CasaGuam Volume 10 Issue 01

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CONTENTS

Let ter from the Editor Letter from the Editor

Departments 4

Market Report

Arlene Taitague Taitingfong

Happy New Year!

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Feature Make 2017 Better

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Real Estate Spotlight Na’gasgas i hålom guma

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Profile Kimberly Durfee

January 2017 • Vol. 10 • No. 01 P.O. Box 24881 Barrigada, GU 96921 Tel: (671) 472-3495 | Fax: (671) 472-3498 email: office@yellowpagesink.com

[ Publisher ] [ Business Sales Manager ] Jay-R S. Dominguez

[ Editor ] 16

From the Experts Achieving the Dream in 2017

Arlene Taitague Taitingfong

[ Display Advertising ] John Mendiola Doris Pangelinan Emily Untalan

[ Traffic/Circulation ] 18

How to D.I.Y. How To Make Your Own Green Terrarium

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Shaun Cruz

[ Production Manager ] Mark S. Burke

[ Graphics & Layout ] Mark S. Burke Edwin E. Valencia

Curb Appeal

[ Website Development ]

Curb Appeal Trends

[ Editorial Contributors ]

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Who Ya Gonna Call?

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Classifieds

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Closing

Edwin E. Valencia John Egan Anthony Godwin Bridgette Meinhold Jeremy Rojas Arlene Taitague Taitingfong Kim Anderson Young

Happy 2017! It’s all about NEW BEGINNINGS this month! Let’s welcome the new year with positive energy! Our FEATURE is about moving on and discarding things of the past. We break it down for you with an easy list to follow. Kimberly Durfee is our PROFILE this month. She is a new real estate agent, but is quite experienced in customer service. She has home improvement skills under her belt as well, enabling her to help clients visualize what can be when she shows homes. Our FROM THE EXPERTS writer this month is Jeremy Rojas who talks about achieving your dream. He shares a step-by-step plan to home ownership. Kim Young’s article, “Na’gasgas i hålom guma” ties in a Guam new year’s custom with cleaning the title to our property. It’s an important read that everyone can identify with in REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT. We also have our MARKET REPORT from Anthony Godwin who shares how you can fulfill one of your new year’s resolutions! Congratulations Maria Miller, new president of GAR! Read her first address in MESSAGE FROM GAR. Peggy Llagas, Chief Executive Officer and Government Affairs Director of GAR, shares Part 1 of the REALTORS® Pledge of Performance and Service. A new beginning is on the horizon for me. This is my last message as Editor of CasaGuam magazine. I am embarking on something new and exciting….not that being editor of this magazine was exciting enough. Thank you to all our readers, writers and advertisers for making my time here very pleasurable and enlightening. I had a blast! May your new year be full of possibilities, abundance, and blessings!

Cover Photo: Mark S. Burke CasaGuam is Published by:

Sincerely, Arlene Taitague Taitingfong

CasaGuam Advertising Disclaimer All Advertisers agree to hold the publisher harmless and indemnify it against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees) made against or incurred by the publisher, officers or employees with respect to, or arising out of, the content, text, graphics or representations of any ad published herein, including but not limited to the sole negligence and/or fault of the publisher. The publisher is not liable for any claims, losses or damages of any kind, arising from the wording, text, graphics or representations of any ad published herein, or the condition of the articles sold through the publication, or performance of services advertised in this publication. All advertising and/or performance of services advertising and/or submissions become wholly the property of CasaGuam Magazine. CasaGuam Magazine is a registered trademark of PTI Pacifica Inc. Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any ad and to reprint any photo for promotional use.


