The Oklahoman Real Estate by OPUBCO Communications Group

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Dallas-style home

Inviting front

The Listing of the Week is a two-story, brick home in northeast Edmond’s Redmont Trace addition. PAGE 6F

Nostalgic craftsman styling gives the Lincolnshire a welcoming front facade. PAGE 6F

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

LOBBYING FOR EASIER CREDIT Two federal agencies are encouraging lenders to ease up on loan underwriting restrictions that go beyond what the agencies themselves require for mortgage approvals. PAGE 3F

IN BRIEF WATER CLEANER USES OZONE

Earl Bourne shows the front of the townhouse duplex he restored at 2229-2231 N Gatewood Ave. The work earned a Citation of Merit from the State Historic Preservation Office of the Oklahoma Historical Society. PHOTOS BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Family’s roots fuel interest in history PRESERVATION | OKLAHOMA CITY PROJECT EARNS RECOGNITION BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com

Earl Bourne’s family roots run deep through Oklahoma’s history, back to the Land Run of 1889 and the grandparents who made the trek, who established a homestead — and who later sold that homestead to a certain Henry Overholser. The Overholser Mansion was built on the site, Bourne said. But part of the dairy his grandparents established after selling the homestead still stands, somewhat worse for wear, tucked away among retail outlets in eastern Oklahoma City. It’s on the National Register of Historic

Places. Maybe that fuels his fascination with historic buildings, a passion he shares with his sister Sally Bourne Ferrell. “I’m afraid my older sister and I have this disease about historic preservation,” Bourne said. “But I really don’t know why we got into it.” Bourne spent 30 years renovating a historic home while teaching at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, returning what had been divided into apartments back to its former glory and earning it a National Register spot as well. When he moved back to Oklahoma City in 2006, he bought a home dating to 1920.

His sister may have taken it a step further, though, swooping in to save a downtown frame home from death by Urban Renewal. “She took the roof and the third floor off, moved it 50-some miles to Chandler and reassembled it,” Bourne said. The only catch? It got caught in the rain. “Some of the maple flooring just bowed up,” he said. A more recent project, a tidy red brick duplextownhouse on N Gatewood Avenue, just across NW 23 from Oklahoma City University, may represent a different level of accomplishment. The SEE OVERHAUL , PAGE 2F

Replacing black and white floor tiles was one of several improvements that Earl Bourne made in the 1946 townhouse duplex at 2229-2231 N Gatewood Ave.

Senior-friendly houses pull in big prices For several months, a nurse and her accountant husband tried in vain to sell their yellow stucco house in an upscale neighborhood. But it was only after their real estate agent began promoting the home’s senior-friendly features — like its first-floor master suite — that the place finally sold. After their agent’s change in marketing strategy, the couple were able to beat out rival sellers in their community. Given the aging population — coupled with a shortage of senior-friendly houses in many areas — the agent was wise to target the older-buyer market, said Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.” Granted, one-level apartmentstyle condos are widely available in numerous communities. But according to Davis, many seniors who’ve spent their adult lives in detached suburban housing have an intense aversion to apartment living. Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Realtors (www.realtor.org), said some

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

seniors who try apartment living later reverse course, heading back to a traditional detached house. Are you seeking to sell a detached house with features that would make it suitable for older buyers or people with disabilities? And do you and your listing agent believe such features are in high demand among buyers in your community? If so, these pointers might be helpful: I Consider adapting your house to make it more appealing to seniors. To cater to the burgeoning senior market, some sellers are tempted to renovate their houses to make them more user-friendly. For example, they might consider adding a first-floor master suite. But Davis said such a major in-

vestment is usually a mistake, unless you intend to enjoy the improvement for several years before you move. “Spending too much on a presale basis is overkill. Normally you can’t expect to get any more than 60 percent back for a major addition when you sell,” he said. Still, there are less expensive steps that could be justified by sellers who have the senior market in mind. For example, you might wish to replace shag carpet with laminate flooring to make your rooms easier to navigate by those in wheelchairs. Also, home sellers who are already planning to redo a kitchen might want to incorporate some easy-to-use features such as low kitchen cabinets and countertops, as well as wide doorways. “Many people don’t wait until they have health problems or need a wheelchair to think about buying a more accessible house. Once they hit their early 60s, they start preparing for their future needs,” Davis said. I Highlight your home’s senior-friendly features to the

public. Any home placed on the Multiple Listing Service can be easily tagged by a listing agent to reflect its senior-friendly features. Because of this, any agent searching on behalf of senior buyers can do a computer check that will locate nearly all the available one-level homes in a neighborhood, as well as those with a first-floor master suite. But Helfant said the listing agent for a senior-friendly house can do more than just identify its features through the MLS. Ask your agent to highlight your home’s special features through all forms of advertising, including newspapers, Internet and social media. “These days homebuyers of all ages, including seniors, use many means to collect information about homes that interest them. In fact, by the time they drive up for a visit to a property, they often know more than the agent does about the house,” Helfant said. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK

The Lotus Pro cleaning system promises to turn plain tap water into a chemical-free cleaner and sanitizer. The system oxygenates water by adding an extra atom to oxygen molecules, turning the water into liquefied ozone. The company says the resulting cleaner kills viruses and bacteria and removes odors, stains, mold and mildew from any surface. It works much like oxygen chemical cleaners, but the liquid ozone reverts to water and oxygen after the job is done, the company says. Lotus Pro’s trigger spray system has an oxygenating unit and a trigger spray bottle. A replaceable filter cartridge lasts about three months. It can be ordered for $200 plus shipping from www.tersano.com or (877) 650-5525.

