a | r | e Fall 2015

Exploring the Legacy of the Chinese Immigrants Who Connected a Nation

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AREAA’s Best of the Best, the A-List / Feng Shui Mania / Discover the Island Nation of Sri Lanka / Old Town San Diego: The Birthplace of California FALL2015 FA L L 2 0 1 5

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WHERE REAL ESTATE IS MOVING™

FALL 2015 Vo l u m e 7, I s s u e 3 ON THE COVER: "How the East Build the West" graphic by Praveen Sharma Photos: Andrew J. Russell (1830-1902), photographer - National Park Service; C.H. Wells for Harper's Weekly December 7, 1867 (original engraving); The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. BANC PIC 1963.002:0504–C; Carleton E. Watkins Pacific Railroad series stereo view #252

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F E AT U R E S 36

How the East Built the West 150 years ago, the First Transcontinental Railroad, which for the first time connected the vast coasts of the United States, began construction. Chinese immigrants made up a majority of workers used in the Pacific portion of construction – which was considered a near impossible task given the dramatically rugged terrain that had to be overcome.

Sadly, those workers never received the credit they deserved. This is their story.

By Scott Berman

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AREAA 2015 A-List

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Traveling with the Bohemian Vagabond: Sri Lanka

The best of the best. These AREAA members represent the spirit of hard work, dedication, and professionalism that we as an organization strive for and encourage.

Emerging from a devastating civil war, the country is beginning to once again open its unparalleled natural beauty to the outside. a | r | e ’ s Jacki Ueng walks you through what it’s like to visit this enigmatic island nation.

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Citibank offers a line-up of products and services to bring your clients home From start to finish, we have the bases covered: n

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Terms, conditions, and fees for accounts, products, programs, and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit and property approval.

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1SureStart is a registered service mark of Citigroup Inc. Final commitment is subject to verification of information, receipt of a satisfactory sales contract on the home your client wishes to purchase, appraisal and title report, and meeting our customary closing conditions. This offer is not a commitment to lend and is subject to change without notice. There is no charge for the SureStart pre-approval, but standard application and commitment fees apply.

2 If your client is purchasing a home, we guarantee to close by the date specified in their purchase contract, unless prohibited by federal law,* and further provided that the date is at least 30 days after the application date and the date of their purchase contract. If their loan fails to close on time due to a delay by Citibank, your clients will receive a credit toward closing costs of $1,500. Offer not available for refinance loans, co-ops, unapproved condos, residences under construction, some community lending programs and government loans.

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CONTENTS 20

10 Questions with Randy Char

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a | r | e sits down with mega-agent Randy Char to pick his brain about getting into luxury sales, trends in the market, and what superpower he would most like to have.

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32

a|r|e takes you on a tour of AREAA National’s new home: Old Town San Diego. From the best places to eat and shop, to a little bit of history about the “birthplace of California”, we lay it all out to bare in this feature piece.

Taste of a| r| e – Ramen Ramen might take a long time to make, but we’ve put together an easy (but still long) way to prepare this delicious noodle soup in your ordinary slow-cooker.

In My Neighborhood – Old Town, San Diego

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Feng Shui mania is sweeping the nation, in this piece we tell you 8 things you may or may not have known about this ancient art of design.

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Country Report – Singapore Singapore has one of the hottest economies and real estate markets in the world. Here is everything you need to know about this Southeast Asian jewel.

By Cynthia Fauth

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Holi Fest The Indian Festival of Love is a literal explosion of color celebrated the world over.

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Design Studio with Alice T. Chan Designer Alice Chan explains some easy ways you can utilize Feng Shui to transform your living space into a positive energy haven.

Capitalizing on Feng Shui In a study co-produced by AREAA and Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, a stunning amount of surveyed buyers stated that a home that does not follow the principles of Feng Shui is a dealbreaker. Learn to properly stage your home according to these techniques so you don’t lose a potential buyer.

8 Things You Should Know – Feng Shui

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60

EB-5 and Education: A Unique Fit EB-5 investing may be the quickest and most surefire way to ensure international students have the proper documentation to remain in this country; and it may be this our best hope to retain the talent trained at some of our nation’s top universities.

By Maurice Shane, Sr.

ADVERTISERS AREAA Global

areaaglobal.com

AREAA Global + Luxury Summit

areaa.org/summit

Inside Back Cover

AREAA Greater Chicago

areaa.org/chicago

29

AREAA Greater Los Angeles

areaagla.org

26

AREAA National Policy Day

areaa.org

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AREAA New York Manhattan

areaa.org/nymanhattan

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AREAA San Francisco Peninsula

areaa.org/sfpeninsula

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AREAA Trade Mission

areaa.org

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Auction.com

auction.com/agentcenter

Bank of America

bankofamerica.com/neighborhoodlending

Bank of America

bankofamerica.com/downpaymentcenter

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

BerkshireHathawayHS.com

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Bolour Associates

bolourassociates.com

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Christine Chau, Texas Urban Realty

cchautur@gmail.com

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Chicago Association of REALTORS®

ChicagoREALTOR.com

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Winnie Chow Davis, Coldwell Banker Quality Properties

winniecd@aol.com

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Citibank

877-287-1433 offer code 13253

CREAA

creaausa.org

DFW iRealty / Engvest

dfwirealty.com

Gina Duncan, Fine Island Properties

YourMauiRealEstate.com

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Global Estate Link of Silicon Valley

GlobalEstateLink.com

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Non-Profit Spotlight: Charity Cultural Services Center

Go Global Realty

grelv.com

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HSBC

us.hsbc.com/internationalmortgage

In the heart of San Francisco lies a non-profit that specializes in training to the young and old alike in the always in demand culinary industry. From cooking classes, to post-graduation job placement assistance, this nonprofit has been changing people's lives for the better since 1982.

Illinois Association of REALTORS®

illinoisrealtor.org

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Intero Real Estate

atse@interorealestate.com

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KG Protection

Kgprotection4u.com

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Amy Kong, Realty World Advance Group

AmyKong.com

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Helena Kwee, Alterra Properties Group

alterraproperties.com

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Catherine McInnis, Keller Williams Realty Gulf Coast

CatherineMcInnis.com

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National Association of REALTORS® Global

realtor.org/cipscourses

Back Cover

ProTranslating

protranslating.com

56

Around the Association

George Ree, Pure Gold Realty

georgeree.com

47

Take a look at what AREAA chapters around the nation have been up to since our last issue.

Michael Ring, Go Global Realty

grelv.com

56

RISMedia

rismediacontentsolutions.com

55

Shane Capital Investments, LLC

mauriceshane@gmail.com

51

Billee Spodek, Douglas Elliman Real Estate

JBillee.Spodek@elliman.com

56

Team Balch

teambalch.com

56

Kenny Truong, #FASTAGENT

kennytruong.com

27

Umpqua Bank

umpquabank.com/etang

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

wellsfargo.com/mortgage/agents

Betty Sun Wong, Pacific Union

BettySunWong@gmail.com

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D E PA RT M E N T S 10

Letter from the Editor

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Tech Talk With Rob Mehta Rob Mehta is back with his top platforms to help you work and collaborate with anyone, anywhere – for free.

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By Johanna Le

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CONTACT PRAVEEN SHARMA to find out about ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: psharma@areaa.org | 951-514-1053 67

1 Inside Front Cover 11

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FALL 2015 Vo l u m e 7, I s s u e 3

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ivan Choi EDITOR Scott Berman C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R Praveen Sharma

is a publication of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), a national nonprofit trade organization dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership in the Asian American community. For more information visit: http://areaa.org. Š2015 by the Asian Real Estate Association of America.

Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed by individual authors are not necessarily the opinions held by AREAA. Interested in advertising or contributing? Contact us: Praveen Sharma ADVERTISING | psharma@areaa.org Scott Berman EDITORIAL | sberman@areaa.org Office: Asian Real Estate Association of America 3990 Old Town Avenue #C304 San Diego, California 92110 619.795.7873 Phone contact@areaa.org Previous issues available online at: http://areaa.org/a-r-e

For additional web-based content, please visit: www.areaa.org.

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The premier provider for commercial real esTaTe educaTion

The CCIM Cultural Diversity Education Program: 1,500+ minority students have completed a CCIM course through this program. Many have gone on to earn the coveted CCIM designation.

“I highly encourage minorities to take advantage of this program. With the globalization of the economy, minorities, especially those who came from other countries, have a unique opportunity to participate in this cross-border age.”

- Paul Wong, Concept Realty, Shirley, NY

FROM THE DIRECTOR “[…] Frankly it's more related to Asian people coming into our country – having children in that organized effort, taking advantage of a noble concept, which is birthright citizenship.”

– JEB BUSH

Republican candidate for President of the United States of America

I had an entirely different letter that was supposed to be here. But on Monday, August 24th, I heard this comment from presidential hopeful Jeb Bush and felt the need to say something (or write, in this case).

For the entirety of this election cycle so far, Asian Americans have been not largely, but rather completely, ignored by the media and candidates on both sides of the aisle. This in and of itself is disappointing, but this vitriolic rhetoric on immigration is downright disturbing.

In his very first remarks as a presidential candidate, Donald Trump said all Mexican immigrants are rapists, murderers, and thieves. What happened? He shot straight to the top of the polls.

Now the other candidates are scrambling to catch up in this race to the edge. Even candidates whose parents are immigrants, and who were gifted the opportunity to be born in this great nation by their parents’ decision to risk it all in a new land, are questioning the value of such practice.

It sincerely disappoints me that the first mention of Asians in this race was in such a manner.

The term “anchor baby” is a derogative and disparaging term used by some to describe a child born to immigrant parents. They say “anchor” because, in their opinion, the baby was simply born to give the parents a foothold in this country. This type of rhetoric dehumanizes and demonizes the children of immigrants – and it is unacceptable.

We are even beginning to see the fruits of this kind of rhetoric come to bear in the form of a rash

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of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders in cities across the nation. It is, in my opinion, stunning that a nation which has benefitted so greatly from its immigrants, could be so hateful toward them.

Perhaps then, it is fitting that this is happening just before our National Convention, where we are celebrating the Asian immigrant’s impact on American society. From building the railroads that connected the country (our cover story) in the 1860s, to building the high-tech “railroads” that are now connecting the world, Asian immigrants have had no small part in making this country what it is today.

I am not advocating for one party or another; that is your decision to make, your right to choose.

However, candidates must be held accountable for what they say. Primaries are always a race to the edge of the ideological spectrum, and I’m sure in the general election most of these candidates will come back to center. My only hope is that you, and the Asian American voting community as a whole, do not forget these shameful early days of the election cycle when you cast your ballot next fall. Thank you.

HOPE ATUEL AREAA Executive Director

Finding your client the ideal home takes time.

Finding them the right mortgage shouldn’t.

You know that owning a home is a milestone that presents a different challenge for every homebuyer. When your international clients are looking to obtain a U.S. mortgage, why not refer them to a bank that specializes in providing mortgage solutions for international borrowers1? At HSBC, we may have the products and services that meet your clients’ needs.

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Your REALTOR for

LIFE

SERVING

SAN FRANCISCO and SAN MATEO COUNTIES

AMY KONG 鄺玉玲 CRB, CRS, CDPE, GRI

(650) 740-9928

CalDRE#01177178

amy@amykong.com

AmyKong.com

Realty World – Advance Group 109 El Camino Real San Bruno, CA 94066

GOOGLE DRIVE

Tech Talk with Rob Mehta

We cannot stop raving about Google Drive it's shareable, it's collaborative, it's available offline, it syncs to all your devices and it's free. Yes, you heard me right - FREE. For each of our clients we share a Google drive folder where we keep showing data and CMA’s that we produce so that the client can access those whenever necessary. Since we are sharing the file that client then has the option of adding notes or additional details, including uploading video walk throughs of the properties that we’ve seen. From an efficiency perspective it puts everyone on the same page and eliminates the lag time of searching through various one-sided files to recall property details.