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Market Repor t

Happy New Year! 2017! A time to reflect on the past. A time to plan for the future! And, Yes! A time to tackle all those new year’s resolutions that we made during the last week of 2016. For some of you, one of those resolutions is to purchase your first home this year. You are probably wondering where to turn to get some help to make this resolution real. Making your first home purchase definitely comes with challenges. An experienced, well trained real estate agent that understands your goals can minimize the challenge and frustration that comes along with a home purchase. Once you have selected a real estate agent, ask your agent to help you determine how much house you can reasonably afford. A visit to your lender will provide you with a maximum amount the lender will loan you based on information provided by you. The lender will also let you know the amount of cash that will you need for the balance of the purchase price and closing costs. Only start your home search when you have the target purchase price in hand. Begin your search at http://www.guamhome.com. This website will allow you to enter your desired location as well as the price range for your home. Start with your target price as the maximum for the search. If you don’t see something that meets your needs, then increase your target price search by $25,000. Often times, sellers have built-in some ‘room to negotiate’ in the listing price of their home. Your real estate agent will help you to determine an offering price. TIP… ask your agent about recent similar properties that have sold within the past six months. The agent can easily obtain this and other information that will help you in the buying process. Your goal, after some negotiation, is an accepted purchase agreement that you can take to your lender to begin the financing process. The lender will check your credit, verify your income, monthly expenses and look for any recent deposits to your accounts as well as any recent purchase. An appraisal of the property and title research will be ordered. Once the appraisal and title results are received the lender will evaluate these as part of your loan request. Issues often arise during this process. TIP… ask your real estate agent about some of the items that might be revealed during this process and best practices for resolution. 4 CasaGuam December 2016

TIP…do not make any large purchases until After ownership of the property has transferred to you via a recorded deed. Moving day! You have closed on the purchase of your house. You are a home owner. A truly Happy New Year!


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Market Repor t

Market Snapshot January 1, 2016 through December 19, 2016 By Anthony Godwin

Condominium/Townhomes For Sale Number Sold: 83 Average Sold Price: $213,313 Average Days on Market: 131 Currently For Sale: 83

Condominium/Apartment/Townhome Rentals Number Rented: 998 Average Monthly Rental: $1,634 Average Days on Market: 58 Currently For Rent: 253 ĂŠ

Single Family Home Sales Number Sold: Average Sold Price: Average Days on Market: Currently For Sale:

Single Family Rentals Number Rented: Average Monthly Rental: Average Days on Market: Currently For Rent:

303 $322,187 160 189

696 $2,285 60 151

Required Disclosure: All information from the Guam Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for the period January 1, 2016 through December 19, 2016.

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Feature

Make 2017 Better!

By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong

t’s a new year! Time to move on to better things! Better prospects. Better attitudes. Better health. Better living. Better homes. Better everything! January is the month in which to reset yourself and leave the past behind. It’s funny how it takes a new year to arrive to get us to seriously ponder what we want our new year to be like. Resolutions, expectations . . . oh how exciting! The turn of the new year is symbolic for many of us. For me, it’s about discarding negative energy and creating positive ones that will flow throughout my being — mentally and spiritually. I’m working on creating a positive flow in my work and my home. I was looking for an easy “to do” list that can help me out. I saw an article entitled “Get Your House Ready For the New Year” by Kathryn Weber. After reading it, I felt it was so easy to follow, even someone as busy as me could do it. One can easily check off each item as they go down the list. It’s pretty clean cut and thorough, and can be done in 1-2 days. For the full story, go to http://redlotushome.com/livingspace/get-your-house-ready-for-the-new-year/ Below is an excerpt from the article. Enjoy!

OUT WITH THE OLD 1. De-clutter as much as possible. Clean out old magazines, food, clothing, and anything that hasn’t been used or is broken. 2. Clean the floors. Get the old energy out by vacuuming and mopping the floors on New Year’s Eve. 3. Do the laundry. You don’t want to go into the New Year with dirty clothes hanging around. Be sure to fold and put the clean clothes away. 4. Clean the bathroom. It only takes a few minutes and you won’t have a nasty mess to greet the next year of your life. 5. Empty all trashcans. Get everyone to pitch in so last year’s trash isn’t hanging around. 8 CasaGuam December 2016


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Feature 6. Clean out the refrigerator. You don’t want old food or a moldy science project lurking in the fridge. 7. Clear out visual clutter. Clear off the counters in the bathrooms and kitchen. Clear off your desk and dust it. Pitch the sticky notes and papers and things taped everywhere. Don’t forget the refrigerator. Make it a blank slate. 8. Clean up the yard. Make sure the yard is picked up and the front doorstep is swept and clear. 9. Change the sheets and towels. Put clean sheets on all the beds on New Year’s Eve and clean towels in the bathroom and kitchen.

Rose Parade. Trust me, you’ll never know how great New Year’s Day can be if you don’t have to haul the tree to the curb.

IN WITH THE NEW To mark the new beginning, I make sure that the refrigerator and the pantry is stocked and that I have plenty of sweets and citrus around the house. The Chinese believe that oranges symbolize gold and good news and often roll them into the house at the lunar New Year. I buy a big bag of oranges and do this with my own kids. I also buy flowers or a new plant to greet the New Year to symbolize a healthy, lush start. Think about what you can do to symbolize a new prosperous beginning at your home.

10. Take down the Christmas decorations. This is the tough one. Most of us dread the New Year because we have to take all the decorations down. Make it a point to take them down two days before New Year’s Day. Then, you can go into the New Year without that mistletoe hanging over your head. For everyone who thinks you can’t do it, just think how great you’ll feel when you wake up New Year’s Day and you don’t have all those decorations to put away. You could actually watch the CasaGuam.com 9


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Real Estate Spotlight

Na’gasgas i hålom guma (Clean the inside of the house) By Kim Anderson Young

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In the mid 1980’s I had the good fortune of moving to Saipan where I was introduced to the custom of giving your home a thorough cleaning just before ringing in the New Year. Coming from Alaska, our cleaning ritual was triggered by welcoming the arrival of spring, so I recently questioned some of my CHamoru friends on the origin of the practice. I was surprised to learn that the annual ritual was not an ancient tradition, but more of a family practice. The Japanese custom of O-souji (the big cleaning) is both a practical measure and a purification ritual in preparation of transitioning into a new year. Given the Japanese influence in the Mariana Islands, it would not be a stretch to imagine that my “ancient CHamoru” ritual has Japanese roots! While cleaning house for the New Year, this is an excellent time to make sure the title to your properties is also in order. Here are a few questions you might ask yourself: • How is title held on your properties? • Have you experienced a change in your family structure, such as a marriage or divorce? • Has a family member passed away? • Do you have an estate plan?

The first question is very important as it dictates how title transfers in the future. For example: I recently examined the title to a property where a man believed he owned the entire property and was surprised to discover that he only had clear title to half of it. His deceased wife had acquired the property by inheritance as a 50% owner with her sister. The sister sold her 50% to the man and his wife (as community property). Imagine his frustration at learning he would need to probate the estate of his wife in order to acquire the other half interest in the property! Be Confident that your home ownership is as clean as your cupboards! Confirm that title to your home and properties are Stockunlimited.com in order as we joyfully ring in 2017! 12 CasaGuam December 2016

About the Author Kim Anderson Young, president of Security Title, has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. Contact her at kim@securitytitle.net or 647-8100.


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Profile

Durfee’s Real (Estate) Experience By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong

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Kimberly Durfee REALTOR® ALLIANCE REALTY

rental, home, or land that fit their needs and expectations.” If you are interested in a career in real estate, Durfee advises, “Work hard and go above and beyond for your client! And, always listen to those with experience…every day is a never ending learning process.” She shared that she reads CasaGuam magazine because of the content it holds. “CasaGuam Magazine provides valuable information and enlightens me about the different aspects of real estate.” When she is not assisting clients, you can find her promoting her home-made products of lavender massage oils, lotions, and soaps — all made on Guam! I had the opportunity to try the lotion and it is very nice!

CasaGuam Magazine provides valuable information and enlightens me about the different aspects of real estate.

