The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Two-story home

Carson

The Listing of the Week is a French-Old English-style home with a pool on a corner lot in the gated Oakmond addition. PAGE 9E

This midsize ranch-style home features large gathering spaces and three big bedrooms. PAGE 8E

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

ATTEND HOME INSPECTION A home inspection is a fact-finding mission in which the inspector is a buyer’s hired advocate. The buyer and inspector should jointly engage in the discovery process. PAGE 6E

IN BRIEF

GARDENING BASICS Homebuilder Denise Patterson shows the kitchen of her own home at 18270 N Antler Way in Deer Creek.

PHOTOS BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

Builder no longer goes it alone SALES | DENISE PATTERSON HIRES SUPERINTENDENT TO HELP HER OVERSEE 16 HOME PROJECTS FOR 2013 BY TIM FALL For The Oklahoman trfall@gmail.com

Until this year, if you hired Denise Patterson to build your home, you got something unusual. You got Denise Patterson, building your home. “I was doing it all,” Patterson said from the beautiful Deer Creek Hills home she built for her own family nearly five years ago. Now she still does it all — the only difference is that with plans to complete 16 homes this year, Patterson has brought on a superintendent to help cover projects when she needs to be in more than one place at a time. It’s the kind of adjustment the Deer Creek-area native is pleased to make. Home construction contracts for the company she founded, Denise Patterson Custom Homes, this year are running three times

Denise Patterson built her own home at 18270 N Antler Way five years ago.

where they stood in 2010. Patterson said it has always been her style to work side by side with clients through every step of the homebuilding process, customizing designs, bud-

geting, scheduling the many craftspeople and subcontractors. Chances are she is on the job site every day. “I’m not a designer, and I’m not an architect,” Pat-

terson said. “But my clients and I have come up with some great cocktail napkin designs.” As Patterson has done for more than a decade, in 2013 she’ll bring those de-

signs to life in those 16 homes. Although she tries to keep several spec projects on the market, “70 percent will be custom builds,” she said. Many of the homes are being built in the Ironstone addition, on NW 164 near Portland Avenue. Patterson called her Ironstone homes “smaller floor plans” ranging from 1,500 to 1,700 square feet, priced in the $170,000$190,000 range. Patterson said she loves working with her “team of craftspeople” who “treat smaller homes the exact same” as her larger custom builds — homes that reach up to 6,300 square feet. “Those designs don’t lose anything,” Patterson said. “It’s the same finishes, just built on a smaller scale.” Cindy Carpenter discovered Patterson’s touch in her Shadow Ridge SEE PATTERSON, PAGE 2E

Rentals are growing part of market WASHINGTON — Could rental houses owned and managed by deep-pocketed hedge funds and big investors be the post-bust steppingstones to homeownership for huge numbers of renters? Could they also provide a form of safe harbor or sanctuary for thousands of families who were displaced by financial difficulties from their previous homes through foreclosures or short sales? A new national study suggests that the answer to both questions is yes. Over the past five years, according to Wall Street analysts’ estimates, between $7 billion and $9 billion worth of distressed singlefamily homes have been purchased and converted to rentals by institutional investors — hedge funds, private partnerships of high net-worth individuals and even pools of capital raised among investors in foreign countries. Though single-family rental homes have long been a part of the American housing scene, the involvement of large-scale institutional investors is causing the cat-

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

egory to explode. According to a new study conducted by pollster ORC International for Premier Property Management Group, a company that works with investors, roughly 52 percent of all rental units in the country are now single-family homes and house 27 percent of all renters. Recent Census Bureau data cited in the study indicate that the number of single-family rentals grew by 21 percent between 2005 and 2010 — from the top of the boom through the depths of the bust and foreclosure crisis — compared with a 4 percent increase in total housing units. What’s the significance of this rapid conversion of ownership units to rental? For one thing, according to Mark Fleming, chief

economist for CoreLogic, a mortgage and real estate research firm, mass conversions are contributing to the severe declines in homesfor-sale inventories in markets where foreclosure rates were most pronounced during the bust. Lack of inventory, in turn, is pushing up prices of entry-level homes in those areas. But the ORC-Premier study suggests that the new waves of single-family rentals may also be providing important pathways to homeownership, not only for first-timers but for those displaced by the housing bust. Fully 60 percent of rental home tenants say they plan to buy a house sometime in the next five years By contrast, only 44 percent of multifamily apartment building renters have similar plans. The study found that, compared with apartment tenants, single-family renters made more money ($75,000 to $100,000 versus $50,000 to $75,000), have more children in their homes and are more concerned about local school quality and community facilities such as parks and recre-

ational areas. Asked by interviewers what impediments to purchasing a house they anticipate within the coming five years, nearly a third said they may not be able to qualify for a mortgage. The time frame coincides with the number of years that individuals with seriously damaged credit files — a foreclosure, bankruptcy, short sale and multiple defaults on other debt obligations — need to fully rehabilitate their credit and build back their credit scores to a level that will qualify them for a home loan on favorable terms. Bottom line from the study: Single-family rentals are likely to remain a growing factor in the housing market, as incubators and safe havens for future purchasers. At the same time, though, they may — at least temporarily — depress the national homeownership rate, which stands at around 65 percent, down from 69 percent during the boom. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

Garden guides don’t always share all the fundamentals beginners need — how to buy a shovel, for example, or where to buy plants. Jim Fox covers those basics and more in “How to Buy the Right Plants, Tools & Garden Supplies.” Fox, a horticultural consultant who works in the retail nursery business, based the book on the questions he’s been asked over the decades. The book focuses on helping readers choose plants that will thrive and invest wisely in implements, but it also helps them understand the conditions they’re growing in and teaches them how to plant properly. It’s published by Timber Press and sells for $14.95 in paperback.

PEEL AWAY POTS Peel Away Pots are designed to produce healthier vegetable seedlings that are easier to remove at transplant time. The cube-shaped pots are made from a porous Velcro-brand fabric that lets air get to the roots, promoting a healthy root system. The sides of the pot peel apart, so you can remove the plant without disturbing the roots. The pots are washable and reusable. Peel Away Pots are available in 2- and 4-inch sizes in red and brown. Prices range from $9.95 for sets of pots alone to $24.95 for kits containing pots and a self-watering tray. They can be ordered at www. gardeners.com or (800)-955-3370. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Permits Handy

4E, 5E 5E

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SCAN IT For a related video, scan the QR code below or visit NewsOK.com

Left: Builder Denise Patterson says the first pool and outdoor living area she built was at her own home. Now she offers her expertise to clients. PHOTOS BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

Patterson: Building has gone beyond houses themselves FROM PAGE 1E

home, which was featured in a recent Parade of Homes. “We loved the home, and we loved Denise,” Carpenter said. The Carpenters’ home was built with handcarved wood floors and high-end granite surfaces, but “we customized some of the fixtures” and other details, with Patterson helping them every step along the way. “It went way beyond our contract,” Carpenter said. For Patterson, building has gone way beyond the actual house itself — she said it has been fun and different to begin to specialize in pool and custom backyard design and construction. Like most of what she does, that started in her own home. With no experience, “I promised my kids,” Patterson said, “that I’d build us a pool.” Creating a free-form pool with a beach entry accompanied by a stacked-stone spa and a nearby outdoor fireplace, Patterson was so satisfied with the result that she began sharing her newfound expertise with clients. A woman working in a male-dominated industry, Patterson said that in her early years she was asked what she was doing on a job site. Sometimes she was even asked “if I knew what I was doing.” Today, not a chance. “They know me by

The dining room of Denise Patterson’s home at 18270 N Antler Way in the Deer Creek area. PHOTOS BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

Denise Patterson’s kitchen features a double oven with double cooktop.

now,” Patterson said. “It’s all about the result.” Patterson’s current home is a four-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot design with an open living area and emphasis on family spaces, including an exercise room and a theater room. “I installed the same granite countertops in my house I put in the homes I

build for clients,” Patterson said. Same goes for most woodwork, stains and finishes, “although I’ve started to go with warmer tones in my new projects.” Every home she builds is “rewarding,” she said. “I take a raw piece of land, and end up with a home for someone.”

The open entry expands into Denise Patterson’s home.

BUSINESS BUSINESS NEWS P.O. BOX 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Fax: (405) 475-3996 NewsOK.com HomesOK.com

DON MECOY Business Editor (405) 475-3942, dmecoy@opubco.com

RICHARD MIZE Real Estate Editor (405) 475-3518, richardmize@opubco.com

HOMESOK.COM

Find real estate news on the Internet at HomesOK.com

FOR EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: Contact Richard Mize

JERRY WAGNER Assistant Classiﬁed Advertising Manager (405) 475-3475, jwagner@opubco.com Builder Denise Patterson built her own home five years ago at 18270 N Antler Way.

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Contact Jerry Wagner

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

Moving and shaking in retirement Virginia Sanders

Paradigm hires Sanders Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate has hired Virginia “Jenny” Sanders as assistant manager of its south office at 1530 SW 119. She also is a Realtor active in commercial and residential sales with a special interest in horse properties. She has lived in the metro area all her life and is a graduate of U.S. Grant High School. Before going into real estate 28 years ago, she managed a land surveying company. She has been managing broker of several companies in south Oklahoma City over 18 years and previously served on the board of the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors.

Free home ownership seminar Saturday MUSTANG — Rausch Coleman Homes LLC will present a new home ownership seminar free for the public from 11a.m. to 1p.m. Saturday at Mustang Community Center, 1201 N Mustang Road. Rausch Coleman Homes’ preferred lender, First Mortgage Co., will have a representative on hand to answer questions about home loans. American Eagle Title Co. will provide lunch and refreshments. For more information, call Sandy Vereb, sales and marketing director for Rausch Coleman Homes, at 694-5353. Or call community managers Mandy Allee at 420-1616 or Kristy Stevens at 208-2684. Canyon Creek and Brighton Point are Rausch Coleman Homes’ Mustang-area neighborhoods.

Darrell Mason

Mason joins Paradigm Darrell Mason has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge’s south office at 1530 SW 119 as a real estate sales associate. He is a native of south Oklahoma City and earned an associate degree in science from Metro Tech. He worked as a quality coordinator for General Motors for 30 years and retired when the plant closed. He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers and has been selling real estate for three years.

Hartley moves to Paradigm Val Hartley has moved to Paradigm AdvantEdge’s south office at 1530 SW 119 as a real estate sales associate. The California native has lived in Oklahoma for 25 years. She has 45 years of real estate sales experience and specializes in rental properties.

A half-decade ago, more retirees were interested in buying a home in an age-restricted senior community. But that was before the Great Recession. Since the economic downturn, real estate specialists said they’ve detected a decline in interest in “active adult communities” where recreational activities are packaged into a lifestyle that caters to older adults. “There’s a lot less interest in one-size-fits-all living. More people want an individualized lifestyle and multigenerational living,” said Art Godi, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Realtors (www.realtor.org). Godi said many retirees are still drawn to the amenities offered in classic retirement communities, which are typically located in the sun-drenched areas of the map. But they’re even more attracted to a lifestyle that allows them easy access to offspring. “Grandchildren are an increasingly important factor in home buying. The more insecure our society becomes, the more families want to stick together,” said Godi, whose family owned real estate firm has sold homes for decades. “Grandparents provide a great emotional support system that’s especially important if the parents have stressful jobs and work long hours.” Are you an older homebuyer

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

seeking a place that will allow you more interaction with your grandkids? If so, these pointers could prove helpful: I Realize the advantages of buying a home near your children’s place. Allan Zullo, co-author of “A Boomer’s Guide to Grandparenting,” said he and his wife, who live in North Carolina, relish seeing their four grandchildren, ages 3 to 16. The problem is that two live in San Francisco and another two in Tallahassee, Fla. To see more of the Florida grandchildren, he and his wife recently built a small cottage on the property where the kids live, in which they reside three months out of the year — and they couldn’t be happier. Living very near your grandkids can work for you if you have closeknit family relationships, Zullo said. I Discuss the implications of living near your children before you move. Living near grandchildren can be enriching for all involved. Most

grandparents find it gratifying, and most working parents appreciate the nearby support system. But Zullo said you shouldn’t move near your grown children without first discussing the expectations of everyone involved. “You need to talk it out and define boundaries before making a move,” he said. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, an increasing number of people are now actively involved in raising their grandkids. But is it OK with your kids that you take over major child care responsibilities? And are you willing to do so? No matter how much they love their grandchildren, Zullo cautions retirees against centering their lives solely on family. “It’s vitally important you also have your own friends and activities,” he said. I Seek to buy in a child-friendly neighborhood. Mary Biathrow, a veteran real estate broker and grandmother of four, recommends that retirees planning to buy a property near their grandchildren look for a family-oriented neighborhood. “There isn’t much for kids to do in a retirement community. You’re better off living in a neighborhood where there are other young kids to play with,” she said. I Think of a home in a resort area as an alternative to moving near your kids. Leo Berard, charter president of

the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba. org), has 13 grandchildren scattered around North America. He and his wife have decided to keep their large family house in Massachusetts. But not long ago they also bought a spacious condo in Naples, Fla. When they acquired the Florida place, they hoped it would serve as a magnet to encourage their kids to visit from as far away as California. And their hopes have been realized. I Don’t overshoot your budget to buy a home to attract your grandkids. It’s fine if you can afford to buy a vacation property that encourages family visits. But overextending yourself at the expense of your retirement security is a mistake, said Candace Carnegie, a seasoned real estate broker. Carnegie, who lives close enough to her grandchildren to “pop in for dinner,” very much enjoys time spent with the extended family. But she cautions those with limited retirement assets against taking so large a mortgage that their financial security is threatened. “Even retired people can still find lenders who will let them borrow more than they should,” she said. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

Permits Oklahoma City Daniels & Daniels Construction Inc., 8901 S Shields Blvd., church, remodel, $1,500,000. Ewing Construction Co. Inc., 1008 SE 29, manufacturing, add-on, $1,175,000. Larry Jackson, 116 E Interstate 240 Service Road, restaurant, erect, $700,000. Sunset Fine Designer Homes LLC, 2709 Dorchester Drive, residence, erect, $538,100. CZC Construction, 2611 NE 10, retail sales, erect, $450,000. Autotainment Ventures LLC, 14145 Broadway Extension, automotive repair-wash, add-on, $400,000. Winding Creek Design, 4800 Old Lantern Way, residence, erect, $385,000. Home First Inc., 5001SE 152 Court, residence, erect, $375,000. CH 4 Quality Homes LLC, 10900 San Lorenzo Drive, residence, erect, $370,000. Justice Homes Inc., 13130 Canyon Lakes Drive, residence, erect, $349,000. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 15912 Angie Kaye Lane, residence, erect, $338,500. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 5301 NW 161 Terrace, residence, erect, $296,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5613 NW 119 Circle, residence, erect, $276,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14817 Trumball Circle, residence, erect, $271,950. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14616 Sedona Drive, residence, erect, $271,950. Onpoint Construction, 7808 SW 87 Circle, residence, erect, $260,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15216 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $260,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 11933 Dornick Circle, residence, erect, $258,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 15424 Colonia Bella Drive, residence, erect, $250,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2324 NW 156, residence, erect, $250,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 5900 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $250,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 3201 SW 138, residence, erect, $240,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15100 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $240,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15212 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $240,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 5808 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $240,000. MDM Holdings LLC, doing business as Merryfield Homes, 10928 SW 21, residence, erect, $230,000. Redbud Signature Homes, 13431 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $227,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 8401NW 140, residence, erect, $220,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 12908 SW 24, residence, erect, $216,000. ANW Custom Designs LLC, 5920 St. James Place, residence, erect, $210,000. Bridgeway Estates LLC, 19620 Stratmore Way, residence, erect, $200,000. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 1700 Augusta Circle, residence, erect, $200,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 8117 Hillers Road, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15208 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15200 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15204 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $200,000.

Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 18213 Bridlington Drive, residence, erect, $199,900. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 9909 Volare Drive, residence, erect, $198,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 15217 SE 57, residence, erect, $197,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 10804 NW 95, residence, erect, $193,000. Tapestry Custom Homes LLC, 1416 NW 188, residence, erect, $192,400. Bridgeway Estates LLC, 19616 Stratmore Way, residence, erect, $190,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 8201 Hillers Road, residence, erect, $190,000. S&P Adamson Inc., 2329 NW 156, residence, erect, $190,000. Clyde Riggs Construction, 3500 S MacArthur Blvd., office-warehouse, remodel, $185,000. Bronco Steel Inc., 9525 W Reno Ave., office, addon, $185,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 8121 Hillers Road, residence, erect, $180,000. Mark Newman, 3700 S MacArthur Blvd., office, remodel, $180,000. D.R. Horton, 16017 Stillmeadows Drive, residence, erect, $178,081. SWM & Sons Inc., 15900 E Hefner Road, residence, erect, $177,205. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 9512 Blake Run Road, residence, erect, $176,000. MJH Properties LLC, 401 W Wilshire Blvd., warehouse, erect, $175,000. Patricia Manning, 12600 Hillside Lane, manufactured home, moveon, $173,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14601 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $162,000. Redbud Contractors LLC, 1919 NW 142, duplex, erect, $150,000. Ron Walters Homes LLC, 1713 NE 7, residence, erect, $150,000. Ewing Construction Co. Inc., 1008 SE 29, officewarehouse, erect, $150,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 8012 Suttle Court, residence, erect, $149,000. Dodson Custom Homes 1 LLC, 18300 Haslemere Lane, residence, erect, $136,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 14120 Wagon Boss Road, residence, erect, $129,000. SWM & Sons Inc., 17001 SE 104, residence, erect, $126,770. Gary Randolph Construction Inc., 4304 NW 144 Place, residence, remodel, $120,000. Chuck and Julie Biffle, 8333 S Cimarron Road, residence, erect, $116,475. Home Creations, 16109 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $115,100. Colereit III Op Partnership, 3100 Quail Springs Parkway, office, remodel, $110,500. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 1709 Augusta Circle, residence, erect, $110,000. Home Creations, 16108 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $107,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18405 Abierto Drive, residence, erect, $107,000. Home Creations, 11205 NW 100, residence, erect, $105,500. Home Creations, 1008 Laurel Creek Drive, residence, erect, $105,100. McAlister Construction Inc., 819 NW 24, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9633 Lauren Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9629 Lauren Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. D.R. Horton, 11308 NW 97, residence, erect, $97,680. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2556 NW 184, residence, erect, $97,000. Home Creations, 18228 Scarborough Drive, residence, erect, $91,400. Cornerstone Group LLC, 2412 Bear Crossing, residence, erect, $88,000. Cornerstone Group LLC, 2325 Wayne Cutt Ave., residence, erect, $88,000. Cornerstone Group

REAL ESTATE LLC, 9113 NW 139, residence, erect, $85,000. David Ledbetter, 315 NW 23, restaurant, remodel, $85,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15200 Stillwind Drive, residence, erect, $77,000. Sweet Sixteen LLC, 1734 NW 16, restaurant, addon, $75,400. Ewing Construction Co. Inc., 1008 SE 29, officewarehouse, erect, $75,000. Mark Seibold, 2901 NW 36, restaurant, erect, $75,000. Westpoint Homes, 15929 Positano Drive, residence, erect, $70,000. Kilpatrick Forest Curtis PC, 7007 SW 44, officewarehouse, remodel, $65,000. Radius Design & Construction LLC, 7000 S Walker Ave., apartment, remodel, $50,000. Smith & Pickel, 535 NW 9, hospital, remodel, $50,000. Sunset Fine Designer Homes LLC, 2709 Dorchester Drive, accessory, erect, $48,850. Davenport Homes LLC, 1400 NW 187, residence, add-on, $48,000. Rogue Architects, 1425 W Interstate 240 Service Road, retail sales, remodel, $40,000. Smart Holdings LLC, 3621 N Western Ave., restaurant, remodel, $40,000. N Design Homes LLC, 1604 NW 45, residence, erect, $35,000. Gail Armstrong Construction Inc., 11501 N Portland Ave., canopycarport, erect, $35,000. Southwest Builders, 12901 Tracy Drive, residence, add-on, $31,000. Gary Blevins, 212 N Harvey Ave., restaurant, remodel, $30,000. Chris Allee, 11820 SW 16, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $26,000. Ramey Steel, 12009 SW 53, residence, erect, $25,000. Vaneus Long, 15509 E Britton Road, residence, remodel, $25,000.

Foster Signature Homes LLC, 15500 Colonia Bella Drive, residence, erect, $22,000. Trilink Restoration Group LLC, 4111 Holiday Place, residence, fire restoration, $20,000. 3 Level Design, 3700 S MacArthur Blvd., install, install, $20,000. Jose Liuis Martinez, 2544 SW 35, residence, add-on, $15,000. BT Group, 2736 NW 138, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 9219 S Shields Blvd., equipment, install, $15,000. Labyrinth LLC, 3214 N Classen Blvd., restaurant, remodel, $15,000. Geremias Martinez, 2237 SW 30, residence, add-on, $12,000. Wintergreen LLC, 33 NE 67, residence, fire restoration, $12,000. Terry Scrivner, 2200 N Coltrane Road, nursing home, remodel, $11,000. IDG, 1901 Northwest Expressway, warehouse, remodel, $10,000. Uriel Banvelos, 1029 SW 63, residence, add-on, $10,000. Covenant Renovation Inc., 6400 Whispering Grove Drive, residence, fire restoration, $10,000. Golden Rule MHC, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $10,000. Golden Rule MHC, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $10,000. Daniel Portillo, 3029 SW 18, residence, add-on, $9,000. Don Currie, 1801 NW 18, accessory, remodel, $8,000. Oz Saferooms, 504 Goya Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $8,000. Current Smith Construction, 3205 NW 63, office, add-on, $7,000. Harbolt Custom Homes LLC, 3408 NW 172 Terrace, residence, add-on, $6,000. 3 Level Design, 3700 S

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM MacArthur Blvd., canopycarport, erect, $5,000. 3 Level Design, 3700 S MacArthur Blvd., canopycarport, erect, $5,000. 3 Level Design, 3700 S MacArthur Blvd., erect, erect, $5,000. Allegiance Credit Union, 4227 N Meridian Ave., office, remodel, $5,000. Natalie Friedman, 6725 Briarcreek Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,400. Ana Raygoza, 1520 SW 93, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,300. Andy Baker, 3816 Tori Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,275. Eric and Amy Loper, 3325 Quail Creek Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,200. Associated Builders Group Inc., 3630 NW 39, canopy-carport, erect, $4,200. Fred Prichard, 11401 Gateshead Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,195. James Hensley, 15304 Misty Park Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,100. Don Terrell, 11108 SW 40, accessory, erect, $4,000. Chase Rankin, 9604 Pheasant Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,875. Quinton Thompson, 14125 SE 75, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,875. Jacob Wilber, 19704 Adagio Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,695. Robert and Carol Manning, 16508 Brewster Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,650. Dennis Hutchinson, 2800 Morgan Circle, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,600. F5 Storm Shelter, 1323 Edinburg Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,600. John Sprinkle, 12404 Lapis Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,500. Adam Meier, 10824 NW

34, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,450. Randy Childers, 5415 NW 132, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,450. Brian Michael, 6209 NW 154 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. John Keith Bostic, 3805 Tori Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Kevin Smith, 9308 NW 99 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Matthew Walters, 1600 Tall Trees Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. F5 Storm Shelter, 16621 Ventana Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. William Stephen, 8404 NW 69, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Anthony Parker, 11216 NW 100, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Don and Maunte Wilerson, 2405 SW 139, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. William Mennena, 9305 Checkerbloom Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,395. Jeff Vanderyt, 11021 NW 101, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,390. Karl Mark Janutz II, 11317 SW 38, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,350. Kara Behnke, 2413 NW 176, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200. Sheryl Greene, 13300 Eastvalley Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Michael Houk, 5815 Sunperch Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,150. Lisa Powers, 15201 Creek Vista Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,050. Reba N. Reynolds, 2625 NW 152, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,050. Andrew Manocchio, 16209 Romeo Drive, storm SEE PERMITS, PAGE 5E

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

How ceiling fans work their magic One of the basic things we all understand about heat is that it rises. As air molecules warm up, they expand and become lighter, and that causes them to head up toward the ceiling of a room, which isn’t necessarily where you want them. This natural rising can create layers within a room, with cooler air down near the floor, and warmer air trapped up near the ceiling. That’s especially true if you have ceiling-mounted heat registers, where your heat is entering the room at a higher level to start with. And of course, the higher the ceilings, the more that heat can rise, and the warmer the temperatures will get up near the peak. The same is going to be the case with cooler air. When summer finally gets here and we switch back to air conditioning, cooler air is going to want to fall and settle near the floor of a room, to the detriment of those spaces on the upper levels. And here again, if you have air conditioning ducts in the floor, the effect is going to be that much more pronounced.

Permits FROM PAGE 4E

shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Mark Whitaker, 6108 NW 153, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Marty Byrd, 3944 NW 46, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Sheral King, 10016 S Brookline Ave., storm shelter, erect, $3,000. Rick Manning, 19521 Talavera Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Eric and Tonia Dale, 8412 NW 142, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Robbie Cruz, 1237 SW 101, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,900. Brandon Griffith, 18212 Scarlet Oak Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Oke Lee, 11809 Katie Cove, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Scott Crim, 17408 Marsh Hawk Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Tia Johnson, 10657 NW 107, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Travis Johnson, 5604 NW 164 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. John McKelvy, 9305 Shady Grove Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Kenneth Whitson, 120 Church Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Luke Turman, 1909 NW 173, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,795. Mark Walvoord, 14305 Brinley Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Joes’ A. Ceniceros, 820 N Leroy Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,770. Adam Sylvester, 5337 Republic Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Chau Ngo, 14105 Corso Strada, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Daniel Hillenbrand, 3821 NW 69, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Donald Strack, 16313 Bravado Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Jeff Branstetter, 4613 NW 164 Terrace, installstorm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,700. Nicole Taliaferro, 6021 SE 87, storm shelter, in-

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME

One possibility for getting that hot air down from the ceiling and back into the room when it can do some good is to install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans use large, angled, rotating blades to push air down or pull air up, which creates currents that can stir things up and move stagnant air off the ceiling. They also help draw cool air up off the floor during the summer, as well as creating cooling breezes. When considering a ceiling fan, the first order of business is deciding on the size. Fans are sized by the overall diameter of the blades, such as 36-inch, and will have anywhere from three to five blades. For the most part, the more blades and the larger the diameter, the more air movement you’ll have, although some large-diameter, industrial-style

stall-storm shelter, $2,700. Breanna White, 17512 Iron Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,695. Linda McGoffin, 5820 SE 83, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,695. Helen Wesnidge, 2220 SW 117, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,650. Jessica Wadsworth, 1104 SW 133, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,650. Leslie Corlee, 17220 Hardwood Place, residence, remodel, $2,600. Bich Nguyen, 12504 SW 14, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500. Diep Nguyen, 909 Banff Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Le My Huu, 2337 SW 93, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500. Taber Built Homes LLC, 8513 NW 125, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Property Management Services Inc., 3924 S Agnew Ave., apartment, fire restoration, $2,500. Samuel Deloera, 6321 N Stinchcomb Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,400. Megan Brace, 9109 Crooked Creek Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,395. Norbert and Mary Anne Pedersen, 10509 Whitechapel, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,395. Slade Terry, 11700 SW 16, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,395. Stephanie Sorice, 8241 NW 158, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,300. Brant Taylor, 17317 Picasso Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,200. Michael Genouese, 16 SW 173, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,200. Jessica Conklin, 8204 Prairie Ridge Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,100. Sandra Armenta, 3424 S Meta Ave., residence, addon, $2,000. Scissortail Salon, 807 N Hudson Ave., business, remodel, $2,000.

Demolitions Kendall’s Concrete & Demolition, 1122 NW 5, residence. Charlene Robinson, 801 NW 102, residence. K&M Wrecking LLC, 1437 SE 42, residence. Gregory Hooks, 1730 NE 19, house. M&M Wrecking Inc., 3616 NW 28, residence.

fans move quite a bit of air with only three blades. As a general rule of thumb, a fan with a diameter of 36 to 44 inches will handle a room up to about 225 square feet, and a fan with a 52 or 54 inch diameter will handle about 400 square feet. For rooms that have more square feet than that, use more fans. Ideally, the fans should be installed with the blades about 7 to 10 inches from the ceiling. Any closer than that and you won’t get a good air movement to stir up the stagnant air along the ceiling. Also, the blades should be at least 18 inches away from the wall. Most ceiling fans have the option of multiple speeds, so this is also a consideration when choosing a size. Larger blades have the capability of moving more air at a slower speed, so if you have relatively low ceilings, that can be a real advantage when you don’t want the fan to be blowing loose papers around! If you look at the fan blades from the end, you’ll see that they’re angled in relation to the floor, rather than being exactly

Ceiling fans should be installed with the blades about 7 to 10 inches from the ceiling. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO

parallel. It’s that angle that allows them to move air as they turn, like a horizontal airplane propeller. Most fans have a reversing switch, which allows the motor to run clockwise or counterclockwise. In one direction, the angle of the blades will pull air up from the floor toward the ceiling; in the other direction, the blades will push the air down from the ceiling toward the floor. If you have a very high ceiling, such as a room with a two story vault, you’d like to get the warm air that’s trapped up there pushed down, so the lower floors can take advantage of it. Typically, that means that the fan ro-

tation should be such that the blades are pushing the air down. However, in homes with lower ceilings, that downward push of air, even though it’s pushing the heat down, may also create an unpleasant breeze that actually makes you feel cold. In that case, reverse the motor so the blades are pulling the air up. That will create a convection current of air against the ceiling, and push the warm air that’s up there outward and down the exterior walls, which again stirs things up. The bottom line is that getting things where you want it from a heat distribution standpoint may take a bit of trial and error, with a combination of both blade rotation and blade speed. For cooling, things are more straightforward. Most people prefer to have the fan rotation set so the blades are pushing the air down, which stirs up the air and creates a nice cooling breeze. Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Buyers should attend home inspection DEAR BARRY: Our home inspection is scheduled. This is the first time we’ve bought a home, and we’re not sure what to do and what not to do. Our agent says it’s not important for us to attend the inspection, that we should just wait for the report. But we’re uncomfortable with that advice. There are so many things we want to ask the inspector. What do you recommend? Annamarie DEAR ANNAMARIE: Your agent is not giving you good advice. The importance of attending your home inspection cannot be emphasized too strongly. Too many homebuyers miss a great opportunity by not being present at their home inspection. Sometimes this is unavoidable, due to geographical dis-

tance. But whenever possible, buyers are strongly urged to participate in the inspection process. Being on site during the inspection, viewing specific conditions in person, consulting with the inspector, asking questions, and obtaining advice greatly magnify the benefits to you, the buyer. A home inspection is a factfinding mission in which the inspector is your hired advocate. You and the inspector should jointly engage in the discovery process. Both of you are there for the same reason — to learn as much as possible about the condition of the property. Prior to the inspection, most buyers make a purchase offer based upon a 15-minute walkthrough or run-through. At that point, they know very little

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

about a very expensive commodity. The home inspection provides buyers their only opportunity to slowly and methodically view and consider the object of their investment. During the inspection, they have hours to voice questions and concerns as they evaluate their prospective purchase. Buyers have even been known to discover defects the inspector might otherwise have missed. Buyer attendance also enables the inspector to explain the

meaning and importance of each condition noted in the inspection report. When buyers are not present at the inspection, conditions noted in the report must be read and interpreted without explanation. Lacking a verbal review of the findings, a buyer may overreact to minor disclosures, while failing to appreciate the importance of more serious ones. The onsite review provided by your inspector may be the most informative aspect of the entire home inspection process. When circumstances prevent buyers from attending the inspection, a telephone conference with the inspector is strongly advised. DEAR BARRY: We purchased our home about six months ago, and the home inspector said nothing about wood rot. I re-

cently discovered rotted eave boards when I was repainting the exterior. Shouldn’t this have been reported by our home inspector? John DEAR JOHN: Wood rot is caused by fungus. In most states, inspection for wood-destroying organisms such as fungus is not within the scope of a home inspection. Damage of this kind is typically covered by a licensed pest control operator, commonly known as a termite inspector. You should check your records to see if there was a pest report when you purchased the property. If so, call that company and ask them to reinspect the eaves around your home. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

Popularity of home elevators gets a lift BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

The 17,200-square-foot Los Angeles house that pop icon Michael Jackson leased has an elevator. So does the nearby 56,500square-foot mansion that heiress Petra Ecclestone bought from socialite Candy Spelling two years ago for $85 million. But home elevators aren’t just for the superrich anymore. Baby boomers looking to age in place are installing them to ease the burden of bad knees and growing girth. So are families juggling children, pets and groceries. Builders said lifts increasingly are showing up in house renovations, custom homes and high-end spec properties. McKinley Elevator Corp., an installer of home elevators, has opened an Irvine, Calif., showroom “to meet the explosion in demand,” said Mike Burke, vice president of sales. So far this year, he said, they’ve seen a huge architect-driven push for home elevators. Like other companies, privately owned McKinley wouldn’t divulge sales figures. And there is no central repository of home elevator stats nationwide. Still, a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders said that 25 percent of homeowners listed elevators as a desirable or essential feature, compared with just 8 percent in 2001. Glass elevators are in vogue in contemporary houses, while mahoganypaneled designs are pop-

Aden Enzer, 5, right, and her little sister Bennett, 2, use their elevator at home in Los Angeles. Families juggling children, pets and groceries are among those who are adding home elevators. MCT PHOTO

ular in traditional-style homes, said Gary Drake, chief executive of Drake Construction in Los Angeles. He has seen all sorts of customized models during his 30 years in construction. He once installed an elevator behind a den bookshelf. “It was totally hidden from view,” Drake said, “and above it was a working bell tower.” Home elevators and their uses are as varied as the families that have them. For Los Angeles resident Jennifer Katz, the home elevator gets a workout hauling strollers and small children. Two years ago, her mother bought a Spanish

Revival duplex and transformed it into a multigenerational family home by connecting the levels with an elevator. Katz, an editor at Fox News, likes the security of having her 5-year-old daughter visit grandmother within the safety of their home. “I can just send her down by herself,” Katz said. To reach the buttons, “she stands on a step stool.” Jane Angelich had a custom home built with an elevator in it a decade ago in Tiburon, Calif. The contemporary house was designed with the front door and foyer at garage level and the main living areas up a circular staircase. “I wanted to anticipate

what we would do if we couldn’t climb the stairs someday,” said Angelich, who was 50 at the time. “But it was also cool.”

Soon after moving in, Angelich discovered uses for the elevator besides carrying groceries from the garage to the kitchen. It proved handy for hauling the Christmas tree and for entertaining. But perhaps the most unexpected use for the elevator surfaced when she and her husband, Mark, became a breeder family for Guide Dogs for the Blind. They had no experience with pregnant dogs and had not anticipated how a pregnancy would affect a dog’s ability to climb stairs. “That elevator was just like a godsend,” said Angelich, chief executive of Supercollar, which invented and markets a dog collar with a built-in retractable leash. “You would find her sitting in front of the door waiting for her ride.” The floor plan of the Angelich residence is common in Los Angeles’ hilly neighborhoods, where designs place living areas on top to take in the

views. The average cost for a basic two-stop home elevator in a new home is $21,000 to $25,000, experts said. Three stops run from $28,000 to $30,000, and costs increase for customized “cabs,” as the residential cars are called. Adding an elevator within an existing home can easily double the expense. In addition to a spot for a shaft and the equipment, the elevator will need electricity and a phone line. Some cities require permits and an equipment closet; others do not. A standard-size elevator is 12 to 15 square feet, and a mid-size is 15 to 18 square feet. Some luxury homes have even larger commercial elevators or more than one lift. With so many variables, costs can range from $25,000 to $125,000 or more to add an elevator to an existing house. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

Living above the store and loving it BY MARY MEEHAN Lexington Herald-Leader

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Janice Langston admits that once in a great while she will set a fancy meal on the dining room table that’s part of the dining room suite for sale just down the hall from the family kitchen. It’s one of the benefits of having a house full of fabulous American and English antique reproduction furniture, lighting and accessories just steps from her private home. But generally Langston is more than content to share a cozy portion of the second floor of her store, Janice’s at the Salt Box, with her husband, Don. “It is our little nest. We couldn’t be happier,” she said. Her favorite place is her “throne” — a comfy, skirted, wingback chair in a floral print in the small living room. Don’s preferred perch is the plaid couch. For 23 years, the couple has lived and worked at 859 E High St. in Lexington. The first floor and part of the second are stuffed with merchandise. Tucked in an upstairs corner is the two-bedroom, two-bath home the couple shares. The only differences between the warm, lived-in feel of

Don and Janice Langston show part of their home above their store, Janice’s at the Salt Box, in Lexington, Ky. MCT PHOTOS

