LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
2-year-old home
The Ontario
The Listing of the Week is a 2-year-old, two-story home in Nichols Hills. PAGE 3E
A welcoming front porch enhances the comfortably familiar country styling of the one-and-a-half story home. PAGE 6E
REAL ESTATE
Kenneth Harney
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
THE NATION’S HOUSING
SUPPLY DOWN IN MOST AREAS One of the sobering fundamentals shaping real estate this summer is shrinking inventory: The supply of houses for sale is down significantly in most areas compared with a year ago. PAGE 3E
IN BRIEF
The entrance to Hawthorn, a neighborhood under way by Johnston Builders in The Village, is west off N Pennsylvania south of Hefner Road behind The Village Library. PHOTOS BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Hawthorn pulls together area
HOMES | ADDITION IN THE VILLAGE REVIVES SITE WHERE FORMER APARTMENTS HAD DECAYED BEYOND REPAIR BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com
THE VILLAGE — Gary and Pat Clark had no intentions of buying a house that day last spring, at least not right away. All their talk about downsizing and selling off their enormous Edmond home was focused somewhere ahead. “We’d already listed our house,” Gary Clark said. “We said, ‘As soon as this sells, we’ll do something.’ ” But while driving around one afternoon in April, the Clarks followed instinct and some signs into the Hawthorn neighborhood near the corner of N Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road. Only three houses were standing, and they toured each one. The first one was too small. The second one didn’t feel right either. They made their way to the third house, which served as the sales office. “We just stepped into the foyer there, we looked at each other, and we said,
Pat and Gary Clark show their living room at 10356 Hawthorn in The Village’s Hawthorn neighborhood, where construction is under way by Johnston Builders.
‘This is what we want,’ ” Gary Clark recalled. They bought it the next day, causing builders Jay and Doug Johnston to pack up their sales office and move. “It’s a nice problem to
have,” Jay Johnston said with a laugh. Hawthorn is Johnston Builders’ 12th neighborhood, one mixing garden homes and town homes with a swath of green offering walking trails and
natural beauty. What helps set it apart, though, is what isn’t there anymore — namely, an apartment complex. “Those apartments were rundown and were just kind of an eyesore,”
Johnston said. “They were the only ugly thing out here.” When built in the 1970s, Village Lake Apartments was a popular place to live, said Leslie Batchelor, development counsel for the city of The Village. But time and its owners were not kind to it. Fannie Mae foreclosed. By the time city officials decided to step in with a revitalization plan in 2006, the complex was in serious disrepair. Nobody was sure what was going to happen with those apartments, Batchelor said. “But we knew they were in such bad shape that something needed to happen,” she said. The Village wanted to mend a tax base, stinging from business closures, through private-public partnerships, and at the heart of it was the idea of a “walkable urban village,” Batchelor said. “It’s a great location there with the post office and the library and a park,” Batchelor said. “It just needed to be kind of pulled together, and that’s what SEE HAWTHORN, PAGE 2E
Surroundings matter when buying home A discount store manager and his wife, a post office clerk, had long searched for an affordable house for their retirement years. So they were thrilled when they found a property that seemed perfect: a small, well-priced, singlelevel ranch-style house on a manageable lot. But in their excitement, the couple failed to take note of the home’s setting. Living just a quarter-mile from an airport, the surrounding neighborhood suffered the near-constant drone of planes flying overhead. “Happily, these folks realized the racket would be a terrible problem and backed away from buying the house before it was too late,” said Leo Berard, the longtime real estate broker who represented the buyers. Berard said that it’s not unusual for some homebuyers to fall in love with a house located in the wrong setting. “Homebuyers should never ignore the overall neighborhood, or the quality of their lives could be at stake,” said Berard, charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org).
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES
Here are a few pointers for homebuyers who want to ensure they choose a home in the right setting: I Factor shopping into your neighborhood choice. Berard said the typical buyer wants to be within a 10- to 12minute drive of a full-service supermarket. The proximity of other commercial enterprises, such as hardware stores, dry cleaners and gas stations, is also important to purchasers, as well as quality restaurants. Still, Berard said few homebuyers are willing to live extremely close to these amenities, fearing that traffic and noise could be a problem. This could be especially vexing if they find themselves within earshot of a store, a restaurant or still worse, a bar.
I Seek a leafy neighborhood if greenery is important to you. Are trees and green space more important to you than lavish kitchen or bathroom fixtures? If so, you should seek firm assurances that the green areas around the home you buy will stay that way. He recommends that homebuyers stop by the local government’s planning and zoning office to learn more about long-term plans for open areas near any residence they may purchase. I Don’t forget to factor crime statistics into your consideration. Prospective homebuyers should contact local police before confirming plans to settle into a neighborhood that seems appealing, said Timothy Saeland, a real estate broker affiliated with the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (www. rebac.net). “People look at crime statistics on the Internet. But fewer than one in 100 take my advice and stop by to talk to people at a local police station to learn more about the nature of crime in their area. Doing so is well worth your time,” he said. I Realize that location is ulti-
mately a personal choice. For most homebuyers who are employed, a reasonable commute to work tops their search list when choosing a neighborhood. But beyond these positives, Berard said purchasers vary widely in the importance they attach to neighborhood features. Often, personal interests are critically important to the selection of the best possible neighborhood. For instance, Berard tells how one pair of clients — married rabbis — stressed their need to find a house within walking distance of a neighborhood synagogue. Homebuyers also vary in terms of their resistance to certain neighborhood features. For instance, some find it objectionable to live close to a church that draws many cars on Sunday mornings. Yet that doesn’t bother others. “At the end of the day, your choice of a community is a highly individual matter. But it’s also extremely important to your happiness,” Berard said. To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
ENERGY-SAVING IRON Rowenta has introduced an energysaving iron. The Eco Intelligence Iron has a sole plate that concentrates steam on the fabric so less steam is lost, meaning less water needs to be used. It’s also designed to optimize steam output to save energy, the company said. The iron has an ergonomic rotary trigger for both left- and right-handed users. Like other Rowenta irons, it has a narrow tip for reaching narrow areas and a stainless-steel sole plate that resists scratches. The iron can be ordered for $96.24 plus shipping from www.qvc.com.
