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CONTENTS
Let ter from the Editor Letter from the Editor
Departments 4
Market Report Priceless
Emily L.G. Untalan
8
10
Feature Land for Two Lovers: Panoramic Ocean-View Cliff Awaits A Developer's Touch!
12
Real Estate Spotlight Who Owns Your House?
14
Profile
March 2018 • Vol. 11 • No. 03 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
Frank Charfauros
[ Editor/Display Advertising ]
Community First
Emily L.G. Untalan
[ Traffic/Circulation ] 16
From the Experts Escrow Basics
Shaun Cruz
[ Production Manager ] Mark S. Burke
[ Graphics & Layout ] 18
How to D.I.Y. Indian Inlay Stenciled Table
Mark S. Burke Edwin E. Valencia
[ Website Development ] Edwin E. Valencia
[ Editorial Contributors ] 20
Your World, Our Island Offroad Community Gives Back
22
Curb Appeal How to Pick House Paint Colors for Curb Appeal
25
Who Ya Gonna Call?
28
Closing
Ashley@Domestic Imperfection Brandon Aydlett Mark S. Burke Carlos U. Diaz Christopher Felix Siska S. Hutapea Peggy A. Llagas Jeffrey Tomas Marchesseault Eric M. Palacios Jeremy Rojas Emily L.G. Untalan Kim Anderson Young Cover Photo: Mark S. Burke
Buenas Måtsu and Hafa Adai Everyone! In this month’s FEATURE, Jeffrey Marchesseault, our new contributing writer this month, pens Land for Two Lovers: Panoramic Ocean-View Cliff Awaits A Developer’s Touch! It’s a great read that includes the popular tale of Two Lovers. Siska Hutapea and Carlos Diaz bring you the MARKET REPORT, directly off of their 2017 database. They advise that Guam home buyers have several concerning challenges ahead. Find out what those challenges are and see how you can overcome them. Kim Young asks who owns your house? in REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT. Learn how you can protect yourself and your property before it’s too late! Frank Charfauros of Community First Guam Federal Credit Union is our PROFILE this month. Over 20 years in the mortgage/lending business, he counts numbers in his sleep and wakes up ready to help more families with their biggest transactions! Jeremy Rojas presents Escrow 101 in FROM THE EXPERTS. He explains everything you need to know about escrow. Stenciled tables is this month’s DIY! This should add a nice touch to any home or outdoor patio! Eric Palacios congregates with his off road family and gives back, once again, in YOUR WORLD, OUR ISLAND! And, in CURB APPEAL, tips on how to pick house paint colors awaits! It’s dry season in Guam and the good folks at the NWS give us the 411 on wildfires and how our climate affects them in our WEATHERREADY NATION (WRN) section. Christopher Felix, GAR President, reiterates GAR’s mission while Peggy Llagas, GAR CEO, writes about Tax Cut and Jobs Act and what it means for real estate professionals. Until next month, stay safe and Biba Guam History and Chamoru Heritage Day! Biba Mes Chamoru! Fondly,
CasaGuam is Published by:
Emily L.G. Untalan
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
By Siska S. Hutapea, MAI, AI-GRS, MRICS, MRE, President and Carlos U. Diaz, MAI
PRICELESS
S
Some things in life are priceless: Guam’s winter sunsets, quiet times, and family time. Carlos Untalan Diaz, our General Certified Appraiser with 20 years experience under his belt, recently received his highest designation in commercial appraisal from the Appraisal Institute in Chicago, and that’s priceless too. However, when it comes to real estate, I have an aversion to the word priceless, as it implies market participants making passionate investment decisions not necessarily based on cash flow, or banking heavily on future appreciation. I was in New York for appraisal continuing education class on advance land valuation, and the professor succinctly summarized how one make money in real estate, which a commercial real estate appraiser typically described in her cash flow modelling. An investor makes money through the income and upon disposing his ownership interest. Does this apply to home ownership? Or should buying home always be a ‘priceless’ experience? As in everything, moderation! Guam home buyers have several concerning challenges ahead. Interest rate hikes, limited supply, limited additional supply, competition with off island investors and many others. Cornerstone Valuation Guam, Inc. database reflects 2017 median price of single family dwelling in Guam at $240,000, up from 2013 at $200,000. Interest rate hikes will reduce the affordability. As illustrated simply below, a potential home buyer who is able to make $1,500 payment (P&I), at 4 percent annual interest rate can afford to buy a $314,000 house. However, with a 1 percent increase in interest, the affordably decreased by -11 percent to only $279,000.
Monthly Payment
$1,500
Principal
314,192
Annual Interest Decrease
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4%
Estimate
Municipality Dededo Yigo
Mangilao
Barrigada
Tamuning Municipality
Buying Power vs. Interest Rate
Item
Current limited supply and temporary limited additional supply will continue the upward price pressure. As of February 23, 2018, there are only 157 single family dwelling available for sale on GAR Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”). This reflects 2.7 months supply based on 696 single family dwelling sold in 2017 on MLS. The interest rate increase and the upward price pressure both works against the potential homebuyers. Where are the most residential activities? Not surprisingly, Dededo, Yigo, and Mangilao top the municipalities with the most sales volume and number of transactions. The Municipality of Barrigada came fourth in sales volume and fifth in number of sales. This centrally located municipality is one of the mst desirable locations for residential. The most coveted residential location, Tamuning came fifth in sales volume. Yona came fourth in number of sales, at 52 sales in 2017, compared to Dededo’s 228 sales.