Sign up

Today google.com/drive

JOIN.ME

Let’s face it - agents are busy people who can’t always be with our clients when they need us – but how can

we best serve our clients remotely? How can you work from home (or the beach) and still collaborate with your team? With virtual teams becoming more common and collaboration with others via video conferencing on the rise, knowing the best way to share information with one another in a virtual workplace is increasingly important.

A phone call doesn’t always cut it these days. Being able to share screens, documents, and video is much more simple, efficient and cheaper through an online meeting than traveling across the country and even across town.

This also applies to how you interact with your clients.

In our business we often represent relocation and international clients who are thousands of miles away.

We’ve started implementing a number of useful tools that better allows us to serve those clients, and when it’s not conducive or productive to meet in person, but we still want the same level of service we would be providing if they were right next to them. Rather than simply having a phone conversation we often times use video conferencing to make that first connection so that the conversation feels more personal. We screen share with them so they better understand the details we’re discussing, and we collaborate in adding important details to mutually accessible files to paint a clearer picture. Utilizing these tools in your business can provide that personal touch which can be otherwise lost over that long distance. Here are some of the best.

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How about those times when you need to demonstrate or explain something that you see on your screen to a client who is thousands of miles away? Join.me easily allows users to share what’s being shown on their screen with others.

Screen sharing can help your team or client understand what you’re talking about by providing visual backup for what’s being discussed. It’s a great tool for collaborating with your team and lets up to 10 participants view your screen simultaneously, allows you to pass over control to another participant, provides a chat function and even file transfers. And there’s even a mobile app that allows your clients to view your screen on iPad, iPhone or Android devices.

https://Join.me

prezi.com

PREZI Hands down one of the coolest Cloud-based presentation tools available and a welcome change from PowerPoint! Prezi gives users the ability to create dynamic, fluid, non-linear presentations with great animations and motion effects that lend an energy to a presentation that you can’t capture with a static series of slides.

And did I mention it's all online, and it's…FREE. The brilliance of Prezi is that it lets the user visually connect ideas and how they relate to each other instead of a presenting them as ideas one after another, thus it works better for presentations which revisit topics, and how each is idea and topic is related to the other. Another pretty neat aspect of Prezi is that it allows you to individualize the presentation making it your own, by using your own images, media, graphs and charts. And, like the other tools we’ve discussed in this blog, it's collaborative, so if you’re working on a presentation with others everyone, can do so at the same time.

Rob Mehta is Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development for Coldwell Banker Burnet in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Past-President of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS, and is the owner of Rob Mehta+Partners, a real estate training and consulting company. www.robmehtapartners.com

The Voice for Real Estate in Illinois

Preparing our 43,000 members for the global marketplace www.illinoisrealtor.org

Congratulations Vicky! AREAA’s 2016 National Chairwoman, Illinois’ Own REALTOR Vicky Silvano! ®

F I N A N C E

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QUESTIONS with

Randy

CHAR

10 QUESTIONS

Randy Char has over 20 years of experience as a luxury producer and broker in Las Vegas. As part of his most recent venture, Char sits as President of his own newly formed boutique luxury real estate firm in Las Vegas. His brokerage allows him to collaborate with other luxury brands as well as focus on offering his skillset for professional development and charitable contributions in the Vegas community with each sale.

1. When did you decide Luxury Real Estate was going to be your future?

I was a sales manager of luxury tailored suits in Newport Beach before I moved to Las Vegas to begin my real estate career 20 years ago. Although I didn’t specialize in the luxury market until a few years ago, I always had an interest in the luxury lifestyle. I REMEMBER SHOW-

ING UP IN AN ARMANI SUIT FOR A PROMOTION I ACCEPTED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR A MAJOR HOMEBUILDER…ONLY TO BE TOLD TO LOSE THE JACKET. Whether it’s luxury goods or fine resorts, I’ve had a natural attraction to the finer things in life.

2. How did you begin marketing yourself as a luxury agent?

I was approached several years ago to run one of the most exclusive towers in Las Vegas. The company wanted me to be the face of the brand; so by marketing the high-rise, I was branding myself as a luxury broker by default. It turned out that instead of listing my first million dollar property, I ended up listing over a hundred million dollar listings in the course of a few years.

with

RANDY CHAR

5. What’s a developing trend in real estate that you see becoming a “gamechanger”?

Incorporating a clear strategy for branding, PR and events is becoming more vital to the success of luxury specialists. Information is so readily available, you need to be able to stand out in a credible way. I believe there is a premium for those who also understand the “Art of the Deal.”

6. Role models?

My parents. My mother is a social being with many hobbies. Whether she’s supporting her favorite charities or playing in a golf league she loves organizing events and bringing friends and family together. My father has really helped teach me the value of things from a very early age and to be driven. I feel that both of them have shaped me into the individual I am today.

7. Read any good books lately?

Although I consistently read articles and reports to stay current, I can’t say that I’ve recently completed a book cover to cover. Maybe it’s the age we live in. We communicate more in sound bites.

3. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone trying to break into the luxury market?

Understand why you are a good fit and don’t jump into luxury as a way to make a quick buck.

Wealthy individuals will see if you are not knowledgeable or genuine about the luxury market. I naturally think this way so it’s not something I need to prepare for or fake. This develops over time, so you need to be patient in this field before you can expect big returns. I also encourage partnering with top luxury agents or brokers on larger deals until you establish a good reputation in the market.

4. Any crazy/funny stories you can share from your career as a luxury agent?

Many times I feel like I live in a reality TV show.

The difference between the luxury segment and the normal market is wealthy individuals have the opportunity to pursue their hobbies further and faster. I had a client who loves exotic cars.

HE WAS RECEIVING A DELIVERY OF THE NEWEST FERRARI AND REALIZED HE RAN OUT OF PARKING SPACES IN THE TOWER. I SOLD HIM ANOTHER CONDO JUST FOR THE GARAGE SPACE. I’m not sure if anyone has stayed in the residence for the past year, but the cars keep getting switched out.

8. Outside of real estate, what are some hobbies or interests of yours?

I grew up participating in many sports but I was lucky enough to pursue tennis because it is one of the few sports of a lifetime. I regularly compete in league tennis leagues locally and out of state. It allows me to compete and exercise versus only going to the gym.

9. Favorites Time!

What/who/where is your favorite: 1) Athlete/celebrity/public figure; 2) Musician; 3) Vacation destination?

BO JACKSON / CALVIN HARRIS / FRANCE 10. Hardball Question: What superpower would you most want to have and why?

Time travel because there are always things you would have done differently and the future has so many possibilities.

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Good to know.

®

Residential • Commercial ©2015 BHH Affiliates, LLC. Real Estate Brokerage Services are offered through the network member franchisees of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Most franchisees are independently owned and operated. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Information not verified or guaranteed. If your property is currently listed with a broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. Equal Housing Opportunity.

BerkshireHathawayHS.com

AREAA GREATER LOS ANGELES PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP in the ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY www.areaagla.org | areaagla@gmail.com | 323-999-1GLA

2015 AREAA GREATER LOS ANGELES LEADERSHIP YOUNG AHN

ESTHER LEE

President

Immediate Past President

SONNY PHAM

MARLENE

Vice President

Vice President

CAGATAO

JAMES

PETER PARK

MICHAEL JIN

STEVEN LEE

HUANG

Project Director

Treasurer

Treasurer

Vice President

NANCY

SANDY CHO

OBANDO

Director

Secretary

DIANA JO

PARKER KIM

Director

Director

MELISSA KIM

STEPHEN

Director

SHIU Director

ANGIE TANG

KRYSTLE

SARAH LIN-

Director

TALBOT

SALAZAR

Director

Tech Chair

SILVER

GOLD

With sincere gratitude, we appreciate our corporate sponsors, along with our members, for their continued partnership and support in the growth and success of AREAA Greater Los Angeles to help fulfill our mission and to reach greater heights in our achievements

KENNY TRUONG | KENNY@CLIMBSF.COM | 510.545.6932

Taste of a | r | e

Do you love Ramen but hate the amount of time it takes to prepare it (we’re not talking Instant Ramen here, people)?

Kosher salt 2 tablespoons canola oil (if including the optional browning step) 1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped 6 garlic cloves, chopped 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 leek, halved lengthwise and coarsely chopped (white and green parts)

In a large pan, put some oil over medium-high heat and brown each piece of pork on all sides, then set aside Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat from pan. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and 1 cup of the broth and deglaze the pan, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, let simmer for about 1 minute.

Transfer to the slow cooker, and add the leek, mushrooms, and the remaining 7 cups of broth, and stir to combine. Cover and cook on the low-heat setting for 8 hours. The pork should be very tender and the broth should be fragrant.

Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cut into individual servings (you can slice or “chunk” it).

Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard the solids. Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from the surface of the broth.

¼ pound cremini or button mushrooms, brushed clean and coarsely chopped

Return the pork and broth to the slow cooker and season to taste with soy sauce and sesame and/or chile oil. Cover and cook on the low-heat setting for about 30 minutes to warm through.

Low-sodium soy sauce, for seasoning

Cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions.

Sesame and/or chile oil, for seasoning 1 ½ pounds fresh ramen noodles About 4 green onions, finely chopped (white and pale green parts) Optional – 8 large eggs 28

Season the pork to your liking, using salt and other spices

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Optional: If you want to top each bowl of ramen with an egg, put the eggs into boiling water and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water, let cool until they can be handled, and peel them.

Serving: Divide the noodles evenly among individual bowls. Ladle the broth and pork over the noodles, dividing them evenly, then sprinkle with the green onions.

If desired, top each bowl with a halved soft-boiled egg and serve right away.

Thanthima Lim/Shutterstock

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3 equal pieces

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

a | r| e has you covered with this simple, yet delicious recipe using pretty basic ingredients and your slow cooker. Yes, it takes a long time, but as the old slow cooker commercial goes you can just “Set it, and Forget it!”

CONGRATULATIONS Vicky Silvano 2016 AREAA NATIONAL CHAIRWOMAN

GREATER

SRI LANKA

By Jacki Ueng

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Visitors from the U.S. will NEED A VISA. DRESS CONSERVATIVELY

as you would in most surrounding countries.

If you want to avoid attention, cover yourself from shoulder to knee.

Some temples will require even more modesty.

Like all Asian cultures, remember to TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES

when entering someone’s home.

SIMPLE PLAN TO SEE THE COUNTRY

L A N K A

Sri Lanka has beautiful beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, tea plantations, mountaintops, safaris, and culinary excursions. Time, and people, move a at a leisurely “islander” pace. The people are warm and friendly, and I loved enjoying seafood along the coast.

WHAT TO KNOW

SEEMA MALAKA TEMPLE IN COLOMBO

I S R

SRI LANKA is a unique travel destination with much to offer.

Only about the size of Ireland, it’s a hidden gem that many who have visited do not want to spoil by sharing. Some people may associate the country with India although they are two separate countries, both previously ruled by the British (India until 1947, Sri Lanka until 1948).