EASY-LIVING FEELING Interior designer Tim Clarke helps readers capture the easyliving feel of the beach in his book “Coastal Modern” — even when the beach is thousands of miles away. Clarke explains in his introduction that coastal modern style isn’t just about beach houses, but about any house that’s inspired by the sea. Nor is his idea of “modern” cold and severe. The homes he features in the book are designed to be comfortable and personal, incorporating natural materials, antiques and flea market finds — and, of course, the colors of the coast. Photographs by Noah Webb showcase homes Clarke has decorated. “Coastal Modern” is published by Clarkson Potter and sells for $50 in hardcover. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Stone Permits
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THE OKLAHOMAN
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LEFT: Johnston Builders continues construction in the Hawthorn neighborhood in The Village. PHOTOS BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Hawthorn: The Village took action FROM PAGE 1E
the city is trying to do.” With no savior stepping forward to take on decaying apartments, The Village finally had to kickstart the process by purchasing the complex itself and clearing the property. “It was very brave of the city to take on this issue that was a thorn in the side of the community,” Batchelor said. “They were reluctant to do it, but they saw there was all this development potential in that area that was being held back by this blighted property.” Johnston Homes entered the picture in 2010 after The Village put out a request for proposals to build on the emptied swath of land. The first house in Phase 1 was finished in October, and 20 have been sold since, Johnston said. Phase 1 will have 59 homes, including town homes that will be finished in the next few months.
Jay Johnston and Doug Johnston of Johnston Builders show the kitchen of the model home at 10354 Hawthorn Drive in The Village.
Many selling points Jack Roberts is among the newest residents, a widower who moved in July 6 after living in a fourbedroom home in Edmond for years. His new home’s size and layout smoothed the transition. “The master bedroom was the same size as the one I was coming out of, and so was the living room,” he said. “I had four Jack Roberts, one of the newest residents of Hawthorn addition in The Village, bedrooms and used one of says the size and layout of his home at 10212 Hawthorn eased his transition from them as a study, and this the four-bedroom home he and his late wife had for years in Edmond. Pictured is place has an office. It was his living room. like I’d just stepped out of that other house.” Hawthorn’s homes are designed to appeal mainly to empty-nesters looking to scale down and simplify. The homeowners association takes care of exterior maintenance, including repairs and yard care. The yards themselves are large enough for small pets but measured in square feet rather than acres. “These are the people who have had a big yard in the past and don’t care for a big yard,” Johnston said. It’s a selling point for the Clarks, travel agents who enjoy traveling themselves. They can come Jack Roberts shows his bedroom at 10212 Hawthorn in The Village’s Hawthorn home to a lawn that’s neighborhood. mowed with flowers still alive. caring for Beau and Sam, neighbors that we’re get- great lengths to help rehaHawthorn also offers the Clarks’ Siamese cats, ting, that are moving in bilitate what was once a advantages not detailed in while the Clarks were in out here,” Gary Clark said. neighborhood blight. the homeowners associ- Mexico. Another neighbor “It was kind of a double Johnston said he and his ation agreement. Neigh- has already volunteered to family are already looking whammy,” he said. “It was bors are knitting together a look after them the next toward an adjacent slice of risky for the city of The sense of community. One time they leave town. land for the second phase. Village to do that, but it reneighbor spent 17 days “That’s the kind of He said The Village went to ally paid off for them.”
The Hawthorn neighborhood in The Village includes a park and walking trail.
THE OKLAHOMAN
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Supply, demand make return to housing market WASHINGTON — Though many home shoppers who assume they are still in a buyer’s market find it hard to believe, one of the sobering fundamentals shaping real estate this summer is shrinking inventory: The supply of houses for sale is down significantly in most areas compared with a year ago, sometimes dramatically so. And that is having important side impacts — raising prices and homeowners’ equity stakes, and reducing total sales. In major metropolitan markets from the mid-Atlantic to the West Coast, the stock of homes listed for purchase is down by sometimes extraordinary amounts — 50 percent or more below year-ago levels in several areas of California, according to industry studies. In Washington, D.C., and its nearby suburbs, listings are down by 28 percent, reports Redfin, a national online realty brokerage. In Los Angeles, available inventory is 49 percent lower than it was last summer, San Diego by 53 percent. In Seattle, listings are off by 41 percent. According to the National Association of Realtors, total houses listed for sale across the country in June were 24 percent lower than a year earlier. The dearth of listings is often more intense in the lowerto mid-price ranges, less so in the upper brackets. Peggy James, an agent with Erick & Co. of Exit Choice Realty in Prince William County, Va., said she gets calls “all the time” from buyers asking, “Where are all the new listings? Are you agents bluffing?” Holding back? But the reality is that “there just haven’t been
Mitzi Farris
Farris joins title firm NORMAN — First American Title has added Mitzi Farris to its escrow staff at its office at 705 26th Ave. NW in Norman. She has 25 years of escrow experience in Cleveland County.
Stephanie Morgan
Morgan joins Keller Williams MIDWEST CITY — Stephanie Morgan has joined Keller Williams Realty, 1716-A S Post Road in Midwest City, as a residential real estate sales agent. Previously, she worked in medical insurance and billing.
