Real Estate Information Archive

As a rule, the average Tulsa real estate buyer looks for newer appliances, updated plumbing, electrical, air conditioning/heating, and a “ready to move in” home.  Taking this into consideration, here are a few quick suggestions to make your home more attractive when getting your home ready to sell.

Floors.

Hardwood flooring is a hot item for Tulsa real estate buyers, so if you are hiding such flooring under your carpet, it may pay handsomely to remove the carpeting and have the floors refinished.  However, if you have carpeting currently without hardwood flooring underneath, make sure that the carpet is neutral, and if it is not (i.e. it is outdated and a non-neutral color), your return on investment may be worth while to switch out your carpeting.

Paint.

Wallpaper is usually a personal choice, and when selling your Tulsa home, you want to exclude your personality from the home as much as possible.  The easiest way to remove wallpaper is to steam it off (a wallpaper remover steamer is quite inexpensive).  Any wood paneling that you may have should be painted a neutral color, just as all of the paint in each room should not be anything but neutral.

Kitchen.

If your cabinets are from the ‘70s (or older!) and your appliances are a green or yellow color, you should really consider updating them all!  Remodeling kitchens have a return of nearly 100%.  You don't need to purchase high end appliances, just something that is modern.  If purchasing new cabinets and having them installed is not an option for you, resurfacing would be a better option. 

Bathrooms.

Just as in the kitchen, your bathroom should be modern looking.  New floors, fixtures and lights will make a huge difference in how many Tulsa real estate buyers will be interested in your home.

Exteriors.

Buyers first glance of your home often sets the stage and the feeling that they get and stay with.  Therefore, the exterior of your Tulsa, OK home is almost more important than the interior.  With this said, make sure your landscaping is fresh and clean looking, your fences are not broken or needing paint, that you patch any cracks on sidewalks or driveways, and replace old doorknobs and locks. 

If you are interested in having a personal inspection of your Tulsa real estate property and have any recommendations made on how you may improve the chances of your home being more attractive to more Tulsa, OK real estate buyers, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I’d be happy to help!

Each year, the nation incurs more than $800 billion of expenses from death's, injuries and property damage resulting from consumer product incidents.  The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death for more than 15,000 types of consumer products.  Over the past 30 years, the CPSC's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of consumer products (including toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals) has contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of such deaths and injuries.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is not excluded from one element within homes which cause more than 200 deaths each year in the United States.  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by the burning of any fuel, including within furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, and space heaters.   These appliances burn fuels, such as gas, oil, wood, kerosene and coal, and under certain conditions such appliances can produce deadly carbon monoxide which results in poisoning. 

Homeowners exposed to carbon monoxide can result in having symptoms including those similar to the flu, such as headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness.  Extreme exposure can result in death.  That's why it is extremely important that every home, not only in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but throughout the US be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm.  Not only should an alarm be installed, but a yearly professional inspection should be carried out.  The inspection should include a thorough check of chimneys, flues and vents for leakage and blockage of creosote and debris, plus all vents to furnaces, water heaters, and other fuel-burning appliances should be checked to make sure they're not loose or disconnected.

In discussing issues such as this, it is my hope that a difference can be made in one homeowner's life.  So pick up the phone today and contact an inspector to check your home and the subsequent safety of your family.

Located in the northeastern part of the US state of Oklahoma, Broken Arrow is primarily in Tulsa County, with a portion extending into western Wagoner County.  Broken Arrow is the largest suburb of Tulsa and the fourth largest city in the state.  The 2006 U.S. Census Bureau reported a total population of 88,314 residents, with the expectation of the 2010 census to report over 100,000 residents.

From the last reported demographic census, being from the year 2000, Broken Arrow consisted of 30,154 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68% consisted of married couples living together, and 19.1% were non-families.

During the same report, the median income for a household within Broken Arrow was $65,118, and the media income for a family was $61,570. 

Some other noteworthy information surrounding Broken Arrow includes a recent national crime survey conducted found Broken Arrow to be the 20th safest city in the nation and the safest city in Oklahoma.   The police department has also been recognized with several national awards for their work to reduce the crime rate.  Broken Arrow has also been listed as a "Tree City USA" for over six years in a row.  It was also listed as one of the "Top 25 Affordable Suburbs in the South" by Business Week Magazine in 2007.