SurangaSL/Shutterstock

Traveling with the Bohemian Vagabond

Fly into the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka Cities to visit: Kandy, Jaffna, Galle, Negombo Beach Hire a driver for a reasonable price or take public transportation to explore the country. There are options to take small jets to the north (Jaffna)

Colombo

Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, took a devastating hit during the Tsunami in 2004, with over 35,000 people killed. While most of the hotels and resorts have been rebuilt, much still remains to be done. Sri Lanka needs tourism.

Traveling with the Bohemian Vagabond

REASONS TO VISIT IT’S ALWAYS TEA TIME! With Sri Lankans always on “island time”, there is always time for morning tea, afternoon tea, after dinner tea, any time of the day tea really.

Cozy/trendy/romantic Tea shops are found at every corner, with extensive collections of tea from local plantations and international selections are available. Appetizers (usually sweets) are served along with tea.

YOUR DOLLAR GOES A LONG WAY.

Sri Lanka is a stopover on your way to the romantic island of

MALDIVES. Just an hour away, with flights less than $200.

CULINARY HEAVEN. Love Indian food?

Sri Lankan food is even SPICIER, if you are into that challenge! A fusion between Indian and Thai food, often consisting of fresh seafood, dried fish/shrimp, chicken/beef, basmati/ jasmine rice served on banana leaves, cooked with coconut milk and flavorful spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, nutmeg, mace and pepper (try Jaffna Curry Powder).

THE WHITE LIGHTHOUSE AT GALLE FORT

CAN'T MAKE IT TO SRI LANKA SOON?

“Apey Kade” and “Sri Lankan Delight” in Tarzana, Southern California have authentic Sri Lankan food.

My Good Images/ Shutterstock

SRI LANKANS LOVE ANIMALS. Most likely from their Buddhist and Hindu roots and their idea of “Karma,” many animals are symbols of good luck. There are safaris to observe wild animals such as tigers, leopards and elephants.

There are also nonprofit elephant and turtle orphanages you can visit.

Sri Lanka is still considered a developing country. You have the choice of staying at 5-star hotels (Taj Samudra, Cinnamon Grand, Hilton, just to name a few), low-budget hostels or guesthouse options.

Food and activities will cost around 1/3 of what it is in the U.S. (depending on how you budget).

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND FORTS undiscovered along the coast to beach-bum it.

Ride bicycles, go boating, discover Buddhist and Hindu monuments, eat delicious seafood on a budget. A true backpackers paradise!

There are beautiful TEMPLES, MOSQUES and CHURCHES to visit.

8%

7%

Islam

Christian

~1%

Other / Unspecified

RELIGIOUS and CULTURAL DIVERSITY

15%

Hindu

69%

Theravada Buddhist

TEMPLE of the TOOTH “DALADA MALIGAWA”. Opened in the 18th century, this golden-roofed temple was opened to preserve one of the Gautama Buddha’s teeth. Although you cannot see it, as it is protected in a gold box, many devout Buddhists make the pilgrimage to this monument to pay respect. Other countries that claim to have a relic of the Buddha’s tooth are China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and even the U.S. (California).

According to legend, after Buddha’s cremation a single tooth remained intact, his left canine to be exact. It is believed whoever possesses the tooth has divine right to rule. Unsurprisingly, possession of the tooth has led to many conflicts throughout the centuries.

IT’S SAFE for TRAVELERS. A smaller country with a population of only 21 million people, Sri Lanka is statistically one of the safer countries to visit in the region.

HEARD OF CEYLON TEA? Yep, the former name of Sri Lanka was “Ceylon” under British rule until 1972. You can easily spend 3-4 days lost hiking, smelling/ tasting various kinds of Tea, while staying at rolling Tea Plantation resorts. A great idea for the romantically inclined.

JACKI UENG is the Bohemian Vagabond, a travel blogger who inspires others to travel and experience the customs, cultures and foods of destinations across the world.

Follow Jacki's travels at:

JackiUeng.com

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8 Things You Should Know

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK. THOUGH GAINING IN POPULARITY IN THE WEST, FENG SHUI HAS

1

2

What is it?

Good Fortune

Feng shui is a 3,000 plus year old body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure health and good fortune for the people inhabiting it. Essentially, feng shui began as a reading of the energies and auspices of the land, and was used to determine the best time and place to build cities. Often mispronounced, Feng Shui is phonetically pronounced: FUNG schway.

Feng means ‘wind’, and shui means ‘water’; in Chinese tradition, these two elements are associated with good health and fortune. One of the basic foundations of feng shui is the principle of five elements, which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

BEEN PRACTICED FOR NEARLY 3,000 YEARS. A | R | E TAKES A LOOK AT 8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FENG SHUI.

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3

4

Cosmic Turtles

May the Force Be with You

The I Ching is one of the earliest known and most important Chinese texts and is the basis for Feng Shui. It outlines the natural rhythms and laws of the universe into 64 hexagrams. The text is thought to have been authored by Fu Hsi sometime around 2800BC. Fu Hsi ‘discovered’ these laws by reading the shell of a mysterious space-time traveling turtle.

At the heart of Feng Shui is the idea of Qi (pronounced ‘chi’ in English). Qi is the energy (both positive and negative) that flows through everything. The key word being “flows”. This means that, like a river around a stone, Qi can be channeled.

And also like a river being diverted, this change of flow can be good or bad for those it affects.

BAGUA One of the two main tools in conducting a feng shui analysis

5

Apples & Oranges Another crucial aspect of Feng Shui that must be understood is that of Yin and Yang. This concept is oft misunderstood as things simply being opposites, but that’s not entirely true.

Many things do not have an “opposite”. What is the opposite of an orange? No, it’s not an apple. Yin and Yang can best be understood as for everything something gets, something else must give to make up for it.

8

The Four Olds

6

7

Energy Maps & Non Unam, Sed (Not One, But Many) Space Guides The two main tools in conducting a feng shui analysis are the Feng Shui Compass (Luo Pan) and the Bagua. The Bagua, originally described in the I Ching, is an octagonal grid that acts as an energy map, helping trace the appropriate flow of energy for any space. Luo means everything and Pan means bowl, thus Luo Pan can be thought of as something that contains all the elements of the universe.

There is not a feng shui, but rather a growing base of knowledge for the interpretation and application of its prinicples. Feng shui is personal, and highly interpretive.

There are feng shui principles for color, for texture, for furniture arrangement, landscaping, etc. But these are more guidelines than strict rules.

Feng Shui was banned by the Communist party during the cultural revolution as part of the “Four Olds” campaign. The Four Olds were: Old Customs, Old Habits, Old Culture, and Old Ideas. The party hoped to replace the Four Olds with Four News. Feng Shui has recently been on the rise across China and Asia, and now many Westerners are also beginning to seek its ancient wisdom.

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meunierd / Shutterstock.com

In My Neighborhood with Scott Berman

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

Welcome to Old Town San Diego, the new neighborhood of the AREAA National Office!

Old Town is actually historically designated as the “Birthplace of California.” It was here that the very first settlement in what would become the state of California was established in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra. In 1968, the State of California established the Old Town State Park to preserve the cultural heritage of the area, and to show people what life was life back in the earliest days of San Diego.

What is the #1 thing that residents here rave about?

Convenience. Old Town is perhaps the most conveniently located neighborhood in all of San Diego. It is 5 minutes to the airport, 5 minutes to downtown, 5 minutes to the beaches, and 5 minutes to Balboa Park. There are interstates running in all directions framing the neighborhood, but not so close they become a bother.

Supannee Hickman / Shutterstock.com

The other thing residents love is the food! Old Town offers some of the most authentic Mexican food you will find north of the border. There are dozens of taco shops, taquerias, and even tequilerias. A world famous San Diego fish taco can be found on just about every corner.

What kind of activities and events does your neighborhood offer?

Old Town is a tourist’s and history buff ’s paradise. Whether you want to see the Old Town Jail and Gallows, check out one of the original horse drawn carriages of Wells Fargo Bank, grab a stiff drink at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Saloon (the first hotel in San Diego and still operational – it’s almost 200 years old!) gaze at the location where the first American flag in California was permanently raised, or contact the dead on a tour of the famously haunted Whaley House, this neighborhood offers endless treats.

Every May 5th, Old Town hosts one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the region. Thousands turn up at 34

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the park to listen to music, sip margaritas, and partake in the revelry.

But the best event is the Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This holiday honors the dead with music, costumes, and food and is held November 1st -November 2nd.

What is a common misconception about the neighborhood?

There aren’t really a lot of misconceptions about Old Town. It is very much a heavily travelled tourist destination, and being so prices

TOP EVENTS IN OLD TOWN

1.

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION MAY 5TH

2.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL NOV 1ST – 2ND

3.

SANTA FE MARKET SEPT 18TH – 20TH

Top 3

Restaurants ACCORDING TO AREAA STAFF

1

Sushi Tadokoro 2

Barra Barra 3

Café Coyote

However, there is a bit of a notion that Old Town is all about Mexican food and Mexican/Pioneer American history. There is a surprising amount of Asian influence here as well. In the middle of the State Park is an historic Himalayan gemstone trading post, filled with unique gifts and jewelry. Old Town also boasts one of the city’s best sushi restaurants in Sushi Tadokoro. There are also numerous Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Chinese restaurants close by.

Favorite 1 Restaurant; 2 Way to kill an afternoon; 3 Shopping?

1) Our favorite restaurant is one we just mentioned, Sushi Tadokoro. It consistently ranks as one of the top three sushi restaurants in the city.

They don’t do anything fancy with the sushi, they just use premium cuts of fish and prepare it in a traditional manner. Sometimes simpler is better.

Much better.

2) The best way to kill an afternoon here is to take a stroll through the state park. Most, if not all, of the museums and attractions are free of charge. The people-watching is also top of the line.

3) Most of the shopping in Old Town is tourist oriented. You can get your San Diego t-shirts, and key chains, and coffee mugs, etc. etc. etc. My favorite is Gum Saan, the Himalayan gemstone and gift shop. It has an absolutely fantastic array of jewelry, trinkets, and other things you didn’t know you needed!

Neighborhood’s Best Kept Secret?

As a native of the Gulf Coast, I would have to say that the New Orleans Creole Café is the best kept secret in Old Town, mainly because most people, even if they’ve been here a hundred times, don’t know it’s there! The food is prepared in a frontier-style kitchen. They use a coal fired oven and stove, and make each dish one at a time, so the wait can be a bit much for some people. But there isn’t a lot better than getting some of their shrimp jambalaya and relaxing under the giant magnolia tree out front. Like a little slice of home.

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION $355,000 median sales price for homes in Old Town for May 15 to August 15, 2015, 27.85% lower than the median sales price for San Diego, CA.

this represents a decline of

26%, or $125,000,

compared to the prior quarter and a decrease of 11% compared to the prior year.

49.2%

sales price appreciation over the last 5 years

$396 average price/sqft in the most recent quarter, 9.09% higher than the average price/sqft for homes in San Diego.

SOURCE: TRULIA

Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

may be a bit higher than in other neighborhoods.

...there is a bit of a notion that Old Town is all about Mexican food and Mexican/Pioneer American history.

There is a surprising amount of Asian influence here as well.

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By Scott Berman

EDITOR’S NOTE: The story of the Chinese railroad workers is a vast, complex, and, most importantly to this magazine, lengthy story. Creating some sort of cohesive narrative out of all of the stories, histories, characters, tragedies, and triumphs that occurred from 1865 to 1869 proved to be a difficult task. There are at least three other versions of this article that have been thrown in the waste basket.

What I have tried to write here is the overarching story of what occurred. I have tried to avoid the politics of the time, as they could warrant 5,000 words on their own. I have tried to avoid getting too bogged down into the specifics of the construction as that would bring the story to a crawling pace. This version of the article represents my original goal: a telling of when and why Chinese laborers were chosen, what obstacles they had to face during construction, and the lasting impact of this massive contribution to the story of America. I hope you enjoy the read.