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
many” listings in some high-demand price categories lately, she said. In Orange, Calif., Carlos Herrera, broker-owner of Casa Blanca Realtors, said “it’s really strange right now. We have many buyers but few sellers,” forcing purchasers to bid up prices on what’s available. Just south of San Francisco, Redfin agent Brad Le said inventory in Silicon Valley is down so drastically — and demand so strong — that the bidding wars are spinning off the charts. “We’re not just talking about 10 or 15” offers, he said, “but sometimes 40 and 50.” Some buyers are inserting escalation clauses into their contracts to keep pace with counterbids, and waiving financing contingencies, inspections and even agreeing to increase their down payments to counter any differences between the accepted sale price and the appraised value. One modest, 1,700square-foot house recently was listed at $879,000. It drew more than 50 competing offers and sold to an all-cash buyer for $1,050,000 in less than a month. Silicon Valley is in its own special economic niche, but declining inventories are nationwide. In its latest survey of 146 large markets, Realtor.com found that 144 had lower supplies of listings last month than a year earlier. Online real estate and mortgage data firm Zillow reports that some of the steepest declines in inventory are in places that got hit the hardest during the bust, and where sizable percentages of owners still are underwater on their
mortgages. In Phoenix and Miami, Fla., for example, 55 percent and 46 percent of owners respectively have negative equity. Both cities have seen significant drops in inventory, and both are experiencing strong appreciation in home prices. According to data from research firm CoreLogic, Phoenix prices are up 14.7 percent for the year and Miami by 9.7 percent. What’s behind the widespread declines in listings? Analysts say negative equity plays a major role; it discourages people who might otherwise want to sell from doing so. They don’t want to take a big loss, especially in a slowly improving price environment. So they sit tight rather than list. Banks with large stocks of preforeclosure and foreclosed properties are doing the same, creating a so-called “shadow inventory” of houses estimated to total 1.5 million units. Where’s this all headed? Stan Humphries, chief economist for Zillow, said the likely trend is for more of the same: Constricted supplies will lead to price increases, especially in segments of local markets where demand is strongest. Longer term, price increases will gradually rewind the cycle, increasing owners’ equities and convincing more of them to list and sell. This, in turn, should put a brake on price increases, especially under today’s super-strict mortgage underwriting and appraisal practices. Bottom line for anyone looking to list or purchase anytime soon: Though conditions vary by location and price segment, lower supplies of houses available for sale are changing market dynamics — putting sellers in stronger positions than they’ve been in years. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
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LISTING OF THE WEEK
The Listing of the Week is at 1718 Huntington Ave. in Nichols Hills.
PHOTO PROVIDED
2-story Nichol Hills home has 3 living rooms, 3.5 baths The Listing of the Week is a 2-year-old, two-story home in Nichols Hills. The 3,537-square-foot home at 1718 Huntington Ave. has three bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, three living rooms, two dining rooms and a detached two-car garage. The living room has a built-in entertainment center and bookcase. The family room, upstairs,
has a cathedral ceiling. The kitchen has a butler’s pantry, work island and eating space, with space off the kitchen for an office. Each bedroom has its own bath. The master bedroom has a bath with double vanities and a walk-in closet. The home has an upstairs media-play room with bar, a covered patio, intercom, security system and un-
derground sprinkler system. The home, built in 2010, is listed for $995,000 with Laura Terlip of The Covington Co. For more information, call 834-0805. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send a copy of the MLS information sheet on a single-family home to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.
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THE OKLAHOMAN
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NEWSOK.COM
Playground design goes on nature hike BY KIM COOK For The Associated Press
Architect and playground builder Ron King is part of a robust movement to bring back more natural play, with environments that serve up some messiness and risk-taking along with exercise. Kids may play on equipment for a short time, he said, “but then they want to run around. They want to climb a hill, scramble over rocks, listen to the wind and play in the rain. They want to explore and discover rather than have their play experience defined by a piece of equipment.” So when his company, Concord, N.H.-based Natural Playgrounds, builds a playground for a school or community, he tries to incorporate any equipment into the existing landscape, using or adding boulders, wooden beams, hammocks, water pumps or sand. Polycarbonate slides are built into embankments so the slides can be higher but the falls aren’t as dangerous. They’re also treated so that static electricity doesn’t interfere with cochlear implants, and they’re heatresistant. He might put in a water pump that needs to be primed, and sand that can be sculpted. Cedar, steel and copper can be turned into drums, musical fences, and tubular contraptions that make interesting sounds when gravel, water, sticks or hands come in contact with them. There are places to play quiet games, and also room to run with the gang. Having the opportunity to do both is optimal, said Susan Solomon, author of “American Playgrounds” and the upcoming “The
INatural Playgrounds Co. offers labyrinths because "walking the labyrinth" can be calming for children and adults. Do-it-yourself templates of various labyrinth sizes catering to different ages are available.
Science of Play” (both from University Press of New England). The trend toward more natural playgrounds, she said, is due partly to the high cost of the prefabricated, themed structures (jungle, pirate ship, tiny town) found in so many playgrounds today. It’s also the result of growing interest in nature and local products, and of parental nostalgia for what is remembered as a more unfettered childhood. Playgrounds in recent years — including some natural playgrounds — have gotten a little tame, Solomon said. Safety and liability concerns have driven out many tall or fast pieces of equipment. And with them some of the fun. “They don’t allow kids to take chances,” Solomon said. “Risk involves uncertain outcomes — going fast, reaching great heights or even hiding, in order to overcome primal fears and create exhilaration.” Safely restoring some of
A Tree Deck Natural Playground built on a hill by Natural Playgrounds Co. is shown at a child care facility in McMurray, Pa.
that excitement is one goal of designers of natural playgrounds. The Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn., is a 3.5-acre amal-
An embankment slide by Natural Playgrounds Co. is built into a constructed hill at an elementary school in Glens Falls, N.Y. The embankment slide is safer than tower slides with ladders. AP PHOTOS
gam of nature, naturalistic elements, and steel and plastic structures. It was developed by the New York-based design firm James Corner Field Operations after a series of workshops with local kids. “What was so remarkable was that most children actually preferred wood-
land exploration to playing on the existing playground that occupied the site,” said the firm’s senior designer, Sarah Weidner Astheimer. The resulting playground consists of six play “nests” — features include climbing walls, a bright red suspended net, a variety of
swings, tree forts, vines and a place for quiet play. A mix of natural and man-made challenges is also the recipe recommended by Paige Johnson, who writes a blog called Playground Designs. A few natural rocks and tree stumps aren’t enough, she said. “Some advocates even reject swings or slides, but the experience of dynamic motion, where a child feels a temporary loss of body control, is part of great play,” she says. “It makes even grown-ups laugh.” A natural playground needs a few key elements, according to Johnson: a hill, boulders and stumps to climb on; rocks and gravel to dig in; paths and perhaps a little bridge to traverse; and a gate or door that kids can turn into a portal of their own. Finally, there should be a pile of loose parts: wood blocks, bricks or boxes of donated junk that can be turned into an imaginative, freewheeling experience.