A four-poster bed is among the features of Janice and Don Langston’s home.

the retail space and the family home are the price tags in the store and the lack of family photos on the tables that are for sale. Langston designed her home with such traditional touches as Victorian-themed art in gilded frames, wood boxes with tasseled keys and even a cherubic girl in a large frame over the bathtub. The hardwood floors, installed when they moved in, have an antique feel accented by the oriental rugs that echo the traditional theme. The rooms are a mix of dark, rich colors, floral wallpaper and gleaming wood furniture, repro-

er in suburbia. But, Langston said, as her children got older, she became more involved with interior design and selling furniture. She said she didn’t grow up with a lot of nice things, but her mother made the most out of what they had. Langston inherited that knack. She started doing interior design work for friends and then ran a business out of the family home in Lexington’s Lansdowne neighborhood, where she would feature furniture from her home state of North Carolina. When Don Langston retired

duction and antique. The secretary in the couple’s bedroom was handed down several generations from Don’s family. The hanging cabinets in oak and mahogany were bought on a trip to London. To transition from home to work, Janice Langston said, they just shut the door. But living above the shop is very different from how the couple started out. They met at the University of North Carolina, where she was studying nursing and he was on the football team, and spent the first half of their 58 years togeth-

from IBM, the couple looked for a place where they could expand the business and downsize their home. They bought The Salt Box, which was a lighting store at the time. It had only one floor, so the Langstons added a second and an extension out the back with a three-car garage to create a 6,800-square-foot shop-home combo. Friends wondered whether people might take advantage, calling at all hours with decorating emergencies or asking the Langstons to open the store during off hours. But that hasn’t happened, Janice Langston said. She said the shop’s location was ideal because of the thousands of cars that drive by each day. While that might not be ideal for a home, the sound of traffic has never been a problem, Langston said. In fact, when the weather is nice, she and her husband like nothing better than hanging out on the upstairs patio, which she fills with flowers during the spring and summer.Janice Langston said working at home doesn’t get claustrophobic because she gets away a couple of times a week to play golf, and her husband has lunch with friends. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

HOUSE PLAN

Less clutter, more Carson offers vaulted kitchen convenience at forefront of trends

A vaulted kitchen is at the heart of the Carson, a mid-size ranch-style home with large gathering spaces and three big bedrooms. The more formal living and dining rooms are up front, while the openly linked great room and kitchen are at the rear. Wide multipane windows and an inviting front porch fill most of the front facade. The living room window to the right is stacked exceptionally high, and crowned by quarter rounds that flank an even higher half round. Entering, you pass by two slender sets of wooden posts that highlight the porch. Natural light washes into the entry through sidelights and a transom. The arched opening on the right leads into a vaulted living room where bookshelves fill the walls on both sides of the fireplace. On the opposite side of the entry, an arched opening offers access to the elegant, tray-ceilinged dining room. Another arched opening farther in leads into a long transverse hallway that links the bedroom wings, then leads on into the great room/kitchen. The powder room near the secondary bedrooms is conveniently located and sits across the hall from a bank of coat and storage closets. Windows fill most of the great room’s rear wall, and a fireplace nestles into the back corner farthest from the nook. Above, a suspended plant shelf helps define the kitchen. Below, a raised eating bar rims the angled peninsular counter. Counters and cupboards are in good supply, with

BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

the corner pantry and work island adding even more. Sliding glass doors in the Carson’s nook offer patio access. The well-appointed

owners’ suite also has sliding glass doors leading to the patio, plus a luxurious private bathroom, and a deep, deep walk-in closet.

A review plan of the Carson 30-670, including floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 for shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. www.associated designs.com. (800) 634-0123.

Remember when small closets were standard and people simply put their offseason wardrobes into storage? Every year, builders look at the emerging preferences of homebuyers, hoping to stay ahead of changes in the way we live. These days, clutter equals stress, said Jill Waage, an editorial director for Better Homes and Gardens. “Storage took on another level of importance when the economy started its downturn and people became more conscious of themselves,” Waage said. The sentiment, she said, was: “My stuff is stressing me out.” Among the solutions being added to new and existing homes are built-in storage at entrances such as shelving around the front door, under-stairway offices, storage drawers in shower benches and using the depth in twosided walls for cabinets and shallow shelves. “There’s no more dead space,” she said. The trend was among those identified by the Better Homes and Gardens attitudes study released at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas in January. While Gen Y buyers remain “financing-challenged” for several more years in regards to homeownership, single-family homebuilders are targeting both Gen X and late baby boomers, said Stephen Moore of Des Moines, Iowa-headquartered BSB Design. He identified several design trends: I 1. People are staying in their homes longer. Buyers have less of a “turn and burn” mentality now, Moore said, so designers are working with that in mind. I 2. Houses are growing again. Five years ago, the average new home had about 2,500 square feet of living space; last year it had more than 2,500 square feet. “Buyers are looking for the most square feet for the money,” he said. I 3. Casual spaces rule. Flex space is popular, and formal rooms are out with the exception of the foyer. “The lifestyle triangle — kitchen, family room and casual dining area — enables unified living,” he said. I 4. Buyers want their lives to be easier. The laundry room, for example, is moving closer to the dirty clothes. “No more walk-through laundry room” as a way into the house, Moore said. Recent designs are attaching the laundry room to the master closet. I 5. Specialized spaces are growing in popularity. Pet rooms, snore rooms and designs for multigenerational households are on the rise. As houses change to meet current lifestyles, features such as multiple master suites will become “the cup holders of housing,” Moore said. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Landmark tree cut down as Joplin resident rebuilds BY RYAN RICHARDSON The Joplin Globe

JOPLIN, Mo. — When Roger Allen returned to what was left of his house at 2314 Virginia St. after the May 22, 2011, tornado, he didn’t notice the 6-foot pole sticking out of the massive elm tree in his yard. His focus was on the devastation that his neighbors and his community had suffered. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that he realized the pole sticking out of his 80-year-old elm was slowly becoming a landmark. That landmark recently came down as Allen prepared to break ground on his home. For Allen, it is a bittersweet moment. “It was the only big tree left, and there it was with this big heavy pole sticking out of it,” Allen said. “It was healthy before and I wanted to save it, make it the centerpiece of my yard, but the damage was too much and it had to go.” The elm was twisted almost 180 degrees counterclockwise, with the ¾-inch pole going through the center. The roof from someone’s garage was wrapped around

the trunk. Allen estimated that roughly 300 people came by and took pictures during the cleanup. “People wanted to see this tree,” Allen said. “It survived when nothing on this block did. There weren’t trees left after that storm, and here is this giant tree standing among them.” Allen was not in his home when the tornado touched down. He had found safety at his mother’s house with his sister and niece. He had just got the door shut when the tornado ripped through the house. “I could hear the glass cracking and I got the door shut as I heard the furniture being thrown around,” Allen said. “We got lucky; someone was watching out for us.” Working his way back through the six blocks to his house, he was directing people he found to the Taco Bell on Main Street because he saw people already gathering in the parking lot. “I had to help people and make sure people were OK,” Allen said. “I couldn’t find where I lived because everything was different and I just kept

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finding people who needed help. I thought it was just a few blocks, and maybe the police and paramedics would be there shortly. We had no idea that it went through the whole town.” During the months that followed, Allen spent a lot of time with charities that came to the area to assist. A locksmith by trade, Allen did not charge anyone during that time. Instead, he directed people needing help to the charities that helped him. “I wanted to let them know that there were people out there who could help.” Allen said. “Rebuild Joplin, Compassion in Action, Convoy of Hope, Catholic Charities … There are so many out there that helped us. Losing a house didn’t get to me. Seeing those people who came out to help is what got to me.” Allen will salvage the pole to put in his new home. “I kept the plaques people left, and I will keep the pole,” Allen said. “If I can display it somehow, I will. It’s not going anywhere.” MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

