Real Estate Journal - January 21, 2019

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JANUARY 21, 2019 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM 

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Properties to love

Situated for sunsets The right stuff Island style

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Oops!

Buying the right insurance

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Need to know Natural born griller

t INDEX PROPERTIES TO LOVE....................................................4 THE RIGHT STUFF...........................................................6 OOPS!.................................................................................8 THE DOCTOR IS IN.........................................................12 VILLAGES........................................................................14 NEED TO KNOW.............................................................16

This Tumon Bay condo is perfect for relaxing over beautiful sunsets.

Photo courtesy of Todday’s Realty

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PROPERTIES TO LOVE

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Large windows and a lengthy balcony makes it feel like you’re always on the beach.

Photos courtesy of Today’s Realty

THE SKINNY BAYSHORE CONDOS UNIT 101 CHAMORRITA WAY, TUMON $3,800 PER MONTH Inside • 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms • Recently renovated interior with stainless steel appliances and additional storage • Muted Sante Fe colors, attractive rugged floor tiles, granite counter tops and remodeled kitchen cabinets • 1,500 square feet of living space Outside • Beachfront fronting Tumon Bay • Lengthy balcony with full views over the beach and ocean • Extra storage available What’s cool • Directly in the heart of Tumon • Short walking distance from all downtown hotels, restaurants and entertainment • Covered parking for two on the first floor How to make this your own (quickly) Contact: Sandy Gould Yow Today’s Realty Call: 687-6006 Email: sandy.yow@guamhome.com

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PROPERTIES TO LOVE

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Rugged floor tiles add to the condo’s island beachfront ambiance.

Directly in the heart of Tumon, the condo is within walking distance from all downtown activities.

A recently renovated kitchen boasts stainless steel appliances, remodeled cabinets and granite counter tops.

1,500 square feet of living space is perfect for any beach dweller’s paradise.

Photos courtesy of Today’s Realty

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THE RIGHT STUFF | S TAND- ALONE SIGNATURES

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Island style

BY LEAH NATHAN “Furniture is fashion,” says Kathy Sorensen, owner of Furniture Kathy Style. “Today, so many styles work. We can be individual and still be ‘in’ with what we like.” A cohesive home look that showcases personal style is as simple as a few

anchor pieces in your most livedin rooms. The kitchen, living room and master bedroom are your best starting places.

No longer the back of the house, the 21st century kitchen is front and center. As the role of the kitchen has expanded, a nice island

Solid wood Indonesian bed chest, Tropical Living

centralizes the space. On Guam, the kitchen island serves the needs of local culture in it’s own unique way. “In Guam, families are really into eating. It’s nice that they can gather around the island and use it together,” said Karen Gavino, interior designer at Setiadi Architects. Island

renovations and upgrades can create a timeless look with classic-looking materials such as wood, ultra compact surfaces and granite.

Lea Siruelo, owner of Tropical continued on page 7

Multi-function island, Furniture Kathy Style

Recycled boat wood console, Tropical Living

Photos by Leah Nathan

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THE RIGHT STUFF | S TAND- ALONE SIGNATURES

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continued from page 6 Living, pointed to the enduring and uniquely personal trend of natural materials, such as wood countertops.

“It’s very unique, because no two pieces of wood is going to be the same, so you can honestly say that no-one else is going to replicate that,” Siruelo said.

In the living room, consistency is key, avoiding over-matching. The trend has shifted from DVD-loaded “media-centers” to a pared down console, serving as TV stand, storage cabinet and sometimes conversation piece. Complementary sofa tables often have storage features, but designers are offering more look and less function, as side tables are elevated to accent piece status.

Need for storage extends into the bedroom. “Consumerism is in. People have more clothes and need somewhere to keep them,” Sorensen said. A bed chest at the foot of or built into a bed will never go out of style. A chest or bench also offers a place to lounge or get dressed more easily.

Like many things on Guam, finding what you need can take patience and creativity. Whether it’s a unique console or your dream countertop, many orders will need to come from off-island, may take awhile and are costly. There are still options at local suppliers to fit any budget, from home-good stores to cabinet shops and local furniture stores, especially if flexibility is in your vision. p

Walnut “live edge” countertop, Etsy

Wood block side table, Setiadi Architects

Photos by Leah Nathan

Kartini teak bench, Tropical Living 18-FHB-Mortgage_RealEstateJournal_Size6.875"X9".pdf

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OOPS! | INSURANCE

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Assured insurance

BY LEAH NATHAN Whether homeowner, renter, or business owner, insurance matters. Navigating the system means understanding a topic with potentially big personal financial implications.