THE OKLAHOMAN
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Shoddy home Front porch enhances country styling inspection raises credential issues HOUSE PLAN
DEAR BARRY: Before I bought my home, I hired a professional home inspector, but he did not do a very thorough job. This week I asked him to show proof that he is in good standing as a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). But he has refused to provide any documentation. Do I have any recourse against this inspector? Andrew DEAR ANDREW: If the home inspector claims to be a member of ASHI, you can verify this by visiting the association’s website at www.ashi.com. Click on “Find an Inspector” and type in his name. He either is or is not a member. However, home inspector associations such as ASHI do very little in the way of policing the professionalism of members. Unless someone fails to pay dues or does not participate in ongoing education, it is unlikely that the membership status would be adversely affected. The main issue is whether your inspector performed a thorough inspection. If there were defects that he did not report, he should respond to your concerns. If he is dodging you, that is a more serious issue than whether he is a member of an association. If the inspection was substandard, the inspector should respond to your concerns by reinspecting the issues at hand. If he is unwilling to stand behind his work, you probably should have another inspection by someone who is truly qualified. A second inspection report can be used to support a case against the first inspector. DEAR BARRY: The house we are planning to buy has wetness on the foundation stemwall in the garage. The seller says this problem has come and
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
gone for three or four years. She has had a plumbing company check it and they couldn’t find a leak. The wet area has white chalky residue when it dries, and we believe this is soap residue. What are the dangers of mold forming in this area? J.C. DEAR J.C. Mold does not grow unless it has some form of organic material for food. Concrete is a barren mixture of minerals on which mold growth is unlikely. Nevertheless, there is a moisture problem that should be evaluated and corrected. The two most likely sources for the moisture would be a plumbing leak or faulty ground water drainage. The fact that the wetness comes and goes indicates that ground drainage is the problem, assuming that the wetness coincides with wet and dry seasons. To determine whether ground drainage is the issue, the property should be inspected by a geotechnical engineer. A qualified engineer can determine the direction of ground water movement and recommend specific ways to correct faulty drainage. The white chalky substance on the concrete is probably not soap residue but a substance known as efflorescence, a formation of mineral salts that typically appears on concrete surfaces whenever there is prolonged water seepage. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING
Keller Williams adds Lambie MIDWEST CITY — Brittany Lambie has joined Keller Williams Realty, 1716-A S Post Road in Midwest City, as a residential real estate sales agent. Previously, she was in the U.S. Air Force. She attended the University of West Florida and Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, where she majored in history.
Brittany Lambie
A welcoming front porch enhances the comfortably familiar country styling of the one-and-ahalf story Ontario. Because its three-car garage is entered via side access, no garage doors distract from the inviting exterior. Inside, a convenient half-bathroom is to the right of the entry and a den-office is to the left. This configuration is ideal for use as an office for a home business with occasional clients. They need only step into the entry to get to the office. A deep storage closet fills the space under the stairs. Moving through the entry hall you come to the great room and kitchen, after passing a utility room on the right, opposite a passageway to the owners’ suite on the left. The utility room comes complete with a deep sink and serves as a pass-through link to the garage. The kitchen is at the heart of the home. From the sink work island, people can look out into the bright and lofty vaulted great room, the patio and the dining room. A raised eating bar rims the dining room’s interface, while a slightly narrower counter fronts the great room. Storage aplenty is available in the step-in pantry that fills one corner. In the great room, a fireplace nestles into a rear corner next to a stack of high windows that fill most of the rear wall. The lower sections of glass slide open to provide easy, breezy access to the Ontario’s vaulted and covered patio. Owners’ suite amenities
include a large walk-in closet plus a two-section bathroom with a dual vanity and enclosed toilet and shower. Two more bedrooms are upstairs, along
with a third bathroom. Skylights brighten the upper bathroom, stairs and hallway. A review plan of the Ontario 30-830,
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.
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Important wildfire prevention tips for homeowners Wildfires have become a tragic part of the daily news lately. They can strike anywhere, at any time, with no warning. State and federal firefighting budgets are stretched to the max as well, so it’s more important than ever that you do everything you can to ensure that your home is as safe as possible. It doesn’t take that much to protect your property against wildfire, and it helps with curb appeal and resale value at the same time. You might even consider organizing a neighborhood group to make the work go that much faster. Here are some of the steps you need to take:
Create a fire break The single most important thing to do is create a defensible, noncombustible fire break around your home. If you have a noncombustible roofing material, such as metal, tile or composition shingles, then your fire break should extend out for 30 feet in all directions. To deter-
mine the layout of that area, simply measure out 30 feet from each edge of your home’s combustible materials. For example, you might need to measure from the edge of the roof overhang, or from the edge of a patio cover. If your home has a wooden deck, measure from the edge of that, but if you have a concrete or brick patio, you can measure from the house instead. One of the biggest dangers during a wildfire is wind-driven embers. So if your home has a combustible roof, such as cedar shakes or shingles, you need to extend the fire break area from 30 feet out to 50 feet. Within the firebreak area, you want to create a zone where things can’t burn. That doesn’t mean you have to clear cut and pave everything! You just want to create a well-maintained area that’s as free as possible of combustible vegetation. For example, consider using fire-resistant landscaping such as grass, low ground covers and low shrub-
Paul Bianchina
moved or at least broken up so there isn’t a fuel bed. Finally, be sure you cut dry grass to less than 4 inches high.
Clear your driveway HANDY @ HOME
bery. The other alternatives are hardscaping materials such as gravel or pavers.
Trim trees Also within that defensible zone you need to thin out excess trees. During a fire, the flames will easily spread from tree to tree, so you want to thin them so they’re no less than 10 feet apart. You also want to be sure to remove any dead trees. All remaining healthy trees within the zone need to be limbed up to a height of at least 6 feet. This is done to prevent a fast-moving ground fire from being able to work its way up into the trees. For the same reason, all dead plant material should be re-
It’s not something a lot of people think about, but in the event of fire, emergency vehicles need to be able to have clear access to your home if they’re going to protect it. If you’re on a piece of property with a long driveway that’s more than 150 feet, fire officials typically request that overhanging trees be limbed up and back so there’s at least 13 ½ feet of vertical clearance and 12 feet of horizontal clearance.
Clean your roof Remove any dead branches that overhang your roof. Also, remove dead leaves and pine needles from the roof and gutters, including patio covers; those leaf and needle buildups are extremely flammable, and a single spark or ember can spread with amazing speed. Don’t for-
get outbuildings on your property as well! While you’re up there, remember that sparks from your fireplace or woodstove are a real fire hazard. In addition to the cleaning, trim overhanging tree branches back a minimum of 10 feet from the chimney.
Care with outdoor storage You don’t want to store firewood right alongside your house, since it can become a real fire hazard and a source of a lot of retained heat during a wildfire. Move your firewood, as well as any lumber piles, at least 20 feet away from the house until fire season is over. Or, better yet, build an enclosed wood storage shed a safe distance away. The same is true for open areas under decks, which can be an inviting area for storing wood, gasoline and other flammable liquids. 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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SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Permits Oklahoma City Studio Architecture, 6701 Broadway Extension, shell building, remodel, $4,500,000. Wynn Construction Co. Inc., 14600 N Portland Ave., church, add-on, $3,500,000. Wynn Construction, 14600 N Portland Ave., church, add-on, $3,500,000. Johnston Builders, 9212 N Kelley Ave., office, erect, $1,052,480. Brent Cornman Construction Inc., 11316 Waters Welling Way, residence, erect, $1,000,000. GSB Inc., 11700 NW 10, church, add-on, $950,000. Willco Homes LLC, 13204 Mackinac Island Drive, residence, erect, $750,000. Hilltop Homes LLC, 10925 San Lorenzo Drive, residence, erect, $420,000. Bridgeway Estates LLC, 15416 Kestral Lake Drive, residence, erect, $310,000. Crabtree Custom Homes LLC, 11749 SW 54, residence, erect, $265,000. D.R. Horton, 9101 NW 86 Court, residence, erect, $259,990. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 18213 Haslemere Lane, residence, erect, $259,000. RW Custom Homes LLC, 19524 Talavera Lane, residence, erect, $240,000. D.R. Horton, 15600 Blue Jay Drive, residence, erect, $232,990. D.R. Horton, 2316 NW 155, residence, erect, $230,990. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 3128 SW 136 Terrace, residence, erect, $230,000.
E-Z Living Homes Inc., 4917 SW 126, residence, erect, $228,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 11648 Marbella Drive, residence, erect, $225,000. E-Z Living Homes Inc., 4713 SW 125 Place, residence, erect, $225,000. Oxford Homes LLC, 15713 Wood Creek Lane, residence, erect, $220,000. David Leatherwood, 6500 Cherokee Grove Court, residence, add-on, $200,000. Samples (Mark) Homes LLC, 8317 NW 63 Terrace, residence, erect, $198,000. Heartland Homes LLC, 17532 Red Tailed Hawk Way, residence, erect, $193,624. S&D Homes, 11316 NW 8, residence, erect, $187,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 9104 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $185,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14609 Exmoor Circle, residence, erect, $179,750. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 5908 Montford Way, residence, erect, $175,000. Affinity Homes LLC, 124 SW 175 Terrace, residence, erect, $175,000. Ron and Jenita Willis, 10436 SE 164, residence, erect, $175,000. Timber Craft Homes LLC, 8444 NW 142, residence, erect, $174,000. Vesta Homes, 9108 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $170,000. Sure Safe Homes LLC, 2420 SE 92 Terrace, residence, erect, $160,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 9504 Shallow Lake Court, residence, erect, $160,000. J. Bentley Developments LLC, 6416 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $152,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 5812 Montford Way,
residence, erect, $150,000. Lachance Quality Homes LLC, 10001 Eagle Point, residence, erect, $150,000. Trilink Restoration Group LLC, 926 NW 17, residence, fire restoration, $150,000. Home Creations, 3613 Mustang Creek Circle, residence, erect, $147,700. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18429 Las Meninas Drive, residence, erect, $147,000. SWM & Sons Inc., 3824 Newburg Drive, residence, erect, $144,795. Larry Toombs, 928 NW 195 Place, residence, erect, $140,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 8913 NW 110, residence, erect, $139,000. Design Development Service, doing business as Elite Quality Homes, 4913 SW 127, residence, erect, $132,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18112 Bodegon Road, residence, erect, $131,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2404 SW 141, residence, erect, $130,000. Westpoint Homes, 15712 Hatterly Lane, residence, erect, $130,000. Westpoint Homes, 15720 Hatterly Lane, residence, erect, $130,000. Design Development Service, doing business as Elite Quality Homes, 4912 SW 126, residence, erect, $127,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 313 Durkee Road, residence, erect, $127,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 8013 Woodbend Lane, residence, erect, $127,000. Salazar Roofing & Construction Inc., 3505 Galatian Way, residence-attached, erect, $125,000. Salazar Roofing & Construction Inc., 3507 Galatian Way, residence-attached, erect, $125,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 8009 Woodbend Lane, residence, erect,
$124,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 8300 NW 158, residence, erect, $120,000. Timber Valley Construction, 600 NW 23, restaurant, remodel, $120,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 14108 Wagon Boss Road, residence, erect, $119,000. Precision Style Homes, 12125 SW 12, residence, erect, $118,000. Harbor Homes, 17209 Avila Lane, residence, erect, $110,000. Harbor Homes, 17001 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $110,000. Harbor Homes, 17005 Madrid Circle, residence, erect, $110,000. Home Creations, 9816 SW 33, residence, erect, $109,700. Home Creations, 11236 NW 99, residence, erect, $107,600. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 11425 NW 131, residence, erect, $106,000. Home Creations, 19708 Vivace Drive, residence, erect, $103,500. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 3121 SE 95, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8401 SW 48, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 4901 Hunter Blvd., residence, erect, $100,000. Tom Spector, 2720 N Robinson Ave., apartment, remodel, $100,000. Home Creations, 3033 NW 181, residence, erect, $99,900. Home Creations, 11240 NW 99, residence, erect, $99,900. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 16428 Drywater Drive, rehabilitation center, erect, $93,000. Home Creations, 10016 Squire Lane, residence, erect, $90,700.
Napco, 11717 Grande Mesa Terrace, residence, fire restoration, $90,000. Home Creations, 5616 Marblewood Drive, residence, erect, $86,200. Home Creations, 5618 Marblewood Drive, residence, erect, $82,800. Southwest Builders, 3724 Spyglass Road, residence, add-on, $82,162. Mustard Seed Construction, 5301 Foster Road, church, add-on, $80,000. Home Creations, 12036 NW 133 Terrace, residence, erect, $78,700. Home Creations, 12032 NW 133 Terrace, residence, erect, $78,400. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 1829 NW 143, residence, erect, $77,000. WJCA Inc., 1901 Northwest Expressway, retail sales, remodel, $75,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 15221 Stillwind Drive, residence, erect, $73,000. Westpoint Homes, 15904 Positano Drive, residence, erect, $70,000. Westpoint Homes, 15909 Positano Drive, residence, erect, $70,000. Home First Inc., 15413 Turtle Lake Place, accessory, erect, $45,000. Marissa McCollough, 13100 SW 100, manufactured home, move-on, $39,000. Joann Hunt, 11305 N Florida Ave., residence, add-on, $38,000. No name provided, 600 SW 134, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $37,000. Southwest Builders, 109 SW 66, residence, addon, $35,000. Southwest Builders, 617 SW 150, residence, addon, $27,228. American Food Groups, 7300 SW 29, manufacturing, remodel, $26,000. No name provided, 7300 SW 29, manufacturing, remodel, $26,000. Southwest Builders, 8513
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NW 105, residence, addon, $25,400. Homescape Custom Interiors, 1431 Dorchester Drive, residence, remodel, $25,000. Jeff Justice, 10212 Timber Valley Drive, accessory, erect, $25,000. Landmark Towers, 3545 NW 58, office, remodel, $25,000. No name provided, 716 NE 79 Place, residence, fire restoration, $24,500. R.D. Hall Construction, 2412 S Nicklas Ave., officewarehouse, remodel, $22,000. Stan Crawford, 917 NW 40, accessory, erect, $19,000. Callahan Steel Buildings (Curt), 15317 Cyndelyn Drive, accessory, erect, $17,500. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 5725 SE 142, accessory, erect, $15,000. James Coe, 301 SE 97, accessory, erect, $15,000. Pamcorp, 4312 N Classen Blvd., tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 4045 NW 64, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 1316 NE 12, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 1342 NW 91, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 1342 NW 91, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Sam Moore, Architect, 200 SW 44, retail sales, remodel, $15,000. Oscat McNabb, 400 NW 150 Court, cabanagazebo, erect, $14,000. Mike Rice, 8020 N May Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $13,500. Ben Sellers, 600 NW 23, shell building, remodel, $12,000. Timber Valley Construction, 600 NW 23, office, remodel, $10,000. Walther Construction SEE PERMITS, PAGE 9E
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
Permits FROM PAGE 8E
Inc., 4219 S Western Ave., medical clinic-office, remodel, $10,000. Ben Sellers, 600 NW 23, shell building, remodel, $10,000. Pinehurst Apartments, 12401 N MacArthur Blvd., cabana-gazebo, erect, $6,500. American Building and Restoration LLC, 4438 NW 12, residence, add-on, $5,000. Ryan Gleghorn, 19408 Chestermere Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,000. The Small Group, 527 NW 7, temporary building, move-on, $5,000. Kenneth Boyd Brenek, 13628 Rachel Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,995. Norma L. Garrett, 5017 Barnsteeple Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,595. Dale and Catherine Jones, 2424 NW 180, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Scott Howard, 3549 NW 173 Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Smart Shelters, 4116 NW 145, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,295. April Gomez, 11920 Gwendolyn Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,050. Todd and Brenda McLain, 4800 NW 161Terrace, residence, installstorm shelter, $4,050. Mohammad Miah, 3618 N Pennsylvania Ave., restaurant, remodel, $4,000. Thanh Dinh, 7309 Noah Parkway, storm shelter,
install-storm shelter, $4,000. Flat Safe, 12000 Stonemill Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Fred Selensky, 8104 S Country Club Drive, residence, remodel, $3,500. James Seidel, 12209 SW 28, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,500. Marjorie Pittman, 16508 Village Garden Drive, residence, remodel, $3,500. Rudy Garcia, 2500 SE 92 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Patrick Swindler, 8628 NW 111, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,350. Jared and Liah Chappell, 9405 SW 35 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Flat Safe, 10037 S Linn Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Philip and Heather Pummill, 6820 Blue Spruce Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,120. Flat Safe, 9817 SW 28, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,100. Ben Hanson, 732 Westglen Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Chris Stoner, 5600 Bent Creek Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Donald L. Harper, 9108 SW 22, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Eric Leonard, 16504 Village Garden Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Sharukh Khajotia, 17104 Kemble Lane, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Stan Ruffner, 11700 Silvermoon Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shel-
ter, $3,000. William Matthey, 6605 NW 119, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. No name provided, 4109 Laverne Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Andrea Terrell, 11125 NW 6 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. David and Tiffany Shields, 516 SW 161, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Geraldine and Gerald Kenfield, 11212 East St., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Keith Beeson, 11308 Cimarron Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Luke Haney, 5012 SE 150 Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Pearl Leblanc, 6500 N Grand Blvd., storm shelter, install storm shelter, $2,995. Robert E. Lee, 15809 Sugar Loaf Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Teresa Gerber, 17312 Medina Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Smart Shelters, 15408 Meadow Vista Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Ground Zero, 5512 NW 111, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Smart Shelters, 525 NW 37, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Ground Zero, 1820 NW 146, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Milad F. Youssef, 17105 Gladstone Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Flat Safe, 12304 SW 6,
storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,825. Ben and Jonette Gadd, 4108 N Barr Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Connie Cuenco, 5825 SE 144, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. John Alleman, 9909 Indigo Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Linda F. Steele, 2913 SW 139, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Thomas Jones, 5820 NW 31, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Ground Zero, 10316 Cottonwood Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Alloy Building Co., 4102 N Barr Ave., canopy-carport, add-on, $2,500. Alloy Building Co., 2629 SW 54 Place, canopy-carport, erect, $2,500. No name provided, 11601 Hastings Ave., canopycarport, add-on, $2,200. No name provided, 2612 SW 40, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,000. Charles Logan, 3727 Linda Ave., canopy-carport, erect, $1,900. Ana Gonzales, 2428 SW 41, canopy-carport, addon, $1,500. Ramiro Becerra, 7128 S Linn Ave., canopy-carport, add-on, $1,500. Huyen T. Tran, 2500 SW 102, canopy-carport, addon, $1,000. Sarah Jones, 600 SE 83, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $1,000.
The Greens 13401 Pinehurst Rd » Open House Sunday 2-4 » 3bed 2bath 2car garage $175,000 Spectrum Mgmt, David 818-9227
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700
Wilshire Valley Apts. Newly Remod. 1, 2 & 3 bed S8 (upgrd. + 1 bd) Call 475-9984.
4 bed, 2K bath, 2 car, PC Schools, completely updated, 4921 NW 29, $129,900 or take trade, 330-1880. » Piedmont Schools » Bank Owned 3/2/3, blt 95, 1796sf $129,900 Realty Experts 414-8753 Charming 1920's, 4 bed, 2 bath brick, 2300sq ft, $78,500 CASH. 301-6495
6100 Cox Ave completely remodeled 3bd starter home, fresh paint, new carpet, roof & vinyl siding, located on large corner lot, only $32,850 Fidelity RE 410-4200
(MUST SELL) 3bd 2ba, swimming pool, totally remodeled, looks brand new, price reduced »» 405-570-4291 »» 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
» 98 acres, Murray County, nice home overlooking flood control lake, exc outbuildings $500,000. » 920 acres, Jackson Cnty, river frontage, rural water, electr, good fence, exc hunting, $1200/acre. 405-207-8211 cunninghamcountry.com
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
Open House 2-4 Moore schools. 11817 Cedar Valley Terr 3/2/2 NM Realty 613-9739 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 story, 1400sq ft, $23,500 CASH. Needs work. 301-6495
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
’ Heart Of NW OKC ’ 2900 W Wilshire, near Nichols Hills, 2368sf mol, $199,900 Drue Ridley & Assoc 848-7006
Working production machine shop with CNC lathes, machining centers, saws, manual lathes & mills + building & real estate. Marlow area ¡ 405-990-9589
1524 SE 15th: 2000sf Restaurant or Church ¡ 740-8615 or 426-5702 3928 E Reno $2000mo house & lg 1500sf whse 601-5905 235-5028
7608 N Western. Retail/Office space, 1200sf available 370-1077 GREAT Office Space. Various NW locations, 300-6000sf 946-2516
PARKLANE
721-5455
8100 N. MacArthur Blvd
$99 Special
1 & 2 BD & Townhouses •City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups
2221 N. Meridian 946-6548
The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — Time was, and not all that long ago, that putting money into your house before putting it on the market paid off at resale. But the “sluggish housing market continues to push down remodeling return on investment,” Sal Alfano writes in the most recent cost versus value report issued by Remodeling magazine, with the overall average cost-tovalue ratio dropping to 57.7 percent from its peak in 2005 of 86.7 percent. Even though the cost of remodeling itself has continued to fall, that’s effectively counteracted by a drop in resale values, Alfano writes. Bottom line: There is no guarantee that any improvement will boost the sale price of a house, especially in a real estate market in which even multiple offers typically result only in an amount near or slightly above asking price. Yes, doing the necessary improvements to a house will help it compete. If two houses are for sale on the same street for the same price and one has a new roof while the other needs one, it’s not hard to figure out which might sell first. But “might” is the operative word in an era when little about the real estate
Bills Paid
Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077
Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 34 & MacArthur 1bd 1ba Apt $325/mo $175/dep U pay Elec only 409-7989 no section 8 Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
4500 SE 78th 4/2/2, 1540sf $1150 Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777
16417 Otter 3/2/2 $1095 524 NW 139 3/2/2 $995 1717 St Christopher 3/2/2 $1100 22655 Stherly Farm 3/2.5/5 $2395 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 15628 Darlington Lane Executive Home Custom built home, 3bd 2ba plus study, 2car garage, 1846sf, $1675 mo, $1675 dep, 409-7989 no sec 8 3 bed, 2 bath, 2car aprx 1600sf $1100mo Call Alex 990-0488
1200 Karen Ln, 3bd, 1.5ba, 2car, ch&a, nice clean $635. 476-5011 1112 Sycamore Dr 3/1/1 681-7272
$525
2 bed, appls, CH&A, No Section 8, $550 ¡ 2101 Turner Dr 830-4695 1002 Bell Dr. 2/1/1, no pets, no smoking, $625 + dep. 787-8099
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
3 SW OKC Locations $345 to 420 mo 632-9849
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
328 Raleigh 2ba 2 car great area, only $1395
4bd Executive Home excellent condition, access to HOA pool, Fidelity RE 410-4300
Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
Near NW 39th & Penn 2bd 2ba Hemingway condo, poolside, gated, avail 8/1 $700+dep 751-2934
Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777
GOLF COURSE BUILDING SITES ~ MOUNTAIN HOMES SOUTH FORK, CO
SAT, AUG 4TH 10 AM MDT SouthFork-Auction.com 886-874-7100
1208 SW 77th Terr. 2/2/1+ FP nu carpet - util rm - yard $750 w/ disc. + dep. Duplex Owner: LR 405-642-4116 2619 SW 42nd sharp 2bd home 2car detached gar., fresh paint, clean $495 Fidelity RE 410-4200 2121 SW 27th 2bd 1ba $425 2832 SW 83rd 2bd 1ba 1car $650 Free List ¡ 681-7272 8000 S. Youngs, 3bd 1.5 ba 2car gar, w/d hook-up, 2 storage buildings, $820 + dep. ¡ 740-4201
3219 SW 28th 3bed 1O bath, den, large storage w/d hookup $595mo »» 408-5836 3/2/2, ch&a, built 2007 $1363mo no pets 701 SW 161 St 301-1200
4bd 3ba 2400sf 3car 1 acre lot $1500mo, $1500dep 882 Oakley Dr. in Blanchard ¡¡ 562-650-4491
2124 White Oak Circle 3 bed 2ba 2 car 1369sf $1200/mo $900/dep 405-409-7989 no sec 8
2501 Renwick 4/3/3 $1995 537 Forest Ln 3/2/2 $1195 2301 Bradford Cir 3/2/2 $1195 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com
204 NE 16th 3bed 1bath $650 per month 408-5836 833 E Eubanks 3/1 + storage $495 681-7272
830 NW 113th St. 2bd, 2ba, fncd, stv, fridg, carport, $646 + $400 dep. Sec 8 ok, No pets, 748-6129
TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813
Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Cov. Parking Great Schls 732-1122
3bd available Sec 8 405-794-0201 1200 NW 10th St, Moore Schools
908 N Gardner 3bd 1O bath corner fp, w/d hk ups water/ garbage pd $550mo 408-5836 Casita Blanca 2614 NW 50th 2bd 2ba 2car garage, 1200sf, $1300mo $1300 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 Large 2bed 2bath 2car w/opener, FP. Alarm, $800 +dep. No section 8. 721-6458 or 834-0277
Near OCU Clean Quiet 1bed Washr/Dryr hkup NO pets/sec 8 $350 + dep 521-1073
Nice, clean 2 bedroom in quiet, clean park, $450 month, 4907 S Santa Fe, 632-5677 Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777
NEW 3bd/2bth $1500 down, 7.5% $281mo. 405-324-8010
SEVERAL ABSOLUTE PROPERTIES!!
6 SE 34th 2 bed 1 bath $435 mo 408-5836
1 bed. All bills paid 946-9506
Cash 4 Clunkers! Guaranteed $5,000 for any trade towards down pymt of new home WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814
MULTI PROPERTY AUCTION
3 bdr w/stove & fridge. New paint, tile, carpet. Lg fenced yard. $525 mo/$200 sec dep. 596-8410
2444 SW 50th sharp 3bd home on corner lot, fresh paint/new carpet only $575. Fidelity RE 410-4200
800 N. Meridian
Large 1 & 2 beds. Stove, refrig,
OWNER FINANCING $2000 down 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54,000 No Credit Ck ‘ 596-4599 ‘
MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
2601 SE 51, 3/1K /2, ch&a, no 8/ pets, refs $725 may sell 740-6072
Casady 751-8088
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
Double Wide REPO Like New $395mo. wac 405-577-2884
market is a certainty. New roof or not, a house’s list price must be appropriate for the market to attract buyers, who likely will not only expect leak-free conditions, but a furnace and air conditioning that work properly. Market observers say some sellers are still demanding prices well above what’s appropriate, in an effort to turn their improvements into more cash. That, they say, is an attitude that keeps many listings sitting idle. Not to mention that it assumes the sellers’ idea of improvement is in sync with the opinions of the buyers they wish to impress. Harris Gross of Engineers for Home Inspection in Cherry Hill, N.J., gets to see the results of homeowners’ misguided assumptions about what it will take to sell. Assumption: Your house has just one bathroom, and you need at least another half-bath (also known as a powder room) for buyers to even consider you. The answer for some, Gross said, is to “shoehorn” a toilet and sink into space few buyers would find desirable, like an unfinished basement or someplace with barely enough room to move around.
1404 SE 41st, 3 bed, 1 bath, large backyard, W/D hkup w/appliances, ch&a, w/alarm ¡ 501-6570
Spacious 2bd $575
1 Month Free!
1bed 1bath $350 mo, very clean, stove & fridge 405-314-4667
Open House Sunday 2 - 4 www.4516se23rd.com 2bed, 1ba, $64,500 405-570-2626s*3
2/1, 1161 sf, $26,500 obo AS IS, 2115 N Bath + extra lot, 751-2029
$200 Off
1st Mo Rent Selected units 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces, P.C. Schools
LOT FOR SALE IN SULPHUR, OK 5 Lakes Gated Community Great Weekend Escape! $10,000 405-203-8389
REPO REPO REPO 4bd/3bth $648MO. wac 405-324-8000
Owner Carry 1710 N Douglas 6K dn 3bd 1ba .4A Nice 417-2176.
BY ALAN J. HEAVENS
7301 NW 23rd 787-1620
813 N Brauer 1 Bed 1 Bath 750sf, $525/mo $250 dep All bills 405-409-7989 NO Sec 8 K Office, K Warehouse. Various sizes. 221 W Wilshire 842-7300
Last-minute work less likely to boost home market price
$200 off
1st Mo Rent Selected Units Large Townhomes & Apartments • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
Valencia Apts
Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 2600 Tropicana 3bd 2ba. Like new. Near lake. $129,500. 650-7667 www.homesofokcinc.com
M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 2109 N Lee Ave., residence. No name provided, 2856 Guilford Lane, residence.
WILLIAMSBURG
Bank Owned 3/1.5, detached gar, $54,900 Realty Experts 414-8753
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
Demolitions
9E
Near NW 63rd & Meridian. 4 bd, 2 ba, 2 car. $1000/mo $1000 dep. Sec. 8 OK. Call 405-408-4620 or 405-818-5360 KAT Properties-Apt & Homes for rent. Scan this w/your phone app
2016 NW 15th 3/1/1 $650 7332 NW 126th 3/2/2 $925 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 616 NW 92nd 3bd 1ba 681-7272
$475
1127 NW 97TH 2bed 1bath $425 per month 408-5836 1540 NW 48 3bd 1ba ch&a $725 mo $500dep sec 8 ok 831-0825
Room For Rent: $70/week, NW 16th & Meridian area. 550-0563
10E
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM