Market ReportHome Sweet HomeReady, Set, Set...Building on a LegacyFair Housing: Say It Fairly in Your Ads

D e p a r t m e n t s8 Market Report

Staying Optimistic

12 FeatureHome Sweet HomeFollow these nine easy steps toowning your own home.

18 From the ExpertsReady, Set, Set, Set...

22 ProfileGlenn C. BiscoeBuilding On A Legacy

C a s a G u a m . c o m 1

REALTOR® DesignationsMany people involved in real estate, from first-time

homebuyers to renters and commercial investors havebecome increasingly familiar with the trademark RE-ALTOR®. This trademarked term, does not designatea job, but is a registered collective membership markthat identifies a real estate professional who is a mem-ber of the National Association of Realtors and sub-scribes to its strict code of ethics.

In Guam, there are nearly 400 REALTORS® whoare able to serve the public with their realty needs onisland. They undergo not only the mandatory testingset forth by the government of Guam, but are also re-quired to have additional code of ethics training andeducation.

Additionally, consumers will occasionally see otherdesignations after a REALTOR®’s name, such as“CBR,” “ABR,” “E-Pro,” “CIPS” and a host of others.While clear to most REALTORS,® these designationsare often confusing to members of the public, but pro-vide an excellent resource to finding the professionalwho may best be able to serve your needs.

Official REALTOR® designations are earned uponcompletion of a specific set of educational and trainingprograms and classes in a particular area of expertiseor concentration. Often times some real life experiencecan substitute for portions of the qualifications, butthe overall requirements in order to earn a designationis often quite involved and, for the REALTOR,® en-lightening and educational.

Many REALTORS® enter into the designation pro-grams to further their own professional knowledge,however those who achieve these official designationsmay be able to provide that additional expertise andbackground that makes your transaction just right.There are already a number of REALTORS® in Guamwho have earned designations in various areas of realestate and we expect to see this number grow.

Previously only available through classes off-island,the Guam Association of REALTORS® began pro-grams offering accredited designation classes right herein Guam and a large number of Guam REALTORS®have begun the process of achieving their designations.

On island, you can already find REALTORS® withdesignations such as “CRS” (Council of ResidentialSpecialists), “CRB” (Certified Real Estate BrokerageManager ) “EPRO” (Certification for Internet Profes-sionalism), “NAR GREEN” (Green Designation),“CCIM” (Certified Commercial Investment Mem-ber), “CPM” (Certified Property Manager®), indicat-ing the extra level of education they have received inthese areas in which they may serve their clients. GuamREALTORS® continue to provide our communitywith the knowledge and expertise necessary to yourreal estate transaction.

Call your favorite REALTOR® today for any ques-tions on buying, selling, or renting real estate!

Steffen Niu2009 PresidentGuam Associationof REALTORS®

M e s s a g e F r o m G A R

24 Curb AppealThe Most PopularDo-It-Yourself HomeProject

26 How To D.I.Y.Replacing Outlets

28 Who Ya Gonna Call?

30 Classifieds

32 ClosingGuam Associationof Realtors®Fair Housing: Say It Fairly in Your Ads

July 2009 • Vol. 2 • No. 6

CasaGuam is Published by:

P.O. Box 24881 Barrigada, GU 96921Tel: (671) 472-3495 | Fax: (671) 472-3498

email: office@yellowpagesink.com

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|Publisher|Julian T. Cooper-Nurse|Business Sales Manager|

Jay-R S. Dominguez|Traffic/Circulation Manager|

Josie Redmond|Production Manager|

Mark S. Burke|Production Assistant|

Lynda Young

|Graphics & Layout|Mark S. Burke • Jon Barnhart

|Editorial Contributors|Faye Varias • W. Nicholas Captain • Peggy Araullo Llagas

Deanna Palmer • Ken Limtiaco

J u l y 0 9 C O N T E N T S

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Commercial Sales

AgatCentury 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6

ChuukBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

DededoChen Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

HagåtñaCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFC

MangilaoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Mongmong-Toto-MaiteCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFC

PitiCentury 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6

TamuningEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

TumonGlobal Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Commercial Rentals

Agana HeightsEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

BarrigadaEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

DededoChen Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Residential Rentals

Agana HeightsEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

AgatCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFC

AsanRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

BarrigadaBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5DededoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9

HagåtñaCentury 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

MangilaoCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFCRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

MerizoToday’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

Mongmong-Toto-MaiteBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6

Ordot-Chalan PagoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

PitiNimitz Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Santa RitaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

SinajanaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9

TamuningRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9

TumonRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

YigoCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFCBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9Chen Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Residential Sales

Agana HeightsEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

AgatRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

BarrigadaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

DededoRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9Global Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

InarajanBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

MangilaoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCMerizoThe Real Estate Professionals . . . . . . . . . .7Mongmong-Toto-MaiteBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Global Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Ordot-Chalan PagoRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6The Real Estate Professionals . . . . . . . . .10Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

PitiRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Santa RitaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

SinajanaToday’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

TalofofoToday’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

TamuningRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

TumonRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

YigoCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFCRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

YonaCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFCRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Land For Sale

AgatToday’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

BarrigadaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Chalan PagoEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

DededoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

InarajanEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

MangilaoCentury 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

MerizoThe Real Estate Professionals . . . . . . . . . .7Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Mongmong-Toto-MaiteGlobal Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Ordot-Chalan PagoRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2BHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14RealtyOne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17

PitiCentury 21 Commonwealth Realty . . . . .6Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Santa RitaEmpire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

SinajanaRE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

TamuningCentury 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . .IFC

RE/MAX Diamond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Global Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

YigoBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Empire Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7The Real Estate Professionals . . . . . . . . . .7Century 21 Realty Management . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Chen Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Today’s Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC

YonaBHI Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Global Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Looking for something in particular? See the listings indexbelow to point you in the direction of a listing in this real estate guide that’s rightfor you. Simply look up the village, type of home or apartment and see the ad onthe corresponding page number.Happy Home Hunting!

