The Oklahoman Real Estate

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Traditional Starter home home The Topaz is a compact, The Living of the Week is a traditional home on 2 acres in Newcastle’s Woodland Hills addition.

economical no-frills plan, with just under 1,100 square feet of living space, making an ideal starter home for a young family.

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REAL ESTATE

Ellen James Martin

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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

HOMEBUILDING RUNS IN FAMILIES AT EAST AREA HOMES FESTIVAL

BY DYRINDA TYSON Special Correspondent Dyrinda@gmail.com

Trending to less Like older homeowners, an increasing number of younger adults are choosing to downsize.

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CHOCTAW — A knot of builders compared notes one blustery morning in Choctaw’s Castle Gate addition.

“When you get a call at 9:50 …”

Randall Gentry started to say.

“Did you ever get a door knock at 11:30?” countered Josh Simmons. And they all laugh knowingly.

Gentry, 51, and Simmons, 34, have two things in common with everyone else in the room. They all grew up in homebuilding, ultimately going into the business themselves.

And they’ll all be showing off their handiwork April 30-May 1 and May 7-8 during the 18th annual East Area Festival of Homes.

About 40 new homes will be open free to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. both weekends. Maps and information on all of the homes will be in The Oklahoman’s April 30 and May 7 real estate sections.

Castle Gate, a small gated neighborhood south of Reno Avenue and east of Hiwassee Road, is Simmons’ creation through Gemini Builders. “I kind of started from the bottom in high school, working up through all the trades,” he said. “I’ve done it all.”

Gemini founder Jim McWhirter was once his boss. Simmons now counts him as both a father-inlaw and fellow builder, but not without college and a lot of work in between learning the details of house building from the ground up.

“And it’s good, because I’m out there, and a customer asks why I am doing something, I can tell them right then,” he said.

For Randy Gentry and his brother Don Gentry, 55, it’s a lineage that goes back to the 1940s when their grandfather established Gentry Lumberyard in Oklahoma City. The homebuilding business sprang from that, Randy Gentry said, and their father, Bill

IN BRIEF

Josh Simmons built this home at 13439 Glen Eagles Pointe in Choctaw. It and about 40 others will be open free to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. April 30-May 1 and May 7-8 in the East Area Festival of Homes.

PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

Gentry, kept it going.

“We grew up around it,” Randy said.

“I just always knew,” Don said.

“I didn’t go to college because I knew what I was going to do.”

The brothers operate independently, Randy Gentry in Randall Gentry Homes LLC, and Don Gentry in Gentry Construction Inc. It was the same for Todd Isaac, 35, of Todd Isaac Homes. He grew up watching his father, Jim Isaac, in action.

“I grew up and was just always around it, going out with him — always had a calling for it, so to speak,” he said. “I loved what I was doing and had a passion for it.”

But he almost followed his father, also a former state lawmaker, down another path. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in political science with ambitions to move on to a master’s program on the East Coast and perhaps someday make a run of his own for office.

“Dad was kind of a living inspiration, but that changed pretty quickly after I really saw how poli-

Home builders, left to right, Josh Simmons, Mark Methvin, Todd Isaac, Randy Gentry and Don Gentry, from home-building families, are shown in the kitchen of one of Simmons’s homes, which is one of more than 20 in the East Area Festival of Homes.

PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN

tics really worked,” he said with a laugh. After a traveling stint with a tool company, he returned to Oklahoma, married and dived into the family business.

Likewise, Mark Methvin, 45, this year’s festival chairman and owner of Mark Methvin Homes,

spent a few years away in Texas working in technology sales. He said his father, Max Methvin, owner of MCM Homes, sent him off with a piece of advice.

“Even if this is what you want to SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE 2F

Customers in dark about appraisal-fee profits WASHINGTON — When you pay $450 to $550 at settlement for an appraisal on a home purchase or refinancing, do you assume that all or most of the money is going to the appraiser who comes to the house and performs the valuation?

That’s logical, but probably not correct. Despite new Federal Reserve regulations that took effect April 1 requiring lenders to pay appraisers fair fees, growing numbers of them say they are still being offered $200 to $250 — even as low as $134 — for work that gets billed out to consumers on settlement sheets at $450 and higher.

Last year’s Dodd-Frank financial reform law mandated that appraisers receive fees that are “customary and reasonable” for their local market areas, yet the largest national appraisal organization — the 25,000-member Appraisal Institute — says that is not happening.

Leslie Sellers, immediate past president of the group, said in an interview that “the average fees across the country today are about $225 to $250, nowhere near reasonable or customary.”

SMART MOVES

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

Who’s getting the differential between what consumers are billed and what appraisers are paid?

Sellers says management companies that connect lenders with local appraisers take a percentage for their services. But often lenders “turn (appraisals) into a profit center of their own off the backs of appraisers and consumers themselves.”

Should you care? Absolutely, for several reasons: I Accurate appraisals are in your interest as a consumer. They can be deal-breakers on a purchase if they’re lowballed.

But performed competently, they are accurate measures of your equity when you refinance or seek a second mortgage.

I Most experienced independent appraisers refuse to work for $200 to $250 because they can’t pay their overhead at these rates. Less-experienced

appraisers who sometimes have to travel long distances from their home markets tend to work for less.

I It’s a matter of principle: You resist overpaying for products elsewhere, so why not for appraisals?

Besides, federal law prohibits home real estate settlement-related charges where no actual services are rendered. What additional services are being supplied when an appraiser is paid half of what you’re being charged by the lender at closing?

Hidden charges Tom Kirchmeyer, president of Kirchmeyer & Associates, an independent appraisal management company based in Buffalo, N.Y., with 8,000 affiliated appraisers, said consumers often have no idea what they’re paying for because “there’s no transparency” in the process. Kirchmeyer favors mandatory disclosure of how much the actual appraiser is receiving and how much the appraisal management company that arranged the assignment is receiving.

So does Richard Hagar of American Home Appraisals in Seattle, who says that major lenders

who own or are affiliated with appraisal management companies oppose it, because they “know that if (the financial facts) are disclosed, consumers are going to riot.”

In a hypothetical example, say the appraiser receives $250 and the management company receives $100, how can the lender, which is charging $500 for “appraisal services” on the HUD-1 standard settlement sheet, justify the $150 difference?

It can’t, according to Gary Crabtree, head of Affiliated Appraisers in Bakersfield, Calif. Worse yet, he says, employing “subprime” appraisers for low fees also often leads to lowballed valuations that are harmful to homeowners and buyers.

As a recent example, Crabtree said an unhappy homeowner showed him a valuation performed by a low-cost appraiser hired by the appraisal management affiliate of a large national bank. The house was 4,000 square feet, sited next to a country club, and the owner had just spent $250,000 in renovations on the property.

Crabtree, who refuses to do appraisals for the low

fees paid by the bank’s affiliate, said the house should have been valued around $600,000. But the appraiser hired for the assignment valued it at just $320,000, using distressed sales and properties located outside the area as comparables.

Giant loophole How is this happening when Congress clearly mandated higher “customary and reasonable” fees? Appraisers say much of the blame goes to the Federal Reserve, whose regulations that took effect April 1, created a giant loophole for lenders and management companies that wanted to keep playing lowball games with fees. The Fed rule allows them to consider their own low payments in their calculation of what is “customary and reasonable” — a concept never part of the Dodd-Frank legislation.

The Appraisal Institute’s Sellers said his group and others hope to get the Fed to tighten up its regulation. But in the meantime, consumers should demand transparency.

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

WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

GARDENING CAN BE A SNAP Time is precious.

