Norman Homes - April 19, 2014

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Tips for optimizing small spaces

OPEN houses NORTHWEST 3000 LOCHINVER

309 TURNBERRY DRIVE.

641-0447

OPEN SAT 2-5

MUST SEE! 3 bedrooms/2 1/2 baths. Open concept! Study with built-in desk and bookshelves.

2 dining areas. Sprinkler system. Oversized 3 car garage. Corner lot! Side entry garage. Granite. Italian marble. Walk-in shower. Wood floors. Stainless steel appliances. Large backyard for a pool!

WESTPOINT HOMES TODD@WESTPOINT-HOMES.COM 641-0447

4512 FOUNTAIN VIEW

OPEN SAT 2-4

(Tecumseh and NW 48th, south to Fountain View Drive, east to property.)

EXTRAORDINARY NEW BUILD

by Custom Builders of Oklahoma! 4 Beds, 2 down and 2 up. Great Room, Formal Dining, Study, Bonus Room, Media Room. Outdoor living with Wood Burning Fireplace & Kitchen, 4 Car Insulated Garage, Storm Shelter. Features include: Architectural Designed Ceilings, Wrought Iron Staircase & Front Door, Plank Wood Floor, Custom Built Wood Cabinetry, SS Gas Range/Convection Oven, Electric Oven, Refrigerate, Whole House Audio, Butler’s Pantry, Granite Counters, Central Vacuum System, & Sprinklers. $668,900.

Call Carol Lindley @ 401-0246. #267464 DON CIES REAL ESTATE, INC. WWW.DONCIES.COM 329-0256

1813 ABBOTSFORD

(BPT) - The trend toward smaller, more efficient homes is

Open up floor space Smart use of wall space

a cluster can do the job just as well without being overwhelming.

still in full swing, with new home builders offering floor plans that lower square footage while amping up usability. If your home

can open up floor space, which is often at a premium in small rooms. Some items must occupy floor space, such as sofas, tables

Carefully consider accessories you place on the wall, and don't overdo it. Too much on the walls will make

is older, however, or you live in and chairs. Others - like lighting, an apartment, your smaller space TVs and electronic components may just feel ... well, small. don't.

Being short on space doesn't Wall-mounting TVs,

them look cluttered and even smaller.

mean you have to be short on style or efficiency. Here are a few ways you can optimize your small space:

Work with your walls Your walls can work for you in other ways, too. Even in small rooms, the walls are one of the largest design elements.

Choosing a bright or light wall

A lack of lighting can make a small room look positively cramped. Whenever possible, enhance the size and appeal of your rooms with plenty of light.

Natural light is optimum.

If that kind of renovation isn't in your budget, however, maximize natural light by keeping window treatments light and open. Avoid dark colors around windows, as darker hues absorb more natural light.

Recessed lighting overhead can help a room feel loftier, and wall sconces provide illumination without occupying valuable floor space.

color can help a smaller room feel more open and airy. Adding mirrors is another way to make a room appear larger. You don't need to install a full-length mirror

When it comes to home decorating, bigger isn't always better and smaller doesn't have to mean cramped. With the right blend of furnishings, colors and

on one wall; a series of smaller mirrors attractively positioned in

accessories, it's possible to live large in any small space.

OPEN SAT 10-6

WESTPOINT HOMES’ SHOWCASE HOME IS A MUST SEE! WESTPOINT HOMES TODD@WESTPOINT-HOMES.COM

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OPEN SAT 2-5

(From Robinson and 36th, go north on 36th, west on Hidden Hill, south on Guilford, east on Abbotsford.)

BEAUTIFUL BROOKHAVEN 3 BED, 3 FULL BATH, + Study with 2 Living areas and a sparkling POOL just in time for summer! This home features gorgeous hardwoods, a remodeled master bath, designer light fixtures, custom built-ins and custom made draperies. Upstairs bonus room not counted in square footage....Makes a great playroom, workout room, game room, or storage area! THIS HOME IS A MUST SEE! $284,900.