FC - Front Cover

IFC - Inside Front Cover

IBC - Inside Back Cover

BC - Back Cover

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R e a l E s t a t e L i s t i n g B y V i l l a g e

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StayingOptimisticW. Nicholas Captain

It’s been a tough few months andGuam’s real estate market statisticsreflect the fear of investing and liq-uidity issues that have made an im-pact on global markets. CaptainReal Estate reports total quarterlysales of Guam real estate peaked atjust over $200 million during thethird quarter of 2007. During thefirst quarter of 2009, that figureplummeted to $36.3 million — an82 percent drop. The most recentperiod reflected the lowest sales ac-tivity in six years and approximatedquarterly activity during the 2000 to2003 downturn period. Year to date2009 sales volume is down by 63percent, and the number of transac-tions is down by 40 percent com-pared with 2008.

Single family dwelling sales vol-ume during the 1st quarter of 2009slid to 115 units, the slowest pacesince 2002, while the median priceof a home fell by 28 percent to$160,000, the sharpest decline onrecord. The sharp median price de-cline is more reflective of the changein product mix than overall price de-flation, which has been minimal.Condominium sales activity, re-flecting a near evaporation of for-eign investment, declined to 25units during the 1st quarter of 2009,the weakest quarterly activity onrecord. However, the median priceof a condominium unit remainedrelatively firm at $135,000.

The current weakness in the realestate sector, combined with ex-tremely low interest rates, has cre-ated a window of opportunity forbuyers. We expect that lower priced

transactions closing in 2009 will bethe exception, and not reflective ofnew benchmarks. The opportunityto buy at a discount requires a sellerunder duress because prevailingmarket sentiment reflects strongprice appreciation potential oncethe military build-up commences.

Guam real estate investors, for themost part, have shifted into a “hold”mode and those forced to sell re-main quite rare.

Although the 1st quarter of 2009statistics approximate those duringthe 2000 to 2003 downturn, thefundamentals of Guam’s markettoday are vastly different than dur-ing the downturn, and a return tomore normalized activity is ex-

pected by early 2010. Weak localreal estate market conditions are dueto a combination of fear, uncer-tainty and a dearth of foreign in-vestment. Hawaii and mainlandmarkets have fallen sharply due tothe poor economy and a lack ofavailable capital. Guam’s market will

recover much faster than Hawaii orthe mainland precisely because ofthe fundamental causes of thedownturn.

Although our economy has stum-bled, the military build-up activityis expected to create jobs and fuelimmigration and foreign investmentby next year. Further, Guam banksinclude some of the nation’sstrongest and the mortgage crisis has

been mostly tame. The fear and un-certainty impacting Guam’s real es-tate market is already waning, andexcitement and opportunity willlikely fill the void. Foreign invest-ment, stung by economic falloutand the strong U.S. dollar, willsteadily rise along with badly neededon and off-base construction proj-ects. We expect the current down-turn to reflect the shortest recoveryon record. In the near term, the keyfor investors is staying power. Thatmeans cash flow, not just cash, isking. Another reason that we expectGuam’s real estate market to recoverquickly is supply. There are very fewsectors of the market that are cur-rently characterized by high vacancyand an over supply of new construc-tion. Once military build-up relateddemand takes off, the upward pres-sure on rents and prices could be sig-nificant.

The blind optimism associatedwith the military build-up since2005 may find that 20/20 vision isnot too far away. The Departmentof Defense budget is expected to in-clude several hundred million dol-lars for Guam construction andJapan will likely join the investmentparty soon. North Korea’s rocketlaunch further justifies the sharpen-ing of Guam’s military spear. TheU.S. General Accounting Office hasgiven Secretary Gates justification topersonally act to insure implemen-tation of current Guam build-upplans. Guam’s Industry Forum IIIwill bring badly needed foreign in-vestors back to the island in lateApril. Assuming that no additionalMoratoriums on development areforthcoming, we expect real estatesales volume to increase significantlyduring late 2009 and early 2010.

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F e a t u r e

By Faye Varias

TThe homebuying process can seem complicated,but if you take things step-by-step, you will soonbe holding the keys to your own home. The U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Developmentsuggests nine steps toward buying one.

Step 1: Figure out how much youcan afford.

What you can afford depends on a variety offactors, not just how much money you make. Thereare several online calculators that can help, but it isbest to visit a lender to find out for sure. Lenders willreview your income, debt, and savings informationto determine how much money they are willing tolend you towards your home purchase.

Based on your lifestyle and needs, consider howmuch you are willing to spend on the purchase ofa home. Different loan programs have their ownrules regarding the percentage of income that can beapplied toward monthly house payments.

A lender carefully considers your debt obligationswhen assessing your ability to repay a loan. Housing-related expenses are another category lenders con-sider. These expenses often depend on the locationand type of home you are buying and will affect thesize of the loan for which you qualify.

Step 2: Know your rights.The Fair Housing Act protects individuals

against discrimination based on race, color, nationalorigin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. It isalso illegal for anyone to threaten, coerce, intimidateor interfere with anyone exercising a fair housingright or assisting others who exercise that right.

If you think your rights have been violated, theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development isready to help with any problem of housing discrimi-nation. The Housing Discrimination ComplaintForm is available for you to download, complete andreturn, or complete online and submit, or you maywrite HUD a letter, or call Guam Housing andUrban Renewal Authority.

Though expanding access to capital for previouslyunder served borrowers has occurred over the pastfew years, many families are suffering today becauseof a growing incidence of abusive practices in a seg-ment of the mortgage lending market. Predatorymortgage lending practices strip borrowers of homeequity and threaten families with foreclosure, desta-bilizing the very communities that are beginning toenjoy the fruits of our nation’s economic success. Doyour research and read all the fine print.

Step 3: Shop for a loan.You can save money by doing your homework.

Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interestrates and negotiate to get a better deal. Consider get-ting pre-approved for a loan.

Home loans are available from several types oflenders — thrift institutions, commercial banks,mortgage companies, and credit unions. Differentlenders may quote you different prices, so youshould contact several lenders to make sure you’regetting the best price.

Be sure to get information about mortgages fromseveral lenders or brokers. Know how much of adown payment you can afford and find out all thecosts involved in the loan. Knowing just the amountof the monthly payment or the interest rate is notenough. Ask for information about the same loanamount, loan term and type of loan so that you cancompare the information.

Once you are satisfied with the terms you havenegotiated, you may want to obtain a written agree-ment from the lender or broker. A fee may becharged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may berefundable at closing. This can protect you from rateincreases while your loan is being processed; if ratesfall, however, you could end up with a less favorablerate. If that happens, try to negotiate a compromisewith the lender or broker. Remember: shop, com-pare, negotiate.

Step 4: Learn about home buyingprograms.

In Guam, the First Time Homebuyer’s DownPayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program hasbeen made available by the Guam Housing andUrban Renewal Authority to provide assistance toeligible residents of the territory of Guam who areconsidered first time home buyers, to purchase orconstruct a primary owner-occupied dwelling. Thisis an interest free loan and the maximum loanamount shall be the lesser of $18,000or 18 percentof the purchase price. Assistance will be providedutilizing funds made available through the HOMEInvestment Partnership Act as created by the Na-tional Affordable Housing Act of 1990.

The total household income must not exceed 80percent of the median income limits as establishedby HUD and the market value of all HOMEassisted property must not exceed 95 percent of themedian purchase price for the territory of Guam.Eligible applicants must also successfully completeGHURA’s First Step Homeownership EducationProgram. For more information, you may contactGHURA, Community Development Division at475-1302/18/19/21.

Step 5: Shop for a home.There’s a common saying in the real estate industry

regarding the vast number of agents in the business:“If you don’t have any friends who are agents, then youprobably don’t have any friends at all.”

With so many agents out there, how can youmake an intelligent decision? Do you choose afriend, neighbor or coworker? Should you workwith an agent at a large firm, a small firm, a franchiseor an independent?

While there’s an exception to every rule and everymarketplace has its own nuances, there are somesolid rules to apply when you want the best repre-sentation to protect your interests.

You should demand experience and look for com-mitment. If an agent isn’t working at least thirtyhours a week, fifty weeks a year, look for someoneelse. In the majority of states, the requirements forreal estate licensing are substantially less than those

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for cutting hair. In Michigan, for exam-ple, all that is required is a forty-hourclass and a multiple choice test. Youcannot rely on licensing to indicatecompetence. While there are numerousadvanced real estate education coursesavailable, the only technical and com-petence based program available na-tionwide is the Graduate,REALTORS® Institute (GRI) series,which is administered under the direc-tion of the National Association of RE-ALTORS®. A REALTOR® whocompletes the 15 eight-hour modulesand passes examinations, may then usethe designation of GRI.

To learn more about your potentialagent, you should interview them inperson. Get recommendations fromfriends, family and neighbors. Thenlook on the Web, in homes magazines,such as Casa Guam and the localnewspaper to see what kind of mar-keting the various companies aredoing.

If you follow the suggestions above,you will find that there are excellentagents working for firms both large andsmall; both franchised and independ-ent. Thus, the real decision must bemade based on the competency of theindividual agent you will be workingwith on a day-to-day basis.

But before you go out shopping forthat dream home, why not create awish list encompassing all the criteriathat you’ll require to meet your needs?While it’s only the beginning, it cannevertheless save you a great deal oftime and effort in tracking down theperfect home for you and your family.

It’s always a good idea to make awish list before you shop for a newhome. Even though it may take awhilebefore you can actually purchase ahome, you can still keep track of theitems that are most important to you.As your children grow or your per-spectives change, your list may change,too. That’s quite alright; the impor-tant thing is to keep the dream alive.

Step 6: Make an offer.Making an offer on a home is an ex-

citing step — you’ve found the houseyou want and you’re working towardsmaking it your home.

Be sure you’re serious about buyingbefore you make an offer. If the selleraccepts your offer, it becomes a legalcontract after a few days.

Details and planning are important.Know what you would like to pay butalso think about the most you’re willing

to pay and the total home financingamount that your lender has pre-approved you for. Be specific, and puteverything in writing.

Negotiating is a standard practice inreal estate, and something that yourreal estate agent will do on yourbehalf; learn more about it so it worksfor you. Before you negotiate a salesprice, it’s important to determine ifyou or the seller has the stronger posi-tion. Knowing this will help you planyour negotiation.

Also, understand what should beincluded in your offer. This is the timeto think carefully about what youwant and what you can afford. Makesure you don’t include anything in theoffer that you’re not totally comfort-able with doing.

Step 7: Get a homeinspection.

Make your offer contingent on ahome inspection. An inspection willtell you about the condition of thehome, and can help you avoid buyinga home that needs major repairs.

Buying a home is one of the mostimportant purchases you will make inyour lifetime, so you should be surethat the home you want to buy is ingood condition. A home inspection isan evaluation of a home’s condition bya trained expert. During a home in-spection, a qualified inspector takes anin-depth and impartial look at theproperty you plan to buy. The inspec-tor will:

Evaluate the physical condition: thestructure, construction and mechanicalsystems.

Identify items that should be re-paired or replaced.

Estimate the remaining useful life ofthe major systems (such as electrical,plumbing, heating, air conditioning),equipment, structure and finishes.

Step 8: Shop forhomeowners insurance.

Lenders require that you havehomeowners insurance. You may beable to save hundreds of dollars a yearon homeowners insurance by shoppingaround. You can also save money withthe following tips:

Consider a higher deductible. In-creasing your deductible by just afew hundred dollars can make a bigdifference in your premium.

Ask your insurance agent aboutdiscounts. You may be able to get a

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lower premium if your home has safetyfeatures such as dead-bolt locks, smokedetectors, an alarm system, storm shut-ters or fire retardant roofing material.Persons over 55 years of age or long-term customers may also be offereddiscounts.

Insure your house and not the landunder it. After a disaster, the land isstill there. If you don’t subtract thevalue of the land when deciding howmuch homeowner’s insurance to buy,you will pay more than you should.

Don’t wait till you have a loss tofind out if you have the right type andamount of insurance.

Make certain you purchase enoughcoverage to replace what is insured.“Replacement” coverage gives youthe money to rebuild your home andreplace its contents. An “Actual CashValue” policy is cheaper but pays onlywhat your property is worth at the timeof loss-your cost minus depreciationfor age and wear.

Ask about special coverage youmight need. You may have to pay extrafor computers, cameras, jewelry, art,antiques, musical instruments, collec-tions, etc.

Step 9: Sign papers.You’re finally ready to go to “settle-

ment” or “closing.” Be sure to readeverything before you sign. As a homebuyer, you can prepare for the realestate settlement process by under-standing what you need to do beforethe actual day of settlement. This willmake the entire home buying processsmoother and less stressful. Use thefollowing checklist.

Loan Approval - This is first andforemost, because you can’t proceedtoward settlement / closing until you

get approved for the loan. Once you’reapproved for the loan, the settlementprocess is in motion.

Truth-in-Lending Statement -Shortly after applying for the loan(usually within three business days),the lender will give you a truth-in-lending statement. This statementshows the total estimated cost of theloan, including fees, interest rates andpayment terms.

Set the Date - The time and placeof real estate settlement will usually beagreed upon between the lender, thesettlement company, and the buyerand seller.

Transfer Utilities - Call to transferall applicable utilities (gas, electric,etc.) to your name, effective on the set-tlement date.

Hazard Insurance - Most lenderswill require hazard and liability insur-ance, at least up to the loan amount.You need this to satisfy their require-ments, but you should also choose ahome insurance policy that protectsyour investment and give you peace ofmind.

Final Walk-Through - A day or twobefore your real estate settlement, youwill conduct a final walk-through ofthe house. This is your last chance toview the property before taking own-ership of it. Make sure everything is asyou remember it (no new damages, allconveyed items present, etc.). Also, ifyou made the contract contingentupon certain repairs (based on thehome inspection), make sure those re-pairs have been completed.

Settlement Statement - At least onebusiness day before settlement, youshould receive a settlement statement(also referred to as a HUD-1 state-ment). This document will list all thecosts you’re required to pay at settle-ment. Review it carefully. If you finderrors or items you don’t understand,bring it up with your real estate agent,attorney or settlement agent. Don’t letyour questions go unanswered.

Certified Check - In most cases,you will need to bring a certified checkwith you to settlement to cover all theclosing costs. The amount of thischeck will be based on the settlementstatement. Be sure to bring a photo IDwith you as well.

Understanding the real estate settle-ment process will help ensure asmoother home buying process. Beproactive about the items on this list.Don‘t just wait for them to happen —make them happen.

C a s a G u a m . c o m 1 5

F e a t u r e

http://www.pagobayresort.com

Everyone wants to know whenthe market will start moving again.Let me assure you, it not only will,but has started already.

Since the Industry Forum III,which took place in three Guam ho-tels in April 2009, the number of ar-rivals for contractors started growing.The numbers of jobs created aregrowing. The contractors that wereawarded larger contracts and are dueto be funded by October 2009 aregearing up. The sub-contractors arealso gearing up. Much of it is in theplanning and budgeting phase. Wewill see more in the next few months.

The First Hawaiian Bank 2009Guam-CNMI Economic Forecaststates:

Despite the U.S. economic slow-down, Guam’s economy stands outas one hopeful spot.

A bottoming out seems unlikelyin a market that has seen an increasein the median price of a single fam-ily house of 87 percent since 2003 –13 percent in 2006, 19 percent in2007, and 9 percent in 2008. If theGuam real estate market slow downin 2009, there will still be more ac-tivity than there was during the2002–2004 downturn. “The pro-

jected surge in economic activityand population places Guam real es-tate on a long-term growth trend,and the military buildup signifi-cantly reduces risk.” This accordingto Dr. Leroy O. Laney, economic ad-visor to First Hawaiian Bank andprofessor of economics and financeat Hawaii Pacific University. Seemore at www.fhb.com.

Guam REALTORS® receivedword that the Navy has a delay intheir transfers, however other U.S.Armed Forces are at the start of itsnormal summer transfer cycle. Thehangar at Andersen AFB is com-plete and personnel are expected tobe arriving July and August. TheNavy transfers will happen aroundOctober this year, unless there is achange and they are allowed tomove this summer. So get your unitsready, clean, with utilities on.

Be sure to keep your eyes on themortgage interest rates. They justincreased a full percentage point inearly June. This jump is what I ex-pected because of the summermonths and the positive signs in theU.S. mainland in the stabilizing ofunemployment numbers. I do notbelieve this higher rate will holdvery long. People are hurting in theU.S. mainland like we were in 2002-2003. So I expect a drop in mort-gage interest rates by the end ofsummer. But, I don’t think it will goall the way back to the previous lowof just under 5 percent. Also re-member, 6.25 percent fixed ratemortgage is still a dream of an inter-est rate. Lock yourself into at leastthis rate soon. And give yourself 60days for processing your loan. Thereare lots of people refinancing whichis overloading your favorite the fi-nancial institutions.

The time to buy is now. Our mar-ket has seen some drop in priceson older homes. Condos have alsodropped a small amount. New homeshave retained their value. By the thirdquarter of the year I expect the Guamreal estate market to be making up forthe first half of 2009. We will finishthe year at least even, maybe betterthan 2008. Even if the interest ratesstay at 6.25-6.65 percent, most peo-ple will still be able to qualify for the

property they are interested in pur-chasing. Remember that loan feeshave gone up, so save some extra forclosing costs.

Well, I could go on and on. Forcurrent information on all theGuam listings, check my Web site atwww.DeannaPalmer.com. And tunein to K57 Radio AM dial on Satur-days at noon for Open House, thetalk show about Guam’s real estate.

1 8 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

F r o m t h e E x p e r t s

Ready, Set, Set, Set...By Deanna Palmer

Deanna PalmerREALTOR®, RE/MAX Diamond Realty

C a s a G u a m . c o m 1 9

2 0 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

C a s a G u a m . c o m 2 1

When Glenn C. Biscoe becamelicensed to sell real estate, it wasn’this intention to become a full-timeagent. But it must have been in hisblood.

“As far as I can remember, my fa-ther has been involved with real es-tate on and off island,” he says.Biscoe obtained a bachelor’s degreein business administration fromChaminade University in Hawaiiand, in 1997, he was tasked withmanaging his father’s properties onGuam.

From that experience, he had theopportunity to learn about residen-tial and commercial investment as-pects of the real estate business.“Due to my eagerness to learn andassist people with their real estate

needs, I found myself in the thick ofthings with being a full-time agent,”he says.

Today, Biscoe is deeply involvedat LandMark Realty.

He says one of the biggest chal-lenges he encounters in the field is

assisting customers with very spe-cific needs. He says, “Overcomingthis problem takes a lot of research,time, due diligence and networking.Once an agent has gained experi-ence with these challenges, theprocess becomes somewhat less dif-ficult and manageable.”

Biscoe says his most memorablereal estate moment was his very firstclosing sale. “It was a three-bed-room, one-bath home in Baza Gar-dens,” he recalls. “It was the buyers’first residential purchase and theywere ecstatic to move from an apart-ment into a house. Assisting thebuyers fulfill their dream of owninga home was very rewarding.”

Outside of work, this bachelorenjoys paddle boarding and surfingand a host of other activities. Helives by the motto: “It’s up to you tobe successful; no one else can do itfor you.”

Biscoe’s biggest piece of advice forpeople looking into real estate is,

“Be sure to exercise due diligenceand study the property carefully. Ifyou are looking to build, meet withprofessionals, such as contractors,architects, environmental compa-nies, engineers, surveyors and gov-ernment agencies to ensure that theproperty is suitable for the intendeduse. Real estate agents have the abil-ity to assist with this process.”

Overall, he’d like to tell his cus-tomers to take advantage of today’slow interest rates. “The inevitabledemand of residential housing onGuam [will soon bring these up].”

In the coming years, he hopes tocontinue assisting investors with po-sitioning themselves for the antici-pation of the real estate boom,which he expects within the nextcouple of years.

2 2 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

P r o f i l e

By Faye Varias

Glenn C. BiscoeREALTOR®

LandMark Realty Group & ServicesEducation: Bachelor’s in Business Administration from

Chaminade University, Hawaii

Hobbies: Paddle boarding and surfing

Business motto: “It’s up to you to be successful; no

one else can do it for you.”

Buildingon a Legacy

“Casa Guam has the highest standard of real estate advertising avail-able on Guam. The layouts are very creative and the content and articlesgive its readers a broad spectrum of the real estate market on Guam.… I’m very proud to hand out Casa Guam to my customers.”

-Glenn C. Biscoe, Realtor

C a s a G u a m . c o m 2 3

A series of articles about “curbappeal” would not be completewithout writing about the mostpopular method of improving yourproperty’s value and appeal: exteriorpainting. Although not as quick oreasy, it is similar to you dressing upfor a night on the town. It makesyou feel good, gives you confidenceand, if done properly, draws wel-come attention.

A fresh coat of paint will do won-ders for your property and you canchoose to do it yourself (as so manyhomeowners do) or hire someone todo the job professionally.

The first step is to choose yourcolors. Typically, a property willhave a base color, covering most ofthe vertical walls, with a differentcomplimentary color for the “trim”(this would include the fascia, doorjambs, ballustrade railings, etc.).

When choosing your colors, picka scheme that will fit into your sur-roundings. You want the colors ofyour property to be noticed and dif-ferentiated from the rest but you donot want the colors to “stand outlike a sore thumb.” In other words, ifyour neighbors have earth tones ontheir buildings then perhaps purpleis not the color to choose for yours.

One of the trends I have noticedis the use of darker colors for thebase and lighter colors for the trimand accent. This is a complete 180turn from the previous years wheremost buildings had a light base witha dark trim.

Additionally, I have noticed severallarger, new homes using another com-plementary color as an accent on awhole wall.

Once you have selected the colorsit will be time to select the gloss ofyour paint. The gloss is simply the

amount of sheen/shine/reflectivitythe dry paint will have. You canchoose:

• high gloss• semi-gloss• eggshell (or satin)• flat

Bear in mind that the higher thegloss of the paint, typically, the eas-ier it will be to clean, although tech-nologies provided for greater dirtand mildew resistance within even

the flat paints. In the past year Ihave seen the eggshell and flat fin-ishes far outsell the gloss. One otherissue you will need to consider is ifyour existing paint is a high or semi-gloss (and you want to change toeggshell or flat) it may mean youwill need to either put on a coat ofprimer or an additional coat of thenew paint in order for the newpaint to properly adhere and hidethe existing coat. The same mayapply when painting a lighter colorover a darker one.

When done properly, a new coatof paint will do wonders for yourproperty’s curb appeal. With all ofthe choices available on the island, itwould be wise to shop around.Make sure the paint you choose hasa good reputation and has beenproven for Guam’s weather. All toooften we are told of new productsthat will last but when used in theproject, we wish we went with thetried and true. Happy painting.

2 4 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

C u r b A p p e a l

The Most PopularDo-It-Yourself Home Project

By Ken Limtiaco

C a s a G u a m . c o m 2 5

Replacing outlets with safer ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outletsis a simple project for beginner do-it-yourselfers to bring their kitchen and bath-room outlets up to code. One GFCI outlet at the beginning of a circuit protectsall the remaining outlets on that circuit.

2 6 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

H o w T o D . I . Y .

