The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Spacious brick home

Large family room

A traditional, two-story brick home in the Blue Stem Lake neighborhood in northwest Oklahoma City has 3,296 square feet, including four bedrooms and three living rooms.

A big family room, open to the kitchen and eating nook, is at the heart of the Worthington.

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REAL ESTATE

Kenneth Harney

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Affiliated Builders Group helps homebuilders pool resources BY DYRINDA TYSON

Building relationships The three partners agreed such a model could work for their builder clients, Waddle said. “We had relationships established with them,” he said. “We began to ask several of those homebuilders what their opinion on putting together a group like this was and got a lot of favorable response.” Suppliers, many of them in buying groups themselves, were

Having the wrong mortgage insurer will keep some people from getting helped out of their underwater home loans. Page 3F

NEW DUCT SEALING METHOD

Craig Johnston of Johnston Builders is shown at a home the company has under construction near Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road. The company is among those that have joined Affiliated Builders Group to create buying power to acquire building materials at bulk prices. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

open to the idea as well. “The moment you started talking their language, they understood how it would benefit the builders,” McElroy said. ABG now encompasses 21 homebuilding companies in the Oklahoma City area with a combined 475 home starts projected for 2012, said McElroy, ABG’s executive vice president, “which as a unit would make ABG the biggest homebuilder in the market, relative to the market.” ABG has expanded to Tulsa, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Kansas City, expanding the company’s economies of scale as well. And it does help the bottom line, said Jim Schuff, co-owner of Vesta Homes, which was among the first companies to join ABG. “I thought we had the best prices already. We build 50 homes a year,” he said. But factor in bringing in more builders spread out over more states, and the picture SEE BUILDERS, PAGE 2F

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

checkups and cleanings. Rather than boycotting dental offices, he recommends you seek to save money by negotiating with dental providers on cost. “Interview several dentists to find a good one who will work with you on price. For example, ask if they would charge you less if you’re willing to pay cash or take a last-minute appointment when another patient cancels,” Economides said. Many consumers assume “you get what you pay for” when it

A new kind of ductsealing technology is now available. Aerosol duct sealing stops leaks in heating and air-conditioning ducts from the inside, making it easier to seal ducts that are hidden in walls or are otherwise inaccessible. The technology, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, involves blowing an aerosol of polymer particles into the ductwork. As the particles exit through a leak, they stick to its edges and build up to seal the opening. Sealing prevents heated or cooled air from seeping out of the ducts and potentially saves money and energy, particularly when the leaks are in unconditioned areas. The cost of sealing ducts in a two- or three-bedroom home would start around $2,200, the company says. Go to http:// www.aeroseal.com/ for more information.

FEMININE TOUCH Affiliated Builders Group CEO Hai Bui, President Todd Waddle and Executive Vice President Jeff McElroy, from left, are shown in the company’s office at 307 E Danforth Road in Edmond. ABG creates buying power for member builders and acquires building materials at bulk prices. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

The hard ‘tooth’ about saving for a home Dental costs are high and fees for unanticipated procedures — like an expensive root canal, crown or implant — can wallop a family’s savings plan. That makes it tougher for would-be homebuyers to set aside enough money to improve their housing situation. But it’s possible for wannabe homebuyers to contain dental expenses without sacrificing the health of their teeth. “It’s a great time to buy a home, assuming you can save for a down payment. But to do so you have to be strategic in your spending, and that includes dental spending,” said Steve Economides, co-author of “America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money” and other personal finance books. Economides said too many families try to save on dental care the wrong way, by simply skipping

Mortgage refinancing tripwires

IN BRIEF

For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com

EDMOND — Three bankers, three thinkers, a lot of discussions over lunch — and then a business was born. “The joke was, it started at a Sonic,” said Jeff McElroy, 41, who founded Affiliated Builders Group with partners Todd Waddle and Hai Bui in 2006. The idea behind ABG was simple: Put the power of numbers to work for homebuilders. It’s a concept familiar to their vendors and suppliers, who routinely pool their resources in buying groups across the country, but it was new territory for homebuilders. The goal from the start was to help builders reduce their costs and become more competitive, McElroy said. “Especially in the last five years, you know,” he said, with the economy and its drag on homebuilding. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.” The three met on the job around 2004 at Intrust Bank in Oklahoma City, where they meshed their talents — Waddle, 45, in business development, finding clients, with McElroy and Bui, 38, providing financial expertise. “We kind of became a threeheaded monster,” McElroy said, going on sales calls together. In between, they debated ways to put their talents to work in a business of their own. Most of their clients were homebuilders, so talk turned in that direction. Many builders, Waddle said, “left a lot of money on the table” when it came to supplies simply because they didn’t have enough staff to shop around and negotiate. Waddle saw a solution from his own past. He spent 20 years with an industrial distributorship in Texas that was part of a buying group. That group allowed member businesses to pool their resources, giving them a better footing to compete with larger, national competitors.

THE NATION’S HOUSING

comes to dental care. But Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers’ Checkbook magazine, questions that assumption “We haven’t found any relationship between cost and quality of services, whether for dentistry, plumbing or auto repair,” said Krughoff, whose nonprofit organization (www.checkbook.org) does extensive research to rate services in several metro areas throughout the U.S. For a family trying to save for a home purchase, is cosmetic dentistry an unwarranted expense? Not necessarily, said Dr. John Sullivan, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He said that improving your smile can enhance your career prospects, thereby increasing your earning potential. Improving the look of your teeth — whether through straight-

ening, whitening, bonding or veneers — can cost thousands of dollars. But Sullivan said you can obtain excellent cosmetic dental services without going to fancy practitioners. “There are dentists who do amazingly good cosmetic work at reasonable prices in many parts of the country and those in smaller areas may be less expensive,” Sullivan said. He recommended the website of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (www.aacd.com), which can help people find nearby dentists who have earned academy accreditation through advanced training and experience in the cosmetic field To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Jacqueline deMontravel believes every woman deserves a space all her own. Creating that space is the subject of her new book, “Hers: Design With a Feminine Touch.” DeMontravel, editor of Romantic Homes magazine, offers strategies and ideas for designing places where a woman can relax and recharge. It might be the traditional boudoir, or it could be a work space for creating, a garden retreat or even a living room that’s shared by the whole family. What matters is that it serves as a sanctuary, a place that’s comfortable and makes the occupant feel her best. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Stone Permits

5F 7F

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

A granite-topped work island centers the kitchen of a home by Johnston Builders near Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road in The Village. The company is among those that have joined Affiliated Builders Group to create buying power to acquire building materials at bulk prices. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Builders: A lot more buying power FROM PAGE 1F

changes. “Bottom line: Collectively as a group, there’s a lot more buying power than me building 50 homes,” Schuff said. But it’s not just about the price tag. “I don’t have to spend all my time trying to get the best price on everything that goes in a house,” said Craig Johnston, coowner of Johnston Builders. “They’re kind of doing some of that legwork for me.”