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Kim Durfee purchased her first home in 1998. It was her initial introduction into real estate. The $40,000 two bedroom condo was the best purchase she ever made. “It was not in the best of shape, but it was mine!” exclaimed Durfee. Although she is experienced in other industries in her career, her first job was working for a hardware store for several years. It was here that she gained the skill to remodel and make repairs on her new home. “Upon completion, I learned just how much home values were able to increase, not just from the market, but because of upgrades,” said Durfee. When it was time to sell her condo, she was able to do so and get more than double for what she initially paid for. Experience is the best teacher. A few years later, Durfee took a real estate class which gave her a better understanding of how all the real estate related industries like title companies, banks, and the like, work together. At this point, she was working for the state of Nevada and continued to do so for 15 years. In 2013, she moved to Guam and was able to obtain her real estate license in April 2016, and hangs her license at Alliance Realty, LLC. “It’s been tough to start a real estate career and establish a client base, not to mention in a place where I am less familiar with the territory, market, people and buildings,” said Durfee. Needless to say, it is a challenge for her, but one she is ready to take on. It also helps if your mentor is Jesse A. Leon Guerrero, the office’s Principal Broker, who has been helping her get a better understanding of the island, its people, and the market. Although she does not presently see herself as a seasoned real estate agent, her past job experiences have made her exceptional in customer service, integrity, ambition and hard work! Since her move to Guam, Durfee has learned more about the island and the real estate market. She continues to familiarize herself with the materials used on Guam to build homes and businesses, especially since it is quite different from what she has used herself, or seen in the mainland. This gives her the upper hand in conveying to her clients the differences between a house in the mainland vs. a house on Guam. “I am confident I can assist others and share what I know in helping clients find the


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From the Experts

Achieving the Dream in 2017 By Jeremy Rojas The New Year is upon us and we have what is looking to be the start of a great year. Guam’s real estate market is quite healthy and we have a new President. The start of a new year for many people is a time to evaluate life, set goals and make plans for the future. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some tips with those of you making plans this year to purchase your first home. This subject is of particular interest to me as I come from a background of first-time homebuyer financing. It was a good feeling to watch as families achieved the dream after braving the hardship that many go through in the process of buying their first home.

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Look at the Big Picture The general rule is that no more than 28 percent of your gross income should go to housing expenses. Though not set in stone, it is a good measure to start with. Determining this will help you establish the amount of house you may be able to afford. Keep in mind that you will have other costs that come with buying a home. You will need to consider expenses such as the purchase of appliances, furniture, home maintenance expenses and/or homeowner association dues. Check your credit. One the most important components in buying a home is your credit. The financial institutions will look into the infamous 5 C’s – Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Condition & Character. Manage your debt wisely. Focus on your goal

and don’t buy things you don’t need. Put away the charge cards (cut them up if really don’t need them). If possible pay-off credit cards, loans or other vdebts. This will give you a better debt to income ratio and help with your capacity to pay a mortgage loan.

Do Your Homework Do your research on current interest rates and the programs available to assist you. You may qualify for programs that can assist with a down payment, provide low interest loans or even grant funds that don’t have to be repaid. The Guam Housing Corporation is a definite stop that should be on your list. Their programs were developed to help first-time homebuyers. Another program to look into is the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loan program which is available through approved local lenders.

Get your Ducks in a Row Have your documents in order. Collect your pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns for the past two years, bank account statements, current loan and credit lines statements. Try to have all of the paperwork the lenders will ask for ready to go. Having these when you first go to the bank to pre-qualify for a mortgage loan will help to expedite the process and reduce unnecessary trips to submit documents.

Seek Out Funding After, you have gotten your finances in order and you have researched the programs available to you, it is time to talk to the folks who lend the money. Visit the mortgage professionals at one of your local financial institutions to pre-qualify and check your affordability before looking for a house. This helps for 16 CasaGuam December 2016


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From The Experts It is important to keep in mind that once you have been prequalified or have even gotten approved for a loan, that you should not finance any large purchases. This will throw the whole program out of whack and could put the kibosh on your homeownership plans.

Find a Realtor Guam has more than 400 licensed real estate agents, so there is a large pool of professionals out there to assist you. You can find one through referrals from family or friends, the ads in print media such as CasaGuam, local real estate company websites, or in the ever popular phonebook. Be sure to choose someone you are comfortable working with. Take the time to ask questions and get to know your agent, because they will be assisting with what could be the biggest purchase you ever make. Hopefully, some of the information I have shared will help get you off to a good start in achieving the dream of owning your first home. With a firm resolve and good financial discipline, you will be well on your way.

realistic house hunting. It can be counterproductive and disheartening to get your hopes up on a home only to find out you cannot afford it. If you find that you can’t get financing through the conventional financial institutions or through the Guam Housing Corporation it is not the end of the road. Organizations such as the Habitat for Humanity,pre-qualified administer Sweat Equity programs which help to reduce the cost of the homes they build. The Guam Chapter of the Habitat for Humanity can be reached at 647-4667 for more information.

About the Author Jeremy Rojas is the General Manager of Pacific American Title Company. He has over 15 years of experience working in financing and real estate industries. CasaGuam.com 17


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H o w To D . I . Y.

How To Make Your Own Green Terrarium

By Bridgette Meinhold

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Summer is starting to unfold beautifully, but apartment dwellers might feel left out from all the gardening that's happening around them. If you have a green thumb but minimal garden space, why not create your own mini-world full of lush and beautiful plants by making your own terrarium? If you're in the southern hemisphere instead, remember that having green plants around is a surefire way to keep away the winter blues, plus plants are certain to help improve your indoor air quality. Terrariums are easy-to-make, low-maintenance gardens, and can last almost indefinitely with minimal water. Don't believe us? We assembled seven terrariums of various shapes and sizes in a single weekend, and they're all adorable. Read on for our easy terrarium DIY to learn how to make your own!

MATERIALS: A clear glass jar, vase, bowl, glass, or whatever interesting glass container you have on hand Rocks, pebbles or recycled glass chunks Activated charcoal (sometimes called activated carbon) Potting soil appropriate for your plants Moss (optional) Figurines, sticks or decorative items (optional) Various small plants A scoop, spoon or shovel Scissors Gloves Source your containers from a thrift store or an antique store, or just scrounge around your house for an old jar. Even simple jelly jars or canning jars can make beautiful terrariums. They can

be left open or closed—it’s totally up to you. All other supplies can be bought at your local gardening center. As for the plants, the sky is the limit, but generally speaking look for small plants that you can fit inside your jar and won’t grow too tall. Some plants will have multiple stems so you can break them up even further. To ensure that your terrarium will be successful, keep succulents and cacti together, and keep fern and tropical plants together, because they require different amounts of water and soil. You’ll want cactus soil for the succulents and regular old potting soil for everything else. The rocks are used as a false drainage layer while the activated charcoal helps keep the terrarium healthy, and the moss can be used for decoration and to help soak up and retain water.

STEP 1: Prepare the Container Remove any price tags or stickers from your vessel and wash both the interior and exterior thoroughly to ensure that there are no unwanted residues that could affect the health of your plants. Envision how you want to arrange your plants inside the jar.

STEP 2: Add Your Drainage Layers Once the container is ready, fill the bottom with rocks or pebbles. This is to create a false drainage layer so water can settle and not flood the plant. The depth of the rocks totally depends on the size of your container, but aim for 1/2″ to 2″.

STEP 3: Add the Activated Charcoal The charcoal looks exactly like what you would expect it to and it’s messy. Sometimes it comes as small granules and other 18 CasaGuam December 2016


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H o w t o D . I . Y. Continue placing your little plants in the container and try to keep them away from the edges. The leaves are likely to touch the sides but aim to keep them away as much as possible.

STEP 6: Add Accessories After you’re done planting you can add little accessories like a blanket of moss (dried or living), little figurines, old toys, glass beads, shiny metal object, sticks, stones, or even a layer or rocks. This is your little world and you can put whatever you’d like in there.

STEP 7: Clean and Water

times it comes as shards—either works. You don’t need much, just enough to cover the rocks. The charcoal will improve the quality of your little world including reducing bacteria, fungi and odors.

You’ll likely have dirt all over the sides of the container, so wipe them down so you can enjoy the beautiful living world inside. Give the terrarium a little bit of water. Unlike most of your house plants, a terrarium doesn’t need to soaked: just a couple of shots of water should get it started.

STEP 4: Add Soil Again, cactus and succulents need a special soil compared to most other plants, so be sure to get the appropriate bag depending on which plants you’re using. Add enough soil so the plant roots will have plenty of room to fit and then grow. Aim for a depth slightly greater than the height of the plant’s pot.

