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CONTENTS
Message From GAR
Departments 4
Market Report
10
2011 Year in Review
7
In Our Community Bank of Guam Ifit 5K Raises $28,949.80 for Guam Cancer Care
8
Feature Market Update Commercial real estate rates improve nationally
10
On the Cover Ladera Tower Breathtaking views from your balcony
12
Our Environment
April 2012 • Vol. 5 • No. 04 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
A Brighter Solution
|Display Advertising| 14
Pancakes for Charity
16
Profile Jack of All Trades Bitel Cosico takes real estate from hobby to career
Darrell T. Pereda Doris Pangelinan John Mendiola Emily Untalan
|Traffic/Circulation Manager| Josie Redmond
18
Experts Make Real Estate Part of Your Retirement Plan
|Production Manager| Mark S. Burke
|Graphics & Layout| 20
How to D.I.Y. A Do-It-Yourselfer's Primer on Polarity and Some Cool Tools to Get the Job Done
22
Curb Appeal A Window to Your World
25
Who Ya Gonna Call?
26
Classifieds
28
Closing
Mark S. Burke Edwin E. Valencia
|Editorial Contributors| Faye Varias Creative Services Elizabeth Duenas W. Nicholas Captain Peggy Araullo Llagas Deniece Menez Angela Rosario (GRESCO) Mark S. Burke Arlene Taitague Taitingfong Joylyn Anderson
Message from the President By Elizabeth C. Duenas e-pro®, CRS®, CIAS®, REALTOR® Associate Broker RE/MAX Diamond Realty
T
echnology and Home Buyers! Buyers are now enlisting the help of technology to find their dream home. Many individuals are now going through real estate websites to check out properties before going out on showings. The Guam Association of Realtors compiles all the listings from all Realtor offices on Guam through the Multiple Listing Service. You can visit the site through guamrealtors.com and click on MLS Home Search or through YOUR REALTOR's website. Searching for a home can be done utilizing your iphone, ipad or laptop..... it is wonderful that you can download applications for the different systems. It is amazing what technology can do to simply things. You can now search for your dream home while sipping coffee at a cafe. The buyers nowadays are surfing the wifi waves of the future... One evening I was at a party looking out into the crowd of party goers, the evening was still young with the party warming up and the most interesting observation is that almost everyone at the party were either texting, searching, viewing or communicating on their phones. This is what it means to be CONNECTED! In searching through Realtor websites you can search by type of property (House, Land, Multi-family, Commercial), Price or Village, size of the house or lot, including number of bedrooms. The inventory of properties on these websites are updated daily. The Dream of Home ownership......How many of you have a dream to own your home? If you are currently renting - Why rent? Schedule an appointment with a loan officer to get pre-qualified. The pre-qualification process will assist you in setting your budget. You will need to provide the following documents to your loan officer: 1) Last 2 years tax return 2) Last 2 pay stubs 3) Employment Verification 4) List of Bills In the pre-qualification process, your loan officer will let you know what loan type you would qualify for based on your income. Once you have an idea of what you qualify for, you can contact your Realtor to help find you the perfect home. Your Realtor can help you convert your monthly rental payments to a mortgage payment and put money back into your own pockets. Interest Rates are as low as 4.375 for a 30 year loan - rates change daily and may change again by the time this article is printed. Take advantage of the low rates and buy now! Why Rent when you can Own your own Home! Happy Easter to All!
Guam Association of Realtors® My REALTOR® Party Initiatives
Cover Photo: Mark S. Burke CasaGuam is Published by:
GUAM ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
The Voice for Real Estate on Guam Office: (671) 477-4271 • Fax: (671) 477-4275
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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By Nick Captain
Market Repor t
2011 Year in Review Market Activity Update and Trends; Lender Activity in 2011; Prevailing Market Conditions in Historical Context
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t’s off. It’s on. It’s 50 percent. No, it’s 100 percent. No, now its just 33 percent. It’s now. It’s never. “It” (aka the Guam Military Build Up) is the $10 billion question (or is it only a mere $5 billion?) and “it” is dominating Guam’s real estate market decision making. This past year certainly reflected increasing uncertainty (we’re fairly certain about that). By late 2011, the opaque outlook and elevated risk substantially slowed activity in Guam’s decidedly undecided real estate market. By year end, the outlook for some of the most grandiose build-up related developments, looked grim.
Although local real estate sales activity fizzled by year end, annual 2011 islandwide transaction volume equalized 2010 figures. Sales in 2011 were boosted by $39.5 million combined by the former Okura and Sherwood hotel transactions. According to the latest release from the Captain Real Estate Group; aggregate 2011 islandwide sales volume increased by less than one percent from 2010, to $307.1 million. In the residential sector, the overall sales pace slowed to its slowest rate in nearly a decade, with only 542 single family dwelling (“SFD”) sales in 2011, down 8 percent from 2010 and down 30 percent from the 2007 peak. However, the annual median price of a house on Guam last year increased by over 15 percent to a record high $245,000, or about five times the median household income level. Guam “one percenters” fueled 4 CasaGuam April 2012
a recovery in the high-end residential sector with 35 sales of houses priced above $500,000 in 2011, up over 50 percent from 2010. The condominium sector reflected another slowdown in sales activity, with an anemic 57 units islandwide closing in 2011, at a combined price of $12.9 million. The annual median price of a condominium in 2011 declined slightly to $135,000.
Local real estate market conditions have transitioned toward relatively low, stabilized sales activity, tighter lending guidelines and reduced liquidity due to the on-going reassessment of risk associated with the new look ex-Futenma Guam military build-up. The build-up, now apparently downsized to 4,700 Marines and an unknown number of dependents, was originally proposed at a $10± billion cost with completion, along with 18,000 new residents, by 2014. Market sentiment regarding the build-up downsizing by up to 70 percent varies, but the shock of a massive scale back in expectations remains reverberating among local and foreign investors. As downsizing news spread by late 2011, real estate sales in the 4th quarter tanked to pre-build-up 2004 levels of around $50 million. Many recent investments designed to capitalize on the build-up, especially worker housing and industrial property, have suffered from weak demand. Other failed projects such as the four abandoned hospital cliffline towers and the
abandoned Tumon box now appear even less likely to find badly needed white knights. Additional external market demand shifts during 2011 emanated from: the repatriation of Japanese yen following the tragic March 2011 Fukushima triple disasters, historically low interest rates, European liquidity uncertainty, alternate investment opportunities and other demand side externalities. Although the shock of reduced build-up expectations is likely to dominate near term activity, investor confidence in the long-term remains positive due to the eventual military expansion which, even if the downsized completion is pushed back a few years, would still vastly improve fundamental market conditions. From the beginning to the end of 2011, Guam’s recent real estate market might best be summed up by those Grateful Dead lyrics, “Sometimes the lights all shinin’ on me, other times I can barely see”. Opaque. Uncertainty. Risk. Will President Obama calm Guam real estate investors on February 13? Stay tuned … Market Activity Update and Trends
The $307.1 million in sales volume in 2011 was equivalent to late 2005/early 2006 figures, but more than double the underwhelming 2003 total. Last year’s sales total reflected nearly 25 percent growth compared to 2009 sales. Guam real estate lending activity in 2011 reflected a 12 percent
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Market Repor t drop in transactions, and a 3 percent decline in volume, to $374.4 million. Market stability in 2011 was highlighted by Guam’s residential sector. Single family home sales reflected $141.3 million in 2011, down a smidge from the $141.7 million recorded in 2010. The condominium sector reflected $31.4 million in 2011, off slightly from the $32.2 million reflected in 2010. During 2011, the median price of a single family house hit a record high $245,000, up 15 percent from 2010 and nearly double the 2004 level. The increasing median price in recent years is substantially attributable to the change in product mix, which includes an increasing number of new (more expensive) houses compared with prior years. The flat residential dollar sales in 2011 occured along with shrinkage of 8 percent in the number of houses sold, which reflected 542 units in 2011. Unit sales volume peaked during 2006 to 2008 with over 700 houses sold annually. The 2011 unit sales volume reflected the slowest pace in a decade. High end SFD sales (above $500,000) increased over 50 percent in 2011 with 35 transactions, as wealthy individuals returned to the market. In the condominium sector, the median price decreased slightly to $135,000 in 2011, while the number of transactions declined nearly 10 percent, to 167 units. Condominium sales volume (in dollars) in 2011 was down by 3 percent to $31.4 million. The high end condominium sector stabilized with 20 transactions priced over $350,000, slightly less than 2010 activity.
