The Oklahoman Real Estate

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Focus Home offers on facade three levels Keystone arches meld harmoniously with Art Deco-style window treatments to give the Tyndale an intriguing front facade.

PAGE 6F

The Listing of the Week is a tri-level home with a pool, cabana and barn on 2-plus partially wooded acres in southeast Edmond.

PAGE 6F

REAL ESTATE

Kenneth Harney

F

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

Home makeover experts prepare to share tips at OKC Home Show

BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@opubco.com

The last time carpenter and designer Paul DiMeo stepped foot in Oklahoma, it was just in time for the February 2010 ice storm that froze most of the state — including his Tulsa work site for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

“Oh man, it was terrible. It was absolutely terrible,” he recalled recently.

“It started the day we demoed — Greg Simmons was our builder, wonderful guy — and it remained bad all week long.”

This year is proving less icy as DiMeo and Sasha Andreev from HGTV’s “Curb Appeal” share their expertise with crowds at the OKC Home Show, which continues through Sunday at State Fair Park. They’re hardly alone, with some 500 experts and 200 vendors filling out the weekend. But theirs may be the most recognizable faces.

The OKC Home Show, which started Friday, continues from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9, with children younger than 12 admitted free.

Andreev will present “Curb Appeal Challenge: Bringing Designer Tips and Tricks Home” at 1p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the Little Project Stage in the Centennial Building.

DiMeo will present “Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Nine Extreme Years of Love and Hope” at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturday on the Little Project Stage.

Popular appeal Over a nine-season run that ended in January, the bespectacled DiMeo lent his gruff but commonsense touch to “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” a series that often gathered blue-shirted volunteers to

READING THE FINE PRINT The Obama administration’s new plan to stimulate refinancings of Federal Housing Administration-backed mortgages is likely to be a disappointment to many borrowers who aren’t aware of the program’s fine print and end up missing an opportunity to switch into a loan with a rate below 4 percent.

PAGE 3F

IN BRIEF

MCT PHOTO

PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER GOES AUTOMATIC The automatic paper towel dispenser has moved into the kitchen. Like bathroom towel holders, the Innovia dispenser releases towels when you hold a hand near its sensor.

It continues to dispense the towels until you move your hand away, and then tightens when one is being pulled away for a clean break.

Excess towels retract automatically.

The dispenser costs $99 at www.Innovia Home.com. Shipping is free.

On “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Paul DiMeo helps families rebuild their lives through building new homes. DiMeo, a guest at the OKC Home Show, will present “Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Nine Extreme Years of Love and Hope” at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the Little Project Stage in the Centennial Building at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

PHOTO PROVIDED

INSIDE Looking for shelter?

Safe rooms will be on display at the OKC Home Show.

PAGE 5F

take on difficult projects such as rebuilding homes leveled when tornadoes tore through Joplin, Mo., in 2011. In 2010, the show rebuilt a home not far from Oklahoma City, near Slaughterville, for an episode.

Likewise, Andreev helped homeowners revamp their plain-Jane or downright disastrous home exteriors to create a

good first impression as co-host of “Curbside Appeal.”

Both shows — and home-improvement shows in general — have remained a constant even as a sluggish economy tightened its grip on a lot of wallets. The reason?

The sluggish economy.

“If everyone’s making a million dollars, it’s really easy to hire a handyman to come over and do it all,” DiMeo said. “In times when we aren’t, we look to ourselves to do some of these things.”

And that’s why homeimprovement shows have remained so popular, he SEE SHOW, PAGE 2F

GREEN SHARE GROWING

Sasha Andreev prepares a stone at a home for HGTV’s “Curb Appeal,” a show that helps homeowners add visual interest to the exterior of their homes.

Andreev, a guest at the OKC Home Show, will present “Curb Appeal Challenge: Bringing Designer Tips and Tricks Home” at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday on the Little Project Stage in the Centennial Building at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Rental units can offer big savings During the worst of the economic downturn, many homeowners became landlords — albeit reluctantly. Their reasons varied: Some, who’d gone through a job transfer or divorce, rented out a home rather than sell at a loss. Others, who’d lost jobs, converted their homes to rentals to avert foreclosure.

Fast-forward to an improving economy in 2012. Many reluctant landlords, sensing a strengthening market, are now ready to sell. This constitutes a potentially golden opportunity for homebuyers willing to consider buying a rental unit, said Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

“Buying a rental home is not for everyone. But if you can look past the (issues involved) you

THE NATION’S HOUSING

might get a tremendous deal,” Davis said.

Are you a homebuyer willing to consider a rental unit as your family’s next home? If so, these few pointers could prove useful: I Gauge the sellers’ level of motivation.

Among the disillusioned landlords now eager to sell are would-be investors who bought properties during the downturn in hopes of making a healthy profit.

But their plans were dashed by bad experiences.

“For these folks, their whole rental plan failed to work out as expected. For a variety of reasons, they couldn’t collect enough rent to cover their costs.

So now they’re rushing to sell,” said Leo Berard, charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents

(www.naeba.org).

I Always ensure you get an in-depth home inspection on a rental unit.

Some rental properties are overseen by professional management companies. But Davis said this offers no guarantee that a place has been kept in good repair and that all its problems have been caught.

“Many professional management companies handle only routine matters — like mowing the lawn — or emergencies, like a leaking water heater,” he said.

What professional rental managers often miss are less obvious issues, such as a roof that’s leaking into an attic. Also, they rarely deal with tenantcaused problems, like damage to hardwood floors or carpeting.

To ensure you identify

all the problems with a rental property, Davis urges you to hire “a darned good home inspector.”

To find one, he recommends you ask your real estate agent for a list of at least 10 candidates and then screen them on the phone before making your choice. You can also find inspectors through such professional organizations as the American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ashi.org).

I Obtain estimates for all major repair issues found by your inspector.

For 15 years, Davis owned six houses that he rented out. This experience taught him that renters often don’t bother telling their landlord about problems until they’re very serious.

“A dishwasher might have been malfunctioning

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES for months, running all over the kitchen floor and harming the floor boards underneath. But until it stops working completely, the landlord or management company may never hear about it,” Davis said.

As a prospective owner of a rental property, you need to know in advance how much it would cost to repair all of a home’s problems. To do this, Davis recommends you get estimates for all needed repairs cited in the inspection report. Then use this data as a negotiating tool to either get the work done or lower the price of the property.

To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.

UNIVERSAL UCLICK

The green share of new single-family residential construction has grown dramatically, increasing from 2 percent in 2005 to 17 percent in 2011, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. Builders, remodelers and others looking to expand their knowledge of building green, and find out where the market is going, are invited to attend the 2012 National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tenn., April 29-May 1. For more information, go to www.nahb.org/green buildingconference.

CONFIDENCE UNCHANGED Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes was unchanged in March from a revised level of 28 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Following five consecutive months of gains, the index is holding at its highest level since June 2007.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

INDEX Permits Stone

9F 7F

2F

.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Show: ‘A lot people are doing it themselves’ Left: Paul DiMeo designed the Carousel Room for a child for an episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

FROM PAGE 1F

said.

“I think the fact that there are so many things the do-it-yourselfer can do when pocketbooks are tight. That’s when we say, ‘Yeah, let’s do it this weekend. It keeps us home, it accomplishes something, and it doesn’t spend too much of our hard-earned savings,’ ” DiMeo said.

DiMeo is sharing ideas for renovations that are both eco-friendly and economical with show audiences this weekend, fielding questions as well.

Dealing with distress The fast-paced “Extreme Makeover” projects have made him an expert in both the fast and the affordable when it comes to home renovation.

DiMeo’s first exposure to home improvement came at an early age when his family’s Pennsylvania home burned down.

Through much of his run on “Extreme Makeover,” he dealt with families facing loss and hurdles.

In Tulsa, for example, he was part of a team that remodeled a family’s home to accommodate one son’s rare disorder, which causes weak muscle tone, low metabolism and constant hunger. The revamped kitchen featured a pantry that puts the food, including the refrigerator, behind a locked door, making it easier to supervise the boy’s diet.

“The home we live in helps us, especially those with disabilities,” DiMeo said. “The way we design each home on the show is as unique as the families we design it for.”

But the first and most important step in any project of any size is to clear both mind and space, DiMeo said.

“We can really decide what we use and don’t use.

What we don’t use should go to somebody who needs it, and what we do use, we’re going to tune those things up,” he said.

It’s an especially useful approach when tackling a large or complicated project. Clearing the excess helps bring focus.