STEP 5: Plant Take your plant out of the pot and break up the hard soil ball until you get down to the roots. If you’re breaking the plant into multiple parts, be gentle. You may also want to trim the roots if they are especially long; don’t worry, they’ll grow back. Using a spoon, your fingers, the end of a brush, or even a pencil, dig a well to place your plants roots in. Add more soil around the top and compact the soil down around the base of the plant.

Tips & Tricks • Over time, monitor your terrarium’s water needs based on how dry the soil is. For terrariums with closed lids, if water is dripping down from the top, open the lid to let some evaporate. Likewise, you may need to add more if it looks parched. You shouldn’t need to water them very often. • If leaves die or wilt, remove them from the terrarium immediately to maintain the health of the little eco system. If an entire plant dies, take it out. • Don’t place in direct sunlight. Remember that these are essentially little greenhouses and direct sunlight through the glass will trap heat and scorch the plants. Place in indirect light for best results. • Afterwards, enjoy your little world or give it away and make another! Citing Source: http://inhabitat.com/diy-how-to-make-your-own-green-terrarium-to-keepor-give-away-for-the-holidays/ CasaGuam.com 19


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Curb Appeal

Curb Appeal Trends While we’re told we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, we definitely do judge a house by its exterior. Any home seller who ignores this reality stands to lose thousands of dollars, particularly at a time when buyers are combing through dozens if not hundreds of online photos in search of their dream home. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” says Brad Pauly, founder of Pauly Presley Realty in Austin, TX. To kick off the new year right, we’ve assembled five top-of-mind curb appeal trends to help you make a better first impression with your home in 2016:

W • • • • •

Update the front door. Upgrade the garage door. Lighten up the exterior. Liven up the landscaping. Put furniture on the front porch.

Making Your Home ‘Pop’ Curb appeal can “drastically affect” the sale price of a home, the number of competitive offers from buyers and the amount of time a home spends on the market, according to Ryan Pertile, a Realtor in Minneapolis, MN. Pauly says that if the exterior is clean, landscaped and freshly painted, a buyer will perceive that the seller has meticulously maintained the entire home — inside and out. “There are plenty of cost-effective ways to make your house pop at first glance, whether it’s in photos or in person,” Pertile says. According to Cheryl Reed, director of external relations at services locator and scheduler Angie’s List, ways to do this include: • Removing weeds, branches and debris from the front yard. • Strategically planting trees, shrubs and plants in the front yard. • Spreading mulch around trees, shrubs and flowerbeds to give the front yard a tidier appearance. “More times than I can count, I’ve pulled away from a home without getting out because the buyer didn’t like the looks of it from the outside. In the buyer’s mind, if a house is unappealing from the outside, it’ll be no better on the inside, regardless of what the interior really looks like,” says Lynn Windle, a Realtor in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, area. “If they do step inside, they’re already thinking they can offer a reduced price because ‘the house needs so much work.’”

“Maxing Out” Your Investment Spending $100 on landscaping easily can fetch another $10,000 when you’re selling your home, says Sissy Lappin, co-founder of home-selling service ListingDoor.com. 22 CasaGuam December 2016

By John Egan

“A house is usually a person’s greatest investment. Maxing out that investment is an easy way to make lots more money,” says Beth Berg, a home stager in Denver, CO. “The best way to max that investment out is to make buyers want to spend more money on it. Value is created by making the home beautiful, bright and clean.” Citing Source: cited https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/landscaping/curb-appeal-trends/


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W h o Ya G o n n a C a l l ?

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Classifieds Commercial Rentals Hagåtña Commercial space for rent. 1,792 square feet. $3,500/month. Call Ellen’s Realty at 647-0888 for more details!

Ordot-Chalan Pago

Chalan Pago

Agat

Peaceful and serene 4BD/2BA home. 1,922+/-sf of living space. Upgrade master suite. 3-car covered car port. Call Suzanne @ 482-6426.

Pago Bay, Newly Built Home for Sale by Developer. Starting from $525,000. New subdivision, 2 story home, high ceilings, 3BD/3BA, 2 living rooms, dining room.

14,221 SqMtrs. Fairly level. $711,050.

Piti

Yigo Northpoint Commercial Complex Space for Rent. $1.80 per square foot, $0.60 per square foot for common fee. Call Rowena at 483-4317.