That’s why Jayme Jenkins and Billie Brownell wrote “Garden Rules: The Snappy Synopsis for the Modern Gardener.” The authors announce at the start that their book is not for everyone.

It’s geared mainly to beginners and casual gardeners, people who have enough trouble fitting weeding and watering into their overstuffed schedules without having to find time to pore over gardening manuals.

The little book offers snippets of advice, delivered with humor. The authors cover the basics, such as which tools to buy, when to water and how to improve your soil.

“Garden Rules” is published by Cool Springs Press and sells for $9.95 in paperback.

CHILDREN CAN GROW GARDEN Little sprouts can be introduced to gardening through the new Miracle-Gro Kids gardening kits from Peachtree Playthings. The kits contain the supplies children need to grow plants from seed in a nontoxic growing medium that changes color when it’s time to water. Kits are available for growing flowers or vegetables in various containers, including planters, miniature greenhouses and a terrarium. A companion website, www.miraclegrokids gardening.com, has activities, recipes and other information for young gardeners. The kits are sold at Walmart.

Prices range from about $1 to $13.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Stone Handy Permits

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SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: Two weeks before the East Area Festival of Homes, work continued on this home at 12604 Forest Oaks by Stan Malaske.

PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Festival: Sense of accomplishment ROM PAGE 1F

do,” Mark Methvin recalled his father saying, “I want you to go out and get a job with somebody else just to find out what it’s like working with someone else, getting that discipline.”

The job involved a lot of work with a paltry payoff, Mark said, so he decided to move his family back to Oklahoma and join his father in the field.

“When I came back and started building with him, it was that sense of accomplishment that you get that I didn’t get in my former job,” he said. He eventually took over the business, rebranding it to reflect the changing of the guard.

It’s hard work and long hours, they all agree. But there’s a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. “And that kind of gets into your blood,” Randall Gentry said.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” echoed Don Gentry.

They all said they know builders well into their 70s who are still building one or two homes a year. Their fathers in many cases are still keeping a hand in the business as well.

“That was one thing my dad was just saying the other day,” Methvin said.

“He hadn’t worked a day in his life. At least over the last 30 years (as a builder), he hasn’t worked a day. He loves it.”

Todd Isaac built this home at 13170 White Bud Place in Timber Ridge Point addition, northeast of SE 29 and Hiwassee Road in Midwest City.

PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Gary Gooch built this home at 13600 SE 94 in Foxmor Estates addition for the East Area Festival of Homes.

PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Jim Campbell built this home at 2701 Forest Glen Circle in the Forest Glen addition, north of SE 29 and west of Hiwassee Road in Midwest City.

PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

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Owners turn to remodeling projects

BY SANDRA M. JONES Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — After several years of perusing real estate listings and spending Sunday afternoons at open houses, Denise Majeski decided to stay put and fix up her 25-year-old Gurnee, Ill., home.

As the housing market languished even as the economy improved, Majeski determined the financially prudent course would be to fix up the house a little at a time, starting with replacing the windows and renovating the bathrooms.

“Initially we were thinking about moving,” Majeski, 55, said. “But that would require a mortgage and additional amounts of money. We can do a home improvement at a pace that we can afford.”

It is a choice more homeowners are making these days and one that is lifting the fortunes of the long-suffering home improvement industry.

Seasonal hiring at Lowe’s Cos., the nation’s No. 2 home improvement retailer, is up 15 percent this spring as homeowners, feeling more secure in their jobs, tackle maintenance projects delayed during the recession. Midwest re-

Lauren Hill, left, and her boyfriend, John Fogarty, make their way to the checkout counter at a Home Depot in Chicago.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

gional chain Menard Inc. is expanding again. It plans to build 12 stores this year, up from four in 2010.

And Home Depot Inc., the largest home improvement retailer, reported in February its first annual sales increase since 2006,

before the housing market crashed. The home improvement business is stabilizing despite the continued weakness of the housing market, Home Depot Chief Executive Frank Blake said at the time.

“People are doing what

Homeowners drained by inspection concerns DEAR BARRY: We just moved into the completion of the sale? Given these our home and are finding many undisuncertainties, this problem should be closed defects. Just to give a few examviewed with thanksgiving for its relaples, our kitchen sink is tively minor nature. clogged. When our home If the light fixtures in inspector checked it, he your basement are not ran the water for about operative, this should Barry two seconds, but it takes have been discovered about 15 seconds for the during a home inspection.

Stone water to back up. He also Make sure that the bulbs didn’t disclose the baseare OK and that there are ment lights that don’t no tripped breakers or INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE blown fuses. If the lights work or the hot and cold water connections that still do not work, ask your are backwards at the master shower. home inspector to take another look and Shouldn’t our home inspector and the to discuss whether this was overlooked sellers have disclosed these problems? during the inspection.

Scott With regard to the reversed hot and DEAR SCOTT: Many of the questions cold at the shower faucet, plumbing I receive involve defects that were not standards specify hot water on the left disclosed to homebuyers. These probside and cold on the right. Most home lems range from plumbing to roofing, inspectors routinely check for this, but electrical to drainage, foundations to some probably do not. Those who overfireplaces, from everything possible to look this aspect of faucet plumbing are anything imaginable. But the essential not performing thorough inspections. issue is always the same: “I relied upon Fortunately, this condition can be simply the expertise of a home inspector and and inexpensively repaired in most (but the honesty of a seller, but now I find not all) cases. Again, ask your home undisclosed problems and don’t know inspector to take a look. what to do.” In your case, fortunately, All of these defects should have been the faulty surprises are relatively minor listed in the sellers’ disclosure statein nature. So let’s begin with the slow ment. Unfortunately, seller disclosures sink drain. are typically incomplete, but this is usuHome inspectors operate and inspect ally not deliberate. People grow accusplumbing fixtures at sinks, tubs, showtomed to the imperfections in their own ers and so on. They check for damage, homes and cease to think of them as deterioration, faulty installation, subproblems. When asked to list all known standard materials and functional dedefects, a slow drain or a reversed showfects. This includes observing whether er faucet simply doesn’t come to mind. drains are reasonably operative or conThis, however, does not absolve sellers gested. Two seconds is obviously not from the legal responsibility to divulge enough time to determine that a drain is such conditions to buyers. Therefore, flowing freely. On the other hand, the the sellers, as well as the home inspecinspector might argue that he ran the tor, should be notified when you discovfaucet for more than two seconds; but er significant defects after buying a then, who was using a stopwatch at the home. time? And who can say whether the To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the web at drain congestion existed on the day of www.housedetective.com. the inspection or developed in the weeks ACTION COAST PUBLISHING or months between the inspection and

Jack Nicholson lists 70-acre property in Malibu for sale

BY LAUREN BEALE

in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), “Terms of Endearment” (1983) and “As Good as It Gets” (1997).

During Nicholson’s lengthy career the A Malibu property owned by actor Jack Nicholson is on the market at $4.25 mil- actor also has played lawyer George Hanson in “Easy Rider” (1969) lion, according to the Multiple and maniacal villain Jack Listing Service.

Torrance in “The Shining” The 70-acre site includes a (1980). ranch-style main house, a A representative for Nicaretaker home, a tennis cholson did not respond to court, a cabana, a putting green, a swimming pool and a requests for comment about grotto-style spa. the sale of the property.

The single-story main Public records show that home, built in 1966, has Nicholson bought the Malibu mountain and ocean views retreat in 1977 and owns muland is zoned for equestrian tiple properties in Los Anuse. geles and Ventura counties.

Jack Nicholson The home’s 2,313 square feet The actor’s real estate of living space include three bedrooms, holdings also include an estate in Beverly two bathrooms and maid’s quarters.

Hills.

Nicholson, 73, won Oscars for his roles MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES Los Angeles Times

it takes to be happy where they are,” said Jack Horst, retail strategist at Kurt Salmon, a consulting firm.

“They are more likely doing maintenance and replacement than big fundamental changes.”

A few buckets of paint,

brighter lighting and some new door handles are enough to make Rebecca and Bill Klies happy in their new home. The couple, in their 30s, bought their first condo last October in a short sale — in which a lender allows a homeown-

er to sell a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage.

Now, the Klieses spend weekends at Home Depot and Lowe’s getting ideas on how to fix up their West Loop loft without spending a fortune. They’ve swapped out light fixtures, recaulked the shower, put up new towel racks, installed a ceiling fan in the bedroom, bought new light switch plates, painted several rooms and touched up the molding.

“These are simple little fixes that make a big difference overall,” said Rebecca Klies.

At the same time, home improvement stores are getting an extra sales boost as homeowners dig out from a winter of record snowfalls and lengthy cold spells. The severe weather has left shingles, gutters and downspouts in need of repair and lawns littered with broken shrubs and damaged trees.

“These are the have-todo projects,” said Jim Kane, president of Home Depot’s northern division. “We’ve just come through a tough winter, and the winter has just taken its toll on all those things.”

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

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REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

‘Toenailing’ boards has some advantages One of the basics of framing is being able to join two boards together. For the most part, that’s done by nailing through one into the other. But there are a lot of situations where that simple process won’t work, so you’ll need to resort to “toenailing” instead.

Toenailing is the technique of attaching one board to the surface of another by driving the nails through at an angle. It sounds pretty simple, but for some reason it’s a tough thing for a lot of people to master. Since it’s a useful and often necessary process, it might be helpful to learn a few tips that will help you get it right.

I Select the right nail: If you’re nailing through one 2-by-4 into another, the nail of choice is typically the 16d (3½ inches long).

But for toenailing, a nail that long can be a little more difficult to start and drive, so a shorter nail is often helpful. Instead, consider selecting an 8d (2½ inches) or 10d (3 inches).

I Select the right angle: One of the tricks to toenailing is to get the angle right, and that angle depends on what you’re trying to do.

For example, suppose you’re installing a new wall stud, so you have a 2-by-4 sitting vertically on top of another that’s lying horizontally. If you drive the nail in at a sharp angle in relation to the vertical board, it will go in relatively vertically. This will lessen the movement of one board against the other, making it easier to drive the nail.

If you place the nail at a flatter angle, as you drive the nail in it will tend to move the vertical board in the direction you’re hammering. While that makes the nail harder to drive, this technique can be useful if you need to drive the board over to get it into position.

I Start off your mark: When you drive a nail at an angle, moving the board to the side is almost unavoidable. So instead of fighting that motion, plan for it. Set your board to one side of its intended final location, and drive it over into position as you drive in the nail. The flatter the angle of the nail, as described above, the farther over you’ll want to initially set the board.

I Get a tight fit on your materials: When installing a board by toenailing, the tighter it fits, the less movement you’ll have to contend with, so cut your board to fit as snugly in place as possible.

A good example is installing a piece of blocking horizontally between two vertical studs. Cut the block so that it’s a tight friction fit between the studs (but not so tight that it bows the studs), and you’ll find that it’s much easier to drive the toenails without the block moving.

I Prevent the board from moving: Another way to drive the toenail without moving the board is to physically lock the board into place. You can do this by nailing or clamping a block behind it.

Suppose you’re installing a new stud on top of an existing plate. Put the stud in position, then nail a block to the top of the plate behind the stud. Now, as you drive in the toenail from the side opposite the block, the stud can’t go anywhere.

Sometimes just driving a nail into the plate — behind the stud and sticking up a half an inch or so — will be enough to help keep the stud from moving while you do your toenailing.

I Predrill the material: If you’re having difficulty getting your toenails to drive in at the proper angle, consider predrilling first.

Let’s go back to the stud on the plate. If you predrill the stud at the proper angle, using a drill bit that’s a little smaller than the nail’s diameter, it will act as a guide for the nail as it goes in. It also relieves the pressure of driving the nail through the stud, so there’ll be less

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME movement of the stud as you nail. Be sure that you don’t drill all the way into the plate; if you do that, the nail won’t have anything to grip to.

I Use a pneumatic nailer: In general, unless you’re trying to move a board over into a different position, an air-powered nailer is preferable to hand nailing. Because the nailer drives the nail so quickly, you can do it

without moving the board.

It’s also easier to control the angle of the nail.

I Switch to a screw: You can predrill one of the boards at an angle as described above. Then use a 2½- or 3-inch screw, driven down through one board into the board below.

The screw will be a little harder to drive than the nail, but it holds better.

More importantly, the act of driving the screw won’t push the board over the way hammering will.

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

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

REAL ESTATE

PLAN OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

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LISTING OF THE WEEK

Pond, deck highlight Newcastle property The Listing of the Week is a traditional house on 2 acres in Newcastle’s Woodland Hills addition.

The 2,485-square-foot house at 2927 SW Sixth has four bedrooms, three baths, one living room, one dining area and an attached three-car garage.

The living room has a fireplace, ceiling fan and built-in bookcase.

The kitchen has a breakfast bar, pantry and ceiling fan. The master bedroom has a ceiling fan, bath with tub and shower and a walk-in closet. One secondary bedroom has a ceiling fan and full bath in an in-law suite. The other bedrooms have ceiling fans and walk-in closets.

French doors open to a deck, private pond and

The Listing of the Week is at 2927 SW Sixth in Newcastle.

PHOTO PROVIDED

storm shelter. The house is equipped with a security system.

Built in 2002, it is listed for $234,900 with Christy Callahan with RE/MAX Twin Rivers Real Estate.

For more information, call 229-4460.

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.

Realtor loses bet on market, dons a dress

BY LOU PONSI The Orange County Register

Young couples may find Topaz to be an ideal home The Topaz is a compact, economical no-frills plan, with just under 1,100 square feet of living space.

It makes an ideal starter home for a young family but might also suit the needs of singles or couples who don’t want to spend their spare time taking care of a big house.

Tile roofing, varied rooflines and stucco detailing combine to create an interesting yet uncluttered exterior. A single square column supports one corner of the front porch, adding a touch of classic elegance.

The floor plan is laid out in a perfect rectangle, an-

other affordability factor.

Family living spaces dominate the right side, and sleeping quarters are clustered together on the left.

In the living room, light washes in through two large multipane windows that face the street, and a third window on the side.

This space, which flows into the dining area, has a bright, open feeling. The dining room, too, is filled with light. Sliding doors at the rear open on a large screened porch, and there’s a side window as well.

Standing at the kitchen sink, you gaze out through the screened porch and in-

to the backyard. The galley kitchen is efficient, with sink, stove and refrigerator arranged in a tight working triangle. Washer and dryer are tucked in an alcove, hidden behind pocket doors.

Bedrooms in the Topaz are modestly sized and share a dual-compartment bathroom. This arrangement allows two people to use the facilities at once and still have privacy.

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 Topaz 11-087 and include a return address when ordering. For more information call (800) 634-0123.

BREA, Calif. — Sales manager Tom Pelton issued a challenge to the 75 agents he oversees in a north Orange County Prudential California Realty office: Sell 100 homes in March, and Pelton would wear a dress to the office.

They sold 102.

With Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks like a Lady” blaring over a loudspeaker, the 6foot-5, 260-pound Pelton made good on his promise, sashaying into the office in a flowery sundress, earrings, lady’s hat and makeup, toting a purse. Dozens of Pelton’s colleagues cheered and captured the moment with cell phone cameras.

“I made a bet. … I lost,” Pelton said.

“One hundred sales in the middle of a tough economy is incredible. I thought it was impossible … my bad.”

Pelton’s wife, Paula, also an agent, put her husband together for the day. To add some curves, she stuffed the dress with balloons that last week were tied to an “Open House” sign.

“It was fun,” she said. “He was a very good sport.”

The 102 sales, which include properties in escrow in and out of Orange County, set a record for the office, Pelton said. The sales will close escrow over the next three months.

Pelton’s office was averaging 54 sales per month for the past few months.

The homes sold out of the Brea office

Agents and brokers at Prudential California Realty in Brea, Calif., laugh and snap pictures of Tom Pelton, the office’s sales manager, as he arrives wearing a dress. He challenged his office to sell 100 homes in March and if they did he’d wear a dress to the office.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

typically range from $200,000 to $700,000 and are in the cities of Brea, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Fullerton and Placentia.

Pelton attributed the spike in sales to the enthusiasm of the agents along with employing a strategy to attract more firsttime buyers and investors.

“I don’t know how much the dress had to do with it,” he said. “We like to have a lot of fun around here.”

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

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SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

THE OKLAHOMAN

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

More younger adults choosing to downsize For generations, retirees have unen his focus on higher priorities — inloaded excessive belongings, left big cluding his family, friends and writing. houses and moved to smaller, more caHappy with the results of his challenge, refree quarters. But in recent years, an he convinced his wife and three children increasing number of that downsizing the famyounger adults are choosily’s housing would yield ing to downsize as well. quality-of-life improveEllen Dave Bruno and his ments.

James family are a case in point.

“We’ll live below our Martin Though still in their 30s, means and start saving for he and his wife recently our kids’ college funds. In put their 2,100-squarefact, we expect to save 18 foot suburban house up percent on our mortgage SMART MOVES for sale. To simplify their payments,” he said. lives and prune their budBruno allows that get, they intend to move to a 1,300downsizing involves trade-offs. By resquare-foot town house in the same maining in the same neighborhood, his community. children can stay in the same schools.

“A lot of us have traded true wealth Everyone in the next house, however, for the illusion of affluence,” said Bruno, will have less personal space. Two of the a college administrator and author of three kids will need to share a bedroom.

“The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Also, the family’s collective space, inRid of Almost Everything, Remade My cluding their kitchen, will be much Life and Regained My Soul.” Bruno pared smaller. his personal possessions from 300 to But by living with less square footage, just 100 and has kept to that level for the family will have less cleaning, vacumore than a year. uming and yard work. That translates to With less energy spent managing more time for higher priorities, such as clutter, Bruno said he was able to sharp- travel and outdoor activities.

Duane Elgin, who’s authored several books on the voluntary simplicity movement (as well as living green), estimates that more than 20 percent of U.S. adults are now challenging the commonly held view that a bigger house is always better.

One obvious explanation is that the economic downturn has forced many adults, including those in their 30s and 40s, to tighten their budgets.

Here are a few pointers for those of any age who want, or need, to reduce the size and scope of their material lives: I Realize that the downsized lifestyle can take many forms. Though Elgin contends that a simpler lifestyle appeals to an increasing number of Americans, he said people have different dreams for downsizing. Your vision could be to stay in the same suburban community, though with a smaller and less financially demanding home. Alternatively, you could choose to reinvent your life in an urban loft.

I Consider removing your TV to help change your focus. Most downsizers have to empty their current home of superfluous belongings before they can put it on the market and move to a

smaller place. This typically involves an arduous process of sifting through belongings to decide what stays and what goes. Bruno says that while downsizing, it can be very helpful to reduce the number of commercials that come into your home to redirect your attention away from consumerism.

I Look for “quick victories” as you transition to a smaller home. Even before you put your current property up for sale and begin searching for the right smaller place to buy, Bruno suggests you begin a methodical process of plowing through your accumulations to contain your material life.

I Allow yourself ample time for your transition. Bruno cautions homeowners that the process of downsizing, from the day you make the decision to move to the day you close on the purchase of a smaller property, can be time consuming.

“It took years to accumulate all that stuff, so you’re not going clear through all of it overnight,” he said.

Email Ellen James Martin at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.

UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Leasing is in fashion among wealthy house hunters

BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Real estate agents here have been hustling lately but not necessarily to sell homes. Instead, leasing is in vogue, particularly at the top of the price spectrum.

If phone inquiries are an indication, interest in leasing luxury homes is intense, said Justin Mandile, an agent in the Sotheby’s International Realty office in Beverly Hills, Calif.

He and partner Mary Swanson received 10 to 15 calls a day for two months on a five-bedroom house priced at $3.5 million for sale or $10,000 a month to rent. After initially holding out for a sale, the owner recently accepted a short-

term lease.

“Surprisingly, there are that many people looking for a $10,000 lease,” Mandile said.

No single clearinghouse tracks such data, and many top-dollar leases are handled privately, away from the prying eyes of the public. Still, niche data and anecdotal evidence point to an upswing in upscale rentals.

Lease offerings priced at more than $10,000 a month were up 15 percent through the first part of April over the same period last year on the Combined L.A./ Westside Multiple Listing Service, while those in the $7,500to-$10,000 price range saw a 7 percent increase. OCHouseRentals.com, which specializes in luxury leases, reports that busi-

ness has been brisk in tony Orange County, Calif., as well.

“We’re seeing increased leasing across the board — both luxury and nonluxury properties,” said Cary Hoffman, manager of Rodeo Realty’s Encino, Calif., office, which has more than 70 agents.

Underlying the activity in leasing is consumer uncertainty about the direction of housing, said Paul Habibi, a UCLA lecturer on real estate, investment and development.

“People want to wait to buy when they are sure there is a floor underneath the housing market,” he said. “When government intervention pulls back, then we will see where the housing market really is.”

Beyond the usual remodelers and divorcees, those seeking leases include people who can no longer

qualify for mortgages.

“The high end got hit last with the wave of foreclosures,” and short sales, said Hoffman, who has been an agent for 29 years. “People coming out of those homes have to have a place to go.”

They may want to stay in the same school districts or close to familiar shops and businesses. For others, it’s keeping up appearances.

“Some people who are losing $3 million homes are very happy, happy to lease for $10,000 a month because they want to still look like they are making it,” said broker Anita Rich, who oversees Rich Group Keller Williams in Encino. “It’s really important they still have an address that goes along with the lifestyle.”

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

Some people who are losing $3 million homes are very happy, happy to lease for $10,000 a month because they want to still look like they are making it.”

ANITA RICH,

WITH RICH GROUP KELLER WILLIAMS IN ENCINO, CALIF.

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

7F

Calculate the real cost of home ownership

BY AL HEAVENS The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — Homes are more affordable these days, the selection is abundant, and interest rates are still fairly low. For some people, it could well be a great time to buy.

But as too many struggling borrowers now realize, the cost of owning a home is hardly limited to paying the mortgage. There are a host of other checkbook-sapping details — both recognizable and unexpected — that can get overlooked in the excitement of buying a house, especially if it’s your first.

Ultimately, those things might mean the difference between home sweet home and foreclosure.

“It is extremely important to explain to all buyers, but especially first-time buyers, that there are additional expenses other than their monthly mortgage payment,” said Philadelphia-area real estate agent John Duffy.

Just because a lender has qualified you for a certain size mortgage doesn’t mean you have to spend that much on a house, Duffy said his agents caution buyers.

“There will be additional, unforeseen costs, such as repairs, decorating, improvements, utilities and the like,” Duffy said.

“We like to tell them that we want them to enjoy their new home and not be housepoor.”

Through the loan-qualifying process, some buyers, especially first-timers, be-

come aware of the concept of spending only a certain percentage of their income on what is called PITI — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance — “maybe 33 percent of income,” said Jerome Scarpello of Leo Mortgage in Ambler, Pa. The reason that percentage isn’t higher is that other expenses will be incurred with home ownership, he said.

“Of course, there are some folks who really need to be taught this,” Scarpello said, recounting a story he heard of borrowers who brought their electric bill to the bank when paying their mortgage.

“They were surprised to learn,” he said, “the mortgage did not include electric, as their rental payment had.”

The “T” in PITI — taxes — can be extraordinarily expensive, depending on where you live. If you buy into a condo complex or a new-home development, you will have to factor in monthly homeowners association fees, as well.

PITI and association fees are fixed costs, for the most part, although homeowners insurance rates and taxes can rise. Mortgage interest can change, too, if you don’t have a fixed-rate loan.

“I generally estimate high,” said Jeff Block of Prudential Fox & Roach in Philadelphia, “because I feel it is really important for buyers to have a conservative estimate and a detailed understanding of what their costs will be.”

Bruce Hahn, president of the American Homeowners Association in Arlington, Va., said home listings typically include historic costs for utilities, condo fees, and taxes, “so it should not be hard for buyers to anticipate how much extra cash flow they’ll need to cover them.”

If that information isn’t provided, Hahn said, buyers should use all other possible means to determine or estimate them in advance.

He urged buyers to set aside a “rainyday fund” for unanticipated major expenses, such as a broken heat pump or air conditioner or a roof leak. “Homeowners’ insurance plans often have lots of gaps, so there are many things they don’t cover,” he said.

“We believe that $10,000 in liquid savings (a money-market account or the like) that can be turned into cash anytime with very little risk of capital loss is not too much,” Hahn said, adding that $5,000 was the recommended minimum.

Hahn’s group doesn’t advise using credit cards to meet emergency expenses, because their interest rates are high compared to what savings accounts pay today.

“It is better,” he said, “to liquidate a savings account that is only paying 1percent to pay for emergency costs than put them on a credit card and pay 15 percent.”

HOME BUYING

House costs more than the mortgage Among expenses to factor into a home-buying decision: I Utilities: Heat, electricity, water and sewer, telephone, cable television, Internet and cellphones. You also may have to pay a fee for trash collection and recycling.

I Food/entertainment: Dining in and out, movies, hobbies.

I Children: Day care, tuition, lunch money, supplies, clothing, sports gear.

I Health costs: Braces, eyeglasses, medicine.

I Debt: Credit-card payments, car/student loans.

I Maintenance/repairs/ decor: Furnishings and appliances, landscaping, snow removal.

I Job expenses: Transportation (gasoline or transit costs), auto maintenance.

SOURCE: FREDDIE MAC

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

KB Home reports widening of first-quarter loss THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KB Home townhouses are shown for sale in Redwood City, Calif. KB Home’s fiscal first-quarter loss widened as the Los Angeles-based homebuilder delivered fewer homes and net orders declined.

AP PHOTO

Del City

313

OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54K ¡ 596-4599 410-8840 ¡

Edmond

314

OPEN HOUSE 4/17 2-5 2501 Steeplechase Rd., Edmond 4bed, 3ba, 2846 SF, $299,500 OPEN 4/17 call owner, 474-6450

OKC Northwest

FORECLOSURES 171, 1-4 bdrm homes in NW OKC start @ $18,074 Patrick @Allied 740-6616

BANK OWNED Move in ready 3bd 1ba ch/a 1332sf $71K Arlene CB 414-8753

FORECLOSURES OKC Southeast 72, 1-4 bdrm homes in Edmond start @ $48,000 Patrick @Allied 740-6616

Acreage For Sale

302

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 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Move Your Mobile Hm FREE. Properties located in NW/SW/SE(Moore)/ MWC/Choctaw Call for Details No App Fee 405.326.5728 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 5-20 acres in country, owner finance or trade, 360-6586 or 590-4367.

Nice 3A+ older M.H. McLoud 417-2176

Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308 548 ACRES FOR SALE Pasture, Cropland, Timber, Hunting in Comanche County, OK. Can be divided.

918-786-3433

RE for sale Del City

313

Immaculate! 4816 Eric Dr. (near Tinker), 3/2/2, FP, new roof $135,900 405-202-9270, for appt.

MWC

317

Rent to Own 1501 Marydale 3bd 1.5ba Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com OWNER FINANCING $1000 down No Credit Ck 321 E Fairchild 2/1 $49K ¡ 596-4599 410-8840 ¡

Moore

318

Greenbriar Eastlake Est., Westmoore schls, extra nice 3bd 2bath 2car garage, ch/a, cul-de-sac lot, $129,900. May lease for $1095mo w/option to purchase at end of lease.

Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 Bank Owned 3/2.2/2 1765sf good condition, ch/a, brick, $89.9K ArleneCB 414-8753

Mustang

319

5bd, 4ba, master w/ sitting area, 2006, 3492sf, $292,000. Open house, Sun 2-4 or 405-537-9407 9313 SW 25th St, OKC (Mustang Schl District)

OKC Northeast

323

Rent to Own 212 NE 15th 3bd 1 ba Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com 816 NE 36th Street 3bd, 1ba, garage partially converted, ch&a. Call 424-2900 ask for Howard

OKC Northwest

Real Estate Auction 702 N. Chisholm Rd., OKC, 73127 Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m.

(Reno & Rockwell, N. to Melrose, E. to Chisholm Rd., N. to Auction) 3 bd, 1.5 ba, 1,966 sq. ft., 2 car gar, Nice Loft Area, Fire Place & Bar in Kitchen, Excellent Character!

Info & NEW Pics at WilliamCook.com Cook Auction Company 405-412-2013

325

Spacious 2bd home 1.5ba 2 car garage, ch/a, Only $46,900 Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 Owner carry 4201 SE 45 3/1 Mid-Del Sch 417-2176

OKC Southwest

326

OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 1124 SW 36, 2/2 $51,000 102 SW 49, 4/2 $56,000 ¡ 596-4599 410-8840 ¡

Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Attn. Landowners! Own land/family land ZERO down on Dream Home.

Financing avail. for most everyone. $1000 furniture package w/purchase.

Free phone application 405-631-7600 405-602-4526 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 ’ $281mo. ’ Refurbed doublewide ready NOW! 3 bd/Island/ Decks/Shop/Fence 405-470-1330 Mustang Schools Huge Discounts Singles & Dbls.

Financing Available 405-470-1330 Moving Sale Huge Mark-Down Trade-ins ok Rates as low as 6.25% 405-787-5004 thcok.com

Just Reduced $6000! Nice 4bd 2 living, ch/a, nice area, excellent condition, only $79,900 Fidelity RE 692-1661, 410-4200

$0 Down Payment!!

A Land Deed is What You Need! Free Phone Application. Call Today 405-631-3200 WAC

1405 SW 37th ¡ 605-5400 Newly updated 3 bdrm $0 down 1st time buyer

McLoud area. Abandoned D/W on 5 acres. Ready to move in. Brick foundation with all utilities.

405-631-7600 405-635-4338

HUD Owned 4/2.5/2, .35ac 2300sf, ing pool, Moore sch $175K Arlene CB 414-8753 5824 S Shartel Avenue, 2 bed 1 bath, 1 car, $47,500, 550-2145.

Yukon

330

For Sale By Owner Corner lot, great schools, new roof, upgrades, 3bed, 2 Car $139,200 615-8669

Suburban, NW

(El Reno, Guthrie, Cashion, Deer Creek,

Etc.)

324

324

332

Rent to Own El Reno - 615 N. Evans 2bd 1 ba - Call for maps Easy Approval 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com

Open Houses 334.2 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

3/2 Bath set up in quiet park. Ready to move in.

Free phone app.

405-631-7600 **NEW** 1216 sq ft $25,995 - 1 only Maxeys Homes 631-3600 Repo 28x84 Solitaire 301-2454, 517-5000 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777 Repo 28x56 Solitaire 918-617-7742

Real Estate Notices

345

I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100

Real Estate Wanted

6000sf Warehouse Ofcs 13825 N. Harvey Ave The Best In OKC, 73114

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

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 8.7 acres & 19,000sf school building, 3105 Sunset Blvd, $450k.

Call Sam @ 405-209-1609

Business Property For Rent 360 Small Business/Storage 1250sqft, 28Wx50L, 14x14 O/H door, $500 month. 89th St. & I-35 S. OKC, 631-4447 New I-35 frontage bldg for rent: ofc/shop/whse, 1900sf $800mo 412-7665

Real Estate Auctions

5000sf, offc/WH w/ fnced yd, $1500/mo 2115 SW 42nd St 659-0378 6000sf Warehouse Ofcs 13825 N. Harvey Ave Oklahoma City,OK 73114

Office Space For Rent

363

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

Walford Apts-Midtown518 NW 12th basement studio $425mo $325/dp Large 1bed 1 bath 1100sf washer & dryer conn $875mo $700dp 409-7989

Mo. to Mo. lease No app fee Nice & Peaceful 1 Bed 2404 Reeves, upstairs No Sec 8 $450, 370-0278

Established Business For Sale

Investment Property For Sale 355

431

$189 FIRST MONTH 18 Floor Plans 416-5259 Wilshire Village Soon to be TUSCANY VILLAGE

Commercial RE

BRICKTOWN RESTAURANT operating 3000sf w/liq. lic. Reno frontage. ALSO location in Yukon 840-0600

OKC Northwest

Florence Apts-Midtown1bd 1ba Studio 600sf, Granite Counter tops, wood floors, CH/A, All Elect, Free laundry $675 $400 dep.

409-7989

346

Industrial Property For Rent 361

Real Estate Auction 702 N. Chisholm Rd., OKC, 73127 Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m.

(Reno & Rockwell, N. to Melrose, E. to Chisholm Rd., N. to Auction) 3 bd, 1.5 ba, 1,966 sq. ft., 2 car gar, Nice Loft Area, Fire Place & Bar in Kitchen, Excellent Character!

Info & New Pics at WilliamCook.com Cook Auction Company 405-412-2013

Warehouse Space For Rent 363.5

Will trade for house '09 33' T.T. Hitch pull 650-7667

2bd 1ba $14,900. Delivered to you 301-2454, 517-5000

342

LOS ANGELES — KB Home said its fiscal firstquarter loss widened, as the homebuilder delivered fewer homes and net orders declined.

But the Los Angeles company said it is encouraged by higher traffic at the beginning of spring selling season.

The company had a loss of $114.5 million, or $1.49 a share, for the three months ended Feb. 28.

That compares with a loss of $54.7 million, or 71 cents a share, a year ago.

The quarter included a $45.1 million charge.

Revenue dropped 25 percent to $196.9 million from $264 million, missing Wall Street’s $225 million estimate.

Net orders fell 32 percent to 1,302 from 1,913, while homes delivered dropped 28 percent to

949.

KB Home builds homes to order for entry level, move-up buyers and seniors in 12 states.

Homebuilders are hoping for a sales lift this spring after a dismal 2010, the fifth consecutive year that new home sales declined.

Sales sank last year to the lowest level on records going back 47 years.

New home sales tumbled in January and February. Winter weather received some of the blame, but other signs also point to a soft start to this

Apartments Edmond

422

MOVE IN NOW! Pd. water/garbage Quiet.

Try Plaza East•341-4813

MWC

424

1 & 2 BEDROOMS, QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122 $200 OFF RENT 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172.

OKC Northwest

431

$200 off

2528 NW 12th 1bd 1bath 900sf $475mo $300dp no sec 8, garage extra 409-7989 ALL BILLS PAID Pool & Park 293-3693 $189 First Month Drexel on the Park 1419K NW 17th 2bd 1ba wood floors, 1200sf, $600 mo, $300 dep, 409-7989 no sec 8 Plaza Apts 1740 NW 17 1bed 1ba wood floors or tile $475-$500 $250dp 409-7989 no sec8 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818 No dep, No app fee. Nice clean 2bd 2ba. 23rd & Mac Ready now 943-0907

Yukon

438

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

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 NW OKC, 2 bd, 2.5 ba, all appl's, most bills pd, no sec 8, no pets. 720-1419 Spacious 1 bed Condo, Quail Springs $550mo, No Pets Call 748-6292 Hemingway Condo, 1bd, 1ba, appls, FP, newly remod. No pets 348-3500

Duplexes OKC Northwest

453

914 N Gardner, 3bd, 1.75 baths, Fireplace, w/d hookups, Water & garbage paid $550/mo 408-5836 912 N Gardner, 3bd, 1.75 baths, Fireplace, w/d hookups, Water & garbage paid $550/mo 408-5836 Duplex For Rent 12224 N. Dewey Ave. 3bd. 1.5Bath No Sec. 8 478-4825 After 6PM 2607 N Dewey. New carpet, paint, 1bd $410.232-9101

MAYFAIR 50th/May 1/2bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhd No sec 8 947-5665

1829-1831 W Park Pl $400 ea side 732-3411

Yukon

3037 North Rockwell

» MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423

495-2000 $100 off

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

Williamsburg 7301 NW 23rd

787-1620

$24 Moves You In

1 Month Free!

Lg 2bd $550 Casady751-8088 800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506 •ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212» 1bd 1ba $295-325 Stove, fridge garage405-818-4089

OKC Southwest

433

Isola Bella Apartments.

1 & 2 bdrms. As low as $550. Limited availability. 405-721-2191

$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $325 mo. 632-9849

$200 OFF

Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces PC Schools-Townhouses

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

8100 N. MacArthur Blvd. »»» 721-5455 »»»

$99 Move In Special!!!

Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $325 to $395 mo. 632-9849

PARKLANE

460

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

Hotels/Motels 462 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818 Furnished, all amenities, bills paid, quiet complex, 2404 Reeves, 370-0278

RE for rent Del City

Edmond

465.5

2bd 1ba clean, big yard, stove fridge $595 818-4089 3108DentwoodTr3/1/1 $575 681-7272 3bd 2ba 2car fp 1440sf $850 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

466

Stonebriar512 NW 193rd 3 bd 2 ba, w/study/ bonus Edmond schls. $1950. per month, Call Gayle Rodgers, Realtor, 405-659-1577 1808 Parklane 4/2/2 $1200 1403 Pennington 2/2/1 $675 2622Feathrstne3/2/2 $1095 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 1321 Del Norte Dr 3bd 2ba 2car 1400sf $1160/mo $1000dp 409-7989 no sec8

MWC

468

9317 NE 14th 3/1.5/1 $550 1112 Sycamore 3/1/1 $495 1300 McDonald 3/1/1 $495 681-7272 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

Moore

1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL

spring’s home sales.

Earlier, builder Lennar Corp. reported new home orders fell 12 percent from a year earlier for the threemonth period ended in February.

Builders got a spring sales lift last year. This year, however, the industry doesn’t have the aid of federal homebuyer tax credits to spur sales. And many would-be homebuyers remain deterred by high unemployment, strict lending standards and concerns that home values could drop further.

469

951 W Main. Nice 3 bed 2 living areas, ch/a, fresh paint, clean, only $650 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 136 SE 2nd, $325 mo + dep, 1 bed, fenced, East of Broadway 685-6817 co Beautiful Home!!

3BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbhood.$950.593-1432 1505 MeadwRun3/2/3 $1275 1817 Bel Air 4/2/2 $1050 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777

Mustang

470

10405 Fairfax Lane Westberry North, 3bd, 2ba, 2car, no pets, yr lease, $895mo, $895dep 948-6561

OKC Northeast

474

IMMACULATE 4BR, 1.5BA, new roof, paint & kit, w/lg bkyrd. 712 NE 81st St. Full bsmt/rec room to ease tornado season stress. $850/mo + $750 dep. 424-2567 2621 NE 19th, 2/1/1 $550mo, $350dep Sec 8 OK. 324-2611 229 NE 16 4bed 2bath ch&a, Immac. Minutes from bricktown 248-4079

OKC Northwest

475

OKC Northwest

475

6708 Bear Canyon 3/2.5/2 fp, Canyon North, Fenced $950 Mo. $800 Dep TMS Properties 348-0720 3409 N. Shartel 2bd 1.5ba 1200sf, $750 mo, $500 dep, Fridge & Stove, 409-7989 no sec 8 Sharp 4154 NW 19th St. 2/1/1 all appls, no pets JW Rlty 755-2510 $695 400 NW 120th 3bd 2ba 2car $900/mo $800/dep 1300sf 409-7989 No Sec8 2122 NW 32nd 2bd 1ba 1car $700/mo $500/dep 900sf 409-7989 no sec 8 Section 8 okay, 2 bed, ch&a, 4100 NW 16th. $650 month, 942-3552.

3933 NW 18th 2bd, 1ba, ch&a, Clean $650 mo. 405-703-2951 14323H N Penn 2/2.5 $775 1715 NW 1st 2/1 $450 681-7272 723 NW 25th, 5 bd, 2 ba, ch&a, w/d hu, $985 mo, $600 dep, 850-9795.

3508 NW 11th 2bd 1bath $475/month • 408-5836 800 NW 34th 2 bd, 1 bath, $525/mo 408-5836

OKC Southeast

476

Lease/Purchase Option s.e149th & Peebly 3bed, 2.5ba, 3 Car 1FP, 2010 2.5 ac., $1300 per month 306-0261 or 820-0451 2 SE 33rd large spacious 2bed brick home, ch/a, 1car garage, corner lot, only $550. Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 3bd 1ba, 1152 SE 18th St $725+ $625dep Sec 8 Ok Avail Now 405-812-0096

OKC Southwest

477

629 SW 49th 2bd 1ba garage converted $550 3073 SW 37th 2/1/1 $525 3009 SW 20th 2/1 $450 681-7272 3805 Windswest Ct 2/2.5, FP, $725/dep, no smoke no pets, 650-3067 2bd 1ba 1car gar. $550mo $550dep. 1028 SW 33 Sr. Discount. 308-1829

Very nice 3 bed, 1 bath new paint and carpet, 3823 NW 11th St. $675 month, $300 deposit.

Section 8 ok. 255-8832

3009 SW 25th 2bd 1 bath $485/mo 408-5836

3101 NW 30th, 3 bed, 1 bath, $650 per month; 2937 NW 28th, 2 bed, 1 bath, $500 mo; 948-6389.

Mobile Home Rentals 483

6021 NW 58th Terr 3bed 2bath 1car, PC Schools, $975/mo, $975/dep 1600sf 409-7989 no sec 8

2 bed 2 bath MH w/appls in Cashion. $450 month, $200 deposit. Available May 1st. 517-2871

8F

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011

Permits Oklahoma City Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., apartment, erect, $4,324,500.

Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., apartment, erect, $4,324,500.

Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., apartment, erect, $2,718,000.

Willowbrook, 6501 W Reno Ave., automotive repair-wash, add-on, $600,000.

Crabtree Custom Homes LLC, 3228 NW 177, residence, erect, $578,000.

Gardner Construction, 6201 S Air Depot Blvd., office, remodel, $500,000.

Sun Contracting, 1200 W Britton Road, restaurant, erect, $467,000.

Crabtree Custom Homes LLC, 7843 NW 133 Terrace, residence, erect, $449,000.

Christopher Lee & Co., 10317 Ashewood Drive, residence, erect, $400,000.

Richmond Signature Homes, 1512 NW 175 Court, residence, erect, $327,900.

Matt Wilson Custom Homes, 4328 Oakdale Farm Road, residence, remodel, $270,000.

Virgil Schroeder, 11744 Surrey Hills Blvd., residence, erect, $250,000.

Allenton Homes & Development LLC, 7016 NW 161, residence, erect, $240,000.

TLP Custom Homes LLC, 13413 Grapevine Trail, residence, erect, $240,000.

Baer Hall Homes, 17217 Aragon Lane, residence, erect, $230,000.

J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 2540 SW 141, residence, erect, $230,000.

J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 2728 SW 141, residence, erect, $225,000.

Woodland Homes LLC,

9113 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $220,000.

Greystone Homes LLC, 1808 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $215,000.

Willis (Don) Custom Homes Inc., 6208 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $210,000.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 19220 Greenery Lane, residence, erect, $205,450.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 3229 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $205,100.

Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., clubhouse, erect, $203,000.

Glenstone Properties LLC, 1704 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $200,000.

Glenstone Properties LLC, 1801 NW 193 Circle, residence, erect, $200,000.

Woodland Homes LLC, 1713 NW 194 Circle, residence, erect, $200,000.

Woodland Homes LLC, 1709 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $200,000.

Woodland Homes LLC, 19516 Talavera Lane, residence, erect, $200,000.

Glenstone Properties LLC, 1708 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $195,000.

Glenstone Properties LLC, 1712 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $195,000.

Jester (Bill) Jr., 6424 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $189,000.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 8900 SW 48, residence, erect, $185,000.

Jester (Bill) Jr., 6313 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $175,000.

Woodland Homes LLC, 1705 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $170,000.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 3221 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $164,500.

Heartland Homes LLC, 17524 Red Tailed Hawk Way, residence, erect, $160,000.

Tranquility Homes LLC, 19501 Brookshire

Court, residence, erect, $155,000.

J. Hill Homes Inc., 10924 SW 31, residence, erect, $150,000.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 19221 Blossom Court, residence, erect, $146,415.

Monarch Properties LLC, 15513 Wood Creek Lane, residence, erect, $145,000.

Monarch Properties LLC, 15512 Wood Creek Lane, residence, erect, $145,000.

Hobby Lobby, 12109 S County Line Road, residence, erect, $140,000.

Two Structures LLC, 7625 Harold Drive, residence, erect, $140,000.

Chuck Bashaw, 2401 NW 122, apartment, fire restoration, $120,933.

Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $116,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $116,000.

Quail Springs Land Development, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Watermark at Tuscana LLC, 14602 N May Ave., accessory, erect, $108,000.

Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 2232 NW 194, residence, erect, $103,250.

Home Creations, 10000 Squire Lane, residence, erect, $102,400.

Liberty Homes Inc., 9012 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $100,000.

Morton Buildings Inc., 10239 E Hefner Road, residence, erect, $90,000.

No name provided, 913 N Broadway Ave., office, remodel, $90,000.

Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 636 SE 26, residence, erect, $80,000.

Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8040 Sunny Pointe Lane, residence, erect, $80,000.

John Krittenbrink, 3115 SW 59, land mark, erect, $80,000.

Ideal Homes Of Norman LP, 2720 NW 186 Terrace, residence, erect, $76,000.

Ideal Homes Of Norman LP, 9504 SW 26, residence, erect, $74,000.

Gary White, 10824 Leafring Circle, residence, add-on, $67,000.

BRR Architecture, 1801 Belle Isle Blvd., retail sales, remodel, $60,000.

Megan Blacklidge, 100 E Interstate 240 Service Road, retail sales, remodel, $60,000.

Mitchell Elmore, 18200 SE 89, manufactured home, remodel, $45,000.

Manchester Green Homes LLC, 14401 Yorkshire Lane, residence, add-on, $42,000.

No name provided, 13417 N Santa Fe Ave., automotive repair-wash, remodel, $42,000.

Tim Farmer Designs, 5201 S Western Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $35,000.

Bonnie Hearn, 701 SW 69, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $33,895.

Quality Renovations LLC, 3724 N Linn Ave., residence, fire restoration, $30,000.

Quality Renovations LLC, 4433 NW 11 Terrace, residence, fire restoration, $30,000.

Gary Lantagne, 2808 Otella Ave., residence, add-on, $30,000.

C.W. Homes Inc., 1216 NW 195, cabana-gazebo, add-on, $28,000.

Brookshire Homes LLC, 9608 Henley Ave., storage, erect, $27,000.

Jack Ramey, 3900 S Cemetery Road, accessory, erect, $25,000.

Better Living Patio Rooms, 8520 Glenwood Ave., cabana-gazebo, add-on, $22,196.

No name provided, 809 SE 83, business, remodel, $21,300.

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM Champion Window Co., 5601 Bent Creek Drive, residence, add-on, $21,000.

Cedillo’s Construction, 3328 N Classen Blvd., office, add-on, $20,000.

J. David Walsh, 10009 Forest Glade Drive, residence, remodel, $18,000.

Jacqueline Rodriguez, 501 SE 44, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $17,000.

John Chojnacki, 5801 SE 145, storage, erect, $16,075.

Julie Arnold, 15825 Manning Drive, accessory, erect, $16,000.

4 Corners Construction LLC, 15008 SE 59 Terrace, residence, add-on, $15,000.

Charles Barton, 8901 S Shields Blvd., church, remodel, $13,500.

Buildings By Bill LLC, 10009 Volare Drive, accessory, erect, $11,500.

Drains 4 Rain, 7824 Valley Creek Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $10,000.

Property Management Service Inc., 1841 NW 8, residence, fire restoration, $9,000.

Jose Ramirez, 2520 SW 27, residence, add-on, $9,000.

Rick Joiner, 4001 NE 116, residence, remodel, $8,000.

Brian Johnson, 17500 NE 178, manufactured home, move-on, $6,000.

John Anderson, 11201 Squirmy Drive, barn, erect, $5,500.

ACS Playgrounds, 4601 S Walker Ave., canopycarport, erect, $5,000.

Bruce E. Gonzales, 3601 SW 43, residence, remodel, $3,500.

Ryan Coleman, 621 N Markwell Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395.

American Portable Buildings, 3228 SW 99, storage, erect, $3,000.

Smartsafe Enterprises, 1132 SW 126, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

No name provided, 4500 NW 10, retail sales, remodel, $3,000.

Jacey Martin, 1121 SW 130, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

Smartsafe Enterprises, 6216 SE 79, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Smartsafe Enterprises, 124 SW 136, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Smartsafe Enterprises, 8623 Rambling Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995.

Jamil Tran, 8033 NW 134 Terrace, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,950.

Elizabeth Sears, 10636 Timber Oak Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900.

Ground Zero, 5100 SE 92, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800.

Alfred Bridgeman, 6417 NW 134, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Joe B. Lewis, 3300 SW 160, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,700.

David N. Johnson, 729 SW 40, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700.

William Baker, 12272 SW 11, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700.

G&M Tank Co. Inc., 8600 S Youngs Blvd., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500.

John Weatherly, 12200 Endor Drive, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Larry Weeks, 8313 NW 70, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,500.

Bill Jennings, 9721 S Indian Meridian, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,400.

No name provided, 2125 W Memorial Road, temporary building, moveon, $2,000.

Jonathan Anderson, 12115 N Interstate 35 Service Road, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $1,500.

Jesus Ortega, 2820 SW 54, storage, erect, $1,500.

Demolitions L&S Demo, 225 SW 25, commercial building.

Ray’s Trucking, 401 SE 27, residence.

Man’s 2,300-square-foot retreat includes pool table, classic cars, walk-in gun vault

BY CRAIG SAILOR McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

TACOMA, Wash. — You can call it a man cave, as owner Gordon Robinson does, but “Garage Mahal” might be a better term.

Sure, it’s a basement with recliners, big-screen TVs and drinks on ice. But that’s only the beginning. Where other dude hangouts end, this one’s only beginning.

Robinson, 57, built the 2,300-squarefoot Guytopia for himself, but it’s quickly become just as popular with friends and neighbors.

“Everybody stops by all the time. It’s nice,” said his wife, Debbie, 55.

Debbie has the rest of the 7,600square-foot house for her own amusements, which include a TV lounge, kitchen and craft room. It’s all situated on the shores of American Lake in Lakewood, Wash.

The first thing that strikes a visitor to Robinson’s lair is a shiny blue 1941 Willys Pro-Street hot rod parked just beyond the bar. Next to it is a 1965 Pontiac GTO and a 1966 Chevrolet El Camino. All three have been restored (the GTO on a rotisserie) and gleam in mint condition.

How did he get those in here?

“I take them apart and then put them back together,” Robinson said before

breaking into a laugh. The real method is just around the corner: a $30,000 hydraulic car lift that descends from the otherwise normal-looking two-car garage above.

Robinson, the owner of Jack Roberts Appliance in Tacoma, is clearly big on cars. Near the elevator is a shop room filled with tools. In the center is a detailing cart crammed with more than 50 squirt bottles, rubbing compounds and waxes.

The El Camino, used in Robinson’s construction business in the 1980s, is just one of the $150,000 worth of cars and memorabilia in his man cave.

The space also includes a walk-in gun vault, pool table, a wet bar and full kitchen among other amenities.

The house was built in 2008, but Robinson completed the man cave in July 2010. He contracted out some of the work but his construction background allowed him to install the drywall, cabinets and millwork. The construction cost, not including his labor, was $100,000.

During Debbie and Gordon Robinson’s 27-year marriage and numerous houses, he’s always had garages, man caves or some variation thereof, the couple say.

Though the current incarnation is not the biggest he’s had, it is his crowning achievement.

“He’s down there all the time with his buddies and that’s great,” Debbie said.

Gordon Robinson of Lakewood, Wash., hangs with his dog, Jack, in his 2,300square-foot man cave, which contains three flat-screen TVs, three classic cars, a walk-in gun vault, a wet bar and full kitchen among other amenities.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

A TV with a 65-inch screen faces Gordon Robinson’s favorite recliner, at right, in his man cave.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO