The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Historic home

Economy minded

The Listing of the week is the historic, Victorian-era, Goff House Inn, a mix of Queen Anne and Colonial styles, in El Reno.

The Hopewell is a minimalist’s dream. Besides being on the small side, its basically rectangular shape makes this compact Craftsman cottage as economical to build as it is to maintain. PAGE 10F

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Kenneth Harney

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

OKLAHOMA REALTORS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HAS POSITIVE MESSAGE

THE NATION’S HOUSING

LOAN SERVICER ABUSE The “robo-signing” and foreclosure scandals suggest that for thousands of homeowners, fair dealing and competence have not been routinely available at some of the largest mortgage servicing operations in the country. PAGE 3F

BOOKS

GIVE ROOMS A MAKEOVER

Hope White with Exit Bob Linn Real Estate, president of the Oklahoma Association of Realtors, shows a living area of a home she is preparing to list for sale in northwest Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN BY DYRINDA TYSON Special Correspondent dyrinda@gmail.com

There’s more to a Realtor than real estate, Hope White maintains, and she plans to spend her year as the Oklahoma Association of Realtors president spreading the word. “We have a lot of Realtors who work avidly in homeowners associations trying to improve the neighborhoods because they live in the neighborhoods,” said White, a sales associate with Exit Bob Linn Real Estate. “They work in the PTAs because they have kids in the school. They’re involved in the community.” Realtors have as big a stake in the quality of life, she said, as their clients have.

And White is as good as her word, devoting her time to causes as diverse as Other Options Inc., which helps families coping with catastrophic illness, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. She said she has plenty of company as a volunteer and a Realtor. “And the ones who are doing it need to talk to the ones who aren’t doing it,” she said. Pacing through the kitchen of a home in northwest Oklahoma City one bright afternoon, though, White talked about her other passions. “The kitchen is my comfort zone,” she said, showing off a gleaming expanse of dark marble. “I’m an avid cook. I cook all the time.”

Sunday nights, she said, are turned over to dinner with a bustling family — three children and seven grandchildren. She’s preparing to put this Old World-style, two-story home on the market in the coming weeks. Though it was built a little more than a decade ago, its earth-colored walls and well-appointed details — crown molding overhead and a full butler’s pantry off the kitchen among them — lend it the air of a genteel place that has passed through generations. But the theater room upstairs, complete with plush reclining seats, anchors it firmly in this century. And White is optimistic about its chances of selling. “The market will show anything put on the market at this

time with the right price on is going to sell generally within the first 30 days,” she said. Most homes lingering on the market after that, she said, may have been overpriced to start with, “and they’re not top-of-the-line like this one.” A positive attitude, she said, is “absolutely necessary” in the real estate business — and so is flexibility. “There’s to me, personally, no such thing as a tough market,” she said. “It’s a challenging market, and when something is challenging, you have to learn a new way to deal with it.” Young real estate agents who came into the business under brighter business conditions, she said, often have trouble keeping SEE REALTOR, PAGE 2F

Figure out your ‘nut’ before taking out mortgage Do you have a growing family and feel increasingly crowded in the rental unit where you live? Do you hanker to buy a home yet fear that taking out too large a mortgage could one day lead to foreclosure? If so, you can help allay your concerns by doing serious number crunching before you begin shopping for a home, according to those who advise prospective homebuyers. “The good thing is that more people are now thinking twice before they overextend themselves on a house,” said Dale Robyn Siegel, a home loan broker and author of “The New Rules for Mortgages.” Your core living costs are expenses you must meet on a regular basis. Among other things, they include outlays for food, transportation, child care and insurance coverage. They may also include any financial commitments you’ve made to a religious institution or charity. Together, these expenses constitute what many in

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

the financial field call your “nut.” “Before making any major financial decision, your first task is to ensure you’ll have the funds to meet your nut every month,” Siegel said. How should you go about determining your nut? Arlen Olberding, a fee-only financial planner affiliated with the Garrett Planning Network, urges would-be purchasers to take a step-by-step approach. As a first step, he said you should carefully review your checking and credit card statements to see where your money has gone during the past six to 12 months. Once you’ve categorized your past spending, it’s time to comb

through the columns, determining which among your nonmandatory costs you’d be willing to trim in order to afford the sort of house you wish to buy. Once you’ve calculated your living costs, along with quality-of-life choices you consider essential, it’s time to compare this monthly total to the net income you’re bringing in. The difference should be the funds available to cover your mortgage expenses and future home upkeep and utility costs. Here are a few pointers for would-be homebuyers trying to calculate their nut before taking out a mortgage: Don’t assume tight lending practices will keep you from overborrowing. Since the Great Recession began, mortgagelending standards have become increasingly stringent, Siegel said. This tightening is making it much harder to gain lender approval, particularly for people who are self-employed or lack a track re-

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cord of job stability. Yet ironically, Siegel said many who can jump over lender approval hurdles are still able to borrow more than they reasonably should. Why? Because the full extent of their living costs isn’t apparent to the lender who reviews their file. For example, in assessing your affordability range, a lender won’t take into account private debts, such as the regular payments you owe your mother who advanced you the money to buy a new car. Factor inflation into your living cost calculations. Although the government’s Consumer Price Index has shown little movement in recent months, inflation is still a major factor for many households. Especially hard hit are families with young children who face hefty day care costs and those who’ve opted for private schooling after their kids reach kindergarten. And then there’s the

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soaring expense of higher education, which “affects both families with kids in college and those bracing for future college costs through savings plans,” Olberding said. Along with education expenses, health care costs have risen dramatically, led by the cost of employee contributions to health plans and the premiums paid for the kind of individual policies used by those who have no access to insurance coverage through work. Include savings into your cost-of-living calculations. If possible, Olberding recommends that adults of all ages strive to contribute to their retirement savings each year a sum equal to 15 percent of their gross income. And he urges that this outlay be classified as a core expense when deciding how much they can afford to cover their housing payments.

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

Stephen Saint-Onge seeks to take the scariness out of the decorating process in his new book, “No Place Like Home: Tips & Techniques for Real FamilyFriendly Home Design.” Saint-Onge is familiar to many through his television appearances and his “House Calls with Stephen SaintOnge” column in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. In his book, he inspires his readers with rooms that are warm, approachable and functional and helps them achieve similar results by giving them processes to follow and room makeovers to emulate. “No Place Like Home” is from Wiley Publishing for $19.99 in softcover.

IN BRIEF SHEET SETS MORE COMMON Q: Where can you buy individual sheets? I have three top sheets but no contour sheets to go with them. All I ever see anymore is sheet sets. A: Flat or fitted sheets packaged individually are less common than they used to be. Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and larger Macy’s stores sell some sheets individually, and you might be able to find a limited selection at off-price retailers such as T.J. Maxx. Mail-order sources are another option. The Company Store, L.L. Bean and Lands’ End all sell individual sheets. They also are available through some online retailers, including Amazon. com, HardToFind Sheets.com, Boscovs.com, Shop bedding.com and CSNStores.com. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Stone Permits

4F 7F

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: An area rug and fireplace give a cozy feel to this living area of the home in Cobblestone Manor addition. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Realtor: Involved in communities FROM PAGE 1F

their footing once the terrain turns rocky. “Being a successful Realtor at this time is a matter of having a positive attitude and knowing how to adjust to the situation that you face,” she said. “Whether it’s in our personal lives or our real estate lives, it’s something you’ve got to do.” It was a personal life lived largely apart while her husband Don served in the Army that eventually led both of them into real estate. Don White served in the Army infantry during some of the most intensive fighting of the Vietnam War. He came home “shot to pieces” after a March 1969 battle, as Hope White put it, and couldn’t return to the infantry once he recovered. He took on a recruiting assignment, and that moved the two Ardmore natives and their children to Oklahoma City. He retired from the Army in 1978. “We had spent so many years apart in the military,” White said, “we decided we wanted to find something to do so we could be a family together.” It came down between selling real estate and selling insurance. Real estate won out, and the couple worked together until a heart condition forced Don to retire in 2000. Now he divides his time between their Lake Texoma home and whatever needs to be done around Oklahoma City. “Whatever Don wants to do, that’s what he does,” she said, shrugging and smiling. Meanwhile, Hope is still going strong with no plans to retire. “But I would like to slow down some in a few years and do more travel,” she said. Her Realtor association duties keep her on the road, of course. “But I’ve got my bucket list of things to do,” she said. And at the top of the list? “Walk the Great Wall of China.”

Hope White, 2011 president of the Oklahoma Association of Realtors, shows the kitchen of a home she is preparing to list for sale at 12509 Cobblestone Parkway in northwest Oklahoma City. She is a sales associate with Exit Bob Linn Real Estate. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

This view shows the living room at 12509 Cobblestone Parkway in Cobblestone Manor addition. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

The master bedroom at 12509 Cobblestone Parkway.

PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

Settlement targets loan servicers, banks WASHINGTON — When you take out a home mortgage, do you expect to be treated fairly and competently by your bank or loan servicer? Most likely you do. But the widely publicized “robo-signing” and foreclosure scandals suggest that for thousands of homeowners, fair dealing and competence have not been routinely available at some of the largest mortgage servicing operations in the country. According to witnesses at recent congressional hearings: Borrowers with ontime payment histories who sought loan modifications frequently were told they needed to stop payments for two to three months before they would be eligible to even discuss possible changes to their loan terms. When they applied for modifications, they were sent foreclosure notices because they were in default. Major lenders and servicers often put borrowers on a “dual track” system — negotiating loan modifications and trial payment plans under federal programs while simultaneously initiating foreclosure procedures. Servicers pyramided late fees and other penalties, swelling borrowers’ debts to the point where they were so large that foreclosure became inevitable. Diane E. Thompson, counsel to the National

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Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

Consumer Law Center, said $30,000 in fees were added to one homeowner’s principal balance by a bank during the seven months it took to process her modification request. Servicers’ sloppy documentation in loan files often has led to unjustified foreclosures and high fees. Some of the most blatant errors involve property insurance records. In one case in Maine, a homeowner was informed that his hazard insurance policy had lapsed and the bank “force-placed” a policy of its own for two years. The force-placed policy required premium payments of $8,500 a year, despite the fact that the homeowner had a valid insurance policy providing superior coverage at a premium of just $550 a year. Reported abuses such as these have led to hundreds of lawsuits against banks and servicers that are clogging court calendars nationwide. But now state attorneys general have banded together in an effort to negotiate a broad, national settlement with the 14 biggest banks and

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servicers. The draft proposal — still far from final, according to participants in the negotiations — calls for billions of dollars in penalties from the banks along with additional billions in principal reductions for distressed and underwater borrowers. Though the principal reductions have received most of the attention in media coverage of the proposed settlement, the core of the agreement would essentially amount to a new mortgage servicing bill of rights for borrowers. It sets out minimum standards and operating procedures that would govern how homeowners are treated. Here’s a quick overview of how the draft settlement could change the rules of the game. Tops on the list: Servicers would be required to employ enough trained loss-mitigation staff to deal with all borrower inquiries and requests for loan modifications, and be able to identify the bank or investor that is the legal owner of the mortgage. This may sound like a no-brainer, but in some foreclosure lawsuits, servicers have been unable to document the identity of the investor that owns the loan to the court’s satisfaction. Equally basic but rarely available today: Servicers will have to provide mortgage customers with a

Illinois couple deny claim of housing discrimination BY MARY ELLEN PODMOLIK Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — An Illinois couple accused of violating fair housing law in the failed sale of their milliondollar home are rebutting Justice Department charges that they refused to sell to a black family. In responses filed with U.S. District Court in Chicago, Daniel and Adrienne Sabbia deny that they engaged in discriminatory housing practices in their dealings with George and Peytyn Willborn, who made several offers to buy the Sabbias’ sprawling Bridgeport home. The Sabbias also deny that Daniel Sabbia told listing agent Jeffrey Lowe that Sabbia would prefer not to sell the home to a black person but that he didn’t care who bought it if the price was right, and deny that Lowe forwarded a sales contract to the Sabbias for signature. In August, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development filed a housing discrimination complaint against the Sabbias, Lowe and real estate broker Midwest Realty Ventures LLC. Later that month, the Justice Department took over the case, which alleged that the Sabbias, who are white, backed out of an oral agreement to

sell their home to the Willborns. The Willborns have filed their own suit. In January 2010, according to the Justice complaint, the Willborns tried to buy the Sabbias’ 8,000square-foot home and the two parties orally agreed on a $1.7 million price. However, the Sabbias never signed the purchase contract. They told a real estate agent for the Willborns that they had decided to take the home off the market, despite it being listed for sale for almost two years, and it was removed from the local multiple listing service Jan. 12. The Willborns filed a housing-discrimination complaint with HUD in late January, and in early February the Sabbias offered to sell the home and all its furniture to the Willborns for $1.799 million. The Sabbias admitted in their court filings that they told Lowe to make the subsequent offer but deny that they directed Lowe to make the offer after they had received the HUD complaint. Separately, Lowe and Midwest Realty Ventures have asked the court to dismiss the case against them. Lowe argues that he worked to negotiate the sale of the house for the Sabbias, knowing the Willborns’ race, and reached an oral agreement with the

Willborns’ realty agent. It was then, he said, that he was he was told by the Sabbias that they would not sign a purchase contract. In a court filing for Lowe, his attorneys note he was following Illinois real estate law by conveying all offers and following his clients’ directions and was not strictly liable for the his clients’ actions or intentions. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

“single point of contact” — a designated employee, with a name and contact information — for their loan modification requests. Many borrowers have complained to state attorneys general and to Congress that they rarely, if ever, got to speak with the same person to cure a default or discuss fees, which often led to misunderstandings, missed deadlines and more foreclosures. Julia Gordon, senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, said “it’s stunning that this has not been done” as standard oper-

ating procedure. Dual-tracking of modifications and foreclosures would be banned outright by the proposed settlement agreement. Servicers would be prohibited from advising on-time customers to default, or discouraging borrowers from seeking help from nonprofit counseling organizations. And forceplaced insurance practices would be severely limited, including prohibitions on obtaining high-premium policies from subsidiaries or affiliates of the lender or servicer, or accepting kickbacks from insurance

companies for forceplaced policy purchases. Banks involved in the negotiations have not said much publicly about the proposed servicing rule changes. A Bank of America spokesman declined to comment. But keep an eye on this: If the settlement occurs, it could give you significant new protections as a homeowner and borrower, even if you’ve never had a payment problem or a need to modify your mortgage terms. Ken Harney’s email address is ken harney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Curb appeal attracts more prospective buyers BY AL HEAVENS The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — Curb appeal is that special something that makes prospective buyers stop for a better look at a house for sale. In normal market times, the National Association of Realtors said, 49 percent of buying decisions are based on curb appeal. Curb appeal is still of major importance, especially with so many houses for sale. It’s unlikely to get you more money for your house. But it will get buyers’ eyes on your prize. In effect, curb appeal is “outdoor staging,” said Realtor Joanne Davidow, of Prudential Fox & Roach. Even if the interior decor is Buckingham Palace-quality, no one will ever know if the place isn’t appealing from the street — because no one will ever ring the doorbell to see it. In fact, Davidow said, she is working on a listing now where the interior is wonderful, but the doorbell is hanging off. “You need to pay attention to outside as well as the indoors,” she said. Still, Marilou Buffum, of Eichler & Moffly Realtors, cautioned that curb appeal “depends upon what a buyer is looking for.” “If you have an urbanoriented buyer, a house with a lovely lawn isn’t high on the list,” Buffum said. “Clean windows, paint that isn’t peeling, an attractive front door, nice plantings, leaves raked and the lawns mowed set the tone of what the buyer thinks the house should

If a house doesn’t have curb appeal, such as this one in Drexel Hill, Pa., you can’t get a buyer up on the front porch, let alone out of the car or off the sidewalk. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

be.” Late fall to early spring is the toughest time to make the view more pleasing. All the flowers, except perhaps pansies, are dead; all but the evergreen trees are leafless, and the grass is brown and sparse. With short days and the sun at such a low point in the sky, the light that provides accent and focus to the appearance of a yard and house in spring and summer is temporarily unavailable. There are challenges to curb appeal everywhere. “The city is the best place to live, and I wouldn’t live anywhere

Inspector advises going beyond code on water heater DEAR BARRY: We’re buying a brand-new home with a water heater in the garage. It’s installed on a raised platform, as required by code, but our home inspector said it needs further protection from vehicle impact. He says a steel post should be installed to keep a car from hitting it. The builder says the raised platform protects the water heater and meets code. Who is right? Sandy DEAR SANDY: According to the plumbing code, the builder is correct. According to common sense, the home inspector is more correct than the code. Here is why: The plumbing code requires that a water heater in a garage be protected from mechanical damage in one of three ways: 1) by being installed behind a barrier; 2) by being elevated; 3) by being out of the normal path of a vehicle. If the water heater in the home you are buying is installed on a raised platform, it complies with this code requirement. However, from the standpoint of truly adequate protection, a barrier such as a steel post (known as a bollard) would provide far better protection. The reason for this additional protection is simple. A raised platform typically consists of wood framing and drywall — strong enough to support a water heater but not strong enough to withstand the impact of a car or truck. If a framed platform were damaged by a vehicle, the water heater could fall, causing the gas and water pipes to rupture. A wellplaced bollard would prevent this from occurring. Reliance on a raised platform assumes that a vehicle’s bumper is too low to strike the water heater directly. Once upon a time, that might have been true. But today’s four-wheeldrive SUVs and pickups with high bumpers could

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

easily strike the base of a raised fixture. Some building departments require a bollard, even though the water heater is installed on a platform. The building department in your area may not take this approach, but an upgrade would be highly advisable. If the builder does not agree, you can have a bollard added after you buy the home. DEAR BARRY: We were storing some things in the attic of our new home and noticed that outside light is visible through the roofing in many places. So we called our builder. He said it is normal to see spots of light through a roof. But we asked another builder, and he said that answer is nonsense. Who is correct? Dave DEAR DAVE: Light in an attic is not as desirable as light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. In most cases, it is a sign of faulty roof installation. There are some exceptions, depending upon the type of roofing you have. For example, with a wood shake roof or with some kinds of tile roofing, light may be visible beneath the flashing in some places. But light should only be visible when looking down slope within the attic, not when sighting upward along the interior surface of the roof. You should have this inspected by a licensed roofing contractor or by a qualified home inspector. If your builder is excusing a faulty condition, you should have at least two professional opinions to back up your position. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

else,” said Prudential Fox & Roach agent Jeff Block, who focuses on Philadelphia’s Center City real estate market. “But city properties do deal with unique curb-appeal issues. “One is simply windblown bags, wrappers and leaves,” he said. “You can sweep your sidewalk every day, but if the wind blows right before an appointment, the buyer doesn’t know that.” Also affecting curb appeal may be the condition of neighboring houses. “We deal mostly with town houses and twins,” Block said, “so sellers can

point their brick, paint their door and trim, and the house can look perfect. But it does not help if the attached house is beaten up.” Said Buffum: “You have to look at your neighbor’s house when considering curb appeal. If there are issues, and you get along well with your neighbor, you might ask if they wouldn’t mind trimming hedges or cleaning their yards.” In some cases, sellers have even paid to have the house next door painted, she said. “Remember, you are selling your neighborhood, not just your house.”

Among the easier-tofix curb-appeal issues are the weeds that pop up between pavers on sidewalks and patios, said Weichert Realtors agent Carolyn L. Sabatelli. Most plants and shrubs are still several weeks shy

of bloom, “so color is at a premium” in late winter, said Sabatelli, who works out of Weichert’s media office. “Bushes should be trimmed neatly, and plant beds should be trimmed out,” she said. “If driveways are asphalt, they should be nice and clean, and, if needed, another coat of blacktop applied.” Think mulch, agents say. Fresh dark mulch adorning even barren landscapes gives them a warmer look. Except for when a property cries out for professional help, boosting curb appeal does not have to be expensive, Buffum said. “A fresh coat of paint or windows washed and fixed don’t add up to much of an expense,” she said. “Will you get the money back on your investment? Not necessarily, but you are making your house more appealing to buyers,” she said. “It gives buyers the impression that you care.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

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REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

Actress Jennifer Aniston lists hot property BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Actress Jennifer Aniston has listed her Beverly Hills estate for sale at $42 million. Designed by Hal Levitt, the 1970 house sits on about an acre in the Trousdale Estates area. The indoor-outdoor home of glass, wood and stone was designed for entertaining and for use by an extended family. The redesigned and expanded interior living space, restored by Aniston and designer Stephen Shadley over more than two years, encompasses nearly 10,000 square feet. The formal living room is paneled in rosewood, a secondary living room has a wet bar, and the five bedrooms and 7½ bathrooms are complemented by two kitchens, a gym and a three-car garage. Water features include a swimming pool, spa, ponds and fountains throughout the property. An al fresco living room, fireplaces and another kitchen are among the outdoor amenities. Aniston, 42, stars with Adam Sandler in the comedy “Just Go With It,” though she is still best known to TV audiences for her role on “Friends” (1994-2004). Among her other film work is “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009), “Marley & Me” (2008) and “The Good Girl” (2002). In an Architectural Digest cover story just one year ago, Aniston declared, “I can’t tell you specifically the feeling I had when I walked through the doors for the first time, except to say I knew I was home.” She has since told People magazine she is selling the house to simplify her life. Aniston bought the property in 2006 for $13.5 million following her divorce from Brad Pitt. The cost of the architectural renovation and redecoration was not divulged.

Nitty Gritty John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has placed his four-bedroom, five-bathroom home in the Hollywood Hills on the market at $1,269,000. The 2,597-square-foot Mediterranean has the main living spaces on the top level, bedrooms on the middle level and a bottom floor with about 1,000 square feet of space and a separate entrance. “A perfect studio and office … away from the rest of the house but still in it,” McEuen said of the space, which has 11-foot ceilings. A founding member of the band, now in its 45th year, McEuen has recorded more than 45 albums. He displayed platinum and gold discs in the home’s studio. More recently, two film scores and three CD projects were mixed there. McEuen also produced his six-years-running Sirius/ XM radio show from the studio. “With my performance schedule of an average of 120 cities a year, this

Jennifer Aniston says she is selling her Los Angeles home to simplify her life. AP PHOTO

home’s proximity to show business made it ideal for easy connection to ‘the business’ when off the road — 10 to 15 minutes from agents, studios, Burbank airport,” he said. “Its hillside location is just what I always dreamed of: in the hills, secure, fantastic views, lots of parking, a feeling of privacy, yet in the middle of it all.” McEuen, 65, is selling because he is relocating to New York City. He purchased the house in 1999 for $631,000, according to public records.

‘Real’ Housewife “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richards and her husband, real estate agent Mauricio Umansky, have sold their

Bel Air home for $2.1 million. The 1973 contemporary, designed and landscaped with a tropical Balinese resort vibe, had been remodeled. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house sits on more than a quarter of an acre with a swimming pool, spa and barbecue area with fire pit. It has 4,200 square feet of living space. Richards, whose “Housewives” is in its first season, began her acting career with appearances on “Little House on the Prairie” (1975-82). The couple bought the property in 2004 for $1,935,000, according to public records. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has placed his home in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles on the market at $1,269,000. MCCLATCHY PHOTO

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

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SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

LISTING OF THE WEEK

El Reno home/inn on registry The Listing of the week is the historic, Victorian-era Goff House Inn, a mix of Queen Anne and Colonial styles, in El Reno. The 3,293-square-foot home at 506 S Evans Ave., now a bed-andbreakfast with a commercial-grade kitchen, could be used as a home or business. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The home has six bedrooms, five baths, two living rooms, one dining room and an attached threecar garage with a 900-square-foot garage apartment over it. The formal living room is 18 by 14 feet and has a fireplace. A second living room is 16 by 14 feet and has a built-in bookcase. The formal dining room is 13 by 16 feet and has a fireplace. The home has a covered porch, 2008 roof and 2011 exterior paint. The home has central heat and air in two zones, three new water heaters and special features including a handcrafted stairwell and inlaid parquet floor in the entry, European lace window treatments, a cross-gambrel roof and a turret towering over the wraparound porch. The home, built in 1901, is named for its original owners, William and

Permits Oklahoma City Robison & Associates, 3400 NW 36, greenhouse, remodel, $12 million. Oklahoma City Public Schools, 2300 NW 15, school, add-on, $4.5 million. Gardner Construction, 4000 N Santa Fe Ave., warehouse, erect, $3.3 million. Smith & Pickel Construction, 500 SW 44, medical clinic-office, addon, $2.3 million. Brass Brick III LLC, 19109 Summer Grove Ave., residence, erect, $1,875,000. Summit Builders Inc., 15417 Colonia Bella Drive, residence, erect, $450,000. Lawrence Cates & Associates LLP, 5301 N May Ave., parking, install, $435,000. Aztec Building Systems, 1317 SE 25, office-warehouse, erect, $425,000. Justice Homes Inc., 7604 NW 130 Terrace, residence, erect, $375,000. Wayne Griffiths Homes, 5501 Hidden Fawn Circle, residence, erect, $350,000. Debbie Gregory Homes, 1605 NW 185, residence, erect, $300,000. Ackledge & Associates Architects, 1401 SW 89, apartment, erect, $296,000. Brookshire Homes LLC, 8620 Bobwhite Road, residence, erect, $284,000. TLP Custom Homes LLC, 1509 SW 133, residence, erect, $260,000. Manchester Green Homes LLC, 18705 Chestnut Oak Drive, residence, erect, $259,900. Brass Brick III LLC, 19225 Blossom Court, residence, erect, $251,000. Steven Snodgrass, 7340 Barren Oak Drive, residence, erect, $246,000. TLP Custom Homes LLC, 1512 SW 134 Terrace, residence, erect, $240,000. Allenton Homes & Development LLC, 7008 NW 160, residence, erect, $220,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5604 NW 121 Circle, residence, erect, $218,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 5109 SW 123, residence, erect, $210,000. Justice Homes Inc., 4708 NW 153, residence, erect, $200,000. Woodland Homes LLC, 3404 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $200,000. Robin Ridge LLC, 2420 NW 151, residence, erect, $190,000. Jason Powers Homes, 12824 NW 5, residence, erect, $185,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 3025 NW 191 Terrace, residence, erect, $180,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 19101 Green Springs Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Marathon Builders Inc., 8401 SW 27, residence, erect, $180,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 5004 SW 123, residence, erect, $180,000. Courtland Morgan Architecture, 3435 NW 56, medical clinic-office, remodel, $175,000. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 7617 Harold Drive, residence, erect, $175,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 4801 Millstone Drive, residence, erect, $170,000. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 11605 SW 17 Court, residence, erect, $165,000. Cedarland Homes LLC, 12225 Chesterfield Lane, residence, erect, $160,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2409 NW 154, residence, erect, $160,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 2233 NW 195, residence, erect, $155,000. Flintco LLC, 1601 McMechan Parkway, recreation center, install, $150,000. David Kim, 3201 S Council Road,

The Listing of the Week is at 506 S Evans Ave., El Reno.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Magdalen Goff, who came to El Reno in 1892 as the frontier agent for Anheuser-Busch; he later founded Goff Bottling Works. The Heritage Express Trolley passes the Goff House, which is on a scenic route of historic sites. The home is listed for $524,900

with David Poindexter and Wyatt Poindexter of Metro First Realty. For more information, call David at 4176286 or Wyatt at 417-5466.

automotive repair-wash, erect, $150,000. Redwing Construction LLC, 2809 Morgan Trace, residence, erect, $146,000. Tom Abel Custom Homes LLC, 2401 SE 89 Terrace, residence, erect, $145,000. Tom Abel Custom Homes LLC, 9005 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $145,000. Tom Abel Custom Homes LLC, 9001 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $145,000. Tom Abel Custom Homes LLC, 9000 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $145,000. Tom Abel Custom Homes LLC, 9000 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $145,000. Sun Properties LLC, 11740 SW 19, residence, erect, $125,000. Hollingsworth Enterprises LLC, 16217 Montague Drive, residence, erect, $120,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 15901 Evan Court, residence, erect, $120,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 2240 NW 158, residence, erect, $120,000. Alan Stuck Custom Homes, 701 Tall Grass Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Elder-Jones Inc., 217 S MacArthur Blvd., business, remodel, $100,000. Hemphill LLC, 12362 N MacArthur Blvd., tower-antenna, install, $100,000. Hemphill LLC, 12362 N MacArthur Blvd., tower-antenna, install, $100,000. Liberty Homes Inc., 9008 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11413 SW 24, residence, erect, $100,000. No name provided, 3220 S High Ave., tower-antenna, install, $100,000. Home Creations, 9812 SW 33, residence, erect, $98,500. No name provided, 308 Fonshill Ave., office, add-on, $93,000. Home Creations, 15821 Sonador Drive, residence, erect, $89,500. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18500 Rastro Drive, residence, erect, $88,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11409 SW 24, residence, erect, $80,000. No name provided, 4502 S Pennsylvania Ave., cleaners-laundry, remodel, $80,000. Hobby Lobby, 2201 NW 138, retail sales, add-on, $65,000. Gardner Construction, 6015 S Portland Ave., airplane hangar, addon, $64,278. McKenzie Roofing, 5907 N Ann Arbor Ave., residence, add-on, $60,000. Struble Construction, 726 NE 17, residence, remodel, $60,000. Richardson Homes, 2726 W Britton Road, retail sales, remodel, $48,000. Caston Construction, 9225 Lake Hefner Parkway, office, remodel, $40,000. Diana Hubbard, 6015 S Triple X Road, residence, add-on, $35,000. Ramey Steel, 12640 SW 31, storage, erect, $25,000. Vickey Grady, 4122 Woodcutter Drive, residence, remodel, $21,447. Anderson & House, 5315 S Shartel Ave., training center, erect, $20,000. Ryan Wolf, 2025 NE 19, residence, add-on, $20,000. Jay Krupp, 1929 NW 37, residence, fire restoration, $20,000. Robert Floyd, 3117 Thorn Ridge Road, residence, remodel, $20,000. Durham Steel, 1621 SE 23, erect, erect, $18,690. KRD Construction, 14733 Blackjack Drive, residence, remodel, $18,000. Gary Elliott, 4700 NW 65, residence, add-on, $18,000. No name provided, 1513 NE 16, church, remodel, $15,000. Carrie S. Epps, 701 NE 16, accessory, erect, $13,500. Ready Home, 349 Ranchwood Manor Drive, residence, remodel, $11,000.

Guadolupe Cueto Mata, 4016 SW 25, residence, add-on, $10,000. Scott Snider, 6209 NW 162, storage, erect, $10,000. A/C Solutions Inc., 4800 Foster Road, 21 permits, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $8,000. A/C Solutions Inc., 5004 S Eastern Ave., four permits, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $8,000. Scott Cragg, 14716 Spruce Drive, storage, erect, $8,000. AAA Construction, 1300 Stable Rock Road, storage, add-on, $7,000. Agustin Salazar, 2700 SE 36, supplement, supplement, $6,000. Vickie L. Sebree, 220 SW 83, storage, remodel, $5,802. Patricia Creech, 16708 Green Tree Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,600. No name provided, 3220 S High Ave., remodel, remodel, $5,000. Biggs Backhoe, 11800 SW 18, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Forrest Parks LLC, 4800 Foster Road, manufactured home, moveon-mobile home park, $3,000. Beatriz Zuniga, 2022 NW 12, duplex, fire restoration, $3,000. William H. Southwell Jr., 9008 Ians Place, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,900. Flatsafe Tornado Shelters, 9321 NW 134 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,850. Daniel Bush, 8701 SW 46 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Ground Zero, 13624 S Brookline Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Jody A. Potter, 19512 Crest Ridge Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Chris Sousa, 12209 Oak Grove Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Vanessa Porter, 12913 Laurel Valley Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Brandon Herndon, 1224 SW 131, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Smartsafe Enterprises, 12412 Lapis Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,716. Flatsafe Tornado Shelters, 16609 Cordillera Way, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,600. Flatsafe Tornado Shelters, 3009 Canton Trail, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,600. Red Dirt Septic, 9700 Oakview Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Jeff Battaglia, 6400 Cherokee Grove Court, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,460. Jerry Lemmon, 15700 SE 44, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,400. Amy Miller, 7816 SW 85 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,250. Home Creations, 19905 Adagio Lane, temporary building, modular, $2,000. Mark Miller, 3213 NW 16, accessory, remodel, $2,000. Vearl R. Hughes, 5820 Lost Deer Drive, cabana-gazebo, erect, $2,000. Veronica Aguilar, 4140 NW 15, accessory, add-on, $1,800. Cruz Murillo, 1245 SE 22, canopycarport, add-on, $1,800. Total Environment, 16401 N Rockwell Ave., restaurant, remodel, $1,500. Horacio Hernandez, 1009 N Quapah Ave., residence, add-on, $1,500. Mark Miller, 3213 NW 16, residence, remodel, $1,200.

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.

Demolitions Midwest Wrecking, 6318 N Western Ave., vet clinic. K&M Dirt Services LLC, 2100 NE 14, vacant house. Midwest Wrecking, 2800 SW 35, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 1204 NW 26, residence.

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Staging pros aim to boost, speed sales BY ALAN J. HEAVENS The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — Now more than ever, a home listed for sale in a crowded market needs to stand out among all the rest. That’s where professional staging comes in. Near the top of the real estate agent’s bag of tricks, on the back of the “pricing properly for the market” card, is the list of stagers’ phone numbers. Whether a house simply requires a few tweaks before it hits the Multiple Listing Service, or is empty of furnishings needed to provide buyers with an idea of what their life would be like if they lived there, staging plays a role. “At any price, unless you are dealing with a shell, it is important to have the house look inviting,” said Joanne Davidow, vice president of Prudential Fox & Roach in Philadelphia. “Staging can make the difference between sale and no sale.” Real estate broker and developer Allan Domb of Allan Domb Real Estate said he uses stagers all the time, on listings, as well as models in his buildings. However, some brokers, for example Paul Leiser of Avalon Realty, say they never use stagers at all. The search engine HomeGain reported that in a 2009 survey of 1,000 real estate agents nationwide, 82 percent used professional stagers. The average cost of staging was $300 to $400, but the return on the investment — increase in sale price — ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. Some houses simply need decluttering, Davi-

dow said. Once that is done — and it isn’t as easy as it sounds — agents can bring in a stager to tweak the listing. For this, Anna Powers and Mark Miklosovich, wife and husband and partners in the 10-year-old Busybee Homestore and Design Center, typically charge $250, Powers said. “We come out to the house and suggest things — for instance, adding a piece of furniture, and then give them a deal on rental from our 5,000square-foot warehouse ... or our retail site,” she said. The meat and potatoes of their business — two houses a week, probably 80 to 100 a year, is the “redesign” of a vacant house, Powers said. The typical house — 1,500 to 2,000 square feet — takes a day of physical labor to stage, after a couple of days of behind-thescenes planning. Bigger houses take three or four days of labor, but they hire freelancers to supplement their three designers. “It is a collaborative effort,” Powers said, adding that staging is completed two to three weeks before a house goes on the market. Most stagers, Powers included, say that the TV staging shows make things too simple and cheap. She finds much better, cutting-edge staging advice in magazines and blogs. “When homeowners offer to help stage, I say no thanks,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe how often I’m called in to rescue people who have started to do it themselves and don’t know how to go on.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

So you see it on HGTV every week, and you think you can do it. Preparing rooms, such as this home office, for staging in a house can help determine if the house shows well, Realtors say. MCCLATCHY PHOTOS

Above: Stager Mark Miklosovich stands in a home that he and his partner, Anna Powers, worked on. Left: Staging rooms, such as this dining room, helps a home stand out in a crowded market, Realtors say.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

‘Slow’ homes can encourage easy living BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE

SLOW HOME FEATURES

Akron Beacon Journal

John Brown believes a home should ease the stress in life, not contribute to it. Brown is the founder of the slow home movement, a philosophy of home design that emphasizes livability and sustainability. It’s about building a home that works for the occupants, not one that’s intended to impress. The concept was inspired by the slow food movement, with its focus on healthful, sustainable ways of producing and preparing food, explained Brown, an architect, real estate broker and architecture professor in Calgary, Alberta. “You can think of the typical cookie-cutter house as being like fast food” — often supersized and designed to satisfy our craving for beauty, he said. It’s a house that’s designed to seduce us into buying by feeding our fantasies of a more glamorous life, he said, not one that’s necessarily easy to live in or easy on the environment. A slow home, on the other hand, is reasonably sized and carefully designed to support its occupants, he said. It might have an entry where family members can easily take off their boots, stash their keys and store their backpacks, for example. It might have a living space that encourages people to talk or read, not just watch television or surf the Internet. It’s energy efficient, filled with natural light and designed for easy flow among rooms and access to the outside. “It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be easy to live in,” Brown said. He and his partners design those kinds of houses through their firm, Housebrand, and they encourage others to do the same through the educational outreach they call Slow Home Studio (www.slowhome studio.com). Brown and partner Matthew North also have written a book on the subject, “What’s Wrong With This House? Fast Houses, Slow Homes and How to Tell the Difference,” which is available on the website. Architect Hallie Bowie has long been guided by a similar philosophy in designing home additions and renovations through her Akron company, New Leaf Home Design. But before learning of the slow home movement recently, she never had a name for it, she said. Bowie sees the movement as a marriage between green building and the Not So Big House idea, a concept championed by architect Sarah Susanka in a series of popular home-design books. At its heart, a slow home is really about

Spacious completely remodeled 3bd 2ba 2car on cul-de-sac lot, new roof & carpet, new light fixtures, fp, Greenbriar Eastlake, Westmoore Schls, only $129,900. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661

Beautiful 3/2.5 on 1.89 acres in quiet neighborhood, 2309 sqft, built in 2008, much more. Asking $258,000, 641-3024

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 Move Your Mobile Hm FREE Properties located in NW/SW/SE(Moore)/ MWC/Choctaw Call for Details No App Fee 405.326.5728 OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com PRIME BUILDING SITES -PIEDMONT Eastwind Estates II, 3/4 and 1 Acre lots, Priced from $38,900 Leon 373-4820 OVERLAND EX REALTY 1 AC CORNER LOT in Eastwind Est choose builder $42,000. Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 Payout dn pmt before 1st pmt starts. Your opportunity to own land, 40 areas, E, NE, SE of OKC 1N A. Milburn o/a 275-1695 terms Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695

OPEN SUN 2-5, 7216 Walnut Creek, 3bd 2ba some updates $129,000. Marian 850-7654 Cleaton &Assoc. 373-2494

3/2/2, ofc, premier bath, sprinklers. Flex financing for quick sale. 341-7716 Sharp 4bd brick home, ch/a, completely remodeled, 18x26 finished basement, only $94,900. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 Lse op 2506 NW 20 in Crestwood 2321', 4,2.5,2 Like new • 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com 3bed 2 bath, FP, PC schools. All appl. Prepay closing help. $124K 5816 NW 72nd 720-8063 The Greens 4bed, 2.5ba, 2700 sq ft $239,700. call 405-408-5176

Beautiful 4/2/2+Bonus Boat/RV Pad, www. 5216se88th.com for pics $149,900. 670-6240

145 ac of grass, black top frontage, gd fences, Grady Co. 405-785-2668

Homes For Sale

309.9

Extra nice tastefully decorated 3bd home w/2 livings areas, large corner lot, only $104,900Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4 106 E NORTHRUP DR. $59,900 Call Homes with a Heart 237-1030

9104 SW 25th, Mustang schools, 3143 sf, built in 1997, 3 bed, 3 full bath, 3 car, formal living & dining, library/office, theater/game room, sun room, pool, new roof & paint 2009, dual zone gas heat pumps, average gas & electric for 1 year $296 mo, $259,900 324-0222 or 205-8004. OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 312 SW 45 3/1 $52,000 1504 Johnston 3/1 $61K ¡ 596-4599 410-8840 ¡ Just Reduced $6000! Nice 3bd 2 living (or 4th bed) ch/a, nice area, only $79,900 Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 Op Sun 2-4 116 Church Way, Ranchwood. 4425sf. pool, $249,900 Buchanan Realty, Jonell, 503-6205.

The amount of natural light, the ability to maintain natural flow, access to the outside and being energy efficient are far more crucial factors in a slow home than simply how big or how beautiful the room is. MCCLATCHY PHOTO

SOURCE: SLOW HOME STUDIO

good design, she said. “It seems to me the slow home has a real values kind of focus,” Bowie said. Its design grows from the occupants’ emphasis on the quality of time they spend with family and friends, not on the quantity of their possessions or their desire to impress people, she said. A slow home takes different forms for different people. A family who wants less emphasis on television, for example, might create a viewing area that’s separate from the great room, Bowie said. A family who wants to interact more with neighbors might have a front porch. Brown said slow homes eliminate the little annoyances that tend to make our already harried lives just that much more stressful — annoyances such as entries without closets, bathrooms that open directly to living areas or laundry rooms so close to the back door that people are constantly tripping over laundry baskets when they enter. He likens those kinds of poorly designed elements to an ill-fitting pair of shoes. They just make it harder to get through the day. Most average homes designed before 1950 are slow by design, Brown said. They’re often simple, “but they work,” he said.

PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494. OPEN HOUSE! Sun 2-4 10620 103 Pl. Sundance Lakes, 1 acre, Piedmont Schls, NW Expwy to Sarah, S past Hefner to entrance. Debbie Gray C21 Goodyear Green641-8900 1 AC MOL loaded new hoe 3bd + study or 4bd 3ba $265,000. Call Marian for details 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 1/2 AC MOL new home 3/2.5/3 kit w/granite loads of stg $216,800. Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 5215 HART DR NE 5Ac 5Bd, 3K Ba, 2 Lg Liv areas. 3900 Sqft + Many Updates. Pipe & Cable fence $375K Leon 373-4820 Overland Ex Realty, Inc 12005 NW 135th, Energy Star home, 3bd, 2ba on .23 lrg lot, $151,000. Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

2000 sf MOL, updated underground home in Yukon Schl district. 5 fenced ac. with large pond. 3 spacious bdrm w/ fantastic kitchen. Currently adding tile, new carpet & granite. 2 newer metal bldgs & great basketball court. Build on top or enjoy this unique property while getting a little space from your neighbors but still close to town. $205,000 405-760-8111 PRICE REDUCED!

Close in Noble. 10 Acres owner carry or discount for cash. 226-2015

Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308

1. Location. A slow home is in a walkable neighborhood that minimizes use of a car. 2. Orientation. The home is correctly oriented to the sun and properly related to its surroundings. 3. Organization. The home is modestly sized, with a good flow between spaces and a strong connection to the outdoors. 4. Entry. The front and back entries are spaces, not just doors. 5. Living. Indoor and outdoor living spaces have good daylight and are easy to furnish. 6. Kitchen. The kitchen is compact, with an efficient layout, good work surfaces and sufficient storage. 7. Dining. The home has a well-defined dining area that properly fits a table and is suitable for daily use. 8. Bedrooms. All bedrooms have good daylight and sufficient storage and can logically fit a bed. 9. Bathrooms. The home has an appropriate number of well-organized, modestly sized bathrooms. 10. Services. The service spaces are unobtrusive and highly functional.

WESTBURY SOUTH ADDITION Completely updated 4 bdrm, 2 car garage.. 1870 sf. new inground salt water pool. contact Brandon Horton @405-812-2523 new price $154,900

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

Huge clearance sale!! Special Program. Own Land/Family Land ZERO down. Financing avail. for most everyone. Turnkey, we do it all. 1000 Furniture package w/purchase. Free Phone Application/ EASY.WAC 888-878-2971 405-204-4163 $5000 Towards Your DREAM HOME! + $100 lot rent for 6 months, expires 2/28 Call for Details, Some Conditions Apply No App Fee~405.326.5728 $5000 Towards Your DREAM HOME! Properties located in SW/NW/SE/MWC/ Choctaw. Good Schools, Call for Details No App Fee~405.326.5728 As Low as $1250 Down Buys a NEW 2 bd Mobile Hm $550/mo. in Quiet Park No App Fee Call for Details 405.326.5728 $$$ Do you think you cannot qualify for a new mobile home? Think again!! Free phone application YES YOU CAN! 405-631-7600 ’ $281mo. ’ Refurbed doublewide ready NOW! 3 bd/Island/ Decks/Shop/Fence 405-470-1330 REPO! REPO! REPO! 3bd Vinyl Sided/Shingle/ 2x6 walls. Free del/set, Financing available @$335mo. 405-787-4035 LIQUIDATION SALE Everything Must Go!! All homes sold at factory cost. Save Thousands 405-208-8811 Abandoned D/W set up w/ 4.5 acres. Brick foundation, driveway &all improvements Read to move in. WAC 405-631-7600 405-635-4338 2 Bd 2 Ba MH 14'X65' $1500 You Move. 405-243-3657 ZERO DOWN with your trade-in!! w.a.c. 1-866-764-3200 Repo 28x56 Solitaire 918-617-7742 2bd 1ba $14,900. Delivered to you 301-2454, 517-5000

OPEN SUN 2-5, 7216 Walnut Creek, 3bd 2ba some updates $129,000. Marian 850-7654 Cleaton &Assoc. 373-2494 PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494.

Move Your Mobile Hm FREE Properties located in NW/SW/SE(Moore)/ MWC/Choctaw Call for Details No App Fee 405.326.5728

Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777 Repo 28x84 Solitaire 301-2454, 517-5000

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

1419K NW 17th 2bd 1ba wood floors, 1200sf, $575 mo, $250 dep, 409-7989 no sec 8

Commercial RE

Plaza Apts 1740 NW 17 1bed 1ba wood floors or ceramic $450mo to $500 $250dp 409-7989 no sec8

Commercial Property For Sale AUCTION TUES MAR 29 2115 SW 42ND OKC 4940' building on .48acre kencarpenterauction.com 405-620-1524

VERY, VERY QUIET Near mall, schls, hosp, Try Plaza East 341-4813

6000sf Warehouse Ofcs 13825 N. Harvey Ave Oklahoma City,OK 73114

Investment Property For Sale Several Mortgage notes for sale, 8%-12% Interest paid, 4plex near OCU $169K -6units hrdwd flrs $225K Seabrooke Rlty 409-7779 Nichols Hills Duplex’s on Avondale, we have 3 for sale. Choice location. All rented, 405-409-7779 Seabrooke Realty PRICE REDUCED 2 Duplexes on 1 lot $55K Shawnee. 405-694-1367

Business Property For Rent Small Business/Storage 1250sqft, 28Wx50L, 14x14 O/H door, $500 month. 89th St. & I-35 S. OKC, 631-4447

Industrial Property For Rent Perfect facility for a trucking company available in SE OKC near interstate. Office, mechanics shop, up to 40 acres rocked secure yard for parking or storing. Call 405-834-3174 or 405-823-8440. Show Room/ Office/Warehouse. Lowest Rates in OKC Owner. 245-0356

GREAT Space OFFICE Various NW locations MOVE IN SPECIALS 300-6000sf 946-2516

1, 2 & 3-Room Offices $175 & up ‘ 50th & N Lincoln area 235-8080

6000sf Warehouse Ofcs 13825 N. Harvey Ave Oklahoma City,OK 73114

Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818 » MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423

Industrial Property For Sale

Warehouse Space For Rent I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100

$149 First Month Your Choice, any apartment ALL BILLS PAID 293-3693 Drexel on the Park

TENKILLER LAKE 1N ac. gated entry, walk to Pine Cove Marina, will finance with small down paymt., $17,500, 918-640-8556.

Office Space For Rent Real Estate Auction Sat. March 26, 10am Spacious log cabin on acreage in prime hunting area in Roger Mills Cnty, OK. For brochure call Gene Cobb Auction & Realty at 580-225-6743 or see at: www. genecobbauction.com

$98 First Month 18 Floor Plans 416-5259 Wilshire Village Soon to be Tuscany Village

1 & 2 BEDROOMS, QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122

Sharp 1bd spacious apt 112K SE 1st. Excellent condition. Only $375! Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661

3400 N Robinson 1bd 1ba $425/mo $200/dep 850sf free laundry 409-7989 MAYFAIR 50th/May 1/2bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhd No sec 8 947-5665

Quiet Casady!

Low Rents $455 751-8088

2623 NW 50 2bd 2ba 1car 1100sf $1000/mo $800dp Amazing Granite Counter tops fireplace wood floors 409-7989 GREENS 2liv/2story/FP 3/2/2 4045 Thunderbird Dr Appt. only $950. 843-5853 7100 Michelle Ln. near NW 13 & Rockwell. 2/2/2 $625, $500dep. 360-0809 New 1bd w/d hk $725mo, $700dep 2329 Westlawn, NW 39 & Penn. 250-7858 Must see! Nice lg 1 bd, liv, frml din, appls, 1714 N Villa, $410, 301-5979.

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

$200 off

1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY

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

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL

495-2000 $100 off

First Month’s Rent LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces

Williamsburg 7301 NW 23rd

787-1620 “ Find your POT OF “ “ GOLD at Gateway “ 2 & 3 bedrooms Starting at $599/mo $150 Deposit Special OFHA & OCHA accepted. “ “ Gateway Apts. ““

405-478-3260

Walford Apts-Midtown518 NW 12th 1bd 1ba Studio 700sf, all electric, $600/mo $475/dp OR basement studio $425mo $325/dp Large 1 bed 1 bath 1100sf washer & dryer conn $900/mo $700/dep 409-7989

$200 OFF

Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces PC Schools-Townhouses

PARKLANE

8100 N. MacArthur Blvd. »»» 721-5455 »»» Florence Apts-Midtown1bd 1ba Studio 600sf, Granite Counter tops, wood floors, CH/A, All Elect, Free laundry $650 $400 dep. 409-7989

$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $325 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818

3017 NW 29, large 2bd home, 1O ba, oversized detached garage, new carpet, only $650 Fidelity 410-4300, 692-1661

Moore Schls 1232 SW 93 Fenced corner lot. 3 bd 2 ba 2 car garage, FP $995 + dep. ¡ 213-3975

Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com 525 NW 114 St. 3 bd, 2 car, $800 + $500 dep, No pets, Sec. 8 okay, »»» 748-6129 »»» 8405 NW 76th 3 bd, 3 car, granite-new appls, PC Schls. Dep. No pets, No smokers 721-6713 3409 N. Shartel 2bd 1.5ba 1200sf, $750 mo, $500 dep, Fridge & Stove, 409-7989 no sec 8 Elegant 3BR Executive Home. Marble, granite. Rare, never rented, 2300sf $1645 255-4300

Houses for rent

1705 NW 32nd St. 2 bed 1 bath house, remodeled with 850 sq ft, garage/ workshop. 524-6745.

4101 Hammond, Bethany Schls 3bd/2ba,ch&a, $675 $500dep no pets 787-6626

6021 NW 58th Terr 3bed 2bath 1car, PC Schools, $1100/mo, $1100/dep 1600sf 409-7989 no sec 8 Cute & Cozy 1 bd, breakfast nook, water pd $385 /mo $250/dep 706-3972

2/1/1, ch&a, 4020 SE 25 $500/mo, $300/dep. 381-4841 or 990-4869

3037 North Rockwell

Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com

Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818

800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506 1bd 1ba $295-325 Stove, fridge garage405-625-7600

2717 W Park Pl, Large 2bed brick home 1 car detached garage, clean, fenced, $550 mo Fidelity 410-4300, 692-1661

3108 Dentwood Terrace 3bd 1ba 1car $650 681-7272 3bd 2ba 2car fp 1440sf $900 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

NW 86th & Western 3bd 1ba No Sec 8, $625/mo+ $500dep 789-4525 lv msg

716 NW 88th, 2bd, 1 ba, 1car, ch&a, wd hkp $585 /mo. $400/dep. 850-9795

4 bed, 3 bath, 3 car, 2300 sq ft, $1400 month, call Alex at 990-0488.

Sharp 3410 Cameron Ct. 2/2/1 all appls no pets JW Rlty 755-2510 $695

Yukon

438

OKC, Edmond & Norman areas, 3 or 4bd, $1800 & Up. Call 405-513-8859

New Exec. 4/3/3 +study, 2732 sf. 12409 SW 7th St. $1795 Brad 308-2844

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Yukon All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $495 Move» » 2 bd From $595 In» » 3 bd From $695 Today» » Open7days/wk354-5855 » »»»»»»»»»»»»

3 bed, 2 bath, N of Harrah, 1N acre, 1300 sq ft, fenced, Harrah Schools, $650 month, 517-4813.

Copper Chase TH/Condo 3bd 3ba 2car private patio, pool, tennis ct. $500 dep $1500mo 623-1443 Normandie Condo 2bd 2ba 6000 N Brookline $700mo $500dep 1000sf all elec 409-7989 no sec 8

4308 Meadowpark Dr 3/1.5/garage converted to living $725 1300 McDonald Dr 3bd 1bath 1car $550 681-7272 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

Hemingway Condo, 1bd, 1ba, appls, FP, newly remod. No pets 348-3500

Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com

1 bed available, NW OKC, immediate move in, call today, 831-4183.

1817 Bel Aire 4bd 2bath 2-car $1100 mo + dep Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

633 SW 33rd 2/1 $350 1424 SW 24 1bd dplx $350 681-7272 Nice 2b 2b 1c ch&a fp w/d hkup fncd bkyd $595 1yr lse no pets 503-5742 2 bd, ch&a, W/D hook-up fenced yard $550 + dep. Sec 8 preferred. 919-2645 2bd/1ba, ch&a, fncd, w/d hkup, 4508 S. Robinson $450 No Sec. 8, 503-5742

2008 Blanchard Rental 3bed, 2ba, 3 Car Garage, 1950 Sq Ft $1200/Month Contact 405-366-RENT Visit www.bpmok.com

OKC, Edmond & Norman areas, 3 or 4bd, $1800 & Up. Call 405-513-8859

912 Tulip, 3/2/2, Remodeled. $1030 + dep. Pets OK. 285-0305, 823-6550

Nice 4/1.5 and 3/1.5/2, fenced. sec 8 only, WH schools 440-2858

$99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $325 to $395 mo. 632-9849

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441

Nice 3b 2b 2c FP W/D hk ups ch&a Moore schls no pets $750mo 503-5742

6903 NW 55, 2bd, 1ba, 2liv, CH&A, $550/mo. 495-6446 1418 NW 49th, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, appls, W/D hookup, CH&A. 501-6570 437 NW 91 3/1.5/1 $595 681-7272

Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com 343 SE 49th Large 2bd home on corner lot, ch/a, clean, fenced front & back, only $550 Fidelity 410-4300, 692-1661 4721 SE 50 3/1.5/2 $700 681-7272

1 bed MH w/bonus room, quiet wooded nghbrhood. I-40 & Harrah/Newalla exit. Very reasonable rent. ¡ 405-386-7309 ¡ 1 bed, $390mo, $200dep near 29th St in Choctaw 390-2471 or 651-1165

11138 SW 5th, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, $960-$1090, gated, nice, 405-205-2343

10F

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

Protect family, plan escape from blaze You’re sound asleep when you hear the wail of your home’s smoke alarm. A fire has started somewhere in your home, smoke begins to fill the rooms, and you have only minutes — maybe seconds — to get everyone out safely. It’s a scenario that none of us ever wants to think about. But it happens with surprising regularity. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that once every minute there’s a fire in an American home that’s severe enough to report to the fire department. An average of 2,600 people die every year in house fires in the U.S. — that’s one person every three hours — and an average of 13,000 people are injured.

Smoke alarms Obviously, one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is to install smoke alarms. They’re inexpensive and easy to install, and no home should be without an adequate number of them. You should have one outside the door of each room where people sleep, and a minimum of one detector centrally located on each floor of the house. Once installed, be sure the batteries are changed once a year — pick a specific day of the year, and mark it on the calendar.

Plan your escape Another critically important thing for you and your family is to plan an escape route. This is something for the entire family to be involved with, since it’s the best way to ensure that everyone gets out safely. Here are some tips for devising your escape plan: Leave immediately. Your home’s contents can be replaced, you can’t. If you’re alerted to a fire in your home, get out immediately. Don’t stop to gather any belongings. Don’t even stop to call 911 — you can do that with a cell phone from outside, or from a neighbor’s house. You can’t always depend on the door. You won’t always be able to use the room’s main door to escape during a fire, so take that into consideration when doing your escape planning. Look at two different ways to escape from any room. If a room has two doors, practice your escape from each of them, in case one is blocked. If there’s only one door, your next means of escape will be a window, so understand how to escape from each of the room’s windows — directly onto the ground, onto an adjacent roof or deck, or with the aid of an escape ladder. In the event of a fire, if the door to the room you’re in is closed, feel it before opening it. Use the back of your hand, and touch the top of the door or the doorknob to see if it’s hot. If it feels cool, open it slowly and check for smoke. If heat and smoke come in, close the door immediately and use an alternate exit. Know the route. Whatever exit you use from the room, know where that exit will lead you. No matter how well you know your house, during the heat, smoke, and chaos of a fire it’s easy to become confused and disoriented — especially at night. Everyone

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Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME in the family needs to know and practice the escape route from each room all the way to the exterior of the house. Plan on a meeting spot. Decide on a specific, easily recognized meeting spot outside the house where everyone can gather. It might be the end of the driveway, in front of a neighbor’s, or some other location. Be sure that everyone in your family knows the spot, and that they immediately assemble there. This is the fastest way to know that everyone’s out safely, and to prevent unnecessary injuries from going back into the home to look for someone who’s already out.

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Escape ladders A window is the normal escape route to use if the door to a room is blocked by fire. But if you live in a multistory house, using the window on an upper floor is obviously dangerous without a ladder. So for every upstairs sleeping room, you should have an escape ladder ready in the event of an emergency, and each family member needs to know how to deploy and use it. The simplest type of ladder is one that hooks over the window sill. Open the window, hook the ladder in place, toss the rungs out of the window, and climb down. Ladders of this type typically cost in the $30-to$50 range. There are a couple of disadvantages to this type of ladder, however. Because no one expects to use it, it gets stored away, and has to be found during the chaos of the fire. Also, many of these are

single-use ladders, so there’s no opportunity to practice with them. In my opinion, a much better alternative is a permanently installed escape ladder, such as Werner’s new Built-In Fire Escape Ladder ($99 for a two-story model, $139 for three-story). This type of ladder is installed in a can in the wall, directly under the escape window, so it’s unobtrusive but always in place when you need it. The Warner escape ladder is easy to install and comes with a clear and well-illustrated instruction booklet. It’s basically a matter of cutting hole in the drywall between two studs — the can is designed for mounting between studs on 16-inch centers — and bolting the can in place. The escape ladder folds up and stores in the can, and a wood door, which can be painted or wallpapered to match the room, covers the can. One distinct advantage to the Werner ladder, in addition to always being where you can find it, is that it’s reusable. This allows each family member the opportunity to practice opening, deploying and climbing down the ladder. The can also can be used as a step to help you get out of the window, and there’s a built-in assist strap, which gives you something to hang onto when you first start the climb.

Where to find them Escape ladders, both permanent and singleuse, are available at many home centers, hardware stores and online retailers such as Amazon. Smoke detectors and batteries are available from any home center, hardware store, department store and other retailers, as well as online. 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

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

HOUSE PLAN

‘Green-conscious’ families find good match in Hopewell The Hopewell is a minimalist’s dream. Besides being on the small side, its basically rectangular shape makes this compact Craftsman cottage as economical to build as it is to maintain. While equally appealing to young families and empty nesters, the plan also is designed with the idea of leaving a smaller carbon footprint than many newly constructed homes. Slender posts set on brick veneer bases highlight a porch that sweeps across the front and wraps around to create an alcove on the right. Other Craftsman features include gridded window uppers, variously sized front-facing gables, a Craftsman door and a sidelight. Inside, the entry is suffused in natural light that washes in through the sidelight and upper section of the door. A convenient coat closet and access to the twocar garage are straight ahead. The utility room to the right is outfitted with cabinets and a folding counter.

Turning left brings you into a bright and spacious informal gathering space where the living room flows into the dining area. And that’s not the end of it. A peninsular counter rimmed by a flush dining bar is all that separates the dining area from the kitchen, giving the large gathering space an even more expansive feel. A roomy walk-in pantry sits at the juncture of the kitchen and dining room. The covered patio off the opposite side of the kitchen could easily be screened, if pesky bugs are a persistent problem. Bedrooms fill the rear section of the Hopewell. The owners’ suite has a large walk-in closet and a private bathroom with a dual vanity and an oversize shower. Secondary bedrooms share a two-section bathroom, allowing two people to use it at once. For a review plan, including scaled floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, send $25 to Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. Please specify the Hopewell 30-793 and include a return address when ordering. For more information, call (800) 634-0123.