A group of anonymous individuals erected this signboard next to the Tinian baseball field, urging landowners not to settle for less for their properties.
AN increase in construction activities has led to disputes over property prices and higher rent on Tinian, according to Mayor Edwin P. Aldan and real estate agent Clinton Albert.
In an interview on Wednesday, Aldan said landowners who have agreed to sell or lease their properties for $15 to $20 per square meter are being criticized or discouraged by fellow landowners for allowing real estate agents to “take advantage” of them.
The mayor said that since the U.S. Department of Defense began its construction activities on island, many contractors and subcontractors have been acquiring properties for housing their workers, and for warehouses or stockyards for their construction equipment.
Aside from the military projects such as the divert airfield and the restoration of runways at North Field, a federally funded construction of a highway and a gymnasium is also ongoing, Aldan said.
There are about a dozen of general contractors and subcontractors acquiring properties on island, he added. Some are from Guam and others are from Saipan, he said.
“Of course, these businesses need properties for their supplies, personnel and equipment. That’s why a lot of properties are being leased or sold on Tinian,” Aldan said.
Last week, he said a group of landowners sought his permission to put up a signboard next to the baseball field to urge other landowners not to settle for less when they are approached for their properties.
But Aldan said he can’t blame those willing to sell or lease their properties for $20 per square meter because some of them are in dire need of money.
“Who are we to tell others how much to sell their own properties? If you have a wheelchair-bound family member who needs continuous medical support. for example, how can anyone stop you from leasing or selling your land?” the mayor asked.
In a separate interview, Clinton Albert, the president of Think Tank Pacific Solutions, said they help construction companies with their real estate needs. He said the average amount of property they have leased is $140 per square meter.
He believes that landowners who sold or leased their property for $20 per square meter are those who deal directly with contractors. These include properties located in remote areas that lack basic infrastructure, such as utilities and access roads, he added.
Some landowners, he said, would offer their properties at a considerable price on the condition that their houses destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu be repaired.
Some landowners are just getting “greedy,” he added.
“We help contractors negotiate with landowners,” Albert said, adding that they make sure the price is fair for both parties.
He said many property owners on Tinian have also raised their rent. Right now, he added, renting a one-bedroom house can cost $600 to $700 a month.