Almost one acre lot ready for farming or 2BR, Ocean view! Across the beach! Close to Port, Naval Station, Polaris, & Stores. Max two tenants. $700 (Price does not include utilities) Call 649-8265 or 727-8265.

Dededo

Agat Agat 2BR. Ocean View! Renovated! Ocean View BBQ Patio! Near NavSta, Port, Polaris, beach, stores, and schools! $1200.00. 649-8265 or 727-8265

Barrigada 4BD/2BAHome . Central living close to the airport, schools and shopping areas. $2,700/mo. Call Lolita at 479-8891 or 688-6743.

Dededo 5BD/5.5BA home. $4,800/mo. Call Ellen’s Realty @ 647-0888 for more details! 3BD/2BA home for rent. $1,980/mo. Fully renovated. Fenced & gated. Call Loisa @ 727-6880.

Nimitz Hill

Call Flora @ 727-2955.

Ordot-Chalan Pago

Santa Rita

880+/- square meter land in a great

Sinajana Holiday Tower Condo - 2BD/2BA. Corner unit. Ocean & island views. Upscale & upgraded kitchen w/ extra counter space & stainless appliances. $2,205/mo. Call Sandy @ 687-6006.

central location and immediately available 4BD/3BA upgraded home. Fully fenced. Minutes away from Naval Station. $310K. Call Lolita at 479-8891 or 688-6743.

Tamuning 4BD/2BA centrally located home for rent, along Carlos Heights. Tumon is closeby. Call Lolita @ 688-6743 or 479-8891 for more details.

Large 3BD/3BA home. Includes 25K generator, 650 gal water tank. $360K. Call Dennis at 727-3815.

Tamuning

Tecio Tumon Villa - Awesome 3BD/2BA unit in the heart of Pleasure Island. Walking distance to beaches, dining, shopping & more! $2,600/mo. Call Janet @ 687-1841. Tumon Horizon Condo - 2BD/1BA. Fully renovated & furnished. Water included. Call Weiwei @ 777-0688.

Yona 4BD/2BA Home. Peaceful and safe environment. Breezy and airy location. $1,500/mo. Call Lolita at 479-8891 or 688-6743.

Residential Sales 4BD/5BA modern home with spacious living area. Includes executive master bath with jacuzzi. Lot +/- 969 square meters. Price dropped to $508K! Call Karen at 988-1883..

to build. Quiet neighborhood but close to central shopping and business areas. $65K. Call Flora @ 727-2955.

Piti 24,173+/- square meter lot with partial ocean view for agriculture or developers. Close to Harbor, Port Authority & Naval Base. $846,055. Negotiable.

Tumon

Barrigada 5BR/4BA 3000f2 Officer/Executive House. 180 degree Ocean View. Watch The Ships Come In! Military Approved. Landscaped. 213 Mama Sandy Nimitz Hill. $4400.00. (MLS 16-2334). Call 649-8265 or 727-8265

dream home in quiet but lush area. $44K.

3BD/2BA home. Fully fenced. Price reduced. $305K. Call Ellen’s Realty at 647-0888 for more details!

Talofofo

Residential Rentals

Merizo

Ocean & mountain views.

Tamuning 5 contiguous spaces available right on Guam’s busiest intersection! Highly visible, ample parking, backup generator. $1,312.50/mo each. Call Sandy at 687-6006.

Call 649-2121 for more details.

Oka Tower Condo. 2BD/2BA 1st floor unit. Superb amenities. $298K. Call Sandy at 687-6006.

Call Flora @ 727-2955.

Talofofo

Tumon 929+/- square meter land for sale. Tumon Condo. 3BD/2BA. Great location close to restaurants, shopping areas, and minutes away from beaches. Grea investment. $150K. Call Karen @ 988-1883.

Quarter acre lot, rectangular in shape.

Yigo

Yigo

Wonderful 2BD/2.5BA home. 1,714 +/- sf living space. Fully fenced. $321K. Call Suzanne at 482-6426.

2,787+/- square meter land in the midst of quiet ambiance. Almost 3/4 acre lot just outside the back gate of AAFB. $105K. Negotiable. Call Flora @ 727-2955.

