LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Large home
The Avalon
The Listing of the Week is a six-bedroom home in the gated Providence addition in northwest Oklahoma City. PAGE 3E
Steeply pitched roof lines, stone veneer facades, keystone lintels and arched entry all bespeak European influences. PAGE 7E
REAL ESTATE
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
AVOID BIG MISTAKE Closing escrow when repairs negotiated after a home inspection are not completed is a big mistake. Page 4E
IN BRIEF
‘BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS’
Kayleen and Jeremiah Burton watch their 19-month-old daughter Jada play outside their new home in northwest Oklahoma City. The Burtons bought their home through OHFA Advantage, a down payment assistance program of the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. PHOTOS BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
1st-time homebuyers celebrate FINANCING | DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE ACHIEVE DREAM OF OWNING A HOUSE BY RICHARD MIZE Real Estate Editor richardmize@opubco.com
No more things that go bump in the night — or feet that stomp, music that blares or voices that carry — for Jeremiah and Kayleen Burton. Apartment life, with ceilings that shake and walls that are never thick enough, is over. They’ve bought a house. “It’s awesome. It’s cool. We can realize a dream and be homeowners at a young age,” said Jeremiah, 25. Kayleen is 24. They and 19-month-old daughter Jada are the faces of homeownership, to hear Dennis Shockley tell it. The Burtons bought the new house — 1,498 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, in the Chisholm Village neighborhood near NW 122 and Western Avenue — with 3½ percent down payment assistance
SCAN IT To watch video, scan the QR code or go to NewsOK.com.
through the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. Shockley is the agency’s executive director. Lack of a down payment “is the biggest impediment to homeownership. They’re first-time homebuyers, and we’re celebrating this with them today,” Shockley said Tuesday at a small ceremony in observance of National Homeownership Month at the Burton home. The agency has financed
more than 40,000 homes since 1980 “for families just like this couple we’re with here today,” he said. “We’re just very excited for this couple, and they’re just representative of many of the families we help each and every year through our network of over 200 lenders statewide that originate the loans for us.” Little Jada celebrated in a new inflatable wading pool, complete with a baby slide and bright red, blue, green and yellow blowup umbrella that sprinkles water. Her parents marked the occasion by showing off their house and talking about their favorite spaces. Kayleen loves the open layout and large kitchen but was quick to brag on their “OSU room” — a bedroom dedicated to all things Oklahoma State University, with their SEE HOME, PAGE 2E
FAST-DRYING PROTECTOR
An Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency sign in Jeremiah and Kayleen Burton’s front yard notes that June is National Homeownership Month.
Tips on saving for your first house Many 20-somethings are understandably fearful about buying a home. After all, everyone seems to know someone who’s had a house taken away through foreclosure. Yet despite that scary image, many young adults remain highly motivated to acquire properties of their own. “If you plan to stay in the same place for five to seven years, this could be a really good time to buy,” said Jim Blankenship, a veteran financial planner who’s advised numerous young clients on their real estate plans. Blankenship, who’s affiliated with the Garrett Planning Network, which represents fee-only planners throughout the country (www.garrett planning.com). But, he said, “To afford a home and qualify for a mortgage, sacrifice is often necessary.” Is homeownership your top financial priority? If so, you may wish to consider taking one or more of these steps: I Reduce your debts by generating extra income. As the Federal Reserve reported
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES
recently, total consumer debt in America declined slightly in recent months. But student loan debt continues to soar, and now tops $900 billion. For anyone seeking to make financial progress, cutting debt — including credit card balances — is an absolute must. “Think about taking a second job. Or try to get overtime at your regular job, assuming overtime is available,” Blankenship said. I Give up plans for a big wedding in favor of money for a home. Kristin Meador, a real estate broker who often works with young buyers, wrote a book designed to help clients save substantial amounts on their wedding costs. It’s called “How to Have a
The place where everyone wants to hang out is elevated to the room everyone dreams of having in “House Beautiful Kitchens.” Author Lisa Cregan treats readers to a tour of more than 130 outof-the-ordinary kitchens, from closet-size cubbyholes to expansive gathering spaces. Some aren’t even kitchens in the strictest sense, but rather dining or living rooms outfitted to do double duty. For the most part, they’re rooms that defy simple style categories. They’re far from all flash, though. The kitchens showcase smart storage, timesaving features, hardworking surfaces and other ideas that readers can steal for their own homes. “House Beautiful Kitchens” is published by Hearst Books and sells for $40 in hardcover.
Wedding Without Spending a Dime: Or at Least Very Little.” The book grew out of moneysaving strategies Meador developed while helping relatives and friends stage their weddings. It provides pointers on how to cut costs for a range of wedding-related expenses — from invitations to rings to the reception and honeymoon. “When you’re trying to save for a house, it makes no sense to spend $500 or more for a wedding dress,” Meador said. The expense of an average wedding now tops $25,000 — funds Meador believes would be better spent on a home, assuming the property is carefully selected. I Cut discretionary expenses. Most 20-somethings who live in rental units are quite sensitive to their monthly housing costs. But they’re typically less aware of how much money they’re spending to eat out at restaurants and on social activities, Blankenship said. “I recommend you look closely at your cable bills to see if you really need all those movie channels.
