any advise on guam?

Question

my family is probably moving to guam next year. my wife is a navy nurse. we will be there for three years and are seriously considering buying a home there or at least some investment property for extra income.

anyone who has been stationed in guam or is stationed in guam would be of great help. my wife has talked to some people where she is in kuwait but i wanted to get a feel for myself.

i am interested in anything a member of the military or spouse might say on the issue of guam.

thank you in advance.

anyone who has lived in guam would also be a helpful source.

Hafa Adai!

Answer 1

http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

The above site should be of some help, the Pacific Daily News, which is our news paper. You will get links there to all sorts of stuff...even real estate. I've lived here for years and I enjoy it. To others, it is either a love or hate type place, but I think happiness ultimatley belongs to the mind of the person. If you and family loves the out doors...especially the water, golf, travel, and hiking, you are set. A big pastime here is BBQ's, budweiser can be found at all occasions from, believe it or not...baby showers to rosaries. The Catholic church here is very strong, so a lot of the local holidays revolves around the church and saints, such as the village fiestas for their patron saint (no towns here, just villages).
If you have a good trade and look ahead you may find work. More often than not the spouses do not work...Not sure whether it is due to the local climate or that there is not a lot of work to go around! If you can get a GS position...apply for it while you're on the mainland so you can come in as an off island hire!
There is some negative aspects about living here...The distance from mainland (like if you want to visit family) makes it VERY expensive to fly home. A family of 2 adults and 2 kids round trip to the closest mainland point (LAX) could run from 5 to six grand. No Joke! That is why I don't go back unless it is a family emergency.
Dealing with business "Off island", you sometimes feel like you are treated as a second citizen...even if it is a US Territory! Many people have not even heard of Guam! Shipping stuff (like family sending packages or doing online ordering) sometimes you have to use the FPO / AP or people will try to treat is as "International Mail" Plus, the time difference makes it hard to do business with the mainland. Business on island...depending on who you deal with..is done when they do it. Customer service can sometimes be questionable...but then again, where else are you going to go? Many people first come here expecting stuff to be done ASAP, it just doesn't always happen. PATIENCE is key.
The military treatment facility is good but at the same time very limited, the local hospital (Guam Memorial), even more limited in some aspects. There are a lot of funding issues and you hear about it on the news every other day! You may want to check with the TRICARE enrollment area at USNH GUAM if you or your family members have any special health needs as some services are not available.
As far as property, depending on the type of loan you have, you can make a decent profit here. Many go for the Condos in the "Towers", like Ladera or Oka...A bit pricey but they are easily rented! There are houses up for sale that prices range greatly depending on Location and type of structure. Tamuning and Tumon (Hotel Row) are your more expensive areas. The Mong Mong / Toto / Maite / Mangilao area is only a 10 - 15 minute drive form the USNH and has some pretty reasonably priced homes. It is pretty central. Definitley go all concrete! Some of the houses have the tin roof....nearly impossible to get it insured, insurance is a must. We are in "Typhoon Alley"...and we are also prone to earth quakes!
All in all, Guam is a good place, it is a slice of paradise that is very unique. When you get here, get out there, experience all you / family can, you may never have the opportunity in the future. Take advantage of all the good things coming out this way has to offer.
I hope I was of some help. Take Care and good luck!

Answer 2

Hafa Adai,

I'm Chamorro, born and raised on Guam. Though I've been away from home often and for lengths of time, I miss so much of what it offers that I can not find here in the states. Of all the traveling I've done, I have yet to come across a people as friendly and open with strangers. The best advise I can give you, is to get off the base and mingle with the local people. Show some interest in the Chamorro culture and it 's people, you will then get along just fine. One thing I do realize when ever I travel elsewhere, is that I'm a guest, and to treat people with respect. It will be returned in kind. As for buying property on the island, you can search through the local news paper called the Pacific Daily News. There are other resources you can also use, such as Realtors, etc. Guam is a beautiful island. Enjoy your time there, for you will miss what it has to offer when you eventually leave. If it will help, my web page is http://www.joanne-burch-killian.com//. You'll be able to find some links there that can help you learn about Guam and it's people.

Si Yu'os Ma'ase,
Joanne

Answer 3

I spent several months there back in the early 80s. Enjoyed it very much.

Property is expensive. If you do buy anything, make sure that it is typhoon hardened.

The snorkeling and scuba diving are FANTASTIC. Before you venture into the water, take the military classes on safety. It's mandatory for active duty and strongly urged for family members. There are dangers there that you won't be familiar with -- especially Turkey Fish and Stone Fish which can be fatal. There are also dangerous blowholes in the reefs that you need to know about and avoid.

Boonie-stomping through the jungle is a favorite passtime. Don't miss Talafofo Falls!

When it rains (often) the roads are as slick as ice. If you don't heed this warning, you WILL have a wreck. While on the subject of cars and driving, cars rust very quickly on Guam due to the salt air. I'm not sure how bad it is now that cars are much better treated against corrosion at the factory, but in the 80s a new car could rust away in 3 or 4 years if it wasn't rust-proofed. Your sponsor can advise on this. Consider a series of "Guam Bombs" to get you around while you're there and then order a new car when you leave. Due to special import rules, you used to be able to buy a new Toyota or Honda there for much less than CONUS prices AND ship it back at government expense. Check this out if that's what you're interested in; rules may have changed since I was there.

There are great beaches in Agana and Tamuning but they tend to be crowded at times. Anderson AFB has two that are very nice and not nearly as crowded.

Wear sunscreen any time you're outdoors! Even if you are a dark-skinned black, you WILL burn severely without it! Guam is within the tropics and the sun is more intense that anything you've ever experienced. Its affects are compounded by the water and white sand beaches.

Be prepared for "island fever". It's a lot like "cabin fever" in Alaska. Guam is very small, only 15 miles long and barely a mile wide at its widest part. You can walk the perimeter in a day if you're hardy. There is a lot to do, but it can get to you after a while. Being aware of it is half the battle.

Answer 4

I am not in the military or any thing like that, but I was born and raised there until recently.
Guam is a beautiful island but I honestly believe that Guam's economy is a little messed up and way behind compared to the states. Although being in the military, living on Guam, you should have no worries and look forward to it being your new home for a while. There are lots of things to do there, you just gotta go out and look for things to do! I know one thing is for sure, I wish I had taken more pride in my home when I was living there because now that I am living in Las Vegas, I miss everything from the life style to the beaches and just how friendly the Chamorro's are. We have lots of hospitality and enjoy new people coming to our Island.
Hope your wife gets station at Anderson Air Force Base. Great Base, not that I know too much about Nellis Air Force Base I just had access to Anderson. Oh yeah, be sure to check out Ta-ra-ge Beach when your there, nice place to relax with your family. When you all arrive and as you meet the Chamorro people be sure to say "Hafa Adai" just our way of saying hello! Good luck to you and your family, and enjoy the time you all spend on Guam.
I noticed that some of the answers you have recieved from other people , don't know how long or wide Guam is. Guam is 32 Miles long, you can drive around the entire island in an hour at speed limit of 45mph.Guam is less than 1 Mile wide. Be sure to do some boonie-stomping and check out Talofofo Falls. Check out the Chamorro Village as well for they have a variety of souviners, entertainment, and yummy food for the entire family. Once again have a great stay!

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
any advise on guam?
my family is probably moving to guam next year. my wife is a navy nurse. we will be there for three years and are seriously considering buying a home there or at least some investment property for extra income.

anyone who has been stationed in guam or is stationed in guam would be of great...

Answer 6

I've never been to Guam, but I heard there at least at some point used to be a sign that read, "Guam is good, by order of the Base Commander."

I've actually heard it is not bad... Enjoy!

Answer 7

I was stationed on Guam 1990-1992. I hated it. The island is only 30 miles long and gets boring fast. The weather is like Hawaii. You will miss the states. If you buy a house, make sure it can withstand a typhoon.

Answer 8

I loved Guam when I was there for a month. The Navy base is nice and the island reminds me of a smaller and more private version of Honolulu.

Answer 9

As your story, I think you must prepare to search some info for buying house, a medium size is quiet enough for a couple of you,

Answer 10

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