Below you will find some demographic information for Broken Arrow, Oklahoma:

Location of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

If you would like to learn more about Broken Arrow real estate, please do not hesitate to call me or visit my website to view all properties currently available.

Each year during the months June, July and August, Tulsa, Oklahoma comes alive at sea, Tulsa Performing Arts Center's Williams, Doenges, and Norman Theaters.  SummerStage, a performing arts festival, gives an opportunity for local arts groups and individual artists to work together and form a showcase of artists from Tulsa and the surrounding communities.

Performances include a variety of musical's, drama, comedy, and dance, providing something for everyone.  Below is a selection of the shows that will be available:

The Pirates of Penzance.
by Light Opera Oklahoma.
June 13, 14, 26, July 5 at 8 p.m. - June 22 at 2:30 p.m. - July 12 at 2 p.m.

Footloose: The Musical.
By Grace Ann Productions, Inc..
August 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 8 p.m. - August 2, 3, 9 at 2 p.m.

Laughing Matter Improv.
By Heller Theatre & Clark Theatre
June 13 at 8 p.m.

Jeff Shadley's Tribute to Frank Sinatra.
By Shadley's Arts & Sciences, Inc..
July 5 at 8:30 p.m.

So, if you live in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, or will be visiting during the summer months, and want to go out on the town and see some exciting shows, the summer is the time to do it!  For more information, please visit SummerStage 2008 website.   Maybe I'll see you there!

Over the past few months and years, short sale homes have become a reality for homeowners.  not only in areas of Tulsa, Oklahoma, but in most States nationwide. 

So what is a short sale, exactly?  An online article published by Realtor.org, describes a short sale, as "when the net proceeds from the sale of a home are not enough to cover the sellers mortgage obligations and closing costs, such as property taxes, transfer taxes, and the real estate practitioners commission".  Here, the seller is unwilling (or unable) to cover the difference, and so find themselves owing more than the house is currently worth when closing costs are factored into the equation.

Here are five tips regarding Tulsa, Oklahoma real estate when a short sale is inevitable:

1.  Give any and all mortgage holders an open door to speak to your Tulsa, Oklahoma realtor about your loan(s).  With privacy laws in effect, it will be mandatory that you send a letter to your mortgage company(ies) letting them know that your realtor is working with you and them.  Once this relationship between your realtor and mortgage company(ies) are in place, the short sale process will often become easier.

2.  If you are still making loan payments and have a credit rating that is worth preserving, then a short sale may be the ideal option for you.

3.  Under duress, homeowners often make rash decisions, and conversely, unethical investors may attempt to get a home owner to sign a quit claim deed for the property, and then lease it out.  Even though the homeowner no longer owns the house, they will still be liable for the mortgage payments, which will, therefore, get them no further than they are already.

4.  If the homeowner finds themselves having a portion of their loan forgiven, this may have an adverse affect on their credit.  It would be wise, therefore, to sign a lease on a new Tulsa, Oklahoma home or apartment before their credit is further damaged.

5.  To avoid any unnecessary costs, Tulsa, Oklahoma buyers should wait to have a home inspection, and an appraisal for the morgage company, until after the bank has accepted the short sale of the home at hand.  If the loan is less than a year old, a short sale might be rejected.

If you are in a position that you feel you may need to entertain the idea of selling your home as a short sale, please contact me and I will be more than happy to discuss your needs with  you.

Have the Best of All Worlds! 

All your needs will be met in this great family home, located in the Broken Arrow subdivision of Oak Creek Park, complete with beautiful tree lined streets throughout. 

This updated Broken Arrow home has been totally redone and is ready for you!  All bedrooms are conveniently located on the ground level, with a large loft upstairs with a closet and bathrooom - many possibilities with this set up - including a gameroom or wonderful master. 

The living room has soaring vaulted ceilings and wood burning fireplace with glass doors.  The large kitchen is complete with dishwasher, disposal, microwave and range/oven.

This great Broken Arrow home for sale has almost 2,650 square feet of living space , 3 bedrooms (all with walk-in closets) and 2 1/2 baths.  The exterior of the home includes a 2 car garage, chain link fence, mature trees, covered patio/porch and is situated on over a 1/4 of an acre (0.28 acre). 

