Today's Guamhome April 2016 by Todays Realty

Contents 02

MARKET REPORT

MEET OUR AGENTS

Residential Market Snapshot from January 1, 2016 to April 1, 2016

GUAM IS OUR HOME

SOLD BY TODAY’S REALTY

WELCOME TO OUR VILLAGES!

A collection of recent homes sold by Today’s Realty

JUST LISTED

ON THE COVER

HOW CAN I OFFER MY CONDO FOR LEASE?

elcome to the 2016 April issue of Today’s Guamhome newsletter. It is our honor to present this collection of beautiful homes for your review. My team of over 20 agents and associate-brokers are all members of the Guam Association of REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS® and the Guam Multiple Listing Service (Guam MLS). Our team at Today’s Realty has ranked #1 for many years running in top sales reported to the Guam MLS. Buyers, Sellers and Renters know when it’s time for real estate... It’s time for Today’s! We are never too busy for your referrals! Anthony Godwin Principal Broker / REALTOR®

Recently listed properties in the market.

Gorgeous Beach-front Townhome

SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES

TRUSTS AND TITLE INSURANCE HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR SECURITY LIGHTING? TAKE PHOTOS THAT SELL YOUR LISTINGS

Today’s Realty agents and staff during our holiday luncheon

FOR THOUSANDS OF LISTINGS VISIT

www.guamhome.com

CLOSED BY TODAY’S REALTY

Atanacio Street, Mangilao • $395,000

Chaco Road, Yona • $2,450/mo

Apusento Gardens • $111,500

Nino Perdido Street, Asan • $3,000/mo

Tun Joaquin Santos Lane, Tumon • $2,500/mo

North San Dionisio Avenue, Umatac • $1,100/mo

Days on market: 90 | MLS ID# 15-4091

Days on market: 124 | MLS ID# 15-3617

Days on market: 139 | MLS ID# 15-3647

Days on market: 31 | MLS ID# 16-645

Days on market: 52 | MLS ID# 16-215

Days on market: 11 | MLS ID# 16-625

A collection of recent properties closed by our REALTORS®

Oceanview Residences, Tumon • $3,500/mo

Yogurt/Coffee Shop • $10,000

Days on market: 42 | MLS ID# 16-490

Days on market: 195 | MLS ID# 15-2943

Asahi Apartments • $850/mo

Perez Acres Townhome • $220,000

Tumon Bay Residences • $1,980/mo

Alupang Cove • $2,600/mo

Days on market: 22 | MLS ID# 16-638

Days on market: 80 | MLS ID# 15-4018

Days on market: 78 | MLS ID# 16-103

Days on market: 20 | MLS ID# 16-764

LISTED BY TODAY’S REALTY 185 Bien Avenida, Sinajana For Rent $3,400/mo | Guamhome.com/16-716

This private 5bd/3ba home welcomes you to view its endless features! More than 3,000+/-sf and a bonus of 1100+/-sf covered back patio! This home offers full backup generator, tool shed, mountain views & custom landscaping!

Tun Juan Perez St, Tamuning For Sale $659,700 | Guamhome.com/16-1093

Lot of 3,665+/- square meters located between Tun Juan Perez St (access Camp Watkins Rd) and Pas street. Lot zoned R-2 was already approved for a 31-unit, 6 story apartment (with conditions).

935 Toto Canada Rd, Barrigada For Rent $2,800/mo | Guamhome.com/16-1083

This custom built two story home is elegantly designed with cathedral ceilings in the living room, 4 bedrooms 3 baths, master & junior suite, 2,300+/-sf of living space, stainless appliances, second floor deck & more. Entire contents, including but not limited to content, design and concept Copyright ©2016 by LG&G Corporation. All rights reserved. Anthony R. Godwin • Principal Broker

A collection of properties featured for Rent or Sale by our REALTORS® 7 Felix Ct, Perez Acres Townhome

530 SGT. F. Cruz, Santa Rita

Truly gorgeous 3bd/2ba unit with totally remodeled kitchen with extensive amount of cabinetry. Lovely well cared for gated community with tons of great amenities and just minutes from AAFB main gate.

Looking to become an investor? Why not start with an affordable 4 plex on a quiet street of Santa Rita? Current cash flow is at $1800.00 per month and one of the units is vacant. Live in one and rent out the rest!

For Rent $2,450/mo | Guamhome.com/16-1099

For Sale $276,000 | Guamhome.com/16-1046

3 The Chateau

For Rent $2,200/mo | Guamhome.com/16-898 Move in ready! Fully furnished 2bd/1.5ba two-story unit in the heart of Tamuning. Close to the beach, shopping stores, restaurants, the hospital and the GPO! Don’t miss out on seeing this before it’s gone, can’t beat the location!

ON THE COVER

Gorgeous Beachfront Townhome

For Sale $699,000 | Guamhome.com/16-430 Enjoy this gorgeous beachfront Alupang Cove townhome and all the views it has to offer...the calm, lapping waves of Agana Bay and majestic famous sunsets found only on Guam! Paddle or kayak your way to Alupat Island, treat your bare feet to the soft, manicured grassy lawn or take in a luxurious dip in the warm, azure pool! Recently renovated from a 3 bedrooms to 2, the interior has been tastefully appointed with fine woodwork, modern tiles and a functional floor plan!

Trusts and Title Insurance

o you have finally taken the big step and formed a trust in order to avoid your heirs having to probate your estate and pay excess inheritance taxes when you move on to greener pastures! Good for you!

If you own property in your name (or as community property), transferring title to your trust is an easy step involving just a simple quitclaim deed or deed of gift. Your trust attorney and accountant will walk you through this step, providing the necessary documentation.

The next important step is to transfer all of your assets into your trust. This is calling “funding” the trust and without taking this step, all your hard work and good intentions may be wasted.

To ensure that your title insurance remains in full force and effect, Security Title can assist in the process. We will take care of recording the deeds and will provide an inexpensive endorsement to your title insurance policy that will extend the coverage from your individual names to your trust.

Your trust attorney and/or tax accountant may recommend that you contact Security Title to conduct a title search of any property that you own; if you own multiple properties, we can even perform an asset search to make sure no property is left out! The title report will reveal the current exact ownership and legal descriptions of your property, and will provide accuracy for the transfer from the current ownership into the ownership of your trust.

1. Counsel will draw your Trust 2. Security Title will provide current title reports for property legal descriptions and vesting. 3. Counsel will deed properties into your trust. Called “funding the trust”. 4. Security Title will record the funding deeds and provide endorsements to your title insurance coverage.

Trusts are becoming a very common estate-planning tool, and not just for the very wealthy. Not only do they minimize inheritance taxes and avoid probate, they can be used to care for the health, education and welfare of minor children, or incapacitated family members when you are no longer there to care for them. Remember, though, a trust is not a stagnant entity….the care and feeding of it is your responsibility! It needs to be continuously updated and properly managed to ensure it is the tool it is designed to be.

Remember just these four steps:

How Effective Is Your Security Lighting? By John Voket

recent social network interaction prompted a question about whether constant all-night floodlight illumination is safer and more intimidating to vandals or burglars than the sudden bright light from a motion activated system. That subject is addressed by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Unit. That law enforcement agency recommends single family homeowners light up the perimeter of your home during the night, including entrances, rear doors, and dark areas. Lighting is a deterrent for someone who is tempted to commit a crime, according to the sheriff agency. Besides suggesting the best place for outside lighting as under eaves, illuminating walls, and by gates and driveways, the San Diego sheriffs say that motion sensors are not as effective as duskto-dawn lighting as they can be set off easily and frequently by animals, thus desensitizing the residents to their activation. Install a timer or photoelectric cell (sensor) on outdoor light fixtures so that they turn on automatically at dusk and go off at dawn, or simply convert your wall switch to an electric timer. Also, ensure that surrounding landscaping does not obscure the lighting.

by Kim Anderson Young PRESIDENT, SECURITY TITLE, INC.

kim@securitytitle.net | 671.647.8100

Finding simple solutions to complex real estate transactions.

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) recommends the following home security lighting tips: • Place two lights on either side of the main entry. Not only will this help homeowners locate keys and locks easier when coming and going, but it will also help you identify people through your peephole. • Don’t use overhead lights at entrances and exits. Overhead lights will create a silhouette or cover the visitor’s face with shadows. The ideal situation is to have lower wattage lights on each side of the door at about eye level. • For energy efficiency, use a motion-sensor and photocell combination device. This will ensure the lights only turn on at night when someone approaches your doorway. The motion sensor can also serve to alert you that someone is at your door. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2016. All rights reserved.

Take Photos That Sell Your Listings By Barbara Pronin

n today’s market, with most homebuyers beginning the hunt online, great listing photos are your first opportunity to capture buyer interest. According to a recent NAR survey, web-surfing homebuyers said photos are the feature they value most – and are also the biggest reason they overlook a listing. So it stands to reason that savvy real estate professionals insist on great listings photos – and if they shoot them themselves, they learn how to take great ones. Expensive cameras are rarely necessary. You can generally get quality photos for on-line use from any point-and-shoot digital camera with five megapixels or more. With the right strategies, you can even get great photos using a cell phone. Either way, the real pros say, these 10 simple tips will help you shoot the kind of photos that make your listings stand out: • •

Yank the clutter – Stash away distracting personal items like toys, and family pictures while you shoot. Stage the home – Simple touches like a vase of fresh flowers or an elegant table setting can make a home look more appealing.

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Use natural light – A built-in flash creates shadows and reflects off mirrors and windows. Take photos on a sunny day, open all the curtains – and then turn on the lights. Choose your angles – Shoot the room from a corner or doorway to capture more of it and make it appear more spacious. Shoot from the curb – For exteriors, shooting from the curb lets you capture more of the house. But don’t show cars in the driveway – or a stained or damaged driveway. Check the angle – Before shooting the exterior, be sure the roof line is parallel with your photo frame. A house on a tilt is not appealing. Welcome the visitor – If the home has an attractive entry, create a welcoming view by shooting it with the door wide open. Take lots of photos – The more photos you take, the more likely you are to wind up with good ones. Touch up if necessary – Free online photo editing tools are easy to use and allow you to crop photos and adjust brightness and contrast. Create a dynamite listing - Your great photos graphically show the best features of the home. Pair them online with catchy descriptions that paint an appealing picture.

Barbara Pronin is an award-winning writer based in Orange County, Calif. A former news editor with more than 30 years of experience in journalism and corporate communications, she has specialized in real estate topics for over a decade. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2016. All rights reserved.