To ensure property is protected, there are a few key avoidable pitfalls, starting with the right perspective.

“People think when they’re pur-

chasing insurance they’re getting nothing out of it, because you don’t get any tangible goods. But its really about protection and security,” said Marilou Besagar, general manager at Great National Insurance Underwriters Inc. According to Besagar, a common mistake is buying the most basic coverage without careful examina-

tion. “You might get something for a lower premium, but it’s not full coverage … maybe only 80%. Some [agents] might not explain this, just to close an account.” For a startup or new business particularly, choosing only the minimum plan in an effort to save dollars will leave you vulnerable. A reliable agent should be clear in advising all options, and a

customer can make an educated decision. Likewise, according to Steve E. Terlaje at Personal Finance Center Insurance, asking “What’s the cheapest I can get?” won’t ensure adequate protection of your property, business and employees.

It is also critical to research your continued on page 9

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continued from page 8 agency and carrier. “Always ask what their [carrier] rating is; do the research online to see how well the insurance company can support the possibility of their claim,” Terlaje said. In addition to an “A” rating, look for history of good customer service, responsiveness and claim servicing.

A good insurance partner will help you decide based on a range of options, legal requirements and what will fit within your budget.

According to Timothy Lujan, assistant general manager and director of sales and marketing at Nanbo Insurance Underwriters, another mistake can be unknowingly missing out on savings in your coverage. Upgrades of interest in Guam, security systems and typhoon shutters for example, are protected as property under insurance and also lower your rate. “Be aware of what you’re buying. These are not options, they are part of a basic plan,” he said. Additionally, many small businesses qualify for a “business bundle” that can give them a lower locked rate. Lujan also stresses the importance of using your insurance when needed for the benefits of your investment.

With the right precautions, buying insurance may never be romantic, but it should give you the security you need. p

For advertising and space reservation Call Cody Guerrero (671) 929-5352 dgm-pd@glimpsesofguam.com

OOPS! | INSURANCE

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THE DOCTOR IS IN | WATER FILTERS

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Purifying water has a stream of benefits

BY JOHN I. BORJA Water filtration systems are perceived to be cost-effective in the long term, compared to filling up five gallons at a water station or buying bottled water, but homeowners should first do research and be made aware of why filters are necessary in the first place.

After boiling water at home to cook food or make coffee, one may notice a ring of white substance lining the pot. This is leftover calcium carried in the water. Though not immediately harmful upon consumption, hardened calcium can do damage over time, both on the human body and the appliances at home that use water.

Rizk Saad, president of American Watertek, said the amount of suspended particles such as calcium or magnesium is measured in grains, where one grain is equivalent to the size of an aspirin pill. This determines the hardness of water.

“Say your water has a hardness level of 20 grains per gallon. If you use 100 gallons of water a day, that would mean about 2,000 grains of calcium is in your water, either entering your body or building up in your appliances,” he said.

The calcium mainly comes from limestone rock, which is largely present underneath G u a m ’ s northern lens aquifer — where 80% of the island’s Rizk Saad drinking water comes from, according to the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific.

Guam Waterworks Authority does a good job in making sure no harmful bacteria enters potable water, Saad said, but oftentimes suspended particles will remain in the water. This is where water filtration and treatment systems at home come in.

Saad said there are three levels of treatment systems homeowners can opt for, and the first one is essential for every home: water filters.

“The recommendation is to have two large filters for each home — a sediment filter and a carbon filter. If you can’t afford it, you should at least invest in drinking water systems. It’s

a very compact system that usually goes under the sink and provides purified water,” he said.

Sediment filters help catch dirt and mud while carbon filters can make water smell and taste good when it comes out of the faucet, Saad said. If a household has high water pressure, Saad suggests using filters with a “5 macrons” rating, as the pressure is capable of removing smaller-sized contaminants.

Likewise, households with low water pressure should have filter ratings of 20 microns or 50 microns.

Filters aren’t difficult to maintain, Saad said, and the only wrong thing a homeowner can do is not check the filter periodically. Depending on location, some water filters will need to be changed out once a month, while others can be good for six months. Whatever the case, Saad recommends checking the filter at least once a month to gauge the amount of buildup.

After the filter has been installed, homeowners can then install a water softener, which reduces the water hardness level, and a reverse osmosis system which can further remove unwanted elements that have broken down into smaller particles. These

two steps are more important for large businesses and restaurants.

American Watertek provides a free water analysis to its customers to help determine what is needed for the household. Other businesses such as Island Choice and Culligan Water also provide water treatment systems and consultation.

An associate with Home Depot’s plumbing department told the Journal that the store holds several sediment and carbon filters, as well as a reverse osmosis system that the store can help install. Benson Guam Enterprises Inc. management said the hardware store also sells filters, along with the filter housing equipment, that can be attached to a home’s waterline.

Saad recommended homeowners to first do their research and look into good quality equipment so that the treatment systems don’t become a problem later.

“When you’re buying an expensive car, you’ll want to buy high performance gas for it. If you just buy cheap gas, the car won’t perform as well and it will eventually break down,” he said. p

Various sizes of carbon and sediment filters are shown at the American Watertek office.

The black tanks pictured are water softeners at American Watertek, varying in size based on the infrastructure it will be attached to.

American Watertek offers a variety of water treatment systems for homes, offices and businesses.

Photos by John I. Borja

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VILL AGES | DEDEDO

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Look no furthur

BY LEAH NATHAN The village of Mangilao lies between Barrigada and Chalan Pago in central Guam. It extends to smaller subdivisions, including Latte Heights, Latte Plantation, Sunrise Villa, Banyan Heights and lower and upper Pagat, bordering Dededo and Yigo. This central location makes it amenable to a broad audience of buyers, investors and renters alike.

“Because [Mangilao] is so central, we get military families and veterans buying and renting homes close enough to both bases, but it also attracts locals, which gives it a broader market than some villages,” said Virginia Fee, real estate agent at Blue Pacific Realty. She also cites a strong “Chamorro market and active neighborhood watch,” as selling points for the village.

According to the Mangilao mayor’s office, the village derives its name from the word ilao, which means to look for something. In the past, hunters and fishermen would go to Mangilao searching for crabs, deer, wild pigs and fish. Today, it still

boasts ancient sites that date back more than a thousand years.

The district of Pagat, located on Route 15, was once an ancient Chamorro Virginia Fee village and today is a key scenic area on Guam, with cliff lines that overlook the Pacific Ocean, and jungle trails leading to freshwater caves and ancient latte.

Since it’s mid-century transition to an agricultural hub, Mangilao has developed fairly rapidly into an important government and business locale. Because both the University of Guam and Guam Community College, as well as Pacific Islands University are located in Mangilao, its become known as “Guam’s capital of education.”

A number of other government

agencies are also situated in Mangilao, including the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Youth Affairs. Many island residents work in Mangilao and have since moved to the area to be closer to their jobs. For the homeowner, it offers an opportunity to have a “bigger house, larger yard and the prime location,” Fee said. Investors have taken notice as well, buying lots to build single-family homes as well as condo complexes that cater to the university population.

If you ask the mayor, Magilao has nowhere to go but up. “The pulse of Mangilao is beating stronger than ever,” Mayor Allan R.G. Ungacta said. Citing the many amenities, a strong church presence, the “hot” annual Donne festival, that central location and some of Guam’s finest tourist attractions, you don’t have to look far to find what you need. p

MANGILAO POPULATION: 15, 191 SCHOOLS:

Public: 5 • Captain H.B. Price Elementary School • Adacao Elementary School • George Washington High School • Guam Community College • University of Guam Private: 3 • Pacific Islands University • Japanese School of Guam • Father Duenas Memorial School

SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS HIGHLIGHTS:

• Mangilao Thursday Night Market, Pay-Less Supermarket, Super Mart, Pochon Chicken, Somjai House, Ron’s Diner, KFC, Pizzza Hut, Taco Bell, Dominoes, Papa John’s, Oriental Kitchen

GOLF COURSES: 1

• Onward Mangilao Golf Club

PROPERTY AVAILABILITY/PRICE RANGE:

• 11 homes for sale; priced $248,000 to $598,000 • 4 condos for sale; priced $85,000 to $160,000 • 1 multiple family unit for sale; priced at $1.2 million • 13 homes for rent; priced at $1,500 to $6,600 • 12 condos for rent; priced at $800 $3,800 • 1 commercial for sale; priced at $180,000

MAYOR: Mayor Allan R.G. Ungacta ATTRACTIONS: Thousand Steps, Pagat Cave, Marbo Cave, Onward Mangilao Golf Club, Sankyo Garden, Donne Festival

Photos by Leah Nathan and courtesy of the Mayor’s Council of Guam.

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NEED TO KNOW | GRILLING AND BARBECUING

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Home Depot Guam has an assortment of options for barbecue grills, including gas, charcoal and electric options.

The Traeger electric grill allows users to “set it and forget it.” Special smoke pellets allow users to add additional flavor to their meat.

The Nexgrill stainless steel gas grill has all stainless steel components, including its burners. This allows it to be resilient in Guam’s climate, even when stored outside.

Photos by Wayne Chargualaf

A natural born griller

BY WAYNE CHARGUALAF Guam is a barbecuer’s paradise.

More than just a cooking method, barbecue is almost a rite of passage on the island and has become a significant part of the island’s cultural identity.

“I’ll tell you what. Guam has got the best barbecue in the world,” Chef Paul Kerner, a culinary instructor at Guam Community College, said. Kerner was also the leader of Team GCC Culinary Fire, the college’s entry into the 2018 Guam BBQ Block Party and first place winner for the chicken category at the event.

“It’s a low and slow style of barbecue. You’re taking your time,

drinking beer, having a good time.”

According to Kerner, the most important principles of barbecuing are planning and learning to control heat.

“A lot of it has to do with planning,” he said. “Who are your guests? What protein are you going to barbecue? Are you going to have some vegetarian dishes? What type of meat are you going to use? What kind of marination?”

To control heat, Kerner said an important concept is one that can be abbreviated as MOM — medium, off, medium. Different sections of the grill will have different temperatures, so it’s important to

identify areas with medium heat and those with low heat — the “off ” sections — that can be used as “safety sections,” so that meat can be rotated around the grill based on how much or how little heat is needed to cook it at a given time.

“A common mistake people make is with temperature,” Kerner said. “A lot of people maybe start too early and let the wood or the coals burn down, or they turn on their gas grill full blast on high and then they put their meat on and burn it right away. You have to learn how to control the fire.”

Understanding your fuels — typically charcoal, gas, wood or some

combination thereof — is important as well. Charcoal is perhaps most commonly used, but according to Kerner, a common mistake is to use too much lighter fluid.

“The flavor of the charcoal lighter will get into the taste of your food, but it’s a great starter to help accelerate the transfer to wood,” he said.

Kerner likes to use gas at home for its versatility. If a typhoon hits, he can use it as a stove top to cook food such as beans.

“There’s so much to talk about,” he said. “For instance, how do you continued on page 18

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NEED TO KNOW | GRILLING AND BARBECUING continued on page 16

PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita BUSINESS EDITOR Meghan Hickey REPORTERS John I. Borja Wayne Chargualaf CONTRIBUTOR Leah Nathan CREATIVE CONTENT MANAGER Vikki Fong DESIGN & PRODUCTION Conrad Calma Luisa Joy Castro Angelica Eleno MEDIA SALES MANAGER Kevin Iwashita PRODUCT REPRESENTATIVE Vince Cody Guerrero ADMINISTRATION Janice Castro Carmelita McClellan Jenalyn Aguon DIRECTOR OF GLIMPSES MEDIA Ken Duenas MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong

The Real Estate Journal — January 21, 2019. Entire contents copyrighted 2018 by Glimpses of Guam Inc. The Real Estate Journal is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam Inc. 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, Guam 96913. (671) 649-0883; Fax (671) 6498883. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Marianas Business Journal, P.O. Box 3191, Hagåtña, Guam 96932.

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place your charcoal? Are you going to light it all at once, or are you going to light one section and let it burn down slowly? Me, I like to use charcoal and then wood.”

The fuel that most interests Kerner, though, is wood.

“I treat my wood like wine,” he said. “I age wood. My three favorite woods are tangan-tangan, mango and kaimito, which is the Filipino starfruit or mango. It’s a sweeter wood and it’s like a hardwood.”

Understanding the food you’re barbecuing is also important. For his seasonings, Kerner prefers a sweeter flavor for pork, a standard Chamorro marinade — typically soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic and onions — for chicken and a Chamorro marinade that leans more on the sweet side for ribs.

“But if I’m cooking steak? Salt and pepper,” he said. “That’s it.

Have a nice day.”

Of course, knowledge and skills are only part of the equation. If you want good barbecue, you’re going to need good barbecue equipment.

For a barbecue grill, Kerner prefers thick grates as opposed to the thin, wire-types.

“You want to make sure whatever you’re paying for will go the distance. I like a good iron grate where you can scrub it,” he said.

One popular place on Guam to acquire your barbecuing needs is Home Depot. Cherry Miclat, the garden department supervisor at Home Depot, said some of the topselling grills in the past year have been a multipurpose griddle and grill and stainless steel gas grill, all by the brand Nexgrill.

The multipurpose griddle and grill has a changeable top, so that you can use either a traditional barbecue grill or a griddle that will allow you to cook everything from teppanyaki to pancakes. The stainless steel gas grill is popular because the material allows it to endure Guam’s climate with few problems, even when it’s kept outside.

Another popular offering is an electric grill by Traiger. Because it’s electric, the temperature can be set and will remain constant, requiring little of the vigilance necessary for more traditional grills. The grill also uses special pellets which burn and then flavor the meat, so that it acts as a smoker as well.

“You can also broil and even bake with it,” Miclat said. “It’s really versatile, so it costs more than other grills its size, but our customers have said that it’s worth the money.”

Whether you’re a barbecue rookie or a grilling vet, it’s always worth it to consider upgrading both your skills and your equipment.

“That’s the fun thing about

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

barbecuing; you learn as you go and you develop more skills,” Kerner said. “There’s a lot of pride taken in barbecue and I think it’s great fun because it’s great for gatherings, for bringing people closer together.” p

Correction — The breathtaking beachfront Asan property on Marine Corps Drive, next to the Governor’s Complex is for sale for $1.15 million. Other information was given in the Dec. 24 issue of The Real Estate Journal.

For advertising and space reservation Call Cody Guerrero at (671) 929-5352 or email: dgm-pd@glimpsesofguam.com

GUAMHOME.COM

Ordot-Chalan Pago Land | $55,000 •Affordable 1,959+/-sm lot •A zoned •Paved access •Utilities nearby •This will go fast!

ID: 184522

Agat Home | $500,000 •Walking distance to beach & marina •4bd/2ba •HUGE lanai •Tons of possibilities!

ID: 184874

Hagatna Land | $2,024,800 •5,062+/-sm •Marine Corps Drive frontage •Ocean view •C zoned •Tons of potential!

ID: 184075

Santa Rita Home | $4,400/mo •Custom executive home •Beautiful mountain views •4bd/3.5ba •Tons of features!

ID: 184795

Perezville Home | $875,000 •Beautifully upgraded •Executive neighborhood •Very spacious •Huge yard •Tamuning ID: 184924

Yona Home | $340,000 •5bd/3ba •2,000+/-sf •Fenced in yard •1,787+/-sm lot •2 car garage ID: 184941

Sinajana Land | $255,000 •Beautiful rare 2,499+/-sm lot •R-2 zoned •Ocean & city views •Offers lots of privacy ID: 184655

Beachfront Land | $6,500,000 •12,836+/-sm •Fronting Agana Bay & Camp Watkins Rd, Tamuning •Rare find!

ID: 182855

Ocean View Lot | $125,000 •Located in Nimitz Hill •911+/-sm •Unique property •Gorgeous custom homes next door ID: 184365

Mangilao Home | $2,205/mo •2bd/2.5ba on large lot •Large covered patio •Desirable neighborhood •Near institutions ID: 1972

Tumon Bay Residences | $2,205/mo •2bd/1ba •Beautifully designed •Granite counters •Walking distance to beaches, shopping, dining, entertainment & more!

Ordot-Chalan Pago Land | $75,000 •1,800+/-sm •A zoned •Located on Manibusan Lane, just off Route 4 & 10 ID: 184067

Commercial Property | $6,000,000 •Former Plumeria Hotel •Prime location on Rt. 8 •13,834+/-sm lot •Tons of potential!

ID: 1948

Tecio Tumon Villa | $2,200/mo •2bd/2ba •Ocean view •Great amenities •Walking distance to all that Tumon has to offer ID: 184341

Inarajan Land | $100,000 •Cliffline property in Malojloj •1,325+/-sm •A zoned •Gorgeous ocean & valley views ID: 183484

WE CAN HELP YOU BUY, SELL OR RENT!

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