The Broken Arrow school district that this home is located in is highly sought after, with the Rhoades Grade School, Haskell Middle/Jr High and Broken Arrow High Schools close by.

If you would like to preview this Broken Arrow home personally, please let me know by calling or emailing me.  You can also view all other Broken Arrow homes for sale through my website.

This month I will be featuring the new homes being built by Simmons Homes, within five Tulsa Oklahoma real estate areas - Owasso, Jenks, Browken Arrow, Bixby and Coweta.

Simmons Homes has been a Tulsa area home builder for the past 14 years, providing architectural innovation, tremendous quality, superior customer service and some of the best  warranties available.

Here is a list of all the subdivions Simmons Homes are currently building within:

Simmons Homes also offers ENERGY STAR qualified homes which are built with at least 15 percent more energy efficiency than other Tulsa Oklahoma real estate built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).

For more information on these homes or any other Tulsa real estate for sale, please call me today or visit my website for access to all homes currently for sale.

The following market statistics are based on information gathered from the Tulsa Board of REALTORS for the period March 1st through April 30th, 2008.

It was a hopping spring here in the Tulsa Real Estate world!   The market here is still rich with buyers and sellers are plentiful - April saw an increase in single family homes being listed with 2,613 homes reported as being for sale on the Tulsa MLS (Multiple Listing Service), up from 2,590 in March. 

Pending listings were growing too, from 1,214 in March to 1,413 in April - almost 200 more contracts being written month over month! 

The sales prices have dropped slightly over the past month, with the average in March being $158,220 versus $150,543 in April.  With this being said, however, the length of time theTulsa Real Estate single family home listings were active dropped significantly from 58 days on average to only 53.  When comparing these numbers to the market in other North American markets, the Tulsa Real Estate market truly is still doing exceptionally well. 

Closings also rose over the past two months, from 963 to 1,059 with a steady 97% list price versus sales price difference. 

So, it really is a "Good Thing You're In Tulsa" and if you're a homeowner, all the better!   If you would like to become a new Tulsa Real Estate homeowner or thinking of moving, please contact me or visit my website to view all Tulsa Real Estate listings currently available.

 Information is Believed To Be Accurate But Not Guaranteed.

The results are in!  Tulsa Oklahoma real estate makes an excellent investment according to the 2007 figures provided by Relocate-America.com.  Tulsa not only made its name known in the top 100, but all the way to the 5th highest ranking! 

This is Relocate-America.com's 11th Annual Top 100 Cities list.  Relocate-America.com is a community information and real estate resource site for individuals and families who are relocating.  Each year, the site ranks the top 100 places to live in the country.  Areas need to be nominated on the site in order to be eligible for the list, and more than 2,000 were nominated this year, including a vast number aiding in Tulsa, Oklahoma being ranked so high!

A city's growth, educational and employment opportunities, crime rates and housing options are also taken into account before gaining a position in the top 100.  Cities being noted for their environmental standings also play a role, including points for good air and water quality and/or the magnitude of its efforts in recycling.

Home price appreciation also gets considered when ranking cities throughout North America, however it doesn't make or break it - cities with more desirable climates, such as California and Florida also are taken into consideration, which explains why these two cities are also noted in the Top 100. 

If you would like to learn why Tulsa, Oklahoma is such a great place to live, please contact me today - I love to talk about the city that I am proud to call "Home".  You can also visit my website to view all Tulsa Oklahoma real estate currently available for sale.

The state of the housing market has gotten a lot of negative national publicity but housing markets are local in nature.  The Oklahoma and Tulsa real estate markets are in much better shape than most other markets.

In Oklahoma, the foreclosure rate in April was 1 in 922 housholds while the national rate was 1 in 519.

The rate has increased in Oklahoma from March to April but it had previously decreased from February to March.

The overall market is good in the Tulsa area although it is still generally considered to be a buyer's market.  If you get pre-qualified for a loan (always a good idea to ensure you don't have any credit issues and to know exactly what you can afford) this puts you the buyer in a strong negotiating position when purchasing a home.

I can always recommend a good lender if you need one.

Tulsa also has some highly ranked suburban school districts that I would rate as good as any in the country.  Combine that with affordable housing (the average home sells for about $150,000), you can't beat the quality of life here.