Also, look at that fitness club membership you never use and consider taking bag lunches to work,” Blankenship said. I Sell a car and watch your savings grow. A new or nearly new car is often the first major purchase for many young adults. And usually the purchase is financed with a hefty loan. But mortgage lenders often frown at the sight of a prospective homebuyer driving up in a latemodel vehicle. “Lenders know that a couple who’s financing one or more cars will likely find it tougher to qualify for a home loan,” Blankenship said. Even if you drive an older vehicle and have no car loan, chances are you’re paying a substantial amount for car insurance and repairs, not to mention gas. Blankenship said it’s a wise idea for young couples bent on homeownership to ponder the idea of selling one vehicle. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
Watching paint dry is no longer a drawnout experience. Krylon’s new Rust Protector Paint dries in as little as eight minutes. That’s especially important for outdoor painting projects, because it allows less chance for bugs, dirt or other debris to mar the surface. The paint is available in spray and brush-on formulations and can be applied directly to metal without priming. It comes in an array of colors and in gloss, semigloss, satin, flat, metallic, hammered and textured finishes. The product is available at hardware stores and home centers. Suggested prices for spray enamels range from $3.97 to $4.97. Prices for special finishes and brushon formulas vary. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Left: Kayleen and Jeremiah Burton bought this new 1,498-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home in northwest Oklahoma City with down payment assistance through OHFA Advantage, a program of the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. PHOTO BY BRIAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Home: ‘It’s a big step, familywise’ FROM PAGE 1E
diplomas, awards, plaques and such. OSU is where they met, Kayleen from Fairview, Jeremiah from Enid. Her degree is in elementary education. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business. Jeremiah, a claims adjuster for Farmers Insurance, said his main domain is the backyard. “I’m trying to cultivate it and get grass to get the way I want it to,” he said. “And, I’ve got the grill set up.” But the house is more than the bricks and mortar, plumbing and fixtures, drywall and finish that building company PSC Homes put into it. “It’s a big step, familywise,” said Kayleen, a second-grade teacher at Wiley Post Elementary School. “It’s just something we wanted to do, to raise our child in a home. In an apartment, it’s his and hers. But here, it’s ours. It’s our home and our garage and our bedrooms.” It’s their mortgage, too, of course, from Houston-based Cornerstone Mortgage Co.’s Oklahoma City office. But it’s home, and it beats their apartment. The differences? “It’s night and day. You have more room. You don’t have to worry about noisy neighbors on top and beside you,” Jeremiah said. “Privacy,” Kayleen said. “Parking — a permanent parking spot, and you can put your car up in the garage,” he said. “Sitting on the front porch, and being free,” she said. “(Jada has) much more room, space to run around. She can go outside. We can walk around,” he said. “We can build a foundation for our family and have (family milestones) here and make memories,” she said.
Kayleen and Jeremiah Burton with their daughter, Jada, in the kitchen of their northwest Oklahoma City home. Crosses adorn a wall in the dining area. PHOTOS BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Targeted assistance OHFA Advantage has funds specifically reserved for educators, police officers and firefighters through home loans called OHFA 4 Teachers and OHFA Shield. Kayleen’s job as a schoolteacher qualified for OHFA 4 Teachers. The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency offers other programs, as well. “In addition to OHFA Advantage — our mortgage flagship, I call it — we have federal tax credits that we allocate to developers of multifamily rental housing,” Shockley said. “We administer the HOME program for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and have some other programs.” For more information, go to www. ohfa.org or call 848-1144.
The tray ceiling lends volume to the Burtons’ master bedroom.
Cabinet space abounds in the Burtons’ open kitchen.
Housing experts debate ‘new normal’ BY LAUREN BEALE Los Angeles Times
DENVER — What’s considered normal in light of the housing downturn? Home price appreciation of 3 percent to 5 percent, 1.6 million household formations a year, and a 65 percent homeownership rate, according to three economists who offered their housing outlooks at the annual National Association of Real Estate Editors conference. I Major take-away: “The bottom will be as equally dramatic as the recession has been,”
said Stan Humphries, Zillow’s chief economist. Housing sales and price changes will vary considerably by geographic market and within those markets. Los Angeles, for example, will see a 0.9-percent uptick from March 2012 to March 2013. Zillow forecasts Chicago will see a 3.8-percent drop. I Major eye-opener: When National Association of Realtors economist Lawrence Yun offered his opinion that there could be 10-percent home price appreciation nationally next year as we emerge from a three-year market bottom. Yun retracted that in a question-
and-answer session. The official Realtors’ prediction is appreciation in the range of 3 percent to 5 percent range. I Major disagreement: Another Yun prediction was a 70percent to 80-percent growth in housing starts. David Crowe, the chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders, disagreed. “Plants have been mothballed,” Crowe said. “It will take a lot of time and money before we can come back.” MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LISTING OF THE WEEK
The Listing of the Week is at 18109 Barrington Drive.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Home has 6 bedrooms in northwest gated addition The Listing of the Week is a six-bedroom home in the gated Providence addition in northwest Oklahoma City. The 3,512-square-foot home at 18109 Barrington Drive has 4 ½ bathrooms, two living rooms, one dining room and an attached three-car garage. The family room has a fireplace and ceiling fan. Upstairs is a game room. The kitchen is open to the family room and has eating space, a breakfast bar, pantry, granite counters and stainless-steel appliances. The master bedroom has a high ceiling, wood floors and bath with body jet sprayers, walk-in
Home sales dip, but prices still up BY MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
Sales of existing homes dipped 1.5 percent in May from April but were up substantially from a year ago, along with property prices, according to the National Association of Realtors. Last month, resales slipped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.55 million from 4.62 million in April but were up 9.6 percent from May 2011, according to the report. The median price rose 7.9 percent from a year ago to $182,600, marking the third year-over-year gain in a row — the first time that’s happened since 2006. Analysts from Credit Suisse called the firming prices, now at the highest level since June 2010, “the silver lining” of the report. Sales of single-family homes were 1 percent lower than April but 10.4 percent higher than last May. The price for such properties spiked 7.7 percent from 2011 to $182,900. The report, which also factors in town homes, condominiums and coops, blamed the dip from April on tight supply rather than softening demand. The inventory of listed homes for sale was 20.4 percent smaller than a year ago, according to the Realtors association. Mortgage rates were again at record lows; building permits were at more than a three-year high and single-family housing starts were increasing. Heavily discounted foreclosures and short sales made up a substantial but shrinking portion of home buys — 25 percent in May from 31 percent a year earlier. First-time buyers, however, made up a third of the pool, a smaller portion than before.
closet, double vanities and a whirlpool tub. The home has a covered patio, underground sprinkler and security system. The home, built in 2006, is listed for $389,500 with Ryan Litz of Keller Williams Realty. It will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Providence addition is east of N Pennsylvania Avenue and north of NW 178. For more information, call 2457812 or 330-2626. 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.
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Realtors call appraiser reluctance a problem WASHINGTON — Are some One appraiser in his area appraisers failing to see the recently assembled strong improvements in real estate supporting data to make an Kenneth upward adjustment to a values under way in local Harney markets that have recently valuation based on recent bottomed out and turned sales activity on comparapositive? ble houses. When he delivWhen multiple bids push THE NATION’S HOUSING ered the report to the apa house price thousands of praisal management comdollars above what the sellpany that hired him, hower is asking — not unusual in neighbor- ever, an official of the firm sent it back hoods where demand is particularly ro- immediately with instructions to “revibust — are appraisers still coming in with sit” the upward adjustment, that is, to get values below the agreed-upon contract rid of it. number? Joseph Petrowsky, owner of Right Trac Yes. Growing numbers of mortgage Financial Group Inc., a Manchester, loan officers and realty agents say ap- Conn.-based mortgage company, said too praiser reluctance to report local appre- often valuations in upward-trending ciation is becoming a significant compli- markets “aren’t catching up with the new cation in sales transactions. In a new poll values, let alone a property that was inof its members, the National Association volved in a bidding war.” of Realtors found that 33 percent of them He cites a series of recent loan applicareported appraisal problems during the tions where the appraisal was thousands month of May. Moe Veissi, president of of dollars below the agreed-upon final the association, said poor appraising “in contract price, endangering or blowing markets that are no longer in decline is the the deals. In one case, the buyer signed single most important” valuation obstacle the contract at $312,500 but the appraisal “to seeing a real recovery.” came in at just $280,000, despite readily Even appraisal experts concede this is a available evidence that the local market troubling issue. Frank Gregoire, former has experienced appreciation in recent chairman of the Florida Real Estate Ap- months. praisal Board and an appraiser in St. Pe”Appraisers are scared to death” to retersburg, Fla., said that many appraisers port rising values, Petrowsky said. “I talk are reluctant to make the upward adjust- to them and they are beside themselves. ments they know to be justified by recent They feel they have to (deliver) appraisals positive appreciation trends because they they know should be higher.” fear criticism that they are potentially Much worse, though, is the impact on overvaluing the property — exposing sellers and buyers. When an appraisal lender clients to costly “buyback” de- comes in much lower than the mutually mands by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or agreed contract price, the buyers typically future litigation. need to revise their loan request by in“Even if they have the (local) data to creasing the down payment, which may support” adjustments reflecting positive not be feasible, or renegotiating the contrends that affect value — pending home tract price with the unhappy seller. sales and new listings of similar houses at Dennis Smith, a co-owner of Stratis Fihigher prices, for example — “they take nancial Corp. in Huntington Beach, Calif., the easy way out” and go with a lower val- said the problem is magnified when the uation so as not to upset hyper-cautious appraiser assigned by the management reviewers at the appraisal management company travels from 30 or 40 miles companies that now control the bulk of all away, and has no insights into neighborhome real estate appraisal assignments, hood appreciation trends that might be Gregoire said in an interview. relatively recent. He cited an example
Sellers failed to make promised repair work DEAR BARRY: We purchased our home six months ago and hired a home inspector who was referred by our Realtor. The inspector identified a list of problems involving plumbing leaks, roof damage, ungrounded electrical outlets, a faulty heater and more. The agent promised in writing that these issues would be repaired before the close of escrow. That was months ago, but none of the defects have been addressed. We also learned that someone was murdered less than 50 feet from the house. What can we do? Alicia DEAR ALICIA: Closing escrow when the repairs were not completed was a big mistake. The document that promised completion of repair work before the close was your position of strength. At that time, the sellers were anxious to finalize the sale, and you had just cause to stop the process. Now the picture is different. The sellers have your purchase money and have moved on to the next chapter of their lives. If they haven’t done anything about repairs in six months, it seems unlikely that they will do anything at all, unless other types of pressure are applied. But attorneys are expensive, if you should have to go that route. An alternative is to complain to the agent and broker about allowing the escrow to close without the contingencies having been met. If they are unwilling to take some action on your behalf, you can file an ethics complaint with the state agency that issues their real estate licenses. When the repairs are finally completed, you should hire your home inspector to confirm that the work was completed in a professional and acceptable manner. As for the nearby homicide, you may need to consult an attorney for clarification of the disclosure law. Although it may be required to report deaths that have occurred on the property, the law may not include locations
an issue?
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
that are near the property. DEAR BARRY: Our house is 50 years old and has an abandoned water heater in the crawl space. It is located in a pit that was dug into the ground under the house and there is no way to remove it without making a hole in the floor of the house. The fixture is no longer connected to the plumbing system and is gradually turning into a pile of rust because of groundwater. How will this affect a home inspection when we sell the property? Will it be
Karen DEAR KAREN: The crawl space under a house is a highly unusual place for a water heater, but this does not mean that removal is necessary. If the fixture has been disconnected from the water lines and from gas or electrical connections, whichever applies, it can probably continue to rust away without adversely affecting the building. A home inspector will probably mention that the water heater is abandoned in a pit below the building, but he probably will not recommend removal, depending on related circumstances that may exist. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING
Make sure the realty agents on both sides of your transaction have assembled accurate data on “comparable” sales. where a client saw a bidding war — four offers that pushed the contract price from the listed $350,000 to $375,000 — but the out-of-town appraiser would not take this into consideration in arriving at the final valuation. Sara W. Stephens, president of the Appraisal Institute, the largest association in the industry, said it is every appraiser’s professional duty to arrive at valuations
that “reflect the market,” including recent changes, whether positive or negative, if they can be verified with authoritative and accurate data. How can buyers and sellers guard against the see-no-appreciation problem? Tops on the list: Make sure the realty agents on both sides of your transaction have assembled accurate data on “comparable” sales or pending sales that demonstrate how the market has changed in the past six months or less. Then make sure the appraiser sees the data. Your purchase or sale doesn’t have to be jeopardized simply because the appraiser doesn’t have — or chooses not to collect — all the relevant recent facts. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
THE OKLAHOMAN
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Builder confidence reaches highest level since 2007 FROM WIRE REPORTS
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, singlefamily homes gained one point in June from a slightly revised level in the previous month to rest at 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. This is the highest level the index has attained since May 2007. “This month’s modest uptick in builder confidence comes on the heels of a four-point gain in May and is reflective of the continued, gradual improvement we are seeing in many individual housing markets as more buyers
decide to take advantage of today’s low prices and interest rates,” said Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the association. Association economist David Crowe said the recent reappearance of negatives to the recovery trend line are reflected in the index. “While the June (Housing Market Index) is in keeping with our forecast for gradually improving single-family home sales this year, recent economic reports that have shown some weakening in the pace of recovery likely factored into the marginal gain,” Crowe said. “In addition, builders across
the country continue to report that overly tight lending conditions and inaccurate appraisals are major obstacles to completing sales at this time.” Derived from a monthly survey that the builders association has been conducting for 25 years, the index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales, sales expectations and traffic of prospective buyers for the next six months. Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.
In June, the component measuring current sales conditions rose two points to 32, its highest level since April 2007. Meanwhile, the component measuring sales expectations in the next six months held unchanged at 34, as did traffic of prospective buyers at 23. Regionally, the index results were mixed in June, with two areas of the country posting gains and two posting declines. The Midwest registered a five-point gain to 31 and the West registered a four-point gain to 33, while the Northeast a two-point decline, to 29, and the South lost two points, to 26.
Mario Sanchez works on a new home in Palo Alto, Calif. Confidence among builders hit a five-year high in June. AP PHOTO
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
HOUSE PLAN
The Avalon is evocative of a French country estate. Its steeply pitched roof lines, stone veneer facades, keystone lintels and arched entry all bespeak European influences. Inside, it offers lavishly spacious living quarters, ideal for families who enjoy entertaining guests on a grand scale. Entering, you step into a two-story foyer with a graceful balustrade curving up to the right. A den (or home office) is to the right, and a large dining room is to the left. Ahead, at center, is a large living room anchored by a masonry fireplace on one end. Atrium or French doors open out onto a large covered patio.
Del City
Informal living spaces cluster together on the left in a large, free-flowing space that holds a family room, kitchen and nook. The totally open kitchen has every convenience, including a large rectangular work island rimmed by a raised eating bar on two sides. Plenty of natural light washes in through wide windows in the nook. More light spills into the family room through windows on two sides, and a home entertainment center nestles into the rear corner, next to the fireplace. Laundry appliances are close at hand in a large utility room with a wealth of storage cabinets and two
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Open House Sunday 2 - 4 www.4516se23rd.com 2bed, 1ba, $68,900 405-570-2626 OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54K ¡596-4599 ‘ 410-8840¡
Edmond
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604 Fox Hunt Ln 1950 sq ft. 165,000 ex cond. open floor 405-562-7003 3bed, 2ba,
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A "Must See" 4 to 14 Beautiful acres Guthrie/Coyle area Price Reduced Owner Financing 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Now Accepting Major Credit Cards 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-10 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 2 ACRES + 2200sf double wide. Harrah/McLoud $27,900 cash 301-6495 Guthrie 1.5 acres, cleared, scenic, $8900 cash 301-6495
RE for sale Bethany/ Warr Acres
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BY OWNER 3BR near Lake Best area $123.9K 603-4775
Blanchard
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2acres, 3/3/2, 2000sf, indoor pool, shop, xlg patio, many extras, $165,000 405-249-4899
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Avalon has European influences
Acreage For Sale
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012
OPEN SUN 2-5 3001 S. Rankin. Lovely 3bd 2ba 2c gar. 2liv areas. $149,500. 405-824-7906
OKC Northeast
323
Owner carry 2bd 1ba 1car 12925 Parker 3K dn 300 mo. 417-2176
OKC Northwest
324
Remodeled, cute 3bed, central heat & air, new windows, 2 car, basement $27,500 cash 301-6495 Owner carry 2022 NW 34 2bd 1ba Nice 5Kdn 550 mo. 660-7667
OKC Southwest
326
RIVENDELL 12309 Endor Updated home in Rivendell with Inground Pool. Updates include Granite Tops, Stainless Appliances, Roof, AC, Furnace, and more! Open House Sun 7/1 2p-4p $269,900.00 Call 819-4953
3bd 1.5ba 2car, 2216 SW 77th St. Assume $83K loan + fees 221-3193 Great for investor or first time homebuyer! 3bd home, fenced yard, ch/a $32,900 Fidelity RE 692-1661, 410-4200 OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 2836 SW 64 3/1 $52,000 ¡596-4599 ‘ 410-8840¡ 5824 S. Shartel Avenue, Very Nice 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car $39,500 ¡ 550-2145 Owner carry 3912 S Agnew 2bd 1ba Nice 5K dn 550 mo. 650-7667 FSBO $123,900 609 SW 153rd St, 73170 1549sq ft, Call 596-8421
Piedmont
327
UNDER construction 3/2/2 on cul-de-sac with 1/2 ac MOL $169,900 Richard Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 PIEDMONT great bld site 1.89 ac MOL w/storm shelt $24,400 new const only Richard Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Yukon
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GREAT VALUE 4/2/2 Cottonwood Farms $192,400 Richard Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Suburban, SW
(Minco, Union City, 334 Etc.) Sale by Owner, Wonderful Brick home in great neighborhood 3bd, 3bth, New roof, Sprinkler system, storm cellar, with beautiful fenced yard and in ground pool. 3 Ridgeline Drive Wewoka 580-220-8071
Open Houses 334.2 Open in Valencia 2-4 3bd 2bth 2cr, Deer Creek Sch. 18701 Piedra Dr. Edmond Mike Paradigm $131,500
Industrial Property
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AUCTION 160 ACRES Auction: Home/acreage Sat. JULY 14, 10 am 10 mi N of Crescent on Hwy 74, 1/2 mi W;75 acres cultivated; pasture; deer;turkey;live spring; home w/pool on 10 acres;surface only;10% down; possession at closing www.jkjauctions.com JKJ Real Estate 580-233-9800
long counters for folding clothes. This space also has a pull-down ironing board and a built-in desk facing a window. A curved window bay expands the sitting area in the Avalon’s luxurious owners’ suite. Luxury amenities abound, from the huge closet to the luxurious bathroom. Early morning or late at night, the owners will appreciate coming awake or winding down in the hot tub on their private patio. A review plan of the Avalon 30-306, including floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 for shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. www.associateddesigns.com. (800) 634-0123.