“John Chinaman” on a rail cart.

Courtesy of Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.

1865 – The Year that Made America Whole Again 1865 was quite the year in American history.

The American Civil War comes to an end. President Lincoln is assassinated. A constitutional amendment banning slavery and involuntary servitude passes Congress.

And on the West Coast of these United States, a group of immigrants who would help connect this great land quietly began work on one of the greatest triumphs of engineering and human perseverance in mankind’s history.

Given Congressional authorization and funding in 1862, and again in 1864 (the latter being significantly more generous as the Southern Democratic opposition to the rail line was at that point absent), the Pacific Railroad Act initiated the largest infrastructure project ever attempted at the time. Set to begin in earnest in 1865, two separate incorporated railroad companies, the Central Pacific Railroad Company in the West, and the Union Pacific Railroad Company in the East, were to compete with one another to reach their final destination the fastest. Congress rightfully figured that by making it a competition (rewarding swift progress with more funding), the job would get done more quickly.

The task at hand was monumental: Connect two rail lines, one from Sacramento heading east, and another from Council Bluffs, Iowa, heading west. The two lines were to connect at Promontory Summit, in northern Utah. For the project heading west, the terrain included hundreds of miles of flat prairieland; for the other project stood a colossal challenge: the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Though young, among the youngest mountain ranges in the world, the Sierras rise high and fast, and are made almost exclusively of hard granite.

The mountain range is growing so fast and so much, in fact, it is projected to top even the mighty Himal­ California ayas once maGovernor Leland (albeit tured Stanford Courtesy California Department of General Services

that won’t be for millions of years).

Terrain map of the Pacific route. The dramatic 7,000 ft elevation change from Sacramento into the Sierra Nevadas proved to be a near impossible obstacle to overcome.

Source: Drawn by C.H. Wells for Harper's Weekly December 7, 1867(original engraving)

Human Capital – A Different Kind of Gold Rush The project would require the labor of some 5,000 men; the problem was the railroad com­ pany, Central Pacific, only had about 600 due to labor shortages. They would be doomed from start unless they could find a new, large source of competent labor. As they saw it, the company had two options: hire the Irish, or hire the Chinese.

The company feared the Irish would likely spend their $28 a month salary on liquor, which would affect construction. But they also feared the Chinese were too small to carry out such a difficult task. Charles Crocker, in a quite famous response, asked, “Did they not build the Chinese Wall, the biggest piece of masonry in the world?”

And with that, Central Pacific Railroad decided to employ Chinese laborers.

The race against the westward moving railroad to Promontory Summit, Utah, had officially begun.

Many of the Chinese laborers Charles Crocker, had already arrived of Central in California some Pacific Railroad time before for the Company. same reason most Crocker was perhaps people moved to the the leading state in those days: proponent of Gold. However, by Chinese labor.

1865, many of the Source: Stephen W. Shaw, gold mines in the pre 1872. Crocker Art area had run dry, or Museum, E.B. Crocker were already occuCollection holds the original.

Continued FA L L 2 0 1 5

37

the

CHINESE RAILROAD WORKERS:

A Brief Timeline

SOURCE: Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project by Stanford University

The Pacific Railroad bill passes Congress, giving approval to begin what will become the Transcontinental Railroad.

California Governor Leland Stanford breaks ground on the railroad.

The first known Chinese laborers arrive in San Francisco.

Facing financial and labor shortages, Central Pacific Rail’s progress comes to a halt.

Charles Crocker suggests using Chinese labor to fill the ranks.

JULY 1

JANUARY 8

JANUARY

WINTER

JANUARY 20

1862 1863 1864 1864 1865 Chinese laborers repairing a section of railroad.

Source: Watkins New Series of Pacific Coast Views, #4077.

pied. This left an abundance of labor with no work to be had; it seemed Central Pacific had struck their own “gold.”

But even this new labor source was not enough to fill the demand by the company to finish the job in the time allotted.

The company then looked west, and began directly importing laborers from the Kwangtung province in China, a region torn apart by the Taiping Rebellion and a significant economic depression.

Chinese laborers were paid far less than their Caucasian counterparts. After food and lodging expenses, a diligent Chinese worker could save about $20 a month while Caucasian workers could expect somewhere north of $30. To the Chinese laborers, however, this was a fortune. Many planned to take their newfound “wealth” back to their homeland once the job was complete. Sadly, this was a dream left unrealized for the majority of these immigrants.

The Irish laborers were not very fond of their Chinese counterparts. The Chinese were punctual, obedient, and efficient, and the Irish grew to resent the competition between the two groups, often times lashing out in violent attacks. In order to calm the violence, Charles Crocker, who had been thoroughly impressed by the work ethic of the Chinese laborers, told the Irish workers they could either, “work with the Chinese, or be replaced by them.” At the height of construction, as many as 14,000 laborers were employed by the railroad company, with nearly 12,000 being Chinese.

A typical Chinese labor camp set up along the railroad.

Courtesy of Alfred A. Hart Photograph Collection, Stanford University.

38

Winters on the frontlines were extremely harsh. Pictured here is one of the massive snow plows used to clear a path for workers Courtesy of Alfred A. Hart Photograph Collection, Stanford University.

A Most Dreadful Terrain The western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad had one of nature’s greatest obstacles standing in its way: the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. This brutally hot, rugged, and steep terrain was not going to be conquered easily, and many hundreds of laborers perished laying line over the 100 miles and 7,000 foot elevation change (both up on the west side and down again on the east) that was the High Sierras portion of the rail line.

All in all, the Central Pacific Railroad would cover over 690 miles, from Sacramento to Promontory Summit, Utah. The average elevation change was roughly 76 feet per mile, requiring man-made ramps to be constructed as the jagged landscape of the mountains was simply too stark and dramatic to provide a natural, gradual path.

The Chinese proved to be tough, perseverant, and displayed great ingenuity in figuring out ways to cross the mountains.

Using techniques learned back home, Chinese laborers would low-

Central Pacific Railroad begins importing Chinese labor directly from China

The Sacramento Union reports that upwards of 4,000 Chinese laborers are now in the employ of Central Pacific (out of around 5,000 total laborers).

The Chinese labor force has now swelled to at least 8,000.

Several thousand Chinese laborers strike for better pay. Central Pacific counters by cutting off all supplies to the labor camps in an attempt to starve out the protesters. They are successful, as work resumes with no pay increase.

JULY

NOVEMBER 21

FEBRUARY

JUNE

Approaching the final destination in Promontory Summit, Utah, Chinese workers help lay 10 miles of track in a single working day, a record of the time and a phenomenal achievement of human effort.

The railroad is completed. Chinese workers allegedly hammer in the final tie. During celebrations and promotion of the railroad, Chinese laborers are largely kept out of the spotlight, with hardly any mention of their contribution.

APRIL 28

MAY 10

1865 1865 1867 1867 1869 1869 Chinese workers greet a train on a winter day.

Source: Joseph Becker - Library of Congress

er themselves over soaring cliffs to chip away at the hard granite and plant explosives to clear a path for the track. This was an effective, efficient, but often times fatal method. There is no exact number on how many died during construction; there is hardly even an exact number on how many Chinese laborers were even employed at the time. Many accounts report that during just the winter of 1865-1866, as many as 1,200 Chinese laborers perished due to ava­lanches, accidents, or explosions.

Even making camp in the rugged terrain was an arduous task, but the Chinese proved skillful in this regard as well. The Chinese laborers had brought dried goods from the Chinatowns in San Francisco and Sacramento, and would also bring along live chicken and pigs. Compared to the Irish diet, who lived off an unvarying diet of boiled beef and potatoes, the Chinese were living relatively well off. They bathed daily, washed their clothes, and remained sober – opting for tea over whiskey.

This cleanliness allowed the Chinese workers to largely avoid many of the illnesses and diseases, such as dysentery, that were common to the Irish workers.

Progress was slow, as the hard granite proved to be a mighty foe. However, the Chinese kept at it, building some of the longest tunnels in the world at the time. Summit Tunnel, also known as Tunnel No.6, was over 1,500 feet long. In all, the Chinese built 15 tunnels through the mountains, each being roughly 32 feet high and 16 feet across.

1-3

The 10 Mile Day, The Last Spike, “DONE”

To keep the construction going during the winter months, massive wooden snow galleries were constructed. These sheds had a sloped roof that would meet directly with the upward slope of the mountain so an avalanche would pass right over without destroying the structure. When there was a canyon between the wooden snow galleries and the mountain, which would put the structure at risk of a direct hit from an avalanche, “Chinese Walls” were built from stone to protect the vulnerable structure.

The final leg of the Sierra Nevada portion of the track had to pass through Donner Pass, which had quite a nasty reputation in this time. The Pass is named for a frontier era group of pioneers who became trapped there during the winter of 1846.

Of the 81 members of the original party, only 46 survived. When they were discovered, rescuers found that the group had resorted to cannibalism to keep from starving. After completion of the Donner Pass Tunnel in the spring of 1868, five years after the beginning of construction through the mountains, the rest of the terrain proved no match for the hardened workers.

After making it through the Sierra Nevadas, the terrain leveled out and remained relatively flat. As the two lines began to inch closer and closer to their final destination, egos began to roar. Union Pacific Railroad (building from the East) declared their supremacy by laying six miles of track in a single day. Not to be outdone, Central Pacific, under orders from Charles Crocker, laid seven miles of track. Union Pacific then laid seven and a half miles of track, and challenged Crocker and his “Chinese pets” to beat it1 .

Charles Crocker accepted this challenge, and then some. He claimed his crews could lay an unfathomable 10 miles of track in a single day. The claim was met with skepticism and outright ridicule: the Vice President of Union Pacific even waged $10,000 that it could not be done2.

On April 28th, 1869, a Central Pacific crew of eight Irishmen and “a small army of Chinese laborers”3 laid 10 miles and 56 feet of line in just under 12 hours. The feat would go down as one of the greatest triumphs of human labor the world had ever seen. While the Irishmen would have their names forever etched into the minds of Americans through their many interviews with newspapers and photographs after the fact, “John Chinaman”, as the Chinese were referred to as, was given very Continued

A Railroad Record That Defies Defeat: How Central Pacific laid ten miles of track in one day back in 1869 By ERLE HEATH, Associate Editor, Southern Pacific Bulletin, Vol. XVI, No. 5, May, 1928, pp. 3-5.

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little credit by anyone outside of Central Pacific. The progress left the railroad less than four miles from its finish line in Promontory Summit, Utah.

On May 10th, 1869, California Governor Leland Stanford hammered in the famous Last Spike. This event is actually considered one of, if not the, world’s first mass media event. Press from all over the world were on hand to capture the event in pictures, and sound. The hammer used, and the spike driven, were both attached to a telegraph line so that the sound of hammer meeting spike could be heard the around the world. Once driven, the Last Spike (iron plated in gold) was removed and replaced with a regular iron spike.

The Last Spike now resides at Cantor Center for Arts at Stanford University. After the spike was removed, a telegraph was sent along each coast of the United States with the simple message of “DONE”. The message was received with great celebrations and parades across the nation.

“The Last Spike” by Thomas Hill (1881). Governor Leland Stanford, center, prepares to drive the symbolic Golden Spike to commemorate the completion of construction on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Though many Chinese laborers were present at this ceremony, they were intentionally omitted from any depictions of the final celebration.

The Invisible People – this photo was captured after the Last Spike was driven in Promontory Summit, Utah. Missing from this photo is any one of the almost 12,000 Chinese immigrants that helped in the construction of the rail road.

Source: Andrew J. Russell (1830-1902), photographer - National Park Service.

The Invisible People While there are many photographs floating about capturing this moment and the moments after, often with any number of rail crew and government officials celebrating this achievement, it is very difficult to find any that include members from the Chinese labor groups. Their exclusion was intentional and deliberate. Even after proving their dedication and loyalty, their skill and efficiency, the Chinese were still considered sub-human. In fact, it was still legal to kill or rob Chinese people in many states, as only Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics were considered human beings by law.

After the construction of the railroad was complete, many of the Chinese laborers thought they would return home and share their wealth and stories with family. Most were never given this opportunity as they were shipped off to the newly “free” Southern states to work on plantations, or complete rail work elsewhere in the nation. These men bravely worked in horrendous conditions, fought against discrimination and 40

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outright violence on a near daily basis, and helped construct what, at the time, was one of the greatest wonders of the world – and they were being cast aside and forgotten because of their ethnicity. It is truly one of the biggest shames in U.S. history, one which is only now beginning to be remedied.

The Transcontinental Railroad reduced travel time from coast to coast from over six months, to a single week. The economic consequences of this were immediately felt as trade flourished all along the railroad. It opened California and the West to the masses, and connected the nation that was desperately in need of mending. It is unfortunate that it took so very long to recognize the efforts of those who helped build this railroad, who helped capture a country’s curiosity, and who ultimately helped make this nation what it is today. Indeed, the Transcontinental Railroad is the story of How the East Built the West, and their story should never be forgotten.

NEW YORK MANHATTAN

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Alabama’s Gulf Coast is home to many luxurious gated communities, and with our low property tax rates and relatively lower home prices, your investment dollars can go much further than other, more developed areas along the coast. As the region continues its rapid economic growth and attracts more and more tourism, now is the time to invest in the South’s Best Kept Secret.

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True elegance on Ono Island

This magnificent custom built home was designed with entertaining in mind and features huge open chef’s kitchen, billiards room, bar, media room, gym with steam shower, & wine cellar.

Beautiful invisible edge pool, hot tub, lush landscaping, and lots of sitting areas to relax and enjoy the magnificent views. Located on deep water with quick Gulf access, the boat house accommodates the serious fisherman and the casual boater with boat lift, double jet ski lifts and a boat slip built for a 60’ boat. $2,950,000.

Stunning beach & Golf Home

Rare opportunity to own this lavish Gulf front 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath home in award winning Kiva Dunes Beach & Golf Community. Features high end finishes and amenities throughout including elevator, gourmet kitchen, first floor guest suite with kitchenette, third floor master suite with luxurious bath and over 2,200 SF of porches. Built like a fortress on almost 2 acres with 25’ elevation. $2,795,000

Give me a call today to schedule a tour of the region, or to see some of my fabulous listings that are sure to impress even the most savvy luxury buyer or investor.

MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

REALTOR®

GULF COAST

Turquoise Place C2702

Uninterrupted views and 500’ on the Gulf! Luxurious 3BR/3.5BA unit with high end appointments including hot tub and grill on the Gulf front balcony, Subzero & Wolf appliances, full surround sound, floor to ceiling glass windows, and more. This upscale complex features saltwater indoor and outdoor pools, lazy river, playground, sauna/steam rooms, and gym. Offered at $1,300,000. Projected rental income for a 3BR unit is $65,000+ net. Four bedroom units are also available with projected rental income of $100,000 net.

Catherine McInnis

Associate Broker 251.233.9273 CatherineMcinnis@yahoo.com www.CatherineMcInnis.com Certified Real Estate Specialist Accredited Buyers Representative Resort and Second Home Specialist Asian Real Estate Assoc of America

The Asian Real Estate Association of America's annual “A” List is a reflection of the organization’s diverse and talented membership. The list recognizes top producers serving Asian American homeowners and communities.

The award program is open to all active AREAA members. Based on 2014 production, the 2015 "A" List is comprised of the top 50 applicants in each of the two categories: SALES VOLUME and TRANSACTION SIDES.

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS

BY 2014 VOLUME

BY 2014 SIDES

MAGGIE THORNHI LL

1

T H O RN H I L L R E A L ES TAT E G RO U P W H I S T L ER

$ 145,699,875

2

CO L DW EL L BA N K ER

$ 82,949,750

Cupertino, California

STEPHANIE VITACCO

3

K EL L ER W I L L I A M S R E A LT Y

$ 81,294,364

1

Whistler, British Columbia

COCO TAN

Encino, California

TERESA HI LL RYA N H I L L RE A LT Y, L LC

Naperville, Illinois 411 sides

CLIFFORD ROE

2

RO E R E A LT Y

Seminole, Florida 252 sides

M I TA L A M IN

3

P O D R E A L ES TAT E

199 sides

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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43

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS

BY 2014 VOLUME

BY 2014 SIDES

R IC H A RD SI LVER

4

S OT H E BY'S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y C A N A DA

$72,551,641

5

C L I M B R E A L ES TAT E G RO U P

$54,678,000

San Francisco, California

ST E P H E N HAW

6

R E/M A X ES TAT E P RO P E RT I ES

$50,315,300

Rolling Hills Estates, California

T E R E SA RYAN

7

4

Toronto, Ontario

M A RC US LEE

RYA N H I L L R E A LT Y, L LC

Naperville, Illinois

K EL L ER W I L L I A M S R E A LT Y

ANDY TSE

9

I N T ERO

$45,653,000

Saratoga, California

DANO SAYLES

10

R E/M A X L I FES T Y L E

$ 41,967,000

44

Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Wailea, Hawaii

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

SABRI YA SCOT T

5

S COT T R E A LT Y P RO FES S I O N A L S

149 sides

Savannah, Georgia

STEPHANI E VITACCO

6

K EL L ER W I L L I A M S R E A LT Y

134 sides

Encino, California

DI ANE VARN EY

7

CO L DW E L L BA N K ER P R E M I ER R E A LT Y

126 sides

J E S SIC A YE

$47,316,567

S T R ATO S R E A LT Y G RO U P L LC

168 sides

$50,313,902

8

KATRI NA WASH I N GTON

Las Vegas, Nevada

LONG D OAN

8

R E A LT Y G RO U P, I N C .

117 sides

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

VI CKY SI LVAN O

9

C EN T U RY 21 S G R

110 sides

Chicago, Illinois

MAGGI TH O RNH I LL

10

T H O R N H I L L R E A L ES TAT E G RO U P WHISTLER

102 sides

Whistler, British Columbia

c o n t i n u e d

CONGRATULATIONS

ANDY

Intero Real Estate Services honors and congratulates

ANDY TSE

BROKER ASSOCIATE

2015 AREAA “A” List Honoree

Selling Silicon Valley

Office: 408.863.3089 Cell: 408.807.8808 Email: atse@interorealestate.com

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS BY 2014 VOLUME RANK

NAME

COMPANY

LOCATION

2014 VOLUME

11

Janice Lee

Coldwell Banker

San Francisco, California

$ 40,338,424

12

Diane Varney

Coldwell Banker Premier Realty

Las Vegas, Nevada

$ 39,958,000

13

David Legaz

Keller Williams Realty Landmark

Flushing, New York

$ 35,736,071

14

Lina Shah

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Oak Brook, Illinois

$ 35,631,100 $ 32,004,903

15

John Hatch

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Portland, Oregon

16

Clifford Roe

Roe Realty

Seminole, Florida

$ 28,859,933

17

Mital Amin

POD Real Estate

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

$ 26,644,444

18

Peter Wardhana

Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty

Pleasanton, California

$ 26,556,500

19

Bob Hansen

Maui Luxury Real Estate LLC

Wailea, Hawaii

$ 24,263,888

20

Alexander Phan

Phan Hall Property Group

Portland, Oregon

$ 22,504,458

21

Kenny Truong

Climb Real Estate Group

Oakland, California

$ 22,368,011

22

Sharon Lum

RE/MAX Select Properties

Vancouver, British Columbia

$ 21,426,401

23

Maggie Huang

Christie's International Real Estate - Choi International

Honolulu, Hawaii

$ 21,305,000

24

Linda Lee

Keller Williams San Diego Metro

San Diego, California

$ 21,287,331

25

Rita Chen

Presidential Real Estate

Irvine, California

$ 20,520,645

26

Lota de Castro

Paragon Real Estate Group

San Francisco, California

$ 20,381,755

27

Joe Liu

The Liu Group

Portland, Oregon

$ 19,370,305

28

Debbie Wong

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/JF Finnegan Realtors

Burlingame, California

$ 19,251,307

29

Mony Nop

Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty

Livermore, California

$ 19,027,715

30

Scott Kato

Kato Group - Associated with Keller Williams

Long Beach, California

$ 18,967,345

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS BY 2014 SIDES RANK

NAME

COMPANY

LOCATION

John Hatch

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Portland, Oregon

101

11

Scott Kato

Kato Group - Associated with Keller Williams

Long Beach, California

101

13

Stephany Oliveros

CHI Properties

Chicago, Illinois

99

14

Mark Chu

Big Realty

Fresno, California

97

11

46

2014 SIDES

14

Sandi Bauman

Chico Homes

Chico, California

97

16

Jessica Ye

Keller Williams Realty

Cambridge, Massachusetts

92

17

David Legaz

Keller Williams Realty Landmark

Flushing, New York

91

18

Kandice Robins

Robins Realty, LLC

Homewood, Illinois

90

19

Walter Coudron

Edina Realty

Monticello, Minnesota

87

19

Connie Beal

Roe Realty

Palm Harbor, Florida

87

21

Joe Sauter

Joe Sauter Realty

Boynton Beach, Florida

78

22

Alexander Phan

Phan Hall Property Group

Portland, Oregon

77

22

Michael Moretti

Coldwell Banker Premier Realty

Las Vegas, Nevada

77

24

Dan Shanyfelt

Miramar International, Inc.

Bakersfield, California

70

24

Brandy Nelson

Keller Williams Realty

La Quinta, California

70

26

Tuan Nguyen

AMX Realty

Frisco, Texas

66

27

Joe Liu

The Liu Group

Portland, Oregon

65

28

Ed Laine

Miller Laine Properties, LLC

Bellevue, Washington

61

28

Tram Chu

West USA Realty

Peoria, Arizona

61

30

Lina Shah

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Oak Brook, Illinois

55

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c o n t i n u e d

n i t s u A Come on down, let us show you America's best place to Live, Work and Invest!

HELENA KWEE President, AREAA Austin Chapter 2014-2015 Realtor, ABR, CIPS, CNE, GREEN, GRI Alterra Properties Group of Keller Williams Realty

512.705.5578 helenakwee@gmail.com 1801 S. Mopac Expy Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 Helping you and your clients with relocating, investing and property management.

alterraproperties.com

GEORGE REE REALTOR速 | Redfin Partner Agent

512.739.6458 gree@pgraustin.com 1410 W. 6th Street Austin, Texas 78703 Seems like everyone who lives in Texas want to live in Austin! Call me today and let me show you why!

CHRISTINE CHAU Broker, ABR, GRI | Texas Urban Realty

512.293.2700 1.800.832.0850 cchautur@gmail.com 8920 Business Park Drive. Suite 175 Austin, Texas 78759 One stop shop for all your real estate, leasing, and property management needs.

georgeree.com puregoldrealty.com

WE PAY 30% REFERRAL TO LICENSED BROKERS AND AGENTS

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS BY 2014 VOLUME RANK

NAME

COMPANY

LOCATION

2014 VOLUME

31

Mark Chu

Big Realty

Fresno, California

$ 18,548,684

32

Sandi Bauman

Chico Homes

Chico, California

$ 18,163,200

33

Phil Chen

Sybarite Investments

Burlingame, California

$ 16,565,000

34

Nicole Caballero

Bay 2 Pacific Living part of Legacy Real Estate & Associates Pleasanton, California

$ 15,657,300

35

Long Doan

Realty Group, Inc.

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

$ 15,571,325

36

Ed Laine

Miller Laine Properties, LLC

Bellevue, Washington

$ 15,329,632

37

Tram Chu

West USA Realty

Peoria, Arizona

$ 15,329,632

38

Von Truong

RE/MAX Premier

Plano, Texas

$ 14,506,534

39

Katrina Washington Stratos Realty Group LLC

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

$ 13,980,135

40

Walter Coudron

Monticello, Minnesota

$ 13,841,718

Edina Realty

41

Tom Truong

Carrington Real Estate Services

Southborough, Massachusetts

$ 13,480,955

42

Michael Moretti

Coldwell Banker Premier Realty

Las Vegas, Nevada

$ 13,410,095

43

Kelly Kang

Sotheby's International Realty

San Francisco, California

$ 13,388,000

44

Sabriya Scott

Scott Realty Professionals

Savannah, Georgia

$ 13,386,664

45

Stephany Oliveros

CHI Properties

Chicago, Illinois

$ 12,769,768

46

Jennifer Tasto

Property Services

Burlingame, California

$ 11,924,000

47

Andy Yang

RE/MAX Premier Realty

Irvine, California

$ 11,268,000

48

Christie Xie

Nuage Investment Realty, LLC

Newton, Massachusetts

$ 11,046,300

49

Dan Shanyfelt

Miramar International, Inc.

Bakersfield, California

$ 10,752,981

50

Brandy Nelson

Keller Williams Realty

La Quinta, California

$ 10,250,502

TOP SALES PROFESSIONALS BY 2014 SIDES RANK

48

NAME

COMPANY

LOCATION

31

Marcus Lee

Climb Real Estate Group

San Francisco, California

2014 SIDES 53

32

Richard Silver

Sotheby's International Realty Canada

Toronto, Ontario

52

33

Kenny Truong

Climb Real Estate Group

Oakland, California

49

34

Andrew Tse

Intero

Saratoga, California

47

35

Coco Tan

Coldwell Banker

Cupertino, California

45

35

Janice Lee

Coldwell Banker

San Francisco, California

45

35

Linda Lee

Keller Williams San Diego Metro

San Diego, California

45

Plano, Texas

35

Von Truong

RE/MAX Premier

39

Nicole Caballero

Bay 2 Pacific Living part of Legacy Real Estate & Associates Pleasanton, California

43

45

40

Tom Truong

Carrington Real Estate Services

Southborough, Massachusetts

39

41

Peter Wardhana

Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty

Pleasanton, California

34

41

Danny Leung

Century 21 New Millennium

Washington, DC

34

43

Dano Sayles

RE/MAX Lifestyle

Wailea, Hawaii

32

44

Mony Nop

Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty

Livermore, California

31

45

Tony Ngo

Real Estate Performance Group

Clackamas, Oregon

29

46

Sandy Van

Simply Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

28

47

Moon Choi

RE/MAX Executives

Clifton, Virginia

27

48

Stephen Haw

RE/MAX Estate Properties

Rolling Hills Estates, California

26

49

Bob Hansen

Maui Luxury Real Estate LLC

Wailea, Hawaii

24

49

Sharon Lum

RE/MAX Select Properties

Vancouver, British Columbia

24

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Your access to a premier network of real estate and mortgage professionals

Global Estate Link of Silicon Valley Congratulations and Thank You!

Global Estate Link appreciates AREAA 2015 Chair Carmen Chong, 2016 Chair Vicky Silvano and the entire team of volunteer leaders for their dedication to Asian American homeownership.

GlobalEstateLink.com 408.755.6270 CalBRE Lic # 01255893

How to Stage your Home

The U.S. housing market is heating up. Help your home stand out to a fastgrowing group of Chinese-Amercian buyers looking for feng shui principles.

EMBRACE YOUR GREEN THUMB Buyers who practice feng shui will look for the presence of live plants, particularly in balance with other elements.

2

for the Feng Shui Buyer

Image courtesy of Anjie Cho

Quick Feng Shui Fixes: CLEAR THE CLUTTER Feng shui depends on the free flow of the elements through your home.

Clutter on kitchen countertops is an especially big red flag for any feng shui-minded buyer.

1. It’s ideal for cabinets to reach the ceiling (as seen here). If they don’t, try placing living plants or items of personal value above.

Stagnant energy is a no-no, but so is filling that space with the wrong energy.

1

2. Countertops and tables should remain free of clutter and appliances. Tuck things

1. Because bathrooms are full of water energy, placing earthy elements throughout can help create a balance.

Image courtesy of Anjie Cho

1

Tip! Soften hard edges and corners of furniture pieces with live plants.

3

2. Plants placed in corners are said to prevent energy from stagnating there.

3. Look for plants with soft, rounded, not spiked leaves. Large plants like lily, bamboo and jade varieties are best for good energy.

18%

of Chinese-American buyers will look for live plants in the bathroom of your home

like blenders, toasters and spice racks away before you

2

for a viewing.

Image courtesy of Anjie Cho

64% SOURCES:

of Chinese-Americans desire an organized, clutter-free kitchen when looking for a new home

50

Tip! Invest in tools that will help you stay organized.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and the Asian Real Estate Association of America Feng Shui Survey 2015 www.anjiecho.com/holistic-spaces-blog blog.freepeople.com/2014/06/bring-5-feng-shui-elements-home www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5790713/list/feng-shui-basics-for-a-happy-home online.barrons.com/articles/chinese-buyers-at-home-with-the-american-dream-1435823845 www.reviewjournal.com/life/home-and-garden/feng-shui-provides-fundamentals-good-design 2015 Profile of Home Buying Activity of International Clients, National Association of Realtors http://www.realtor.org/reports/profile-of-international-home-buying-activity Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com FA L L 2 0 1 5

Deal Breakers:

welcome potential buyers

Faithful feng shui followers may not consider your home if it includes one of the below. Our advice? Focus on the elements of feng shui that you can change and appeal to the less conservative feng shui buyer.

DEAD END

31% will be deterred from a house on a dead end street

29%

24%

won’t like your home may say “no” to if stairs are directly a home with front and facing the door back doors aligned

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

OUR GOAL is your GREEN CARD. SCI understands your needs. We are EB-5 Specialists that provide comprehensive guidance to navigate the EB-5 Investor Visa Process. If you are a foreign student attending a U.S. university, we can assist you in obtaining your EB-5 Investor Visa.

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Country Report: Singapore

50 NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD

By Cynthia Fauth

AS SINGAPORE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH YEAR AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION, WHAT BETTER TIME TO REFLECT ON ITS YOUNG HISTORY, AND WHY THIS SMALL ISLAND COUNTRY IS ONE OF ASIA’S MOST IMPORTANT.

Singapore has much to celebrate in 2015.

Despite its status as the smallest country in Southeast Asia, with a land area of about 270 square miles (700 square kilometers), Singapore perennially ranks near the top of several economic areas, including world rankings by GDP per capita, level of education and ease of conducting business. It is widely known as one of the world’s major commercial hubs, and is home to one of the top two container ports in the world.

It is a diverse and vibrant nation, highly educated and industrialized, with low poverty and crime rates. For these reasons, it has been an attractive destination for foreign companies and immigrants. Singapore’s most recent census (2010) revealed that nearly 23% of Singaporean residents (citizens and permanent residents) are foreign born; if non-residents are counted, nearly 43% of the total population are foreign born.

For a number of years, the Singapore government has encouraged immigration, due in part to a looming potential of population decline. As it relates to foreign ownership of real 52

FA L L 2 0 1 5

estate, however, they have imposed restrictions which are turning many would-be investors or immigrants away.

Singapore Property Market Scarcity of land is one hindrance for the Singapore property market, which the government has attempted to alleviate by providing “HDB flats,” which are high-rise apartments built and maintained by the Housing Development Board. More than 80% of Singapore residents live in these HDB flats.

More than 90% of Singapore residents own the home (or HBD flat) that they live in, but foreign property ownership proves a bit more challenging. Starting back in 1973, the government has imposed restrictions on foreign ownership.

The restrictions were levied in part because of scarcity of land, but also in an effort to keep residential properties affordable for Singaporeans, allowing them to have a stake in their country.

The restrictions have been amended a few times over the years, but generally speaking foreigners can now purchase apartments in non-condominium developments of less than 6

23%

90%

% of Singaporean residents (citizens and permanent residents) that are foreign born

% of Singaporean residents who own the home (or HDM flat) they live in

At least 1 in 6 households belong to millionaires

43% % of total population that is foreign born

levels without the need to obtain prior approval. Purchasing an HDB flat reserved for Singapore citizens, otherwise the purchase must include another Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident.

Additionally, foreigners are restricted from purchasing vacant land, landed properties such as bungalows, semi-detached and terrace houses.

Landed properties is a special class of residential property that Singaporeans aspire to own, and should remain restricted. Foreigners need to apply for approval from Singapore Land Authority before buying.

Cooling the Market The government has also imposed some significant cooling measures over the past few years to alleviate pressure on the real estate market, particularly to stave off any “overborrowing”.

“It's been five years since 2009 that the Government started to clamp down on the property market with cooling measures and it's only now that these rules are starting to sink in,” said Jeffhery Foo, President of the Institute of Estate Agents, Singapore (IEA. “However, the one that finally cooled property prices was the introduction of the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) on 29 June 2013.”

The TDSR ensures that the banks take all of a borrower's outstanding debt obligations into account when granting property loans. This is to ensure the borrower's total monthly repayments do not exceed 60% of monthly income for all non-property or property loans.

Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits – The LTV limit is the maximum percentage of the purchase price or valuation price, whichever is lower, that can be borrowed from the bank. This percentage ranges from 40 to 80% of the price, based on other outstanding debt.

Along with the TDSR, these additional duties have turned away some would-be investors. “Have the cooling measures stifled growth? With all the above, many foreigners are looking elsewhere,” Foo said. “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer.”

“What the government is aiming for is a property price correction, and it is happening. Prices have gone down in general,” he said. “It’s a buyers market today until they decide to tweak any of the cooling measures. Meanwhile, many investors are looking elsewhere.”

Have the cooling measures stifled growth? ...You

Outbound Opportunities

Singapore’s private wealth is on the rise – at least 1 in 6 households belong to millionaires. And according to some studies, investors from Singapore rival China and Canada in U.S. real estate purchases.

According to Kelvin Wong, NAR President’s Liaison to Singapore, “Seasoned investors are looking for high rates of return. In my experience, most of their investments are residential, with limited commercial purchases.”

As for where in the United States they are looking, Wong says California is a top choice. “They prefer cities with great weather and less chances of natural disaster,” he noted. “Proximity to major universities such as UCLA, USC, California Institute of Technology, Ivy League schools, etc. are also high on their list – and recently, Silicon Valley with high tech-based companies is one of the hottest spots!”

Singapore has much to celebrate this year. Though the country’s real estate market will require some stabilization over the next few years, it boasts one of the highest home ownership rates in the world and its citizens are proud to be part of the country’s success. So here’s to you, Singapore, happy birthday!

don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer.

Other refinements include: Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) – buyers of residential property must pay stamp duties equivalent to 3% of the purchase price or valuation price of the property, whichever is higher. The stamp duty varies with the immigration status of the person. For foreigners buying property, this tax will add 15% percent to your buying price.

Seller Stamp Duty (SSD) – Sellers must pay a seller’s stamp duty, which is a percentage of the valuation price or selling price, whichever is higher.

The stamp duty varies by time after purchase.

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53

Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com

Asian Festivals

INDIA’S FESTIVAL OF LOVE AND COLOR 54

FA L L 2 0 1 5

Holi is an ancient Hindu celebration that has gained a phenomenal amount of popularity over the last decade.

The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and helps usher in Spring.

The Festival begins with a massive bonfire the night before where people gather around, dance, and sing. The next day the fun begins. Festival goers hurl tons upon tons upon tons of colored powders and dyed water (in the form of water guns and water balloons!) at each other.

Rich, poor, young, old; it doesn’t matter. This festival is fun for all.

The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduring love between Lord Krishna and Radha. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change.

Source: religionfacts.com

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Luckily you likely don’t have to travel very far to partake in this colorful event. Holi Fests are held all over the world. In 2016, the Holi Festival will be celebrated on March 23rd.

BET T Y SUN WONG CIPS, CRS, PMN, CDPE

Luxury Property Specialist

Betty Sun Wong is one of the Top Producing Realtors across the nation. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Toisan, and English, she has 20+ years of industry experience and specializes in working with Buyers and Sellers all across the Bay Area and overseas.

BRE# 00932814

BettySunWong@Gmail.com 415.298.7373

From New York to the World HM For Expertise in the New York Metropolitan Area

With over 17 years of experience, working with buyers and sellers from around the world, Kathy Tsao has specialized in the sales, marketing, and property management services of luxury condos, single and multiple family homes. From advising developers and investors, to individual buyers, she has the managerial and leadership experience to deliver.

HM

sm

曹凱西專精紐約大都會地區的房地產，從對開發商和投資者提供諮詢，到對個人購房 者提供豪華公寓，單/多戶住宅的購買，銷售，和物業管理，有超過17年專業經驗， Drip Email E-Newsletters Article & Video Website News Social Media 服務來自世界各地的買家和賣家。

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Posts

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Kathy Tsao www.rismediacontentsolutions.com 2012 AREAA National Chairwoman sm

575 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022

or call (203) 855-1234 x143 Use promo codektsao@elliman.com AREAA for 20% off!

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PRAVEEN SHARMA

a-r-e@prveen.com | 951-514-1053

S T A Y C U R R E N T on AREAA EVENTS a nd I N I T I A T I V E S @areaa www.areaa.org /areaa.national www.mydamselpro.net/kgprotection4u

2016 AREAA TAIWAN TRADE MISSION March 11th-19th Taipei 北市 | Taichun 台中 | Kaohsiung 高雄 | Kending 墾丁 57

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Design Studio

FENG SHUI ADVICE FOR DECORATING YOUR HOME

By Alice T. Chan

Feng Shui (in Chinese thought) is a system of

laws

considered

to

govern

spatial

arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (chi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account

Feng Shui is a vast topic with many nuances to it, so just to whet your appetite on the subject, we’ll discuss 5 feng shui principles around decorating your home.

when siting and designing buildings.

This is a real and significant practice as it relates to real estate. There are some areas such as Southern California where this practice is such a significant lifestyle practice that if your home is not “feng shui compliant”, you will have a hard time selling your home.

Even if you don’t subscribe to feng shui per se, how you feel when you enter a space is feng shui at work. Bright, clean, airy, uncluttered spaces feel comfortable and inviting while dark, cluttered, dirty spaces make you very uncomfortable. It’s the energy that a space exudes and you feel it immediately.

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If you just moved into a new home, I highly recommend a

SPACE CLEARING

to clear the energies of the previous occupants and rid the home of any negative energy from those previous occupants and to activate good energy as you now occupy the space. I personally did this when I moved from my house into an apartment in the midst of getting a divorce. I did not want to bring any negative energy into the space and needed a “fresh” start. My Feng Shui consultant had me do many things including light candles and sprinkle fresh orange peels and rice in each room as she rang a bell throughout the space to activate good energy. Burning sage is a similar practice in other cultures as is bringing rice and salt to a home before you move in in Filipino cultures.

PERSONALIZE THE HOME TO REFLECT YOU. 2

PHOTOS / Shutterstock, OPPOSITE: Ninell (orange), Tamara Kulikova (rice), Fudo Shadowsong (incense).ABOVE: Kostsov (vertical blinds), PlusONE (office), photobank.ch (bedroom)

It is so important for you to make changes to a home to reflect you as the new owner/occupant. It can be as little as changing the paint color and putting up personal photos. I had friends who were having marital problems at one point years ago and their Feng Shui consultant gave them this very advice. The home they lived in for many years looked the same as it did when they purchased the home. They hadn’t made any design changes. It still reflected the previous homeowner’s taste and energies. Plus, the front living room was empty as it had not been furnished. They were advised to update the home to reflect their personalities and taste and to bring in new furnishings. Believe it or not, it worked because they are still married today… nearly two decades later.

vertical blinds = poison arrows

AVOID VERTICAL BLINDS.

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This has to be one of my least favorite window coverings ever created. The individual vanes act like poison arrows of negative energy that emanate into your home. Vertical blinds should be avoided and replaced immediately.

desk in the middle the roomof 4

BED AND DESK PLACEMENT

– never place your bed in line with the door so that when you’re lying down, your feet are pointed towards the door. This is known as the death placement as that’s how you are believed to be carried out of the room when you die…feet first. Having your bed in line with the door with your head towards the door is not good either since this type of position causes surprises from behind. This principle also applies to having your desk and chair against the wall so that your back is to the door. This is considered very inauspicious as it leaves you in very vulnerable position and subject to surprises.

The best placement is in the command or power position – diagonal from the door, placed in the middle where you have a nice, clear view of who is entering the room.

proper bed placement and closet doors

MIRROR CLOSET DOORS

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are often regarded as a home design upgrade but from a Feng Shui perspective, this is highly undesirable because if the mirror reflects the bed, it gives the illusion of additional bed partners – not good! I have often seen mirror doors turned inside out in bedrooms for this very reason. Easiest cure is to replace the mirror doors with wood doors.

As you can see most of these principles make sense and some are even common sense. Bottom line, if it feels off, the energies are probably not aligned and making some minor changes will make all the difference.

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Immigration

EB-5: KEEPING AMERICA’S BEST EDUCATED IMMIGRANTS IN THE COUNTRY EDITOR’S NOTE: At the time of writing (9/17/2015), the proposed EB-5 Reauthorization Act was still making its way through Congress. What was once considered a “slam dunk” piece of legislation encountered unexpected opposition that has put its survival in jeopardy. This highlights the importance of policy advocacy and civic engagement.

Many students that come from overseas are only allowed to remain in the country for as long as they are in school. However, many feel it is a waste to not allow these highly educated and competent students remain in the country that educated them. Here is how EB-5 Investing can help retain this desperately needed talent.

By Maurice Shane, Sr.

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THE CHALLENGE

THE SOLUTION

You are a foreign/international student attending a U.S. college or university with an F-1 student visa and you are about to graduate (by the way, congratulations!), if you wish to stay in the U.S. and become a U.S. citizen after graduation you need to start pursuing the EB-5 process before your F-1 student visa expires!! The EB-5 process is a long and complicated one that needs to be initiated as soon as possible.

I recently contacted a spokesperson with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – here is some of the advice they gave: After graduation from college or university your status changes to: H-1B Visa. The U.S. H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields such as in architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, and medicine.

In some cases, the sole or majority owner of the petitioning company or organization may be able to establish a valid employer-employee relationship, in other words you need to be petitioned and get approval.

In your research, you will find H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Cap Season.

Please keep in mind the H-1B visa has an annual numerical limit, or cap, of 65,000 visas each fiscal year. The first 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the cap.

Additionally, H-1B workers who are petitioned for or employed at an institution of higher education (or its affiliated or related nonprofit entities), a nonprofit research organization, or a government research organization are not subject to this numerical cap. Cap numbers are often used up very quickly, so it is important to plan in advance if you will be filing for an H-1B visa that is subject to the annual H-1B numerical cap.

Under the EB-5 Visa Program, a $500,000 investment in a “Construction Development Project” enables foreign investors to qualify for a Green Card without the constraints of having to set-up and manage a U.S. business. The project must create at least 10 jobs, and it generally takes anywhere from 22 to 26 months to obtain legal residency through the program, as opposed to several years for other visa programs.

There are many examples of this type of EB-5 investment, in fact, it’s arguably the most popular and lowest risk way to fulfill the requirements for Permanent Residential Status.

Over 1,200 international investors have poured some $600 million into projects at Hudson Yards; 1,154 have invested $577 million in Pacific Park Brooklyn, the development formerly known as Atlantic Yards; and 500 have put $250 million into the Four Seasons hotel and condominium in the financial district. The list of projects involving EB-5 investments also includes the International Gem Tower on West 47th Street and the New York Wheel on Staten Island.

These are excellent opportunities to fulfill the EB-5 Visa requirements without having to create a project or manage a business. Simply invest in a reputable project currently under construction, and you’re done. For some international students, this could be the fast path to being allowed to remain in the United States after their F-1 student visa expires.

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Non-Profit Spotlight

CHARITY CULTURAL SERVICES CENTER

By Johanna Le

CCSC PROGRAMS TOP: Culinary Program MIDDLE: Construction BOTTOM: Youth Photos courtesy of CCSC

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ituated in the alley of a bustling, vibrant, and populated Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco is a long-standing reputable Chinese non-profit organization called Charity Cultural Services Center (CCSC).

Founded in 1982, CCSC aimed to help children, youth, and adults prepare for a better future by offering support and opportunities through education, employment training, and other essential services that promote personal and economic self-sufficiency.

CCSC offers vocational culinary training in Western cooking, Chinese cooking, and Bartending/ Table Waiting. Also, CCSC is a service provider for the CityBuild 18week Pre-Apprenticeship Program (hard-skill: basic construction training) and the Construction Career Development Program (a retention program designed for CBA graduates).

These various vocational training and essential services serve over 4,000 families on a yearly basis.

Successful participants all receive job placement assistance upon graduation and will have access to retention services as additional support.

In addition, CCSC's Families in Transition program is a youth-led program that provides academic and social support. For example, the youth have access to homework assistance, leadership workshops, grammar workshops and volunteer opportunities.

CCSC is committed to helping youths find their way to academic success, cultural awareness, and social belonging. We actively seek to nurture and enrich our community's greatest asset--its residents--so they develop positive identities, are confident of their capabilities, and are armed with the basic skills to become responsible and productive members of society.

Moreover, CCSC promotes and advertise to the community about recycling through promotional media, street cleaning events, and volunteer outreach activities. We encourage the recycling of motor oil and e-waste at designated dropoff sites to decrease point-source pollution.

We welcome others interested in joining CCSC's mission to donate at anytime during the year and to sponsor us during our annual fundraiser.

Ms. Johanna Le currently serves as the Director of Programs at Charity Cultural Services Center, which offers vocational training and other essential services to the residents of San Francisco. She has gained over 14 years of experience in the nonprofit sector through volunteer and work experiences. Through her experiences, Ms. Le came to a realization that there was a lack of services available for immigrants and disadvantage families when she witnessed the struggles that her father, friends, and other immigrant families had endured. To improve the lives of others, Ms. Le has devoted her life to providing assistance to families by improving their economic standing through case management, referral services, vocational training, job placement, and other services.

We, at the San Francisco Peninsula Chapter, send our heartfelt thanks to outgoing 2015 National Chairwoman Carmen Chong!

We, offer our warmest welcome and support to our new incoming 2016 National Chairwoman Vicky Silvano!

AR E A A N E W YO R K GETS E XC LUS IVE SN E AK PE E K O F LUXU RY R ES I D E N C ES

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HSBC Premier hosted the New York Manhattan chapter’s private preview of The Woolworth Tower Residences in Tribeca. The Residences sit atop the National Landmark Woolworth Building and has been vibrantly restored by Alchemy Properties. AREAA members and guests mingled over cocktails in rooms crafted by the Office of Thierry W. Despont.

AR E A A GR E ATE R TO RO NTO DE DI C ATES I NAU GU R ATI O N TO LO C AL C HAR ITI ES AREAA Greater Toronto hosted its Inauguration & Charity Gala on May 23rd in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. A fabulous evening of dining, dancing and entertainment with Asian Performances, Realtors Line Dancing and the nostalgic musical styling of performer Andy De Campos and Seventet Band.

Carmen Chong, Chairwoman of AREAA National was in attendance to swear in Chapter President Cynthia Lai, Board of Directors and introduce members of our Advisory Council. Our event was honored with high profile guests including representatives from all levels of government including the Mayor of the City of Markham Frank Scarpitti, Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan, Provincial MPP Bas Balkissoon, Federal MP Joe Daniel, Pat Verge President of Ontario Real Estate Association and John di Michelle CEO of Toronto Real Estate Board.

Our Charity Gala gave us the opportunity to give back to our communities with money raised going to three local charities: Seva Food Bank serving Sikh community, Hua Zuo Centre Canada assisting new Chinese immigrants to settle and integrate into Canadian society & Ontario REALTORS® Care Foundation supporting shelter-based charities.

A spectacular start for one of AREAA’s newest chapters!

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WATCH! Event coverage

http://j.mp/areaaGTinauguration

AR E A A- GL A SU PE R SUM M IT A RU NAWAY SUCC ESS AREAA-GLA strives to reach new heights to bring more member benefits and business opportunities to those who believe in the chapter's mission. The 4th Annual Super Summit was a phenomenal full day event packed with both residential and commercial breakout sessions, along with a large vendor expo and networking mixer at the rooftop Japanese garden sponsored by Union Bank.

The sold out, members-only luncheon sponsored by Wells Fargo celebrated the heartfelt kindness of CBS journalist, Leyna Nguyen receiving AREAA-GLA's first ever Humanitarian Award for her charity "Love Across the Ocean". The day continued with raffles & giveaways and a Members-Only VIP room sponsored by Auction.com provided our members with the opportunity to conduct their business onsite with a mobile office.

Highly regarded guest speakers such as I-Fei Chang CEO of Greenland USA, Pat "Ziggy" Zicarelli - 2016 CAR president, Rick Sharga - EVP of Auction.com, John Freyder- CEO of REI Wise, along with some of the industry's top producers, provided an over the top day of educational sessions to more than 500 attendees and participants who made 2015 AREAA-GLA Super Summit a phenomenal success, again! See you there next year!

AR E A A VAN COU VE R’S GLO BAL SUM M IT E XC E E DS E XPECTATI O NS For the 3rd year in a row I cannot say enough about the quality of content and unbelievably stellar line up of speakers!

On my panel alone we had CEO of Coldwell Banker, Budge Huskey; Chris Stuart Director of Franchise Sales Berkshire Hathaway; Elton Ash, VP of Remax Western; VP of Century 21 Brian Rushton; and my very dear friend Matthew Shadbolt of the, wait for it, New York Times! Talk about a line-up of leadership!

Our panel titled “Brand Power - Building Trust Globally” was a fascinating discussion among these incredible leaders and our shared passion for raising the brand of the entire industry. There was a call for improved licensing and training system to ensure that more agents are delivering the best possible service; the power of marrying your personal brand with your broker brand, and how the connected consumer is searching in today’s digital age.

Rock star David Shing, referred to by Forbes as mass media company AOL's Digital Prophet’, gave the final keynote that ran us through a crash course at break neck speed about the future of digital and trends we should keep our eyes on like wearable technologies, disintermediation via apps and of course the hot topic of millennials!

There were simply too many panels and too much happening to write here, but I do want to congratulate Tina Mak for her time as Vancouver president, and give a big welcome to incoming president Tony Joe! I know you will do a fantastic job!

By: Teri Conrad, founder of Agent Quest

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A S S O C I AT I O N

AR E A A L A S VEGA S PUTS TH E PE DAL TO TH E M ETAL

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AREAA Las Vegas hosted a luxury event on June 26th, moderated by past AREAA National Chairman Ivan Choi, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event, called “Accelerate,” focused on how to establish your luxury brand and rev up your business.

There was a heavy hitting luxury and marketing panel that included former Vegas chapter president and AREAA Luxury Committee Chairman Randy Char, and current Vegas chapter president Vandana Bhalla.

But the day didn’t end there. Attendees had the opportunity to take exotic sports cars such as Lamborghini and Ferrari around the track a few times or buckle their seat belts for an incredible drifting experience! Afterward there was a cocktail and networking reception.

AR E A A SF/PE N I NSU L A G O ES BOW LI N G FO R N E PAL , SH OWS O FF GR E E N TH UM B I’m always amazed and humbled by the generosity of AREAA members, they consistently give their time and their talents to make these events successful and memorable. I’m so proud to be this chapter’s president! Not only are we great Realtors, Mortgage and Escrow professionals, but we can add gardening to the list of our talents! On May 30th, our chapter was also involved in the National AREAA Builds a Community Day Event at the Florence Fang Community Gardens in San Francisco. We traded in our suits and our stilettos and geared up for a vigorous day of shoveling compost and pulling weeds.

On July 9th we hosted a popular education event which covered a very timely topic, the impeding RESPA TILA lending guidelines. Our esteemed panel included the CFPB commissioner Mr. Edwin Chow.

Leave it to the members and friends of the SF/Peninsula chapter to figure out a way to have fun , while at the same time supporting a great cause: relief for Nepal earthquake victims. The event was held on August 13th at Classic Bowl in Daly City. The fund raiser attracted bowlers from all over the Bay Area and a great time was had by all. We raised $1,000.00 for the Save Nepal earthquake relief fund.

If you’re looking for a trade organization that serves the community, improves your real estate knowledge and skills, exposing you to a world of like-minded professionals, join us at www.areaa.org/sfpeninsula 66

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A S S O C I AT I O N

S I LI CO N VALLE Y C HAP TE R G O ES ALL I N O N LUXU RY

In one of the wealthiest areas in the nation, the AREAA Silicon Valley chapter hosted over 100 real estate leaders and professionals to their annual Mega Luxury Summit at the Rosewood Hotel in Menlo Park this past July.

The Summit featured top luxury producers and experts on the wealthy.

David Friedman, co-founder and president of Wealth X, explained to attendees the differences between the varying levels of successful individuals, from the mass affluent all the way to the ‘super rich’.

Friedman said there are 211,275 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNW) in the world today, with a total dollar net worth of $30 trillion USD. About 70,000 UHNW individuals live in the US. The Summit was designed to teach attendees about how these successful agents tap into this lucrative market. The panelists, including Ken DeLeon of DeLeon Realty, Arthur Sharif of Arthur Sharif & Associates, and Michi Olsen of Alain Pinel Realtors, discussed their highs, and more importantly their lows in working this market.

“Stay positive. Understand yourself, optimize yourself, push yourself to the next level,” said Ken DeLeon. “Real Estate is not a competition. We have the brightest REALTORS® here. Find out what works for you and play to your strengths.” Photos by Blake W Cardoza

REACHING

NEW HEIGHTS www.areaaglobal.com

With the right set of tools, preparation, and dedication, anything is possible. Whether you are looking to promote your listings or projects to investors across the world, or you are seeking to find a potential home for your investment capital – AREAA Global can help. Our global network of real estate professionals and advisors ensures that we have someone with the local market knowledge you need to find the right investment opportunity. Don’t leave your investment goals hanging off the edge of a cliff – leverage our assets and take your business to new heights.

Wholly Owned by the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) 100% of Profits are Reinvested in AREAA National CA BRE 01938588

C E NTR AL FLO R I DA H E LPS C E LE BR ATE O PE N I N G O F N E W LUXU RY VAC ATI O N H OM E D E VE LO PM E NT

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The Central Florida Chapter of AREAA recently celebrated the launching of the Feltrim Group’s third luxury vacation home resort of Balmoral at Water’s Edge following the close out of the Fountains at ChampionsGate Resort, a luxury development of 80 townhomes. The Fountains has been an enormously successful project with over forty percent of the development being purchased by Chinese and Asian investors. The Feltrim Group’s first successful vacation home development in ChamptionsGate was the $100 Million Mediterranean-style villa resort known as Tuscana.

Ken Pierce, VP of AREAA CFL chapter noted during his comments at the event that Orlando has become the first destination in the USA to surpass over 60 Million visitors in 2014 and the State of Florida is projected to have over 100 Million visitors by the end of 2015. According to the Florida Association of REALTORS®, Chinese buyers accounted for almost six percent of the all Real Estate Purchase in Florida in 2014. Feltrim’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Garrett Kenny said, “Orlando Real Estate figures echo the tourism numbers with sales and prices both continuing to surge…We see a mixture of families wanting to be near Disney, Universal and Lego land theme parks, baby boomers wanting to retire in a warm subtropical climate and international investors looking to purchase, use and rent out their vacation homes to tourists.”

In 2015, the Central Florida Chapter also exhibited at the Florida Fair Housing Summit on April 24, 2015, participated in the AREAA National Build Day on May 30, 2015 and moderated a panel discussion on Doing Business with China at the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association on June 17, 2015.

rates begin at $200/issue email a-r-e@prveen.com for details

2016 AREAA N AT I O N A L E V E N T S

2016 GLOBAL + LUXURY SUMMIT Apr 3-5, 2016 / Honolulu 2016 NATIONAL POLICY DAY May 2016 / Washington, D.C.

AR E A A D.C . M ETRO C HAP TE R PROMOTES GLO BAL CO N VE RGE N C E

2016 NATIONAL CONVENTION Oct 21-23, 2016 / Las Vegas

Being a chapter in the heart of the D.C Metropolitan area, our AREAA D.C. Metro Chapter embraces great opportunity to promote Asian housing, prosperity, and celebrate our Asian global integration. On June 3rd, AREAA D.C. Metro Chapter Board Members attended the special CelebrAsian event hosted by the USPAAC (US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce). We were very honored to mark the occasion with a picture with the Honorable Jose Cuisia, Ambassador of the Philippines to the U.S, and Susan Au Allen, President of USPAAC.

Anne Thai (VP AREAA DC Metro) , Genie Nguyen (Former Chair, AREAA DC Metro) , Susan Au Allen (President of USPAAC US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce), Ambassador Jose Cuisia (Ambassador of the Philippines to the US), Moon Choi (AREAA DC Metro Treasurer)

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VIEW LOCAL AND NATI O NAL EVE NT S ONLINE AT:

www.areaa.org

S

EU T I R W

We want to hear from you! To have your news, awards, good work and accomplishments considered for publication in future editions of a | r | e Magazine, contact Scott Berman at:

sberman@areaa.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: WWW.AREAA.ORG/SUMMIT

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Visit realtor.org/ahwd to learn more about the At Home With Diversity certification course.

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