LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Dallas-style Stunning look living Prepare to be stunned as you The Listing of the Week is a Dallas-style home in northwest Edmond. PAGE 6F
enter the Baltimore’s vaulted hexagonal core, where all six ceiling sections sweep up to a lofty central apex. PAGE 3F
REAL ESTATE
Kenneth Harney
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
THE SECRET’S OUT: JEANIE GARDNER NAMED METRO REALTOR OF YEAR BY DYRINDA TYSON Special Correspondent dyrinda@gmail.com
When Jeanie Gardner heard herself announced as the metro area’s Realtor of the Year during a banquet in December, she was floored. “Never in my mind did I think I would receive Realtor of the Year,” she said. “It just wasn’t in my thinking. And when they called my name, I just sat there and thought, ‘Oh, how can I get up and walk up there?’ ” The moment was a salute to her dedication and her husband’s ability to keep mum. Lanny Gardner said the first thing the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors wanted to know when a representative called was, “Can you keep a secret?” He could, despite the Gardners’ small company. Jeanie Gardner is one third of Gardner Co. Realtors, her husband is a third and her daughter, Shirley Anglin, who joined them in 1994, is a third. Jeanie Gardner, born in Cement, moved to the Oklahoma City area about age 6, later graduating from Capitol Hill High School and Blackwood Business College. Marriage ushered her into her husband’s family firm in 1984. Lanny Gardner’s father, George, founded the company in 1947. “I think my dad talked her into coming to work for him,” Lanny Gardner said. The elder Gardner remained in real estate until he died in 1986. By then, the Gardner name had an established reputation in the community, one Jeanie Gardner said continues to generate referrals and repeat business. But they don’t rest on their name alone. “One thing that we all do, and it’s very important to us, is that the customer comes first,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re selling a small home or a large home, every customer to us is im-
McClatchy News Service
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Ren-
ovating? You could just rip up the old room and sweep everything into the trash bin. But a growing number of homeowners, architects and builders are trying to reuse or recycle construction materials whenever possible — for reasons both environmental and aesthetic. Architect Anthony Garrett went this route with the gut renovation of a Hoboken building. Its wooden floor joists, more than a century old, were reclaimed and trucked to Montville Township, N.J., to be reused as flooring and exposed beams in a planned mixed-use development. “It’s dismantling, as opposed to demolition,” said Garrett, of the Bilow Garrett Group in Ridgefield Park, N.J. “I can’t think of anything more sustainable than that; there’s an embedded energy in that material that we salvage, and we don’t have to cut any more trees down.” With construction waste making up as much as 25 percent to 50 percent of the junk in landfills, the push to salvage building materials is “gaining a
Insurance covers payments Homebuilders are offering it to new buyers, and some of the country’s largest banks and mortgage lenders think it’s a win-win idea: insurance that makes borrowers’ mortgage payments for up to six months if they lose their jobs during an initial oneto two-year coverage period. PAGE 4F
IN BRIEF
FLOWERS RULE IN NEW BOOK
Jeanie Gardner, of Gardner Co. Realtors, was named Realtor of the Year for 2010 by the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors. She is shown at a home she once sold and is preparing to sell again at 4608 NW 160 Terrace. PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
portant. So we try to work with them and keep everybody happy, and when we go to closing, we don’t want any surprises. When we go into closing, we want everybody to leave happy. We feel — well, I know that brings us repeat customers and referrals.” The Lone Oak neighborhood home the three walked through one recent afternoon is a case in point. They sold the house to the current owners a few years ago, and they will be bringing it to market for them in the coming months. Plans rolled out on a table
in the front room show a dream home taking shape on paper. And that’s not unusual, Lanny Gardner said. Jeanie Gardner recently sold a fourth or fifth home to one family. “Over a period of years they come back, and we’ll resell their home,” he said. In between, though, the firm stays in touch with past and present clients, mailing out cards and calendars throughout the year. “So we keep our name in front of the people, and that helps us tremendously,” she said.
The family splits its time between real estate and a steel building and fence business, with Anglin helping run the steel building business with a brother. The Gardners sold the steel building company in 1993. After taking a year off, Anglin joined her parents on the other side of the family business in 1994. “We enjoy it,” Jeanie Gardner said. “We work as a team, and we work as individuals.” That means banding together and helping out SEE GARDNER, PAGE 2F
Renovators find discards are in high demand BY KATHLEEN LYNN
THE NATION’S HOUSING
huge amount of momentum,” said Anne Nicklin, executive director of the Building Materials Reuse Association, an Oregonbased trade group. Reused materials are not just better for the environment; they also can be higher quality, she said. “You can’t buy oldgrowth timber at Home Depot, but you can find it in a building that’s coming down,” Nicklin said. Some municipalities, worried about scarce landfill space, are offering cheaper or faster permits for deconstruction, rather than demolition, Nicklin said. And federal agencies offer training to workers on how to salvage building materials. She estimates that 75 percent or more of most buildings can be reused or recycled. A number of nonprofit retail outlets offer a marketplace for old building materials. They include Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Mine Hill, N.J., Build It Green NYC’s store in Queens, and Connecticut-based Green Demolitions. Green Demolitions targets affluent homeowners who decide that their kitchens aren’t quite right, but who feel guilty about dumping cabinets and appliances that are some-
London’s Chelsea Flower Show is a gardener’s mecca. Every May, lovers of landscaping flock to the Royal Horticultural Society’s exhibition to enjoy its celebrated gardens. But even if you can’t afford the plane ticket, you can enjoy highlights of the show with the book “Best Garden Design: Practical Inspiration From the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.” Author Chris Young serves as a sort of tour guide to the show, pointing out features and artistic elements that set gardens apart. The book is published by Firefly Books and sells for $35 in hardcover.
KIT HELPS REMODEL BATHROOMS
Steve Feldman, president of Green Demolitions, has a Riverdale, N.J., showroom filled with kitchens and baths salvaged from high-end homes and ready for resale. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
times only a few years old. It might be hard to believe that homeowners would replace kitchens that are in good shape, but “they want the kitchen they want,” said Green Demolitions founder Steve Feldman. His pitch: By donating the old kitchen to his company, homeowners can save the disposal costs, plus get a tax deduction because Green Demolitions’ profits go to support addiction treatment programs.
“Why throw out something that’s perfectly good and totally usable?” said Alan Asarnow, sales manager at Ulrich Inc. in Ridgewood, N.J., a home renovation company that encourages clients to recycle their old kitchens. Many of the kitchens his clients donate are only about 10 years old, he said. Green Demolitions sold 600 kitchens last year in its three stores; most were donated by homeowners, but about 100 were store
displays donated by kitchen remodeling contractors. “When you think about something being thrown out, sometimes that’s where the opportunity is,” Feldman said. He estimates his company keeps 2 million pounds of debris out of landfills each year. Those who buy the old kitchens and other materials at Green Demolitions or the ReStores find disSEE DISCARDS, PAGE 2F
Bath Simple streamlines the process of designing a bathroom. The company offers bathrooms-ina-box containing everything you need to remodel a bathroom, from the tub to the tile grout. You start by creating a virtual room on the company’s website. Once you’ve completed your virtual room, the company ships you a box containing all the fixtures and materials. The installation can be done by a contractor certified by Bath Simple or one of your own choosing — or by yourself. For more information, go to www.bath simple.com. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Handy Smart Stone Permits
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SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Left: Jeanie Gardner, left, was named Realtor of the Year for 2010 by the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors. She is shown with her husband, Lanny Gardner, and daughter, Shirley Anglin. The three comprise Gardner Co. Realtors. PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Gardner: Community work important ROM PAGE 1F
whenever help is needed. “We always try to meet each others’ clients,” she said. And they’re often out and about. “We all work in the community,” Gardner said. “We do a lot of other things besides our jobs. We help a lot of people in a lot of different ways.” In Gardner’s case, that
has meant devoting time to Oklahoma City Community College, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation and other organizations. She serves as a public member on the state Chiropractic Examination Board, originally appointed by Gov. Frank Keating and reappointed twice by Gov. Brad Henry — the single member of the general public on
a board of professionals charged with overseeing chiropractors in the state. “So we are protecting public health,” she said. Among her favorite causes, though, is the Realtors association’s Leadership Tomorrow program, which she helped establish in 2009 and served as its first chairwoman. She said she thinks that might have led to her
honor. The program is designed to mentor select young real estate professionals. “Our 2010 group was outstanding,” she said, noting that she is impressed with the 2011 crop as well. “We feel this is going to be a very, very big asset for all of us and will help develop leaders,” she said.
Discards: Reuse helps environment FROM PAGE 1F
counts of 50 to 80 percent. Stephanie and Vincent Gurnari of Oakland, N.J., visited the Green Demolitions store recently, looking to add a few cabinets to their existing kitchen, but spotted a full kitchen — including appliances — for just under $6,000. “We just kind of jumped on the opportunity,” Stephanie Gurnari said. “It was too good of a deal to pass up. … We’ve got Champagne tastes, and we wouldn’t have been able to get some of the features we got with the budget we had.” Reusing or recycling materials can help builders get the environmental stamp of approval known as LEED, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental design. The LEED certification is awarded by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, which gives builders credit for keeping materials out of landfills. A decade ago, “The marketplace was unsophisticated in its ability to effectively divert a large amount of materials from the landfill,” said Daniel Topping, an architect with NK Architects in Morristown, N.J. But it’s a lot easier these days to find a new home for old materials. “It’s just a little more legwork,” Topping said. Because reusing materials requires careful deconstruction of a room or building, it is usually more timeconsuming and can be more expensive than simple demolition. But it also doesn’t create the clouds of dust — potentially laden with asbestos or lead paint — created by demolition, Nicklin pointed out. “There’s a steep learning curve for a lot of contractors,” said Petia Morozov of the architecture firm MADLAB in Montclair, N.J., who takes a “surgical” approach to deconstructing a house. Morozov and her partner, Juan Alcala, worked recently on Alcala’s brother’s home, a ranch house that was taken down to the foundation and rebuilt. They reused a lot of the wood and brick, for aesthetic as well as environmental reasons. Cypress wood paneling and some flooring from the home’s interior weren’t needed in the new design, but were salvaged and resold, helping to offset the costs of the project. Homeowner Carlos Alcala said he and his wife, Vicki, were motivated partly by a desire to be green, but also by their feeling that the reused brick is more attractive, and preserves some of the house’s history. Saving money was
Project supervisor Ben Gulick poses with the last of the wooden flooring joists removed from a house in Hoboken, N.J., for a new construction project. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
also part of the equation. “When it makes sense, especially from an economic perspective, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reuse materials,” he said.
Decluttering can ease stress, simplify life BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron Beacon Journal
Inside many of us lurks a pack rat — at least a little one, anyway. Even inside Deniece Schofield. Schofield is a nationally known organizing expert who teaches people how to get their clutter under control through her books, magazine articles, TV appearances and seminars. She’s long been a favorite of mine, because her suggestions fit with real lives — lives crammed with kids, spouses, jobs, friends and volunteer commitments, with little time or energy left over for ambitious organizing overhauls. Schofield and her husband are planning a move from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Las Vegas, and the prospect has brought her to the unpleasant realization that she has years’ worth of stuff to cull through before the moving truck arrives. “I’ve going to have to practice what I preach,” she said with a laugh, “and that’s really hard.” Truth is, the tendency to keep stuff is common, though some people have more difficulty than others letting go. In fact, Schofield said pack rats make up the majority of people she meets at her organizing seminars. Let’s be clear on one thing: Pack rats are not the same as hoarders. Hoarding is a manifestation of psy-
chological issues, not housekeeping ones. “A hoarder needs a doctor, not an organizer,” she said. Pack rats are just clutterers, people who keep more stuff than they need and probably lack a good system for managing it. Their clutter isn’t so extensive that it prevents them from living normal lives, but it can add to their stress. Schofield likes to ease pack rats into decluttering by assuring them they don’t have to get rid of things — not yet, anyway. But they do have to get the things they don’t use out of the mainstream. Maybe it’s the five dull potato peelers in the gadget drawer, the 27 unmatched coffee mugs or the stack of bed sheets that no longer go with your decor. They seem too useful or potentially valuable to just get rid of them, but they’re standing between you and orderliness. One approach to dealing with that excess is to box it up, Schofield said. But don’t just stick the box on a shelf someplace, where it will become more clutter. Instead, make a list of the contents, note in that inventory where you’re storing the box and keep the document someplace where you can find it easily, such as in a file or on your computer desktop. “That’ll give you even more comfort,” because you’re maintaining control over your possessions, she explained.
Then, write a note on your calendar to check the box in a year. Most likely you’ll realize you didn’t miss the stuff, she said, and you’ll be ready to give it away or sell it at a garage sale or consignment shop. Another approach is to let yourself keep only so many of a particular item, be it margarine tubs or pens or used greeting cards. Designate a space to store them or decide on a number limit, she said. Once the storage space is full or the number has been reached, don’t keep any more until your stock is depleted. That’s harder to do with clothing, so Schofield recommends this trick: Start by hanging all the clothes in your closet backward, so the hanger hook is facing you. When you wear an item and hang it back up, turn the hanger the right way. After a year, go through your closet. If the hook is backward, you know at a glance you haven’t worn that garment in 12 months. What about all the stuff stored in the basement, the attic, the garage or a storage space? Tackle it one box at a time, Schofield said. If you set out to organize the whole thing, you’ll just get overwhelmed. It helps to have a friend with you to go through the box, someone who can be more objective about its contents, she said. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
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HOUSE PLAN
If You Have Something To Sell Classified Can Do It — Call 475-3000
The Baltimore offers open living areas Prepare to be stunned as you enter the Baltimore’s vaulted hexagonal core, where all six ceiling sections sweep up to a lofty central apex. Rich with windows and completely open on the entry side, this expansive space is only slightly less open farther back in the kitchen. Sleeping areas and other less public rooms fill the two wings that extend off to the rear. On the exterior of this Prairie-style home, four sculpted posts highlight the front facade. Slender and graceful, yet firmly seated on the tapered stone veneer bases, their open, inviting look extends a gracious welcome to family and friends. Two coat closets flank the entry passageway that leads into the expansive great room that encompasses the living and dining areas. A gas fireplace and a home entertainment center nestle into the rear wall of the living room, next to sliding-door access to a patio that sweeps along the exterior of that side.
The Baltimore’s owners’ suite is designed to provide a secluded adult retreat. A small gas fireplace graces its sitting area, and sliding doors provide access to a deck that could be private. A similar patio that wraps across the opposite side is accessed through matching sliders in the dining area. Standing in the kitchen, you can keep your eye on that patio and tend to goings-on in the great room and dining area. The long raised eating bar that rims the kitchen’s peninsular counter is perfect for homework supervision. And, of course, it’s also just right for informal meals or chatting with family or friends while working in the kitchen. A central work island adds to the counter and storage space, and a roomy step-in pantry is off to the side. The Baltimore’s owners’ suite is designed to provide a secluded adult retreat. A small gas fireplace graces its sitting area, and sliding
Pratt joins Keller Williams EDMOND — Keller Williams Realty, 10 E Campbell in Edmond, has added Randy Pratt as a residential real estate sales associate. He has been selling real estate for six years, and is “the kind of Realtor that instills confidence with buyers and sellers,” said Susan Miller, team leader.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
Randy Pratt
doors provide access to a deck that could be private. 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 Baltimore 10-554 and include a return address when ordering. For more information, call (800) 634-0123.
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Insurance covers home payments if job lost WASHINGTON — Homebuilders are offering it to new buyers, and some of the country’s largest banks and mortgage lenders think it’s a win-win idea for shaky economic times: Insurance programs that make borrowers’ mortgage payments for up to six months if they lose their jobs during an initial one-year to two-year coverage period. Better yet, the bank, builder or other sponsor of the plan typically provides it “free” — no direct, out-of-pocket cost to the consumer — as part of its marketing package. Most programs come with specific dollar ceilings on coverage, often ranging from $2,000 to $2,500 a month. Some limit the amount they’ll pay to principal and interest only. Others cover principal, interest, property taxes and hazard insurance up to a specific amount. Though there are no hard statistics on the number of such plans now in the marketplace, Teri Cooper, executive vice president of Mortgage Payment Protection Inc. of Heathrow, Fla., one of the largest providers of “involuntary unemployment” policies, estimates that as many as 200,000 buyers currently are covered by her firm’s “Mortgage Guardian” programs alone. Bank of America, which operates a “borrower protection plan” that it funds itself, said it already has covered thousands of new mortgages — limited to those with initial principal balances under $500,000. Terry H. Francisco, a spokesman for the bank, said the plan has covered $110 million in monthly payments for unemployed borrowers during the past two years. During 2010, the bank provided 156,000 purchasers with its protection program; as of last December, mortgages covered by the plan totaled $36 billion in loan balances. In the Seattle-Puget Sound market, Quadrant Homes, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co., recently began offering a 24-month, $2,000 to $2,500 insurance plan as a way to reassure buyers that they’d be able to withstand an unexpected job
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
loss. With unemployment figures high, said Ken Krivanec, Quadrant’s president, “We wanted to give our buyers a little of the confidence they might need” to move ahead with a purchase. Even though virtually all involuntary unemployment programs charge borrowers nothing for the coverage directly, there’s often plenty of fine print that limits payouts under certain circumstances.
Available features Here’s a quick look at some of the features that buyers and borrowers should focus on when they’re offered free jobloss mortgage insurance. I Obviously nothing is truly “free.” The lender or builder typically is paying a wholesale insurance premium to obtain the coverage, and rolls that into the deal somewhere. In the case of Mortgage Guardian’s programs, premiums range from $200 to $300 and up per policy, depending on the expected volume of insurance, the length of the coverage, and the size of the insured monthly payment. I Not all unemployment events are equal. Under most plans, you need to be eligible under state law for unemployment benefits, and you need to successfully apply for them. Also, the layoff or plant closing or other event cannot have been known to you in advance of the mortgage closing. Firings and dismissals for cause are not covered. I Not all employment is equal, either. For example, if you are self-employed, or a temporary or seasonal worker, you probably won’t be eligible for benefits. I Once you’ve gone to closing and the insurance policy clock begins ticking, there’s a 60-day “vesting” period in the Mortgage Guardian program. Then insurance payments can’t flow until 30 days after the actual unemployment begins.
OKC Home Show continues at fair park FROM STAFF REPORTS
The OKC Home Show continues today and Sunday at State Fair Park. The event showcases ideas, expert advice, products and services for home interiors and home improvement projects. The OKC Home Show is an opportunity to shop, compare and get advice on hundreds of products and services on interior design, home remodeling, redecorating and fine home living. Admission is $11, and children under 12 are free. For a $3 discount, tickets can be purchased online at www.Home ShowOKC.com. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
I “Free” turns into not-free or maybe not even available. For virtually all programs, once the initial period of coverage is up, homeowners are expected to either pay premiums on their own or look elsewhere for insurance. Bank of America’s plan, for instance, is free for the first year, but after that, extended coverage is available at the rate of 7.5
percent of the monthly principal and interest due, according to Francisco. In Quadrant’s program, “coverage ends 24 months after the closing date and cannot be extended by the buyer or Quadrant Homes.” Another key fact to keep in mind about job loss insurance for mortgages: It is generally not available direct to the
consumer. Cooper said her firm works only through participating lenders, builders, mortgage insurers and some state housing agencies that can create the volume of business needed to make the insurance risk-pooling feasible. Bottom line: If you understand the limitations, and read the fine print, job loss coverage
can be a “why not?” proposition. The builder or lender offering it is paying premiums at rates unavailable to individual consumers, and the coverage — if you qualify — is for real if you suddenly find yourself without employment. Email Ken Harney at kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
Building atop old boards raises safety concerns Q: I have talked to many people and received the same amount of answers. Maybe you can help. I have an old, pressure-treated, 1-by-6foot deck, painted, that has seen better days. I thought a new coat of paint would help, but the quote I got back was more than the expense of building a new one. The footings are solid and the boards mostly level. I was wondering if I could build a new cedar deck directly on top of the existing one, and if so, what do I need to keep in mind? A: There are a couple of problems associated with adding new deck boards over old ones. The primary concern is with the additional weight. The old deck framing would have been sized and built to handle the load of a single thickness of decking, and adding more lumber on top of that can add a substantial amount of additional load. Besides the weight, you have some practical issues to contend with. For one, whenever you drive new fasteners through the new boards, you are pretty likely to hit some of the old fasteners. This can be dangerous and can also result in unnecessary holes in the new decking from fasteners that have to be moved. Your old boards can also split from the additional fasteners being driven down through them, which can cause additional weakness in the structure and possible irregularities in the new deck. You also may trap moisture between the two layers that can potentially create problems. Finally, you may create height problems where the new deck hits doorways and stairs. In my opinion, your best bet is definitely to remove the old decking boards, repair and reinforce the original deck framing as needed, and then install your new decking. Q: My wife and I are looking at a home to buy that was built in 1955. Some of the wiring is paper wrap. We aren’t sure how much. I was wondering if any of the paper wrap was ever made with a ground wire. Also, I was wondering about the safety of paper wrap. We have to travel about 750 miles to look at this home and would like to know if it should be a big concern. A: There’s no easy answer to this one. Some of the cable you refer to did not have a ground wire, and some of it did. Also, older wiring such as this was not as heat resistant as the jackets used today, and it’s not unusual to find wiring that has heat damage to it, especially behind light fixtures. Finally, a house that is more than 50 years old almost certainly will have had some remodeling work done, and it’s impossible to know what different homeowners, contractors and electricians may have done with the wiring. If you’re seriously considering buying the house, you need to have a qualified electrician examine the wiring and determine its condition,
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME as well as determine whether subsequent repairs and remodeling were done correctly. The electrician also can determine if the house is safe and up to current code and, if not, what would be required to get it there. Incidentally, I suggest the services of a licensed electrician for this, not a home inspector. Since the house is so far away, if you are working with a real estate agent in that city perhaps he or she could arrange to have the electrical evaluation done for you and save you a trip. That way, if the work is too extensive you can have the opportunity to re-evaluate your purchase plans, or perhaps talk with the sellers about a price reduction. Q: Would you give me some tips on how to
Finally, a house that is more than 50 years old almost certainly will have had some remodeling work done, and it’s impossible to know what different homeowners, contractors and electricians may have done with the wiring. repair drywall for my older home? I have cracks in several rooms, including two bathrooms. A wall in the dining area warped due to a roof in need of repair (water). The roof has been replaced. Now I need to fix the cracks. Any tips or advice you can give me on how to cut and measure, tape, float, mud, sand and paint, and anything else I need to know, is greatly appreciated. A: Your best bet is get a book on the subject of drywall repairs, which will contain not only written descriptions but more importantly, lots of photographs to guide you through the process. One book I’ve found particularly useful is “Drywall:
Professional Techniques for Great Results” by Myron R. Ferguson. You can find books at your local library or bookstore, or through online retailers such as Amazon.com. Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. INMAN NEWS
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LISTING OF THE WEEK
Edmond kitchen has view of greenbelt, open backyard
Dead Leaf Designs, of Kansas City, Mo., built this door for a City Market loft with wenge and zebrawood veneer. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
Rural meets urban as barn doors go inside BY STACY DOWNS Kansas City Star
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The urban barn door is sliding into
the home front. Demand for these movable monoliths has grown in recent years as homeowners, including condo dwellers and suburbanites, are looking for solutions with character. Besides their industrial-chic style — a product of the lofting of America — the sliding doors and hardware serve useful purposes. An everyday hinged door takes up 9 square feet, eating up precious floor space in a hallway or square-foot-crunched condo, pointed out Jeremy Crowder, vice president of KNC, a third-generCONCERNS ation door hardware business in Canada. I Adequate hardware “Not only are sliding is key. You don’t want doors efficient for the heavy doors to bow out. homeowner, they’re Also, you want quiet good for condo developenings and closings. I Most urban barn opers,” Crowder said. doors don’t lock — since However, extra wall they’re interior sliding space is required to the doors — but they can. left or right of an urban You need to know whethbarn door to accommoer you want a lock before date its large size. Idealmaking the door and ly, the door should be at ordering the hardware. least 6 inches wider I Make sure your conthan the opening. Still, tractor has correct meait’s more efficient than a surements and a method 36-inch swinging door to get the door inside your home. The door or sets of them. should be a minimum of Hardware is often the 6 inches more than the priciest part of the inopening, so wall space door sliders, usually free of furniture to the starting about $1,000. A left or right is required. few months ago, KNC I The doors can weigh introduced the Crowder hundreds of pounds, so Round Track, exposed they can’t be hung from European-style stainthe wall without a good less steel with nylon framework. Usually this means a contractor will wheels at the top. A have to cut into your barely visible guidedrywall and add wooden block in the floor helps blocking to the studs. keep the door on track. Stops on the wall-mountAll it takes is two fingers ed hardware should be to silently and smoothly installed before hanging glide 400 pounds of the door. A discreet guide wood, metal, glass or bar in the floor helps other material. The keep the door on track. If hardware is shock-abthe door is set correctly, sorbing to keep a resithere shouldn’t be any finger-pinching issues. dential door from sounding like an authentic hay-holding barn door. “If you’re entertaining, you want people to remember the party and not the rickety door,” said furniture and product designer Joe Munson, of Leawood, Kan., who has created large-scale sliding doors for local clients and others in New York. Lee Norman, of Kansas City, Mo., recently bought the neighboring unit to his River Market condo. The wall between the two loft spaces was removed. Norman wanted the space to be open sometimes, closed others. Norman considered pivoting doors and other options. But Rees Michael of North Star Remodel in Kansas City suggested the urban barn door because it acts like a movable wall. Norman hired Ryan Bennett and Reid Benson of Dead Leaf Designs in Kansas City to construct a 6-by-8½foot door. The custom 250-pound door has an industrial plywood-composite core with a zebrawood and wedge veneer. A stainless steel handle and rays accent the exotic woods. Norman considers the door to be the artistic focal point of his home. The hardware costs about $2,200, and the door and installation were an additional $4,400. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
Joe Munson, a furniture designer and fabricator, made sliding metal doors for the bathrooms in this condo of Stephen and Sarah Hopkins. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
The Listing of the Week is at 21950 Homesteaders Road in Edmond.
The Listing of the Week is a Dallas-style house in northwest Edmond. The 1,780-square-foot house at 21950 Homesteaders Road has three bedrooms, two baths, a home office with built-in shelves, one living room, one dining room and an
attached two-car garage. The living room has a fireplace. The kitchen looks out to an open backyard and greenbelt. The master bedroom has a bath with double vanities. The house has stained-concrete floors in high-traffic areas,
a built-in sound system, a security system and a 2010 roof. Built in 2000, it is listed for $163,900 with Laura Terlip of Covington Co. Open house is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. From Pennsylvania Avenue and Covell Road, go north to Set-
PHOTO PROVIDED
tler’s Crossing, east to Olde School, then left to Homesteaders Road. For more information, call 834-0805. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send information on single-family homes to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
7F
8F
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Check noise levels before buying condo Are you planning to buy a condo-apartment in a popular urban area just a short walk from fine restaurants, cultural attractions and public transportation? And do you believe that now could be an opportune time to find an excellent deal on that condo in your favorite city? If so, you’re not alone in your quest to change your lifestyle at a time when many city condos are selling at reasonable prices, said John Rygiol, an independent real estate broker who’s sold property since 1971. But Rygiol said it’s critical for all would-be urban condo buyers to be highly selective when hunting for a condo to buy. “Besides the overall location of the building, which is of extreme importance, you definitely
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES want to position yourself in the least noisy section of that building,” said Rygiol, whose firm represents solely buyers in real estate transactions. “If you can help it, never buy a unit overlooking a noisy road or highway. Also, watch out for any condo that’s located underneath an airport flight path,” he said. But it’s not only cars and planes that can cost condo dwellers their peace of mind and sound sleep. As Rygiol notes, the rituals of everyday living in the city can lead to nervewracking days and nights
for those who choose the wrong condo unit. “You’d never want to be within earshot of a trash collection center or a noisy restaurant or club,” he said. In addition, Rygiol warns condo purchasers to avoid buying any apartment that shares a wall with an elevator shaft. “But just wait until the first night that people who’ve had a few drinks start congregating in the hallway outside the elevator,” he said. Here are a few pointers for homebuyers searching for the right urban condo: I Look for plenty of windows and a favorable orientation to the sun. Whether you’re scouting for a condo to serve as a second home in a balmy resort city or one that will serve as your primary residence in a chillier area,
real estate specialists say you’d be wise to seek out a corner unit that gets plenty of daytime light, from morning to dusk. “What you get when you’re located in the corner of a building and face either southeast or southwest is more sunlight from breakfast time to late in the day. You won’t be living in the shadows,” said Stephen Israel, the president of a real estate brokerage affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents. Corner units with large windows are not only very appealing to most owners from a lifestyle standpoint, but they also do well on the resale market, should you have to sell in a hurry. I Look for the best possible parking situation in a condo building. Many urban high-rise
buildings, both older and newer structures, have underground parking garages reachable from an elevator within the building. And although urban condo residents are more likely to use public transportation than are suburbanites, many like to keep a car in the city anyway. Israel said the value of an assigned parking spot in an urban setting is greater for owners who have relatively easy access to their vehicles. “You don’t want to have to walk down a long corridor to get to the elevator that goes to the parking garage. It’s better to be somewhat closer, though not too close, to this elevator,” Israel said. Also, try to pick a unit that comes with a wellsituated parking space. I Shop for a wonderful view from any apartment
you plan to buy. For the increasing number of homebuyers, including many baby boomage purchasers, the draw of the city is highly correlated to a sense of excitement with urban living. And this often translates into a yearning for a striking city view from their apartment. Rygiol urges urban condo buyers seeking a good view to buy a place on the highest available floor in the building, and a topfloor penthouse unit if they can afford it. “For people who love city buzz, or any spectacular view from the top of a high-rise, there’s nothing better than a great vista overlooking either city lights or natural beauty or both,” Rygiol said. Email Ellen James Martin at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
Home inspection report lacks key information DEAR BARRY: We purchased and we sometimes smell sewer a townhouse about five months gas in the bathrooms. ago, and now we have major Is our home inspector liable problems with the heating and for these undisclosed problems? cooling equipLinsay ment. Our conDEAR LINtractor said the SAY: It is unusual furnace needs to and surprising Barry be replaced, and when a home inStone we also need a spector does not new motor in the operate a heating swamp cooler. and cooling sysOur home in- INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE tem. Testing of spector never opthis equipment is erated the furnace standard proceor the cooler during the inspec- dure in the course of a home intion, and his report has one spection. More surprising, howcomment only about these sys- ever, is your home inspector’s tems. It simply says, “Info need- limited comment on the subject. ed.” Besides this, he missed two His written report, as well as his plumbing problems. The toilet oral review, should have said needs to be flushed three times “yea” or “nay” regarding the to completely get rid of solids, function and safety of the fur-
nace and cooler. His comment, “Info needed,” provided mystery rather than disclosure. Instead, he should have indicated exactly what that statement meant. If he believed the system needed further evaluation by a heat-and-air contractor, he should have said so plainly and should have included that recommendation in his report. To determine liability, you should read the home inspection contract you signed. Many inspection contracts require you to notify the inspector that there is a problem before making repairs. If repairs are done before the inspector can review the problem, these contracts usually disclaim liability. The plumbing issues are a dif-
ferent story. Sewer gas odors are easy to miss during a home inspection because they tend to come and go. At the time of the inspection, the odors may not have been present. As for the poor flushing of the toilet, it is not possible for a home inspector to test every toilet for its capacity to expel solids. The only way the inspector would be liable for this is if there are visible drain defects that were not reported. You should have this evaluated by a licensed plumbing contractor. DEAR BARRY: When we bought our home, no one told us there was a septic system on the property. We discovered this months later when the sewage backed up in the house. We called the seller, but he denied knowledge of a septic system.
How likely is it that someone could live in a home for 15 years and not know there was an operable septic tank and no sewer hookup? Brian DEAR BRIAN: More than a few homeowners have had to deal with this kind of surprise. If a septic system operates for years without backing up, it is entirely possible that an owner could be unaware of its existence. In one case, a homeowner paid sewer assessment fees as part of his property tax bill for many years, only to learn that his home had never been connected to the sewer system. To write to Barry Stone, go to www.house detective.com. ACCESS MEDIA GROUP
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011
9F
Adjustable-rate mortgages can be good fit BY EVE MITCHELL Contra Costa Times
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Loc Chau was looking for a super-low interest rate to finance his San Jose, Calif., condominium, a place he envisions living in for a few years. Super-low to him means below 4 percent. So he opted for an adjustable-rate mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration as an alternative to a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. In November, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages hit a 40-year record low, averaging 4.17 percent. But now, they are closer to 5 percent. “I don’t plan to stay here forever. History tells me I’ve averaged five years in each place I’ve purchased, and I don’t see any benefit to lock in a rate that is higher. I didn’t want to go with 30 years,” Chau said. Adjustable-rate loans can provide lower payments than a fixed-rate loan for the first several years, but those savings can go away after the reset period kicks in. Payments also can rise sharply, leaving borrowers in a tough spot. Typically, borrowers who get adjustable-rate loans try to either sell the home or refinance before the reset kicks in. The lower reset caps of an FHA adjustable-rate loan provide borrowers with more breathing room than conventional adjustable loans, which have higher reset caps. Chau obtained a $343,000 FHA adjusta-
History tells me I’ve averaged five years in each place I’ve purchased, and I don’t see any benefit to lock in a rate that is higher. I didn’t want to go with 30 year.” HOMEOWNER LOC CHAU
A sign stands outside a home on the market in central Denver. In November, 30year fixed-rate mortgages hit a 40-year record low, averaging 4.17 percent. Now, they are closer to 5 percent. Adjustable-rate loans can provide lower payments than a fixed-rate loan for the first several years, but those savings can go away after the reset period kicks in. Payments also can rise sharply, leaving borrowers in a tough spot. AP FILE PHOTO
ble-rate loan with an interest rate of 3.77 percent. He moved into his threebedroom condo in January. Chau said the lower reset caps of the FHA adjustable-rate loan will help avoid having a big reset rate if he is still in the home after five years. “To me, that’s a nobrainer. It’s not that much, I can live with it if I need to stay here another year or two,” said Chau, 41, a fiscal and operations manager for the city of San Francisco. “It’s pretty decent.”
Take time to compare As with any real estate product, there are tradeoffs when comparing
2or3 bd, 1 ba, close to downtown Edmnd, schl & park (405)282-7332 (918)397-6036 $68,500
‘ OPEN Saturday 9-3 ‘ 9909 N Pottawatomie Rd 1929sf on 2.5 acres Asking $180,000 204-4319
1 story frame 1800sf 3bd 2ba on 2.4 ac, chainlink fenced, steel roof, vinyl siding 10x60 cvrd poarch 30x32 Higgins ins. shop, 12x24 storage bldg, 8x12 w/h, landscaped,McLoud $120,000 405-426-0404 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 1501 Marydale 3bd 1.5ba Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Super nice 3bd home 2ba 2 car. Great area, huge living w/skylights, mint condition. Price reduced. $119,500. Fidelity RE 692-1661, 410-4300 5628 Lanceshire Ln Great Addn, Imaculate home 3/2/2 Mid-Del Schools 732-3638 www.homesofokcinc.com
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
HUD OWNED. 3bd 1.5ba 2car, brick, CH/A $76,560 Arlene CB 414-8753
HOME W/20 AC 3bd 2.5ba approx 2495' w/ office & gamerm $269,900 Cashion schls Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
BANK OWNED 4/2.5/2 2179sf, 2 liv, sunroom, brick $79K Arlene CB 414-8753
276 Acres
River frontage, farming, hunting, house, 30 min. so. of Norman. $499,000. 405-202-3531 PRIME BUILDING SITES -PIEDMONT Eastwind Estates II, 3/4 and 1 Acre lots, Priced from $38,900 Leon 373-4820 OVERLAND EX REALTY OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com CASHION W/TREES & CREEK 6 to 11 ac tracts starting @ $25,000 Owner fin possible. Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Bank Owned updated 3/2/2 2 liv, 1600sf, corner lot, brk $99,900 ArleneCB 414-8753
Super sharp 3bed 2bath 2car home, 2 dining, large open living area with fireplace, jacuzzi tub, sprinkler system, great area, excellent condition. Only $175,000 Fidelity692-1661, 410-4300
3A + MH 131 Rolling Ln Rd, Pott Co 23,000 732-3638
Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308 1300 AC. RANCH in E. Logan County Will divide. Call Annie Silvers @ 405.615.8430 at C21 Goodyear Green. ˚WILL PAY CASH FOR 80-160 ACRES & UP CALL 405-226-2015
Homes For Sale
309.9
FORECLOSURES 72, 1-4 bdrm homes in Edmond start @ $48,000 Patrick @Allied 740-6616
Brand New Waterfront Home by Owner Cascata Lakes, beautiful 4br 3.5 ba, corner lot, 4500+ sq ft, gourmet kitch, view of lake from almost every room. OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY. $628,000. 13717 Cascata Strada 405-615-2621 or 826-4126. Just Reduced $6000! Nice 3bd 2 living (or 4th bed) ch/a, nice area, only $79,900 Fidelity RE 692-1661, 410-4300 MUST SEE! 2805 SW 56 4 BDR; 2 BATH; New Roof; All Newly Remodeled; $87K; 405-590-9498 OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 312 SW 45 3/1 $52,000 ¡ 596-4599 410-8840 ¡ REMOD. 2-3 bd/1 ba/1 car gar. $57,000 Must See to Appreciate! ¡‘¡ 308-1829
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. CHISHOLM CROSSING PIEDMONT 2187 E Trail Dr. 5+ Acres, 3 BD, 3K BA, 2 Liv, 1 Din, Home is Loaded! Leon 373-4820 Overland Ex Realty BARGAIN! 3bd 1.1ba approx 1334' on 1.25 ac MOL. 36 x 36 barn w/tack area. Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Rent to Own 212 NE 15th 3bd 1 ba Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com
INCREDIBLE 3bd 2ba on 1/2 ac MOL. New carpet & paint $138,500 Seller is broker/owner Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 NEW HOME 3bd 2ba approx 1452' $139,900 Seller is broker/owner Lisa 919-5717 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
ESTATE AUCTION: The Millard Hall Trust, Sat. 12 Noon, 4/2, 829 SW 49th, OKC. 2 BR Brick Home, C H/A, Storm Cellar, Fenced. Also Selling Contents, Mobility Chair, 2005 Chevy Malibu 5K Actual Miles! 918-256-5524. JB Robison Realtors & Cook Auction Co. Info at JBRauctions.com.
2bd, 1ba near OCU, completely remodeled, high efficiency, storm shelter $69,900 No money down w/ 600+ credit score. Call David, 227-1152
4017 NW 26th, 2 bd, 1 ba rock & vinyl siding, 1 car, ch&a, large fenced backyard $76,500 ¡ 205-2719
FORECLOSURES 171, 1-4 bdrm homes in NW OKC start @ $18,074 Patrick @Allied 740-6616
NORTHWOOD LAKE EST 3bd 2ba w/office on 1 ac MOL. $195,000 Lisa 919-5717 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
3br 2ba, 1300 sf, El Reno. Wood frame, total remod, CH &A, gar $68,000 262-4204 3/2/2, 1676 sf, $159,000 805 Vickery Ave. Drakestone Addn. 410-8001
$5000 Towards Your DREAM HOME! Properties located in SW/NW/SE/MWC/ Choctaw. Good Schools, Call for Details No App Fee~405.326.5728 $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 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 REPO! REPO! REPO! 3bd Vinyl Sided/Shingle/ 2x6 walls. Free del/set, Financing available @ $335mo. 405-787-4035 ’ $281mo. ’ Refurbed doublewide ready NOW! 3 bd/Island/ Decks/Shop/Fence 405-470-1330 McLoud area. Abandoned D/W on 5 acres. Ready to move in. Brick foundation with all utilities. 405-631-7600 405-635-4338 Remodeled, like new, 3 bd, 2 ba, $14,900, cash only, 692-9627/826-7632 **NEW** 1216 sq ft $25,995 - 1 only Maxeys Homes 631-3600 ZERO DOWN with your trade-in!! w.a.c. 1-866-764-3200
Repo 28x84 Solitaire 301-2454, 517-5000 Repo 28x56 Solitaire 918-617-7742 2bd 1ba $14,900. Delivered to you 301-2454, 517-5000
157 Acres
OF PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND SOLD AT AUCTION SAT APRIL 16, 2011 1 Hr. West of OKC United Country Entz Auction Hydro, OK
405-663-2200 entzauction.com
GREAT Space OFFICE Various NW locations MOVE IN SPECIALS 300-6000sf 946-2516
TENKILLER LAKE 1N ac. gated entry, walk to Pine Cove Marina, will finance with small down paymt., $17,500, 918-640-8556.
Find what works FHA adjustable-rate loans can be the right loan for borrowers who are now looking for low rates and a low down payment, and who may stay in the home for longer than five years, said Kevin Conlon, senior vice president of operations at Mason-McDuffie Mortgage, based in San Ramon, Calif. “It allows them to get into a home and qualify at today’s prices for those homes,” he said. “In the sixth year, a (conventional adjustable-rate loan) can go the lifetime limit. That can be a big payment.”
Corner of 23rd & May Entire building or single office, store front available. Call Wallace at 848-9894.
QUITE CLEAN COMPLEX w/d hookups, 1 bed/ 1 bath, move in for $150 + 1st months rent, 210-8695 or 833-7901. $98 First Month 18 Floor Plans 416-5259 Wilshire Village Soon to be Tuscany Village
1, 2 & 3-Room Offices $175 & up ‘ 50th & N Lincoln area 235-8080
$149 First Month Your Choice, any apartment ALL BILLS PAID 293-3693 Drexel on the Park
Warehouse Space For Rent
1419K NW 17th 2bd 1ba wood floors, 1200sf, $575 mo, $250 dep, 409-7989 no sec 8
Warehouse/Office, great location, 7317 N Classen, $1750, 830-3399.
Plaza Apts 1740 NW 17 1bed 1ba wood floors or tile $475-$500 $250dp 409-7989 no sec8
Commercial RE
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818
Business Property For Sale
Nice almost new 1bd, 2bd. Ready now. From $350 943-0907
6009 NW Expressway, OKC (W of MacArthur) 34,643 sf (mol) & annex building is 1,692sf (mol). Zoned C-3 Commercial, 4.39 acres (mol). Provides 200+ paved parking spaces. Direct access to NW Expressway. Asking Price $1,850,000 Call Rick Harper 341-6093
Established Business For Sale Est. Barber Shop For Sale NW Retiring Make Offer 789-0341/324-0157
Investment Property For Sale Great Investment Property Prime NW loc. PC Schools. 4 duplexes (2 bldgs). 3 bd, 2 ba, 2 c, 1 level each side. Aprox income $3500 mo. Independent Realtors, Sarah, 405-205-0324. SMcKinney15@cox.net Nichols Hills Duplexes on Avondale, we have 3 for sale. Choice location. All rented, 405-409-7779 Seabrooke Realty Several Mortgage notes for sale, 8%-12% Interest paid, 4plex near OCU $169K -6units hrdwd flrs $225K Seabrooke Rlty 409-7779
Business Property For Rent Multi-Office Suite: 3 NE 8th Conf. Rm, Kitchen, Reception, Priv. Ofc, Equip. Rm- 2908’ Combo Office /Storage 855’ Java Dave’s Storage (405) 290-7552 Small Business/Storage 1250sqft, 28Wx50L, 14x14 O/H door, $500 month. 89th St. & I-35 S. OKC, 631-4447
Industrial Property For Rent
Bank Owned updated 3/2/2 + study, built 2006, 1663sf $124.9K ArleneCB 414-8753
Rent to Own El Reno - 615 N. Evans 2bd 1 ba - Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100
Branson Time Share, must sell due to health, 405-720-2478 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
prospective buyers) talk to a qualified loan officer who can explain the difference between an FHA and conventional loan so they can really understand all the costs involved,” he said. Mortgage insurance, which is paid for by the borrower and protects the lender against default, is required when there is less than a 20 percent down payment. While mortgage insurance is tax-deductible, depending on a borrower’s income, that tax break will go away after 2011. A borrower who made a 10 percent down payment on a $277,500 home and financed a $250,000 loan
Office Space For Rent
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
3/2/2, FP, PC Schls, 1789 sf, Extra Nice! By Owner $123,900 ¡ 330-1880
OPEN Sun. 1-4 , 4/2/2 +Bonus $149.9K 670-6240 www.5216se88th.com
loans. Many conventional loans require a minimum 20 percent down payment, while FHA loans can be financed with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. FHA loans have a lower down payment requirement, but they also can take longer to process. The higher mortgage insurance cost associated with an FHA loan can raise borrowing costs, said Steve Donahue, vice president of mortgage origination at Technology Credit Union, based in San Jose, Calif. That factor has to be weighed when considering their lower reset caps. “It’s important (that
with a 3.7 percent interest rate would have monthly mortgage insurance premiums of $98 on a conventional loan, compared to $177 on an FHA loan. There is also an upfront FHA mortgage insurance premium equal to 1 percent of the home’s purchase price, a cost that can be financed into the loan. Starting April 18, FHA loans will see higher premiums for monthly mortgage insurance. Contact a mortgage professional for details.
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. 16,000 SF avail SW Okc /I40 area, 2 dock high drs, 22ft clr, 1 ac. fncd yd-Haley 405-826-0983 Grant Group
Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 Hemingway Condo, 1bd, 1ba, appls, FP, newly remod. No pets 348-3500
New house 3BR/2BA 2 car gar, low utils, 7 inch walls $1000. 596-8606
Hemingway Condo, 1bd, 1ba, appls, FP, newly remod. No pets 348-3500
4308Meadowpark3/1.5$725 9317 NE 14th 3/1.5/1 $550 1112 Sycamore 3/1/1 $495 1300 McDonald 3/1/1 $495 681-7272 Small Trailer furnished » close in » $350 mo » 405-732-9911 / 514-5634
220 Barrett 2/1/1 kit appls $625mo No pets, No Sec 8 225-6734/517-1222
2 bed, 1 bath $450 mo, $500 dep. 1521 NE 42nd Call 405-706-6380
Large apt, New floors, 50th/Portland, 2bd, $600 » 405-692-5584 »»
2623 NW 50 2bd 2ba 1car 1100sf $1000/mo $800dp Amazing Granite Counter tops fireplace wood floors 409-7989
MAYFAIR 50th/May 1/2bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhd No sec 8 947-5665
Large 2 bed, w/d, wood floors, 1600 sf, no pets, $450 + deposit, 314-9511
Nice & Peaceful 1 Bed, 2404 Reeves, upstairs No Sec 8 $450, 370-0278
1501 NW 17 Lg 1bd, all appl + w/d, wd flrs newly redec. no pets 314-9511
MOVE IN NOW! Pd. water/garbage Quiet. Try Plaza East•341-4813
$200 off
CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL
1bd 1ba $295-325 Stove, fridge garage405-818-4089
1 & 2 beds, D&S Apts, 6101 S Klein Ave., ch&a. No Sec 8. No Pets. 631-2383 $99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $325 mo. 632-9849
$100 off
$99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $325 to $395 mo. 632-9849
Williamsburg 7301 NW 23rd
787-1620 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
Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.
Nichol’s Hills Room for rent 250sf $400 mo $200 dep 409-7989 no sec 8
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818
First Month’s Rent LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
3bed, 1 bath, ch&a, $550 month + deposit, MG Realty ¡ 831-0207 716 NW 88th, 2bd, 1 ba, 1car, ch&a, wd hkp $585 /mo. $400/dep. 850-9795 NW 86th & Western 3bd 1ba No Sec 8, $625/mo+ $500dep 789-4525 lv msg
Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com 1808 Sunrise 3bed 1.5ba 2car $800 + dep Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com
3 bed, 2 ba, ch&a, well, septic, 2 acres, 1 yr lease $900+$500 dep 386-3362
2 SE 33rd, large 2bd brick home, ch/a, formal dining, detached garage, excellent cond, only $550 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661
2301 N Hood, 3bd, 1 bath $525/month 408-5836 Ask about special!
2520 El Toro, 3 or 4 bed, brick, 1 K ba, $500 dep $700 mo. 361-1820 3Bd/1.5Ba, 2car gar, $675/mo $0 dep., Sec. 8, fenced 1-800-529-0307 code 37 4721 SE 50 3/1.5/2 $700 681-7272
2 bed, stove & refrig, bills paid, No pets. $600 mo + dep. Call 232-9704
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
3037 North Rockwell
495-2000
2 bed, fenced, $375 mo + dep; 1 bed, $525; near 10th/McKinley, 639-0556
1 Month Free!
1 & 2 BEDROOMS, QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
MAYFAIR 3209 NW 40th nice 2/1/1, ch&a, no pets $695 mo, 943-5840, O/A.
Lg 2bd $550 Casady751-8088 800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506
$200 OFF RENT 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172.
Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
1306 NE 8 ch&a, W/D hkup 1bd, 1ba, Sec 8 Ok. Nice, Must See 248-4079
3400 N Robinson 1bd 1ba free laundry 850sf $425mo $200dp 409-7989 no sec 8 1 BR, clean, new appls, $395/mo. $200 dep. 3031 NW 14th. 405-748-6830
Rising interest rates have resulted in more people considering adjustable-rate loans, said Tara Nicholle-Nelson, consumer educator for Trulia. com, a San Franciscobased real estate website. “There’s something about that 4 percent interest rate. It seems like the Holy Grail of interest rates,” she said. Still, she said, many borrowers are shying away from adjustable-rate loans, which are viewed as one of the factors that created the housing crisis. Adjustable-rate loans are tied to financial indexes, which means when they reset at a future rate the new interest rate can be lower or higher. “A lot of what was wrong with adjustablerate loans, at the top of the market, was not the adjustable part of it. It was the interest-only or option ARM part of it,” she said, referring to loan features that allow borrowers to pay little or no principal. “Their payment is going way up because they were never making a full payment.”
Yukon
438
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Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 3536 NW 51st #305 3 Bd, 1.5 Ba, Gas & Water Pd. $600 748-8520 www.redbudrealestate.com Summerfield Townhouse 3bd 2ba FP. Remodeled 12208 Banyon Ln $1145 mo. 755-2362, 659-1507 Copper Chase TH/Condo 3bd 3ba 2car private patio, pool, tennis ct. $500 dep $1500mo 623-1443 2BR 2BA townhome nr OCCC Sec 8 ok, W/D hkp $525mo $200dep 812-8834
2530K NW 11th 1bd/1ba stv frig W/D fresh paint $425+$250dep 618-7338
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818
Houses for rent
Near Nich Hills 3bd 2.5ba formal liv/din, large den, fp. 2609 NW 68 St $1645 mo $1000 dep 496-2576
Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com
3017 NW 29, large 2bd home, 1O ba, oversized detached garage, new carpet, only $650 Fidelity 410-4300, 692-1661
Near Integris south hospital, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, rock, very clean, $575 mo, $500 dep, 691-5479.
Very nice 2 bed, 1 bath, 3716 NW 24th, $550 mo; 3 bed, 1 bath, 3823 NW 11th, $700 month; Sec 8 okay, 255-8832. Rent, Rent to Own605-5477 2bd from $395-595 3bd from $450-895 4bd from $595-995 housesforrentofokc.com 3409 N. Shartel 2bd 1.5ba 1200sf, $725 mo, $500 dep, Fridge & Stove, 409-7989 no sec 8 Must see! Nice 2bd liv din appls w/d hkup hw flrs. 2709 NW 14th. $595 No pets no sec 8. 301-5979
2104 N. Mueller 3/1.5/2 NO pets/smoking/Sec. 8 $800/$750 405-701-1826
1929 Lariet Lane 3bd 1.5 baths $450/mo 408-5836 Ask about Special!
Quail Spr Apt #2 2/2.5 $775 437 NW 91 3/1.5/1 $550 2037 NW 34th 4/2 $550 681-7272
Newly Renovated! 4 bed 2lv, $1250 mo, 5312 NW 108th Terr. no smoker, pets, sec. 8. 650-7272
4 bd, 2 ba, 2car, $975 mo, $975 dep, Sec-8 ok, 3208 Simmons, 410-9433
8424 NW 91st Street, 3/2/2, ch&a, fcnd, all appl, $875/mo+ depos. 301-4695
3bd 2ba 2car fp 1440sf $900 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
1418 NW 49th, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, appls, W/D hookup, CH&A. 501-6570
3108DentwoodTr3/1/1 $600 681-7272
305 S. Little Chisholm Cir nice nbrhood, lg 3bd, 2ba, $950, 330-8557 Edm
3b 1b central heat, air, new carpet $500mo $300dep 405-706-9006 Two for the Price of One! Front 2bd, Back 1bd, $650 +$300dep 631-8039 Large 2 bed, carport, corner lot, No pets. $600 mo + dep. Call 232-9704 2 bed, W/D hookup, fenced yard $500 mo, $250 deposit ¡ 631-8039 Park side 2 bed, mint cond., new paint, tile, carpet. $525. 596-8410
6021 NW 58th Terr 3bed 2bath 1car, PC Schools, $1100/mo, $1100/dep 1600sf 409-7989 no sec 8
2 bed 1.5 bath, ch&a, $600mo, $500 deposit. 1 year lease 386-3362
2bd 1ba clean, big yard, stove fridge $595 818-4089
3/2/2, 1750 sf, Kings Park w/comm. pool, club house, tennis ct, $1150 +dep, avail 3-1, 682-5885
811 NW 97th, 2 bed, 1 bath, no sec 8, $450 mo, $400 dep, 615-8710 Sharp 4154 NW 19th St. 2/1/1 all appls, no pets JW Rlty 755-2510 $695 3/4 bed, 2 bath, wood floors, $825 month, 1205 NW 80th, 229-7437.
PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES SINCE 1982 Mgmt » Leasing » Sales Spectrum Management 848-9400 usespectrum.com
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Permits Oklahoma City Memorial Landing LLC, 2125 W Memorial Road, shell building, erect, $1,050,000. Rick Civitarese, 5950 W Memorial Road, restaurant, erect, $1,000,000. Clark Constuction, 14113 Broadway Extension, automotive sales, remodel, $614,000. Chong Branson, 3000 N Classen Blvd., office, erect, $500,000. No name provided, 2801 N Classen Blvd., automotive repair-wash, erect, $500,000. Bezcon, 2851 S County Line Road, church, erect, $450,000. Christopher and Julie Cook, 14001 Steeple Ridge Road, residence, erect, $350,000. Red Rock Builders LLC, 6209 NE 105, residence, erect, $320,000. Tim Rickard Construction LLC, 5409 NW 107, residence, erect, $310,800. VP Homes, 8601 NW 155 Place, residence, erect, $300,000. Silver Stone Homes, 3224 NW 177, residence, erect, $260,000. RW Custom Homes LLC, 1800 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $250,000. Glenndouglas Constructors, 13901 McAuley Blvd., medical clinicoffice, remodel, $240,000. General Property Construction, 13307 Plaza Terrace, apartment, fire restoration, $236,646. RW Custom Homes LLC, 1820 NW 194 Circle, residence, erect, $230,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5609 NW 121 Circle, residence, erect, $219,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 17325 Ridgewood Drive, residence, erect, $205,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5608 NW 121 Circle, residence, erect, $203,800. Blue Ribbon Construction LLC, 11808 Gwendolyn Lane, residence, erect, $200,000. Caston Construction, 9211 Lake Hefner Parkway,
office, remodel, $200,000. League Custom Homes LLC, 12836 NW 5, residence, erect, $175,000. Lorenz Heritage Homes LLC, 5117 SW 126 Place, residence, erect, $165,990. Lorenz Heritage Homes LLC, 5116 SW 126 Place, residence, erect, $165,990. Heartland Homes LLC, 17524 Red Tailed Hawk Way, residence, erect, $160,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 3024 SW 137, residence, erect, $143,000. Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation, 4601 S Walker Ave., accessory, erect, $140,000. M&D Homes LLC, 1904 Timber Ridge, residence, erect, $135,000. M&D Homes LLC, 11736 SW 19, residence, erect, $135,000. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 9033 NW 83, residence, erect, $130,550. Westpoint Homes, 6204 NW 158, residence, erect, $130,000. Westpoint Homes, 5924 NW 158, residence, erect, $130,000. Westpoint Homes, 5932 NW 158, residence, erect, $130,000. Crown Construction LLC, 816 NW 40, residence, add-on, $125,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18301 Bodegon Road, residence, erect, $122,000. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 9033 NW 84 Terrace, residence, erect, $118,300. Home Creations, 10020 Squire Lane, residence, erect, $114,000. George Schott, doing business as Two Turtles Property Management, 10713 SW 31 Court, residence, erect, $100,000. McAlister Construction Inc., 9104 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $100,000. McAlister Construction Inc., 9100 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $100,000. Titus Construction, 13313 N Meridian Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $100,000. Titus Construction, 13313 N Meridian Ave.,
REAL ESTATE medical clinic-office, remodel, $100,000. Titus Construction, 13313 N Meridian Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $100,000. Wynn Construction, 3220 S High Ave., office, add-on, $100,000. Jesse Orange, 10829 NE 36, residence, erect, $100,000. Matthew Ranck, 15800 SE 59, residence, erect, $100,000. Home Creations, 1001 Cimarron Creek Drive, residence, erect, $94,400. Home Creations, 909 Cimarron Creek Drive, residence, erect, $91,200. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 15920 Big Cypress Drive, residence, erect, $91,000. Home Creations, 12120 NW 133 Terrace, residence, erect, $84,900. Home Creations, 1201 Denmark, residence, erect, $84,200. Home Creations, 1117 Denmark, residence, erect, $82,300. Sharon & Co., 6703 Camille Ave., officewarehouse, remodel, $80,751. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8104 Erryn Lane, residence, erect, $80,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 7917 Sunny Pointe Lane, residence, erect, $80,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 9528 SW 26, residence, erect, $79,000. Home Creations, 12301 SW 9 Terrace, residence, complete, $77,500. Home Creations, 19817 Adagio Lane, residence, erect, $77,200. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15509 Calm Wind Drive, residence, erect, $75,000. Bret Myers, 9800 Prosper Drive, residence, erect, $60,000. No name provided, 3810 NW 39, retail sales, remodel, $55,000. Alan Douglas, 11400 S Meridian Ave., warehouse, erect, $50,000. Hal Ruppert, 1205 NE 20, residence, remodel, $40,000. Eustaquio Salazar, 105 SE 31, residence, fire restoration, $35,000. D&R Development, 8013 W Reno Ave., officewarehouse, remodel, $34,800. Lingo Construction, 14901 N Pennsylvania
Ave., group home, remodel, $30,000. Bret Myers, 9800 Prosper Drive, residence, remodel, $26,000. Home First Inc., 8121 Double Springs Drive, accessory, remodel, $24,000. RSP Architects Ltd., 3817 Northwest Expressway, office, remodel, $24,000. FTK Construction, 333 NW 5, office, remodel, $21,000. Equip-Rite Inc., 5809 SW 5, automotive repairwash, remodel, $20,000. Scott Hugher, 2629 SW 85, residence, add-on, $20,000. Nancy and Rene Lopez, 1417 Terrace Drive, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $19,900. Dennis Thomas Construction, 14108 NW 124, cabana-gazebo, add-on, $19,000. Warrior Holdings, 425 NW 86, residence, fire restoration, $18,000. Larson Construction Inc., 2932 SW 49, residence, add-on, $16,830. Maria T. Fernandez, 2712 S Central Ave., residence, remodel, $15,000. Jerry Building Co., 4101 Perimeter Center Drive, canopy-carport, erect, $14,000. Hadlock Fine Homes LLC, 12220 Oak Grove Drive, residence, erect, $11,000. Don Cusak, 15901 S Westminster Road, tower-antenna, install, $9,000. Mabholz Construction, 235 N Rockwell Ave., temporary building, move-on, $8,000. Jerry Building Co., 4101 Perimeter Center Drive, canopy-carport, erect, $8,000. Hector Marinelarena, 1810 Exchange Ave., residence, add-on, $7,000. Jose Manuel Gonzalez, 1439 Lenora Ave., residence, add-on, $7,000. Fabian Munoz, 8920 S Charlotte Drive, residence-attached, add-on, $5,000. Thomas Kraft, 3129 SW 124, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,195. Dandy Homes, 813 SE 21, manufactured home, move-on, $3,500. Discount Remodelers, 1916 N Martin Luther King Ave., canopy-carport, add-on, $3,495. Kirk Warren, 6225 SW
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM 109, residence, installstorm shelter, $3,395. Liane Terry, 6100 N Shartel Ave., accessory, erect, $3,300. Ardie Minor, 5013 Ryan Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,295. Justin Baustert, 8616 NW 114, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,250. Christopher and Sarah O’Brien, 5001 Cedar Mill Road, residence, installstorm shelter, $3,200. James and Jana Keenum, 6832 NW 131, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,195. Flat Safe Tornado Shelters, 1508 SW 122, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,150. Flat Safe Tornado Shelters, 2617 SE 89 Terrace, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,150. Flat Safe Tornado Shelters, 704 SW 160, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Ground Zero Storm Shelters, 11205 Woodbridge Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Samuel C. Packard, 19521 SE 65, storage, erect, $3,000. Leon Hamlin, 12400 Park Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Rene R. Minjarez, 3100 S Pennsylvania Ave., assembly hall, remodel, $3,000. No name provided, 3100 S Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $3,000. Grand Zero Shelters, 7605 Meadow Lake Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Ground Zero Shelters, 2425 SW 117, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Richard J. Lueb, 3401 Rogers Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Sheryl Dudley, 10320 Ashford Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Trina Johnson, 8324 Pinewood Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Bryan Mitchell, 14009 Canterbury Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Flat Safe Tornado Shelters, 3226 Wilshire Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter,
$2,600. Todd Ellis, 2305 SE 94, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,595. Biggs Backhoe Inc., 5700 Valley Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. T&K Construction, 3201 Mosley Road, temporary building, moveon, $2,500. Larry and Roberta Buchanan, 9948 W Britton Road, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,300. Alloy Building Co., 309 SW 147, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,200. Caston Construction, 2401 NW 23, business, remodel, $2,025. Donna Sue Fightmaster, 2230 NW 19, storage, erect, $2,000. Frances Hannemon, 3017 SW 60, residence, add-on, $2,000. Raul A. Ramos, 12308 SW 3, accessory, add-on, $2,000. Jose Torres, 3147 SW 20, residence, add-on, $1,200.
Demolitions David and Meileen Echols, 2324 SW 22, garage. Eric Molitor, 2324 SW 22, residential. Hector Marinelarena, 1810 Exchange Ave., garage. Jennie Melton, 11800 SE 44, shed. Liane Terry, 6100 N Shartel Ave., shed.