$1,500
Dededo Yigo
5%
Mangilao
-11.1%
Barrigada
279,422
Yoña
2017 Top 5 Sales Volume Sales Vol. ($Million)
% of Total
$41.0
20.4%
$52.3 $19.5 $17.1 $15.0
2017 Top 5 Number of Sales
26.1% 9.7% 8.5% 7.5%
Sales Vol. ($Million)
% of Total
149
19.5%
228 79 52 51
29.8% 10.3% 6.8% 6.7%
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Market Repor t Residential sales volume increased to $282.8 million in 2017 from $250.7 million in 2016. The number of sales increased from 953 residential units to 1,090, an over 14 percent increase. The lack of supply causing older less attractive properties to be sold is the main cause of the decrease in median price of single family dwelling from $246,500 to $240,000 in 2017. Median price of condominium continues the sharp increase from $185,500 to $200,000 in 2017. Overall, residential median price reflects $225,430. The reported HUD Median Income for 2017 reflects $56,300 and increased by 3 percent from 2016 at $54,400. At this median price, Guam’s affordability index at 4.0 is considered moderately unaffordable and this is the challenge that a prospective homeowner will experience. We definitely would not want to have a Honolulu housing situation, where the index is at 9.4, severely unaffordable, causing the exodus of local population to more affordable places. Hawaii attracts buyers from all over the world and the local buyers have to compete with the best of the best from all over the world with money to spare. Lack of affordable new supply has already hit the prospective buyer hard. Then there is the curious case of AirBnb. Although reportedly there is no license yet issued due to lack of staff, over 300+ rentals are available in Guam if you go to the AirBnb website. Considering the rising cost of homes and rising interest rates, the affordability window is closing for those with lower income, forcing them to rent rather than buy. Apartment occupancy levels have been increasing over the past two years resulting in upward pressure on rent levels, which have been rising island wide over the past two years. This will likely result in an affordable housing crisis in the coming months unless the foreign labor problem for non-military development is resolved soon, allowing developers to build new housing supply. More statistics from Cornerstone Valuation Guam, Inc. database are included as follows.
2017 Top 5 Median Prices
2017 Bottom 5 Median Prices
Municipality
Median Price
Municipality
Median Price
Piti
$367,000
Inarajan
$122,750
Tamuning
$358,500
Agat
$140,000
Talofofo
$299,000
Merizo
$181,500
Umatac
$281,000
Santa Rita
$195,000
Barrigada
$277,720
Agana Heights
$197,000
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Feature
Land For Two Lovers: Panoramic Ocean-View Cliff Awaits A Developer's Touch!
By Jeffrey Tomas Marchesseault
alentine’s Day has passed, but March is made for lovers! With Chamorro Month upon us, who could forget the tale of Two Lovers Point, the idyllic seaside cliff from which forbidden lovers took their fatal plunge into eternity and the annals of Guam folklore? Also known as Puntan Dos Amantes, “2LP” is Guam’s most famous visitor attraction, and the lands surrounding it offer the cost-conscious developer a unique opportunity to capitalize on the timeless intrigue of an unstoppable legend! Celebrating the passion of eternal love, this site recalls a beautiful mestiza daughter of an aristocratic Spanish father and a high-class matua Chamorrita, whose own father was a respected Chamorro chief. Betrothed to a peninsulare captain, the dignified couple’s eldest damsel was to be wed against her wishes. Admired for her honesty and intelligence as much as her modesty, charm, and comeliness, the maiden was rather in love with an idealistic young Chamorro warrior from a lower caste manachang clan. When she ran away to escape the arranged marriage and be with her lover again, she was pursued by her father, the Spanish captain caller, and a contingent of Spanish soldiers. Backed to the precipice of a deadly drop, the tragic twosome looked longingly into one another’s eyes, tied their long hair together in a single knot, kissed one last time, and leaped to their deaths from the crest of a 368-foot limestone escarpment on a promontory at water’s edge on the northern tip of Tumon Bay. It is said that their bodies washed ashore in a storm, after an intended burial at sea. And, according to lore, the lovers are entombed side-by-side to this day in a match of limestone sarcophagi, in a cavern up the coast at Urunao, north of the steep cape from which they leapt.
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Because everyone loves a good story, there is perpetual value in a parable—and, as fate would have it, value, too, in the fabled acreage leading directly to Puntan Dos Amantes! As the story goes, the star-crossed lovers inhabited the countryside near the summit of their eternal departure, in clandestine courtship. Intrigued visitors might say they still sense the undying breath of forbidden love in the breezes from that barren bluff. As the island passed through time and foreign occupation, military men would eventually re-encamp near the cliff, amid the tidy grasslands now known popularly as the Harmon Cliff Line, on the west side of Marine Corps Drive. The area contained U.S. military housing for a spell. But with the return of excess federal lands came the gradual resumption of private control by local families. Today these holdings include more than 840,000 square meters of Hotel-zoned sale lands—subdivided into seven contiguous lots known collectively as Vista del Mar Properties (‘Sea View’ Properties). The Vista del Mar selection of acreage is as remarkable for its proximity to Two Lovers Point and Tumon as it is for its considerable size, gentle slopes, cliff-line, and abundant road-frontage. A preliminary archaeological and environmental
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Feature
study of this location, which is the site of former military housing, indicates no complications with regard to development. Power, water, roads, and telecommunications infrastructure remain in place. Together with its “H” zoning, its pre-developed condition makes the VDMP estate attractive to investors and builders who want to save on development costs. A resort plan including hotel towers, villas, condos, retail, and recreation may be most suitable for this unique site, with its rare combination of sandy shoreline, cliff-side panoramic ocean views, and immediate access to the island’s most iconic attraction. Today, Puntan Dos Amantes is Guam’s number one visitor attraction, drawing tourists by the busload daily. Now for sale, Vista del Mar is ideal for the visionary who wants to take up where the attraction leaves off and spend less per square meter on development costs. The Puntan Dos Amantes optional tour site itself encircles an area just big enough for groups to come and go on day trips. Yet Vista del Mar Properties offers the creative entrepreneur the chance to build on the legend of Dos Amantes. Beginning with a paved roadway traversing the south end of Vista del Mar and leading directly to Two Lovers Point, the resort innovator enjoys the opportunity to build an avenue of themed retail along both sides of the row on the way to Two Lovers Point. Call it Two Lovers Lane! Numbering 840,641 square meters, Vista del Mar Properties is at what I like to call “the Gateway to Guam’s Northern Corridor.” Starting at the northernmost edge of Tumon Bay, VDMP is also on the frontier periphery of municipal Harmon in Dededo, Guam’s most populous village. VDMP’s far northeast end runs lengthwise in a giant runwayshaped rectangle pointing towards Route 3, where major real estate development
is anticipated from the vicinity of Guam Regional Medical City to the site slated for a forthcoming U.S. Marine Corps cantonment and beyond. The Dept. of Public Works is already widening Marine Corps Drive, right where it spills into Route 3 – directly across the street from Micronesia Mall, Guam’s biggest shopping center. Just south and below the Harmon Cliff at Tumon Bay, the vacation resort realm surrounding Pale San Vitores Road is the densest stretch of urbanity Guam has ever known. Yet, built-up as Tumon may already be, choice patches of grass on either side of the tourist district’s main drag remain ripe for upgrowth. Whether road-front or beachfront, disparate acres of ‘bay area’ land remain either undeveloped or ready for redevelopment. While it would be ideal to roll out a few more beachside parklands along the Tumon coastline, the chances of that happening in and around this priceless white sandy crescent dwindle as demand for the most coveted private parcels flanking San Vitores continues to mount. Just before the end of last year a half-acre seaside garden big enough for a comfortable home or small apartment building reportedly sold for almost $1,900 per square meter, just inside the mean high water mark. Continued on Page 26 CasaGuam.com 9
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On The Cover
Beautiful Executive Home in Dededo Come to see this elegant and contemporary home with an open floor plan and high ceiling design in central Dededo. Every aspect of this beautiful home offers detailed modern finishing—electrical remote aluminum gate and roller shutter garage doors; aluminum window and door frames with laminated dual tempered glass, moorstone floor in the lanai, balcony, and two car-garage; volcanic and cultured stones encompass the main entrance and windows; customized solid wood kitchen cabinets, shoe cabinet, and closets, acrylic LED and remote light fixtures installed; porcelain tiles laid throughout 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining and living room. There are still many more details that you absolutely have to come to experience and explore. Call 727-0060 for showing!
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Real Estate Spotlight
Who Owns Your House? By Kim Anderson Young
S
Sounds like a trick question doesn’t it? I wish it were! Last week our senior examiner shared with me an interesting chain of title to a house in Mangilao (true story but names are changed): • 1988 Deed from Mr. & Mrs. Aguon to • 1992 Deed from ABC Corporation to • 1998 Deed from Mr. & Mrs. Babauta to
ABC Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Babauta Mr. & Mrs. Campos
Fast forward to 2018—Twenty years later—Mr. & Mrs. Campos have moved off island and decide to sell their house. Their REALTOR® found the perfect buyer and opened escrow with Security Title. While searching the title to the property, our researcher discovered that the 1992 deed stated that ABC Corporation granted to Mr. & Mrs. Babauta “a three percent (3%) undivided interest” in the property. While it was most likely a typographical error on the deed, it doesn’t change the fact that ABC Corporation retained 97% ownership of the property! We checked with the registrar of corporations for the Government of Guam and discovered that ABC Corporation had folded in 1992, shortly after selling the property to the Babauta’ s. It would have been impossible for Mr. & Mrs. Campos to know that the people that sold them the house only owned a 3%
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undivided interest in it. For that matter, the Babauta’s were unaware that their deed transferred to them only 3% of the property. Fortunately when Mr. & Mrs. Campos purchased the property in 1998, they insured their purchase with an owner’s title insurance policy. When Fidelity National Title was presented with the faulty deed, they sprang into action to protect the insured Babauta family. They have contacted local counsel to protect the rights of Mr. & Mrs. Campos. I am not sure how this situation will be resolved. It is possible that a simple quiet title action in the court will result in the judge reforming the faulty deed. It is also possible that Fidelity National Title will write a check to the Campos family ensuring that they do not lose the money that they invested in the house. What I do know is that the Campos family has peace of mind that the money they invested in their Guam home is well protected by their smart decision to purchase an owners title insurance policy! Be Safe when dealing with real estate transactions. Always purchase an owners title insurance policy to protect from deficient deeds in the past! 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
Charfauros has Financing on His Mind, Guam in His Heart
By Emily L.G. Untalan
Y
You can take the boy away from the island but you can never, EVER take the island away from the boy. After living in the Mainland for over two decades, Mr. Frank Charfauros — Mortgage Loan Originator of Community First Guam Federal Credit Union — finds his way back home to Guam. Charfauros left the island in the early 90’s but not to the West Coast or the “Golden State” where most of our Guam residents migrate to, but rather to the Northern Suburbs outside of Detroit, Michigan! Brrr! There, he started working in collections for a home health care company. And, later, in 1996, Charfauros landed a job in the mortgage lending business. “I enjoy being part of the largest transaction for families and guiding them through the process,” he expresses. Assisting families with one of their biggest investments takes a lot of time and paperwork but that does not phase Charfauros one bit. He makes it his mission to get the job done, to help get families into their homes! When you put your heart into everything you do, whether it’s this business or any other business, you will reap the rewards, spiritually and financially. Being in this business for over 20 years “has afforded me to put my kids through college and being able to travel with them at a young age,” Charfauros explains. “It has also allowed my wife to be available for them when needed for health issues and after-school functions or tasks.” At one point, Charfauros opened up his own lending company. It was a very competitive market at the time. Unfortunately, after eight years in business, it fell to its demise during the 2008 recession, when the housing market crashed. This setback didn’t get the best of him. It’s lessons like this that strengthens your spirit and motivates you to move on with renewed hope and a chance for new and better opportunities. He went on to obtain employment with one of the few banks that survived the crash and led the way for lending on a national scale, where he very successfully led the nation in direct lending figures. Charfauros attributes his success to knowing his product and the guidelines associated with the loan programs. “With the knowledge in your product, you can gain the trust from your clients for what will be the biggest purchase in their lives.” Trust goes a long way… Charfauros has been back home for a little over a year now. In October 2017, he celebrated his first year work anniversary at Community First Guam Federal Credit Union. He enjoys his new place of work where he continues to do what he loves. When asked what brought him back to Guam, Charfauros didn’t hesitate to reply. “Family!” “My parents are getting older and I want to spend as much time as I can with them, together with my entire family.” Prior to coming back home, Charfauros was awarded Top Sales Producer by his employer and won an all-expense paid trip to Maui. He and his family left the cold in Detroit for the warm Hawaiian Islands. After a few days of basking in the sun and enjoying the tropical breezes, it was back to “reality.” It was this trip that reminded him of home and it is what helped him make up his mind and heart into changing that “reality.” So, in 2015, he put his house on the market. It sold on the first day! Now this really was “reality!” 14 CasaGuam
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Frank Charfauros MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR COMMUNITY FIRST GUAM FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
He started searching online for jobs in Guam. He gave himself one year to find a job and do some fishing and then Community First Guam Federal Credit Union picked him up! I was fascinated by Charfauros’ wit. Throwing out numbers, percentages, APRs, rates and financing terminologies. He really knows his stuff! And it’s no wonder — he led the direct lending team for over nine years with over 5,000 applicants!! And, on top of that, funding over $30 million yearly across 50 states!! Because Charfauros is fairly new to the island and its market, he uses CasaGuam Magazine to familiarize himself with those in the financing/mortgage lending business. He also uses CasaGuam Magazine to stay in touch with the Real Estate market and the various Real Estate Companies. “Guam has such a tremendous market for continued growth,” says Charfauros. Housing needs are great and there are some excellent programs out there for first time home buyers and investors alike. Come in, sit down and have a conversation with Mr. Charfauros to see if home ownership, refinancing or investment is in your future. When he isn’t working, Charfauros enjoys fishing and traveling. And, in five or 10 years, he sees himself in a management position still within the mortgage industry. At this point, it’s in his blood! Mr. Charfauros you are a veteran in this industry and with your discipline, experience and passion for helping families, there is no doubt your foresight will hold true!
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From the Experts
Escrow Basics Welcome to Escrow 101. In this article I am going to take the opportunity to share some basic knowledge of what escrow is and I will quickly walk you through the process of how an escrow company will assist in a real estate transaction. Generally speaking escrow is when parties to a transaction use an impartial “third party” to hold something of value (usually money) to be sure all parties involved meet their ends of a deal as agreed upon before anything changes hands. In the case of real estate, a title and escrow company will hold money on behalf of a buyer and a seller. Later, the escrow company will distribute the funds held and transfer property title in accordance with the rties’ real estate purchase agreement. An escrow is opened when a signed real estate purchase agreement is delivered to an escrow company with an earnest money deposit. An earnest money deposit or EMD is a security deposit made to demonstrate a buyer is serious about a transaction and is acting in good faith. A preliminary title report (PTR) will also be ordered to determine the condition of the title and if encumbrances or liens exist. Your escrow company will then assign an escrow officer to your transaction. Your escrow officer will be tasked with ensuring all conditions of the purchase agreement are satisfied. He or she will collect the required documents and funds and will also have other documents such as deeds, affidavits and spousal consents prepared for the required signatories. If you are obtaining financing for the purchase, your escrow officer and the bank you are working with will communicate regarding the financing of your transaction. They will discuss the specifics of your financing such as the loan amount, payoffs for
W
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By Jeremy Rojas
other loans, settlement statements, title insurance policies and policy endorsements. Just know all lenders on Guam require a Loan Policy of Title Insurance, so your escrow officer will work with the bank on any exceptions to the title that must be addressed and cleared prior to or at the time of closing. Once everything is in the clear with your lender, the escrow officer will forward your settlement statements in accordance with TRID guidelines as required by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB. Appointments will then be set for the parties involved to meet with the escrow officer to sign the closing documents. After you have signed the closing and mortgage documents the funds from your bank will be deposited into escrow and your escrow officer will proceed to record required documents at the Guam Department of Land Management. Funds will then be disbursed to pay off mortgages, liens, or other debts as required. Your title insurance and escrow company will then proceed to prepare title insurance policies and copies of the recorded documents for distribution. The process for an all cash transaction is basically the same but without the financing and the requirements that come along with it. That’s it in a nutshell. While I am hopeful that this article has provided some insight on the escrow process you can rest assured that your real estate agent, mortgage loan officer and escrow officer will guide you through to make buying a home or property as painless as possible. About the Author: Jeremy Rojas is the General Manager of Pacific American Title Insurance & Escrow Company. If you have any questions, please call 648-7777 or email jeremy.rojas@pamericantitle.com
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H o w t o D . I . Y.
Indian Inlay Stenciled Table
By Ashley @ Domestic Imperfection
B
Bone inlayed furniture is really popular right now…not with people like us, cause we’re cheap, but with people that have money to throw around. The first dresser (the little black one) has a price tag of….hold onto your britches….$2,999! Holy cajoles…most of the cars we’ve owned have cost less than that. Do people really pay that much for furniture? I’m sure some do or else these companies wouldn’t be in business…I’m also sure that those people wouldn’t be caught dead reading my blog. So designer Kim Myles came up with a solution for us penny pinching (hundy pinching?) DIY kinda gals…in the form of a stencil, of course. It’s called the Indian Inlay kit and is made by Cutting Edge Stencils. I wanted to give this stencil a go, but first I had to find an old table. I see old tables everywhere…that is until I started looking for one. I looked for about two weeks, and then my sister-in law Jaime offered to bring me her table to play with. Perfect! Here it is…
your mistake, where as if you mess up on a stained table then you just have to live with it. Kim painted her table first and that would by far be the easiest way because you can do unlimited touch ups. I like some wood on my furniture though, so painting it wasn’t going to happen. Anyway, I stained mine and did two coats of English Chestnut by Minwax. Then I had to figure out how this stencil works. Other stencils I have used come as one big easy sheet…this one came in a bunch of little pieces. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little intimidated looking at all those little stencil pieces and my big, blank, already stained table. It comes with three “border” pieces, one “interior floral” piece, and one small “filler” piece. I was already being non traditional by doing this on wood rather than a solid colored surface, so I made it official and used the “interior floral” piece first. Also, instead if having mine look like bone I wanted it to look like pearl inlays. Capiz inlays? Whatever kind is shiny…that’s the look I was going for. My hubby stopped by Hobby Lobby (I know, he’s awesome) and found this…you just add it to normal paint and it gives it a pearl effect.
I know, it’s pretty much the exact same as my old table that I did the paisley stencil on…I think everyone in America has owned this table at some point. It’s like an unspoken right of passage.
So, I got to stenciling. I would usually use a foam roller for this, but the roller was wider than the stencil so I had to use a flat ended brush (same one as on my sign and mat).
So, first things first… I did a few things different on this table than I did on the paisley one (if you haven’t read that post you should, I’m going to reference it a lot). On the paisley table I sanded, then stenciled, then stained. I didn’t want this table to have a rustic look though (I wanted it to be brighter and whiter), which meant I had the stain BEFORE I stenciled. Let me just say this…it was much more forgiving to stencil on bare wood. If you mess up, you can just lightly sand off
If you have never stenciled before then I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one. Remember when I said that the paisley stencil was super easy and took ten minutes to do the whole tabletop? This one took me at least six hours. Granted it has a much more custom look…you can fit the design to the exact shape and size of whatever you want to stencil. Just giving you a heads up that you won’t finish this in one nap time unless your kids sleep for six hours straight. And if that’s the case then I propose a trade….
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H o w t o D . I . Y. While stenciling I was having a hard time with the corners. I wanted them to look sharp and purposeful, but that wasn’t easy. As I was looking at Kim’s table I noticed something… Some of her corners were less than awesome. Phew! If the designer of the stencil can have corners that don’t match up then mine certainly don’t have to be perfect. Here is the method that worked best for me… 1. Bring your stencils almost together, making sure the vertical lines aren’t longer than the horizontal ones. 2. Cover areas that you don’t want stenciled with tape, other stencils…whatever you have lying around 3. Stencil 4. Pull everything up and admire your (crisp, albeit not perfect but good enough) corner. When the top was all stenciled (whew!) I applied three thick coats of polycrylic and moved onto painting the chairs. I rummaged through my paint closet and chose the leftover paint from our cabinets…Harbor Grey from Sherwin Williams. Now, if you are a two year old boy you will really want to help at this point. Here is how two year old chair help goes down… 1. Lightly sand the chairs 2. Throw a tantrum when you are done 3. Clean up all the dust with a damp towel 4. Get striped down and banished to your high chair when it comes time to paint. Here is the final product! Beautiful, huh? Hard to believe it’s the same table! It doesn’t have the shimmer I was hoping for—I was too stingy with the pearlizer because I was afraid of running out. Live and learn! It does have a hint of shimmer though, not that you can tell from the pictures.
It’s certainly not perfect, there are two areas that are blurry. This is where stenciling on a painted surface would have come in handy… Not to worry, the mistakes disappear when you step back a couple feet. I’m still allowed to be proud of my corners though! Here’s a side by side before and after, because everybody loves those.
Cite Source: Ashley of Domestic Imperfection. Wife and mother who is all about DIY decor, home renovation, craftiness and real life. CasaGuam.com 19
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Your World, Our Island
Off-Road Community Gives Back
By Eric M. Palacios
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The only things brighter than the sun on Feb. 17 were the number of offroad enthusiasts who came out for the 2018 Guahan Jeeps Arbor Day Project, which took place in the rolling hills of Yoña. The project, which had been in the planning stages since late last year, saw dozens of people — men, women and children — plant a variety of trees in the trails known as Tank Farm. "(Saturday) to me was incredible — to have everyone come together," said Idrenne Mendiola, the event organizer. The event was not in response to recent discussions about responsible offroading. Rather, it was an idea that members of Guahan Jeeps came up with a few months ago to ensure outdoor enthusiasts would be able to enjoy the scenic area for many years. In addition to planting trees, the volunteers also picked up trash that had been discarded over time. Thanks to proper planning and governmental assistance, all of the trash that had been collected was then received by the office of Order-Chalan Pago Mayor Jessy Gogue and his staff for proper disposal. "We went in, took care of business, had fun, and showed camaraderie with the common goal of making our trail grounds a better place," Mendiola added. With this successful project under its belt, along with having completed a couple of other community-focused ones, it is safe to say that the group will not be losing steam any time soon. If you would like to become a member of Guahan Jeeps, or if you would simply like to volunteer your time at future events, kindly send me an e-mail at: jjeecp@gmail.com.
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Photos courtesy of Idrenne Mendiola
About the Author: Eric M. Palacios is the former administrator of Guam Environmental Protection Agency. He currently serves as Governor Eddie Calvo’s special assistant for Infrastructure, Invasive Species, Environment & Natural Resources.
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Curb Appeal
How To Pick House Paint Colors For Curb Appeal
By GNH Lumber, Inc.
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Whether your home is brand new or in need of an update, the best way to make it stand out on the curb is with a beautiful coat of exterior paint. While this might sound like an opportunity to go crazy expressing yourself with bright and busy colors, there are many things to consider before choosing a color scheme for your house: • Do you intend to resell your home in a few years? • How will the color scheme work with your gardens and landscaping? • Does your house have wood or vinyl siding? • Are there pre-existing colored materials, like brick, stone or stucco, to complement with your palette? • What is your region or climate? What are your neighborhood trends? If you’re planning to sell your home in the future, sticking to a more neutral color scheme is a good resale strategy. Keep in mind that tried and true combinations are always a great choice.
These are time-tested hues that work well against green lawns and gardens, and complement reddish brick fireplaces and roofs. You can add more impact by using darker or lighter variations of the main house color to accent things like window frames, shutters and trim.
Five of the most popular house colors are: • • • • •
White/Off-white Tan Gray Yellow Blue
If your plan is to keep your home for generations to come, or you want to make it stand out from the rest in the neighborhood, there are ways to successfully add vibrant colors without losing curb appeal. • Consider using that daring red paint on your front door in order to easily direct visitors to your doorsill. • Or add bright yellow shutters against a pale blue house to create nice visual contrast. • Sometimes highlighting an architectural element like an archway or chimney with a bold color can have a whimsical result. If you’re working with natural wood stains, you can choose to highlight the natural warmth by adding cool-hued accents. Very large homes appear less sprawling with a bright white coat of paint accented with primary colors. Smaller homes are more forgiving with a vibrant color palette, especially when the roof and trim are neutral toned. Using pastel versions of a bright color is a great way to add uniqueness and charm without creating disharmony with the environment.
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Curb Appeal Whatever color scheme you choose, make sure to follow general rules for color harmonies, so your hues won’t compete or clash. Not sure what your final color scheme will look like? Looking for a way to test out some wild ideas? Check out this great tool from Benjamin Moore! Paint your home online and see how |colors will look before making a purchase with the Personal Color Viewer virtual paint color visualization tool. How does it work? Simply choose a home exterior that is similar to yours (or upload a photo) and have fun experimenting with all kinds of color schemes for body, trim, shutters and door. The best part is, when you’re done, you’ll have a list of Benjamin Moore paint colors to bring in to GNH Lumber for your new home exterior color scheme. So, explore your color options and get creative with the possibilities! Your home’s exterior color scheme will greet you every time you turn into your driveway. So, make choices that will enhance your home’s appearance for years to come… And don’t forget to have fun! Cite Source: www.gnhlumber.com
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Weather Ready Nation
WILDFIRES ON GUAM… AND HOW OUR CLIMATE AFFECTS THEM By Brandon Aydle , NWS Meteorologist
Hafa Adai Guam! The 2018 dry season is in full swing and that means condi ons are more favorable for wild res. At rst thought, it seems strange that Guam, a tropical island, would have a re season, but it doesn't take very long for the swordgrass across central and southern Guam to dry out in the early months of the year. A er just a few weeks of very li le rain, hot temperatures, and breezy trade winds, Guam’s grasses become quite suscep ble to burning. Fortunately, wet season rains begin to replenish soil and vegeta on moisture and the risk for fast-spreading wildres greatly decreases by summer. The dry season (usually January through June) isn’t long enough for trees and forests to become dangerously dry and vulnerable to burning as is o en the case in the western United States, but Guam’s wild res can some mes spread quickly, especially when winds are strong. Trade winds a ect wild res in several ways. First, they accelerate the drying of wildland fuels (low brush and swordgrass); they increase re spread by sending heat up hilly slopes; they aid combus on by increasing the supply of oxygen; and then they help to ignite spot res by carrying burning embers downwind where they can start new res. On average, we receive 2-4 inches of rain per month in the dry season. However, we some mes can see much less rainfall in any par cular month. In fact, we just set a new record low rainfall for January with only 0.94”. No wonder there were quite a few wildres in the central and southern areas of Guam. We’re only a part of the way through the 2018 re season, and unless we have a couple of signi cant rain events, our re danger will only increase the next few months. Guam weather forecasters closely monitor the weather for situa ons in which a combina on of extended dryness, stronger winds, low humidity, and dry fuels could lead to condi ons conducive to dangerously fast-spreading and di cult-to-contain wildres. We call these Red Flag Weather Condi ons. When we expect 24 CasaGuam March 2018
such condi ons, we will issue Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings: Fire Weather Watch: Issued when there is a poten al for red ag condi ons; and are o en issued within 12-48 hrs, but no more than 72 hrs in advance. Red Flag Warning: Issued when red ag condi ons are imminent or occurring; and will remain in e ect only while those condi ons con nue to exist. **It is worth no ng that even if a watch or warning is issued, that doesn’t necessarily mean a re will occur, just that SHOULD a re develop, it will be more di cult to contain** No ma er what me of the year it is, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the risk of wild res and to protect your property: Check with your local re department for burn condi ons before star ng a re; When burning outdoors, ensure you have a reliable water supply and enough hose to reach any part of your house or other structures on your property; Keep your yard and shrubbery trimmed and remove all dead and drying vegeta on and combus ble materials within 50 feet of your home; Trim trees to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from structures
During the dry season, visit our Fire Weather page at h p:// www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/ reWeather.php to see a daily re weather forecast. CasaGuam, a dba of Yellow Pages Ink and PTI Paci ca, Inc., is an Ambassador of the Weather-Ready Na on. In partnership with the Na onal Weather Service, CasaGuam will reserve this space to help disseminate important informa on on weather safety and preparedness to our community. If your organiza on would like to join the Weather-Ready Na on, contact Brandon at William.Aydle @noaa.gov. Follow the NWS on Facebook at US Na onal Weather Service Guam, or @NWSGuam, and on the web at www.weather.gov/ guam. If you would like to sponsor this page, give CasaGuam a call at 472-3495 or email Emily at euntalan@yellowpagesink.com or editor@yellowpagesink.com.
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W h o Ya G o n n a C a l l ?
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Continued from Page 9 The advantages to building in high-traffic Tumon are obvious, but there are limitations to what can be built in pockets as opposed to the vast tracts on the northeastern frontier. So, perhaps no lands are more choice for their location, size, price, and relative seclusion than the northernmost reaches of Tumon Bay and those traversing its adjacent Harmon Cliff Line. Lands just north and northeast of ‘Tumon proper’ are broad green canvases just waiting for skilled planners to engraft them seamlessly into the tourist district below. Depending on what specific area an investor is considering for lease or purchase, it helps to pay close attention to factors affecting the price of development. Permitting, utilities, and road construction costs can run in the millions of dollars, years before the concrete forms are in place. Given the paved roads, utilities, and archaeological and environmental certifications completed to date, one would be hard pressed to find a piece of northern hotel-zoned property anywhere near as ready for development as Vista del Mar Properties by Two Lovers Point. Over the last couple of years, it seems the smart money has been taking its time to study the Guam market for good deals it can buy for future development or land-banking purposes. The demand for tourism and military industry growth is palpable, but some of these ‘phase one investors’ have been waiting for the critical market changes necessary to meeting that demand before selling off their appreciating assets or taking the plunge to upgrade or develop them from scratch. Now that the federal government is finally beginning to recognize Guam’s pronounced need for labor to populate construction sites in the ensuing military buildup and answer the
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call for more hotel rooms, foreign worker visa applications are finally being written up and entertained by the thousands on Guam and the Northern Marianas again. It seems there’s no time like the present for observant investors to put their shoulders to the wheel and begin the real work of reconstructing and reinforcing the island for a new generation of recreation and strategic defense. For those who call Guam home, perhaps there can be no greater call to passion, no better illustrated devotion to priority than the timeless romance of two lovers immortalized at Puntan Dos Amantes. Biba Mes Chamorro! Biba!
About the Author: Jeffrey Tomas Marchesseault [MAR-shesso] is a licensed real estate Associate Broker and REALTOR with Alliance Realty, LLC, on Guam. He is also a seasoned property manager and has more than 32 years of experience in broadcasting and multimedia. Feel free to contact Jeff at +1 (671) 483-1162 or mediamaxguam@gmail.com. Thank you!
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Closing
Message from the President Christopher Felix 2018 President Guam Association of REALTORS®
Peggy Araullo Llagas Guam Association of REALTORS®
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act – What it means for Real Estate Professionals
Hello Again, Once again I am writing you as the president of the Guam Association of Realtors®. We are a group of licensed real estate brokers and agents who have joined together to try to offer better service to our real estate buyers and sellers here in Guam. We are a part of the National Association of Realtors® which now has well over 1,000,000 members. Here in Guam we have over 400 members and are growing every month. I remember in the 1970's when we had only 30 or so members and I would never have guessed that we would grow into what we are now. Our focus is to serve you and our community in all their real estate needs and to do so honestly, fairly and according to our Code of Ethics. This month Casa Guam is focusing on executive type houses and/or properties with ocean views. Living on an island we all dream of living in a house (or owning a business office) with a view of the ocean but these types of houses/offices can very easily get into the millions of dollars to purchase. I hope someday we all can afford to own one. Until then I suggest you start with meeting a Realtor® and seeing what you can afford. Good luck!
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 28 CasaGuam
Message from the Chief Executive Officer and Government Affairs Director
March 2018
Major Provisions Affecting Real Estate Professionals Because the new tax bill greatly decreases the tax rate for corporations (from the prior law’s 35% to just 21%), many Members of Congress believed that the business income earned by sole proprietors, such as independent contractors, as well as by pass-through businesses, such as partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and S corporations, should also receive tax rate reductions. In addition to lower marginal tax rates, the final bill provides a significant upfront (above the line[1]) deduction of 20% for business income earned by many of these businesses, but with certain conditions. Specifically, the bill limits the 20% deduction to non-personal service businesses. Essentially, a personal service business is one involving the performance of services in the following fields: Health, Law, Consulting, Athletics, Financial Services, Brokerage Services (not real estate), and “Any business where the main asset of the business is the reputation or skill of one or more of its employees or owners.” It seems clear that most real estate agents and brokers will be considered in a personal service business and would thus not normally qualify for the 20% deduction. However, NAR was able to help secure a major exception (the personal service income exception) in the final bill that will make it possible for many real estate professionals to be able to take advantage of the deduction. • This exception provides that if the business owner has taxable income of less than $157,500 (for single taxpayers) or $315,000 (for couples filing jointly), then the personal service restriction will not apply. • Above this level of income, the benefit of the 20% deduction is phased out over an income range of $50,000 for singles and an income range of $100,000 for couples[2]. • For those with non-personal service income above these thresholds, the bill provides a second exception that may still allow a full or limited 20% deduction. This second exception (the wage and capital limit exception) places a limit on the deduction of the greater of: • 50% of the W-2 wages paid by the business, or • The total of 25% of the W-2 wages paid by the business plus 2.5% of the cost basis of the tangible depreciable property of the business at the end of the year. Bottom Line: Independent contractors and pass-through business owners with personal service income, including real estate agents and brokers, with taxable income below the $157,500 or $315,000 thresholds may generally claim the full 20% deduction under the personal service income exception. Independent contractors and pass-through business owners with non-personal service income and total taxable income below these thresholds may also claim the full 20% qualified business income deduction. In addition, independent contractors (or other sole proprietors) with non-personal service incomes above these thresholds may also be able to claim a 20% deduction, but that deduction may be limited by the wage and capital limit exception.
- National Association of REALTORS® Ask if your agent is a REALTOR®. A member of the Guam Association of REALTORS® who shall remain your leading advocate in protecting your best interest. Visit our website at www.guamrealtors.com.
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