“All of a sudden, you can see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Shoppers look at exhibits at a previous OKC Home Show. Some 200 vendors and 500 experts will be on hand at the show Saturday and Sunday at State Fair Park.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Leopard Music Room was a creation of Paul DiMeo for an episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Curb challenge Russian-born Andreev harnesses his experience and what he’s learned from experts along the way in his seminar on curb appeal. He takes on different budget points and different designs, unleashing three designers on one house.

“Actually my house,” he said.

He began what he calls his journey — “that’s really what it is” — two years ago when he bought his first home, a century-old house near downtown Minneapolis.

The interior features lots of woodwork, hardwood floors and thick plaster walls. Outside, much of the home’s charm was hidden under layers of vinyl siding and aluminum trim.

Andreev was able to

Rushing Design Group exhibited this outdoor living space at a previous OKC Home Show. The Oklahoma City-based landscape design company is an exhibitor this weekend at the OKC Home Show at State Fair Park.

PHOTO PROVIDED

move in after five or six months of work, he said, but he now uses his experiences as a springboard for discussion with the audience.

He, too, sees the economy fueling the success of shows such as his.

“People don’t have the money to hire a professional to take care of everything,” he said.

But this fuels creativity as well.

“You see so much more renovation and design happening in our media,” he said. “People are getting the inspiration and, of course, a lot of people are doing it themselves.”

In the process, tastes are growing more refined.

“You have that happening in the food movement,”

Andreev said.

“People know so much more about nutrition, their sources of food and organic food, etc.

“I think that almost parallels what’s been happening with (home) builds. We just know so much more than we used to. We have so many more sources of inspiration than we’ve ever had before.”

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

OPINION

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

.

3F

Study fine print in ‘streamline refi’ Heather Hancock

Hancock added to Paradigm MIDWEST CITY — Heather Hancock has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate’s east office at 2150 S Douglas, Suite F, in Midwest City, as a residential real estate sales associate.

She is a graduate of Midwest City High School and studied secondary education at the University of Oklahoma. She worked for eight years as a sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics in Arizona. Now, among her other real estate activities, she is listing and selling new houses built by her father and brother’s construction company, P&G Construction.

Jerry Piper

Piper joins city firm Jerry Piper has joined Churchill-Brown & Associates Realtors’ north office, 4401 W Memorial Road, Suite 109, as a residential real estate sales associate.

He has been selling real estate for one year and has lived in the metro area for 10 years. The Illinois native was in ministry and music for 35 years. He holds a bachelor of art degree from Eastern Illinois University, where he graduated cum laude.

Becky Karpe

Karpe moves to Metro First EDMOND — Becky Karpe has moved to Metro First Realty’s new location at 3636 E Interstate 35 Frontage Road in Edmond, as a member of Mike Cassidy’s sales team, Cassidy & Co. She has a business management degree from Oklahoma State University. She has worked in the real estate business for 13 years and has held a real estate license since 2002.

Teresa Fuxa

Fuxa added to Churchill-Brown Teresa Fuxa has joined Churchill-Brown & Associates Realtors’ north office, 4401 W Memorial Road, Suite 109, as a residential real estate sales associate.

The Shawnee native has been selling real estate for seven years. She has lived in Oklahoma City for six months, having moved here from Denver. She holds a bachelor’s of business administration degree from Lamar University. She has been employed as a flight attendant with Delta Airlines for 25 years.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s new plan to stimulate refinancings of Federal Housing Administrationbacked mortgages is likely to help large numbers of homeowners cut their monthly costs — even those who are deeply underwater. But it’s also likely to be a disappointment to many borrowers who aren’t aware of the program’s fine print and end up missing an opportunity to switch into a loan with a rate below 4 percent.

To cut through the bureaucratic details, here’s a quick overview of the socalled “streamline refi” program and what it will take for you to qualify.

First, the baseline criteria: Your current home loan must be FHA-insured and must have been put on the agency’s books no later than May 31, 2009. If you have a mortgage owned or backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Department of Veterans Affairs or private investors, you’re out.

The May 31, 2009, date is crucial. Your lender can tell you precisely when the FHA “endorsed” your loan for insurance. This is dif-

ferent from the dates you applied for your loan or closed on your house. If it turns out to be anytime later than May 31, 2009, you miss the cut.

You also need to have an unblemished record of ontime mortgage payments for the past 12 months.

Maybe you were late occasionally a couple of years back. That’s OK. But the immediate past 12 months need to be pristine.

On top of that, if your refinancing does not provide you a net savings of at least 5 percent in your monthly principal, interest and mortgage insurance payments, you won’t be eligible either. The program won’t take effect until June 11.

Those are the main hurdles. But they are substantial enough to exclude hundreds of thousands of current FHA borrowers who might otherwise like to refi. According to an FHA spokesman, Brian Sullivan, FHA has roughly 500,000 active loans in its portfolio that are eliminated from participation solely on the basis of the May 31, 2009, cutoff date. Of those, an estimated 145,000 have mortgage in-

Real estate course aids military clients Great Plains National Bank has several graduates of USA Cares, a new education course to help loan officers, Realtors and others work with military clients.

They are Jason Stier, Chad Keck, Zach Williams and Todd Munday.

“This course aims to put greater numbers of military families into affordable homes through knowledgeable professionals who understand the unique circumstances brought about by military service” said USA Cares Executive Director Bill Nelson.

The course’s author, Beverly Ray Frase, has a strong background as loan officer, real estate broker and career U.S. Army wife.

“I’ve been on all sides of the homebuying process,” Frase said. “I know where the speed bumps are, especially for our military men and women. Working with a certified housing professional should move them down the path to an accurate and timely closing.”Great Plains National Bank is based in Hollis and has two mortgage operations in the Oklahoma City Metro area: GPNMortgage Edmond, 307 E Danforth, Suite 124, in Edmond; and GPNMortgage Yukon, 520 Pointe Parkway Blvd., in Yukon.

The bank also has branches in Tuttle, Elk City, Sayre, Mangum, Burns Flat, Cordell, Hobart and Granite.

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

terest rates higher than 5 percent — making them prime candidates for a refi if it weren’t for the cutoff date.

Now for the good stuff: Under the Obama plan, if you qualify on the criteria above, you get to breeze through the paperwork maze and underwriting hassles that come with any refinancing. The FHA streamline refi requires: I No new verifications of your income or employment status. If you’ve been paying on time for a year, the presumption is that you’ve got the needed income.

I No new credit evaluation, credit reports or FICO scores.

I No new physical appraisal. The program generally accepts the appraised value of your home at the time you closed on your current FHA loan as good enough — even if you’re now in serious neg-

ative equity territory.

Along with the stripped-down underwriting, the new program also comes with valuable financial concessions. To sweeten the deal, the FHA has slashed its regular insurance premium charges for qualified streamline applicants.

Take this hypothetical example provided by Paul Skeens, president of Colonial Mortgage Co. in Waldorf, Md. Say you now have a $180,000 FHA loan at 5.25 percent that dates to March 2009. Your current monthly principal and interest payment is $993.93. With the addition of FHA’s mortgage insurance premium costs of $82.50, your total monthly outlay is $1,076.43.

If you qualify for the new streamlined plan, you could lower your interest rate to 3.875 percent and your monthly principal, interest and mortgage insurance to $928.92 — an immediate savings of $147.51 per month or $1,770.12 a year. Over the next 60 months, you’ll save $8,850.60.

Not bad.

But why the May 31, 2009, cutoff? What about

the thousands of responsible borrowers who happened to take out their FHA loans more recently, have paid on time and have rates higher than 5 percent? Why punish them?

Sullivan said it’s all about the traditional three-year “seasoning” period for mortgages during which the bulk of insurance claims — delinquencies and foreclosures — normally occur. He denied rumors that the 2009 date had anything to do with the FHA’s policy of making partial refunds of upfront insurance premiums to borrowers who refinance during the first 36 months, which might cost the agency millions of dollars if more recent borrowers could qualify for the new program.

“How cynical,” he said in response to an email question on the refunds.

“This is about easing the pressure on (borrowers) in a responsible way.” Saving money by cutting out more recent FHA borrowers “was never a consideration.”

Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net.

WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

4F

.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Cash offers rule in topsy-turvy housing market

BY JIM BUCHTA Star Tribune

In this photo provided by Michael Miner, Jim Berger stands next to a dog house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

AP PHOTO

Wright designed-doghouse is being rebuilt for film

BY SUDHIN THANAWALA The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

The Fallingwater home in southwestern Pennsylvania. But a child’s doghouse?

