage Rate Program discount is for the life of the loan, and until the first adjustment on adjustable-rate mortgages.

For real estate and lending professionals only and not for distribution to consumers. This document is not an advertisement for consumer credit as defined in 12 CFR 1026.2(a)(2). Loans up to 85% of a primary home’s value are available on a purchase or refinance with no cash back. Subject to property type, a minimum credit score of 680 and a minimum of 18-24 months of reserves, depending on loan size. (i.e. customer must have at least enough money in reserve in a bank account to make 18-24 monthly mortgage payments [principal, interest, taxes and insurance] after the loan closes). All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending and deposit products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC ©2017 JPMorgan Chase & Co. 36472-0517

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CONTENTS

16

18

Ask Mehta Our resident real estate guru Rob Mehta takes a look at how technology is changing the way we live.

From the brink of death to biking through Death Valley, this emotional and motivating story will have you looking at your own life and asking how can eliminate the phrase “one of these days” from your vocabulary.

SPRING 2018

AREAA Global, A Re-Introduction

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With more projects than ever and a new online exchange platform, many are asking “what is AREAA Global and how does it work?” Here are your answers.

One of These Days

By Wilson Du

6

20

Great things come in small packages. That now applies to housing as well.

As metro markets continue to experience exploding home values, people are looking to micro-dwellings as a possible answer to the affordable housing crisis.

By Carmen Chong

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Immigrant Success Story: Michelle Kim Michelle Kim has risen to the top of the financial industry through hard work, determination, and living by the golden rule. She tells the story of her upbringing and how it continues to influence her to this day.

Affordable Housing Solution: MicroDwellings

By Kurt Nishimura

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International Buyer Trends Foreign investment in the US continues to rise, with more and more cities now getting in on the action.

AREAA’s International Committee Chair Jenny Cui examines the trends and patterns that have emerged, and looks ahead to what may be in store.

ADVERTISERS

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D E PA RT M E N T S

12

Letter from the Director AREAA Executive Director Hope Atuel reflects on the meaning of "luxury".

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42

AREAA Global

areaaglobal.com

14

AREAA Greater Seattle

areaa.org/greaterseattle

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AREAA National Policy Summit

areaa.org/policysummit

AREAA New York Manhattan

areaamanhattan.org

Bank of America

bankofamerica.com/neighborhoodlending

Chase

edgar.s.david@chase.com

Jenny Cui, Home Luxe USA

homeluxe-usa.com

10

Gina Duncan, Fine Island Properties

FineIslandProperties.com

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ERA iRealty

ERAiRealty.com

1

HSBC

866.846.6634

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National Association of REALTORS® Global

realtor.org/global

Quicken Loans

RealEstate.QuickenLoans.com

Kenny Truong, #FASTAGENT

climbsf.com

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Warmington Homes

HomesByWarmington.com/realtors

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

diversesegments@wellsfargo.com

3

Inside Back Cover 4 Inside Front Cover 5, 27

Back Cover

a / r / eats Kat Chen is back with a brand new recipe: Miso Black Cod. This melt in your mouth dish will be sure to impress anyone who tries it.

Around the Association From the National Convention in San Diego, to amazing installations across the nation, check out what our chapters have been up to all across North America.

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Contact SCOTT BERMAN to find out about ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES:

ads@areaa.org | 619-794-2016 SPRING 2018

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SPRING 2018 Vo l u m e 1 0 , I s s u e 1

ED ITOR Scott Berman

CREATIVE D IRECTOR Praveen Sharma

D ESIG NER Howard Shen

is a publication of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), a national nonprofit trade organization dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership in the Asian American community.

For more information visit: http://areaa.org. Š2018 by the Asian Real Estate Association of America.

Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed by individual authors are not necessarily the opinions held by AREAA. Interested in advertising or contributing? Contact us: Scott Berman | sberman@areaa.org Office: Asian Real Estate Association of America 3990 Old Town Avenue #C304 San Diego, California 92110 619.795.7873 Phone contact@areaa.org Previous issues available online at: http://areaa.org/a-r-e

For additional web-based content, please visit: www.areaa.org.

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SPRING 2018

KENNY TRUONG | #FASTAGENT

Jenny Cui 崔倩琳 President of Home Luxe USA

鸿豪地产总裁

2018 AREAA International Chair AREAA Austin Founding President

美国亚裔房地产协会国际委员会主席 奥斯汀分会创会主席

China Director of Great Texas Regional Center CIPS 美国国际房地产专家认证

中美德州基金中国区总监

CLHMS 豪宅营销专家认证

德克萨斯州首府Austin 学区房 豪宅 商业地产

Your Professional Global Real Estate Investment Consultant and Partner

➢Residential

& Commercial Real Estate Service in Austin, Texas

➢

资深房地产投资，开发，EB移民项目咨询专家

➢

Global Vision Experience and Connections

美国电话 512-788-2967 微信 jenny13041281113 电子邮箱 jennycuihomes@ gmail.com 公司网站 www.homeluxe-usa.com

CANOPY AT ESENCIA, RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, CA

RIDGEHAVEN, LAS VEGAS, NV

TRESTLE AT WALLIS RANCH, DUBLIN, CA

Warmington has long been a broker-friendly builder and we rely upon and appreciate the partnerships we have forged with a network of real estate professionals. At all of our new home neighborhoods we welcome brokers and their agents and pay referral fees. We strive to offer new homes and neighborhoods that you will be proud to present to your clients.

And we make it easy! When you sign up and become a Preferred Real Estate Professional at HomesByWarmington.com/realtors, you can register your clients online before they visit.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Westbury Single Family Homes Southwest Las Vegas From the upper $200’s

Ridgehaven Single Family Homes Southwest Las Vegas From the upper $200’s

Rockpointe Single Family Homes Southwest Las Vegas From the upper $200’s

Vistaview Single Family Homes Southwest Las Vegas From the mid $300’s

the E.R.B. Mixed-Use + Single Family Homes - Los Angeles From the upper $700’s

the Glen LA Single Family Homes Los Angeles From the upper $600’s

Cue Single Family Homes North Hollywood Coming Soon

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Canopy at Esencia Single Family Homes Rancho Mission Viejo From the low $700’s NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Driftsong at Wallis Ranch Single Family Homes Dublin From the low $900’s

Trestle at Wallis Ranch Attached Homes Dublin From the $800’s

Realtors welcome. HomesByWarmington.com is the registered domain for Warmington Residential and represents its new home communities

throughout California and Nevada. Models depicted do not reflect racial preference. Prices effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. 02.22.18

Skye 22 Single Family Homes Toluca Lake Coming Soon

FROM THE

Director

...luxury is not just elegance or comfortable living. We now find that luxury today involves exclusiveness, nearly unique experiences reserved for a select few. Luxury is an experience at the Hamptons or a stay at the Plaza Hotel, or perhaps a dining experience at Thomas Keller’s Per Se restaurant.

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SPRING 2018

LUXURY - ləkSH(ə)rē; What is luxury?

Webster defines it as being in a state of great comfort and elegant living. But I find that definition too narrow – luxury is not just elegance or comfortable living. We now find that luxury today involves exclusiveness, nearly unique experiences reserved for a select few. Luxury is an experience at the Hamptons or a stay at the Plaza Hotel, or perhaps a dining experience at Thomas Keller’s Per Se restaurant.

Luxury is associated with brands like Chanel, Patek Philippe and other trademarks associated with quality that comes with great cost. Luxury, in other words, is something that evolves over time.

I write this letter in the midst of AREAA’s first ever luxury designation course held in the mecca of luxury – Park Avenue, Manhattan – where an exclusive group of AREAA members have committed their time, resources and energy to pursue a course that only a few will and can experience in their lifetime. In a few hours, these fifty individuals will have experienced an exclusive luxury program designed to propel their career in luxury real estate to the next level.

From a vision by now-sitting President Randy Char back in 2014, the luxuryfocused course has come to fruition thanks to the foundation that previous AREAA Luxury Committee Chairs

Craig Hogan and Zar Zanganeh placed for current Chairs Herman Chan and Janet Minard to finally make it happen this year. I specifically call out these individuals because they are pioneers of AREAA – leaders who refuse to apologize for their successes in the luxury market and they are applauded for their spirit, leadership and tenacity for launching this course that is a game-changer for AREAA and the entire industry.

As you read through this issue focusing on luxury, an important component serving the Asian American market, take the time to think about what luxury means to you. Because luxury does not mean the same thing to everyone – for some it might simply be a good book and a hot fire on a wintery day. For others, it could be something more complex or elaborate.

But whatever it is, I think we all know it when we see it.

Until next time, to quote our affable Luxury Chair Herman Chan, “Luxuriate Yourselves.”

HOPE ATUEL

AREAA Executive Director

Introducing The AREAA GLOBAL EXCHANGE

BUILD YOUR SECONDARY INCOME AND REFERRAL NETWORK THROUGH THE AREAA GLOBAL EXCHANGE AND CONNECT YOUR NETWORK OF CLIENTS TO TOP REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD! AREAA Global presents the AREAA Global Exchange .. an exclusive marketing platform for AREAA members that hosts all approved real estate offerings and development projects from our strategic partners.

As an AREAA member you have exclusive access to the AREAA Global Exchange. AREAA members are granted instant listings and real estate investment opportunities to build your portfolio and client offerings. Members can access partner-run webinars to learn more about select development projects, engage with development representatives & access customizable marketing templates and e-blasts.

Do you have development connections or a project you would like to see included on the Global Exchange?

We encourage members to submit proposals for AREAA Global’s review and approval to contact@areaaglobal.com.

www.areaaglobal.com

EXCHANGE

My experience was incredible working with Quicken Loans.

Thanks for all the great work and closing the transaction way sooner than expected.

Kamal Sidhu Real Estate Agent, Manteca, CA

Experience the confidence that comes from working with Quicken Loans.

RealEstate.QuickenLoans.com Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLS #3030. ©2000 – 2018 Quicken Loans Inc. All rights reserved. Lending services provided by Quicken Loans Inc., a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. “Quicken Loans” is a registered trademark of Intuit Inc., used under license.

T

he more clients we work with in recent times, the more evident it is that smart tech is here in a big way, and its here to stay. The proliferation of Google Home and Amazon Echo is just the beginning, today’s buyers want control of their homes remotely with smart appliances, they want automation, they want to “set it and forget it”...but still be able to access it and adjust it, monitor it, and respond to it when necessary. Buyers want services to control their security systems, door locks, surveillance cameras, irrigation systems, thermostats, all with the swipe of a finger or a command to their voiceactivated assistants.

Understanding the way that buyers embrace tech trends will give us a glimpse into the future of the role technology plays in home sales

“I keep hearing about smart

homes, smart tech, smart…well everything. What are some of the hottest smart gadgets and design features that people are looking for these days?”

By Rob Mehta

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SPRING 2018

It’s not really all that shocking that Buyers are willing to spend more for turnkey smart homes, and homes which have features like electronic access, keyless locks, mobilecontrolled security systems, and interconnected doorbells that can send you alert you to the status of nearly anything in your home, are considered “updated” even when when the home itself might be older. In fact, smart home tech is even recognized by appraisers now, when comparing tech-enabled homes with similar but techdeficient homes in determining value. In years past, the smart, tech enabled home was primarily reserved for the high end segment of the housing market, but today smart home tech is available at every price point, and has spread across

homes from suburbia to the urban core, new construction and historic properties, and sellers who embrace the trend, installing smart tech now can take advantage of Buyers’ willingness to spend more on a home. It adds instant value.

So, before we all go running out throwing around “smart home” in our listings, lets get some things cleared up – just because something can be hooked up to the internet, doesn’t mean it should be or that it’s worth the money, or more importantly, that it makes the home smart. According to CNET, a true smart home should be equipped with “networkconnected products (via WiFi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.”

What does that mean? It means at the very minimum there should be a security system that can control entry and/or monitoring for the property, OR, a smart thermostat. It should also have at a minimum, two additional features, the most common are:

Smart Home Security Cameras Security is a huge concern these days but for homeowners, the costs are also a concern.

Most home security solutions, like the ones offered by traditional home monitoring services, are expensive and involve costly add-ons to monitor and access your home.

With a smart home security camera, those costs are pretty much negated. You only need to pay for the equipment once, rather than as a monthly rental,

and any service fees are generally less when compared to conventional security plans. A property with smart home security cameras pre-installed are often considered safer and cheaper in terms of operating costs for that security system.

sensor switches it off? Or maybe that newly planted bed of flowers needs a little extra watering, wouldn’t it be nice to control the section and the amount of water it gets?

Smart Thermostats

Expecting guests but don’t want to hand out keys, or just plain forgetful and keep leaving your keys behind? You can monitor doors and garage door from anywhere and control access of them from your phone.

Energy consumption is a pretty big deal for any buyer; it helps conserve the environment and saves money. There are some big players on the market, and some of the more popular choices claim to save you as much as 12%- 23% on utility costs. The ones built into your security monitoring system can even adjust itself based on your entry and exit from the home, which is pretty smart if you ask me.

Smart Watering Systems Water consumption is also a concern, both environmentally and economically.

Who wouldn’t want a system which will automatically skip a cycle if its built in rain

Smart Doors and Locks

W

ith the demand for and convenience of smart home tech, we as REALTORS® should be aware of the newest trends and how they will save their homebuyers money in the long run. Smart Home technology is only going to increase as smart home adoption becomes more prevalent, as the tech industry churns our billions of dollars worth of new smart home products. Tech will continue to impact our daily lives in new and innovative ways, and our buyers are only going to continue to demand more of it.

At the very minimum, a Smart Home should include a security system that can control entry and/or monitoring for the property, OR, a smart thermostat

Rob Mehta is the owner of Rob Mehta+Partners, and specializes in education and consulting with a focus on business development, brokerage operations, marketing, agent recruiting and retention, and international development. He has served as President of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS®, Director for both AREAA and NAR's Young Professionals Network and a member of AREAA's inaugural "A-List." robmehtapartners.com

SPRING 2018

17

ONE OF THESE DAYS

By Wilson Du

It was just a regular Winter AREAA GEB mixer 2017. I had been absent for the past year and half battling an illness and working on my transformation. Vinny Manguyen, the GEB chapter founder, thought it would be great for me to come out and show everyone my transformation. During the ride to the mixer, I mentioned to Vinny that I wanted to bike from Michigan to Florida to bring awareness to kidney disease and transplantation. He discussed this with our corporate sponsor, Rosy Davalos, and she suggested that Vinny take this to Jim Park.

Once it got to Jim, the idea to ride a bike from Ontario, California, to Rancho Mirage for the 2018 AREAA Leadership Summit was born. A couple of GEB members, Garrick Yan and Minh Nguyen, volunteered to not only train me for the ride, but also decided to ride along.

But before any of this happened, let me tell you a story of perseverance and overcoming the odds.

You see, I always was a big kid. I was over 200lbs by high school and that’s with exercise. Then I got into college and became about 250lbs but thought to myself: “One of

18

SPRING 2018

these days after I graduate, I’ll have time to work out and get fit!”

After college, I started my career in Real Estate. That’s when things really started to blow up. I was living the high life. Fast money, fast cars, fast life. It was all about the escrows!! ABC (Always Be Closing); deal after deal! I did 50 transactions by the time I was 23 years old. I was superman, king of the world. I was unstoppable!

At this point into my career, I was pushing a little on the heavier side at 275 lbs+. It was still okay because, as soon as I close this next deal, I would start working out…

One of these days!

In the spring of 2011, I switched paths and went into lending at Bank of America. I told myself, one of these days when I get the process down, I can be more efficient and start working out and taking care of myself physically. I got more efficient, however more efficient meant more business. Closing that deal was always the most important thing. But physically, I would take care of it - one of these days!

Then one of these days, I started having pains in my ankles. Then the pain started going towards my

The only other option would be to get a kidney transplant; however, because I was overweight, I didn’t qualify for a transplant.

I was 315 lbs. when diagnosed.

knees. It got so bad that I had to call 911. It was gout. For anyone who doesn’t know what gout is, it’s where you get crystals in your joints and it cuts up your flesh making it painful to even move. The gout flare up was severe due to my kidneys failing. I went to ER and they took a blood sample. I was thinking to myself, they need to just give me some pain meds and get me out of here. I have 4 files that just got into contract (my agents are going to kill me if I don’t lock).

The ER doctor came back and I thought here we go again…. Lose some weight, quit acting like you’re 25, and go on a diet. I know the drill.

Instead the doctor came in and said: “Wilson, I’m sorry, however, your kidney has failed. A nephrologist or kidney doctor will be in here in the morning to discuss your options.”

I was in denial. I kept thinking that if I were to go on a clean diet, quit partying, that one of these days it would get better.

The next day the nephrologist came in and explained to me what kidney failure was. He said that I needed to make arrangements that my life would drastically change.

I would need to go on dialysis to survive. (Dialysis is a process where blood is removed from the body, cleaned through a machine, then the clean blood is pumped back into the body. This is a 4-hour process up to 4 times a week.)

The only other option would be to get a kidney transplant; however, because I was overweight, I didn’t qualify for a transplant. I was 315lbs. when diagnosed.

Long story short, since my kidneys weren’t working I ended up filled with fluids and the gout spread throughout my body. I was in pain from head to toe. I had over 70lbs of excess fluids in my body which needed to be removed. It became so dangerous they had to do an emergency dialysis session to remove the fluids. They stuck a catheter through my chest into my heart to dialyze me. It took 3 weeks of dialysis to remove all the excess fluids. As they removed the fluids, the crystals from the gout spread throughout my body and inflamed all my joints from head to toe. My muscles atrophied from lying in a hospital bed lifeless for weeks. I couldn’t shower because the risk of infection from the catheter. I couldn’t move because of the pain.

Within the coming weeks, I was sent to a nursing facility for care.

Once I was able to start dialysis every other day instead of everyday, they sent me home. I was in a wheel chair, couldn’t walk, and was pale from being inside. I couldn’t go outside because it was always too cold due to my immune system being weak.

At this point, I was getting picked up by the ambulance every other day. They would pick me up and transport me on a gurney to the dialysis center. I couldn’t go to the bathroom on my own and because of this I did not want to see any of my friends and family. I did not want to take any pictures or videos.

I always in pain. I was broken both mentally and physically. But this was not the only pain.

The hardest pain of all was knowing that my family and friends were hurting so much and I was the source of their pain. I broke all their hearts and there was nothing they nor I could do. It broke my heart when one of my Hero’s, my Aunt Denise smiled in my face telling me it’s going to be okay, only to go into the next room crying her eyes out because of me.

I hoped I could make it up to all of them… One of these days.

And then one those days, I just decided…I CHOOSE LIFE!!!! I am not going down without a fight…I CHOOSE LIFE!!!

Then it was that day, where I decided to walk (no matter how painful) to the front porch - after a few days of doing that…

It was one of those days, I decided to walk to the side walk - I was using crutches but I did it - after a few days of doing that…

It was one of those days, I decided to walk my first mile with a cane - It took 45 minutes but who cares, I did it...

Then one of those days I decided to jog just a bit-doesn’t matter how long…1 min, 2 min, just do it!!

It broke my heart when one of my heroes, my Aunt Denise, smiled in my face telling me it’s going to be okay, only to go into the next room crying her eyes out because of me.

Then one of those days I decided to do a 10K, and then another…

Then one of those days I decided join a gym...

Then one of those days I decided to do martial arts again and join cross fit...

Then one of those days, this guy with kidney failure, on dialysis, who was 315 lbs, who couldn’t walk, had blood pressure though the roof, who didn’t have a chance at life, (with the help of his local chapter and national leaders of AREAA), decided to get on a bike and ride 84 miles with 2,700 feet of climbing from Ontario, California to The Ritz-Carlton at Rancho Mirage to prove the strength of the human will and the power of our AREAA com­munity!!!

One of the greatest accomplishments of my life is doing that ride. To me, it wasn’t a just a bike ride. It represented all the struggles and triumphs I faced for the past couple of years. I started off this journey 315 lbs and couldn’t move. Today, as it stands, I am 189 lbs with 15% body fat, and off all blood pressure medication.

You see, I was saying one of these days for so long that one of these days caught up to me. What I needed to do was turn one of these days into one of those days. What in your life have you been saying one of these days to? What steps can you take to turn it into one of those days?

out ore ab low m e e s ol To rney, f u o j ’s Wilson Facebook: him on Warrior nal @Re

SPRING 2018

19

AREAA Global, A Re-Introduction

By Carmen Chong Chief Executive Officer

AREAA Global has come a long way since its inception. The brainchild of Allen Chiang and Jim Park, this for-profit entity was established to meet a growing need to support our members & their clients’ appetite for real estate investment opportunities throughout the United States and around the world.

AREAA Global is about doing well personally while simultaneously doing good for AREAA’s mission. Our immediate goal is to own our very first AREAA headquarters and community center to support the AAPI community with the goal of expanding across the country.

As I have traveled around the country, many of you have asked: Who is AREAA Global? What do they do? Does the board get paid?

AREAA Global exists to benefit our members with 100% of profit going back to AREAA to further support AREAA’s mission of promoting sustainable homeownership opportunities for the AAPI community.

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Register for the AREAA Global Exchange at no cost: AREAAGlobal.com

As a rule of thumb the strategic partnerships curated by AREAA Global must have deal points equal to or of greater value than what would be accessible to a non-member on the market. We take great pride and satisfaction in knowing we are able to create true diversification and negotiate competitive commissions for our members who are looking to expand their business, while simultaneously doing good for our community.

For 2018, AREAA Global is truly excited to launch the AREAA Global EXCHANGE. A project marketing platform designed specifically for AREAA members for the purpose of connecting YOU to real estate opportunities throughout the United States and around the world. The Exchange platform allows our membership to instantly access these curated listings to build on existing business and create a secondary income stream.

AREAA Global has recently brought on Michelle van Ruyven as managing director. Michelle will oversee the organization’s strategic initiatives and serve as the liaison between our partners and AREAA’s membership. Michelle, with the guidance of AREAA Global’s board and advisory members will help drive financial and member benefit goals of the organization. AREAA Global is blessed to have several individuals who have served AREAA National either locally or nationally, and have a strong desire to give back and further AREAA’s important mission. They bring their business expertise to make this entity profitable. The board members do not get paid, and in fact the board members are using their own resources and time to travel and attend events to create awareness about AREAA Global to our members. However, any AREAA member who brings on a new AREAA Global project or has his or her clients take advantage of the AREAA Global approved projects can benefit financially. The idea is to help our members do well and make AREAA National financially strong by working together.

AREAA members can register at no cost via AREAAGlobal.com and engage with domestic and international developers thus creating instant real estate leads in the agent’s pipeline. This is so exciting as we strive to move forward and upward and be better when it comes to value.

We will help our chapters increase their membership as this is exclusive for members only and we will move closer to our goal.

Should you have an opportunity you would like to bring to the membership or a developer contact that could fit our model, we want to hear from you! Our business model is based on a “win - win – win strategy. Through AREAA Global, YOU as a member win, our strategic partners win and AREAA in turn wins. Humble to serve.

Working together to make our members more successful while doing good for AREAA’s mission!

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By Scott Berman

What is luxury?

Is it a specific amenity or feature? Is bigger always better? How do we define what it means for something to be "luxurious"?

As millennials continue to come into their own, especially in the luxury sector of real estate, the idea of what luxury means is evolving. According to the new Coldwell Banker report on the state of luxury, "The Report", luxury buyers today are more nuanced and refined in their tastes than in the past.

Smaller properties with a more efficient blueprint. Eco-friendly design to minimize the environmental impact. Automation and intelligence. These are the new hallmarks of luxury real estate.

Luxury will always have an air of decadence to it, but intelligence – from design to daily functionality – is increasingly the defining characteristic in a luxury property.

We’ve sat down with some of the biggest luxury agents in AREAA to ask what they think luxury means today, and what we learned might surprise you.

Photos (clockwise from top left): Ray Alamo, Howard Shen, Meldis Zakarian, Howard Shen

Our Interviewees: Randy Char

Dyllan Nguyen

AREAA’s 2018 National President and former Chair of the AREAA Luxury Committee.

Randy has been a leader in the Las Vegas luxury market for years, developing luxury high rises such as the One Queensbridge high rise.

The founder of AREAA Greater Denver and a top producing luxury agent in the greater Denver area. Dyllan recently organized the Colorado Luxury Summit – see our Around the Association section for more about this event!

Herman Chan

Don Pingaro

The current Chair of AREAA’s Luxury Committee and one of the top producing agents in San Francisco. You may have seen Herman on HGTV or even on the new Netflix series Eat Your Words (Editor’s note: don’t give up your day job Herman!)

has been selling luxury homes in Miami, Florida since 1992.

In his early career his primary market has been the exclusive Fisher Island where he has surpassed over 5,000 real estate transactions. Don’s original firm, Ocean Insiders, remains the dominant firm on Fisher Island. Don is also the Broker/ Partner for ISG Asia, home of the largest sales Mandarin speaking sales team in Florida.

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one person might be overkill to another. It’s important for you to identify what your client values, and then that becomes what luxury means.

Dyllan: Luxury to me means an exceptional experience that goes above and beyond what a client expects, whether it’s at the Four Seasons or at the AMC Movie Theatres, it simply is going above and beyond my expectations. At Sotheby's International Realty, we're taught to convey to our clients that “Luxury is an experience, not a price-point." I couldn't agree more.

Don: Luxury is a state of mind - it’s an attitude. It’s attention to detail. It’s caring. It’s how you are treated. It’s how you feel the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave.

What is something that used to be a must in a luxury property, but not anymore?

Randy: The term ‘gilding the lily’ comes to

“

If a fine home is seen as being environmentally conscious in its design and energy demands, that is certainly a huge selling point...

Randy Char

mind. It wasn’t long ago that for a home to be considered luxurious, it needed to be heavily embellished with large columns and moldings.

Things like bright gold fixtures, and plaster accents where all the rage, along with oversized Roman tubs. Today, distinguished buyers value calm and streamlined design. The more bright and airy the home is, the better.

Dyllan: Five piece baths, movie theaters, formal living spaces and tons of square feet. It’s just not important to my clientele.

Don: Jacuzzi tubs on the balcony, formal dining room.

Ray Alamo

What does the word "luxury" mean to you?

Randy: I would define luxury as being perceived as unique and having a sort of intrinsic value. When something is deemed luxurious, it is seen as desirable surely, but also invokes an emotional response.

Herman: It means less now. It’s one of the most over used words. What means luxury to

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As millennials come into their own, what is something they want in a luxury property that surprises you (or just doesn’t seem obvious)?

Randy: A home’s impact on the environment is becoming more of a consideration with luxury homeowners with each passing year.

Millennials are after utility, so a home they’re after needs to have a design that makes sense.

If a fine home is seen as being environmentally conscious in its design and energy demands, that is certainly a huge selling point too with a younger audience.

Herman: For all the social sharing they do 24/7, for their home purchase they will pay a premium for privacy. Luxury millennial buyers are kicking that notion of flaunting their wealth, and prefer to quietly and peacefully enjoy it by themselves.

Dyllan: Denver is a huge hub for millennials and make up a huge portion of my business. I'm also a millennial myself.

My affluent millennial clients want to be more socialistic and blend in. They do not want something that conveys exclusivity or denotes wealth or somehow that they are better than their peers. They want to blend in.

Don: Commercial grade kitchen appliances... I did not realize cooking at home was such a priority.

Luxury isn’t just about elegance anymore, but increasingly also about intelligence – what is the hot smart tech or design feature of the luxury market in your opinion?

Randy: Buyers love fully connected home systems, but in a different way than they did 15 years ago. Smart home tech with built-in obsolescence with limitations are not popular.

Instead, think more ‘plug and play’ where you can upgrade without the huge cost to replace everything. Technology is allowing us to control our entire homes from our smartphones, from garage doors to lighting. That means more convenience and peace of mind - a necessity in any luxury home.

Herman: Complete home automation is simply a must have these days. Everything else has an app, why not your home?

Dyllan: Home automation is a big player with my millennial clientele. They want the home to be an "app" or an extension of their mobile devices. They want instant gratification whether it be to turn of lights, or have the house cool down before they arrive, or have the clothes washer turn on while they're away on vacation.

Don: Circadian light features; curtains that close and open at sunset or sunrise. It’s a simple, yet refined feature that my clients love.

Tell me something about serving luxury clients that isn’t common knowledge.

Randy: Self-awareness and relationship building are essential. Striking a balance between your own personal presentation and how you make your client feel are most critical.

When your clients see that you’re enthusiast about working with them and that their best interest is your priority, frankly, you’re halfway there. Another important attribute is being

Meldis Zakarian

discreetly mindful of your client’s financial limitations.

That may sound really old school, but having that kind of awareness when dealing with your clientele is time-proven to deliver the results you want.

Herman: They put on their pants one leg at a time just like everyone else. While going the extra mile on service is great, treating your luxury clients like regular people can be a breath of fresh air for them.

Besides, you should treat all of your clients like they’re the most important person in the world – whether they are luxury or not!

“

Luxury millennial buyers are kicking that notion of flaunting their wealth, and prefer to quietly and peacefully enjoy it by themselves.

Herman Chan Dyllan: A lot of times, my affluent clientele wants to be told what to do. Many agents are intimidated to be direct with the client and how to navigate the process especially with wealthier clients. You have to exude confidence and not be afraid to take charge. After all, they're looking at us for advice and input.

Don: They are real people. There is no need to be stuffy or intimidated. The sooner a Realtor can connect to the luxury client on a personal level the better they can service the client.

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a/r/eats! with

KAT CHEN

MISO BLACK COD Black cod (also known as sablefish or butterfish) is known for its silky and buttery texture. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this creamy white fish is highly coveted in Japan, sustainably fished and in season mid-March to mid-November. I fell in love with this sweet-savory fish dish the first time I had it and knew immediately it was something I wanted to replicate at home.

Each fillet crisps to a perfect amber caramel. The savory sharpness of the miso combined with the sweet fermented aspects of mirin contributes to its rich, umami taste.

For the less experienced cooks, undercooking miso black cod isn’t easy to do – the marinade caramelizes right before the fish is fully cooked through, indicating that the dish is done. And in the event of overcooking, the black cod’s high fat content will keep it from drying out. It’s very forgiving.

MARINADE:

PRO-TIP

If you want to

take it up a notch, Over high heat, bring sake and mirin to a garnish with boil in a small to medium saucepan. Boil hajikami pickled for 20 seconds to evaporate the alcohol ginger shoots and turn the heat down to low. Add miso paste and sugar and whisk until both have dissolved completely. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

INGREDIENTS:

Pat the black cod fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels.

Slather the fish with miso marinade and place in a nonreactive dish or bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap.

Marinade for 2 to 3 days.

++ 4 black cod fillets (about 1/2 lb each)

TO COOK THE FISH:

++ 1/4 cup sake

Preheat oven to 400° F. Heat an oven-proof skillet over medhigh on the stovetop and wipe off any excess miso clinging to the fillets, but don’t rinse off. Film the pan with a little oil, place fish skin-side up on the pan and cook for 3 minutes until brown.

Flip and continue cooking for 2-3 mins. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8-10 mins, until fish is opaque and flakes easily.

++ 1/4 cup mirin ++ 4 tablespoons white miso paste ++ 3 tablespoons sugar

SERVE with a spoonful of the glaze drizzled over the fish.

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shutterstock.com/Tlapy007

These days, you may have heard of the dish after it was made famous by the acclaimed upscale Japanese restaurant chain, Nobu.

Luckily, this miso-glazed black cod recipe is simple enough that anyone can enjoy at home.

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Wulai, Taiwan

By Jacki Ueng

W

ulai is a small, cozy mountainous town, famous for its hot springs and aboriginal culture in Northern Taiwan. With a population of less than 7,000, it is worth visiting to learn more of Aboriginal Taiwanese culture outside of the more recent Chinese and Japanese historical rule.

Just a 45 minute drive from Taipei, Wulai is the perfect place to relax for the day. For those landing in Taipei, I’d recommend this as your first stop before delving deep into all that the city has to offer (the incessant amounts of savory street food, shopping, neighborhoods, parks, and nightclubs).

Once you arrive in Wulai, the small town is easy to walk around on foot. Stride on over to the small waterfall and open air market on Wulai Old Street. There are also a number of good hikes near by.

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Hot Springs

Atayal Museum

There is no better way to spend the day after getting off a long flight than to hit the Hot Springs in Wulai. There are various establishments to choose from, but I’d recommend Yen Town Hot Springs.

It’s clean, affordable, relaxing; a true hidden gem, mainly known only to locals.

Situated in the middle of town is the Atayal Museum, the other highlight of Wulai. Spend an hour watching an informative video upon entering the Atayal Formosa history on the means "genuine left, and then browse through two floors filled person" or "brave with art and artifacts. man".

Hire a guide for an informational tour on Atayal Culture.

The hot spring has close to 10 pools to choose from.

Massage options are available and guests are required to shower before getting in. I recommend coming during the week as there are less visitors.

Hot : Springs / NT 400 person

SD

~$14 U

Atayal once thrived as a fishing, hunting, gathering and crop town, as well as hand-weaving, wood-working, and net-knotting.

Today, there are less than 100,000 Atayal people left, representing only 16% of the Taiwanese indigenous population (making them the 3rd largest indigenous group in the country). Some studies have shown they originated from South China while genetic studies have disputed origins from Thailand and Phillipines.