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Cash 4 Clunkers! Guaranteed $5,000 for any trade towards down pymt of new home. WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814 2006 Like New! Energy Star 16x80, 3bd, 2ba, metal skirting & porches. $27,5000 To Be Moved (405) 527-9111, 659-4164 14x62 Mobile Home, new roof coat, new plywood on floors. In park, can be moved. $6000 Crescent,Ok ¡¡ (405) 969-3053 ¡¡ Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 REPO REPO REPO 4bd/3bth $648MO. wac 405-324-8000 NEW 3bd/2bth $1500 down, 7.5% $281mo. 405-324-8010 Double Wide REPO Like New $395mo. wac 405-577-2884 16 by 80 Fleetwood 3bed, 2ba, Mobile Home, for sale 708-8824 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
Real Estate Notices
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I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700
Real Estate Wanted
Commercial Property For Sale
Commercial Properties, Perry, OK Office area in front with large workshop in back on both. 580-336-9296, Leave message.
Established Business For Sale Lucrative Convenience Store SW Oklahoma Call Bob Alexander and Son Reality 500K, 412-4343
Business Property For Rent 360 3928 E. Reno $2000 mo house & large 1500 sq ft whse 601-5905 235-5028
Office Space For Rent
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7608 N Western Ave Retail/Office space, 1200sf avail, 370-1077 GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516
Warehouse Space For Rent 363.5 K Office, K Warehouse for lease. Various sizes. 221 W Wilshire 842-7300
Lots For Sale 337 50x150 Lot. Owner Finance. Will take trade. 885-2572 or 924-1430
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339
Vacation Property For Sale 347 Beautiful house on Tinkeller at Paradise Hill Awesome lake view! $279,900 obo. must sell. Betty 918-798-0671
Edmond
422
VERY, VERY QUIET Near mall, schls, hosp, Try Plaza East 341-4813
MWC
424
Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
OKC Northeast
430
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Charles N. Atkins, Opportunities Gardens, is now accepting applications for efficiencies and 1 bedroom apartments. Come in to see what we offer: •All utilities included in rent •Laundry facilities •Off-street parking •Accessibility to public transportation •24 hr. “We Care” Maintenance •Frost –free refrigerator •Elevator •In-house security •Social services and activities DON'T DELAY! CALL TODAY at: (405) 424–3142, or better yet, stop in. Charles N. Atkins is located at 1917 NE 20th St., Oklahoma City, OK. If you are disabled and need assistance with the application process, please contact us for assistance.
OKC Northwest
431
$200 off
1st Mo Rent Selected Units LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
346
We Buy Houses Fast Cash or Payments. »» 405-412-7800 »»
Special Gov't Program! Own Land/Family land ZERO DOWN! New and Repo homes avail. E-Z qualify by phone. Top dollar for your TRADE in. $2,000 furn allowance with purchase. WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814
Commercial RE
Q: Can you tell me what is “out there” in terms of venting a bathroom fan in a brick home? My friend owns an 80year-old home that has never had a fan in the bathroom. She needs to keep scrubbing the walls because of mildew. Two contractors have told her that there is no bathroom fan that can be used to vent her bathroom because of the brick walls. I find this difficult to believe. One quoted her more than $600 to make up something. One of the box stores told her to scrub the walls and then apply a mold prevention coating over the welldried walls. She cannot afford the $600. Does she have any other option? A: I’m going to make a couple of assumptions here, based on what you’re telling me. One is that there’s no attic space above this bathroom that the contractor can run a vent through to get to the outside, and the other is that home has solid brick walls, not wood framing with a brick veneer. Assuming both those things are true, I can understand the difficulty a contractor would face when installing a ventilation fan. Having to find a way to route the ductwork from an interior bathroom through walls and then through solid brick is labor-intensive and therefore expensive. There are a couple of things I can suggest. First, if the bathroom is over a crawl space or basement, there may be a way to install a wall-mounted fan and run ductwork through the floor and out that way. I have no way of knowing if that’s possible without seeing the house, so I would contact a heating and ventilation contractor, not a general contractor, and take one more try at seeing if that or some other method might be possible for getting a fan in there. If not, talk to the HVAC contractor about installing a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are another way of
WILLIAMSBURG 7301 NW 23rd
787-1620 $200 Off
1st Mo Rent Selected units 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces, P.C. Schools
PARKLANE
8100 N. MacArthur Blvd.
721-5455
Apartments Del City
421.5
2 BR.1 BA, furn. gar. apt. no pets, refer. req. $135/wk. 405-672-0877
$99 Special
1 & 2 BD & Townhouses •City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups
Valencia Apts 2221 N. Meridian
946-6548
OKC Northwest
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME
removing moisture from the air, and there are a wide variety of makes and models in many sizes, styles and price ranges. There also are “canned” dehumidifiers, which are disposable. Designed primarily for basements, they absorb moisture over time and then are thrown away. Q: My plumber said he can jackhammer my (concrete slab) floor, which follows the underground ductwork, and repair or replace it that way. This is a major project, but could it do any harm to the foundation? A: Whenever you start cutting into a concrete slab, there are a number of variables to take into consideration, depending on how the house was constructed. Some are built with a foundation around the perimeter of the house first, then the slab is poured inside of that foundation in a second, separate operation. Others are
431
1 Month FREE!
2bd $575 Casady751-8088 Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 34 & MacArthur 1bd 1ba Apt $325/mo $175/dep U pay Elec only 409-7989 no section 8 The Plaza 1740 NW 17th 1bd 1ba, 800sf, ch/a, wood flrs, $550mo, $250 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 525 SW 26th 3bed 2bath 1 car garage, 1545 sf, ch/a, $600 mo, $400 dep, no sec 8 409-7989 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 Remodeled 2 bed, 1.5 bath, water pd. $500mo 1434 NW 92nd 249-5362 MAYFAIR Great loc! 1&2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ¡ 947-5665 » Move In From $450 » 1 & 2bed, ch/a. 10th & Rockwell 603-8626 800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506 •ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
OKC Southeast
432
Newly Remodeled 1&2bd No deposit for VA, seniors & Disability. 4708 SE 44th 677-2200 704 SE 31st 1bed 1 bath $425mo 408-5836
OKC Southwest
433
$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 $99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849 » Furnished » 1bd $330 2820 S Robinson 232-1549
Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 THOUSAND OAKS 1BD w/d, carport, skylites $500 + dep » 924-7851 For lease, Nantucket 3200 W Britton Rd, 2bd 2ba, dwnstrs, W/D, 755-6131
Duplexes Edmond
444
142 Barrett 2/1.5/1 kit appls fresh paint! $675mo No pets No Sec 8 341-0368
OKC Northwest
done in one operation, with a single slab floor that’s considerably thicker at the outer edges, and that thicker edge becomes the foundation that supports the home’s walls. With either type of slab, there’s always a chance of damaging the supporting foundation, but more so with the single-pour style, because the concrete is continuous. I strongly recommend against just using a jackhammer on the slab. The jackhammer alone is going to create a lot of vibration in the slab, which can send shock waves through the concrete and create damage to the surrounding slab, the foundation and even the walls. Instead, I suggest you have a concrete-cutting company come in and saw the slab first in the affected areas. There’s going to be lots of dust from the cutting, hammering and removal of the concrete, as well as from the repairs and the patching. Be sure everything in the house gets well covered with plastic. Remodeling and repair questions? Send email to paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.
Edmond
INMAN NEWS
466
2bd/1ba, 1392sf, $900mo $900dep. Pets ok. 1 year lse. Walking dist. to UCO Avail now 405-314-8744 EXEC 4BR 3.5BA 3000+ sf in Hunters PT Avl now 3 car $1800mo 348-5169
MWC
468
2bd 2ba 1car, vault ceil, fans, Extra Nice! no pets. $625 354-7413 642-3847 411 Heritage Place 3/3/2 3938 sf, $1300 mo, C-21 Goodyear, 823-7605. 2 bd 2 bth 1 car Appl. Fenced, $600 + $600 deposit 405-737-7543
OKC Northwest
475
» Darling 2Bd, 2Ba, garage» Good Area, Nice! V. Clean PC Schls $750. » 685-0332 2541 NW 15th 3bd 2bath 1car, 1400sf, close to OCU 409-7989 no sec 8 Luxury 2/2/2 Quail Creek Duplex $895 603-4775
OKC Southeast
476
4924 S Kathy Drive, $695 rent, $400 dep, sec 8 ok, 3/1.5/2, 324-2611
469
Valley Brook Cute 3bed w/stove, refrig, carport, $525 mo 596-8410
3/2/2 + study, fireplace, 1745sf $1300 + dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
5533 Huddleston, MWC schl. 3bd 2ba 2car Nice $850mo. 732-3411
750sq 1br, ch&a, FP W/D HU, appls, near OCU, $475 + dep 250-2770
Newalla
HISTORIC CHARMER 2bd/1ba, ch&a, new paint Too Cute! $575 ¡ 314-9787
3bd 1K ba 2car, 1.6 acres 1450sf $875 + dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
OKC Southwest
1211 N Villa 1bed 1ba ch/a $575/mo $300/dep 900sf 409-7989 no sec 8
OKC Northwest
Garage Apartments
KAT Properties-Apt & Homes for rent. Scan this with your phone app
453
906 N Gardner 3bd 1O ba corner fp, w/d hk ups wat/ garb pd $550mo 408-5836
461
Moore
471
475
Bills Paid
Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077
RE for rent Del City
465.5
800 NW 117th St. 3bd 2ba 2car gar ch&a fp $800mo $800dep no pets 519-2845 Exec Home, Greens, 3liv, 2 din, 3 bd, 2.5ba, 2car, FP, 2700 sf, $1,450 mo, 4400 Windsong Way » 755-6036 612 NW 109 3bed 2bath 2car 1200sf 409-7989 no sec 8
2 bedroom, $300 + $300 dep. No Pets. 703 SE 20th. 405-412-6881
HISTORIC CHARMER 2bd/1ba, ch&a, new paint Too Cute! $575 ¡ 314-9787
Edmond
3020 W Park Place, 2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, fenced, $650 mo, $400 dep, 285-2627.
466
LEASE
2808 Green Canyon 3bed, 2ba, 2 Car Garage, 1500 1FP, Traditional Home, central heat, central A/ C, $1150 mo/$1150 dep 405-702-1925 Extra Clean, fresh paint, 3 bed, 1 bath, attached garage, W/D hook-up, ch&a $800mo, $350dep. No Sec. 8, No pets. 522 Sunnyside Place Edmond ¡ 722-1354
3200 S Dumas 2bd 1ba $375 605 SW 25th 2bd 1ba $495 944 SW 35th 3bd 1ba $535 1136 SW 52 2bd 1ba $595 Free List 681-7272 2 bed, 1 car, elec stove, eye level oven, big yard, $500 + deposit, 735-7178 3 bd, 1 ba, nice, 2747 SW 64th, ch&a, appls, fncd yard, $795 mo, 721-3757
525 SW 26K upstairs 1bd 1ba $300mo $175dep 700sf 409-7989 no sec 8
Hotels/Motels 462
477
2100 NW 114 - 3bed 2ba 2car plus study 1620sf 409-7989 no section 8 1bd condo $500 mth. 6026 NW Expressway Mike 627-1135 Paradigm 616 NW 92nd 3bd 1ba $525 + paint allowance 681-7272 1419 NW 49th 2 bed 1 bath, ch&a, appliances 405-501-6570
Norman
473
1606 Wind Hill Dr Nice 3bd 1.5ba 2car, ch/a, fresh paint, clean $800 mo Fidelity692-1661, 410-4200
Yukon
482
IN GROUND POOL 4bed, 2ba, 2 Car 1FP, Mustang Schools $1,300. 694-3575
Mobile Home Rentals 483 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
8E
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SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Housing fund lags in North Dakota oil country BY JAMES MACPHERSON
Williston spiked from $700 to $2,000 practically overnight. Fixed-income seniors have been especially hard hit by the rising housing costs, said Alvina Skogen,
The Associated Press
BISMARCK, N.D. — Farmers Gary and Alvina Skogen contributed what they could to a fund that supports the construction of affordable housing for seniors and others living primarily in North Dakota’s booming oil patch. “Some people are victims of the boom and that’s what we were thinking when we designated our dollars,” said Alvina Skogen, who has seen locals driven out of western North Dakota by skyrocketing rental and home prices aimed at highly paid workers drawn by the oil rush. While contributions from people like the Skogens are undoubtedly valued, it is the big companies — with big cash reserves — that have the capacity to make an impact on the fund. But North Dakota Housing Finance Agency records obtained and analyzed by The Associated Press show that only a handful of the hundreds of businesses that benefit directly from the oil bonanza have contributed to the housing incentive fund. The low-income housing development program gives individual and business donors a dollar-fordollar tax credit, and they can designate their contributions for specific projects or regions. The state
A crew works on an apartment building under construction in Williston, N.D. A fund aimed at building affordable housing in North Dakota’s booming oil patch is coming up short and hundreds of proposed units might not be built. AP PHOTO
Legislature last year increased the amount of money to finance the credits from $4 million to $15 million. But contributions are lagging expectations. More than $8.3 million is needed by the end of the year to finance the credits or several hundred units may not be built, said Sarah Mudder, a spokeswoman for the housing agency. “Without adequate contributions, projects cannot break ground,” Mudder said. Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said his group has strongly encouraged its members to contribute. “We have spent a lot of time and effort trying to promote this effort,” said Ness, who group represents some 325 companies working in North Dakota’s oil industry. But few companies in the state, oil-related or
otherwise, have stepped up, records show. Ness said that beyond taxes paid, oil-related companies in North Dakota also have donated tens of millions of dollars to charities funding everything from day cares to hospitals to volunteer fire departments. “The list is very long,” Ness said. “Industry is paying for a whole lot of things.” The housing agency said of 20 projects that aim to build a total of 570 units, only nine projects have been fully funded. Of the 20 housing projects, pegged at $86.5 million, 19 are planned for western North Dakota, where rental rates have soared due to demand. Longtime renters complain that the oil boom has made landlords greedy, sometimes doubling or tripling the monthly cost of a property. In one instance, the rents at an apartment complex in
who farms with her husband in Ray, a rural community about 25 miles northeast of Williston and in the epicenter of the state’s oil activity. “We are losing vital
people, people who have been volunteers, served on our boards and have spent their whole lives here,” she said. “Where do they go? Many of these people really don’t want to leave.”