Guam’s real estate market reflected explosive growth and significant price appreciation between 2004 and early 2008. Improved mid-2000s market conditions resulted from an end to recessionary economic conditions, followed by the foreign investment and speculation associated with what was previously widely reported as a $15± billion military expansion. By mid-2011, a series of negative political events and the triple disasters in Japan resulted in widespread concern that the build-up could be indefinitely delayed or altered considerably. Lending Activity in 2011 Bank of Hawaii and Citibank earned our “Comeback Lenders of the Year” award in 2011, increasing real estate lending by 70 and 86 percent, respectively, according to Captain Real Estate Group statistics. Real estate loans by these banks were still down by 30 percent compared with 2008. Bank of Hawaii, Citibank and Bank of Guam were the only lenders reflecting real estate loan growth in 2011. Bank of Hawaii’s lending growth returned the bank to a more normalized #3 market share position. In 2011, First Hawaiian Bank retained its status as Guam’s dominant real estate lender with 20 percent market share, at $76.4 million, down 8 percent from 2010. Bank of Guam continued to close the gap on First Hawaiian Bank in 2011 with real estate loans totaling $73.6 million, only four percent less than First Hawaiian Bank. The sharpest drop in lending occurred at Coast 360, down by almost 30 percent from $50 million in 2010 to just $35 million in 2011. Newly appointed CEO Dick Northey and his team are well positioned to capitalize on opportunities and increase market share for Coast 360 in the near future. Prevailing Market Conditions in Historical Context
Notable Transactions - Notable sales in 2011 included the former Okura and Sherwood hotel transactions, which reflected a combined $39.5 million sale price. Other 2011 notable sales include the largest land deal of the year, a $17.6 million Tumon beachfront site acquired by a Taiwan-based investor. Industrial sales last year were highlighted by the $2.0+ million sales of the Tamuning Industrial Park and Proline warehouse complexes. Luxury residential sales included the bulk, 8-unit sale of unsold Tasi 17 condominium units at a price of $4.1 million. Other notable sales during 2011 included Route 3 land sold at $3.0± million and Young’s Plaza commercial complex at $3.0± million.
Issues negatively impacting build-up projects included the Futenma base relocation opposition in Okinawa, massive federal expenditure cut-backs, increased construction cost estimates and other factors. The Guam military build-up process, roughly $600 million of which is already underway, is expected to dominate local economic and real estate market conditions during this next decade. Recent cyclical real estate market conditions peaked in 2007 and 2008. Along with global financial market fallout starting in late 2008, Guam real estate transaction activity (aggregate dollar sales) contracted sharply. Since mid-2009, transaction activity has fluctuated at prior cyclical low (pre-2004) levels, although price declines in most market sectors have been relatively limited. Price movement has varied by sector with some highly leveraged and build-up related speculation purchases reflecting the greatest declines. By early 2012, the combined negative impacts associated with the March 2011 triple disasters in Japan, as well as the subsequent, massive downsizing of military build-up plans, resulted in further contraction in real estate sales volume, liquidity and demand. Most recently, investor caution is widespread due to the growing frustration associated with the military build-up, global economic risks and an increase in alternate investment options. It is widely expected that real estate demand will continue to remain relatively weak in the near term, with substantial mid to long term growth possible if downsized and 4protracted military build-up activity significantly impacts economic and population growth by 2016-2018. CasaGuam.com 5
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Bank of Guam Ifit 5K Raises $28,949.80 for Guam Cancer Care
In Our Community
aturday, March 10, 2012 over 1,500 runners, walkers and support volunteers participated in the Bank of Guam's 40th anniversary Ifit 5K Run/Walk to benefit Guam Cancer Care. The course started and ended at the Hagåtña Bank of Guam headquarters, running through the middle of Hagåtña to Chode Mart and around the back of the Superior Court. The Race set several milestones. The Ifit 5K Run/Walk recorded the fastest 5K Race on Guam as Derek Mandell broke his personal best time of 14 minutes and 56 seconds. In keeping with the "Green" theme of the race, the entire event only generated 1 bag of trash in an event attended by around 1,500 people, thanks to the efforts of Peggy Denney of i*recycle and the race volunteers. According to Ms. Denny, cardboard was taken to Guahan Waste Control, food waste was used to feed pigs, biodegradable waste was composted and cans and plastic items were taken to be recycled. Other containers, such as containers that held powdered sports drinks, were given to teachers to be used to store school supplies. Best of all, The Ifit 5K Run/Walk raised $28,949.80 for Guam Cancer Care, the largest amount raised from any 5K run for a single beneficiary.
S
Derek Mandell crosses the finish line and wins the men’s division title.
Taylor Fell crosses the finish line to take the top prize in her division.
Presentation: Bank of Guam® Ifif 5K Run/Walk beneficiary: Guam Cancer Care (Front, Left to Right) William D. Leon Guerrero (Bank of Guam® Executive Vice President), Lou Leon Guerrero (Bank of Guam® President/Board Chari), Terry Cuabo (Guam Cancer Care/Event Cooridinator), (Back) Chuck Tanner (Guam Cancer Care Board Chairman), Mike Naholowaa (Bank of Guam® Vice President & 5K Coordinator), Christina Martini-Cline (Guam Cancer Care/Program Director), Ellie Ongrung, Tillie Ngirachelsau & Gary Famisaran (Guam Cancer Center)
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Feature
With the number of “For Lease” signs sprinkled across varied buildings across the island, commercial real estate may seem like it is struggling. But according to the National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast, all of the major commercial real estate sectors are seeing improved fundamentals, but multifamily housing is becoming a landlord’s market commanding bigger rent increases. These trends also are confirmed in NAR’s recent quarterly Commercial Real Estate Market Survey. Below, we take a look at NAR’s research to potentially reflect what we see on island. 8 CasaGuam April 2012
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Feature
Market Update Commercial real estate rates improve nationally. Information courtesy of the National Association of REALTORS® Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said vacancy rates are improving in all of the major commercial real estate sectors. “Sustained job creation is benefiting commercial real estate sectors by increasing demand for space,” he said. “Vacancy rates are steadily falling. Leasing is on the rise and rents are showing signs of strengthening, especially in the apartment market where rents are rising the fastest.” NAR forecasts commercial vacancy rates over the next year to decline 0.4 percentage point in the office sector, 0.8 point in industrial real estate, 0.9 point in the retail sector and 0.2 percentage point in the multifamily rental market. “Household formation appears to be rising from pent-up demand,” Yun said. “The tight apartment market should encourage more apartment construction. Otherwise, rent increases could further accelerate in the near-to-intermediate term.” Office and industrial space remains a tenant’s market – 87 percent of participants feel that tenants are getting a range of benefits ranging from moderate concessions to deep rent discounts. Construction activity is still low, with 95 percent of experts reporting it is below normal, and 83 percent said it is a buyers’ market for development acquisitions; prices are below construction costs in 78 percent of markets. Participants are broadly expecting stronger conditions for the current quarter, with two out of three expecting market improvement. NAR’s latest Commercial Real Estate Outlook offers projections for four major commercial sectors and analyzes quarterly data in the office, industrial, retail and multifamily markets. Historic data for metro areas were provided by REIS, Inc., a source of commercial real estate performance information. Office Markets Vacancy rates in the office sector are projected to fall from 16.4 percent in the cur rent quarter to 16.0 percent in the first quarter of 2013.
Annual industrial rent is expected to rise 1.8 percent in 2012 and 2.3 percent next year. Net absorption of industrial space nationally is seen at 40.6 million square feet this year and 57.7 million in 2013. Retail Markets Retail vacancy rates are forecast to decline from 11.9 percent in the current quarter to 11.0 percent in the first quarter of 2013. Average retail rent should rise 0.7 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2013. Net absorption of retail space is projected at 9.9 million square feet this year and 23.9 million in 2013. Multifamily Markets The apartment rental market – multifamily housing – is likely to see vacancy rates drop from 4.7 percent in the first quarter to 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013; multifamily vacancy rates below 5 percent generally are considered a landlord’s market with demand justifying higher rents. After rising 2.2 percent last year, average apartment rent is expected to increase 3.8 percent in 2012 and another 4.0 percent next year. Multifamily net absorption is forecast at 209,900 units this year and 223,600 in 2013. The Commercial Real Estate Outlook is published by the NAR Research Division for the commercial community. NAR’s Commercial Division, formed in 1990, provides targeted products and services to meet the needs of the commercial market and constituency within NAR. The NAR commercial components include commercial members; commercial committees, subcommittees and forums; commercial real estate boards and structures; and the NAR commercial affiliate organizations – CCIM Institute, Institute of Real Estate Management, Realtors® Land Institute, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®, and Counselors of Real Estate.
After rising 1.6 percent in 2011, office rents should increase another 1.9 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2013. Net absorption of office space in the U.S., which includes the leasing of new space coming on the market as well as space in existing properties, is forecast at 20.1 million square feet in 2012 and 28.1 million next year.
Approximately 78,000 NAR and institute affiliate members specialize in commercial brokerage and related services, and an additional 232,000 members offer commercial real estate services as a secondary business.
Industrial Markets Industrial vacancy rates are likely to decline from 11.7 percent in the first quarter of this year to 10.9 percent in the first quarter of 2013.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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On The Cover
Ladera Tower Breathtaking Views Located high above Mangilao, Ladera Tower's spacious units offer breathtaking views from your private balcony. Relax in your jacuzzi after a long day, or head downstairs to enjoy some of Ladera Tower's other amenities, including two tennis courts, large swimming pool & jet spa, children's playground, a 1900 square-foot fitness center with up to date equipment, and an aerobics room, or feel free to use one of the computers in the lobby where wireless Internet is available 24 hours a day. In addition to luxury living, Ladera Tower features 24 hour guard service, ample parking in the covered garage, and FULL backup generator. Vacant and Leased units available for those that want to occupy or investors looking for income producing property.. 3 bedroom 2 bath units start at $298,000. Call Rowena Tamares – Subijano at 777-4317 or Vic Reyes at 483-7518 for more information.
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Our Environment
A Brighter Solution By Angela Rosario
As scientists continually strive for technology that allows us to simplify and maximize our existence, families are tasked with the burden of finding alternatives to living an effective and efficient life without bursting their budgets. Food, clothing, shelter, and energy are all necessities in the art of survival, but only the latter is ever evolving. From incandescent lighting to compact fluorescents, companies have been searching for more energy efficient and environmentally-friendly lighting substitutes for their homes and businesses. Attempts have been made, but rarely achieved in respects to truly energy efficient products, until now. After years of perfecting the science, it had been discovered that light emitting diodes (LED), which were commonly used in remote controls and computers, were able to produce an equivalent luminosity, if not exceed, of that of its predecessors. Unlike compact fluorescent light bulbs and incandescent lighting, LED lights solely employ the movements of electrons in order to produce its brightness, thus eliminating the need for a filament and harmful mercury contents. Because of this, LED lights not only use less energy, but emit less heat than that of regular light bulbs and spring lamps. Less energy used means more money in your pockets. 12 CasaGuam April 2012
LED lights not only use less energy, but emit less heat... Less energy used means more money in your pockets.
GRESCO, a locally owned company, has geared all its efforts into reducing the island of Guam, and the greater region of the Marianas' and Micronesia's carbon footprint though providing and producing environmentally conscious products and services including used oil recycling, wastewater, LPG, and lighting . Through their determined efforts to work with companies regionally and throughout the world, GRESCO is able to provide their customers with the best and highest quality products possible in manufacturing their products. Through distributing and supplying LED lights to our local homes and businesses, GRESCO continues to educate our community on the importance of working together to achieve a greener Guam.
Bulb Type
Bulb Life
Cost/Bulb
Cost of Bulbs over 30,000 Hours
Incadescent
2,500 hours
$4.90
$58.80
LED
30,000 hours
$28.35
$28.35
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Pancakes for Charit y
Personal Finance Center’s Pancakes for Charity, held at the Sheraton Laguna Resort Guam poolside square, hosted more than 400 people who enjoyed a pancake breakfast to raise funds for two local charities. The second annual event on the morning of Sunday, March 25, benefited Make-A-Wish Guam Chapter and the Cantate Community Chorus. Attendees of the event tasted a variety of pancake dishes including some international flavors. Also served were eggs, sausage, rice and bacon plus an assortment of syrups and toppings. Kids participated in pancake tossing and pancake stacking contests and the entire audience was entertained throughout the morning by musical selections by the Cantate Community Chorus. “As a local, family business, the people of Personal Finance Center are proud to support these two charities and thankful for the support from the community of the Pancakes for Charity,” said Michael Camacho, president and CEO of Personal Finance Center. “We’re looking forward to continuing what is becoming a breakfast tradition.”
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The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s goal is to make sure each of the wish kids experiences the happiness that will brightened their lives. Cantate Community chorus’s mission is to serve the community of Guam by providing opportunities for high quality music and education. The only prerequisite to becoming a member of the Cantate Community chorus is a “love for singing.” Cantate, which means “to sing” in Italian, was founded in 1999 by Dr. Lisa Lutter, during her tenure as visiting professor at the University of Guam. Wanting to afford singing opportunities to the island population at large, the non-profit organization Hu Na’e Hao Kanta was incorporated in 2004 and the Cantate Community Chorus was formed as a project of the organization. Personal Finance Center is a local finance company serving the Guam community for more than 36 years. From its humble beginnings in 1976, PFC has grown to be Guam's largest finance company with services that include investment, insurance brokerage, consumer and commercial financing. PFC is committed to giving back to the community and supports many charities that help to improve the quality of life of Guam’s island residents.
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Pancakes for Charit y As a local, family business, the people of Personal Finance Center are proud to support these two charities and thankful for the support from the community of the Pancakes for Charity
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Profile
Jack of All Trades
By Deniece Menez
Bitel Cosico takes real estate from hobby to career.
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Narciso Bitel Hernandez Cosico REALTOR® for Alliance Realty, LLC
Age: Wife: Children: Hobbies: Motto:
47 Madel Reyes Cosico Nicole Kim & Nathaniel Kristan Cooking and trying new things Life is good. Do something ordinary extraordinarily well!
relayed my intentions,” he eagerly shared. To his surprise, the broadcasting company replied positively. Now, Cosico is waiting for the right time to make things happen. With the support of his colleagues, he is confident that he can achieve this new goal. He thanks his family and friends for supporting all his endeavors, for it is their faith in him that motivates and inspires him day after day.
Casa Guam is a magazine that caters to the target marke ts effectively. It disseminates information beneficial to its var iety of readers, and is truly a magazine worth reading.
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This is the story of a man who saw many open doors and strode in--to all of them. Narciso, more commonly called Bitel, started his career history at the age of 19 in Manila, Philippines, when he landed a position with a major hotel. He had just graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. After working for the hotel for some time, he applied for an overseas job and was accepted as a waiter at one of the hotels in Saipan, CNMI. It was at this hotel that Cosico gained the necessary training, tools, and exposure that afforded him numerous advancements in the hospitality industry. He eventually became the Reservation Manager at another Saipan hotel. Meanwhile, his interest in real estate and home improvement grew as a side hobby. During his free time, he constantly watched home improvement shows, which eventually became a huge influence on his future plans. More and more he found himself asking, “What if ?” In no time, he took action. After learning that classes were being offered for those interested in a real estate career, he took a leap of faith and challenged himself. He studied hard, took the exam, and passed with flying colors. Today, he is both a licensed realtor and assistant reception manager of a wedding company at the same time. Cosico recollects his first real estate transactions as his most memorable moments in the industry by far. The first one involved the closing of a rental property and occurred less than a month after he received his sales license. The econd was a house transaction, and he described it as “a defining moment as a realtor because it helped [him] gauge [his] performance and the effectiveness of [his] representation for [his] client.” The deal had taken longer than most deals, and his client began to lose hope. But in the end, with the concerted effort of everyone involved, the sale finally closed and his clients “realized their dream.” Cosico beamingly added: “the most gratifying moment was when my client thanked me in the end.” When asked about the challenges he has faced in the real estate field, Cosico replied, “in every industry I’ve worked in, the biggest challenge I’ve faced was whether or not I can properly fit in and enjoy the career.” However, armed with his drive, eagerness, and charisma, he took the risks and achieved more than he has ever imagined he would. His advice to those who are looking into real estate is that “if you feel that you have what it takes [to be a realtor], go for it! You will never know until you take that first step; you may just reap a bountiful harvest.” To his customers, Cosico encourages that “dreams do come true! Though the process can be tedious, there are realtors who will provide you with the assistance you need every step of the journey.” Still relatively new to the industry, Cosico hopes to learn more and more. “My ultimate goal is geared not only toward my interest, but largely for the island of Guam. I would like to see our island featured in the TV show that got me interested in real estate in the first place. Early on, I actually wrote to the TV producers and
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From The Experts
Make Real Estate Part of Your Retirement Plan
By Joylyn Anderson Principal Broker, Anderson Realty
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f the title caught your attention, then this article is for you. We often find ourselves asking when is the right time to start planning our retirement. If you think about it, the perfect time to start planning you retirement is right out of high school. By the time you reach your golden years you would’ve created a very comfortable nest egg. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Most of us start thinking about our retirement in our adult years. When the subject of retirement is brought up it is often associated with a 401k or social security. I am here to tell you that real estate could be part of your retirement plan. Here are some options to help plan making real estate part of your retirement. Buying and holding for residual income: Think about this. Imagine if you purchased a duplex with 2 bedrooms and 1
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bath on each side for $200,000. The mortgage payment for this amount is roughly $1200 per month. In our current market, 2 bedroom units average about $650 per month. Taking into consideration all the expenses like vacancy rates, maintenance fees, etc. associated with this purchase, in the next 30 years the unit will be paid off and the value may be the same or even worth more considering the market conditions. Your investment allowed you to make approximately $150,000 and the positive cash flow that you receive once your unit is paid off is called your residual income. Building and selling: Understanding your market conditions will help you foresee where your next purchase would be. You may want to build and develop and then resell. If planned properly, you would be able to build at cost and then eventually sell at market value. The profit you make can be used toward your retirement savings.
Buying and selling also known as flipping: We often hear talk about people buying foreclosures or buying property below market value in poor condition. They purchase the property and put money into renovations and then eventually resell. The same with building and selling and buying and holding, I would recommend you do your homework on the market conditions of your community do determine if it is worth it. You do not want to over improve the property if the surrounding areas are not like kind. Don’t expect a high return just because you spent top dollar on renovations. If you plan it out right, the nice return on your investment could be deposited into your retirement savings. So when you think of retirement think of real estate! Seek out a real estate agent you can trust. There expertise will definitely guide you into making the right decisions. Good Luck!
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H o w To D . I . Y.
A Do-It-Yourselfer's Primer on Polarity and Some Cool Tools to Get the Job Done
By Mark S. Burke
F
irst of all, I'm not trying to create certified electrictians out of anyone. Obviously, that's a bit beyond the scope of a Do-It-Yourselfer, let alone this magazine. However, if you do any projects that involve household wiring, appliances, switches, etc., you are going to need at least a basic understanding about electricity. We all know that our houses run on AC, and our iPods, flashlights, cars, etc., use DC current. Most of us associate DC with battery operated appliances, and AC with household current. If you've done any projects with electrical equipment or wiring you are probably familiar with the concepts of positive and negative (or plus and minus) terminals or wires. This is where electrical polarity comes in. So, let's back up just a bit and do a quick review. In the simplest terms, we can say that electric current is the movement of electrons through a medium (wire, conductor, etc.) Electrical polarity (positive and negative) is present in every electrical circuit. Electrons flow from the negative pole to the positive pole. In a direct current (DC) circuit, one pole is always negative, the other is always positive and the electrons flow in only one direction. In an alternating current (AC) circuit the two poles alternate, thus the term “alternating”, between negative and positive, and the electron flow continually reverses direction. This is why we have “hot” or “positive” wires (usually colored black), and “negative” or “neutral” wires (usually colored white)—these are the “poles” of the circuit. There is one more thing that we need to talk about—“Ground”. You may have noticed that in our household circuits we have a third wire called the ground wire. (It's usually bare or colored green). What is this for? The term ground, when speaking about an electrical circuit, specifically refers to a current return path through the earth.
“When you have a light bulb lit in a circuit, the power source creates current. The current flows through the circuit, lights the bulb, and then returns to the power source, and the cycle occurs over and over again for the lightbulb to stay lit. In order for this to occur, the circuit must have a return path, to keep cycling over and over again. The return path is simply called ground. For a circuit to loop over and over again it must have this return path, or ground, for it to do so. This is why a circuit must always have ground.” – learningaboutelectronics.com 20 CasaGuam April 2012
Grounding is also important for safety. Electrons flow to the path of least resistance. Earth (ground) has the least resistance of all, (earth is considered to have a resistance of 0), so we want to have our circuits grounded. What's the point? Well, to put it simply, if you touch the hot line of a circuit that is not grounded, you become the ground and all that current “returns” to your body! (You “close” the circuit, ZAP!) If you are grounded, and the circuit is grounded, the current “returns” to the earth and you don't get shocked. Instead of being the end of the circuit you are just part of the circuit and the current flows through you. Wow! My head hurts! Maybe I should stick to plumbing! How does all this apply to me just changing an outlet or a switch? Okay, let's make some practical application here. The main point of all this is “I don’t want to get shocked!” Thanks to all those brilliant electrical engineers out there, we DIYers have it easy! They’ve done all the hard work for us. Let’s look at some of the outlets, plugs and wiring in our homes that are designed to keep us safe from electrical shock. As DIYers, if we follow a few simple safety steps when installing these, our homes will be safer, and the likelihood of an electrical disaster will be minimized.
Polarized Plugs You may notice on many of your household appliances there are only two prongs on the plug. This is a “polarized” plug. It is connected to a two wire cable (called zip cord, or lamp wire), then to your appliance. The wide blade of the plug is the neutral side and the thinner blade is the hot or powered side. These plugs were designed to fit into your outlets so that the hot and neutral wires in your appliances match those poles in your household circuit. If you need to replace one of these types of plugs, it is important to make certain that you connect the hot and neutral wire to the correct blade on the plug.
Grounded (three prong) Plugs A grounded, or three prong plug is connected to a three wire cable. This cable contains the lead (positive), neutral, (negative) and the ground (also called common), wires that match your grounded outlets.
Outlets (Receptacles) So far we’ve discussed plugs. Plugs have to “plug in” to an outlet or receptacle. Here are some important facts and some safety tips you need to know about matching your plugs and outlets. Two Prong Outlets: Many older homes still have these types of outlets. In 1962 the National Electric Code was revised to require all branch circuits to include a grounding conductor or ground path to which the grounding contacts of the receptacle must be connected. These type of outlets are non-grounding and should only be used for existing non-grounded wiring systems in older constructions. If you need to replace this type of outlet, DO NOT replace it with a three prong outlet. Generally, you should only replace a two prong outlet with a new two prong outlet, or with a two prong GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet. If you need to upgrade your electrical wiring, you should get help from a professional electrician. 15 and 20 amp Three Prong Outlets: These are the typical outlets found in most applications in homes and commercial businesses. Notice the difference in the shape of the neutral plug slot. Some appliances use a greater amperage load (an air conditioner for instance). Each outlet is linked to a matching breaker in your main panel.
15 Amp Outlet
20 Amp Outlet
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H o w To D . I . Y. Getting it Right
Tools for Troubleshooting Circuits
Okay! Now we have a basic understanding of polarity, grounding, and why it matters. Now we need to determine if the wiring in our outlets is properly connected. You can probably guess how to connect the wires to your outlets from the previous discussion, but, just to be sure, let’s review installing a new outlet. The NEC (National Elecric Code) color code for household cable is as follows:
Non-Contact Testers:
Line (hot), single phase, - Black Neutral - White (or grey) Ground - Bare (or green, green/yellow) (For 3 phase wiring you also have a red and blue Line wire for phase 2 and 3, but we’re only dealing with single phase today).
(AKA Voltage detectors, test pens) There are various types of Non-contact testers. These handy tools simply test for current. They work by detecting the changing electric field around AC energized objects. In order to use it, you place it near a wire or outlet and press the button, if there is current flowing in the wire or outlet, the light will come on. Some have an audio “beep”, others can detect the relative strength of the current. They don’t work with DC current. Despite their limitations they are a handy and cheap way to determine if there is any current flowing in a circuit or wire, or in the appliance you are testing.
Neon Testers: This tester works similarly to the test pen, but has to be connected directly to the circuit (plugged in). Some models can determine the voltage of a circuit in addition to whether there is current in the circuit.
Three-prong Testers:
Now, when you connect the wires to the new outlet, ensure that the neutral wire is connected to the silver colored screws; the line, or hot wire is connected to the brass screws and the ground wire is connected to the ground screw, (usually colored green). Great! Now you have your circuit properly wired and shouldn’t have to worry about getting shocked! But...what it there’s a problem? What do you do if you plug in a lamp or appliance and nothing happens? Is the problem with the appliance or the circuit? Do you have a bad cable? Is the problem in the outlet or has the circuit breaker tripped? This is where we break out our testing equipment. If there is a problem in your household wiring, you can identify and correct it with minimum difficulty with a few simple tools.
A three-prong outlet tester is a great diagnostic tool to help you determine if there is a problem with your outlet wiring. It has three convenient LED lights on the bottom and most of them have the light codes right on the tester. You can determine if the polarity is reversed (The neutral and hot wire are connected to the wrong side of the outlet). It can tell you if there is a missing wire or if the circuit is not grounded. They are handy to have to do quick analysis of an outlet. They do have some limitations and in some circumstances could give a false reading, however in most cases they are telling the truth and can identify common outlet problems.
Digital Multimeters: Also known as a multitester or VOM (Volt-Ohm meter), the multimeter is an essential tool for anyone working with electrical circuits. This versatile tool can measure voltage, current, resistance and continuity in AC and DC circuits. Use a multimeter to troubleshoot a variety of electrical problems in a wide array of industrial and household devices such as electronic equipment, motor controls, domestic appliances, power supplies, and wiring systems. Not sure if a light bulb is burnt out? You can find out with a multitester. Wondering if your household current isn’t up to snuff? Your multitester can tell you exactly how much current is running through your wiring. (This can really help avoid burning out air conditioners and refrigerators because of insufficient voltage). Is your expensive flashlight not working? Use your multitester to determine if those brand new batteries you just bought are dead, if the switch is broken or if the bulb or LED is burnt out. These tools will identify almost any problem you have with your electrical projects. Voltage, Neon, and Three prong testers ususally can be purchased for around ten dollars or less, Multimeters run the gamut of prices ranging from as low as ten to more than $5000, so you can purchase one that will fit your budget. Well, now you’re all set! There’s no reason to be afraid of working on electrical projects, changing a plug or outlet, building a lamp, installing outdoor path lighting or testing Christmas lights...you have everything you need to take on that project. If you remember a few safety rules, use the right tools and properly prepare for your project, ensuring that you have all the materials and equipment you need before starting, there’s really very little that you can’t do yourself. Good luck, have fun and be safe as you take on your next Do-It-Yourself project! CasaGuam.com 21
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Curb Appeal
A Window to Your World By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong he time will come when anyone who is a renter or a home owner will be confronted with the dilemma of getting WINDOW TREATMENTS. Wikipedia’s definition of Window Treatment is an interior decorating element placed on, in, around, or over a window. Treatments can also be applied directly to the glass i.e. frost, stained and smart glass. Window decorating has come a long way. There was a time when curtains were the only type of window treatment available. Currently, there are many types on the market that one can choose from to fit their budget, style, and need. If one were to go shopping today, one will find that curtains are just the tip of the iceberg on what is available. There are several types of “treatments” to make your windows as functional as you like it or as decorative as you wish – or both. Some examples of the many choices aside from the typical “curtain” are:
T
• Drapery • Pelmet • Valance • Sheer fabrics • Window blind • Shutters
CURTAINS This is basically a piece of cloth intended to block out light or drafts. They come in a variety of shapes, material, sizes, colors and patterns. Curtains vary accordingly to cleanability, ultraviolet light deterioration, oil and dust retention, noise absorption, fire resistance and life span. There are curtains that can be moved by hand, with cords, and even by remote-control.
DRAPERY Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles used for decorative purposes. It’s more of an artsy form of decorating around windows.
PELMET & VALANCE Pelmet and valance are basically the same thing – framework placed above a window used to conceal curtain fixtures. Pelmet is similar in appearance to a valance. The difference is that pelmet is usually made of plywood and may be painted or fabric covered, where as a valance is made of fabric.
SHEER FABRICS As denoted in its name, sheer fabric is – sheer. This is fabric made using thin thread and/or low density of knit which results in a semi-transparent and flimsy cloth. Sheer curtains allows for sunlight to pass through during daylight, while maintaining a level of privacy.
WINDOW BLINDS A typical window blind is made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal that adjusts by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slat to overlap. The term “window blinds” is also sometimes used to describe window coverings such as shutters, roller blinds, roman blinds, and of course vertical and horizontal blinds. There are many varieties of window blinds. The most common are Persian, or “slat” blinds. These are horizontal slats usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be rotated to allow light to pass between the slats. They can be rotated to hide the light or rolled up so that the entire window is clear. Vertical blinds consist of slats of stiffened fabric, plastic or metal hanging on by one end from a track. They also rotate and can be opened to fold up on one side of a door or window. Their slats close tightly making it very good at controlling how much natural or exterior light comes into a room. Venetian blinds have horizontal slats that rest one above the other. They are sometimes referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. They are suspended by strips of cloth called tapes, or by cords. When the cords are pulled, the bottom of the blind moves upward causing the lows slats to press the underside of the next 22 CasaGuam April 2012
highest slat as the blind is raised. Vertical blinds, unlike horizontal blinds are less likely to be damaged in strong winds, but are more likely to break down. Generally they require less muscle strength and are faster to operate. In our warm climate, vertical blinds discourage flies and insects from entering the room.
SHUTTERS A window shutter is a solid window covering used to block light and winds. A more popular version that has been popping up in tropical climates is the Plantation shutter or the Jigsaw shutter. These are a great way to decorate your sliding doors while creating a decorative accent to your home.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES Other alternatives to curtains, drapery and the like, are treatment to the windows themselves. There is frosted glass which has the effect of translucency by scattering light making “blurring” images while still transmitting light. Frosted glass is produced by sandblasting or acid etching of clear sheet glass. This option offers visual privacy while admitting light. Stained glass is referred to as colored glass. The colored glass pieces are colored by adding metallic salts during its manufacture. Each colored glass piece is placed in a pattern and held together by strips of lead and supported by a frame. Although this is not a common type of window treatment, it is growing art form that one can use in certain parts of their home. And along comes a Smart Glass. . .or windows. and although this is a different type of window treatment, it is worth mentioning for those who are looking for alternatives for energy efficiency in their home. This optional window treatment is electrically switchable glass which changes light transmission properties. Certain types of smart glass allow users to control the amount of light transmission. When activated, the glass changes from transparent or translucent, partially blocking light while maintaining a clear view through the glass. When opaque, liquid crystal or electrochromic smart glass block most UV, thereby reducing fabric fading. Some of the attributes of smart glass include installation costs, the use of electricity, durability, as well as functional features like speed of control, possibilities for dimming and the degree of transparency of the glass. If you are looking to “go green” and save some money on your power bill, this is another solution you can look into.
Window Shop before you Window Shop Before you rush out to buy any kind of window treatment, it would be to your advantage to assess your need and review your budget. Determine what you want out of your window treatment. Ask yourself -What am I looking for? Functionality? Ease of installation? Low maintenance? What type of theme/décor/pattern/color do I want? If anything, go window shopping first and see what you like. Then review your choices and options. Planning is the key to successful choices.
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W h o Ya G o n n a C a l l ?
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Classifieds Commercial Rentals
Dededo
Dededo
3Bd/2Bd/1Bd located near schools/church/store and front of park Semi-Furn. Sec.8 & Military OK. Pls. leave message at 727-6456
106 East Sta. Barbara, Dededo 4bed/1 ba corner house, fenced, and gated. Centrally located close to church, school and malls. Asking $1,200/month. Call MYRNA @ 488-0144
Ordot-Chalan Pago Commercial space for rent. Approx 2155 sq ft. Ideal for laundromat, bakeshop, video store or retail business. Asking $2,500/mo. Please call ANGIE @ 727-2228 Commercial space for rent. Approx 850 sq ft., video store or retail business. Asking $850/mo. Please call ANGIE @ 727-2228
Tumon Fountain Plaza for Rent: Finally prime commercial space in the much desired Fountain Plaza. Own your very own business amongst the likes of many long time established busibesses already patroning this plaza. Where can you go wrong, San Vitores road frontage with ample space, there are no lossers and YOU are the winner. Asking $2,700/mo. Please call DANIEL @ 687-5422
Residential Rentals
Great spacious house located near Paradise Estates. 5bd/3bth. Section 8 okay with full security deposit. Call 646-9870/1 Dededo Villa Rosario - Spacious 3BR/2BA W/D, Pool, Security, Mailbox $1,650.00 3Bd/2Bd/1Bd located near schools/church/store and front of park Semi-Furn. Sec.8 & Military OK. Pls. leave message at 632-1200
Mangilao Nice house on a cul-de-sac street in Latte Hts. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths with all ceramic tiles and split a/c units per room. Newer kitchen counters and appliances. Fenced back yard. Has always been leased to military personnel for their tour on Guam. Asking $2,100 / month. Call DEANNA @ 688-2855
Piti 2br/1ba apt close to Port Authority of Guam , NavSta, Polaris, store, church, park and beach! Ocean Breeze Apartments $600. Call 649-8265 or 888-7447
Agat 3 bedroom / 2 ba house, close to schools, stores, beach and church. Asking $1250.00. Call 649-8265 or 888-7447
Asan Asan Beach House Newly Renovated, Fresh paint and ceramic tiles. Asking: $2,200.00/mo. Call FRANK @ 479-4663 Asan 3bd./2ba. Ocean Views Newly Renovated - All ceramic tiles. New a/c's. Asking: $1,900.00/mo. Call FRANK @ 479-4663
Barrigada 2b/1b, near Subway with water $830/mo. Please call 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333 26 CasaGuam April 2012
Happy Landing Road, Tumon 3bd, 2ba, Condo : Enjoy your island paradise in this 2nd floor unit within walking distance of Tumon Beaches. Complex has a pool and the unit is all ceramic tile, central a/c and accordion typhoon shutters. Asking $1,900/month. Call DEANNA @ 688-2855 MLS 10-133 Tumon Penthouse for Lease: A Rare Penthouse, Oceanview unit is now available. This large 2 bedroom 2.5 bath Condo was upgraded and is in like new condition. Security, Full Back-up Generator, Pool, 2 parking all go along with your desire for the ''good life'' while on Guam. Water included. You CAN have the dream. Asking $3,800/month. Call DEANNA @ 688-2855 MLS 10-744 San Vitores Terrace Condo: 3bd/2ba, 3rd floor unit with oceanview, upgraded unit with new carpets, pool, security and basic cable TV. $1800. Call Coral Sea Realty 649-6088
Yigo Perez Acres: 4 bedroom, 2 bath with pool & playground. Corner unit. Asking $1,900/month. Call SANDY @ 687-6006 Perez Acres: 3 bedroom / 1.5 ba townhouse with extra room great for family room or office, gated and secured community, pool, mail delivery. Asking $1900 . Call CORAL SEA REALTY 649-6088
Residential Sales
Tamuning
Barrigada
Popular Pia Marine 2 bedroom 2 bath units available for Month to Month Rentals. Utilities/Furnitures included with cleaning services. $2400.00. Call Nick @ 689-2939.
Barrigada Large 4BR/2Ba 1800sqft. House Only 243,000 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-7900
Tecio Tumon Villa: Nice two bedroom two bath condo located in Tumon. Condo is just a walking distance to the beach, stores, restaurants and nightlife. Asking $2,100/month. Call VIC @483-7518 Tumon 2bd / 2 ba + Den. excellent condition. Asking $1200. Please call 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333 / 477-7042 Tumon Holiday Manor ; 4 bedroom, beatifully furnished with pool and BBQ area, near beaches. Asking $3,800/month. Call VICKI for a showing @ 687-3558
Opportunity Knocking.... Buy the home you deserve! Newly renovated 4BR/2BA home with a snazzy kitchen, fenced and waiting for YOU to move now! Asking $445,000. Call DEANNA @ 688-2855
Dededo FOR SALE BY OWNER Beautiful fully fenced, 3bd/ 3full ba, high pitched ceiling, 2car gar, central location, minutes away from airport, business establishments & more. Only 2yrs old, landscaped yard, fruit trees, shutters, 2,421sq mtr lot, very large concrete back porch great for an outdoor kitchen, etc.
Lots of extras! Developing neighborhood w/newly built homes. A MUST SEE! Lots of potential!! $338,000.00 Pls call 797-1525 TODAY! DEDEDO Multi-Family House located in front of Dededo Park, Library and Julyor's Office. Lots of nearby schools, markets and churches. Income Property with fully occupied and screened Tenants. Property located in a corner lot with fence. This is a wise choice of investment property. For sale by owner. Call now and lv msg at 727-6456. Las Palmas Phase I Great 3bd / 2.5 ba Townhouse style condo. Great for first time home buyer or investor. Complex includes Pool, playground, BBQ cabanas and night security. Asking $195,000. Please call DEANNA 688-2855 Beautiful fully fenced, 3bd/ 3full ba, high pitched ceiling, 2car gar, ctrl loc, DededoUhang St/Bello Rd, Minutes away from airport, business establishments & more, Only 2yrs old, landscaped yard, fruit trees, shutters, 2,421sq mtr lot, 1,440sq ft living space, 12x20sq ft open back porch, lots of extras! Developing neighborhood w/newly built houses. A must see! Lots of potential!! $340,000.00 Pls call 788-3531 & lv msg.
Inarajan
2 bedroom / 2 bath on a living area of 800 sf and 5,526 Âą sm lot. Fixer upper home on a beautiful beach front property, over an acre in size. There is already Power&Water if you would like to rebuild. Asking for $628,054. Call DEANNA @ 688-2855 Mangilao Latte Heights House with 3 br / 2 ba, ideal location w/ carport, fully fenced, gated, spacious yard w/ patio. Asking $200K. Please call ANGIE @ 727-2228
Mongmong-Toto-Maite Exceptional 3bd and 3.5 ba home Enjoy the view, separate refrigeration and stove for the person who enjoys cooking, the pool and the great central location. Asking $630k Call JUDY @482-7775
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Ordot-Chalan Pago Quiet, Private, and centrally located 4 bedroom 3 bath house on a 1/2 acre lot. this would be great if you enjoy your privacy and appreciate being close to shopping malls, grocery stores, and schools. Asking $315,000. Call JOYLYN @ 488-5069 for a showing. MLS 10-2077. Apusento Gardens Condo : Great price with seller financing. Just like you pay monthly rental, without bank fees. Downpayment is required. Asking $105k. Call JAMES @482-0498
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Baza Gardens 3bd./2ba 1,600 s.f .Extended with game room. Asking $175,000.00. Call FRANK @ 479-4663 Baza Gardens - $169,000 - Best Deal! 3 BR 2BA corner lot home in great condition - call for details...Asking $169,000. Call LIZ @ 687-0911
Land For Sale Chalan Pago
Tamuning Chalan Pago LAND FOR SALE Great InPrivate and secluded Tamuning 3bed/1ba house with partial ocean and city view. Recently painted and upgraded with ceramic tiles, french windows and accordion typhoon shutters. Fenced and gated, and comes with 4 split A/Cs'. Asking only for $229K. Call MYRNA @ 488-0144 TAMUNING Executive 2 Storey Spacious House for Sale by Owner. Great location beside Cost-U-Less Tamuning and GPO. Great lifestyle and community environment with 5 bd/3ba corner lot; nice sized bd on 1st and 2nd flr; luxurious master suite w/ jacuzzi spa tub; quality granite staircases; hardwood railings; crown molding all over the house with open spacious kitchen and stainless steel appliances. Please call owner/lv msg at 727-6456.
Tumon
vestments with Lots of Potentials Near Front Road Zone C More than an Acre Size Lv Msge 632-1200
Dededo
Dededo Land 18585Âą Very Nice $85,000 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-7900. Dededo Land with 830Âą sm with R-1 Zoned and minutes to NCS with paved access. Asking $45,000. Call YUMIKO @ 688-7791
Harmon
Property is view lot next to last lot below Airport exit light on Pangelinan Blas St. in
Nice 2 and 3 bedroom condo with panoramic ocean view and city view and waliking distance from the shops and hotels. Please call George 483-9111 Century 21 CR.
Harmon/Tamuning. Access paved w/sidewalks, water & sewer. Power up to adjacent lot below. Asking $490,000. call 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333 / 477-
Yona Winward Hill Estates: Lovely 4 bedrooms / 2.5 ba with beautifully upgraded kitchen and bathrooms, nicely appointed living & dining spaces & bedrooms. Large, well maintained yard with lots of gorgeous plants, flowers, trees and a cozy verandah & spacious tool shop in the middle of it all! Come see this beauty in Yona. Asking $289,000. Call MARILOU @ 988-5600
7042
Piti
Turner Rd. - Channel 10 - (Nimitz Hill) Piti. 151,508 sq. meters of unobstructed ocean views Asking: $2,300,000.00 Call FRANK @ 479-4663 CasaGuam.com 27
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Closing
Message from the Executive Officer By Peggy Araullo Llagas
My REALTOR® Party Initiatives
I
In summary…..
2006–2010 NAR LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PREVENTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Stopped entrance of banks into real estate brokerage • Stopped HUD implementation of onerous RESPA rules and burdensome documents as part of RESPA reform • Defeated legislation and federal rules seeking to regulate the real estate industry against charges of anti-competitiveness • Defeated federal preemption legislation • Prevented Wal-Mart and Home Depot ownership of industrial loan companies • Stopped a reduction of the GSE high-cost conforming loan limits • Defeated tax increase on real estate partnerships • Prohibited inclusion of real estate under financial services reform legislation • Eliminated inclusion of onerous forms as part of RESPA reform • Defeated modification of the MID as a way to pay for health care reform • Increased FHA down payments • Worked for the prohibition against the financing of FHA premiums • Defeated time-of-sale energy efficiency requirements • Eliminated mandatory energy labeling • Stopped an expansion of federal authority under Clean Water Act affecting real estate with non-navigable waters • Prevented mandatory radon testing and retrofitting from being part of every residential transaction • Prevented mandatory mold testing from being part of every residential transaction 2006–2010 NAR PROACTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Permanently barring banks from engaging in real estate brokerage • Increase in FHA single- and multi-family loan limits • Increase in GSE conforming loan limits • Increase in VA loan limits • FEMA funding for flood plain map modernization program, including more accurate maps • Multiple extensions of the flood insurance program • Enactment and extension to 2012 of mortgage cancellation tax relief • Favorable permanent FIRPTA rules so that sellers need not disclose Social Security numbers to buyers at settlement on residential property • Federal terrorism insurance program protecting commercial real estate • Creation of HUD FHASecure, a refinancing program to help reduce foreclosures • An increase in the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac investor-financed loan limit from 4 units to 10 units • Small-business lending fund benefiting commercial businesses • Favorable leasehold improvement provisions • Creation of a $7.2 billion grant program to increase broadband availability in unserved and underserved communities • Small-business health reform legislation benefiting the self-employed and small-business employers • Provisions allowing independent contractors to deduct the full amount of health insurance premiums when calculating payroll tax obligations • Electronic signature legislation that included language for real estate transactions. • The $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit • Increase in the first-time home buyer credit to $8,000 and creation of a $6,500 credit for current home owners • Funding for rural home loans • Nomination of FHA Administrator Dave Stevens • Elimination of the controversial HVCC program • Repeal of 1099 reporting provisions - National Association of REALTORS®Thousands more victories have been won over the years by local and state REALTOR® association volunteers and staff through the support of our National Association of REALTORS®. There is no other finer group of dedicated individuals than the REALTORS®. The Guam Association of REALTORS® .....your “voice for real estate”. Ask if your agent is a REALTOR®. Visit our websites at www.guamrealtors.com and www.guamhousingprograms.com.
The Guam Association of REALTORS® shall remain your leading advocate for promoting and protecting homeownership on Guam. Ask if your agent is a REALTOR®. Visit our websites at www.guamrealtors.com and www.guamhousingprograms.com. 28 CasaGuam April 2012
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RENTALS 124-B Inda Street, Dededo - 1,400sf - $1,500 - 12-924 255-A Lada Avenue, Dededo - 1,000sf - $1,600 - 12-1193 190 Chn Pa PangPang, Dededo - 1,290sf - $1,800 - 12-1195
Agana Heights $205K 3Br/2Ba #12-1164
Dededo $550K 4Br/3Ba #12-972
Tamuning $140K Studio/1Ba #12-817
Tamuning $165K 3Br/2Ba #12-1114
Tamuning $180K 2Br/2Ba #11-535
Tamuning $630K 4Br/3.5Ba #12-999
Tamuning $650K 4Br/3.5Ba #12-1000
Tumon $260K 2Br/2Ba #12-917
Yigo $219,800 4Br/2Ba #12-918
Yigo $429K 4Br/3.5Ba #12-889
Barrigada $430K 4Br/3Ba #12-610
Dededo $99K 2Br/2Ba #11-4198
Dededo $165K 4Br/2Ba #12-367
Dededo $168K 2Br1Ba #11-2994
Mangilao $435K 4Br/3Ba #11-3436
Dededo $296K 3Br/2Ba #11-1851
Inarajan $469K 6Br/3Ba #12-448
Mangilao $245K 3Br/2.5Ba #12-804
Ordot-Chalan Pago - $485K
3Br/3Ba #12-532
Tamuning $122K 2Br/2Ba #12-474
Tamuning $165K 3Br/3Ba #12-1114
Tamuning $635K 3Br/3Ba #12-222
Tumon $230K 1Br/1Ba #12-704
Yigo $280K 3Br/2Ba #12-561
Hagåtña $1,800,000 Commercial #12-324
Tamuning $1,000,000 Commercial #12-555
Ordot-Chn Pago - 2,400sf $2,450 - 12-995 Sinajana - 2,000sf - $2,000 - 12-943
Pomika Apts 2-7, Tamuning - 500sf - $750 - 12-754 341 Marine Dr. Bldg #305, Tamuning - 1,189sf - $951 - 12-970 Pomika Apts 3-12, Tamuning - 940sf - $1,000 - 12-755 341 Marine Dr. Bldg #307, Tamuning - 1,320sf - $1,056 - 12-971 Alupang Cove Condo 124, Tamuning - 918.65sf - $1,900 - 12-957 Pia Resort Condo 1207, Tumon - 918.65sf - $1,900 - 12-925 128 Annas Court, Yigo - 1,615sf - $2,450 - 12-737 126 Colina De Barrigada Dr., Barrigada - 2,300sf - $4,000 11-1386 290 Chn Estudia, Dededo - 1,800sf - $2,300 - 11-4367
Homes & Condos
341 Marine Dr. Bldg #304, Tamuning - 830sf - $664 - 12-961
Alupang Cove Condo 711, Tamuning - 742sf - $1,750 - 11-3998 Beverly Palms Condo B7, Tamuning - 1,423sf - $1,900 - 11-469 Chan Lujuna St., Yigo - 1,300sf - $1,000 - 11-1575 118 Windward Hills Ph1, Yona - 1,650sf - $1,400 - 11-1524
LAND Chn Castro, L14-1-R1, Dededo - 1,858sm - $278,700 - 12-860 Mandarin St., Mangilao - 6,472sm - $282,000 - 12-989 Kayon Dalalai, Lot 14-R8, Dededo - 2,064sm - $309,600 - 12-865 Marine Dr., Agat - 49,000sm - $1,100,000 - 10-1802 Mandarin St., Mangilao - 6,472sm - $282,000 - 12-989 Talofofo Elementary School, Talofofo - 7,719sm - $330,000 - 12-1111 S. Marine Corps Dr., Tamuning - 1,908sm - $699,000 - 12-922 Marine Corps Dr., Agat - 49,000sm - $1,100,000 - 10-1802 Chn Fangualuan, Inarajan - 1,039sm - $49,900 - 12-682
Commercial & Multi-Family
Monessa Lanan, Ordot-Chn Pago - 1,608sm - $210,000 - 12-801 Marine Corps Dr., Yigo - 58,096sm - $3,800,000 - 11-348 Farenholt Ave., Tamuning - 10,619sm - $1,780,000 - 05-1050 Rt. 4, Ordot-Chn Pago - 24,665sm - $670,000 - 10-4289 Kayen Edivides Kotes, Yigo - 1,853sm - $65,000 - 10-1038
Yigo $185K Multi-Family #11-3930
Hagåtña $1,482,770 Commercial #10-4166
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