Jacki Ueng

Jacki Ueng

Hot Springs & the Taiwanese Aboriginal Culture

Jacki Ueng

T R A V E L I N G with THE BOHEMIAN VAG ABOND

How to Get to Wulai We hired MyTaiwanTour for this relaxing day tour. Contact them to schedule a friendly tour guide and comfortable van to take you there for the day at an affordable price. Request Joshua Samuel Brown, a resident of Taiwan for the past two decades and a travel journalist who is responsible for writing many of the Lonely Planet Taiwan guidebooks.

I would also recommend hiring their company for any type of group or personalized tours: Adventure, Outdoor, Spa, Multi-Day trips. What I loved is that they are a local company, with young, innovative energy.

Other MyTaiwanTours I recommend: Sun Moon Lake Leisure Tour, Tea Culture Day Tour, Taroko Gorge Day Tour, Jiufen & Pingxi, Ultimate Taipei Day Tour and Zen of Taipei.

MyTaiwa

nTour mytaiwa ntour.co m se

rvice@m ytaiwanto ur.com +886-2-2 365-388 1

Mei-Lu’s Coffee and Souvenir Shop

What to Eat in Wulai

Once your trip through Ayatal culture is complete, stroll over to Mei-Lu’s Coffee and Souvenir Shop on the main floor. Visiting the shop is an experience in itself as we found ourselves feeling right at home with the charismatic owner. “Mei-Lu”, named after the nearby mountain by her father, was born and raised in Wulai and has ancestors that trace back hundreds of years on the island of Taiwan.

There are a number of restaurants and street vendors from which to experience local Taiwanese specialties.

You really can’t go wrong, but I suggest choosing one where you see more local Taiwanese dining. Most of the vegetables and meat are locally grown.

She has owned and operated this successful shop for over 20 years. It is in fact very common in Taiwanese culture (and in Taiwanese-Americans) to meet strong, independent, entrepreneurial woman like her, on top of the classic hospitality they share with guests.

Upon entering, she will welcome you in with her bubbly, vibrant personality and introduce the menu of coffee options.

Learn about the local coffee as it quickly turns into learning about the local rice liquor (which I was naturally more curious about). She offers a tasting of the “Ah-Mà rice liquor” made by elderly women residing in the nearby mountain (like sweet moonshine). Shop at her souvenir store which sells hand-woven bags and clothes she made as she prepares you a cup of coffee from local coffee beans.

Sit for as long as you like as Mei-lu loves to chat with guests and learn about what part of the world one is visiting from.

You can also learn a lot about Atayal culture through her many generations who are still rooted here.

JACKI UENG is the VP in Business Development for Ticor Title in Los Angeles. When she’s not issuing Title Policies, she is traveling the globe in search of her next exotic food dish and cultural encounter. As the Bohemian Vagabond, she's a travel blogger who inspires others to travel and experience the customs, cultures and foods of destinations across the world.

Follow Jacki's travels at:

JackiUeng.com Must Eat: Local Bamboo Cooked Rice

Connect with Jacki: shutterstock.com / ajolita

The Gondola A spectacular way to see Wulai Falls, as it takes visitors from the base of the gorge to the top of the mountain.

At the top is a gorgeous view with a hotel, conference center, and a beautiful garden park with paddle boats and nature trails.

/

AREAAnewsNetwork

@JackiUeng

SPRING 2018

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Celebrating 15 Years of Promoting AAPI Homeownership

Welcome to Seattle

One of the most iconic trips in North America is through the Great Pacific Northwest. Perhaps the best way to experience the majesty of this region is by booking a train ride on the Amtrak Cascades from Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, British Colombia. With multiple daily departures, the trip takes roughly 10.5 hours; however, one can easily hop off for a nice layover in any one of the eclectic cities along the way to sightsee and unwind.

We’ve decided to ask our local chapters what they would do if you were to spend 24 hours in three of these cities: Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. We didn’t give them any guidelines for their input, we simply asked: What would you do if you only had 24 hours to spend in your city?

24 Hours in Portland

By Tiffany Schuster Chapter Website - www.areaa.org/portland

Portland, Oregon, has a wealth of recreational, ecological, historical and entrepreneurial opportunities. From bike geeks, vintners, master gardeners, foodies, golfers, windsurfers, to soccer fanatics and artisanal beer connoisseurs, Portland has something for everyone.

Here’s a little sampling of the “Rose City”, both indoors and out.

Certainly pick off three or four of these to do in a 24 hour period.

Roses Upon Roses Upon Roses For the garden lovers, Portland is simply paradise. The Portland Japanese Garden (www.japanesegarden.org) was proclaimed

by Japanese Ambassador Nobuo Matsunaga to be ““the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” Built in 1963, the Garden is located in the West Hills of Portland and overlooks the city below. It is a must see for anyone visiting the city. But it’s not our only garden! You should also check out the International Rose Test Garden (www.portlandoregon. gov), and the Lan Su Chinese Garden (www.lansugarden.org).

Get Your Scream On Portland also suffers from a slight case of soccer-mania. Take in a Portland Timbers FC or Portland Thorns FC game right in the heart of downtown

Portland Japanese Garden - Portland, OR Oaks Park - Portland, OR

B Brown / Shutterstock.com

Photo: Oaks Park

at Providence Park and let yourself go with the other thousands of sometimes raucous fans that have made our teams some of the most popular in the country.

For schedules for both teams: www.timbers.com/es/thornsfc Beers and Bikes Want to mix beer tasting and exercise while taking in the sites? Great news, Portland has some of the best beer in the nation! Hop on a trolley or a Willamette River barge and enjoy a pint (or several!). Check out BrewCycle or BrewBarge for the best tours. “It’s the most Portland thing you can do.” Visit their site here: www.Brewgrouppdx.com Family Friendly Bringing your kids? Take in the sun and some waterfront at Oaks Amusement Park for a round of minigolf, rollerskating or carnival rides to have everyone connect with their innerchild. Visit www.oakspark.com for more information.

If it’s raining, which you may have heard happens frequently here, travel via the Max line downtown and take in the Portland Art Museum. Want to know a little Oregon history? Go to the Oregon History Museum. Both of these museums are located in the downtown Park blocks.

Eat Your Weight Sneak in an eclectic selection of food – for the vegan, vegetarians, & meat lovers, alike.

Listed in Oregonian’s Top 2017 Best 40 Restaurants, here are some of our favorites: • Coquine • Pok Pok • Le Pigeon • Toro Bravo • Castagna • Higgins 32

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Google World Headquarters - Seattle, WA EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

24 Hours in…Seattle

By Vincent Ha Chapter Website - www.areaa.org/greaterseattle From Nirvana to Amazon Back in the day, when you thought of Seattle, the first things you think about are maybe the Space Needle, Coffee, Rain, and maybe the old plaid and grunge garage band days. Seattle has grown up so much since those early days! The recent wave of Tech migration has made Seattle the “Silicone Forrest”. You see not just newfound wealth, but creative ideas and cultures blending with the old fabric to create a culture like no other!

High Tech Sightseeing Seattle boasts more cranes building beautiful, architecturally avant-garde high rises than anywhere else in the United States! Soon to be over 12 million square feet of office space, Amazon’s $4 Billion Dollar campus is not only awe inspiring, but innovative and cutting edge. Huge Glass Domes covered green gardens to allow employees to roam and work outdoors, indoors, and homeless shelters erected right on the campus to help the needy. Microsoft, Expedia, Boeing, Costco and Nordstrom claim Seattle as their birth place or headquarters, and Google, Facebook and others are quickly opening campuses. With the new influx of people, money and ideas, Seattle has benefited and become an even more eclectic world class city.

Culinary Masterpieces This is an Asian publication, so we have to talk about food!

The famous chefs include such pioneers of fusion as James Beard Award Winning Chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas.

His bevy of restaurants includes, Pacific Northwest Cuisine’s,

Museum of Pop Culture - Seattle, WA kerochan / Shutterstock.com

Chihuly's Garden and Glass - Seattle, WA

The Space Needle - Seattle, WA EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

Dahlia Lounge (of Sleepless in Seattle fame), and Etta’s Seafood restaurant, where you can sample his unrivaled signature spice-rubbed salmon & crab cakes, or handmade seaweed linguine dungeness crab, savory clams, ikura, onion soubise, with bacon breadcrumbs.

World-class Japanese restaurants.

Blending classic Japanese techniques with Northwest wealth of local seafood and ingredients is what you’ll find at Shiro’s, Kashiba’s or Nishino’s. You’ll find Michelin Star award winning, Din Tai Fung in Seattle (www.dintaifungusa. com). Din Tai Fung was the only Chinese restaurant to make the New York Times top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world and has long been the undisputed king of the Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).

The Triple-Threat When you talk about sites to see in Seattle, you almost always start with the triple threat, conveniently all grouped

together. First the iconic Space Needle, boast some of the most memorable world class views from the observation deck you’ll ever experience. Although, as of this writing of this article, the Skycity restaurant is undergoing a $100 Million Renovation, the finished result including glass floors are slated to be finished by the summer of 2018 and are sure not to disappoint.

Next you can visit the MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture, formerly known as the EMP). The roots of this museum were originally a homage to Rock ‘n Roll, by original Microsoft co-founder, and owner of the Seattle Seahawks Paul Allen, but has grown to encompass many Popular Culture and Modern Art themes. Hendrix, Nirvana, Bowie, Marvel Super Heroes, Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Star Trek and of course Seattle Seahawk exhibits are just a few of the many fun and inventive exhibits.

Finally, you can step into a whimsical world of delight as you walk through a garden of glass at Dale Chihuly’s world famous exhibition Chihuly’s Garden and Glass. Simply. Magical.

End It on a Sweet Note There is not enough time to include all the hiking, wine tasting, and great clubs

cdrin / Shutterstock.com

in this article, so I will have to end with dessert instead. And what better way to top off your evening visit in Seattle than with Dessert? Seattle knows how to do desserts. Lines out the street for Trophy Cupcakes (www.trophycupcakes.com) PBJ and Red Velvet Cupcakes tell the story, and Lady Yum (www.ladyyum. com) has Macarons that rival Laduree.

Inventive ice cream flavors that blow you away, like Green Basil and Chocolate Cocoa Nibs, or Lemon & Pepper White Chocolate await you at Salt and Straw (www.saltandstraw. com). You can’t lose by ending your night at Molly Moon’s (www. mollymoon.com), one of my favorite handmade ice creameries, either.

They make quintessential Northwest flavors like Earl Gray, Stumptown Coffee and Scout Mint. Thousands of Girl scout ‘Thin Mint” cookies get bought and crushed to combine with Washington Grown Organic Mint to make this delightful ice cream!

Too many things to do in 24 hours?

No problem! Come back and visit… often. Northwest hospitality is Seattle.

You are always welcome to come back for more adventures and memories that will last a lifetime! (con't) SPRING 2018

33

Stanley Park - Vancouver, B.C. Vancouver Art Gallery - Vancouver B.C.

romakoma / Shutterstock.com

Lissandra Melo / Shutterstock.com

24 Hours in…Vancouver

By Leslie McDonnell Chapter Website - www.areaa.org/vancouver

Immerse Yourself in Culture The hardest part of only having 24 hours in Vancouver is how do you pick what to do?! If you are a fan of art and culture, you definitely want to check out the latest exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Here you can feed your soul with works or art from artists like Emily Carr and Takashi Murakami. If you are a fan of Science and Technology, your trip would not be complete without a visit to Science World, where you can see their latest OMNIMAX attraction which is played on a 5 story video screen.

Food Coma Feeling peckish? Vancouver is a melting pot for food options – Yaletown has two blocks of restaurants: from the top rated Blue Water Café (www.bluewatercafe. net) to a local favorite Tacofino (www.tacofino.com).

Are you a fan of comfort food? Check out the Flying Pig (www.theflyingpigvan.com)for satisfaction.

The Vancouver Urban Winery (www.vancouverurbanwinery. com) opened a great tapas restaurant in its production facility in Strathcona – great food and drink at your fingertips. Not enough? Stroll down the street to ask Luigi for some fresh, authentic Italian pasta!

Liquid Diet If liquid diet is your thing, Chinatown’s the Keefer Bar has got your medicine – these bartenders are famous for their remedies and cures. Head over to Gastown

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Pacific Centre Mall - Vancouver, B.C. Rosebc10987 / Shutterstock.com

to see the city’s oldest steam clock and visit Diamond for another delicious cocktail to quench your thirst.

Shop ‘Til You Drop Pacific Centre Mall has many big names, from Holt Renfrew to Nordstroms. If the weather is nice, take a stroll down the infamous Robson street – where blocks and blocks of stores are happy to take your money!

I Want to Ride My Bicycle!

Taxi cabs are so blasé! While Vancouver is yet to join the Uber world, it does have a great bike share program and of course, the favorite way to get around False Creek is on either of the commuter ferries – Aquabus and False Creek Ferries.

The Great Outdoors A trip to Vancouver would not be complete without checking out Stanley Park - a 405 hectare public park located in the downtown core. The park is surrounded by miles of seawall and beach, with beautiful totem poles reflecting the indigenous peoples who used to inhabit the area.

Nightlife No Vancouver experience is complete without visiting the Granville strip for a night of dancing and letting off steam.

Tons of bars and restaurants line the street, and it used to be said it had the highest concentration of neon signs anywhere in the world outside of Shanghai. Granville has it all, from clubs to concert halls, and everything in between.

Your

Connection Gina Duncan

REALTOR® RB-21124 R, PB, ABR, CIPS, CRS, e-Pro, GRI, RSPS, SFR, AHWD, BPOR Direct: 808.250.9858 | MauiGina@gmail.com 275 W Kaahumanu Ave #2CA1 | Kahului, HI 96732 FineIslandProperties.com

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Special Feature

IMMIGRANT SUCCESS STORIES My parents were born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. They were married quite young under the old Korean tradition where their parents made marriage arrangements and binding agreements between the families.

When my elder sister was about two years old, my father was required to travel to San Francisco on a business trip and wanted to take my mother along with him. My maternal grandparents, who were retired and quite financially secure, took care of my sister and my young parents arrived in California.

My dad immediately fell in love with America and wanted to resettle here but my mother was young and traditional and wished to stay in South Korea. Soon they learned that my mother was pregnant with me, which further complicated their disagreement about the future. In

short, they separated and as a result I was born in San Francisco to a single mom who spoke no English and found herself all alone in a foreign country with a two year old back home in Korea and a newborn in her arms.

Fortunately, my mom had an elder sister too. She lived in North Carolina and was married to a Korean American serviceman who was unfortunately an abusive alcoholic. The two sisters spoke on the phone together and with my grandparents a plan was made for everyone to converge on Los Angeles. My mother and I took a bus to LA from San Francisco, while my grandparents flew in from South Korea with my sister, and my aunt divorced then left her abusive husband in North Carolina. My mom and aunt started as entry level laborers in downtown LA's then-booming garment industry. Six months later, they started their own company with a little help from my grandparents who cared for my sister and me while our mom and auntie built their empire.

Courage, imagination, hard work, determination, perseverance, sacrifice, and a positive attitude made them enormously successful. They built a multi-million

Michelle Kim

dollar enterprise in the garment industry then sold it and built successful income-producing commercial real estate portfolios. They were a true American success story and I am very grateful to my mom, my aunt, and my grandparents.

When I was a young adult, I also reconnected with my father and he too had become a great success in business.

I am indebted to them all for setting the standard by which I have always measured my own levels of effort and achievement.

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I entered into the mortgage business right out of college. I started in a mortgage brokerage firm at a time when that side of the business was still booming.

I quickly discovered I had a natural passion for it and an ability to work the long hours and make the necessary sacrifices to be successful.

A few years into the industry, I saw that economic trouble was on the horizon. So I thought my career would be more secure inside a large global financial institution and made the switch to HSBC. I am so glad I did that, and I credit my attentiveness to economic trends. I would advise any young woman interested in breaking into any aspect of the financial services sector to read as much research as you can and teach yourself to visualize the implications of current events on the future so that you can anticipate trends and protect yourself from cyclical and other risks to your career and your financial security.

I built my business the old fashioned way, even though I also harness all technologies available to increase efficiencies and productivity and achieve multiplier effects and economies of scale. What I mean by "the old fashioned way" is networking. There is no replacement for personal, face-to-face relationship building. It has been the lifeblood of my business success. It takes a lot of sacrifice and time away from family and friends, especially in the early years of your career, but it is the best way to build a book of business filled with clients and fellow industry stakeholders who will refer everyone they know to you.

What drives me is not money or the trappings of success. That all comes and goes and you cannot take it with you on to the next life! The only thing we really do take with us to the next life, and that we will be remembered for after we are gone, is our reputation.

That is something that is only built brick by brick, day by day, by how we treat people, how we help others. Of course we value and appreciate the material rewards and comforts and luxuries afforded by our hard work and business success, but those things would be empty if they are not acquired in a way that is of value to others. That's the perspective we need to have on our careers. We need to recognize that the work we do in the mortgage business is of tremendous value to our clients and their families and friends. We help people build wealth and security for their families through

investment portfolios. It is a great privilege to be in a position to perform that service for others, and the opportunity to service and benefit others is really what gets me up in the morning.

I have worked in the mortgage industry now for about 15+ years, and I am so very thankful for the opportunity I continue to have to be in this business.

The success I have been able to achieve has afforded me other opportunities too, both as an entrepreneur in other businesses and to volunteer in the service of others who are less fortunate than me. I have investments now that are performing well and in 5 to 10 years should be performing even better. I am blessed to be in the position of having the option to retire from banking if I choose; perhaps to slow down my pace, or spend more time with family, or focus on my other business and personal interests, or to help the poor and homeless, which is how I like to volunteer.

I have been privileged to travel extensively in my lifetime already, and there are many places in the world that I would still love to explore. I am passionate about travel, different cultures and cuisines, art and music, and meeting new people. But yes, I do in fact see America as the greatest country on Earth. I believe we are blessed in this country to live in a land of unlimited possibilities and abundant opportunities. But not everyone is equipped with the basic tools or abilities to realize the potential within. America is not perfect and there is certainly lots of room for improvement, but that's the same with each of us as individuals too.

America isn't perfect, but it's the best this World has to offer, and I am very grateful and proud to be an American.

To any young Asian woman seeking a career in the mortgage business I would advise you to be prepared for everything, because America is a work-in-progress and our entire world is constantly changing. Be strong, be confident, remain calm, and don't let anyone or anything to get you down or stop you from believing in yourself. Be ready to make a lot of sacrifices. Prepare your loved ones for that reality. There is an old American saying that says, "The harder you work, the luckier you get!" I have found this to be absolutely true. And lastly, you've heard that in real estate they say, "location, location, location." Well, in the mortgage industry it's, "network, network, network!�

“ The only thing we really do take with us to the next life, and that we will be remembered for after we are gone, is our reputation.

That is something that is only built brick by brick, day by day, by how we treat people, how we help others.

Immigration has been a fundamental part of American history since its conception. As the country continues to grapple with this complex issue, we want to highlight some of the amazing contributions immigrants have made. If you know someone who you think we should profile, email the Editor at editor@areaa.org.

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Shutterstock.com / ppa

Affordable Housing Solution

MicroDwelling (Tiny House)

By Kurt Nishimura

Shutterstock.com / ppa

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In many cities across North America, rising land prices and development costs are making the American Dream of owning their own home seem like a dream that is much harder to reach than in the past. Rather than living large and beyond one’s financial means, there is a growing trend on people who want to live in drastically smaller spaces or “tiny homes.” Architects are always trying to make floor plans more efficient while simultaneously reducing the use or energy consumed with the goal that a property can achieve sustainability where the property does not rely on utilities or public services. Some cities where land prices have skyrocketed, like Portland and Seattle, have been more progressive in their thinking making micro-dwelling more popular by spawning a reality TV show called “Tiny House Nation”.

ments needed for daily living – bathroom, cooking, sleeping, etc.

A Phoenix firefighter, Patrick McCue came up with the idea a few years ago of inviting group of people who didn’t necessarily come from construction backgrounds to come up with Micro-Dwellings with the goal of sustainability. Arizona State University students, contractors, artists and others participated by thinking outside of the big box and start thinking small by creating their own micro-dwellings. The Micro-dwelling exhibit is in its 3rd year at Shemer Art Center in Phoenix. The outdoor exhibit features structures all under 600 square feet to include as many ele-

While we are a long way away from solving the affordability issue of housing, the Micro-dwelling exhibit shows there is light at the end of the tunnel and solutions are possible as long. Tiny apartments, tiny housing, and even tiny retail are real trends, albeit in their infancy. Hopefully, developers will see there is a viable market for micro-dwelling and start creating communities where simple living and sustainability is part of the development process. It is then when we may be able to make the American Dream of owning a home possible for everyone.

With the help of a grant from the Central Arizona Architecture Foundation, ASU students built 3 different structures out of the total 12 structures exhibited. The Salt River Project (SRP), IKEA, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture also were sponsors for the exhibit.

Although pictures are said to tell a 1000 words, the Micro-Dwelling exhibit allowed the visitor the ability to touch, feel and experience what the creators have designed. The Micro-Dwelling exhibit shows what the mind can create when we strip away the assumptions of what is required in a home and allow others to participate in the creative process.

International Buyer Trends in the U.S.

By Jenny Cui

According to NAR research, in the last few years international buyers purchased billions of dollars of residential properties in US, and the dollar volume of foreign buyer purchases accounted for about 10 percent of the dollar volume of existing home sales in the last fiscal year, an increase from the eight percent share during the previous period. The number of units purchased by international buyers has also increased four percent share during the pervious period. Foreign buyers who primarily reside outside the United States (non-resident foreign buyers) accounted for 42 percent of all foreign buyers, while recent immigrants and foreign buyers who reside in the United States on work, student, or other visas (resident foreign buyers) accounted for 58 percent. The average price of properties purchased by foreign buyers was $536,852, more than the average price of $277,733 of all U.S. existing home sales.

International clients purchase properties in the United States for residential, investment, and vacation purposes.

Nearly half of all foreign buyers purchased the property as a primary residence. By type of foreign buyer, more non-resident foreign buyers purchased a property for vacation use and/or a rental unit than did resident foreign buyers.

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China remained as the top origin of foreign buyers ($31.7B), followed by Canada ($19.0B), the United Kingdom ($9.5B), Mexico ($9.3B), and India ($7.8B). The bulk of buyers from China, India, and Mexico were resident buyers, while most buyers from Canada and the United Kingdom were non-resident buyers.

Most foreign buyers from Canada and China made an all-cash purchase. Meanwhile, foreign buyers from India, most of whom are resident foreigners buying primary residences, obtained mortgage financing from U.S. sources While international clients represent a small segment of total U.S. existing home sales market ( five percent), they are an important clientele, particularly to states that tend to attract international clients. The major destinations of foreign buyers were Florida (22%), Source: NAR

Texas (12%), California (12%), New Jersey (4%) and Arizona (4%). Fifty-two percent of foreign buyers purchased in a suburban area, while approximately 14% of foreign buyers purchased residential property in a small town/rural area, and only six percent of resident foreign buyers purchased in a resort area.

There are many factors that affect the decision for international buyers to purchase U.S. properties, and the price is the most important one. Many International buyers viewed U.S. home prices to be less expensive than prices in the home country, a view that has not changed much from last year. The other factors mainly consist of foreign currency and economic developments.

The perception of the United States as a stable and secure place to invest in real estate is also important, and this factor can at times overwhelm economic fluctuations that may be more transient.

The factors that affect many intentional buyers not purchasing U.S properties include: could not find property, cost

of property, could not obtain financing and cannot move money (such as China’s regulations to reduce the outflow of capital). Other reasons are related to immigration laws property taxes, exchange rates, exposure to U.S. tax, etc.

For commercial real estate, in the past five years, there has been an increase in the number of international clients looking to buy commercial properties and the average purchasing price per transaction is around $1M. The top countries of origin of international buyers are China (17%), United Kingdom (7%), Venezuela (7%), Canada, South Korea (4%), France, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. The Top U.S. destination states that these buyers purchased commercial properties are Florida, Texas, California, New York, Arizona, Ohio, Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi and Nevada. The types of commercial property types purchased by international buyers include: retail (20%), apartment (19%), industrial (18%), land (11%), office (6%) and hotel (4%). The two main reasons that international buyers purchase commercial properties in U.S. are for own business use or investment purpose. 64% of the buyers are non-U.S. citizens who primarily reside outside the U.S. and 36% are non-U.S. citizens in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas (diplomats, foreign students and foreign workers).

Commercial Property Types Purchased by International Buyers 2017

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19

RETAI L

APARTME NT

18

11

I ND UST RI AL

L AND

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4

OFFI C E

HOTE L

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%

%

%

%

%

Source: NAR

The outlook of activities of international buyers remains the same or unknown for most people due to uncertainty of political conditions in the United States and abroad, which affects economic variables and the perception of stability, as they can impact the pace of international activity in U.S. residential and commercial property about for the next 12 months. Â

Source: NAR

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2017 AREAA NATIONAL CONVENTION AREAA’s annual National Convention is a celebration of all of our achievements throughout the year by bringing together thousands of our members and leaders in an immersive four days of education, cultural celebration, and networking.

This year’s National Convention was held in San Diego, CA, at the stunning waterfront Manchester Grand Hyatt. Attendees were able to have face to face interaction and discussion with some of the biggest names in real estate, to learn about the most pressing and important issues affecting AAPI homeownership and the real estate industry as a whole.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors, as well as the AREAA San Diego Chapter for helping us put on such an amazing event.

Our next National Convention will be held at the Aria Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, this October 18-20. For more information you can visit areaa.org/convention. #AREAAatARIA

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1. Members from Texas after their popular AREAA's Got Talent performance 2. Sharing a laugh at the Annual Fashion Show 3. Enjoying the Best of AREAA reception 4. A panel of experts shares tips for working with international buyers 5. The US Bank team in the convention marketplace 6. Reception at OMNIA Nightclub 7. Opening General Session headliners Drew and Jonathan Scott 8. Representing AREAA Tri-County in the Parade of Chapters

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9. Newly installed AREAA President, Randy Char 10. Previous AREAA National Chairs: Kenneth Li, Allen Chiang, Emily Moerdomo Fu and John Yen Wong

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2018 AREAA NATIONAL LEADERSHIP + EXCELLENCE SUMMIT This January 30th-February 2nd, AREAA National hosted our annual Leadership + Excellence Summit at the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs, CA. The Summit is designed to teach the new leaders of AREAA how to properly run their chapters or committees, as well as provide a unique opportunity to network and bond with each other. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for helping us throughout the year continue our mission of promoting homeownership in the AAPI community.

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Here are just a few of the highlights!

1. Human knot 2. Jim Park and Wenda Fong 3. Reception 4. Regional rep meeting 5. The AREAA family 6. AREAA Global making money for members 7. The AREAA team 8. Don Pingaro, Mandria Butticci and Michelle Kim

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9. Herman Chan and Jenny Cui 10. Team building

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2018 AREAA MIAMI CHAPTER INSTALLATION The AREAA Miami Chapter installation was held during Art Basel week in Miami. Art Basel is the largest international fair in the United States.

In collaboration with Mana Wynwood and the Miami Asian Business Council, the Miami Chapter held an Art Basel themed party: A Night of Art and Celebration. An exclusive VIP cocktail party, Asian and Latam art exhibition and dance party celebration in the art district, Wynwood! Special VIP speaker was Moishe Mana, the developer of the Asian Trade Center.

Over 40 AREAA leaders flew in from out of town for the party and to attend art fair! In celebration, of the AREAA 15 year anniversary the Miami Chapter awarded AREAA National with a trio part sculpture called 'Humanity.'

COLORADO LUXURY SUMMIT AREAA Greater Denver hosted their first major event, and it exceeded everyone’s wildest expectations! Hundreds of attendees from around the country descended upon the JW Marriott Hotel in the posh Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, CO. Thank you to all of our sponsors & everyone who attended the 2018 Colorado Luxury Summit! This inaugural event SOLD-OUT drawing over 300 attendees! We sincerely hope you learned something new & met new people to help enhance your business. We want to thank all of our sponsors, without whom this special event would never have been possible.

For information about next year’s Summit, please visit www.ColoradoLuxurySummit.com.

Photos: Justin Martin Photography

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DALLAS/ FORT WORTH INSTALLATION GALA

NY EAST 1 ST ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY This Year's Party of the Year in Flushing, NY, showed that 2 successful organizations can create something special when working together. CAREA is celebrating a successful 25 years in the Flushing market, while AREAA is a National Organization with 39 chapters throughout the USA/Canada and over 17K+ active members.

The Asian Real Estate Association of America’s DFW Chapter held their Charity Gala & Board Installation at Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel. They celebrated Year of the Dog, installed new board members, and raised money for hurricane Harvey victims. The event was a success with over 620 guests attending the event.

With over 400 attendees, the atmosphere was electric and full of activities that included Professional Dancers and Singers, Lion Dance, and Martial Arts Demo.

Special Thanks to our exclusive sponsor SBT Advantage Bank which has proven their Stated Income and Foreign National mortgage product is a huge success in the local market. None of this could have been done without our friend and Top Producing SBT VP Yihou Han who has shown she knows how to throw a party like No Other!!!

Now leading the Chapter is President Jed Anantasomboon.

Other officers include Cathy Capps-Warren past president, Beth Rogers 2019 incoming president, Linda Vo and Tony Nguyen Vice President, Bridget Enochs secretary, and Jennifer Clark treasure.

Angie Chin Button, State Representative from District 12, presented 2018 President Jed Anantasomboon with a Certified Resolution recognizing the Chapters work advocating to promote sustainable homeownership opportunities for the AAPI communities.

The Keynote speaker was Danial Moon, Vice President of Sam Moon Company. David Moon, the owner of the Sam Moon Company was presented the first “Moon Lifetime Achievement Award,” named after him for his success. The award was presented by Jed Anantasomboon and Daniel Moon.

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U.S. BANK HOME MORTGAGE NAMES LENNY MCNEILL TO LEAD ITS MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH U.S. Bank Home Mortgage has named Lenny McNeill to lead its National Specialized Sales Team focused on serving multicultural customers and strategic markets.

McNeill has been with U.S. Bank since 2013. He is a member of several boards, including the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the Asian Real Estate Association of America and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services.

A 36 year veteran of the finance/mortgage industry, Lenny has focused his career on educating and promoting understanding of the importance of diversity.

Lenny has worked at a grass-roots level to assess the needs of the many diverse communities we serve. He has influenced the overall hiring practices, products and marketing across the country to enhance our ability to serve our employees and customers of a diverse or multicultural background.

U WRITE

To have your news, awards, good work and accomplishments considered for publication in future editions of a | r | e Magazine, contact Scott Berman at: editor@areaa.org

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AREAA BOSTON INSTALLATION GALA AND FAIR HOUSING CELEBRATION The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Boston chapter’s sixth annual gala welcomed 250 guests at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy on Jan. 11. The event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and introduced the new executive board and board of directors for 2018.

“In 2018, we are going to continue to drive for sustainable home ownership for Asian Americans,” said 2016-2017 Boston chapter president Dick Lee. “Our plan is to educate members and non-members, along with advocating on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.”

Donald Choi, 2018-2019 Boston chapter president, emphasized this year is a pivotal moment to be celebrating the Fair Housing Act, a piece of legislation that protects buyers or renters of homes from landlord discrimination. The act was brought into effect by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the aftermath of civil unrest precipitated by the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Choi said that while the law has generated great changes, there is still much progress the nation must advance towards.

This past year, AREAA continued to inform and advocate through its conferences and conventions. At the AREAA Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., the organization created a three-point policy plan outlining key issues relevant to the Asian American community, including student debt, credit scoring and language access reform.

WONDER WOMEN OF MIAMI BREAKFAST The Wonder Women of Miami breakfast panel was held during International Women's week in March. AREAA Miami and NAWRB teamed up to empower and inspire local members and have an open conversation about the successes and challenges business women face in today's world.

Our panelist were VP of Swire Sales, Maile Aguila, CEO of Miami Realtors Association Teresa Kinney, VP of Wealth Mng at Citibank Mei Moy and CEO of NAWRB Desirée Patno. The panel was moderated by AREAA National's very own Alex Tieu.

The event was so well received by local members that we are now planning one in the Fall!

If you would like more information contact Nina Fabbri at Nina@5iMiami.com.

GREATER CHICAGO INSTALLATION AND GALA On Thursday, February 15th, AREAA Greater Chicago installed its 2018 Board of Directors lead by Maurel Samonte as Chapter President. Skyball, our Bond theme inspired event was a nod to our own National President's Bondthemed installation and the collaborative efforts and support that our national association will have from the Greater Chicago chapter. National's "008", president Randall Char will have the support from Greater Chicago's "Moneypenny" or should we say "MoMoney" and her special agents to forward the vision and mission of AREAA. The chapter that works hard together also knows how to have fun together!

Photo: Matt Difanis 48

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2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. While we have come a long way since then, we still yet have far to go.

Help us tell Congress what our community needs.

ONE MISSION ONE VOICE 2018 National Policy Summit May 15-17th www.areaa.org/policy

Last year, international buyers spent over

$200 BILLION on U.S. properties

Working with global clients can be profitable, if you know what you’re doing.

Become a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and: • Get specialized training to assist international clients • Join a network of nearly 4,000 designees in 48 countries Earn your CIPS designation today. nar.realtor/earn-cips Refer to a CIPS designee. nar.realtor/cips-search

Stay connected! nar.realtor/cips cips@realtors.org