HOMESTYLE VERANDA BOOK For 25 years, Veranda magazine has been taking readers inside some of the world’s most elegant homes. Now some of the best examples are gathered in a new book, “The Houses of Veranda.” The book, by Veranda founder Lisa Newsom, showcases interiors of homes in a variety of styles, decorated by noted designers. It’s a virtual home tour of fine interiors. Newsom takes her readers inside such diverse homes as a castle in Belgium and an apartment on Park Avenue. “The Houses of Veranda” is published by Sterling Publishing Co. and sells for $60 in hardcover. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

INDEX Stone Permits

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

LEFT: Living room fireplace in Earl Bourne’s restored townhouse duplex, built in 1946. PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Overhaul: Townhouse latest project FROM PAGE 1F

duplex, built in 1946, drew a Citation of Merit this year from the State Historic Preservation Office of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “This is the newest house I’ve ever owned,” Bourne said with a laugh. The property was long neglected when he bought it as investment property in 2010. The only way to make it habitable was to overhaul it from the inside out. Plumbing, heating and cooling systems, wiring, interior trim — it all had to go. Bourne went through the preservation office to secure a mix of state and federal tax credits to help finance the project. “It was absolutely essential,” he said. “If you figure out a place financially in the ballgame, you figure what rental income you can get off it and so forth.” Without the boost from the tax credits, it would’ve been impossible to get the costs down enough to make the duplex a viable rental proposition, he said. Bourne worked closely with historic preservation architect Harry Simms, who helped him navigate an exacting rehabilitation process that required scrutiny at practically every step. Simms, in turn, nominated Bourne for a ci-

tation, said Melvena Heisch, deputy state historic preservation officer. The preservation office makes a point of recognizing rehabilitation projects that take the more arduous route like Bourne’s did. “The property owner certainly has the option to not pursue appropriate rehab and just punt on tax credits,” Heisch said. “They certainly have that option.” Bourne finished up the work last fall. The duplex features two apartments of about 1,400 square feet each that mirror each other in design. Each has a half-bath tucked under the stairway plus a full bath and two bedrooms upstairs. They share a communal patio and grill out back as well as garage space. The tile work in both kitchens look vintage, but it isn’t. Bourne had fresh tile installed but made sure it looked like it belonged. “I like to stick to the era of the house,” he said. Bourne’s property highlights an important element in historic preservation, Heisch said. “Historic buildings are everywhere and in every neighborhood. All people, all ethnic groups, everybody has a heritage in this state. It doesn’t have to be a mansion to be significant.”

An upstairs bathroom in the 1946 townhouse duplex has a period pedestal sink.

Earl Bourne works in the garden in front of the townhouse duplex he is restoring and renting out at 2229-2231 N Gatewood Ave. PHOTOS BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN

Entry with new floor tiles in the townhouse duplex.

Daikin inverter heat and air-conditioning unit in a living room of Earl Bourne’s restored townhouse duplex.

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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

Agencies urge lenders to ease restrictions WASHINGTON — Two federal agencies with farreaching influence over the mortgage market are working on a problem that could affect the ability of many consumers to obtain a home loan: how to encourage private lenders to ease up on their underwriting restrictions that go beyond what the agencies themselves require for mortgage approvals. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees giant investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration, which runs the low-down-payment FHA program, are considering steps they might take to persuade lenders to open the mortgage spigots a little wider. Together, Fannie, Freddie and FHA account for 90 percentplus of all home loan funding. The focus of their little-publicized reform projects: the “overlay” rules many lenders have adopted that lump extra fees, larger down payments and higher credit-score requirements onto home loans than Fannie, Freddie or FHA actually require. For example, Fannie and Freddie may accept FICO credit scores of 660 to 680, and FHA will approve applications with scores as low as 580. Yet lenders originating loans for them often want to see scores 100 points higher. Another example: FHA recently inaugurated a “streamline refi” program designed to

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

encourage widespread refinancings for borrowers with good payment histories by offering low mortgage insurance fees, no appraisals and no credit checks. Great idea, but lenders have clamped their own more stringent underwriting restrictions on the program, frustrating consumers. Some banks require full appraisals, credit checks and add-on fees. Other lenders have announced that they are limiting eligibility for the program to customers they already service, despite the fact that FHA allows borrowers to seek streamline refinancings from any FHA-approved lender. Why are lenders making it tougher than necessary for creditworthy applicants to obtain a mortgage? Tops on the list: They are practicing what one prominent mortgage industry consultant describes as “defensive lending.” “Defensive lending is the mortgage equivalent of defensive medicine,” where doctors run more tests than needed to reduce litigation risk, said Brian Chapelle, principal

Lenders are practicing what one prominent mortgage industry consultant describes as “defensive lending.” at Potomac Partners in Washington, D.C. “Rather than more medical tests, mortgage lenders are adding underwriting requirements and program restrictions to avoid overstepping a sometimes ambiguous line” that will trigger penalties from Fannie, Freddie or FHA. Even minor technical infractions in underwriting or documentation can cause “buyback” demands by Fannie or Freddie when loans go into default, with costs per loan for the lender sometimes soaring to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Plus the Justice Department is putting pressure on major banks to pay millions of dollars to settle allegations of systemic flaws in their mortgage practices — settlements the banks consent to not on the merits but to avoid protracted litigation and hits to their stock prices. On top of this, banks and other originators are uncertain about upcoming

Inverters bring power from car to the home BY SUSAN CARPENTER Los Angeles Times

Summer is here, and with it the high temperatures and cranked air conditioning that sometimes leads to power outages in certain areas. A backup option to a costly gas-powered generator is sitting in the driveway: a car. Power inverters on the market connect to car batteries to keep home appliances running. Just pop the hood, connect the inverter directly to the battery of a running car and thread the power cord from the inverter into the house. A refrigerator, television, lights or other devices that usually plug into a wall outlet would instead connect to the inverter power cord. The inverter, similar in size to a hardcover book, converts direct current, or DC power, coming from the car battery into alternating current, or AC, used in most homes. PowerBright, based in Coral Springs, Fla., makes inverters in a variety of power configurations. A 900-watt version, costing about $60, is strong enough to run a sump pump, freezer or refrigerator, and it can handle the peak power surge from first plugging in a refrigerator, Chief Executive Gil Hetzroni said. A 2,300watt version, Hetzroni said, can power many appliances at the same time. Power inverters work with gas-powered cars as well as electric vehicles, but Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have both developed equipment specifically for electric cars. The bidirectional electric vehicle charger, which Nissan calls the Leaf to Home electricity supply system and Toyota dubs V2H for vehicle-to-home charging system, can reverse the flow of electricity from electric car to house in case of blackouts. The chargers aren’t yet available in the U.S., but they are being piloted in Japan. Nissan and its research partner General Electric previewed the

When the power goes out a power inverter can be used to turn a car’s engine into electricity for home appliances. Some models, such as this one from PowerBright, can power large or multiple appliances but users must find one with the right output. MCT PHOTO

system at a meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers in April. In that demonstration, a Nissan Leaf powered LED lighting, a fan and a wine refrigerator. “We could’ve powered much more, but the limitations were the booth,” said Matt Nielsen, principal scientist in General Electric’s electrical engineering division. Most Leaf drivers return to their homes with 12 kilowatt-hours of charge left in their vehicles, Nielsen said, which is enough “to power quite a few circuits in your home for a couple

hours.” “We all have to keep in mind why blackouts happen. Sometimes it’s weather. Other times, grids get stressed from people coming home and turning on their air conditioning and plasma TVs and ovens,” said Nielsen, who also demonstrated a system called the Nucleus home energy manager. It monitors how much energy a home is using and interacts with the Leaf to charge at off-peak times, reducing the threat of blackouts in the first place. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

mortgage regulations that stem from the Dodd-Frank financial reform law that will spell out the rules for future lending. In a nutshell, Chapelle said, government agencies and Congress have fostered a play-it-ultra-safe environment, where the pressure is intense to lend only on the most conservative terms, even if that means turning down creditworthy applicants. What to do? The two agencies are mum about specifics but are expected to announce reforms sometime in the coming weeks. Lenders, on the other hand, know precisely what they’d like to see. Steve O’Connor, senior vice president of the Mortgage Bankers Association, says lenders want several

key changes in current procedures, including clear, point-by-point guidance on how the agencies will define reasonable grounds for buybacks or indemnifications going forward. Lenders also need assurance that after an agreed-upon period of time — say, 24 to 36 months — they will not be blamed for deficient underwriting on a loan that goes belly up. Some mortgage companies have been confronted with buyback demands on loans that defaulted for economic reasons after seven or eight years of on-time payments. “That’s crazy,” O’Connor said. FHA lenders, Chapelle said, also want greater fairness in the way they’re

treated when loans default, including revisions of lender monitoring standards that evaluate them poorly when they try to accommodate borrowers with lower credit scores and other blemishes. Bottom line: Lenders say they could loosen up a little on underwriting when federal agencies ease their buyback demands. Since the two top agencies are trying to figure how to do this, homebuyers might see slightly less punitive ”overlay” fees and underwriting later in the year. Don’t hold your breath but it could happen, and just might help you get approved for a mortgage. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Here’s how to install low-voltage outdoor lighting If you’re looking for an outdoor project this summer that can add safety and security while making your landscaping really pop, look no further than low-voltage outdoor lighting. Installing outdoor lights is fun, easy and affordable. It can make pathways safer to negotiate, and turn any backyard into a welcoming evening oasis.

What you’ll need There are three basic components to any exterior low-voltage lighting system: the lights, the transformer and the cable. It’s important that all three be selected to work together. At the heart of the system is the transformer, also sometimes called a power pack. The transformer is housed in a weatherproof metal box, and converts incoming 120volt AC electrical current down to 12 volts AC. The transformer also typically contains a timer or a photo cell, which is used to control the on/off cycles. Transformers are rated in watts of output, which is the total number of watts of lighting that they’re capable of hand-

Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME

ling. This is an important number to know, because it’s going to tell you how many lights of what type you can install on your system. There are thousands of different low-voltage lights, which use halogen bulbs with wattage ratings from 4 up to 50 watts, to choose from. There are spot lights, hanging lights, mushroom lights, deck lights that can be built into steps and decks, and even waterproof lights for use around ponds and fountains. Connecting it all together is the cable. Lowvoltage lighting cable is made from stranded copper wire, protected on the outside with a heavy insulation that’s weatherresistant and approved for direct burial. Once again, you want to select the wire based on the wattage of lighting you’ll be installing, and the length of wiring run. Low-voltage wire

is available in 16, 14 and 12 gauges. You can purchase everything you need as a kit, with a set of lights, a transformer and a coil of wire. The good thing about doing it this way is that you’re ensured that everything is matched, and you don’t have to do any calculations. But you’re typically going to be limited to just those lights on that transformer, and you won’t be able to add any more later on. A better way to go is to first design a lighting layout for your yard, based on what you need. Look at some examples of lights, see what you think you’d like to put where, and make a note of the different wattages. Add everything up, then factor in a certain percentage to allow for future expansion of your system. For example, perhaps you do a layout for your backyard that includes 10 15-watt lights, as well as two 40-watt spotlights for a couple of larger trees. That’s a total of 230 watts. You have some ideas for expanding your landscaping later, so you want to factor in an additional 25 percent, or about 58 watts.

Standing water under house prevented a full inspection DEAR BARRY: When we purchased our home, the termite inspector found plumbing leaks under the bathroom. But the home inspector did not inspect under the building because there was water on the ground, and he said this would be unsafe. He recommended ground drainage improvements to enable further inspection, but we went ahead without further inspection and bought the property. That turned out to be a mistake. Within days of moving in, we had a major sewage backup in the bathrooms. It turns out that we have rusted-out drainpipes and lots of roots in the main sewer line. We believe the sellers knew about these problems but said nothing. What should we do? Nick DEAR NICK: If the pest inspector found leaking under the building, he was not deterred by water on the ground. Perhaps the home inspector was too squeamish and should have done the same. Groundwater in a crawl space is an inconvenience for an inspector, and no one except a small kid enjoys crawling in the mud. But it hardly qualifies as a significant safety hazard. On the other hand, if the water on the ground was from leaking sewage, the inspector was wise to stay out, and the pest inspector probably should have done the same. If the seller claims no knowledge of the problem, proving otherwise could be difficult, but it seems unlikely that the plumbing problems just occurred for the first time. Sometimes a neighbor has knowledge of past plumbing problems. This is something to investigate by asking around. You need to obtain a repair bid from a licensed plumbing contractor. Hopefully, the costs will not be excessive. If repairs are expensive, you should get some legal advice regarding seller liability. DEAR BARRY: The buyer of our home wants to do his own inspection. Our concern is that he wants to get up on the roof. Our home is very high off the ground and the roof pitch is steep. He also wants to climb into the attic. I’m concerned he may fall and hurt himself or damage something while in the attic. We don’t want to offend the buyer, but we have a great concern. What do you advise? Janette

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

DEAR JANETTE: Perhaps you could have the buyer sign a liability waiver stipulating that he will hold you blameless in the event that he is injured during his inspection and that he will pay for anything that is accidentally broken. To ensure that this would be binding, you should obtain a legal form from a lawyer. Another option is offering to split the cost of a

professional home inspection. When compared with the cost of an attorney, it might even be worth it to pay the entire inspection fee. That aside: If your buyer believes that he is qualified to perform the same evaluation as a professional home inspector, he is naive. It takes years of fulltime inspection work to become truly qualified as a home inspector. If your buyer wants to experience undisclosed defects after the close of escrow, he should go ahead and do his own inspection. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

The total is 288 watts, so you’d want to select whatever transformer is the next size up from that, such as 300 watts. The same thing would hold true for the cable. Based on your layout, you know where the lights will be installed, so you can measure how much cable you need. By knowing the length of the cable and the number of watts, you can select the appropriate cable to fit the system.

Installing the system Now comes the fun part! You can have your system up and running in just a couple of hours, with no special skills and only some basic tools. First, select a spot for the transformer. Transformers don’t have very long electrical cords, so it will have to be close to a GFCIprotected (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet. If you’re installing it outside, be sure to use a protective cover over the plug and outlet to protect them.

The cable is attached to the bottom of the transformer. There are two screws, and it’s simply a matter of stripping the insulation off the cable to expose the wire, and attaching it to the screws; complete instructions will be included with the transformer. From the transformer, you can begin laying out the wire in the general direction of where your lights will go, but don’t hook anything up yet. Next, assemble your lights. Depending on the type and style of light, you may have to install the bulb, attach a stake or do some other type of assembly. Carefully follow whatever instructions came with the light fixture. Also, when handling halogen bulbs use a cloth. The bulbs are sensitive to oils from your fingers. Now place the lights where you want them, before you finish running the cable. Check your layout, and rearrange things as needed. When you’re hap-

py with everything, finish laying out the cable on the ground so that it follows the shortest route from light to light. Connecting the lights to the cable is simply a matter of pinching the light’s connector onto the cable. Place one-half of the connector on each side of the cable, and align the connector’s arms into the slots. The connector has two metal prongs that will penetrate the insulation and make contact with the wire inside. Using a pointed shovel, dig a 6-inch-deep trench next to the cable. Place the cable in the trench, but don’t bury it yet. Plug the transformer in, activate the timer or cover the photocell if necessary, and check each light to be sure it’s working. If everything’s OK, bury the cable and you’re all done! Remodeling and repair questions? Email 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

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LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Styling offers welcoming front facade Nostalgic Craftsman styling gives the Lincolnshire its comfortably welcoming front facade. Smooth round columns seated on stone veneer bases flank the gently arched entries, and iconic Craftsman windows face the street. Shingle-textured siding adds visual variety on the upper level. The units of this twostory duplex nearly mirror each other, with the exception of a second gable in unit B that results in a slightly differently shaped bedroom below it. Thus, the description of one unit will apply to both. A gentle down slope leads into the garage, which is about a half-flight lower than the ground floor. Secondary bedrooms and their shared bathroom sit above the garage, where an extra-thick wall boosts the sound buffering. From the driveway, a half-flight of stairs angles up to the vaulted porch. Inside, a convenient powder room is to the left and a coat closet is dead ahead. An opening on the right leads into a large vaulted room that comprises the living and dining areas. An abundance of natural light spills into the space through wide windows front and back. Casual meals and snacks can be served on the raised eating bar that bounds the kitchen and dining room. In warm weather, meals can move onto the patio, through the dining room’s sliding glass doors. Cabinets wrap around three sides of the kitchen, while counters line sections of all four.

The Listing of the Week is at 920 Stagmoor Circle in Edmond. PHOTO PROVIDED

Dallas-style home has 4 bedrooms, a 3-car garage

Working at the kitchen sink, you can keep an eye on the backyard, patio, and dining room. On the opposite side of the dining room, a passageway leads to the Lin-

colnshire’s owners’ suite, plus a small utility room. In addition to a walk-in closet, the suite includes a private bathroom with a dual vanity, shower, and linen closet.

A review plan of the Lincolnshire, including floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, can be purchased for $25 by phone, mail or online. Add $5 for shipping and handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. www.associateddesigns.com. (800) 634-0123.

The Listing of the Week is a two-story, brick, Dallas-style home in northeast Edmond’s Redmont Trace addition. The 3,668-square-foot home at 920 Stagmoor Circle has four bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, two living rooms, two dining rooms and an attached three-car garage. The main living room has a fireplace and ceiling fan. The upstairs family room has a built-in entertainment center and ceiling fan. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, eating space and a pantry. The master bedroom has a hisand-hers bath and ceiling

fan. Secondary bedrooms have full baths; two have ceiling fans; one has a walk-in closet and solar tube. The home has a storm shelter, open patio, security system and underground sprinkler system. The home, built in 2008, is listed for $550,000 with Victoria Caldwell of RE/MAX Associates Realtors. For more information, call 3598700. 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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Building permits Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Public Schools, 6708 S Santa Fe Ave., school, add-on, $6,600,104. Smith & Pickel Construction, 515 Central Park Drive, office, remodel, $2,000,000. Howard & Associates Inc. Architects, 2809 N Missouri Ave., church, erect, $1,700,000. Concrete Enterprises Inc., 12201 N May Ave., bank, remodel, $900,000. Jeff Moore Homes LLC, 5425 Mystic Place, residence, erect, $650,000. Hill’s Land & Construction, 11708 Milano Road, residence, erect, $600,000. PEC Enterprises Inc., 15310 N May Ave., office, erect, $584,000. Coy League Homes Inc., 3829 NW 44, residence, erect, $520,000. Wynn Construction Co Inc., 7745 NW 94, shell building, erect, $500,000. Crabtree Custom Homes LLC, 7600 NW 133 Place, residence, erect, $435,000. Castle Custom Homes LLC, doing business as Castle Creek Homes, 8308 NW 134 Terrace, residence, erect, $390,000. SAS Constructors, 1205 NW 178, restaurant, remodel, $350,000. Richmond Signature Homes, 17409 Parkgrove Drive, residence, erect, $350,000. Nextec Home LLC, 15300 Wilford Way, residence, erect, $300,000. Nextec Home LLC, 15317 Wilford Way, residence, complete, $300,000. Wayne Griffiths Homes, 5601 Hidden Fawn Circle, residence, erect, $300,000.

Bronco Steel Inc., 3415 S Interstate 35 Service Road, warehouse, erect, $275,000. Stonewall Homes LLC, 17224 S Midwest Blvd., residence, erect, $269,000. Dreamworks Construction LLC, 9024 NW 147 Terrace, residence, erect, $240,000. Beacon Homes LLC, 19125 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $228,000. League Custom Homes LLC, 8812 NW 110, erect, erect, $220,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 5616 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $200,000. Matt Wilson Custom Homes, 6500 NE 113, cabana-gazebo, erect, $200,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 8313 NW 141 Circle, residence, erect, $185,000. Authentic Custom Homes LLC, 8408 NW 143 Terrace, residence, erect, $184,149. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 5709 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 3109 NW 163 Court, residence, erect, $180,000. JB Homes LLC, 113 Settlers Way, residence, erect, $176,400. Bonadeo Building Co., 1508 NW 176, residence, erect, $175,000. Savannah Builders LLC, 11301 E Memorial Road, barn, erect, $175,000. Savannah Builders LLC, 11301 E Memorial Road, barn, erect, $175,000. Michelle Morgan, 10101 Southern Creek Drive, residence, erect, $175,000.

4005 Corbett-Like new 3/2/2 Owner carry 5k down 2 yrs for buyer to refinance 650-7667 www.homesofokcinc.com OWNER FINANCING $2000 down 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54,000 No Credit Ck 596-4599 410-8840 Bank Owned 3/2/1 w/30x50 shop .44ac $49.9k Realty Exp 414-8753

BY OWNER, MUST SELL AS IS Apprx. 2,500sf, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2.5 acres, pool, Deer Creek Schls. 1921ForestRd byappt4053598159 160 Acres prime Farmland in NW Noble Cty, on Billings, blacktop road. 2.5mi N of 412 Hwy, 80 acres is cultiavated; 80 acres pastures & trees, 2 ponds for quail deer,pheasant hunting. Legal: NW qtr of sec 29; township 23N; range 2Wof the IM Cty of Noble, State of Ok. Price negotiable 580-370-5104 Dream Ranch 120 Acre Farm/Ranch Southern Pottawatomie County, OK. 2 contiguous parcels, 1 hour south of OKC. 2 homes, 2 hay barns, fenced / cross fenced for sheep, cattle, horses. Improved grasses, 2 wells, 2 ponds, rural water Principals only call 405*788*1718 and leave message 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 PIEDMONT OPEN SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 "Must See" 4-14 Beautiful Acres Guthrie/Coyle area Price Reduced Owner Financing 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Now accepting major Credit Cards 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 with 2100sq ft double wide, Harrah/McLoud area, $25,900 CASH ONLY. 301-6495

SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE 160 Acre Farm Auction Thur – July 19 – 10:14 a.m. West of Clinton, Oklahoma Near Foss Lake & State Park 160 Acres Offered in 5 Tracts GREAT HUNTING POTENTIAL Deer, Turkey, Quail & More! Heard-Knight Auction 580-323-6120 or 580-331-9156 www.heardknight.com

Bank Owned 3/2.5/2 blt 85 brick, $79,900 Realty Experts 414-8753

REAL ESTATE 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14708 Pepperwell Oaks Drive, residence, erect, $170,000. Marcus Bird, 3420 SE 104, manufactured home, move-on, $170,000. KD Custom Homes, 6424 Bentley Drive, residence, erect, $168,000. KD Custom Homes, 6401 Bentley Drive, residence, erect, $168,000. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 3100 NW 181 Terrace, residence, erect, $165,600. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 18408 Haslemere Lane, residence, erect, $156,000. Diamond R Construction Inc., 19400 Lutheran Road, residence, erect, $150,000. Rose Creek Cottages Construction LLC, 17116 Trophy Drive, residence, erect, $150,000. Ron Walters Homes LLC, 729 NW 26, residence, remodel, $150,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 2409 NW 155, residence, erect, $150,000. M&D Homes LLC, 11733 SW 24 Terrace, residence, erect, $150,000. M&D Homes LLC, 2309 Wayne Cutt Ave., residence, erect, $140,000. Structural Systems of OKC, 2324 W Memorial Road, retail sales, remodel, $135,000. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 18401 Haslemere Lane, residence, erect, $134,560. BNJ Builders LLC, 8500 NW 23, school, remodel, $125,580. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 10924 SW 30, residence, erect, $120,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 10928 SW 30, residence, erect, $120,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 3305 Canton Trail, residence, erect,

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; possesssion at closing www.jkjauctions.com JKJ Real Estate 580-233-9800

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

$30,000. Chuck Robinson Homes Inc., 8201 Brookridge Drive, accessory, erect, $25,000. Trilink Restoration Group LLC, 5808 N Meridian Place, residence, fire restoration, $20,000. SWM & Sons Inc., 7417 Plains Ave., residence, add-on, $18,165. Scott Wheeler, 1012 SE 42, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $16,000. Mustard Seed, 501 S Mustang Road, retail sales, remodel, $15,000. Caston Construction, 901 N Lincoln Blvd., office, remodel, $15,000. Dereck Richards, 8907 Beck Drive, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $14,000. David Carty, 2225 NW 34, residence, fire restoration, $13,000. Timberlake Construction Co. Inc., 9800 N Oklahoma Ave., canopycarport, erect, $12,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Wynn Construction, 7745 NW 94, office, remodel, $10,000. Manir Khader, 2309 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $10,000. Freman Keeton, 2600 SW 103, residence, addon, $6,000. Juan Lopez, 414 SE 16, residence, remodel, $6,000.

AC Reality 2 LLC, 2206 NW 164, business, remodel, $6,000. No name provided, 11105 NW 115, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,200. No name provided, 13904 Plantation Way, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,150. Flat Safe, 113 Maindale Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,100. Kathy Davis, 3205 SW 130 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,050. J. Scott Fulkerson, 12112 Wentworth Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Janet Simpkins, 10516 Evergreen Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,975. Timberlake Construction Co. Inc., 9800 N Oklahoma Ave., install, install, $3,600. No name provided, 16320 Morningside Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,500. Darrell Ely, 8600 SW 58 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,500. Ronald Rueb, 11104 Maple Grove, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,500. Tina and Lance Walker, 12608 Arrowhead Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,500. Ground Zero, 21205 SE 119, storm shelter, remodel, $3,500. Sam Cholakathu Varghese, 4104 Scissortail Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,450. Flat Safe, 15108 Grand Parke Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400. Don Hacker, 9204 Lakecrest Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter,

K Office, K Warehouse. Various sizes. 221 W Wilshire 842-7300

Newly Remodeled 1&2bed No deposit for VA, seniors & disability. 4708 SE 44th 677-2200

3bd 1ba ch&a, fncd backyard, carpet, Sec 8 ok $600+ $250dep OKC Schls, 1520 McDonald 733-0470

704 SE 31st 1bed 1 bath $425 PER MONTH 408-5836

3bd, 1ba, din, laundry rm, storage shed, 4005 Parkwoods Ln, open Sun 1-2, $625 + dep, 412-7014.

$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

Updated Brick 3/1 extra parking, newer roof & ch/a, wood floors $80,000 Realty Experts 414-8753

1421 SW 64th Extra sharp 3bd brick home, ch/a, carport, storm shelter, 1100+ sf, nice area, fresh paint. All this only $64,900! Fidelity RE 410-4300, 410-4200 2813 SW 60th Spacious 3bd home w/2 liv areas, remodeled, fresh paint, new carpet & ceramic tile, new counter tops. $64,750 Fidelity RE 410-4300 410-4200 Owner carry 3912 S Agnew 2bd 1ba Nice 5000 dn 430 mo. 650-7667

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

We Buy Houses Fast Cash or Payments »» 405-412-7800 »»

1818 SW 19. Needs work 2 bd 11,000 Cash 650-7667

PRICE REDUCED 3/2/3 + off approx 2320', storm shelt $222,700 NEW EVERYTHING 3bd 3ba approx 2169' on 1.06 ac MOL, storm shelt $170,000 GREAT home on 1.07 ac mol 3/2/2 approx 1576' $149,00 Carmen 833-0106 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Cabin north end Lake Eufaula, $26,950 call 405-206-6582

Casita Blanca 2614 NW 50th 2bd 2ba 2car garage, 1200sf, $1300mo $1300 dep 409-7989 no sec 8

$200 off

1st Mo Rent Selected Units Large Townhomes & Apartments • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces

WILLIAMSBURG

7301 NW 23rd 787-1620 1st Mo Rent Selected units 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces, P.C. Schools

PARKLANE

908 N Gardner 3bd 1O bath corner fp, w/d hk ups water/ garbag pd $550mo 408-5836

5533 Huddleston, Very nice, D.C. school 3/2/2 $850/mo 732-3411

525K SW 26 upstairs 1bd 1ba $350mo $175dep 700sf 409-7989

721-5455

$99 Special

Bills Paid

Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077

Valencia Apts

Executive Home, The Greens, 4400 Windsong Way, 3 liv, 2 din, 3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2car, FP, 2700 sf, No Pets. $1,550 mo, » 405-755-6036 333 NW 89th Nice 3bd brick home 1.5ba 1 car gar ch/a. Only $595! Fidelity RE 410-4300, 410-4200 616 NW 92nd 3bd 1ba 681-7272

$475

1 bd furn $375; 2bd trailer unfurn $395; refs req. $150dep 321-4773

Large 2bd $575

Casady 751-8088

Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 34 & MacArthur 1bd 1ba Apt $325/mo $175/dep U pay Elec only 409-7989 no section 8

4801 Dimple 3 bd, 2 liv, ch&a, fenced, NICE $625mo ¡ 476-5011 4 BED 2 BATH CENTRAL AIR. Section 8. No pets. 405-672-0877 4500 SE 78th 4/2/2, 1540sf $1250 Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777

The Plaza 1740 NW 17th 1bd 1ba, 800sf, ch/a, wood floors, $550mo, $250 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

IMMACULATE 3bed 1.5bath 2 car, new hdwd flrs $990mo $1200dep 1yr lse: 6401 S Villa; 2528 ElToro. 627-3791 » WE LOVE TFA 944 SW 49th 3bd 2ba 1 car corner lot, fridge, stove, washer/dryer hookups, includes DirecTV, only $695! Fidelity 410-4300, 410-4200

2221 N. Meridian 946-6548

800 N. Meridian 1 bed. All bills paid 946-9506 PIEDMONT OPEN SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

3 bd, 2ba, 2 car, 2 story, fp, fenced, great loc. near SE 4th & Eastern. $950PMO and 1 yr lease. 823-6856 M-S Broker/Owner

8100 N. MacArthur Blvd

1 month Free

3928 E Reno $2000mo house & lg 1500sf whse 601-5905 235-5028

3/1N /2 h/w flrs ch&a on acreage 1300 N Douglas $750mo 872-1173

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

TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813

Cabin north end Lake Eufaula, $26,950 call 405-206-6582

Restaurant & Convenient Store LAKE TENKILLER 918-261-5932 » 3/2 /1 det., 1800 sq ft, fenced, 421 N. Barker, El Reno $50,000. » 4/2.5 /2, 2300 sq ft, fenced, remod, 1208 S. Hoff, El Reno $120,000. 262-4204

Quiet NW Townhome, 1 bed + study, 1K bath, $550mo 748-3868

1 & 2 BD & Townhouses •City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups Falcon Head Resort, 1bd 1ba, condo for sale,580-657-3959

1 mi E of Tinker, 3b 1b 2c, ch&a, $575+$400dep No pets 732-4351

» Furnished » 1bd $330 + elec. 2820 S Robinson 232-1549

$200 Off

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

$525

204 NE 16th 3bed 1bath $725 per month 408-5836

Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777 Double Wide REPO Like New $395mo. wac 405-577-2884

421 N Key Blvd 2/1 681-7272

$99 Move In Special!!! Large 1 & 2Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849

Cash 4 Clunkers! Guaranteed $5,000 for any trade towards down pymt of new home WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814

NEW 3bd/2bth $1500 down, 7.5% $281mo. 405-324-8010

SEE PERMITS, PAGE 8F

3320 SW 28th #A. Small efficiency. All bills paid $385mo 408-5836

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

REPO REPO REPO 4bd/3bth $648MO. wac 405-324-8000

$120,000. American Building Contractors & Developers LLC, 3309 Canton Trail, residence, erect, $120,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 2517 Demotte Drive, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8700 SW 46 Place, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 3116 SE 96, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8524 SW 47 Circle, residence, erect, $100,000. Prime Development, 7505 Meadow Lake Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15240 Stillwind Drive, residence, erect, $74,000. J&K Construction Enterprises LLC, 3025 Lamp Post Lane, residence, remodel, $67,000. Durley & Associates, 2504 NE 14, residence, remodel, $50,000. Par Trust, 2729 SE 93, residence, fire restoration, $50,000. AT&T Mobility, 722 N Broadway Ave., equipment, install, $50,000. Fausto Cifuntes, 1800 NW 16, restaurant, addon, $49,000. Pamela Ferencich, 9100 S Luther Road, manufactured home, move-on, $46,000. C4lLLC, 8111 NE 129, rehabilitation center, addon, $40,000. Graham (Greg) Inc., 5401 N Portland Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $40,000. Cleotilde Valenzuela, 2512 SW Murray Drive, residence, add-on, $30,000. Musiray and Taofik Idaye, 405 NW 85, residence, fire restoration,

Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 9420 NW 46, 1300 ft Log, 5K dn 450 mo 650-7667

625 Firelane 3/2/2 $995 1013 Apollo Cir 3/2/2 $950 1064 Skyline 5/3/3 $2395 22655 Stherly Farm 3/2.5/5 $2395 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

Moore Schls 1232 SW 93 Fenced corner lot, 3bd, 2ba, 2car garage, FP $1,050 No Pets¡ 405-755-6036 RENT TO OWN: 1113 SW 55th 3bd, 1.5ba, furn kitch, $700/mo + $700dep. Ready Aug 1st 641-5760 Rent to Own 4bd 3ba 2car K acre 3000sf WH Sch $950mo 414-4004

2607 Shoreridge 3/2/1 $825 207 Stanton 3/1/1 $695 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

GREAT Office Space. Various NW locations, 300-6000sf 946-2516

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

15628 Darlington Lane 3bd 2ba 2car garage $1675 mo, $1675 dep, 1846sf 409-7989 no sec 8

3bd, 2ba, w/appls incl. + W&D, Edmond Schools, storage shed. No pets. 348-6240 or 623-1181

7608 N Western. Retail/Office space, 1200sf available 370-1077

MAYFAIR Great loc! 1&2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ¡ 947-5665

3 bed, 1 bath, 2200sf, $900mo Call Alex, 990-0488

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

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Cleaning up meshes: tips on screen care FROM PAGE 7F

$3,395. Linda Maddoux, 12801 Fox Forest Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Chris and Jeni Milam, 7516 NW 131, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,350. Derek Ebert, 724 NW 139, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300. Robert and Angie Horn, 10304 NW 39, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. A. Duane Chenoweth, 2816 SW 111, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Charles Wende, 5804 NW 103, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Don B. Jones, 6916 NW 100, residence, remodel, $3,000. Evelyn Reding, 5008 S Anderson Road, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $3,000. Jerry Wingfield, 14113 Corso Strada, storm shelter, remodel, $3,000. Kevin Ragan, 6425 NW 134, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Perry Bryan, 3101 Aerie Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Pete and Joan Maschino, 608 Vickery Ave., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Ground Zero, 300 SW 174, storm shelter, remodel, $3,000. Brenda and Dennis Dodson, 1304 SW 109 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Brett Rose, 8121 Eagle Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Nchelsey Earwood, 2232 NW 197, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Robert Brown, 3112 Eagle Pass Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Shirley Qureshi, 16317 Old Olive Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Tai-Wei Yu, 15209 Misty Park Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Vikki Walters, 2208 NW 159 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Ground Zero, 7512 NW 130, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Kim Jameson, 2228 SW 137 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,905. Kim Jameson, 11808 Volterra Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,905. Brent Thornton, 5431 NW 132, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Ground Zero, 7924 Maehs Lane, storm shelter, remodel, $2,800. Christina Shay, 1700 NW 194 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,795. Alloy Building Co., 1617 NE 50, canopy-carport, erect, $2,500. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 305 Durkee Road, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,300. Oscar Hidrogo, 2232 SW 39, accessory, erect, $2,000. Keith Knott, 928 Westchester Drive, canopycarport, erect, $1,000. Omar Atayde, 1724 NW 8, canopy-carport, addon, $1,000. Malcolm Hall, 45 NE 27, pet-animal service, remodel, $1,000.

Demolition Jonathan Greeson, 3400 S Harvey Ave., residence. Justin Stewart, 2708 S Klein Ave., garage. Midwest Wrecking, 2800 N Santa Fe Ave., warehouse. Midwest Wrecking, 3228 NE 15, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 8301 N Midwest Blvd., residence. Midwest Wrecking, 1139 NE 7, single-family residence. Midwest Wrecking, 1NE 36.

BY AMY LORENTZEN

there’s a better option that won’t cost you a repair. Check the top of your door for a piston mechanism that you can turn and increase the pressure, to make the door close more slowly. To keep window screens and doors sliding smoothly, Walker suggests skipping oil-based lubricants such as WD-40 and in-

For The Associated Press

For many of us, spring cleaning includes washing winter dirt and debris off windows and window screens. Paying extra attention to screens now can end up saving homeowners money, as well as ensuring better views and keeping out bugs. Here’s the lowdown on screens and screen care:

Cleaning is key The average home has 12 to 15 window screens, usually made of aluminum or fiberglass with a vinyl coating. Experts recommend washing them twice a year, but at least once in the spring to rid them of winter grime. “We’ve had the rain and the snow all winter and the dirt builds up on them,” said Scott Walker, president and owner of Screenmobile, a mobile window and door screening company with close to 100 locations throughout the country. “If you think of them as a filter, you wouldn’t want to breathe all the dust and the dirt that builds up.” The easiest way to start is by marking screens so you’ll remember which window they fit, said Colleen Maiura, a spokeswoman with Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. You can use a marker or a small piece of tape that’s strong enough not to be washed away by the garden hose. She suggests a cleaning solution of 1 cup ammonia, 3 cups of water and a squirt of dish detergent. Lay the screens on a flat surface, thoroughly wet them with a hose and use a squirt bottle to apply the cleaning mix. Leave it on for about 10 minutes, use a soft-bristled brush to remove stubborn grime, then rinse. Don’t scrub aluminum screens too hard; you could dent them. Maiura suggests shaking screens to remove excess water. If you’ve got fiberglass ones, gently snap them with a towel to send water drops flying and prevent hard water stains. If you pay someone to wash your windows, it’s a good idea to inspect the

A dog leans against a pet-resistant “Pet Screen,” a product offered by Phifer Wire Products. AP PHOTO

screens beforehand. That way you won’t blame washers for tears already there.

Repairs for a reason The point of having window screens is to let you open up your home to fresh air while keeping bugs and debris out. Rips and tears in the mesh, or bent screen frames, defeat that purpose. Walker said you can do some minor repairs on your own. Inexpensive patch kits available at home improvement stores include small pieces of mesh that grab around holes and close them up. Pieces of household tape can cover up tiny tears. Neither option is attractive, Walker adds, but they can serve as quick fixes in otherwise good screens. Homeowners can attempt to fix slight bends in aluminum screens, but should know that the frame may crack under the stress. Spring or summer cleaning is also the time to repaint wooden screen frames if needed. Painting helps seal the wood and keep it from warping.

Preventing damage Children and pets can be especially tough on screens and screen doors because sometimes they just don’t see them. Consider using decorative stickers to remind them that a screen is there. Pet screens can be mounted on sliding screen doors for easy access for pets that enjoy the outdoors. For those who might have used an elbow to keep a swinging screen door from closing too quickly,

stead using a siliconebased lubricant, such as furniture polish. If you have the storage space, cleaning screens in the fall and then storing them away during the winter can extend their life, experts say.

Replace as needed If a screen has large or multiple holes, or if its

frame is bent or broken, it’s time for a new one. “Our rule of thumb is that if the frame. doesn’t seal up against the window, then the bugs can come around there, so you’d need to replace it,” Walker said. Fiberglass screens, which have a vinyl coating, will begin to show white strands.