More services planned And ABG is adding to its services this year, rolling out Professional Builder Resources to help builders deal with the back-end operations with equipment and training. It will allow “builders to really focus on the art of the construction process,” Waddle said. They also plan to convene a vendor panel, seeking feedback from vendors and suppliers on what it would take to keep their overhead down. “Part of what ABG pro-

The dining area is staged for informal use in a model home by Johnston Builders. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

vides is an avenue to get both sides of the table together and see what we can accomplish, to make both sides of the equation profitable,” Waddle said. ABG has managed to grow against the stark

backdrop of a housing market in chaos, though the negative effects were largely limited in Oklahoma, McElroy said. “We wouldn’t know a good housing market if it bit us on the nose,” he said.

This view shows the living area of a home by Johnston Builders.

“But we feel fortunate and very blessed that we’ve been able to build this business in this kind of an environment and really working with good companies.”

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

Craig Johnston of Johnston Builders is shown in a model home at 10237 Hawthorn Drive in The Village. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Tripwires in federal refinancing

Mike Grissom

Grissom joins Paradigm Mike Grissom has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate’s office at 16301 N May Ave. as a residential real estate sales associate. He owned and managed Grissom Manufacturing, a custom cabinet and trim contractor, for six years before starting his own homebuilding business. He also has been involved in commercial development, construction and leasing. He is a longtime member of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association; he was president and recipient of the Builder of the Year Award in 2001. He also is a member of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association and the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and national associations of Realtors. He attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management.

WASHINGTON — The most ambitious federal mortgage program to date aimed at millions of underwater homeowners is poised to take off in the coming week, yet some key issues could hinder borrowers’ participation. One of them involves something most owners know nothing about: Who was your mortgage insurer on your underwater loan? Though it was announced by the Obama administration late last year, the so-called “HARP 2.0” — the second version of the Home Affordable Refinance Program — will only hit full stride around the middle of this month, when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac finish tweaking their automated underwriting systems to accept applications, and lenders and mortgage insurance companies start handling large volumes of requests. The revisions are crucial for owners who have outstanding mortgage balances in excess of 125 percent of the current resale values of their homes. Under the second version of HARP, there is no upper limit on permissible loanto-value ratios (LTV’s). You can owe twice or even three times the value of your home and still qualify for a refinancing at today’s low interest rates. The earlier version imposed a limit of 125 percent, which cut out millions of the hardest-hit victims of the real estate bust. The latest HARP also comes with streamlined underwriting — no requirement for physical appraisals in many cases, speedy processing and elimination of

Handymen R’ Us boss gets honor Handymen R’ Us Inc.’s founder and president, Vic Vickers, a member of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association as a remodeler, has completed its 24-hour course required to become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. He is among the first graduates in the state. “Aging in place” refers to modifications made in a house to accommodate people as they age. Vickers has been trained to use his remodeling skills by addressing home functionality, efficiency, safety and community services. “It was exciting to learn three things,” he said. “One, over 75 percent of us can stay in our own homes with the right planning and preparation. Two, ‘Aging in place’ is safe, accessible, convenient and can be absolutely beautiful. Three, the ‘Aging in Place’ certification designed by the National Association of Home Builders, the AARP, and the American Institute of Architects provides an overview of dozens of agencies and possible benefits we can help identify.”

THE NATION’S HOUSING

some of the deal-breaker fees imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in recent years. The objective, federal officials say, is to get it right this time around by removing the previous obstacles to widespread participation by lenders and severely underwater borrowers. Industry studies estimate that as many as 6.9 million loans could fit the broad requirements for refinancing, but that far fewer — somewhere around 2 million borrowers — are likely to qualify on all the detailed eligibility criteria. Among the key rules: I Only loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are eligible. Underwater borrowers who have Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs or other types of mortgages are not. Both companies’ websites — www.fanniemae.com and www.freddiemac.com — offer “look up” features that tell you whether they own your loan. I Your mortgage must have been purchased or securitized by either company no later than May 31, 2009, and must have an LTV ratio in excess of 80 percent. I You must be current on your loan with no 30-day late payments during the six months pre-

Bottom line for you if you’re deeply underwater and interested in a HARP refi: Proceed with your application anyway, but be aware there are tripwires and snares that could derail you. lower interest rates to as many as 10 percent to 15 percent of underwater borrowers who might otherwise qualify. Some major lenders, such as Quicken Loans, said in interviews that they will have to either set aside or reject HARP applications where the original loan carries United Guaranty insurance. United Guaranty, a subsidiary of giant insurer AIG, said in an email statement to me that it “fully supports the Obama administration’s efforts” in revising HARP, and that only a “minority” of its insured mortgages should be affected by its policy disagreement with the rest of the industry. Bottom line for you if you’re deeply underwater and interested in a HARP refi: Proceed with your application anyway, but be aware there are tripwires and snares that could derail you. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

Keller Williams adds two Alex Woods

Vic Vickers

Kenneth Harney

ceding application and no more than one late payment during the last 12 months. If you think you qualify right now, you can apply to your mortgage servicer and ask how to proceed. Once the fully automated program gets going and your LTV is higher than 125 percent, you should also be able to shop around among other lenders who are large enough to run servicing operations of their own. But be aware of a little-noticed glitch that has arisen in the program that could hamper your opportunity to refinance. Some lenders may not want to proceed with your application solely because of a detail buried in your loan documents that was always beyond your control: the name of the mortgage insurer on your current loan. If it is United Guaranty Corp., they may set your application aside because that firm alone has not agreed to adhere fully to the streamlined procedures other insurers accepted as part of the basic deal with the White House, Fannie and Freddie to kick-start the revised refi program. The issue is technical and complicated — United Guaranty has refused to waive its rights to force lenders to repurchase what it considers badly underwritten loans, and is requiring additional underwriting in some cases. All other private mortgage insurers have waived their rights. The net effect of United Guaranty’s policy, say lenders and federal officials, is to disrupt the intended fast and efficient processing of HARP refi applications — potentially denying

EDMOND — Keller Williams Realty, 10 E Campbell in Edmond, has added two residential real estate sales associates. Alex Woods has 22 years of experience in real estate. He is a short sale specialist. Previously, he was a licensed appraiser, tax preparer, life and health insurance agent, and for 10 years was owner-oper-

ator of a restaurant and blues-comedy lounge. He came to Edmond from Rockford, Ill. Kathy Cooley has been in the real estate business since 2000 and holds the Certified Relocation Specialist, Certified Staging Professional, and Graduate Realtor Institute professional designations.

Kathy Cooley

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Hemingway boyhood home is on the block

This Oct. 26, 1965, file photo shows John Lennon, left, and Paul McCartney as they smile during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. The two Beatles’ boyhood homes will be preserved.

BY TED GREGORY

monument since at least 1974, when the Historical Society of Oak Park and CHICAGO — In the world River Forest placed a of legacies, Oak Park, Ill., plaque in the front yard. has a couple of biggies. The last Hemingway to live The brilliant, scandain the home, Grace, vacatlous architect Frank Lloyd ed it in 1936, eight years afWright spent the first 20 ter her husband commityears of his career there, ted suicide in their secleaving the western subond-floor bedroom. urb with the world’s largeThe next owners carved st collection of buildings it into three apartments, he designed. and that’s the way it Then there’s the brilstayed. In 2001, the Heliant, scandalous writer mingway Foundation borErnest Hemingway, who rowed $420,000 and, aidwas born in Oak Park and ed by a $100,000 gift from spent nearly his first 20 Ernest Hemingway the village of Oak Park, AP FILE PHOTO years there, writing his bought the home for earliest pieces, gaining an $520,000, Berry said. appreciation for nature and dreaming of Eight years later, the foundation and worldly adventures. Dominican University in River Forest Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio agreed on a $1.5 million plan to transform is a popular tourist attraction that draws it into “a unique and dynamic cultural 80,000 visitors a year. center to educate citizens of the world for Hemingway’s boyhood home is essen- the 21st century,” according to a plan detially a three-flat that officially was put veloped by Dominican. up for sale last week after an effort to conThat vision included rebuilding the vert it into “an international community home’s original first-floor “music room,” center” unraveled. removed years ago, and using it for disThat development may be nothing plays, performances, “salons and convermore than sations.” The second and third floors were another example of an anemic economy, to serve as “a residential retreat for scholor it may shed light on precisely where the ars and artists.” literary giant and Nobel Prize winner The agreement between the university stacks up, at least locally, against Wright, and foundation, signed July 1, 2009, who some say shifted the course of 20th- called for Dominican to lease and maincentury architecture. tain the property for two years while “It was a great plan,” said John Berry, fundraising grew. If all went well, the unichairman of the Ernest Hemingway versity would buy the home and continue Foundation of Oak Park, which owns the working with the Hemingway Foundation slate-blue, three-story stucco home. on its use. “But it was a bad market for raising monBut the plan, undertaken in the middle ey.” of the worst economic downturn since Designed in part by Hemingway’s the Great Depression, failed to gain mother, Grace, the 4,200-square-foot momentum. home has been something of a living MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Chicago Tribune

SYNLawn is a synthetic grass that is easy to install and maintain.

MCT PHOTO

Easy way to perfect lawn BY KATHY VAN MULLEKOM Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)

The dream of a perfect lawn, if that’s your goal in life, is easier than you think. No watering. No fertilizing. No mowing. No weeding. Just sit back and enjoy the sight of green grass — synthetic, that is. SYNLawn, the maker of residential synthetic grass, teams with Lowe’s to provide the look of a perfect lawn for weekend warriors who want to be the envy of their neighborhood. The company provides rolls of synthetic turf in the most popular sizes, along with basic installation tools for customers who need smaller amounts of turf and want to install it themselves, according to a news release. SYNLawn has been testing the program in some Lowe’s stores for a couple years, and now offers it in stores from South Carolina to California; it should be in all stores within a couple years. Online, you can find it in fescue, zoysia and Bermuda textures, as well as pre-cut putting greens. The new program offers three pre-cut and prepackaged sizes offering flexibility for design. Those sizes are 3-by-11, 5-by-7 ½ and 7 ½-by-11 feet. These pre-cut

pieces of synthetic turf can be used for a variety of projects ranging from landscaping areas, pet areas, play areas, common areas, garages, basements, roof decks and outdoor patios. Costs for the stock rolls range from $130 to $300. The synthetic turf comes with detailed installation instructions. Lowe’s carries all tools needed for the project. The turf eliminates mud tracking, is washable, non allergenic and comes with a warranty whether you have it installed or do it yourself. “SYNLawn turf products save millions of gallons of water each year, reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption from lawn equipment, and keep fertilizers and pesticides away from pets and out of the groundwater supply,” said George Neagle, vice president of sales and marketing for SYNLawn. “The uses are only limited by the imagination of the customer.” SYNLawn products have replaced petroleum-based polyurethane with soybean oils in the manufacturing process, utilize secondary backing materials made from recycled plastic bottles, and are 100-percent recyclable, according to SYNLawn .com. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Metcalfe joins Paradigm

Michelle Metcalfe

PIEDMONT — Michelle Metcalfe has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate’s west office at 13100 Colony Pointe in Piedmont. She has lived in Oklahoma City all of her life and has been in the real estate business for 20 years. Metcalfe studied art at

the University of Oklahoma. She is an artist, specializing in abstract painting, and is a member of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Individual Artists of Oklahoma, the Paseo Artists Association and is the membership chairman of the Oklahoma Art Guild.

AP FILE PHOTO

Childhood homes of Lennon, McCartney to be preserved THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — The childhood homes of former Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney are to be preserved. U.K. heritage minister John Penrose said that Lennon’s house in south Liverpool and McCartney’s nearby home will be

given a grade 2 listing, which means they cannot be altered without local authority permission. Lennon lived at 251 Menlove Ave. from 1945 to 1963 with his aunt and uncle after his parents separated when he was 5. McCartney lived in nearby Forthlin Road for nine years from 1955.

The two musicians wrote The Beatles’ first No. 1 hit “Please Please Me” at Lennon’s home. The National Trust, a preservation group, already has restored the houses to look as they would have done when Lennon and McCartney were growing up.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Many homeowners ‘frozen’ due to slump BY BONNIE MILLER RUBIN Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — When Tracey and Todd Fine were engaged, they bought a two-bedroom condo in Chicago’s East Ukrainian Village. The price was high, but given the white-hot market in the adjacent Wicker Park neighborhood, they thought it was a strategic investment. Today, their newlywed nest is a 1,200square-foot obstacle course of toys and books. The couch stands a mere 2 feet from the dining room table, where their almost 3-year-old twins wave spoons of ice cream. Meanwhile, kindergarten — something that wasn’t even on the radar when they bought in 2006 — looms. “We are stuck … and we can’t go anywhere,” said Tracey Fine, 34. She estimates they would lose more than $100,000 if their condo sold tomorrow. At a very different place in the life cycle is Suzanne Allison, an empty-nester with four bedrooms and a spacious yard. Despite slashing her $360,000 price tag to $269,000, a “for sale” sign has hung on her Flossmoor, Ill., home for 900-plus days. “I can’t pursue anything,” said the divorced mom of three. “It’s impossible to plan what’s next.”

Stuck in the mud The continuing economic doldrums and housing slump have significantly reshaped the mobility of Americans, who are accustomed to pulling up stakes for better jobs, schools or climate. With just 11.6 percent of U.S. residents moving during 2010, migration has slowed to its lowest point since World War II, according to William Frey, a senior demographer at the Brookings Institution. “We are still stuck in the mud,” said Frey, who attributes it to a confluence of falling home values and tighter credit policies. The paralysis ripples out beyond real estate, affecting communities in unforeseen ways, according to experts. When people aren’t moving, retailers don’t sell as many appliances, swing sets or other durable goods. Builders, landscapers and moving companies lose out, which yields

Tracey Fine, left, is pulled by her 3-year-old twin Wesley as her other twin Parker plays nearby in the family’s small condo they have outgrown in Chicago. MCT PHOTO

less sales tax and more unemployment. “I liken it to musical chairs, but they won’t restart the music,” said Michael Hicks, an economist at Ball State University. “People are still forming families — they’re just not moving up in housing.” Real estate agents said savvy sellers will price their home right and make it up on the purchase end, taking advantage of bargains, low borrowing rates and little competition from prospective bidders. “Ultimately, it becomes a quality-oflife issue,” said Jim Murphy, who owns a real estate sales office in Frankfort, Ill. “If you really want to get to the next stage, you may need to take the loss. … Otherwise, you could be in for a very long wait.” When the Fines purchased in 2006, at the peak of bubble, they didn’t see a crisis brewing. Units in their new building were on the pricey side, going in the $380,000 to $390,000 range. But with the open layout, prime location and top-of-the-line finishes, it seemed like a risk-free investment. Not that they’re complaining. They’re not underwater, they have savings, and Todd Fine, a lawyer, has a good job.