Call Jill Halloran @ 625-3551. #270682 DON CIES REAL ESTATE, INC. WWW.DONCIES.COM 329-0256

Be size wise Nothing makes a small room look more cramped than filling it with furnishings that are too big for the space. For example, if your living room is 10 by 12, a 9-foot-long sofa is going to dominate the room and leave little space for anything else.

Conversely, placing a smaller bed (such as a twin or single) in a modestly sized bedroom is a classic trick designers and home stagers use to make a bedroom look larger.

When buying furniture for your small space, keep scale in mind.

especially flat screens, can be a great way to conserve floor space and create an appealing focal point for a petite room. The mounts keep the screen close to the wall while providing a full range of motion for optimum viewing from multiple seating areas. Similarly, you can wallmount your computer monitor - even an iPad.

Let there be light

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Lawn Care 101: Dig into spring with tips for a lush lawn (BPT) - Having a wellkept lawn not only will keep you in your neighbors’ good graces, it also adds value to your home. Lawn care doesn’t need to be complicated, but sometimes it just needs to be done.

Whether you’re a new homeowner or just looking for smarter ways to mow, seed or weed, the experts at The Home Depot have got the tips to keep the front, side and backyard lush and lovely.

Taking steps to care for your lawn now can make sure you have a long, green summer ahead of you.

sloping lawn like weeds. Get rid of them easily this year with products like Amdro PowerFlex Weed and Grass Killer - it starts working immediately and kills weeds and unwelcome grasses down to their roots. Bare spots should be patched with healthy grass and most kinds of grass can be seeded over.

Fertilize It’s a step many people skip over, but a good quality fertilizer can be the key to a beautiful yard. Fertilize once in the spring and then again in the fall. For a healthy yard, choose a Take a sweep fertilizer like Scotts Southern What’s going on with Turf Builder, with a large your yard? Walk around your percentage of slow-release yard and check for wear and nitrogen and micronutrients. tear, good drainage and any If you’re looking for an damage caused by a long organic fertilizer, try Scotts winter. Do you have barren Natural Lawn Food. Err on spots or areas overgrown with the side of under-fertilizing weeds? Assess your needs verses overdoing it - too before getting started this much fertilizer can dry out season. your lawn or cause thatch to “Sometimes knowing develop. where to start can be the If you’ve fertilized and hardest part of taking care of your lawn is getting a good your yard,” says Home Depot amount of sunlight and water, Certified Garden Consultant test the soil to see if it has the Nick Blassman. “Before proper pH balance (typically heading to the store, take a between 6.5 and 7.0 for most critical look at the lawn and soils). “Home test kits are jot down a list of your trouble very easy to use - get several spots.” soil samples from different areas of your lawn, each from Weeds and bald spots about 2 to 3 inches below the Nothing ruins a beautiful, surface. Follow the instructions

to complete the test and then doctor the soil as necessary,” says Blassman. Adding lime helps up your pH levels, but sulfur, sawdust and compost will bring the pH levels down.

Watering Lawns need on average about an inch of water a week (either from irrigation or rain).

Before spring gets into full swing, check your sprinklers.

Turn them on and look for sprinkler heads that may not be working and replace any damaged ones. When you get into the season, if you’re noticing water is collecting in pools around the yard but everything is sprinkling smoothly, your lawn may not be draining properly.

Consider removing the turf and adding a topsoil coat to level the ground, then replant with grass or ground cover like water-retaining Cypress Mulch. If you’ve got hardto-reach shrubs or hanging baskets, a shower wand like the Orbit 33-inch Shower Wand makes watering much easier.

Get a mow on When you’re mowing your yard, run the lawn mower in a different direction each time so you don’t hurt your lawn by creating ruts in the turf. Leave the clippings out on your lawn as an extra fertilizer.

Reach over 35,000 prospective buyers with Norman Homes’ “Open Houses”

FOR MORE INFO CALL ANGELA WILLIAMS 366-3587

GREAT REASONS TO MOVE Written by Jaymi Naciri for Realty Times.

$1500 and rent for a comparable home in your area is $1800, you just 1.You have the money found a way to bank $300 a month.

It's not cheap to buy a new home, Even if you hire a management company to take care of the property, nor is it cheap to move. But neither you'll still make a profit,Yay for are the overhauls you probably have to do to your kitchen and your passive income! bathrooms and your flooring and 3.Your house is just plain old don't forget about patching those Older homes are more prone holes in the walls and re-sodding to issues, and those issues can get your backyard. Plus, if you've been expensive. It might make sense paying your mortgage and are in an area that has appreciated, you to trade up to something newer may have more than enough equity and avoid having the expense to make it happen - without dipping and headache of repairs when the air into savings. And if you're willing to get your savings involved, well, your conditioning goes out or the hot water ultimate dream home just might be heater stops making on the table. hot water or the roof starts leaking. Get 2.You can rent it In many markets, it costs more to out before you have rent than it does to own. That can play to. to your advantage if you want to hold on to your house and move up or out. 4.Your projects exceed your budget If your house payment is currently

You should move if:

- and your skill level DIY is not for everyone, but hiring out can get expensive. A home that has key updates (kitchens, baths are tops) will command a higher sales price, but a) They will delay your move; b) You might not recoup everything you spend; and c) Oh goodness, that's not the way you hold that saw (DIY is REALLY not for you).

Depending on just how outdated home is, it might be smarter to just cut your losses and let someone else deal with making it pretty.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Real estate investing for beginners On the heels of a recession that saw home values drop, many would-be investors have shied away from buying investment properties. But real estate has historically remained a sound investment, boasting a long-term appreciation rate that makes it a worthwhile investment for those who can withstand temporary setbacks in housing prices and hold on to their properties over the long haul.

Personal ability Real estate investors typically have tenants, and those tenants inevitably have needs.

Investors who have experience as contractors may not find it difficult to renovate a property and make it more attractive to tenants, nor are they likely to be inconvenienced when minor issues on the property need to be addressed. Investors with no such experience will need to hire contractors to do the work for them, cutting into potential profits down the road. In addition, investors who don’t have the ability and/or the time to address minor issues like a clogged drain or a drafty window on their own will need to hire a property management firm to tend to such needs. Such firms are effective, but also expensive, further cutting into your profits.

Even those investors with contracting experience may have little or no knowledge of how the leasing process works, forcing them to rely on a real estate firm to write up leases and ensure all leases stay current. This, too, can cut into an investor’s profits. Investors who don’t bring any relevant expertise to the table can still make a profit from their real estate investments, but those profits likely won’t be as significant

But investors are often nervous as they look for their first properties. Uncertainty about housing prices aside, investing in real estate also is risky, and first-time investors need to be comfortable with such risk in order to make the most of their investments. The following are a few things potential real estate investors should consider as they decide if investing in real estate is right for them. associated with maintaining and managing the property. Certain tax breaks are available to real estate investors depending on where they live. For example, in the United States, taxes on the profits when a property is Size First-time real estate investors sold may be deferred if those profits are immediately rolled might be wise to choose a into another property (such a smaller property for their initial deferment is only available to investment. Larger properties can be overwhelming to manage, those investors who arrange this exchange prior to selling and investors often rely on the initial property). Potential property management firms to investors need to consider all tend to these properties. Such of these costs, and might want firms charge more to manage bigger properties, which can eat to hire a real estate lawyer to help them make the most of their into investors’ finances. Veteran investments and any profits they investors can handle such yield. But even hiring an attorney overhead costs, but first-timers is an additional cost investors might find themselves caught off must consider before investing. guard upon realizing the gravity of their financial commitment. A good rule of thumb for first-time investors is to stick to smaller properties, only moving on to larger buildings once they are fully comfortable with all that comes with investing in real estate.

when outside companies must be hired to ensure the property is in good shape and all necessary documents are in order and upto-date.

quick type of investment, so investors looking to make a quick buck should consider alternatives before buying investment properties.

Time Real estate is often a timeconsuming investment. Tenants pay good money to live in attractive rental properties, and those tenants will have a host of needs that must be met.

Investors must be sure they have the time to address their tenants’ concerns, especially investors with no plans to hire property management firms. Potential investors who already have full plates at work and at home may not be able to devote the time necessary to make the most of their real estate investments, and therefore might be better off finding another way to invest their money.

Time also must be considered when considering profits.

Real estate is not the type of investment that turns a profit overnight. Even investors who are looking to invest in an upand-coming neighborhood must be prepared to hold onto their properties for at least a few years, if not much longer, to maximize their investments.

Though real estate is a sound investment, it is not a get rich

Costs The cost of a real estate investment goes beyond the purchase price of the home. In addition to the mortgage on the property, investors must pay the taxes and insurance on the property, as well as any costs

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

BUYING A CONDO NOT THE SAME AS BUYING A HOME

Stringent lending policies and the escalating costs of home ownership have led many prospective home buyers to consider condominiums instead of single-family homes.

Condos are typically less expensive than single-family homes, which makes lenders and borrowers alike feel more comfortable. Lenders feel better because the loans aren’t as large, while borrowers are more comfortable because such loans allow them to improve their standing with lenders, potentially setting the table for a low-interest home loan down the road.

But the differences between buying a condo and buying a single-family home go beyond the bottom line. The following are a few things prospective buyers should know about condos before they view any properties.

Condos come with fees. Unlike singlefamily homes, condos come with homeowners association fees. These fees cover the cost of maintenance and repairs to the property. This includes landscaping and garbage collection, as well as general repairs throughout the condominium complex. Fees vary significantly from community to community, and the best deal is not always the one with the lowest homeowners association fees. Low fees tend to provide less bang for the buck, generally covering only the most basic services. Higher fees often mean the community offers more amenities, such as a private pool and gym for residents. Some people prefer such amenities,

while others would rather find better deals on their own. But prospective condo buyers must include fees in their monthly budgets when determining how much they can afford to spend.

Condos come with rules. Owners of singlefamily homes can create their own rules for their households, while condo owners must agree to follow rules established by the homeowners association or the property management firm responsible for maintaining the community and enforcing the rules. Rules may not allow pets or only allow pets of a certain size.

Other rules may restrict how owners can decorate their condos during the holiday season or how they can furnish the exterior of their properties, limiting patio furniture to a set number of chairs or tables. Some condo owners are glad such rules are in place, while others might find such stipulations intrusive. Each community has different rules, and prospective buyers should familiarize themselves with a community’s rules before buying any properties within that community.

Condos often have management firms.

Property management firms can be great to deal with, but they can be troublesome as well.

A good property management firm produces satisfied community members who speak glowingly of their communities, while a poorly run management firm can frustrate homeowners who feel they are not getting what they’re paying for. Some property management firms

fail to collect homeowners association fees for months at a time, only to send letters demanding back dues down the road. Others simply don’t live up to expectations, failing to make repairs in a timely manner while letting the property fall into disrepair. If possible, speak to current community residents about how the property is managed. If residents are not available, potential buyers should attempt to attend a homeowners association meeting, which can shed light on what it’s like to live within a given community and how accessible the management firm is to community members and how well it tends to those members’ needs.

Condos are not as private as single-family homes. Much like apartment dwellers, condo owners often share walls with neighbors. That means condo owners will have to sacrifice some privacy. Prospective buyers who consider privacy a top priority may want to continue living in an apartment until they can afford to buy a single-family home. Though condo owners rarely have someone living above or below them, sharing walls with neighbors is still not as private as owning a single-family home.

Condominiums are great options for people who want to own their homes but don’t have enough money or credit history to buy a single-family home. But buyers must educate themselves about condominium life before signing on the dotted line.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

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