Frank Lloyd Wright designed hundreds of landmark buildings and homes during a prolific career that spanned more than seven decades. But in what is widely considered a first and only for the famed architect, Wright indulged a young boy’s humble request for a doghouse in 1956 and sent him designs for the structure.

“I was probably his youngest client and poorest client,” Jim Berger, now 68, said during a recent interview.

Berger rebuilt the doghouse last year with his brother, using the original plans. It was featured in a documentary film and will be displayed during screenings.

Wright designed Berger’s family’s home in the Marin County town of San Anselmo, prompting the then-12-year-old Berger to ask his dad if Wright would design a home for his black Labrador, Eddie.

Berger’s dad said he didn’t know, so Berger decided to write to the great architect himself.

“I would appreciate it if you would design me a doghouse, which would be easy to build, but would go with our house ...,” read the letter dated June 19, 1956. “(My dog) is two and a half feet high and three feet long. The reasons I would like this doghouse is for the winters mainly.”

Berger explained that he would pay Wright from the money he made from his paper route.

“A house for Eddie is an opportunity,” Wright wrote back. But he said he was too busy at the time (construction on the Guggenheim began in 1956) and asked that Berger write him back in November.

Berger did so on the first of the month, and the plan for the doghouse followed — at no charge.

“The story of a 12-yearold kid having the chutzpah to write a letter to the greatest architect of all time and having him design something as modest as a doghouse … I just knew it was a great story,” said Michael Miner, who produced and directed the documentary, “Romania,” which features the doghouse and other structures Wright designed in California.

The Dallas filmmaker is scheduled to screen the documentary at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, Ill., according to his website, www.designedbyfranklloyd-

Jim Berger is shown with his dog, Sir Charles Barkley, holding the letter he received from famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who he had asked to design a dog house. Berger was 12 when he wrote to Wright in 1956.

AP PHOTO

wright.com. Screenings are scheduled to follow in Iowa, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey and New Hampshire. The doghouse will be on hand.

Berger said the original doghouse was not built until about 10 years after he received the designs.

Since Eddie had died by then, Berger’s father and brother built their house for another family dog.

That doghouse, howev-

er, later ended up in the dump because Berger said his mother did not have a dog, and did not see much other value in it. He rebuilt it for the documentary last year, working off Wright’s original plan, which said, “Plan of Eddie’s house.”

“When I wrote him originally to design the doghouse, I specified that it be real easy to build,” said Berger, who became a cabinet maker. “It was a

nightmare.”

The doghouse, roughly 3 feet wide by 5 feet long by 3 feet high, has a sharp triangular shape, with a sloping shingled roof. It is made of Philippine mahogany and weighs about 250 pounds.

“It’s definitely in the master’s hand,” Oskar Munoz, assistant director of archives at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, said of the design.

Munoz said Berger’s is believed to be the only doghouse Wright designed. Wright likely sketched it out and then handed it to a draftsman in his studio who turned it into a working drawing, he said.

Wright was past 80 and likely busy with dozens of projects at the time, Munoz said, so for him to take the time to make the sketch was unusual.

Wright died in Phoenix in 1959.

Berger, who now lives in the Sacramento area and has three rescue beagles, said he’s not sure what he will do with the doghouse.

Although his beagles are worthy of it, he said they would probably prefer to stay in the house.

MINNEAPOLIS — When Chris and Diane Finney decided to buy a bank-owned condo in St. Paul, Minn., they knew there would be competition.

Their strategy? Offer less — but offer cash.

While others said they would pay more, they needed to finance the deal. The bank took less and took the cash.

“We were in the driver’s seat,” Chris Finney said.

In a normal housing market, multiple bids usually lead to higher home prices, and the highest bid wins.

But when credit markets are tighter and appraisals are often lower, many sellers will take less to be sure that the deal will get done.

“If I get five offers on a property and the cash offer is darned close to being one of those top offers, I’d take the cash offer any day,” said Marshall Saunders, owner/ broker at RE/MAX Results.

In December, 33 percent of all U.S. home sales were cash deals — a record since the downturn started in 2006, according to Campbell Survey and Inside Mortgage Finance. As a result, home prices can’t gain much traction because many sellers won’t necessarily accept the highest offer. For most homebuyers, it’s confounding to be rejected because they are financing the deal. For the housing market, it means more downward pressure on prices despite tight supplies and rising demand.

“It’s a real sign of what’s going on,” said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance. “All things being equal, cash wins.”

The volume of cash deals is offsetting other positive trends in the market that should be leading to higher prices. The number of houses on the market has fallen to an eight-year low, and sales are up double digits. At the same time, home prices continue to fall.

At least a third of all homes sales last year involved an investor, Cecala said, and they often pay cash. Multiple offers are becoming common on foreclosures and short sales,

which represented half of all home sales last year. And there’s no sign that listings of financially distressed properties will abate anytime soon. The National Association of Realtors said that distressed homes accounted for 35 percent of existing-home sales in January. Those distressed sales not only put a drag on prices; they also make it very difficult for appraisers to find comparable sales to support higher prices on traditional listings.

“Banks tend to be much more motivated to sell quickly because they have holding and carrying costs,” Cecala said. “All that puts downward pressure on prices.”

John McWhite, a sales agent with Minnesotabased Coldwell Banker Burnet, said he recently worked with a client who made a full-price cash offer of $65,000 on a Minneapolis condo. It was one of three offers, but not the highest.

But because it was cash and guaranteed to close, it was the winning bid. “That happens quite a bit,” he said.

Still, buyers need to remember that there’s a limit to how low a seller will go, Saunders said. Not every seller is going to favor cash deals the same way.

The cash strategy doesn’t work all the time. An outrageously low cash offer can easily offend a seller, especially one who has an emotional attachment to a house. And Ryan Kempenich, a sales agent for Coldwell Banker Burnet who specializes in foreclosure sales, said that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac favor firsttime buyers or buyers who plan to occupy the properties they’re trying to sell.

Those who can’t offer cash aren’t without options. Sellers always look favorably on those offers that don’t have a lot of contingencies. Jennifer Olstad, a sales agent for Keller Williams who is also an experienced investor, said that noncash buyers should make sure that they are prequalified for the mortgage and can offer a quick close date.

MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Correct positioning is very important to attic insulation Q: I have 7 inches of insulation in the attic running between each rafter. I’d like to add another 6-7 inches.

Would it make a difference if I placed the new insulation perpendicular to the already existing insulation rather than lay it the same way as the present insulation is now? Would that be better as far as keeping the heat from escaping from the below living area?

A: Actually, it does make a difference. Initially, your insulation batts were installed between the ceiling joists, which is normal. However, that means that the wood joists themselves are not covered with insulation.

Since wood has a lower R-value than fiberglass insulation, there’s actually a long cold spot running along each one of those joists, relative to the insulation alongside it.

(It’s one of the reasons why blown-in attic insulation creates a more uniform insulation layer).

By installing your new insulation batts perpendicular to the old ones, you now have the opportunity to cover and insulate the ceiling joists, and you’re also covering any gaps between the old batts. So installing the new batts perpendicular to the old ones will definitely result in a better overall insulation job.

Remember to use unfaced batts for your new insulation so that you don’t double up the vapor barrier, and maintain at least a 3-inch air space around older, non-ICrated, recessed light fixtures, masonry chimneys, and anything else that produces heat.

Q: I am remodeling a bathroom. I do not want to remove the walls if I can help it. The walls have texture on them.

How do we remove (the texture)? Or, better yet, can it be done? We want a smooth surface but are not sure we will be able to get it without putting in new drywall.

A: Your best bet is a combination of sanding and skim coating. I typically begin by giving the walls a light sanding. This removes the high spots in the texture and roughens the wall slightly. You can use a pad sander and replaceable sandpaper sheets intended for drywall work, which you can buy at any home center or hardware store.

Next, skim coat the walls with premixed drywall joint compound. You may want to add a little water to the compound to get it a little thinner and smoother.

Use a 12-inch drywall trowel and apply the compound lightly and evenly over all the walls, just enough to fill in the voids between the high parts of the texture. Let it dry, then lightly sand again to get the desired smoothness.

You may have to repeat the process to be sure the walls are completely smooth.

Once the final coat of compound is completely dry, dust or wipe the walls to remove any sand-

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

.

5F

Above ground safe room set for OKC Home Show display

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME

ing residue. Apply a coat of drywall sealer, and once that’s dry you’re ready for painting.

Q: My front doors when closed have a gap between them where draft and light passes through from top to bottom. The problem is the gap is not equal all the way down. Some spots are real tight, which causes difficult closing of the doors in the middle. Also, the locks present a problem when closing the wooden doors. The top and sides of the door jamb are not a problem.

I have tried narrow stick-tape foam insulation in between where the doors meet, but the adhesion on the stick tape-type does not last.

Constant open and closing causes the tape to fall off. I even tried small nails and staples, but that did not help. Your solutions would be appreciated.

A: You mentioned doors, so I’m assuming this is a pair of doors.

With double doors, you’ll have one door that’s normally the active door (the one you use all the time) and one that’s the inactive door (the one that’s almost always closed).

Between the two doors you need to have a piece of molding called an astragal.

An astragal runs vertically the length of the doors, and looks like a “T” when viewed from the end. The vertical bar of the “T” is attached to the edge of the inactive door, and half of the horizontal part of the “T” overlaps on the outside of the inactive door. The active door closes against the other half of the horizontal part of the “T.” If your doors don’t have an astragal — and from what you describe, it doesn’t sound like they do — then you need to add one before you can effectively add weatherstripping.

To do that, the doors need to be carefully planed to create an equal gap between them that’s wide enough for the astragal to fit into, with enough clearance for the active door to open and close without binding.

After the doors are planed and the astragal is attached, you can then add weatherstripping to the astragal where the active door meets it.

If you’re not comfortable with the process of taking the doors off their hinges and planing them correctly, consider hiring a handyman.

Call a local door company and ask for a recommendation. It should only take a couple of hours to do the job.

Remodeling and repair questions?

E-mail 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

A safe room under construction by Sooner Safe Room.

BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com

Sooner Safe Room’s staff is ready for its first Oklahoma City adventure.

The Okmulgee-based company recently settled in its new Edmond digs — the first shot in a concerted effort to go statewide, said sales and marketing director Lisa Crandall — and company representatives are at this weekend’s OKC Home Show, which continues through Sunday at State Fair Park.

They’ll have on hand their 6-by-6-foot demo aboveground safe room for show-goers to inspect.

“We’re very excited about it, very excited,” Crandall said.

Sooner Safe Room may be new to the metro area, but the company has been around for 20 years, founded by Okmulgee natives James Allred, a civil engineer and concrete contractor, and Clarence LeBlanc, who made a name for himself early on as a two-time world champion steer wrestler.

They started manufacturing safe rooms about 10 years ago, Crandall said.

“They’re from the area — they’re hometown boys,” she said. “And we try to provide a product that’s going to keep Oklahomans safe. We’re really proud of what we do.”

Sooner Safe Room’s typical product is an 8by-8-foot safe room that can be cast in place during construction of a home, included in an addition to a home, retrofitted inside an existing home, or built adjacent to a home bear an exist. Prices start at about $7,500.

The safe rooms’ thick walls and triple-deadbolt metal doors prove popular even when storm season is over, Crandall said.

“People and pawnshops are putting their guns and jewelry and stuff they don’t want to leave in the stores overnight back in there to lock them up,” she said.

One might have even saved a marriage. Sooner Safe Rooms installed one safe room right inside the home, removing a bathroom window to allow access into what became a walk-in safe room-closet.

The exterior was finished off with brick to much match the rest of the house.

“It’s huge,” Crandall said. “She wanted a walk-

Nonprofit has two houses for sale FROM STAFF REPORTS

The nonprofit South Oklahoma City Council of Neighborhoods Inc., has two houses for sale and two others under construction.

The organization, at 2200 SE 59, has completed more than 30 houses since its founding in 1998 in its “mission to provide homes for low- to moderate-income families,” spokeswoman Louise Elkins-Alexander said. “Our mission is to revitalize neighborhoods.”

“We work closely with other housing agencies in the Oklahoma City area that

PROVIDED BY SOONER SAFE ROOM

provide land to build new homes and money for down payment assistance. The quality of our homes has garnered attention from all over the city. We are proud that we have been recognized as one of the best in Oklahoma City for our dedication in helping underserved families and declining neighborhoods,” she said.

Houses under construction are at 504 SE 48, offered for $85,000, and at 721 SE 28, also offered at $85,000. The completed homes are at 1413 S Fairmont, offered at $74,000; and at 537 S E 32, offered at $85,000. For more information, call Louise Elkins-Alexander at 306-2816.

A typical safe room by Sooner Safe Room.

James Allred

Clarence LeBlanc

in closet, and he wanted a safe room — so they compromised.”

Sooner Safe Rooms is among some 200 vendors and 500 experts at the OKC Home Show this weekend. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9, with children under 12 admitted free.

Experts include Oklahoma’s Rushing Design Group, which is showing how to weave natural elements and creativity into

water features, and OKC ICoat, which is demonstrating concrete counter top and flooring overlay sys-

PROVIDED BY SOONER SAFE ROOM

tems.

Meanwhile, chefs from local restaurants are manning the grill stage, offering barbecuing tips and choice samples, and local artists will be displaying their works in the art gallery — as well as creating new ones on the spot, sketching and painting during the show.

For Safe Room employees, though, the weekend offers a chance to meet new neighbors and perhaps new customers.

“They’re ready to grow the company and go statewide,” Crandall said.

6F

.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

REAL ESTATE

HOUSE PLAN

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM LISTING OF THE WEEK

Tyndale has nice front facade Keystone arches meld harmoniously with Art Deco-style window treatments to give the Tyndale an intriguing front facade.

This compact home is well suited to the needs of families with young children, or empty nesters wishing to downsize and still accommodate overnight guests. One of the bedrooms could also double as a home office. All on one level, the open floor plan is easily adapted for wheelchair accessibility.

Light spills into the foyer through the decorative glass that fills both the arched transom and the door’s upper section. Entering, you step into a foyer that opens into a comfortably large and open vaulted family living area. Windows line the rear wall, and a fireplace stands ready to provide a warm, colorful focal point when skies are dark.

A well-placed wall section puts the temporary clutter of food preparation and cleanup out of visual range of the dining-living room. At the same time, the kitchen is open to the sunny nook, with a view of the patio and the landscape beyond. Potted plants, as well as family and friends, will thrive in this bright, airy space.

They’ll also enjoy snacking and conversing with people in the kitchen while

The Listing of the Week is at 12620 Teakwood Drive in southeast Edmond.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Tri-level home also has pool, cabana, barn

perched on stools at the raised eating bar that fronts the sink and peninsular counter.

Laundry appliances are mere steps away yet out of sight. Garage access is equally close, convenient for unloading groceries in

safety and comfort.

Bedrooms cluster together on the left. Amenities in the Tyndale’s owners’ suite include a deep walk-in closet and a private bathroom with dual vanity, a spa or soaking tub, and a separate shower.

The other two bedrooms share the main bathroom.

A review plan of the Tyndale 30-337, 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 tri-level home with a pool, cabana and barn on 2-plus partially wooded acres in southeast Edmond. Two horses are allowed in the neighborhood.

The 2,478-square-foot home at 12620 Teakwood Drive has four bedrooms, 2½ baths, two living rooms, two dining areas and an attached two-car garage. The family room has a fireplace and wet bar.

The remodeled kitchen has a bay window and breakfast bar. The master bedroom has a full bath and walk-in closet. Secondary bedrooms have ceiling fans; two share a Jack-

and-Jill bath; and one has a walk-in closet. The home has an open patio, storm cellar and underground sprinkler system.

The home has a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

The home, built in 1975, is listed for $294,900 with Sara Jo Odom of Keller Williams Realty.

The home is on the north side of NE 122, two miles east of Interstate 35.

For more information, call 503-5057 or 9487500.

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.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

.

7F

Association refuses to repair foundation DEAR BARRY: We live in a condo with foundation problems. Repairs were supposedly done before we bought the unit, but these were not done correctly. Now we have cracked walls and some doors that do not fit.

The homeowners association refuses to make repairs. They say the process could cause interior damage to the adjoining condos, and this would not be for the “greater good.” Is there anything we can do, short of hiring an attorney and having an expensive legal battle?

Amy DEAR AMY: The choice to wage a legal battle or to find a reasonable solution depends on a willingness to be reasonable.

The people on the board of the HOA don’t seem to realize this.

They should accept their responsibility to repair all exterior defects, including foundation problems. Their “logic” in denying this obligation could be ap-

The choice to wage a legal battle or to find a reasonable solution depends on a willingness to be reasonable. The people on the board of the HOA don’t seem to realize this. plied to any exterior repairs they might choose to avoid.

As far as “greater good” is concerned, structural integrity affects the reputation of the property overall, and this serves the greater good of all owners. As for “interior damage” to other condos, it is the responsibility of a competent building contractor to conduct foundation repairs in ways that minimize such dam-

age. If unintended damage should occur in the course of the project, interior repairs should be included in the scope of the work.

If the HOA will not accept this responsibility, an attorney may be needed to convince them.

DEAR BARRY: We sold our home two months ago and repaired all the items in the buyers’ home inspection report. But one thing was never mentioned.

Years ago, the garage doors and roof gutters were dented during a hailstorm. The dents were small but were plainly visible, so we didn’t think to mention them in our disclosure statement. The buyers’ home inspector also made no mention of them in his report. Now the buyers are demanding replacement of the doors and gutters. Do you think we should have to pay for this?

Sibyl DEAR SIBYL: If the damage is merely cosmetic and was openly

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

visible to everyone, including the buyers and their inspector, then the demand is unreasonable.

Hopefully, the buyers will not try to push the issue. At worst, they might take the matter to smallclaims court. If that should happen, show the judge the home inspection report, the purchase documents, and detailed photos of the garage door and rain gutters.

Stick to your guns. It doesn’t appear that you did anything wrong.

DEAR BARRY: When we bought our house three years ago, there were two cracks in the

foundation. Our home inspector said the cracks could be repaired with epoxy. Now we have five cracks, and the original ones have gotten bigger. We also have some settlement cracks in our ceiling. Did our home inspector miss something? What can we do?

Mike DEAR MIKE: The home inspector’s error was his recommendation. Unless he is a licensed structural engineer, he had no business advising epoxy for foundation repairs. Instead, he should have advised you to consult a structural engineer for further evaluation of the cracks.

You should have an engineering evaluation of the foundation as soon as possible. Then you should notify the inspector of his error.

To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com.

ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

8F

.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

From left, an Annie Black Bird chair in crisp black and white with a nature motif, by Z Gallerie Inc.; a large rounded Raya vase with black and white stripes, by Z Gallerie Inc.; a zigzag pattern dinnerware set, by Z Gallerie Inc.; and a Liliana chair featuring an ironwork pattern of gray and white, by Z Gallerie Inc.

Feeling optimistic? It might be because of decor

BY KIM COOK For The Associated Press

In home decor, there’s something about the start of spring. When life’s renewing itself outdoors, we feel the urge to revive our interiors too.

This season, decor offerings are especially upbeat.

Start with the palette. “Saturated” is a word being used a lot; it means ripe plum hues, intense tangerines, rich indigos, verdant greens, zingy turquoises, hot reds and peppy yellows.

Dee Schlotter, a color expert with PPG Pittsburgh Paints, said exuberant orange is No. 1 on her trend radar.

“It’s full of joy and playful,” said Schlotter, who also cites Geranium Pink as a hot hue.

“It goes really well with orange, and it’s a happy, girly color.”

Teal and turquoise are back after a lengthy retirement, and with experience in mid-century modern and traditional decor, they’ve got legs that will carry them into fall.

Erin Olson loved the color family enough to devote a blog to it; the House of Turquoise follows all things bluegreen.

“What I love about turquoise is that it can be paired with any other color, since it has both warm and cool undertones,” she said.

“My personal favorite is using turquoise as a fun punch of color to an otherwise neutral space. A turquoise throw pillow, lamp or rug will instantly bring new life to your room, and can easily be switched out.”

Crisp clean white’s a common counterpoint, but you’ll see black as a foil as well.

Graphic prints pop in these bold colors: Zigzags and stripes are all over the home accessories marketplace. So are lattice and ironwork prints, big and little florals and abstracts. African handblock, Moroccan and Silk Road patterns have crossed over from last season.

Not a fan of bright? Look for a world of calming neutrals such as soft putty, grellow (a gray/yellow blend), greige (a gray/ beige), aqua, pewter, copper, vanilla and shell pink.

You’ll see lots of texture in this category: weathered wood, animal hide, burnished metals, burlap and gauzy cottons. Honeycomb patterns, naturalistic motifs like twigs, leaves and birds, watery Impressionist prints and airy florals soothe the soul.

Neutrals are “taking the popular gray trend and moving it forward, by adding

A Watermelon Stripe duvet cover, by The Land of Nod. AP PHOTOS

warmth with natural materials like jute and linen, and then giving it a real punch by adding a sunny pop of yellow,” said Sherwin-Williams’ color marketing director, Jackie Jordan.

Repainting walls in a fresh spring hue is one way to update a room, but if you’re not ready to commit in a major way, small changes can also alter a room’s mood.

Try a lemony throw, clean white paint trim, a teal rug or sandy-toned drapery.

Go for a bright, candy-hued lamp base, and pick the color up again in a big fruit bowl.

In the kitchen, replace cooking tools with new ones in luscious tomato red.

Flor’s new spring collection of floor tiles features Fedora, in a soothing palette of dusty turquoise, oatmeal, walnut and flannel.

Used in a bedroom with lavender, cream or pale pink textiles, you’d wake up to spring’s birdsong in the most serene of sleeping spaces.

Land of Nod has a cheery Watermelon Stripe duvet cover in a rainbow of fruity hues, as well as the Dot Matrix rug, composed of hundreds of rolled felt balls like gumballs.

Black and white geometrics make a dramatic statement — you’ll find them on dinnerware, patio umbrellas, candles and awning stripes at Z Gallerie, including a very Jonathan Adler-esque vase made of lacquered bamboo.

IKEA is offering its Expedit shelving in fire engine red; there’s the new Varmdo rocking chair in the hue, too.

In this product image released by PPG Pittsburgh Paints, a wall painted in Tangerine Tango, an exuberant orange tone, is shown.

AP PHOTO/PPG PITTSBURGH PAINTS

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Smith & Pickel, 5901 N Shartel Ave., Chesapeake Energy, parking garage, erect, $35,000,000.

Clyde Riggs Construction, 525 Central Park Drive, office, remodel, $1,000,000.

Crabtree Custom Homes LLC, 17800 Prairie Sky Way, residence, erect, $734,000.

Cornerstone Homes By Chris Moock LLC, 2517 Somerset Place, residence, erect, $470,000.

Phillips Partnership, 2210 W Memorial Road, retail sales, remodel, $464,463.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 9100 Paseo del Vita, residence, erect, $389,500.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 10200 Berrywood Drive, residence, erect, $389,500.

Wayne Long Custom Homes Inc., 13801 Portofino Strada, residence, erect, $350,000.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 10616 Berrywood Drive, residence, erect, $336,500.

Beacon Homes LLC, 16124 Evan Shaw Court, residence, erect, $330,000.

Landmark Fine Homes LP, 18608 Mesa Road, residence, erect, $328,000.

R&R Homes LLC, 10716 SW 35, residence, erect, $300,000.

Wayne Long Custom Homes Inc., 12601 Lapis Lane, residence, erect, $300,000.

Alliance Property Development, 12313 Hidden Forest Blvd., office, erect, $300,000.

Maccini Construction Co., 210 Park Ave., office, remodel, $245,000.

League Custom Homes LLC, 13208 NW 4, residence, erect, $230,000.

Remington Builders Inc., 13508 Brampton Way, residence, erect, $230,000.

Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 3204 SW 139, residence, erect, $226,280.

Blue Ribbon Construction LLC, 8801 NW 110, residence, erect, $225,000.

Prime Development, 9213 NW 75, residence, erect, $223,000.

J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5617 NW 121 Circle, residence, erect, $222,500.

League Custom Homes LLC, 13213 NW 4, resi-

Edmond

dence, erect, $220,000.

Oxford Homes LLC, 6209 NW 154 Terrace, residence, erect, $220,000.

American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 5608 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $200,000.

Anderson & House Inc., 8300 Greystone Ave., parking, install, $200,000.

Danny Yarbrough, 5236 Horizon Blvd., residence, erect, $200,000.

Johnston Builders, 12603 Deep Wood Creek Drive, residence, erect, $198,000.

D.R. Horton, 2300 NW 156, residence, erect, $187,550.

D.R. Horton, 16200 Wynchase Drive, residence, erect, $185,000.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 19209 Blossom Court, residence, erect, $180,000.

Country View Homes Inc., 12500 Jerrad Lane, residence, erect, $180,000.

MJH Properties, 337 W Wilshire Blvd., officewarehouse, erect, $175,000.

D.R. Horton, 11013 SW 38 Circle, residence, erect, $173,600.

4 Corners Construction LLC, 5700 SE 148, residence, erect, $170,000.

4 Corners Construction LLC, 5800 SE 145, residence, erect, $170,000.

Monarch Properties LLC, 15517 Wood Creek Lane, residence, erect, $170,000.

Two Structures LLC, 8313 NW 143 Terrace, residence, erect, $160,000.

American Fine Homes, 10924 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $150,000.

Gary Owen, 2116 Wheatfield Ave., residence, erect, $150,000.

PGAL, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $150,000.

D.R. Horton, 11012 SW 40, residence, erect, $145,800.

Cutter Homes, 11744 SW 21, residence, erect, $140,000.

Home Creations, 18201 Groveton Blvd., residence, erect, $134,100.

Westpoint Homes, 15112 Amber Run, residence, erect, $130,000.

Westpoint Homes, 6021 NW 157, residence, erect, $130,000.

Precision Builders, 13801 N Bryant Ave., restaurant, remodel, $125,000.

Home Creations, 16113 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $124,900.

Home Creations, 16112 Romeo Drive, residence,

314

NE Edmond, Wagon Wheel Addn 2000 Sq Ft Remodeled Home on 1.5 ac lot. New Crpt in all BR, lrg LR, Hardwood flrs, frpl & mantle, Oak Library paneling, lrg Covered Porch, 3 Car Gar, $228,900. 405-473-9661 call after 3pm, can show.

MWC Acreage For Sale

302

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 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 OWNER FINANCING 1-10 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla.

E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 In Country 5 acres, Nice, consider financing. Owner 360-6586 or 590-4367

Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308 Land & Home Hughes County 360 acres, 3/2 home, JD tractor with implements, ATV, UTV for sale.

Abundant deer and turkey. $1250 per acre.

918.706.3740

PUBLIC AUCTION 9104 Jennifer Place Sunday April 15 3B 11/2B Brick Home Open House 3/25 2-5pm www.tillmansauction.com 405-542-3837 TILLMAN AUCTION OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 522 E Douglas Dr. $49K ¡596-4599‘ 410-8840¡

Moore

318

314

18305 English Oak Lane, 3BR 2.5BA 2car, 1926sf.

Complete remodel by interior decorator. $164,500 405-410-8873

336

160 acres, 1/2 hour NE of OKC. Will divide.

Call 920-284-5911

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

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

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

OKC Northwest

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

324

Newly remodeled home, 4016 NW 33rd, $78,500, appointments only, or open house, Sun, 2-5PM, call Don, 405-370-2910.

Updated Brick 3/1 carport & extra prkng, roof 2011, ch/a, wood floors $84,000 Realty Experts 414-8753

OKC Southwest

326

2813 SW 60 Completely remodeled 3bd 1.5ba ch/a brick home 2 living areas.

Call for details!! $68,000 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 Bank Owned Updated 3/2 new carpet/pnt ch/a $44.9K Realty Experts 414-8753

RE for sale Edmond

317

Industrial Property

Open Houses 334.2 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

Huge 4 Bed. REPO $629/mo. wac 405-324-8000 28x60 American 4/2/2 din laundry, 10213 Park Rd, Edm $24K 405-205-9175 $325/mo. New 2bd w/deck Financing avail. FREE phone app. 405-324-8000 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

Real Estate Auctions

342

2,135± sqft Custom Brick Home w/Acreage RV Garage & Workshop Chickasha, OK

REAL ESTATE AUCTION

MON. MARCH 26th 10AM On-Site 2455 County Street 2870 866-874-7100 LippardAuctions.com FRI, MARCH 30TH, 2PM 168 Ac, Red River land »» 580-875-6500 »» www.highsauction.com

erect, $123,500.

D.R. Horton, 4112 Shelton Terrace, residence, erect, $122,500.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 304 Durkee Road, residence, erect, $122,000.

Home Creations, 16204 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $114,100.

Two Structures LLC, 2940 NW 30, duplex, erect, $110,000.

Two Structures LLC, 2942 NW 30, duplex, erect, $110,000.

Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11800 NW 132, residence, erect, $109,000.

Home Creations, 3512 Morgan Creek Road, residence, erect, $105,300.

Griffin Homes LLC, 11745 SW 22 Terrace, residence, erect, $105,000.

Two Structures LLC, 2944 NW 30, duplex, erect, $105,000.

Two Structures LLC, 2946 NW 30, duplex, erect, $105,000.

D.R. Horton, 11128 SW 42, residence, erect, $101,700.

Alan Stuck Custom Homes, 11205 NW 7, residence, erect, $100,000.

Alan Stuck Custom Homes, 724 Tall Grass Drive, residence, erect, $100,000.

Alan Stuck Custom Homes, 9313 Brian Lane, residence, erect, $100,000.

Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 4712 Hunter Blvd., residence, erect, $100,000.

D.R. Horton, 4109 Johnson Farms Drive, residence, erect, $96,900.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18400 Abierto Drive, residence, erect, $96,000.

Home Creations, 16013 Sonador Drive, residence, erect, $89,800.

Al Ramsey, 100 S Linn Ave., automotive sales, erect, $75,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 2013 Mark J Ave., residence, erect, $70,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 11713 SW 21, residence, erect, $70,000.

Al Ramsey, 100 S Linn Ave., automotive repairwash, erect, $65,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 4905 SW 120 Terrace, residence, erect, $65,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 4901 SW 120 Terrace, residence, erect, $65,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 2009 Mark J Ave., residence, erect, $65,000.

Apollo Building Systems, 2701 NE 24, parking, install, $50,000.

CCDC Inc., 728 S Mustang Road, recreation cen-

Real Estate Notices

345

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

Real Estate Wanted

346

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

Vacation Property For Sale 347 Wyndham Resort Vacation time share 154,000points. stay at thousands of places, maintenance fees $38/mo paid in full for a year. will pay all closing costs. $500 obo or will trade for deer rifle.

405-485-3631 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 ARBUCKLE LAKE New 3bd 2ba custom Home great lake view $114,000 580-222-5449 405-238-0900

Business Property For Rent 360 PRIME RETAIL LOCATION I-35 frontage, showroom, offices, warehouse 10,800sf ¡ 8801 S. I-35 Dale or Mike, 631-4447

Office Space For Rent

363

Gorgeous 2132 sq ft Office and nice 960 sq ft office available at Castlerock Business Plaza in Mustang, OK. Call 580-243-0624 7608 N Western Ave Retail/Office space, up to 2200sf avail, 370-1077 GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516

Warehouse Space For Rent 363.5 4000sf Warehouse w/ ofc, heat & air, 1600sf fncd yrd $1750mo + dep.

10901 NE 23rd St, Bldg C, Nicoma Park 630-0394 K Office, K Warehouse for lease. Various sizes.

221 W Wilshire 842-7300

Commercial RE

nedo, 2237 SW 22, residence, remodel, $6,000.

Wintergreen LLC, 544 SW 27, accessory, erect, $5,800.

Mike Wilcox-Oklahoma Rehab Inc., 430 NW 10, medical clinic-office, remodel, $5,300.

Robert and Brenda Collins, 14525 W Reno Ave., accessory, erect, $5,000.

Scott and Danelle Vannest, 1308 SW 133, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,000.

James Clark, 12117 Quail Creek Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,895.

Donald and Brenda Dobey, 12201 Sherrie Elaine Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,600.

Coy Ivey, 19408 Danforth Farms Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,595.

David Booth, 6217 SE 56, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,595.

Jim Mitrougenis, 705 Greenfield Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,595.

Nancy Owens, 13506 Fox Hollow, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,595.

Hicks Avery Smith IV, 18200 Allora Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,400.

Gordon T. Rupert Jr., 7307 NW 105, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,375.

Myrna Newman, 15905 Teesdale Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,150.

Colby Hall, 4708 SW 122, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,000.

Don Robinett, 10613 W Country Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Linda Kincaid, 1617 Country Place Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Mike Bradburry, 3109 Hampshire Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Robert and Brenda Collins, 14525 W Reno Ave., accessory, erect, $4,000.

Robert and Brenda Collins, 14525 W Reno Ave., accessory, erect, $4,000.

Ron Oldham, 3030 NW 73, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,000.

Terry and Vikki Clingman, 1125 NW 199, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Tyler Strain, 5601 NW 162, storm shelter, install, $4,000.

No name provided, 4100 Spindle Ridge Drive, storm

OKC Northeast

431

430

Freshly Renovated 2 & 3 bed apts. Sec 8 ok. Now Acc. 1 bd vchr for 2bd.

Call 475-9984 for info.

OKC Northwest

431

$100 Off

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

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL 3037 North 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 FREE RENT TIL MAY Newlyremodeled1,2&3beds, Putnam Green, 405-721-2210

Florence 429 NW 11th Midtown Studio, Granite Counters, CHA, Free Laundry $675mo $400dep 409-7989 No sec 8

Commercial Property For Sale

Four Commercial Car Washes For Sale Located in Lindsay, Pauls Valley and Davis, Oklahoma.

30 day offering.

Inquire at carwash@ lindsayamerica.com for details

ter, remodel, $50,000.

Destin Construction, 311 NW 122, office-warehouse, remodel, $50,000.

Hall (James E.), 10201 Fawn Valley Drive, residence, add-on, $50,000.

Miller Investment, 125 Park Ave., office, remodel, $49,656.

Clark Construction, 1226 NE 63, restaurant, remodel, $46,400.

Rightfit Home Improvement, 3140 Rosewood Lane, residence, add-on, $33,825.

Four Seasons Sunrooms, 3812 Seaward Circle, residence, add-on, $33,716.

Chris Carter, 5341 Aspen Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $32,000.

Champion Window Co., 14605 Longford Way, residence, add-on, $29,000.

Southwest Builders, 11217 Kingsgate Drive, residence, add-on, $28,100.

Robert and Brenda Collins, 14525 W Reno Ave., manufactured home, move-on, $25,000.

Callahan Steel Buildings (Curt), 15601 Pompeya Lane, residence, add-on, $20,000.

Oklahoma City Zoological Trust, 2101 NE 50, accessory, install, $20,000.

Oklahoma City Zoological Trust, 2101 NE 50, accessory, install, $20,000.

Vortech Storm Shelters, 2101 NE 50, accessory, install, $20,000.

Trang Nguyen, 9003 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $20,000.

Builders Warehouse, 7137 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $18,000.

Gibraltar Construction Inc., 17300 Triana Drive, residence, add-on, $15,000.

Gober Construction, 3200 S Richland Road, storage, erect, $14,000.

No name provided, 10700 S Pennsylvania Ave., business, remodel, $12,000.

Bill’s Pavement Maintenance, 7729 SW 34, parking, install, $10,000.

Christi D. Sikes, 5212 Harmon Drive, manufactured home, move-on mobile home park, $9,500.

Southwest Builders, 1020 Westbury Terrace, residence, add-on, $8,800.

Alloy Building Co., 2401 NW 23, canopy-carport, erect, $8,300.

Alloy Building Co., 2401 NW 23, canopy-carport, erect, $8,300.

Alloy Building Co., 2401 NW 23, canopy-carport, erect, $8,300.

Timoteo Martinez-Ca-

804 NW 21st Mesta Park 2bed 1ba 1000sf $675mo $300dep dishwasher free laundry 409-7989 no sec 8

5 acres at Lake Eufaula, OK, water, electric, near boat ramp, 918-452-3196

RESTAURANT Great for Food Truck prep kitchen or anyone wanting a food business, many possibilities. Nice furn & equip. 5404 S. Shields OKC $135,000 Owner will finance.

405-712-1411

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

$9 APP FEE $239 FIRST MONTH ALL BILLS PAID 293-3693 DREXEL ON THE PARK

Apartments Edmond

422

MOVE IN NOW! Pd. water/garbage Quiet.

Try Plaza East•341-4813

MWC

424

Investment Property For Sale 355

» Free Rent 'til May » 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172

2144 SW 61st St. ¡ 2bd, 1ba, den Rental potential $700mo $58,900 692-5596

Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122

$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

Quiet Casady

Low Rents $475 751-8088 Plaza Apts – Art Deco 1744 NW 17 1bed 1bath Starting at $550/month $250dp 409-7989 no sec8

OKC Northwest

OKC Northwest

453

SEE PERMITS, PAGE 10F

MWC

468

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

OKC Southeast

PC schls, no sec 8, 3/2/2 1600' 6418 Galaxie Dr. Appt only $875 843-5853

MAYFAIR Great location!

1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhood ¡947-5665

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

905 SW 1st 3/1 $625 Free List 681-7272

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

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

Newalla

433

459

Cottage Park

$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849

567 Walker Dr Newcastle Brand New 1 & 2 beds for active seniors 62 and above.

MOVE IN BY MAR 31ST FOR ONLY $99!

LIMITED AVAILABILITY (Income restrictions do apply) ''Equal Housing Opportunity'' Handicap Accessible 877-250-2332, Ext 150

Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

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

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 681-7561 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Special » »»»»»»»»»»»»

$99 Move In Special!!!

Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849

Yukon

Yukon

NICE 3bd 2ba 2car No sec 8. $950mo $500 dep.

Maria 618-0563

438

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 354-5855 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Specials » »»»»»»»»»»»»

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 3528 NW 51st gas, water paid 2 bed 1K bath $600 mo. 748-8520 redbudrealestate.com

Duplexes OKC Northwest

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 Del City

465.5

4016 Thomas Ave 2/1 $495 Free List 681-7272

453

» Large 2 bd » 2 K ba » 1500 sf, fp, wet bar, 2 car, PC Schools » $850/mo, No Section 8.

831-8218 9004 Roxbury Terr, OKC

Edmond

466

712 Scott 3/2/2 $895 18300 Tambor 3/2/2 $1095 2013 NW 176 3/2/2 $1195 18112CalleWay3/2/2 $1250 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

475

1719 NW 1st 1/1 $350 Free List 681-7272

Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

OKC Southwest

OKC Northwest

513 E. Boeing 2 bed 1 bath, fncd. bkyd ch&a, w/d hook-up with appliances. 405-570-5865

2827 NW 20 1bed 1ba duplex 800sf $575/mo $375 deposit 409-7989 no sec 8, no pet, no smoking

Tuttle/ Newcastle

9F

shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Charles Reece, 2633 SW 108, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,995.

Joshua Hodges, 15836 Big Cypress Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995.

Mirza Asif Beg, 15208 Misty Park Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995.

Vortech Storm Shelters, 6413 Urschel Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995.

Wayne L. and Pamela Costa, 4705 NW 156, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,995.

Tina and Bryan Britt, 10408 Bayberry Drive, temporary building, install-storm shelter, $3,925.

Micheal Aaron Eslinger, 12109 SW 3, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800.

Richard Kuebler, 4141 W Reno Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800.

Carolyn Fulton, 12408 NW 3 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400.

Julie Gathright, 17025 Hardwood Place, shell building, install-storm shelter, $3,395.

Timothy Land, 16309 Napa Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395.

Jana Gravett, 13614 Pin Oak, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,350.

Janet Rusche, 8608 NW 74, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300.

Randy Franklin, 2805 Morgan Trace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300.

Thomas Byers, 12816 SW 54, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300.

Walter K. Watson, 7224 Sears Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300.

Herbert and Diana Kramer, 12328 Southgate Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,295.

Guy and Keren Dunklee, 333 Cypress Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200.

Herbert Danielson, 8404 Lakeaire Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200.

John Simpson, 2708 Cambridge Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200.

Mandy Melendez, 13921 Teagen Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200.

Briargate 1718 N Indiana 1bd, 1ba, 800 sf, wood floors, all elect, $550 mo, $250dp 409-7989 no sec8

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

.

Moore

469

471

3bd 1.5ba 2car 1300sf, 1.6 acres $850 mo+ Dep Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

OKC Northeast

474

Nice 4bed 2 bath 229 NE 16th $1100mo 405-406-0565

OKC Northwest

475

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

11729SndncMtn3/2/2 $1550 6704 NW 124 3/2/2 $1095 6018PlumThckt4/3.5/2$1995 14319 N Penn 2/2.5 $950 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 3232 Brushcreek, in Quail Creek on the golf course, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car, 1 FP, $1875 mo, $1500 dep. ¡ 831-0825 Summerfield, 4521 Dove Tree Lane, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, fireplace, wood floor, new carpet, 7207075 or 659-0441.

