Today's Guamhome March 2016 by Todays Realty

Contents 02

MARKET REPORT

MEET OUR AGENTS

Residential Market Snapshot from January 1, 2016 to March 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

HOME BUYING 101

ARE YOU MARRIED

elcome to the 2016 March 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.

Oceanview Residences Suite

APPRAISALS CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE

KITCHEN COUNSEL GREEN FEATURES TOP THE LIST

Today’s Realty agents and staff during our holiday luncheon

FOR THOUSANDS OF LISTINGS VISIT

www.guamhome.com

CLOSED BY TODAY’S REALTY

Cliff Condo • $1,000/mo

Tun Jesus Columbus, Dededo • $365,000

Talo Verde Estates Land • $730,000

Perez Villa, Yigo • $4,200/mo

Days on market: 23 | MLS ID# 16-507

Days on market: 139 | MLS ID# 15-3376

Days on market: 101 | MLS ID# 15-3750

Days on market: 39 | MLS ID# 16-266

Perez Acres Townhome • $2,200/mo

Y-Seng-Song Road, Dededo • $225,000

Days on market: 31 | MLS ID# 16-96

Days on market: 141 | MLS ID# 15-3228

A collection of recent properties closed by our REALTORS®

University Gardens Condo • $56,000

Chalan Kareta, Dededo • $2,200/mo

Father Ramon, Tamuning • $4,000/mo

Oka Tower Condo • $198,000

Days on market: 16 | MLS ID# 16-417

Days on market: 44 | MLS ID# 16-128

Days on market: 41 | MLS ID# 16-184

Days on market: 53 | MLS ID# 15-4035

Route 4, Merizo • $240,000

Nimitz Estates, Piti • $2,450/mo

Days on market: 254 | MLS ID# 15-1898

Days on market: 26 | MLS ID# 16-419

LISTED BY TODAY’S REALTY 118 Juan M. Cruz, Santa Rita For Rent $4,400/mo | Guamhome.com/16-646

Lovely 2 story house right off Route 17, just a couple of mins. away from Naval Base. This 4bd/3ba beauty has partial ocean and mountain view, ceramic tiles, custom cabinets through out the home, and a spacious balcony for entertaining.

128 Ocean View Drive, Piti For Sale $520,000 | Guamhome.com/16-931

This 4bd/3ba house has it all: The address, the elegant buildout, the attention to detail, and now...the price. 2 master bedrooms, a great kitchen, beautifully done bathes and floors, a real garage, and backup power and water.

155 Koku St, Talo Verde Estates For Rent $4,400/mo | Guamhome.com/16-908

Location, security and comfort! This 3bd/3ba home delivers with high class experience! Entry security 24/7, pool, tennis court, and playground area. Beach is 1 minute away an you’re in the heart of Tamuning! 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® 137 Artemio Cruz Street, Yona

Ada’s Plaza, Hagatna

For Sale $338,000 | Guamhome.com/16-922

For Rent $1,660/mo | Guamhome.com/16-855

The architectural details of this lovely 3bd/2ba home will capture your attention. The features include high ceilings, large ceramic tiled floors, window blinds, storm shutters, energy saving split-type air conditioning & much more.

Office space of 995+/- square feet available on the 2nd floor of Ada’s Plaza Center. Located across the street from the US post office and within walking distance from Skinner Plaza and new museum.

513 Tumon Holiday Manor For Rent $4,400/mo | Guamhome.com/16-619

Gorgeously appointed, fully furnished, and this location can not be beat. This 1st floor 3bd/2ba unit has a wonderful covered patio overlooking the pool. Beautiful built-ins, highgrade kitchen cabinetry and even gym equipment.

ON THE COVER

Oceanview Residences Suite, Tumon

For Rent $2,200/mo | Guamhome.com/16-444 Exceptional and beautifully furnished 2 bedroom, 1 bath unit, you will love living in during your stay on Guam. Just a two minute walk to Tumonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shops, restaurants, beaches and nightlife. Amenities on-site, pool, Thai Massage and cleaning service once a week at full asking price just to mention a few. Enjoy the spectacular ocean views of Tumon Bay and hotel row.

Are You Married?

eems like a fairly straightforward question, doesn’t it? However, in the real estate industry (and in Guam’s abundantly rich cultural environment), it’s actually a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Seven years ago, we closed a transaction where a couple from mainland China were purchasing a residence on Guam. The house was to be held in Mr. Young’s name alone. When the escrow officer asked if they were married, the woman replied “Yes”. The man signed an affidavit of transferee stating that he was married to “Jane Chow”. Just recently the gentleman decided to sell the house and when we indicated that his wife would need to accompany him to the US Consulate in China to sign a spousal consent, he replied that he had never been married. When we asked about “Jane Chow”, he said he had been very much in love with her at the time and planned on marrying her, but it didn’t work out. He also added that at the time that they were visiting Guam, she was still legally married

to another man. SOOOO, her response was technically correct! In a perfect world, we would have followed up our first question with “To each other?” Live and learn! We were fortunate enough to track Ms. Chow down in China and she signed a quitclaim deed to Mr. Young, creating a happily ever after to our story.

marital status, give them the full story. They have heard just about everything, and it may just save you from having to share your sale proceeds with some guy or gal you used to love!

Interestingly enough, we have encountered this same scenario four or five times over the course of the last twelve years. I guess our tropical paradise just brings out the romantic nature in people! We have also encountered the question of whether a person who is legally separated on the mainland is still considered married on Guam. The answer to that question is yes. On Guam, you are either married and subject to community property laws, or you are completely divorced/unmarried. And now, since Guam law recognizes same sex marriage, our gay and lesbian friends can hold title as community property to protect joint assets. So the next time your Realtor, Banker or Escrow Officer asks in detail about your

Kitchen Counsel:

Tips to Keep That Stainless Steel Shining

By Nick Caruso

f you have ever owned any stainless steel products, you know how beautiful and appealing the look can be. Stainless steel appliances give a renovated kitchen that POP! it needs, while steel also makes for a very durable cookware product that never disturbs flavors, yet guarantees a balanced heating of foods. It also resists corrosion and rust - a bonus for the steel fans! While some may disagree, I find stainless to be a pain to clean. Not so much of a pain to eschew using our stainless set all together, but enough of a pain that we had to learn the dos and don’ts of dealing with it. (Yes, we’ve scratched some of our appliances before and it is not a good feeling!) Here are some quick and easy tips for cleaning steel and maintaining that fresh metallic look: Clean with water and a cloth. Microfiber cloths are the best option to use when cleaning stainless steel because they absorb all of the water. It’s also a safe product to use to avoid scratching steel surfaces. You’ll want to avoid paper towels or any cloth or towel with a rough surface intended for non-stick cookware. This especially includes steel wool! When drying, dry along the grain to avoid water spots. If you clean or dry aggressively against the grain with regular scouring pads, you will leave marks on your appliance or pan, so be sure to take it easy.

by Kim Anderson Young PRESIDENT, SECURITY TITLE, INC.

kim@securitytitle.net | 671.647.8100

Finding simple solutions to complex real estate transactions.

Only use a drop of dish soap. For most cases, a drop of mild dish soap and warm water is all you’ll need to clean a pan or pot, so don’t over-think it! Just be gentle. Alternatively, using white vinegar as a cleaner has also been proven to work. Try it out - that stuff is like magic! Glass cleaner is your friend. Fingerprints on stainless steel is one of the biggest complaints and it’s a valid concern! No matter how careful you try to be, fingerprints will always end up on your fridge. Use spray glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth to get the job done. Wipe away the fingerprint using soft circular wipes. There are newer finishes of stainless steel that are fingerprint resistant, so if you are buying new products be sure to do your research and seek those out. Keep a stainless steel cleaner on hand. If you need to remove stains or scratches from your stainless steel, using a steel cleaner is a great option. Read the directions on the cleaner and be sure to test the product on an unnoticeable location, just in case. Even if you aren’t trying to remove a stain or hide a scratch, stainless steel cleaner or glass cleaner will help your appliance shine. As always, rinse the area thoroughly afterwards and towel dry. Stainless steel can be finicky, but with a little TLC, stainless steel will keep your kitchen looking sleek and stylish for years to come. This post was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Check the blog daily for top real estate tips and trends. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2016. All rights reserved.

Green Features Top the List Among Environmentally Conscious Buyers By Keith Loria

n the age of global warming and high energy costs, more and more homebuyers are looking for houses that are equipped with green features that not only reduce the space’s overall energy consumption, but also cut back on the amount of water used throughout the space. This is one of the main reasons why the National Association of REALTORS® created a Green Designation for REALTORS® in 2008, providing agents with the tools and experience to understand and seek out properties with green features. If you’re selling your house, it’s important that your agent makes note of every green feature found within the home, including energy-efficient appliances, air purifiers and anything else you’ve incorporated into the space. This is critical as many house hunters will automatically disregard a house if some mention of green isn’t included in the listing. No matter what type of green features you’ve incorporated into your home over the years, there are plenty of smaller things you can do around the house to make it more appealing to those who come for showings. Start by replacing light bulbs

with more energy-friendly CFLs, which use just 25 percent the electricity as normal bulbs. In addition, installing ceiling fans in bedrooms and other areas will help circulate warm air in the winter and cool down the home in the summer, keeping heating and cooling costs lower throughout the year. When it comes to the bathroom, you may want to consider adding a low-flow toilet, high-efficiency, motion sensor faucets or low-flow showerheads to truly attract those looking for green homes. Larger projects such as adding a tankless water heater, replacing the furnace and installing energy-efficient windows can also go a long way toward helping your home sell quickly. If your home has a lot of green features, create a takeaway pamphlet of all the advantages it has to offer. Just make sure it’s on recycled paper. And last but not least, go the eco-friendly route and have a pitcher of filtered tap water at the ready for prospective buyers who come to view your home. Add some organic fruits and vegetables to the mix and use real plates and glassware to truly drive the point home. Working with your agent to highlight your home’s eco-friendly features may be just what it takes to make the difference in completing the sale. To learn more about going green, contact our office today. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2016. All rights reserved.