Home inspector missed three defects DEAR BARRY: We bought our home two months ago and have discovered three defects that our home inspector overlooked. These include a water leak under the kitchen sink, a gas leak in the front yard and an unsupported PVC pipe for the front yard hose faucet. Is our home inspector liable for these defects? Lissa DEAR LISSA: Some of these defects may involve liability and some may not. Here is a short review of each: I If there was a visible plumbing leak under the kitchen sink, your home inspector probably should have seen it. If the cabinet below the sink was packed with miscellaneous stuff, the problem may not have been visible on the day of the inspection. In some cases, storage prevents the discovery of defects during an inspection. I If the gas was leaking at or near the exterior of the building, the inspector would most likely have encountered it. If the leak was occurring in one of the yard areas away from the building, it could easily have been missed. I If the yard faucet is installed on an unsupported PVC plastic pipe, support is needed to prevent breakage, but this is too simple a repair to involve concerns over liability. All that is needed is a metal stake driven into the ground and strapped to the PVC pipe. When issues such as these arise, the home inspector should be contacted immediately. Reputable inspectors will address these concerns by revisiting the property to see what may have been missed. A mistake many people make is to have the problems repaired and then contact the inspector to demand payment. When liability issues occur, the inspector should be given the opportunity to see what was missed during the inspection. Home inspection agreements, in

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

many cases, specifically require notification before making repairs. Hopefully, you have a home inspector who takes pride in his work and will seriously consider your concerns. DEAR BARRY: We bought a foreclosed home, as-is, from a bank. When we removed the old carpet, we found large cracks in the slab, leading to costly foundation problems. The contractor who repaired the foundation found evidence of previous foundation repairs that were done incorrectly. We searched the county records and found that this older work had been done without a permit. Is the bank that sold us the properly liable for not disclosing this problem? Carrie

DEAR CARRIE: Banks are exempt from disclosure laws because, in most cases, they are unfamiliar with the homes they acquire through foreclosure. If you had bought the home from a private party, that person might have had knowledge of the substandard foundation repairs and would have been required to provide disclosure. In your case, the bank was probably unaware of the problem and could not have provided disclosure. Unfortunately, some banks take advantage of the disclosure loophole by avoiding information that they might have to disclose. For example, if you had hired a home inspector and had then decided not to buy the property, the bank would probably not have requested a copy of the report. Without having seen the report, they could maintain plausible deniability with other buyers. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

“We’re better off than lots of other people,” Tracey Fine acknowledged. Still, everything is cramped. The double-stroller is parked in the foyer; the kitchen counter doubles as an office. The twins, Parker and Wesley, run relays down a long hallway. When Grandma visits

from Houston, she sleeps in the living room. “I know a lot of people in the same predicament … and we all regret the (housing) decisions we made,” Tracey Fine said. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

HOUSE PLAN

LISTING OF THE WEEK

Home is made for a lot that slopes

Brick home features space, courtyard

A generously sized family room, open to the kitchen and eating nook, is at the heart of the Worthington. This contemporary, two-story Craftsman cottage is designed for a lot that slopes down at the left and rear. With just a few changes, it could be built on flat land. Outside, shake-textured siding adds to the nostalgic impression created by tapered columns and characteristic Craftsman windows. Inside, those windows admit an abundant wash of natural light into all the gathering spaces, along with the stairway that descends to the daylight basement. This plan has traditional formal rooms in the front and everyday gathering spaces at the rear. Entering through the vaulted porch, you step into a foyer with a roomy coat closet. Double doors on the right open into a room that could be a dining room, den or home office. The wide opening on the opposite side leads into the parlor, which is expanded by a window bay. The family room has windows on two sides and has a fireplace. Standing at the kitchen sink, you can keep tabs on activities there, in the nook, vaulted deck and part of the rear yard.

The Listing of the Week is at 6401 Beaver Creek Road. PHOTO PROVIDED

The raised eating-conversation bar is great for homework supervision and hides kitchen clutter as well. Counter and storage spaces are in good supply, boosted by the roomy walk-in pantry. A large, fully outfitted utility room is nearby, as is a convenient bathroom

and direct access to the two-car garage. The Worthington’s luxurious owners’ suite has a huge walk-in closet and a two-section bathroom, complete with spa tub, dual vanity and oversized shower. Two more bedrooms are downstairs, along with a

bathroom, a large recreation room and plenty of storage space. A review plan of the Worthington, 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.associateddesigns.com. (800) 634-0123.

The Listing of the Week is a traditional, two-story brick home in the Blue Stem Lake neighborhood in northwest Oklahoma City. The 3,296-square-foot home at 6401Beaver Creek Road has four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, three living rooms, two dining areas and an attached two-car garage. The formal living room has a fireplace. The family room has a fireplace, built-in bookcase and ceiling fan. The study has a built-in bookcase and ceiling fan. The updated kitchen has a breakfast bar, ceiling fan and eating space. The master bedroom has a bath with Jetta tub and double vanities. Secondary bedrooms have ceiling fans; one has a walk-in closet.

The home has a “New Orleans-style” courtyard with fountain in back and an enclosed patio with tile flooring and separate heat and air. The home has an intercom, security system and underground sprinkler system. The home, built in 1986, is listed for $264,900 with Mary Lu Kraft of Norma Harris Realty Co. Open house will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. From MacArthur and Hefner, go west to Woodbridge and north to Beaver Creek Road. For more information, call 833-4979. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send information on single-family homes to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Oklahoma City G.H. & Associates Inc., 726 W Sheridan Ave., business, remodel, $2,846,891. Lingo Construction Services, 430 NW 12, apartment, add-on, $2,100,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 1205 NW 178, shell building, erect, $1,000,000. Savannah Builders LLC, 8333 NW 132 Circle, erect, erect, $900,000. Willco Homes LLC, 3316 NW 172 Terrace, residence, erect, $840,000. Willco Homes LLC, 17408 Hawks View Court, residence, erect, $675,000. Allenton Homes & Development LLC, 3201 NW 177, residence, erect, $650,000. Garrett Skeen, 3501 NE 10, equipment, install, $520,000. ACP Association LLC, 2948 NW 156, medical clinic-office, erect, $350,000. Craftsmanship Homes Inc., 13736 SE 95, residence,

erect, $325,000. Bockus-Payne Associates Architects, 12777 N Rockwell Ave., canopy-carport, erect, $325,000. R&R Homes LLC, 13305 NW 5, residence, erect, $300,000. R&R Homes LLC, 13201 NW 1, residence, erect, $300,000. TLP Custom Homes LLC, 3009 NW 157, residence, erect, $300,000. Johnson Braund, 4301 Highline Blvd., hotel-motel, remodel, $295,000. Steven and Angela Boulware, 4901 Horizon Blvd., residence, erect, $285,000. Eric Cheatham Construction Co., 13125 NW 1, residence, erect, $249,000. First Star Homes, doing business as Turner & Son Homes, 2416 NW 177, residence, erect, $245,000. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 16101 James Thomas Court, residence, erect, $229,480. Huffman Construction, 13213 NW 1 Terrace, residence, erect, $225,000. First Star Homes, doing

REAL ESTATE business as Turner & Son Homes, 17508 Silverhawk Way, residence, erect, $220,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 8217 NW 146, residence, erect, $217,000. Olde World Classics LLC, 17408 Marsh Hawk Court, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 19217 Blossom Court, residence, erect, $200,000. Brookshire Homes LLC, 3801 Lambeth, residence, erect, $200,000. Elliott + Associates Architects, 301 NW 63, office, remodel, $200,000. Elite Construction, 701 Evening Drive, residence, erect, $192,000. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 8321 NW 143 Terrace, residence, erect, $191,422. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14708 Sable, residence, erect, $190,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 11600 Marbella Drive, residence, erect, $190,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 11800 Mallorca Drive, residence, erect, $190,000. Taber Built Homes LLC,

19201 Butterfly Blvd., residence, erect, $190,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 3228 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $190,000. JB Homes LLC, 3100 S Frisco Road, residence, erect, $186,400. Elite Construction, 712 Evening Drive, residence, erect, $185,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 3205 SW 141, residence, erect, $182,500. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 11905 SW 18, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15213 Western Vista Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Hodges Five Enterprises LLC, 3108 Quail Creek Road, residence, add-on, $175,000. New Generation Homes LLC, 13205 NW 1, residence, erect, $170,000. New Generation Homes LLC, 13208 NW 1 Terrace, residence, erect, $170,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14801 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $165,000.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 1908 Wheatfield Ave., residence, erect, $160,000. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 2000 Wheatfield Ave., residence, erect, $160,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15508 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $160,000. Two Structures LLC, 14304 Paddington Ave., residence, erect, $160,000. McHughes Enterprises Inc., doing business as Mallard Construction, 4705 SW 124 Place, residence, erect, $157,495. David Kim, 3201 S Council Road, automotive repairwash, erect, $150,000. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 1804 Wheatfield Ave., residence, erect, $150,000. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 11801 SW 18, residence, erect, $150,000. Salazar Roofing and Construction, 3516 Galatian Way, residence-attached, erect, $150,000. Salazar Roofing and Con-

struction, 3518 Galatian Way, residence-attached, erect, $150,000. Bitter Creek Homes LLC, 19525 Green Meadow Lane, residence, erect, $150,000. Katy Construction Co., 14300 SE 139, residence, erect, $150,000. Paul Methvin Homes Inc., 4109 SE 89 Terrace, residence, erect, $142,000. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crown Homes Inc., 24 SE 87, residence, erect, $140,000. Gardner Construction, 5617 SE 67, shell building, erect, $135,000. Westpoint Homes, 5912 NW 151, residence, erect, $130,000. D.R. Horton, 11108 SW 40, residence, erect, $129,200. Two Structures LLC, 9017 NW 93 Circle, erect, erect, $125,000. Moore Custom Buildings Inc., 2224 S Missouri Ave., warehouse, erect, $120,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 15905 Northampton Court, residence, erect, $115,000. SEE PERMITS, PAGE 8F

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Permits continued FROM PAGE 7F

Sooner Traditions LLC, 2212 NW 158, residence, erect, $115,000. Home Creations, 6201 SE 79, residence, erect, $111,100. Carillon Homes LLC, 1430 NW 84, residence, add-on, $110,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 2513 Demotte Drive, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11804 NW 133, residence, erect, $109,000. Gardner Construction, 5613 SE 67, shell building, erect, $107,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 505 Parsons Drive, residence, erect, $102,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 605 SE 60 Court, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 620 SE 60 Court, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 3201 SE 95, residence, erect, $100,000. Monarch Construction Co. LLC, 10933 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Home Creations, 5611 Marblewood Drive, residence, erect, $92,100. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18505 Agua Drive, residence, erect, $91,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18552 Abierto Drive, residence, erect, $90,000. Bockus-Payne Associates Architects, 12777 N Rockwell Ave., bus shelter, erect, $85,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2901 Fawn Lily Road, residence, erect, $81,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15241 Stillwind Drive, residence, erect, $77,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 1712 NW 143, residence, erect, $72,000. Hector E. Lujan, 3201 SW 42, residence, erect, $65,367. Beacon Pools, 15216 SE 58, clubhouse, erect, $65,000.

SAS Construction, 3241 W Memorial Road, restaurant, add-on, $61,800. Julie Motes, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $58,200. L.P. Buildings, 10501 Laramie Road, accessory, erect, $51,000. Dowell Properties Inc., 501 N Walker Ave., office, remodel, $50,000. Pascal Aughtry & Associates, 3233 SW 89, retail sales, add-on, $50,000. Ramsey Family Trust, 5517 Shields Blvd., automotive sales, install, $38,750. Jordan Hibbard, 11312 Country Drive, accessory, erect, $35,000. Eric Cheatham Construction Co., 600 Old Home Place, residence, add-on, $23,000. Jeff Struble, 1601 N Blackwelder Ave., office, remodel, $20,000. Jeff Struble, 1601 N Blackwelder Ave., office, remodel, $20,000. Woods United Homes LLC, 17501 S Santa Fe Ave., residence, add-on, $20,000. Johnson & Associates Inc., 410 E Reno Ave., land mark, install, $20,000. Mark and Sherri Goins, 8508 Arlington Drive, residence, add-on, $18,000. Hector Lujan, 4007 S Independence Ave., residence, add-on, $15,000. Cellxion Wireless Services, 6032 N Pennsylvania Ave., equipment, install, $15,000. Bryan Durbin, 627 NW 24, accessory, erect, $10,500. Orlando Garcia Construction Unlimited, 1925 SW 15, automotive sales, erect, $10,200. Matthew Ranck, 15800 SE 59, storage, erect, $10,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 200 NE 15, residence, remodel, $9,500.

REAL ESTATE Susan Byrd, 9721 Lakeland Road, canopy-carport, add-on, $8,000. Sodexo, 700 NE 13, office, modular, $7,000. Sodexo, 700 NE 13, office, modular, $7,000. Nona Martin, 307 SE 44, residence, fire restoration, $6,000. Bryan Mays, 3217 SW 49, residence, add-on, $5,800. Marlene Neider, 3900 Landmark Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,000. Elliott Architects, 1524 SE 44, retail sales, remodel, $5,000. Marvin Stumpe, 7713 Maehs Circle, storm shelter, erect, $4,999. Rhonda Doherty, 12101 Cardinal Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,595. Dave Darrah, 10612 Timber Oak Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Thomas French, 11504 NW 6 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,475. Hilton H. Walters, 5808 NW 103, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Jamie Frye, 1800 NW 164 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Matt Cole, 1704 NW 185, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Andrew Varey, 15429 Calm Wind Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,999. Darla Brantley Trust, 4633 NW 33 Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995. Donald Skinner, 9329 SW 30, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995. Natali Fitzgerald, 9200 Shady Grove Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995. Rena Phillips, 14516 S Broadway Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995. Monte Eary, 608 Westview Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,900. Peter Doe, 13608 Cascata

Strada, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,900. Gerald Fuchs, 5605 NW 114, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,500. Barry and Makala Benson, 8509 NW 127 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Prime Contractors, 2120 NW 158, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Johnny Barton, 19137 Green Springs Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Scott Tilley, 17217 Aragon Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300. Randy Moore, 8308 NW 69, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,250. No name provided, 3817 Seaward Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,250. Donald Gunning, 10500 Whitechapel, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Jennifer Koehler, 3252 Orchard Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Adam Shupe, 15700 SE 104, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,195. Marvin Branham, 9108 SW 23, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,195. Greg Nero, 9520 SW 35 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Charlie Shelton, 14200 Pecan Hollow Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Dale Thompson, 18205 Agua Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Daniel Perteet, 8808 NW 85, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. John Kraemer, 6324 Hyde Park Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Larry Fisher, 11520 NW 5, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Piyush Patel, 7600 NW 134, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Ronnie Gilson, 12222 Greenlea Chase West, storm shelter, install-storm

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM shelter, $3,000. Scott Webb, 10825 San Lorenzo Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. William and Deidre Shepherd, 3256 Orchard Ave., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Garrett Skeen, 3501 NE 10, accessory, erect, $3,000. Barbara G. Rogers, 6612 S Drexel Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,999. Eric Dedeke, 401 NW 147 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Loretta Harkins, 15809 Sandstone Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Phyllis Ann Henderson, 2916 Willow Branch Road, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Whinnery James, 8013 NW 128 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Youngjae You, 18417 Feliz Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Eric King, 11212 Windmill Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,925. Jada Pierce, 17313 Medina Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,900. Joseph Taylor, 10812 Ashford Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Luyen Vo, 1225 SW 131, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Robert Cook, 8908 NW 111, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,900. Kenn Russell, 19512 Talavera Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,895. Melissa Dapper, 2317 SW 139, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Taber Built Homes LLC, 3220 NW 192 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Randy Eisert, 8208 Cinnamon Teal Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Rodney C. Huston, 2620 NW 181, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Chelsea Roles, 18516 Lazo Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. No name provided, 4401 St Gregory Drive, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Cheryl Fair, 6500 NW 133, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,675. Donald Walker, 812 NW 111, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,650. Daryl Russell, 13104 NW 91, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,570. No name provided, 20505 SE 74, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,570. Aaron Keas, 10217 Hillcrest Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Alfred Speaks, 636 Staci Drive, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $2,500. Elvira Marquez, 1344 SW 35, storage, erect, $2,500. Neighbors Holding Co., 7 NE 10, retail sales, remodel, $2,500. Ralph Cranfield, 705 SE 11, residence, fire restoration, $2,400. Melody Kornmaier, 4045 SW 23, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,250. Mickey Lovelady, 19609 Chestermere Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,000. No name provided, 8136 W Reno Ave., office-warehouse, remodel, $2,000. Gery Allen, 2129 NW 158, accessory, erect, $1,800.

Demolitions K&M Wrecking LLC, 718 NW 21, residence. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 337 W Wilshire Blvd., demolition. M&M Wrecking, 2732 W Reno Ave., office. Bryan Durbin, 627 NW 24, accessory building. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 401 W Wilshire Blvd., restaurant. K&M Wrecking LLC, 1915 N McKinley Ave., residence. K&M Wrecking LLC, 1226 N Shartel Ave., apartments.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

Whittington Team moves to Paradigm south FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Whittington Team has moved to the south office of Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate, 1530 SW 119. The team leader, Richard Whittington, studied journalism and marketing at the University of Oklahoma and worked in marketing before entering the real estate business 13 years ago. He formed his team 11 years ago. Otis Himes is a native of Wanette. After he finished his education, he joined his father in the homebuilding business in Nor-

Richard Whittington

Otis Himes

Shannon Wade

Karen Reed

Lisa Hawkins

man and Oklahoma City. He started his own building company in 2003 and built houses until he became a Realtor and joined the Whittington team two years ago.

Shannon Wade is a Kentucky native who moved to Oklahoma five years ago. She holds a degree in interior design from Spencerian College in Louisville, Ky., and worked as a kitch-

en designer for several large retailers. After moving to Oklahoma, she worked in furniture sales before earning a real estate license three years ago. Karen Reed, an Okla-

homa native, working in the medical field before becoming a Realtor 12 years ago. She was one of the original members of the Whittington Team. Lisa Hawkins, adminis-

trative assistant, has been with the Whittington Team for eight years. The California native studied business at Riverside Community College before moving to Oklahoma.

Chef’s playground is the kitchen out back BY MARY MACVEAN Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Walk in the front door of chef Celestino Drago’s Sherman Oaks, Calif., home, through the soaring foyer and the wide-open designer kitchen and out the back door, and you might think you’ve shape-shifted your way to the Italian countryside. “The best thing for me is when it’s Sunday and I am here with the kids in the garden, picking what I want to go and cook,” said the chef, whose restaurant Drago Santa Monica just celebrated its 20th anniversary. That could mean a simple pasta with cherry tomatoes and basil. Or vegetables to grill with chicken or fish. Drago seems fairly indifferent to his indoor kitchen, though it’s the sort of room that agents use to sell a house. “To be honest, we don’t use the one in the house much,” he said. No wonder. Outdoors, he has a huge beehive-shaped wood-burning oven, a massive dining table and everything else necessary for cooking and eating. Drago can look out, past the pool, to the hills. Or he can sit and watch one of two flat screens set high on walls at either end of the long, rectangular, open-sided room. His wife, Leslie, he said, is “the breakfast queen. She makes it all fresh.” She also makes the school lunches for their two teenage daughters. “That’s why I never go inside,” he said, adding with a joking smile, “I can keep peace with my wife.” Drago and his family moved into the house four years ago; the previous owner

MWC

317

Reasonable Offer

406 Windsor Rd, Midwest City. THIS HOME IS NOT A FORECLOSURE. PCS 3 bed, 2.5 ba, 3 Car Garage, 2142 1 FP, 1-story Traditional Home, 2005 central heat, central A/C, city sewer, 0.22 ac., $210,000 Call 325-660-5559

Acreage For Sale

OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 522 E Douglas Dr. $49K ¡596-4599‘ 410-8840¡

302

1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & 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 OWNER FINANCING 1-10 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com 2K acres with all utilities, small mobile, liveable, asking $5700 and take over $300 mo payment left on 15 yr owner finance note. 964-4286. CASHION ACREAGES 6-12 ac tracts starting @ $25,000 w/owner fin possible Lisa Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 5 acres 2200sq ft Double wide + barn $64,900 15501 S Harrah 301-6495

RE for sale Edmond

314

» Open Sun. 1-3, » 3 bed, 1.5 bath, 1100sf+ "man cave" in garage, VERY NICE Starter Home, $96k, 30 E. 23rd Edmond, 620-5451

Moore

318

Immaculate 4/2/3, blt 2008 granite, SS appls$168,000 Realty Experts 414-8753

OKC Northwest

324

Bank Owned 3/2/2 brk, 1478sf blt 80, cha fp $69.9K Realty Experts 414-8753

OKC Southeast

325

6100 S Cox extra sharp 3bd home on large corner lot, completely remodeled Only $36,900 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661

OKC Southwest

326

Talavera Addition 17225 Prado Drive Open House 3/4,2-4 pm,Moore schls 3bed, 2ba, 2.5 Car Garage, 1590 sf Built 2011 $185,000. 405-226-5535

3bd 1ba att. gar, Aprx 1200sf 2604 SW 56 St. $65,000 405-360-7938 2813 SW 60 Completely remodeled 3bd 1.5ba brick home 2 living areas ch/a. Call for details!! Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 2917 SW 40th sharp 3bd home, completely remodeled, nice well kept area, only $43,900 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 5824 S. Shartel Avenue Very Nice 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car $43,500 ¡ 550-2145 118 SW 40th 2 Houses on 1 Lot. Both 2 bd 1 ba $23,700 ¡ 301-6495.

built it about eight years ago. It has a wine cellar and an adjacent room that would be a perfect poker hideout. But the outdoor kitchen is what feels like the family retreat, a place for spending long hours over meals and conversation. It’s where Drago makes bread and beef, grills fish and roasts vegetables and suckling pig. That last item rather horrified his family, said Drago, who also took heat when he brought a pheasant home from a hunting trip. As a chef, he’s more philosophical about the animals that become dinner, but he recognizes that children see it another way: When the Dragos went to Italy to visit his family, a new litter of the black pigs of the Nebrodi mountains had been born. One of his daughters took the runt, fed it goat’s milk and nurtured it to join its siblings. No wonder she wasn’t entranced with a suckling feast.

What a pizza oven! The pizza oven is the sort of thing that long ago would have been built first, and a house would have gone up around it. Drago had his brought to California from Italy in five pieces and then installed at one end of the outdoor kitchen. It’s a creamy yellow, with a generous stone working space on both sides of its iron doors. His 76-year-old mother taught him just how much the wood should burn before it’s ready for cooking. Drago said he pushes the fire to the left and right of center to control the heat, and cleans ash away with a wet towel on a stick. “It’s not an easy thing to just put it on,” Drago said. Sometimes, he starts the fire

Piedmont

327

NEW HOME Coyote Springs 4/3/3 approx 2550' 2 din 1 liv on 1 ac MOL $273,500 NEW HOME under const 3bd 2ba approx 1442' on .21 ac MOL. Still time to pick colors $144,900 Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Suburban, SE

(Tecumseh, Shawnee, Noble, Purcell, Etc.) 333 60 acres, 2 bedroom rock house with rock barn, rock shop & has own well in Hickory, OK. $165,000. 580-618-4061

Open Houses 334.2 Moore Open Sat. 2-4 Nice 3 bed, 2.5 ba, 2 car garage near Moore Schools. 1710 SW 26th St. 1635sqft, $124,000 Call Jacqui 818-6907 TRS Mustang: Open Sun. 2-4 3312 Rockhampton Ave. Mustang Schools, 4bed, 3 bath, 3c gar, 2709sqft. Neighborhood pool, $237,000, 596-7708 PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & 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

Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Double Your Tax Refund!! Double your money or use your land/family land for ZERO down. New & Repo Homes. $2500 Furniture package w/new purchase. Free phone app. WAC 405-631-7600 Cash 4 Clunkers!! Trade your used home in for a new home with Zero Down! Get up to $25,000 for your used home. WAC 405-631-7600 312 S. Carney Carney, OK 3bd/2bth Mobile Home on large lot Woodlake Properties 273-5777

Real Estate Auctions

342

ABSOLUTE AUCTION 507± Acres Land 528± Acres Producing Minerals

¡ CANADIAN ¡ GRADY ¡ ¡ CADDO COUNTY, OK ¡ ¡ No Minimums ¡ ¡ No Reserves ¡ FRI, MARCH 23rd 10 AM Additional info LippardAuctions.com 866-874-7100

Real Estate Notices

Real Estate Wanted

Established Business For Sale

FOR RENT CAR LOT 943-2250 or 642-2947 New I-35 frontage bldg for rent: ofc/shop/whse, 1900sf $800mo 412-7665

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL

495-2000 $200 off

1st Mo Rent Selected Units LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces

WILLIAMSBURG 7301 NW 23rd

787-1620 $200 OFF

Immediate move in 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces PC Schools

PARKLANE

8108 N. MacArthur Blvd.

721-5455

$99 Special

Apartments Edmond

422

TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813

MWC

424

Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122 » Free Rent 'til April » 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172

OKC Northwest

431

UNFURNISHED ALL BILLS PAID Rates starting at $825.00 month. First month FREE. Citadel Suites, 5113 N. Brookline 405-942-0016 www.citadel suites.com Including are the following:

Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant For Sale in NW area. 405-503-7813

PRIME RETAIL LOCATION I-35 frontage, showroom, ofcs, warehouse 10,800sf $5,000mo. 8801 S. I-35 Dale or Mike, 631-4447

Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516

Cotton's Wine & Liquor Store in Kingston, OK Continuous business for 50yrs 580-564-1899

Huge 4 Bed. REPO $629/mo. wac 405-324-8000

$100 Off

3037 North Rockwell

Vacation Property For Sale 347

Commercial RE

431

7608 N Western Ave Retail/Office space, up to 2200sf avail, 370-1077

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

ARBUCKLE LAKE New 3bd 2ba custom Home great lake view $114,000 580-222-5449 405-238-0900

OKC Northwest

1st Mo Rent 1&2 Bedrooms Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY

346

Lake Front Fully Furn. Cedar Lake. Summer or Winter fun! Woodburning stove, Boat, Private Dock. Updated Cabin. Less than 1hr from OKC. Pictures and info @ www.OHAIRART.com $64,500. Call 921-9203

the day before to make sure the whole interior chamber is hot enough. Many foods are cooked here: steaks and other meat, small loaves of ciabatta, fish and, of course, pizza, which gets set directly on the refractory cement. He sometimes soaks a clay pot in water for cooking moist rabbit or chicken. A metal pizza paddle is stored nearby. A tray holding salt and pepper, balsamic vinegar and olive oil is just as handy. And in a shed to one side of the oven and in a nook underneath, there’s storage for wood. When the food is done, it moves to a walnut-colored travertine island for a

Gorgeous 2132 sq ft Office and nice 900 sq ft office available at Castlerock Business Plaza in Mustang, OK. Call 580-243-0624

I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700

Business Property For Rent 360

3bed $3k-$5k down = UR approved to OWN 405-577-2884

363

345

Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600

$325/mo. New 2bd w/deck Financing avail. FREE phone app. 405-324-8000

Office Space For Rent

Chef Celestino Drago takes the top off a clay pot-oven roasted chicken in his outdoor kitchen at his Sherman Oaks, Calif., home. MCT PHOTO

» » » » » » » » » » »

All Utilities Cable High speed internet Telephone Free Laundry Business Center 2 Pools Free Movie Rental Breakfast Mon.-Fri. Social Hour Free Gym Passes

1 & 2 BD & Townhouses •City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups

Valencia Apts 2221 N. Meridian

946-6548

FREE RENT TIL APRIL Newlyremodeled1,2&3beds, Putnam Green, 405-721-2210

1 Month Free!

2bd $575 Casady751-8088 $9 APP FEE $199 FIRST MO Rent New apts - Old prices 455-8150 THE BELMONT $9 APP FEE $199 FIRST MO Rent Live Large, Live Here 416-5259 TUSCANY VILLAGE Florence 429 NW 11th Midtown Studio, Granite Counters, CHA, Free Laundry $675mo $400dep 409-7989 No sec 8 $9 APP FEE $239 FIRST MONTH ALL BILLS PAID 293-3693 DREXEL ON THE PARK Plaza Apts – Art Deco 1744 NW 17 1bed 1bath Starting at $500/month $250dp 409-7989 no sec8 Briargate 1718 N Indiana 1bd, 1ba, 800 sf, wood floors, all elect, $550 mo, $250dp 409-7989 no sec8

OKC Northwest

431

804 NW 21 Free Laundry! 2bd 1ba $675mo $300dep 1000sf 409-7989 no sec 8 katpropertiesllc.com Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 34- 1bed 1bath 800sf u pay elec $350mo $175dp 409-7989 no sec 8 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

buffet, or a small matching table at the other end of the room, or a wooden table that seats 24 in a pinch. Plenty of people often share the table. Drago is the oldest of eight children, and three of his brothers and one sister have moved to L.A. All five are in the restaurant business. “Cooking at home is not like cooking in the restaurant. You can put everything out and relax,” Drago said. Relax. That’s the main theme of this kitchen, at least for Drago, who has four restaurants, a bakery and a catering operation. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

OKC Northeast

Duplexes OKC Northeast

452

1 bedroom garage apt. All bills paid. Sec 8 OK. $550+deposit. $50 move in. 704K NE 25th. 204-4308

OKC Northwest

453

» No Application Fee » Nice 1 & 2bed from $350 Western Hgts Sch820-2464

New Luxury Duplex 13516 Brandon Place 3/2/2, fp, Deer Creek Schls, near Mercy842-7300

MAYFAIR Great location! 1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhood ¡947-5665

3BR, 1.75BA, gar, PC School, back yd. $875 + dep. App fee. 408-3074

800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506

» 12109 Windmill Rd PCN 3bd, 2ba, 2car, appls, fp, nice, $895 avail. 721-1831

•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»

OKC Southwest

433

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 681-7561 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Special » »»»»»»»»»»»» $99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 $305-360 + elec »» Furnished Efficiency 2820 S Robinson 232-1549

»»

$99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849

Yukon

438

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 354-5855 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Specials » »»»»»»»»»»»» 2 & 3 Bedrms ¡ Section 8 Accepted. Elizabeth Place Apts. 262-3621

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 3528 NW 51st upstairs gas & water paid 2 bed 1K bath 748-8520 redbudrealestate.com NANTUCKET COTTAGE extremely clean 1/1 cp, gated, fp, no pets, no smoking, $700 615-0816 Quiet NW Townhome, 1 bed + study, 1K bath, $550 mo ‘ 748-3868

OKC Southwest

455

3320 SW 28th B Small eff. duplex. $385mo ALL BILLS PAID 408-5836

Tuttle/ Newcastle

459

3bd 2ba 2car fncd back yard 425 NE 21st Newcastle No sec 8 $1400 Maria 618-0563

Yukon

460

Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.

Hotels/Motels 462

Bills Paid

Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077

RE for rent Bethany/ Warr Acres 464.5

3bd, 1.5ba, new appls, $800/month. NO PETS 7412 NW 27th. 205-2067

Del City

465.5

1321 Beachwood Dr 3/1.5/2 $675 Free List 681-7272

MWC

468

9317 NE 14th 3/1.5/1 $575 Free List 681-7272

Moore

469

4bd 2.5ba 2car 2650sf $1275 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

474

Newly renovated 3 bedroom. $725+deposit. $50 move in special. Sec 8 OK. 1516 E. Madison. 204-4308

OKC Northwest

OKC Southeast

476

2417 SE 47, 3/2/2, cha, lgr livg, 1400sf, Sec 8. $800 + $600dep. 414-4829 6406 S Durland 3/1 $495 Free List 681-7272

475

KAT Properties-Apt & Homes for rent. Read this with your phone app

14319 N Penn 2/2.5 $950 6018PlumThckt4/3.5/2$1995 2622Featherstne3/2/2 $1095 6704 NW 124 3/2/2 $1095 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 12709 Arrowhead Lane 3bd 3 bath, den, double car garage, new flooring New Carpet! 2734 Sq. ft. $2500 mo » 408-5836

OKC Southwest

477

2bd-all rms huge $625 all appl + washer & dryer S-8 ok no pets, smkn. 2137 SW 48 marble floor Suzy Q's Inc 642-4116 Nice 3 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, lrg fenced yard w/deck, $675+$700dep. 222-7101 2534 SW 57th St Nice 3/1.5/2 no pets no sec 8. 2604 SW 55h $700 + $500 dep. 410-9777 2814 S WOODWARD 2bd 1ba $450mo 408-5836

4 bed, 3 bath, Putnam North High School area, 2100+sf, granite counter tops, $1250/mo+$400dep 405-206-5476

3709 SW 41st 3/1 $475 Free List 681-7272

3232 Brushcreek, in Quail Creek on the golf course, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car, 1 FP, $1875 mo, $1500 dep. ¡ 831-0825

Cotton Wood Ridge Condo 2bd 1.5ba 900sf Amazing must see, fireplace, ch/a, New Stove & Dishwasher, Stackable Washer/Dryer $750/month $600deposit 409-7989 No Sec 8

12420 Springwood Dr 4bed 2.5ba 2car $1195mo $1195/dep 2300sf 2living 2 din 409-7989 no sec 8 2400sf 4bd 2.5ba , ch&a appls 544 NW 32 $1100 mo, $800dep, 521-1842 swim tennis 3b 2.5b ch&a f/p 2600 PCN $1295 7408 NW 115 721-3992 1217 NW 104 Terr. 3 bd, 2 ba, 2 car. $850 + $400 dep, Sec 8 OK, 514-9037 10601 Flamingo $795 no pets 2/2/2 all appls fp J Watson Rlty 755-2510 3013 NW 30th 2bed 1 bath $525 a month 408-5836 8817 N. McMillan 3bed, 2ba, $1100 Call 903-523-9060, No Sec.8 1514 NW 17th 4 bed 2ba 2car 1920sf $1150/mo $900dp 409-7989 no sec8 NW 123rd St, 3 bd, 2 ba, 2 car, office, living, laundry, $1250 mo, 850-6085 3/2/2, PC Schools, ch&a, $780/mo, 1st and last, 4324 N. Grove, 503-6496. 3/2.5/2, 2 story PCN, fenced yard, exc cond $1200 neg + dep, 1-866-663-0149.

Norman

473

Mobile Home Rentals 483 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

Rooms For Rent

489

Open minded person seeking roommate to share house, smoking okay, $375 mo, utilities included, 326-9251

10F

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN

NEWSOK.COM