We try to do as much research on homes that might suit you via email before you even arrive on the Island, this streamlines the process and saves us time when you get here and have other things to do. One thing we'll do, more often than not, is send you information on homes that are a little above whatever budget you set for your rental property. Lately a couple people have sent me sharply worded email back as a result of it.

MLS 12-3218 started out at $4000. We got it for $2500

We don't do this to squeeze a few more dollars out of you, or to make extra money for for ourselves. The prices that you see on MLS are ASKING PRICES. It's only natural for owners to try to get as much money as they can for their rental properties, who wouldn't. Rent is almost always negotiable.

The more desirable properties on Guam are priced slightly above the OHA rate for the military, in hopes of getting a few extra dollars out of the military tenant.

This is because to get into the most appealing home, the owners know tenants will get into their pocket a little bit.

There are quite a lot of properties on the market, which puts the ball in your court, or at least in your favor. The more competition that's out there, the better it is for the renter. Owners are likely to take a little less, rather than have their property stay empty for another month. So it's time to negotiate. Normally this is done initially between the agents before anything is put in writing, one agent may ask the other "do you think they will take $…? ". And we'll base the written offer (your written offer) on the outcome of these "unofficial" negotiations. Of course, no agent can decide for you, and what you want to offer for the property is completely your choice. But making unreasonable offers will result in more time spent sending paperwork back and fourth between the two parties, and, in the interim, someone could very well come in and get the home that you really wanted.