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bookcases. A media-game room is upstairs. The kitchen has an island with gas range, pantry and breakfast bar. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and bath with double vanities and whirlpool tub. Secondary bedrooms have walk-in closets; two have full baths; one has a ceiling fan. The home has a covered patio, open patio and covered porch. The home features knotty alder wood

By Penn Sq. clean, modern 2 Bd, 1.5 Ba, Appliances, no-smoke or pets, some bills paid. secluded $785/mo + deposit. 866-440-5354 2317 Woodward 1 bd 1 ba 1 car 950sf $575/mo $400/dep wash/dryer connections 405-409-7989 no sec 8 1721 NW 1st 1bed 1bath 681-7272

$365

Bills Paid

Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077

3 bd, 2 ba, 2 car , approx 1700 sf, $900/mo, Call Alex, 990-0488.

3108 Dentwood Ter 3/1/1 681-7272

$575

1715 Craig 4/2/2 $1250 18413 Laurel Oak 3/2.5/2 $1295 410 Sunnyside 2/1/1 $795 1929 Chaparral Ln 3/2/2 $1595 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

$575 2car $550 $465

309 Potomac 3/2/2 $895 10008 Shadowview 3/2/2 $1295 10000 B. Shadowview 3/2/2 $825 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 1213 SW 97th spacious 3bd home 2ba 2car, fresh paint, clean, great area, Westmoore schools. Only $1000 mo Fidelity 410-4200

1407 SW 77th Pl. 3bd 1K ba 2car gar new carpet & paint no section 8 or pets $750mo. 405-250-7518 J Glen & WHS Schls, 3/1/1, ch&a, no pets/no sec 8/no smoker, $600 + $500 dep. 691-5440/600-8189

2 for 1!! 2bed in front, 1 bed in back. $695mo $300dep. 631-8039.

3bd, 1.5ba, ch&a, fenced backyard $750+dep 405-799-9579/206-2377 3 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, all brick, $750 month, $200 dep, 405-651-9370.

11629 SW 10th, brand new construction, 3 bed, 2 bath, $1400 per month + deposit, 755-0015, co

Putnam City North Area 7512 Northway Court 4bed, 3ba, 2 car garage, 2784 1FP, 2-story $1400/mo. Carol 751-0501; 8349888; hunters2@sbcglobal.net 13305 Green Valley Executive Home 4bed 2ba 2 car 2459sf, 2 liv 2din, granite,fireplace, Deer Creek Schools, $1600/mo, $1600/dep 405-409-7989 no sec 8 Gated Garden Home 2bed, 2bath, 2 car gar. NW 159th & Penn area. $1600/mo 627-0610

N. Highland, 4 Bed, 1.5 Bath, fenced, Sec. 8, 0 dep., $800/mo. Newly decorated. 678-588-1063 3b 2b 2c, new crpt, paint, 4212 NW 58th ¡ $1100 ¡ 830-3399 3/2/2 11012 Spring Hollow Rd. No Sec 8, No pets 405-749-7877 1138 Bradley 2 bd, w/carprt $600mo, $450dep 596-0165 618-8723

4721 SE 50th 3/1.5/2 529 SE 72nd 3bd 1.5ba 681-7272 Luxury Duplexes, 1900 sq ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car gar, $1100/mo, $500dep.405-227-5467

4000 SW 26th 3bd 1.5ba 1401 SW 34th 3bed 1bath detached garage 1406 Youngs newly built 2/1 Free List ¡ 681-7272

3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, built 2007, $1100/mo, Call Alex, 990-0488 .

3500 NW 12th Corner 3bd 2ba ch&a, new carpet & paint, no smoking $675 + dep 405-320-0858

NW OKC, PC Schools, 2 bed, 2K bath, all appliances, most bills No pets, No section 8. 720-1419

3/2/2 Avail 03/09 $775 Sec 8 ok 1FP/Near Tinker/480-652-0113.

3600 NE 143, 3 bd, 2K ba, 2 car, all beds & 2 baths upstairs, ch&a, $1045/mo, $1045/dep, 370-1077.

HISTORIC CHARMER 2bd/1ba, hardwood, fresh paint, all appls. No lrg pets! $595 405-314-9787

Luxury condo lg redec 2/2 fp, wet bar, gated pool. Near OU HSC, OCU & Penn Sq. $1000 882-4978

Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send a copy of the MLS information sheet on a single-family home to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.

3321 SW 24, 2 bed, fncd bkyd $375 + $300 dep. 405-412-6881

15825 Sky Run Drive, Deer Creek schools, 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, $1500 per mo + dep, 755-0015, co

Newly Remodeled Townhome 2720 SW 74th 2bed 1.5 ba $525 & dep No pets or S8. (405)702-5004

throughout, wood floors in the entry, hallways and large family room and glazed paint highlights. The home, built in 2005, is listed for $475,000 with Karen Blevins of Churchill-Brown & Associates Realtors. For more information, call 330-0031.

2624 SW 46 Terr 3bed 1ba 1 car 1100sf $675/mo $400/dep 405-409-7989 no sec 8

1bed All Bills Paid 946-9506

I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM

Lake Eufaula, Porum Landing area, 3bd, 2ba, great kitchen, office space, living room w/ FP, 1400sf, total electric, energy efficient, insulated concrete, backup electrical syst. Great View! Boat dock. $250,000 ¡‘¡ 918-689-9129

Apartments

• Large 2Bd 2Ba with Fireplace • We Pay Heat, Hot Water • Covered Parking • Free Laundry • No Section 8 848-4339 or 659-2788 anytime

VALENCIA APTS APTS/TOWNHOUSES 2221 N Meridian $99 Special 946-6548

UNFURNISHED ALL BILLS PAID

Bank Owned 3bd 2ba 3car garage, 2 liv, 2228sf, blt 93, large kitch, storage $190K Rlty Exp 414-8753

Gated Belle Isle Terrace

PARKLANE 2&3 BD TOWNHOMES 8100 N MACARTHUR BLVD $200 OFF 1ST MO. 721-5455

Abandoned D/W set up on 6 acres. Ready to move in. Many to choose from. Statewide 631-7600 Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777

The Listing of the Week is a two-story French-Old English-style home with a pool on a corner lot in the gated Oakmond addition near NW 150 and Santa Fe Avenue. The 4,058-square-foot home at 301 NW 149 Terrace has four bedrooms, three baths, two halfbaths, four living rooms, two dining areas and an attached three-car garage. The family room has a fireplace and cathedral ceiling. The study has built-in

Free Rent 'til April. 1 & 2 bed. Villas @ Putnam Green. 720-3102.

Double Your Tax Refund up to $5,000!! Use refund & receive Visa gift card with new home purchase. No refund, use your land/family land ZERO down. E-Z qualify by phone. WAC 631-7600 Double Your Tax Refund up to $5000 w/new home purchase. Don't prejudge credit. E-Z qualify by phone. New & repo homes available 405-631-7600 WAC

The Listing of the Week is at 301 NW 149 Terrace.