$57,400. Call Lolita @ 688-6743 or 479-8891 for more details.

Land for Sale Agana Heights

Yona

Lovely 1,640 +/- sm parcel fronting Chalan Macajna. R-2 zoned. Includes 2 lots. Close to the Firary. Rare opportunity. $169,500. Call Anthony at 688-8198.

One of seven lots and could become a developer’s dream. Located in the heart of Pulantat, Yona. 1,858+/- square meters. $50K. Call Flora @ 727-2955.

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Closing

Message from the President Maria E. Miller 2017 President

Message from the Chief Executive Officer and Government Affairs Director Peggy Araullo Llagas

Guam Association of REALTORS®

Talk about New Beginnings in 2017! New year. New president. New legislators. New goals. New hopes and dreams. New interest rates. New real estate market listing. This year certainly fits the bill of NEW BEGINNINGS! As the new president of the Guam Association of REALTORS® (GAR), 2017 will bring about many new endeavors that I am extremely honored and humbled to take on. For me, this means the opportunity to work alongside an incredible array of REALTORS® in Guam. Together, we will strive to raise the standards of Guam’s real estate industry. As a buyer, seller or home owner, it is important to know who you have working for you. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To be REALTOR®, licensed agents are required to subscribe to a Code of Ethics and join the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). With more than one million members, NAR is the largest professional trade organization in the US. REALTORS® are a collective force influencing and shaping the real estate industry nationally, as well as locally. As independent contractors, we use our entrepreneurial business skills to build our business. We spend hours in training and continuing education classes to better serve our clients. Nationally, Realtors® have been influential in a number of issues that have helped to grow homeownership and protect investors. You can see the fruits of their labor. Today, you can get a mortgage with 3% down; VA limits have been raised; credit score requirements have been lowered; FHA loans have improved, and much more. Working with a Realtor® will ensure you are working with a dedicated and ambitious real estate professional who is dedicated to making sure the purchase, sale or rental of your home is handled with the upmost care. As Guam heads into 2017, and we face higher rents and higher home prices, the inevitable rising interest rates, the lack of H2 workers, and the military buildup, I suggest you stick close to your Realtor® for information and updates. This is definitely a time of “New Beginnings” for all of us. God seems to be doing a new thing in all areas. Isaiah 43:19

GUAM ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® The Voice for Real Estate on Guam Suite 236A Julale Center 424 West O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam 96910 Office: (671) 477-4271 • Fax: (671) 477-4275

Guam Association of REALTORS®

REALTORS® Pledge of Performance and Service: Part 1 The National Association of REALTORS® adopted the Code of Ethics in 1913, following the professions of medicine, law, and engineering. REALTORS® are real estate professionals who have chosen to join the National Association and abide by its strict Code of Ethics. What does this mean to you? It means that any REALTORS® with whom you work has voluntarily agreed to abide by a Code of Ethics, based on professionalism and protection of the public. REALTORS ® are subject to disciplinary action and sanctions if they violate the duties imposed by the Code of Ethics. Do not hesitate to ask a REALTORS® for a copy of the Code, including the Standards of Practice. The Code is your assurance of dealing with a professional who has your best interests in mind. The Code of Ethics consists of 17 Articles and related Standards of Practice. The basic principles of the Code are summarized here. Duties to Clients and Customers Article 1 REALTORS ® protect and promote their clients’ interests while treating all parties honestly. Article 2 REALTORS ® refrain from exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transactions. Article 3 REALTORS ® cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance their clients’ best interests. Article 4 When buying or selling on their own account or for their families or firms, REALTORS® make their true position or interest known. Article 5 REALTORS® do not provide professional services where they have any present or contemplated interest in property without disclosing that interest to all affected parties. Article 6 REALTORS® disclose any fee or financial benefit they may receive from recommending related real estate products or services. Article 7 REALTORS ® accept compensation from only one party, except where they make full disclosure to all parties and receive informed consent from their client. Article 8 REALTORS® keep the funds of clients and customers in a separate escrow account. Article 9 REALTORS® make sure that details of agreements are spelled out in writing whenever possible and that parties receive copies.

- National Association of REALTORS® 28 CasaGuam December 2016


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