12420 Springwood Dr 4bed 2.5ba 2car $1250mo $1250/dep 2300sf 2living 2 din 409-7989 no sec 8 7032 Stony Creek, 3/2/2 fp, fenced, NO Pets $975mo $900dep, Move in mid May TMS Prop 348-0720

476

Owner carry, 3712 SE 48 PL, Mid-Del sch. 1472’, 3/2/2, like new. 650-7667. www.homesofokcinc.com 221 SE 57th nice 2bd home, fresh paint, clean, nice area. Only $450!!

Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 3028 Parker Dr 3bd/1ba, din rm 1car $600+dep No pets 672-2121/301-2723

OKC Southwest

477

1415 SW 77th Terrace Nice 3bd home with Florida room 1.5ba 1car, ch/a, Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 4 bedroom house.

412 SW 12th St. $825/ month, $300 deposit Section 8. Call Kevin 213-5168 637 SW 46th nice 2bd home, well kept area, ch/a, detached garage, $550 mo. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 2837 SW 82nd 3/1/1 $725 Free List 681-7272

Norman

473

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

Yukon

482

Brookstone Lakes 3/2/2: no sec 8 3225 Tinkeller Ct; 10616 SW 32nd; from $1000 mo $500dep Maria 618-0563

Mobile Home Rentals 483

Welcome Home! 1, 2 & 3 bdrm homes avail. Call now. for appt. 831-4183

2bd, 1ba, w/appls incl. + W&D, Edmond Schools, storage shed. No pets.

348-6240 or 623-1181

1514 NW 17th 4 bed 2ba 2car 1920sf $1150/mo $900dp 409-7989 no sec8

3 bed/2 bath $725 month in Oak Ridge Lot rent/lawn serv included Edmond 341-9209

3/2N /2 PCN, 2 story, Pet Ok. Exc Cond $1200 neg + dep, 1-866-663-0149

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

10F

.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

Permits continued FROM PAGE 9F

Romolo Giudice, 2220 NW 157 Terrace, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200.

Vernon Belcher, 4933 NW 31Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200.

Henry Felkins, 13617 Keswick Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100.

Kevin McCarthy, 7000 N Omaha Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100.

Russell and Angela Muncy, 14308 Almond Valley Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100.

Alvin Giebler, 8301 NW 66, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Anthony Ruggeri, 16405 Clear Creek Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

David Burchett, 1308 SW 132, residence, add-on, $3,000.

Gerard R. and Bobbi-Jo Ives, 501 NW 154, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

John Hare, 12501 Fox Run Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

John Leach, 9316 NW 133 Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Linda Hatfield, 12218 High Meadow Court, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

Marty Chisum, 11617 NW 114, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Monty Zwanziger, 11317 Randwick Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Robert Murphy, 2709 SW 123, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Shayne Hudeon, 19221 Blossom Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Sherry Solano, 4804 SE 86 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Tim Anderson, 8300 NW 66, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Deborah Nossaman, 1201 S Eastern Ave., retail sales, remodel, $3,000.

Daniel Reuter, 10001 Goodman, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Hoa Nguyen, 16621 Sunny Hollow Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995.

Jennifer and Jake Burgess, 7708 Meadow Lake Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Koji Omori, 17400 Golden Hawk Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Lester Roland, 2704 NW 170 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Michael Giordano, 10300 Ashford Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995.

Myriam Osorio, 15109 Stone Meadows Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Reginald and Monique Basil, 2716 NW 172, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995.

Richard Teel, 13605 Legacy Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Robert Elbah, 17321 Triana Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Roger A. Garrett, 3209 SW 86, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Toby Neff, 4205 Shimmering Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

D.R. Horton, 9608 Squire Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Jennie Sydnes, 14733 Rochefort Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900.

Joan Zubik, 8405 Lakeaire Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900.

Mike Brown, 11129 SW 42, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900.

Rex Dye, 8324 NW 75, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900.

Michael Wooldridge, 16912 Bradbury Circle, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,825.

Alexandria and Alyson Dent, 1433 SW 67, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Avis B. Williams, 5912 SE 88, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Jose Herrera, 532 SE 26 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Kevin Mashburn, 17301 Hawks Tree Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800.

Terri Bright, 18233 Piedra Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Dee Cure, 2328 NW 196, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Kenneth and Barbara Shahan, 1021 Pruitt Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Vicki Newby, 6309 S McKinley

REAL ESTATE Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Wei Zhang, 1404 NW 179, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Wenxin Wu, 1617 NW 182, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795.

Daniel Olson, 9109 NW 92, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,725.

Brian Burton, 3725 Winds West Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700.

Joseph S. Miano, 2704 NW 120, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700.

Ruchi and Banani Chakrabarty, 761 SW 157, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,700.

D.R. Horton (Flatsafe), 16221 Wynchase Drive, storage, installstorm shelter, $2,700.

Manuel Leo Cater, 1937 NW 172, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,550.

Alloy Building Co., 2920 NW 43, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,500.

Alloy Building Co., 2508 Pine Ave., canopy-carport, add-on, $2,500.

Beta Oil Co., 4900 N Meridian Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

John Showman, 13516 SE 134, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Richard Tannehill, 3807 S Magnolia Ave., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500.

Steve Briggs, 15608 Canyon Road, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Ronald Crumpacker, 10101 Laramie Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,470.

Stephen Newby, 2509 SW 102, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,083.

Dora Martinez, 1409 SW 23, canopy-carport, erect, $2,000.

Timberlake Construction, 133 NW 122, temporary building, move-on, $2,000.

Teresa Gutierrez, 1100 SW 40, accessory, remodel, $1,500.

Bockus Payne Associates, 9800 N Oklahoma Ave., office, supplement, $1,000.

Demolitions Midwest Wrecking, 1411 N Classen Blvd., office building.

Midwest Wrecking, 5022 N Western Ave., store.

Ted Mlynek, 3925 SE 59, residential storage.

K&M Wrecking LLC, 5401 S Hattie Ave., office.

M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 320 N McCormick Ave., warehouse.

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Low rates spur refinancing boom

BY KATHLEEN LYNN The Record

HACKENSACK, N.J. — As interest rates have slid over the past couple of years, Gabriel Bousbib, of Englewood, N.J., refinanced his 15-year mortgage not once, but twice, cutting his interest rate in two steps from about 4.6 percent to 3.375 percent.

He’s one of a number of homeowners who refinanced just a year or two ago but decided it was worth considering again as mortgage rates hit record lows — now averaging about 4 percent for a 30-year loan.

“When you’re quoting rates in the high 3s, people are saying, ‘It’s worth it to me,’ ” said Steve Hoogerhyde, executive vice president at Clifton Savings Bank.

“My monthly savings are going down a few hundred dollars; it adds up over 15 years,” said Bousbib, a financial services executive. “And if rates keep going down, I would refinance again.”

Refinance applications have more than doubled over the past year, though they’re not as high as in previous refinancing booms because it’s harder to qualify in the current atmosphere of tighter credit standards, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. With the volume of home purchases still low, refinancing accounts for about 80 percent of recent activity.

Although the old guideline used to be that you should consider refinancing only when rates drop at least 2 percentage points, the new wisdom is that it can be worthwhile even with smaller drops.

“For most people, if you can shave three-quarters of a percentage point off your interest rate, it’s worth looking at,” said Greg McBride, an analyst with Bankrate.com, a personal finance website.

For homeowners who plan to stick with the same loan term and want to lower their

monthly payments, the math is straightforward. Find out how much it will cost to refinance, figure out how much you’ll save each month and then how long it will take to break even. If you can save enough to offset the refinancing costs within a year or two — or even longer if you expect to stay in the house for a number of years — it’s worth considering.

Though low-interest rates are eye-popping low, the refinancing climate has changed from the easy-money days of five years ago. Generally, to get the best rates, homeowners need a 740 FICO credit score, well above the median score of 711. They also usually need at least 10 to 20 percent equity in the property. A recent expansion in the federal Home Affordable Refinance Program should allow refinancing this year by more so-called underwater borrowers — those who owe more than their homes are worth.

Lenders are also demanding much more documentation — including pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements — than they did five years ago, at the insistence of government regulators, as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which buy mortgages from lenders.

“You have to have a taste for doing paperwork,” said Keith Gumbinger of HSH Associates, a Pompton Plains, N.J., company that tracks mortgage data.

“You’re going to be asked for lots of documents. No one loves the process to begin with, and in today’s environment, it’s even less palatable.”

These stricter requirements are simply a return to the kind of underwriting standards that prevailed before lending standards slackened, leading to the housing bust and foreclosure crisis, McBride said.

“We’re in this mess because money was too easy to get,” he said.

MCT INFORMATION SERVICES