REPLACING OUTLETS-By James Young, DIY Electrical Expert GFCI outlet

needlenose plierscircuit testerflat-head screwdriver

DIFFICULTY ...............................EASYESTIMATED TIME .................30minsPrice Range.......................... $1-$50

You will need...

www.bensonguam.comemail: sales@bensonguam.com

Step 1: Turn Off the PowerTurn off the power at the circuit-breakerbox. If the circuit breakers aren't labeled,you can locate the proper switch by plug-ging a radio into the outlet you plan tochange. Turn off the switches until theradio goes off. Then place a piece of tapeover the switch to make sure no one acci-dentally turns it back on while you'reworking on the outlet.

Step 2: Remove the CoverPlate and Test the Power

Remove the outlet cover plate and thescrews holding the outlet in place. Testthe outlet with the circuit tester to besure the power is off.

Step 3: Disconnect the WiresUnscrew the screws holding the wiresonto the terminals and gently pull thewires loose from the outlet.

Step 4: Separate the WiresIf there are two pairs of wires entering the receptacle's box, separate the wiresfrom the box into two pairs of one white wire and one black wire. Make sureeach pair of wires enters the outlet's box in the same spot. One set of wireswill be the "line," or power supply. The other set will be the "load," which car-ries power to additional outlets on the same circuit. A GFCI outlet, properlyinstalled, will protect all the outlets on the "load" side. If there are only two in-sulated wires entering the box this receptacle is at the end of the circuit. Skipto step 8 if that is the case.

Step 5: Turn the Power Back OnMake sure the wires are completely separate from one another, then turn thepower back on at the circuit-breaker box.

Step 6: Test for PowerUse the circuit tester to determine which set of wires carries the power. Notethe pair of wires that has power as the "line," or power supply.

Step 7: Prepare Wire EndsTurn the power back off and test the wires with the circuit tester to make surethe power is off. Using needlenose pliers bend the end of the wires into a hookshape, if they are not that shape already. If the ends of the wire are nicked ordamaged, trim off the damaged area, strip about one half an inch of insulationoff the end of the wire and use needle nose pliers to bend the end.

Step 8: Connect the WiresConnect the power-supply wires to theterminals marked "line" and the loadwires to the terminals marked "load."Connect the white wires to the silverscrews and the black wires to the brass orgold screws. Make sure the wire wrapsclockwise around the terminal screw sothe wire is pulled tighter as the screw istightened. The outlet may also indicate appropriate color connections.

Step 9: Ground the OutletTwist the two bare copper ground wires together with a short length of barecopper wire (approximately 10"). Cap the twisted together wires with a wirenut. Connect the short length of bare ground wire to the green screw on theGFCI outlet. If the receptacle box is metal and the old outlet was groundedto the box with a single short length of copper wire or wire with green insu-lation, simply reattach this grounding wire to the GFCI outlet.

Step 10: Install and Test the OutletGently tuck the wires into theoutlet box and push the GFCIoutlet into the box, screw it intoplace, and attach the cover plate.Turn the power back on at the cir-cuit-breaker box. Plug the radiointo the outlet and turn it on totest for power. Press the blackbutton or "test" button on theoutlet. If the radio turns off, theoutlet is working. Press the redbutton on the outlet to reset it.The radio should come back on.

C a s a G u a m . c o m 2 7

2 8 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

W h o Y a G o n n a C a l l

C a s a G u a m . c o m 2 9

W h o Y a G o n n a C a l l

Commercial SalesAgat

AGAT MLS 09-241 Oppurtunity is knock-ing!!! Own your own business & 3 bed-room home by purchasing this great

corner lot property. So much potential tothe right owners to grow this well estab-lished business and adjacent home. Call

for details. Call Clare 483-2120

Harmon

Harmon Industrial M-1 Zone ? AcreFenced Lot $280000 or Best offer. MUSTSELL! Ideal forWarehse/Office PLUS Pre-

Constructed / Unfinished SlabCall/Lv Msg 632-1200

Ordot

ORDOT/CHALAN PAGO $650,000 MLS09-507 This nice complex is situated inthe village of Ordot is centrally locatedvery near to schools, shopping, restau-rants and minutes to downtown Hagatna.Fully occupied, renovated with neatly keptgrounds, this is a great income producing

property. Call Clare 483-2120

Commercial RentalsTamuning

Commerical Building - Across Oka Pay-less, 1800 square feet 2nd floor unit.

Great location! $3,000/mo Call Daniel @687-5115

Residential SalesBarrigada Heights

Barrigada Heights Home for sale$675,000 Call Angie 727-2228

Chalan Pago

CHALAN PAGO $270,000 MLS 09-89Nestled quietly in Chalan Pago, this

3bd/3ba two story home has lots of yardspace and is fully fenced on a quarter

acre lot. Call Clare 483-2120

Dededo

SUMMER PALACE ; Townhouse3bd/2.5ba, corner unit w/ large yard, pool,tennis, 24hr. sec REDUCED $240,000Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Dededo (cont.)

LAS PALMAS I –Townhouse 3bd/2.5ba

excellent cond, pool,

security, tennis $200,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Villa Rosario Condo 3bd/2ba, pool, secu-

rity, clean newly, renovated

$155,000 or $1300/month-rent

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Latte Heights 4 bd/2 ba Home for Sale

$235,000 Call Angie 727-2228

Latte Heights 3 bd/2ba Home for Sale

$220,000 Call Angie 727-2228

Villa Rosario Condo 3 bd/2ba for Sale

$140,000 Call Angie 727-2228

DEDEDO $136,000 MLS 08-3189 Villa

Rosario Newly renovated 3rd floor unit.

Nice spacious condo with new tiles. Great

as either a personal residence or invest-

ment property. Call Clare 483-2120 for a

showing, you won't be disappointed.

Harmon

Duplex R2 Lot 3bd/2ba & 2bd/1ba excel-

lent condition, good location $342,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Mangilao

Behind Latte Heights Market House

2bd/2ba half-acre lot, fenced,

good location $212,000 FIRM

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Park Villa Condo – Large 3bd/2ba,

1st floor very nice near Route 10.

Asking $155,000 or $1,300/month-rent

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Piti

Bank foreclosure. 4 bed / 2.5 bath house.

Property to be sold in “AS IS” condition,

(‘As Is’ form with listing agents). No war-

ranties for said property either expressed

or implied. Buyers to take title in the form

of a Quit Claim Deed. Buyer is to make an

independent inspection of said property

within fourteen (14) days of acceptance

of an offer by both parties. $198,000. Call

Deanna @ 688-2855

Tamuning

Asusentado Condo: Large 3bd/2ba, pool

excellent condition $240,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Tumon

Villa De Coco: Condo Large 2bd/1ba

excellent condition fee simple $220,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Upper Tumon: Condo 3bd/2ba Reno-

vated fee simple Only $150,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Yigo

Two homes for a price of one!

Semi-concrete home with 4 bedrooms &

2 baths and full concrete home with

2 bedrooms in the back. Home has lots of

potential for future expansion. $190,000

Call Lourdes @ 483-1384

Residential Rentals

Barrigada Heights

4bd/5ba, stv/ref/washer, split ac's,fenced, covered carport oceanview, out-side patio Asking $2,000.00 Call Scott

Campbell 649-6088

Luxury new house, 4500 sqft, gated,

panoramic view $6000/m

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Barrigada Heights Home for rent

$4,000.00/month Call Angie 727-2228

Chalan Pago

4bd/2ba 1850 sqft . renovated quiet &

very clean house $1,900

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Spacious 3 bd. 2.5 ba. townhouse. Large

master bd., ceramic tiles, indoor laundry,

remote control garage, & shutters. Only

minutes to shopping, restaurants, & other

establishments. $1,800/mo.

Call Lou @ 483-1384

Dededo

Santa Ana Subd.- 4bd/2ba, stv/ref. spa-cious, fully fenced and gated, coveredcarport. Section 8 OK Asking $1,400.00

Call Scott Campbell 649-6088

Dededo (cont.)

Macheche: 5bd/2ba, stv/ref., coveredcarport, spacious. Close to schools, gro-cery stores and many more. Section 8OK Asking $ 1500.00 Call Scott Camp-

bell 649-6088.

New Corian Kitchen Countertop sparklesat you when you walk in. Large OpenFloorplan you will love with marble andceramic tiles downstairs and carpet up-stairs. 2 central a/c units, typhoon shut-ters, dishwasher, stove, refrigerator andwasher/dryer included. Pool and Mail De-livery too. See this soon. $2,000/mo. Call

Deanna @ 688-2855

Very nice unit in Phase 2 of Las Palmas.Amenities include: Pool, Tennis Court,Bar-B-Que areas, security and groundsmaintenance. Unit has newer Kitchen andceramic floors downstairs. Upstairs is car-peting. All rooms have split a/c units andall windows have accordion Typhoon

shutters. 2 assign parking stalls per unit.Enjoy a nice community while you are onGuam. Easy to show. $1,700/mo. Call

Deanna @ 688-2855

New 4 bedroom 3 bath home in Guam’spremier subdivision, Paradise Estates phaseII. $2400.00 Call Pat at 727-4PAT (4728)

2 Bd w/ Ref / Oven/ Split Aircon/ Patio &Garden Good location Walking Distanceto church, schools, payless,flea market

Call / Lv Msg at 632-1200

1 Bd w/ Ref / Oven/ Typhoon ShuttersGood location Walking Distance to

church, schools Payless & flea market.Sec 8 / Mil OK Call / Lv Msg at 632-1200

Totally renovated, large 5bd/3ba, ampleparking,gated $2,500/mo

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Summer Palace: 2 Exec Home4bd/2.5ba, renovated, pool, tennis,

24-hr security $2,200Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Las Palmas Ph III 3bd/2.5ba + 2 densexcellent condition, sec., pool $1,700Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Large Apartment 2bd/2ba w&d, shutters,nice, near schools sec 8 ok $800 - $830Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

3 0 C a s a G u a m J u l y 0 9

C l a s s i f i e d s

Dededo (cont.)

Latte Heights 4 bd/2 ba Home for Rent$1,900.00/month Call Angie 727-2228

Villa Rosario Condo 3 bd/2ba for Rent$1,250.00/month Call Angie 727-2228

Villa Rosario – First Floor, Large unit 3bd/2ba patio leading to large yard, completerenovation like brand new, walk-in closet,

pool, security $1,500/month.Call 637-7165 / 688-0887/689-7700

Villa Rosario 1st Floor Large unit 3bd/2baPatio leading to a large yard. Completelyrenovated. $1,500/mo walk-in closet. Call

W. Yamamoto Realty 688-0887

Harmon

Large 3bd/2ba Condo, fully furnished $1,400Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Mangilao

Very comfortable apartment. It has beenupgraded with new split a/c’s, new

counter in kitchen, new bath cabinet, newliving room flooring. Very cute. Tenant

pays all utilities. Parking lot is lighted andwalk ways are lit at night. Trash removal is

included. Easy to see $750/mo.Call Deanna @ 688-2855

Mongmong-Toto-Maite

This is a nice 3 bedroom plus a Den with2 full baths. Flooring is all ceramic with anopen floorplan. Fully fenced yard with

gates and lots of back yard to roam. Thisis on a cul-de-sac with other nice homes.All windows have accordion shutters andeach room has a split a/c unit. Easy tosee. Centrally located with signs on the

property. $1,800/moCall Deanna @ 688-2855

This is a nice 3 bedroom plus a Den with2 full baths. Flooring is all ceramic with anopen floorplan. Fully fenced yard with

gates and lots of back yard to roam. Thisis on a cul-de-sac with other nice homes.

$1,800/m Call Deanna 688-2855

Santa Rita

2bd 1bath, starting $700Call 687-5422 for this & more, Coral Sea

Sinajana

Rarely available 2 bd. 2 ba. executive unitat Holiday Tower Condo. Ocean/city

views, secured ent., pool, covered parking& many more. $2,000/mo. incl. water.

Call Lou @ 483-1384.

Tamuning

Grand Pacific Condo: 3bd/2ba, 2nd floor- Appliances included, ceramic tiles

throughout. Centrally located in the heartof Tamuning. Minutes to GPO, restau-

rants, theaters and many more. Section 8OK Asking $1100.00 Call Scott Campbell

649-6088

Great Location near the Sheraton Hoteland Oka Towers. Laundry inside, Nicesize kitchen with lots of cabinets. Marblein bathrooms, nice high ceilings and cen-tral a/c unit. All windows have accordiontyphoon shutters, 2 car parking and se-curity door entry. Live close to beachesand across from a new executive subdivi-

sion. Unit available after June 4th.$1,700/mo Call Deanna @ 688-2855

3bd 2Ba section 8 OKCall 687-5422 for this & more, Coral Sea

Great Location near Oka Towers. Laundryinside, Nice size kitchen w/lots of cabi-nets. Marble in bathrooms, high ceilings& central a/c unit. All windows have ac-

cordion typhoon shutters, 2 car parking &security door entry. $ 1,700/mo Call

Deanna 688-2855

Tamuning (cont.)

This Horizon Townhome has been re-cently refurbished w/Ceramic Tiles, NewKitchen cabinets, new bathrooms, paint &window blinds. 2 large patios to enjoy withenough room for your B-B-Q. Gated com-munity. NEW DISHWASHER INSTALLED!

$1,800/mo Call Deanna 688-2855

Tumon

San Vitores Terrace/Village/Court - 3units avails: 3bd/2ba, stv/ref/central a/c,washer/dryer. Walking distance to beach,shopping centers, restuarants/bars andmore attractions. Asking $1,200.00 -

$1800.00 Call Scott Campbell 649-6088

Tumon Height or Ypao Garden 2nd floor2bd/2ba, pool newly renovated,

ample parking $1,200/moCall 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Pia Resort Condo 2bd/2ba oceanview,pool, security, fully furnished $1,900/moCall 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

Nice 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in Tumonbehind Duty Free Shoppers. It is on the10th floor & has a beautiful ocean view.$1,400/month Call George 483-9111

Nice condo on the top (10th flr) w/a beau-tiful ocean view, nice furnitures, gated

entry, swimming pool & walking distancefrom shops and restaurants in Tumon.$1,700/month. Call George 483-9111

Yigo

Perez Acres: 3bd/1.5ba townhome,stv/ref, central a/c, secured entry, pool,mail srvc., Close to AAFB, Asking $

1300.00 Call Scott Campbell 649-6088

Completely renovated 4 bedroom 3 bathhome on a huge 1/2 acre lot. Just off

RT. 15 and minutes from AAFB.Fully fenced and ready to move in. $2400

Call Pat at 727-4PAT (4728)

3 Bd w/ Ref / Oven/ Window Grill & PatioFenced/ Big Yard! Walking Distance toBus Stop Sec 8/Mil OK! Call/Lv Msg at

632-1200

Land For SaleDededo

Rt. 16 Acho Latte St. Near MIDPAC,1,970 ± sm land $100,000

Call 637-7165 / 688-0887 /689-7700

C a s a G u a m . c o m 3 1

C l a s s i f i e d s

Think your salespeople know allabout fair housing laws and how it ap-plies to advertising? There’s never abetter time to find out.

1. Ads larger than three inches bythree inches that promote residen-tial property for sale must include anequal opportunity logo.

FALSE: The Fair Housing Actdoesn’t require the use of the equal op-portunity logo or slogan in any ad.However, using the logo is good evi-dence of the company’s commitmentto fair housing compliance. Regula-tions do require the display of theHUD fair housing poster at the bro-kerage office and at dwellings underconstruction.

2. The description of a house in thelocal MLS is also subject to fairhousing guidelines.

TRUE: All promotional materials,including information and commentsin an MLS listing, are subject to thesame fair housing requirements.

3. Indicating in an ad that a propertyhas handicapped accessibility is aviolation of the Fair Housing Act.

FALSE: Information on accessiblefeatures, such as ramps and grab bars,is permissible in advertising a dwellingfor either sale or rental.

4. Brokers are liable for discrimina-tion in ads placed by sales associ-ates, even if they had no knowledgeof the ad before publication.

TRUE: Brokers may be named inany discrimination suits broughtagainst a salesperson under their con-trol. To protect themselves, brokersshould have a written company fairhousing policy, train all associates infair housing practices, and take

prompt action to identify and correctfailures in performance.

5. It is acceptable to use only whitemodels in your advertising, providedthat your market area is at least 85percent white and that you don’t in-clude any discriminatory languagein the copy of your ads.

FALSE: Advertising that uses onlymodels of one race over an extendedperiod of time is considered discrimi-natory. Models used in property ad-vertising should include both sexes, allages, persons with a variety of disabil-ities, and a diversity of racial and eth-nic backgrounds representative of theentire area.

What’s in a word?Choosing ad words carefully not

only attracts buyers but also guardsagainst discrimination. In writing yourproperty ads, you should avoid:

Using words or phrases that conveythe preference of one group over an-other. When in doubt, use words thatdescribe features on the propertyrather than the buyers who mightwant to use the feature.

Describing the dwelling, area orbuilding residents with words that re-late to race, color, religion, age, famil-ial status, or national origin.

Using catchwords such as “exclu-sive,” “private,” or “integrated” thatconvey preferences for one group overanother or send signals about a com-munity’s makeup.

Making references to well-knownracial, ethnic, or religious landmarksnearby.

Source: National Association of RE-ALTORS® / Office of Legal Affairs

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C l o s i n g

Message from theExecutive Officer

The Voice for RealEstate on Guam

Fair Housing: Say It Fairly in Your Ads

Guam Association of Realtors®

The Voice for Real Estate on Guam414 West Soledad Avenue, GCIC Building,

Suite 500-U, Hagåtña, GU 96910Office: (671) 477-4271 • Fax: (671) 477-4275

www.guamrealtors.com • email: eo@guamrealtors.com

Peggy Araullo Llagas