Briargate Apts - PLAZA District 1712 N Indiana Large 1 bed 1 bath STARTING at $550/mo $300/dep wood floors. Tenant pays electric only. 405-409-7989 no sec 8

80 acres Hughes County Canadian river bottom, deer & turkey $59,000 918-424-4604

LISTING OF THE WEEK: 301 NW 149 TERRACE

Walford Apts Midtown 518 NW 12- LARGE 2bed 1ba 1300sf Electric only $1000/mo $1000/dep wash & dryer connections 405-409-7989

PIEDMONT OPEN SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

$725 $650

5216 Briarwood 2bd 1ba 1car ch/a $600 mo Harris RE 410-4300 2800 SE 56th, 2 bed, fenced yard, $400 month + deposit, 446-8552.

Lovely 3bd Home Great Neighborhood The Village: North on Penn past Britton Lovely 3 Bed, 1K Bath, 2 car, fenced, brick home in the Village. Great neighborhood East of Penn. New roof, carpet, paint, blinds, ceiling fans, stove, oven, microwave & dishwasher. Hardwood floored dining and outdoor deck. Perfect 1200 ft for nonsmokers. 1 year lease, $995 first & last & $500 security deposit. Erik @ 405-728-7711 1803 Oxford Way 2bd, 1ba, 1car att gar. Nice bkyd. no smoking. $625mo + dep 405-320-0858 10504 Whitehaven: 3 bed, 2 bath, wood floors, $900/mo. 840-2320

Mobile Home Lot For Rent SE 134th & Sooner Rd. Move your mobile home into country style lot with storm shelter, water, sanitary sewer, & garbage paid by owner. $215/mo. Carol or Wes 405-672-4747 405-919-1918 Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777

We can handle all your residential property management needs » Since 1962 » Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777

ROOM: share kitchen, bath, laundry, cable incl. $375/mo + food. 405-979-9399

*** Brand New *** Red Cedar Village Seniors 62+ Income Restrictions Apply $299 MOVE IN by MAR 15th 405-395-4801 TTY 1-800-722-0353 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP ACCESSABLE

10E

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Electric vehicles use special home chargers BY DEBORAH PETERSEN San Jose Mercury News

FREMONT, Calif. — Shinya Fujimoto bought his Nissan Leaf during heady times for electric-vehicle fans. It was spring 2011, when there was so much anticipation over a shipment of these all-electric vehicles from Japan to the West Coast that someone climbed aboard a chopper, shot photos of the cars on shipboard on their way to Southern California and posted them on a blog popular among plug-in vehicle owners. “These people were crazy,” said Fujimoto, who admits to being such an enthusiast that he keeps Excel spreadsheets to illustrate the savings his Leaf has brought over the gasoline-powered vehicle he drove before. (It’s been about $100 to $150 per month, he said.) When Fujimoto’s shiny baby-blue Nissan finally arrived in July 2011 — after delays caused by Japan’s tsunami — he already had a key piece of equipment waiting for it: a home charging station. “I wanted to make sure I got it before I got the car,” said Fujimoto. His 240-volt Blinkmanufactured station was installed a month before the car arrived. Technically speaking, the charger itself is in the vehicle, and the plug-in station designed to deliver the charge most efficiently is known as the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, or EVSE. Generally, electric vehicles, or EVs, can be charged by plugging in the car’s charging cable to a regular household outlet, which in most cases delivers about 120 volts. But EV owners refer to the juice flowing through such “Level 1” stations as a “trickle charge.” A Level 1 power source takes up to 21 hours for a Nissan Leaf, for example, to go from zero to a full charge. A preferred Level 2 AC charger, which delivers from 208 to 240 volts, takes eight hours or less. That is why an EVSE that is

Shinya Fujimoto’s Nissan Leaf charging at his home.

Shinya Fujimoto uses an electric vehicle charger for his Nissan Leaf that is installed in his Fremont, Calif., home.

On the left is the fast-charging port and on right is the slow-charge port on Shinya Fujimoto’s Nissan Leaf.

more efficient than a Level 1 outlet is found in more and more homes of EV owners. In general, preparing a home for a charging station is as simple as wiring the residence to power a clothes dryer, said Jason Smith, San Francisco regional sales manager for ECOtality. His company oversees the EV Project, which installs chargers for free to qualifying Leaf and Chevrolet Volt owners in some parts of the country. Level 2 EV chargers, he explains, require a 40-

Simple solutions to perk up your home for spring BY KAREN DEER St. Louis Post-Dispatch

This is the time of year for spring cleaning, home improvements and gardening makeovers. However, you don’t need to go big to make an impact. Simple tweaks inside and out can add a powerful punch to your decor. I Remove upper cabinet doors to open up the look of your cabinets. You may have to sand down the small hinges. I Update a kitchen faucet. Shop vintage or resale stores and select an architectural style to blend with your decor. I Try flea-market finds such as vintage pottery to update a kitchen or fireplace mantel. I Enhance curb appeal by adding a colorful planter filled with annuals and perennials.

MCT PHOTOS

I Install a small section of backsplash behind the kitchen sink to create a dramatic change. Select cheaper textures such as tin or even glass tiles. I In a small bathroom, try a bold color of paint on one wall. I Change the grout color in a kitchen or bathroom. I Give your appliances a face-lift. Try ordering new doors or face panels from the manufacturer. Don’t forget the dishwasher door. Many of them come with a white panel and a black panel. It can be as simple as sliding the panel out and flipping it over. I Create artwork with discarded wooden windows. Paint or refinish the trim and hang. I Fresh flowers can change the appearance of a room. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Try a bold color of paint on one bathroom wall. THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

amp circuit breaker, which most of today’s homes already have. “The primary consideration is that there is a spare breaker on your main panel,” Smith said. If so, “the installation is quite routine.” He added that the work should be done by a licensed electrician, and the installation requires a permit from the community where the EV driver lives. Older homes may require an electrical system upgrade, adding to the cost. Also, permit costs vary from communi-

ty to community. These days, you can purchase charging stations at stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, as well as at Amazon.com. But before selecting a station, EV drivers need to check their owners’ manuals and contact their auto dealers and utility companies to make sure their units are fully compatible with their cars, take full advantage of their charging capabilities and are likely to remain usable in the future, as EVs continue to improve. Boning up on electricity

basics may make shopping for a station easier. Those who do so find that voltage refers essentially to how much electricity is available, and amperage to how fast that electricity is delivered. The 2013 Leaf, for example, will have a 24-amp charging capability, upgraded from the 2012 model. So if a driver of the 2013 model were to purchase a 240-volt, 16-amp station, the vehicle would charge slower than it could with a 24-amp station. Conversely, an EV with a 16-amp charging capability will charge no faster if attached to a 24-amp station. Stations can also be purchased directly from manufacturers such as Blink, whose Level 2 home model retails for $1,495. Blink’s Level 2 stations are also being installed at workplaces and in public spaces such as parking garages as part of the EV Project. ECOtality has installed a few of Blink’s “Cadillac” charging stations, fast 480-volt DC chargers can deliver a full charge in just 25 minutes. Long charging times and relatively short mile-

age ranges from a single charge are the biggest factors that drive potential customers away from EV ownership at present. The Tesla has the longest range, but it comes with a higher price tag than the competitors. Under the program, which is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, 6,500 chargers have been installed in homes throughout the United States. The amount covered for installation cost is as low as $400 in some regions. To receive a charging station for free through the EV Project, the homeowner must agree to share data from it with the federal government. Data collected so far from the stations of Leaf and Chevrolet Volt (a hybrid plug-in model that also uses gasoline) drivers since 2009 covers 63 million miles of travel and offers a wealth of information on EV trends, including an increase in use of chargers away from home, according to Smith. The EV Project is winding down but is still accepting applications. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES