LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Large tri-level
Charming home
The Listing of the Week is a large, updated tri-level brick-and-frame home in northwest Oklahoma City. PAGE 3E
People who feel drawn to simplicity will find much to appreciate in the Kent, whether as a cabin, bungalow or vacation retreat. PAGE 8E
REAL ESTATE
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
Empty nesters turn urban
HOUSING | COUPLE SAYS DOWNTOWN OKC’S AMENITIES ARE ATTRACTIVE, EVEN COMPARED TO SANTA FE, N.M. BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com
Gary and Janie McCurdy gave serious thought to retiring to Santa Fe, N.M., drawn by the memories of their honeymoon there years ago as well as other visits since. So in the summer of 2011, they did some reconnaissance in Santa Fe. “If we’re serious about this, we need to get out in the city,” Janie McCurdy remembers them reasoning. So Gary McCurdy, a special district judge based in El Reno, and Janie McCurdy, who works at American Fidelity Assurance Company, went exploring in Santa Fe. And what they found looked familiar: a mix of big-box stores and retail chains, all bearing names found in a lot of cities across the country. “It’s very much like Oklahoma City,” Janie McCurdy said. “And we thought, ‘You know, we might be missing the mark on this one.’ ” But the McCurdys were still ready to trade in their suburban home and its labor-intensive yard for something new, something simpler. Inspired by their daughter Elizabeth, who lives in downtown Chicago, they turned their attention to downtown Oklahoma City. They got in touch with George Massey, a real estate associate with RE/MAX First. Massey sold their Yukon home in three days and led them to what they decided was the perfect new home, the last unfinished town home in Block 42 near NE 4 and Walnut Avenue. They bought it in October. Massey also put them in touch with a decorator, Janis Bevers of Living in Style — who is also a neighbor from two doors down. Bevers acquired a taste for the urban life while living in Washing-
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME
MANY BENEFITS OF SHADE Creating shade around your home pays big benefits. Shade keeps the inside of your house cooler, keeping you more comfortable and your energy bills lower. It also keeps landscaping cooler, helps reduce water usage. PAGE 3E
IN BRIEF
ARTISTIC UMBRELLAS
George Massey of RE/MAX First says he and fellow agent Wendy Chong have been assigned to sell Block 42’s last 10 condos. They have sold four and have six under contract, he says. After a lull, the sale of condos in downtown Oklahoma City is picking up again, Realtors say. PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
ton, D.C., and that brought her to Block 42 about a year ago. “I love being where it’s culturally diversified, and I like how social it is,” she said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on everything if I don’t live right downtown.” In a matter of weeks, Bevers pooled her 20 years of talent and experience into transforming the McCurdys’ unfinished space into a polished, urban home. The McCurdys sold almost all of their furniture and Bevers commissioned Oklahoma craftsmen to create new furnishings, from the dark red armchairs dominating one end of the living room to the
Gary and Janie McCurdy show their kitchen at Block 42 near NE 4 and Walnut Avenue. They considered moving to Santa Fe, N.M., but opted for downtown Oklahoma City instead.
SEE DOWNTOWN, PAGE 2E
Buying tips for a shifting market He’s a newly minted Ph.D. who recently landed a solid teaching job at a major university in a city he loves. He’s ready to settle down and buy a condo. But after months of looking at real estate, he’s still torn. Is now the time to buy? On the one hand, he’s swayed by the breathtakingly low-cost mortgage rates currently available to buyers. And home prices are still within his range of affordability. Indeed, he worries that recently rising prices could mean it’s already a tad late to enter the market. On the other hand, our teacher fears that real estate markets have yet to fully stabilize. True, home values in major cities have risen sharply in recent months. But the other economic measures, including the unemployment rate, paint a darker picture. Meanwhile, family members, including those who’ve lost equity in their homes, are urging him to be cautious. This true story illustrates the still pervasive ambivalence affecting would-be homebuyers in the face of mixed signals about the direction of the housing market,
Tuuci is putting an artistic spin on the outdoor umbrella. The Miami, Fla.based company specializes in innovative shade structures. Among its designs are the Stingray, a rotating sun parasol that resembles its namesake, and the Manta, an umbrella marked by graceful, upswept lines. The umbrellas are made of marinegrade fabric and are engineered to perform well in any environment. They can be Design Within Reach, www.dwr. com, or Restoration Hardware, www. restorationhardware. com. Tuuci umbrellas and sun shades range from $995 to $7,995 at Restoration Hardware and from $999 to $4,995 at Design Within Reach. Bases are extra.
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES
said Michael Crowley, a veteran real estate broker and immediate past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org). “Buyers still have a lot of leverage and they’re obviously willing to use it,” Crowley said. Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies,” encourages buyers to carefully monitor market conditions in any area where they’d like to live, and to avoid waiting too long if they’re seriously interested in taking the plunge. Are you considering a home purchase in the near future? If so, these tips could prove useful: I Confirm your reasons for planning a purchase. Anxiety can prevent people from moving ahead, even when
it’s against their interest to hold back. But those convinced that now is a good time to buy shouldn’t let unwarranted fears constrain them, said Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Buying a Home.” “If your job is secure and you have found your dream home, don’t let groundless concerns block you,” Davis said. Davis said one way to put your fears about real estate in perspective is to re-examine your original reasons for buying. Have you yearned for a home of your own, but couldn’t afford to buy until prices moderated? Or has your family outgrown its small house and you’re seeking to trade up to a large space? I Find a skillful mortgage lender to help guide you. Davis said lenders now want certainty that any mortgage they originate will be solid. This means you’ll need to be well prepared to answer the lender’s request for documents. As proof of income, many mortgage lenders now insist on much more documentation than
the customary pay stubs and W-2s. They may also require federal tax returns. Also, most lenders now want proof that the funds you’ve amassed for your down payment have been in your savings or checking account for some time and weren’t just borrowed last week from a family member. That means you’ll need to produce account statements verifying this. Those who are self-employed can expect their lender to do a rigorous review of documents related to your business. I Know your market, and make decisions accordingly. If you live in an area where many housing options are available, you can afford to take somewhat more time to make a selection and seal a deal. But Davis cautions against waiting indefinitely to buy in any popular area. “If this is the right time for you to buy a house, don’t be haunted by past problems with real estate. Times are changing and you won’t want to be left out,” he said. Top contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
SEWING MADE FUN Nicole Blum and Debra Immergut believe sewing shouldn’t be scary. Immergut, an artist and sewing entrepreneur, and Blum, a senior editor at Family Fun magazine, have collaborated on a book that promises to make sewing fast, fun and fearless. The book, “Improv Sewing,” teaches readers just enough to set their imaginations — and their sewing machines — free. The book includes five basic clothing designs that can be tweaked in countless ways. “Improv Sewing” is published by Storey Publishing and sells for $19.95 in softcover. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Permits Stone
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THE OKLAHOMAN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
NEWSOK.COM
The living area on the second level of Gary and Janie McCurdy’s condominium at 311 NE 4, inside Block 42 in downtown Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Downtown: ‘Caught up’ in lifestyle FROM PAGE 1E
marble-topped dining table and floating buffet in the dining room just beyond. The buffet, crafted from a silvery Italian laminate, with a painting providing a splash of contrast above it, impressed laminate manufacturer Abet Laminati enough to feature a picture of it on its website. “Very few things were ordered out of a catalog,” Bevers said. The McCurdys took up residence in their new home in November and immediately were caught up in the lifestyle. They rarely spend their evenings at home in front of the television, Janie McCurdy said. “We go out three or four nights a week,” she said. Her husband added, “One of the nice things is you can just walk there.” And they’re getting more company. Massey, who was brought on board with RE/MAX associate Wendy Chong to market Block 42’s last 10 units, has sold four and has six under contract. Block 42 isn’t the only popular spot downtown. Keller Willams Realtor Pe-
Realtor George Massey with RE/MAX First talks about Block 42 in downtown Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
ter Levinson, who helps market the Brownstones at Mayfair Park on NE 3 among others, said he averages two or three condo sales a month. “People are really excited to be living down here,” he said. He said downtown buyers tend to fall into two groups: empty-nesters like the McCurdys and young professionals either working downtown or somewhere close by like the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Matt Marcacci, a Realtor with First Source Real Es-
tate working with the Hill at Bricktown on NE 2, said he deals with some clients from outlying towns who are seeking a second home. “A lot of them were doing business here, and they were spending a fortune on hotels,” he said. “So they decided it was more economical and better in general to have a place to hang their hat.” It’s just a handful of clients, he said. “But it’s still an interesting demographic.” The one piece missing downtown, Levinson said, are smaller condos, one-
The Lofts at Maywood Park, 1 NE 2 in downtown Oklahoma City.
Entrances to condos at The Hill front 322 NE 2. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
bedroom units for around $200,000. “I probably get two or three calls a day from buyers calling and asking if there’s anything like that, and there’s just not,” he said. For those making the move, though, downtown Oklahoma City offers more than hustle and bustle and a spot in the middle of the action. Friendships are formed, and residents become “regulars” in the neighborhood businesses. “It’s like back in the day when everyone knew their neighbors,” Bevers said.
PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
Central Avenue Villas, 444 N Central Ave. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
Great options for shading your yard As the summer sun beats down, there’s nothing better than finding a little refreshing shade. Creating areas of shade around your home pays big benefits in lots of ways. Shade keeps the inside of your house cooler, which makes you more comfortable and keeps your energy bills lower. It keeps landscaping cooler, which helps reduce water usage. It makes outdoor areas more comfortable and enjoyable for you, your family and even your pets. And shade can enhance curb appeal, which makes your home more valuable. If you’re seeking some ways to block those hot rays this year, you’ve got lots of options. Here are a few of them, along with some of their advantages and disadvantages.
Patio covers For most yards, a patio cover is simply a shed roof with a moderate slope that extends off the rear or side of the house. The traditional design was to attach one side to the house and rest the other side on a beam supported by posts, but today most codes require that the structure be self-supporting, so they’re supported by a post-andbeam design on both ends. Sloping rafters connect the two beams, perpendicular to the house. The cover is then topped with a solid roofing material, which might be shingles to match the house, or corrugated fiberglass sheets, which are lighter and admit more light. Patio covers have the advantage of being a solid roof, so they offer a lot of shade, as well as protection from the elements all year long. On the downside, they can be expensive to build, and if they’re not designed and built correctly, they can detract from the house and even be dangerous in heavy wind or snow. Patio covers require a building permit, and may require approval from your homeowners association.
Pergolas A pergola is somewhat similar to a patio cover, except that it’s designed to be partially open on top, providing broken sunlight and shade, and the roof is usually flat instead of slanted. Pergolas are made up of posts or columns that support cross rafters or even a latticework on top, and they’re sometimes used to support vine plants as well. The advantage of a pergola is that you have lots of options for the size, design and placement. There are also a lot of prefabricated kits available in wood and even low-maintenance aluminum. If desired, the roof slats can be specifically angled to block the sun only at certain times of the day or year. On the downside, these can be even more costly and complicated to build than a patio cover, and can also require a building permit and homeowners association approval.
Equinox louvered roof This manufactured structure combines the advantages of a patio cover and a pergola. It contains a series of metal slats that interlock with one another, closing to form a completely rainproof cover, or opening anywhere within a 160-degree range of motion to allow in as much or as little sun as desired. The slats are motorized, and operate with a switch or even by remote control. The basic cover is available in different sizes and in white or sandstone, with several options for finishing it to create any desired appearance. On the downside, the louvered roof is designed for professional installation, and is more expen-
Patio covers offer a lot of shade and protection from the elements.
Paul Bianchina
On the downside, it’s costly, and has to be engineered and installed correctly to handle the wind.
Shade trees HANDY @ HOME
sive than some other types of pergolas or patio covers. For more information, you can visit www.equinoxroof.com.
Canvas sails A canvas sail can add shade, color and a real focal point to any yard. There are lots of design options here, but typically this is a triangular or square piece of canvas stretched between three or four wood or metal poles that are firmly cemented into the ground. The poles are set at differing heights so that the sail hangs at an angle relative to the ground; the actual angle is determined by where the sail is to be placed and where you want the shade to be cast. Some types have rigging lines that allow the sail angle to be adjusted, and also to easily be taken down in high winds. A canvas sail shade structure has a couple of advantages. It’s custommade, so you select any color from mild to wild, and any size within reason. It casts a wide shade area, it’s unusual — although admittedly it’s not going to fit with every home — and it can be adjusted to block the sun from certain angles or times of the day.
Let’s not overlook the value of simply adding shade trees to your yard. Trees not only provide shade, but they’re good for the environment, and you’ll probably have some happy local birds as well. You can select evergreens that hold their foliage all year, or deciduous trees that leaf out in the spring and summer for shade but lose their leaves in the fall, so you still get winter sunlight into your house. Planting trees offers several advantages. You have lots of different styles to choose from, including ones that flower and ones that come in different colors. Depending on your budget, you can get instant gratification by planting large, relatively mature trees, or smaller, less expensive trees that will grow up over time. You have a lot of options for placement, depending on exactly what you want to shade. On the downside, they don’t offer as much shade as a structure will, and you do have the leaves or needles to clean up. Remodeling and repair questions? E-mail Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS
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LISTING OF THE WEEK
The Listing of the Week is at 9009 Lansbrook Lane in northwest Oklahoma City. PHOTO PROVIDED
Large updated tri-level has 2.5 baths, 4 bedrooms The Listing of the Week is a large, updated tri-level brick-and-frame home in northwest Oklahoma City. The 2,616-square-foot home at 9009 Lansbrook Lane has four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, two living rooms, two dining rooms and an attached two-car garage. The family room has a fireplace and built-in bookcase. The kitchen has
double ovens, a breakfast bar, eating space and pantry. The master bedroom has a full bath with walkin closet. The home has fresh paint new carpet and wood floors. The home has a hot tub, open patio and underground sprinkler. The home, built in 1971, is listed for $179,777 with Laurie Patterson of Keller Williams Realty. It is in the
Lansbrook neighborhood south of Britton Road on the west side of MacArthur Boulevard. For more information, call 3302626 or 826-2589. 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.
Churchill-Brown adds Greer as sales associate Cathy Greer has joined Churchill-Brown & Associates’ north office, 4401 W Memorial Road, Suite 109, as a sales associate. The Oklahoma City native has worked in commercial real estate for the past six years and also has
experience in multitenant retail property management. Previously, she worked as an executive assistant in the Oklahoma County district attorney’s office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Cathy Greer
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THE OKLAHOMAN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
NEWSOK.COM
Who lived here? How to find house’s history BY SHIRLEY SALEMY MEYER For The Associated Press
The construction of Julian Sellers’ bungalow in St. Paul, Minn., was started in 1926 and finished in early 1927. The builder was a Swedish immigrant. The family who first lived there included a married couple, their 6-year-old daughter and the wife’s mother. Sellers learned all this by sorting through building permits, tax records, city directories, maps, old newspapers on microfilm and more. A retired software engineer and a member of the Twin Cities Bungalow Club, Sellers has chronicled the history of the house, its environs and the people who lived in it. He even met that 6-year-old daughter when she was in her late 80s. “It’s fun to know that other families have lived here — children have grown up and been nurtured in this house,” Sellers said. “Each family makes it their own and has their own life and experiences here. It’s fun to get that feeling of continuity.” Many homeowners and apartment Julian Sellers and his wife, Barbara, stand in front of their bungalow in St. Paul, dwellers across the country are doing the Minn. Sellers has chronicled the history of the house, the environment surroundpainstaking work of researching the his- ing it and the people who lived in it, since it was built in 1926-1927. AP PHOTO tory of their home and neighborhood. Some delve into the past for practical rea- sity of Oregon. The history of a house and know from documents you already have. sons — perhaps they want to change the its people can also cast light on larger his- And talk to neighbors who have lived on exterior of an old house and need to docu- torical changes. your block for a long time to collect their ment how it once looked, or they want to “A house is like an artifact,” Heath said. stories. create (or protest) a historic designation. “It represents these collective human valBe aware, however, that community Others are simply fascinated by the testa- ues, and cultural and technological stories and legends often aren’t accurate, ment of time. change.” cautions Ellen Baumler of the Montana This research “feeds into the notion of Expert house historians advise novices Historical Society. pride of place,” said Kingston Heath, pro- to focus on one question at a time and to “That’s the greatest pitfall — perpetufessor and director of the graduate His- keep notes on exactly where information ating information that is not correct,” toric Preservation Program at the Univer- was found. To begin, figure out what you Baumler said. “Sometimes those stories
Victimized family moves into rebuilt Joplin home HOUSING SCAMS | ‘STORM CHASERS’ RIP OFF TORNADO VICTIMS BY LAURA BAUER The Kansas City Star
JOPLIN, Mo. — Beneath the coats of offwhite paint and under the drywall inside Larry and Amy Jump’s new home in Joplin are the scrawled names of people who before the storm were strangers. Youth group members from Missouri, Texas and Washington. Mission workers from Indiana and Canada. Volunteers from a Methodist church in Lee’s Summit, Mo. They’re all a crucial part of why the Jumps are where they are today, back at 2424 S Joplin Ave., in a home of their own, in a town that’s still working to reclaim what it had before an EF5 tornado struck on May 22, 2011. “Just being here, it feels so great,” Amy Jump said of moving into their completed home this summer. “The best thing about it is it’s ours.” Her family saw how nasty nature could be when the tornado ripped their home apart as she and her husband and their three sons huddled under a blanket in a corner. And before the volunteers and faith-based groups chipped in, the Jumps were among many families in Joplin who also saw how ugly human nature can get. Dozens of families trying to rebuild their homes have encountered contractors accused of doing shoddy work or worse — skipping town with their money and without doing the work. In the months after the tornado, which wiped out one-third of Joplin and killed 161 people, complaints have poured into
the Missouri attorney general’s office about companies and individuals who reportedly ripped off victims as they tried to rebuild. Some tornado victims had shells of homes constructed or part of their roofs on, then the contractors were gone. “Unfortunately, we knew to expect some unscrupulous ‘storm chasers’ following the tornado,” Attorney General Chris Koster said by email. “So we had people on the ground, ready to investigate complaints.” Many residents who lost their homes didn’t have insurance, but the Jumps did. They thought they would have enough to rebuild, maybe not as big a house as their growing family needed, but a house. Then a relief agency that had worked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina offered to connect them with an architectcontractor out of California and help them get a bigger, energy-efficient home — with solar panels and heated floors — that volunteers would help build. The Jumps embraced the plan. They say they were told they would be in their house by Thanksgiving 2011. They never imagined they would be left dry and desperate just to get their own home again. “We felt really bad having to turn and ask for help,” Amy Jump said. In all, Joplin residents have filed 132 home repair complaints with the Missouri attorney general’s office in the past 14 months. About 100 have already been resolved. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
Concept homes raise funds for health care for needy FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two builders have come together to showcase two new concepts in luxury living while helping families with their medical care. Wayne Griffiths Homes built a 7,000square-foot home at 11649 Mill Hollow Court in the Stonemill neighborhood designed to provide ideas for the growing family. It has five bedrooms, two studies, a workout room, a playroom complete with a karaoke stage, a movie room, a butler’s pantry, a wrapping station, two laundry rooms, an aboveground interior safe room, a dog shower and an outdoor living area with pool and kitchen. The home in the Abbey at Fairview Farm, built by Fairview IV, a partnership between Mark Dale and Mark Gautreaux, will display how upscale living meets downsized manageability. The 3,200square-foot home is at 1501 NW 158. It has 18-foot ceilings, two bedroom suites, two living areas, a 1,000-squarefoot “man-cave” basement with wine cellar, card room, media center, and a convertible third bedroom or exercise room. The master shower is 10 feet tall and has more than 50 square feet, with dual shower heads, seats and glass tile accents. The home has an expansive outdoor living area. The public is invited to tour the homes Thursdays through Sundays from noon to
This view shows the sitting area and fireplace in the master bedroom of a 7,000-square-foot home at 11649 Mill Hollow Court in the Stonemill neighborhood built by Wayne Griffiths Homes. PHOTO PROVIDED
5 p.m. through Aug. 26. Tickets are $10 at the door, or $8 at Bob Mills Furniture, 3600 W Reno Ave., with all proceeds going to Variety Care. Variety Care clinics are family focused community health centers providing services to people of limited income. They provide medical, dental, vision, pediatric and prenatal services as well as mental health counseling at 13 locations in central and western Oklahoma.
and legends are really hard to squash.” Find out whether your street name is the original one, said Mary Louise Days, a historian and board member of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation in California. In her city, for instance, Olive Street was once Canal Street. A change like that can throw researchers off the scent, she said. House historians often want original blueprints and photographs, but those may be lost. Be open to what is available, urged Frank Lipo, executive director of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, in Illinois. For instance, a homeowner may find a photo from the 1950s that shows the house before its porch was removed or aluminum siding installed. “You have to put aside the holy grail of the original photographs and original blueprints,” said Lipo, whose area is known as the home of Ernest Hemingway, Frank Lloyd Wright and beautifully preserved old houses. “If you can find some cool, interesting, useful things about people who lived there in different eras, it flushes out the story.” Local government offices, public libraries and historical societies are good places to find documents that detail property ownership, as well as fire insurance maps, property tax records, Census records, city directories (precursors to phone books), old newspapers and historic photographs. Some of these documents are available online or in databases. Another way to date your home is to track ownership of the property back to when it was first built. This practice is called a “chain of title” search and often can be done at a county records’ office.
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
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Mortgage relief may be getting reprieve
Tom Renk built a garden made up mostly of hosta plants beneath a forest of black walnut trees in the backyard of his home in Sugar Grove, Ill. MCT PHOTO
Finding solutions for landscape problems BY WILLIAM HAGEMAN Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — If you stand
in the right spot in Tom and Karen Renk’s yard, you might notice that dozens of trees on the property are in perfect lines. That’s because the area used to be a black walnut nursery, and the 50- and 60-foot trees date to the early 1950s. These trees are not gardener-friendly. “We found out that black walnuts, from the leaves and the roots, give off this toxin, juglone, that keeps many other plants from growing,” Tom Renk said. So began the process of turning what had been an overgrown jungle into a beautiful yard at their home in Sugar Grove, Ill. When they bought the lot 15 years ago, it was all scrub, he said. Working their way around the property, the Renks slowly cleared the undergrowth, killed weeds and after letting an area sit for a year or so, planted it. The soil was hostile. Many plants would live a year or two at most, then die. But hostas thrived, juglone or not. There are now hundreds around the yard, all from stock he bought years ago. “I’m constantly dividing hostas,” Renk said. “I haven’t bought a hosta for six years.” There is also a lot of ground cover and some yews, all immune to the juglone. Day lilies and hydrangeas are also present, but have short life spans. Karen has several flowering plants in containers around the property for a little color. Also not bothered by the toxins: three artificial Christmas trees Renk placed along his back property line for privacy. “I just dug holes and put them in,” he said. “They’re in their tree stands and everything.” Soon, though, they’ll be obscured by yews that are thriving nearby. The overall feel of the yard — with a bridge, running water, pond, several paths and dappled sunlight — is of peace and tranquility. “When you look around, you can see the challenges that we went through,” Renk said. “We’ve probably spent thousands of dollars over the last 14 years trying to figure out what works. We roll with the punches. We figured out what we can’t do and went from there.” Renk is not alone in having to overcome adversity in the yard. Bad soil, bad topography and forgotten patches of land are all problems that can be surmounted. Often neglected as homeowners focus elsewhere — the front yard for
Often neglected as homeowners focus elsewhere — the front yard for show, the back for entertainment — the side yard can be an asset. After all, it is often the way people move between the front and backyards. Also, many times it sits outside a large window and can be turned into an extension of a room.
show, the back for entertainment — the side yard can be an asset. After all, it is often the way people move between the front and backyards. Also, many times it sits outside a large window and can be turned into an extension of a room. “More often (side yards) are shady rather than sunny,” said Phil Rosborough, president of Rosborough Partners, a landscape design firm and contractor in Libertyville, Ill. “That’s fine, because they become lush green oases, in a sense. … You can get this
woodland-garden feel that’s quite endearing when looking out a formal dining room or family room.” Rosborough says an inviting side yard increases the level of interest elsewhere. “Sometimes (you can use) a pergola, an iron archway, some sort of element that draws you in, makes you want to head out that way and wander the property,” he said. A gently sloping lawn is one thing, an unmowable steep incline is something else. “You can’t use that space if it’s your front or backyard,” said Brian Casey, president of Outdoor Upgrades, a landscaping firm based in Clarendon Hills, Ill. “One solution is to make the slope go away by bringing in a retaining wall to level off the grade, or bring in terraces to level the grade in segments.” Instead of a lawn, you can choose plants that are good on slopes, including native grasses such as switch grass or prairie dropseed; perennials, such as day lilies or hostas; and shrubs, such as juniper, sumac and chokeberry. Erosion-control blankets will help keep plants in place until roots get established. “Like anything, they say form follows function,” Casey said. “In reality, form follows your finances. The retaining wall is the most expensive, a blanket with seed below it is the least expensive, and a blanket with shrubs or perennials is somewhere in the middle.” MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
WASHINGTON — Here’s some encouraging news for financially stressed homeowners across the country: The Senate Finance Committee approved a bipartisan bill before heading home for summer recess that would extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act through 2013. Why is this important? Several reasons: The debt relief law spares homeowners who receive principal reductions on their mortgages from being hit with hefty federal income taxes on the amounts forgiven. Without it, millions of owners who go through foreclosure or leave their homes following short sales would experience even more financial stress. The law has also provided relief to thousands of people who have debt balances written off as part of loan-modification agreements and is crucial to the $25 billion federal-state robo-signing settlement with large banks. It is set to expire at the end of December. Some Capitol Hill analysts predicted that, along with a host of other special-interest tax benefits, an extension might have trouble making it through the partisan gantlet in an election year. But the Senate committee managed to pull together enough votes Aug. 2 to pass the debt-relief extension, after heavy lobbying by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders. The bill, which now moves to the full Senate for possible action next month, also would extend tax writeoffs for mortgage insurance premiums for 2012 and through 2013, and continue some energy-efficiency tax credits for remodelings and new home construction.
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
The mortgage debt relief extension could ultimately affect millions of families who are underwater on their loans, delinquent on their payments and heading for foreclosure, short sales or deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure settlements. Under the federal tax code, all types of forgiven debt are treated as ordinary income, subject to regular tax rates. When an underwater homeowner who owes $300,000 has $100,000 of that forgiven as part of a modification or other arrangement with the bank, the unpaid $100,000 balance would normally be taxable. But in 2007, Congress saw the fast-mounting distress in the housing market on the horizon and agreed to temporarily exempt certain mortgage balances that are forgiven by lenders. The limit is $2 million in debt cancellation for married individuals filing jointly, $1 million for single filers. This special exemption, however, came with a time restriction. The current deadline is Dec. 31. Without a formal extension by Congress, starting on Jan. 1 all mortgage balances written off by banks would be fully taxable — a nightmare scenario that has had financially stressed homeowners worried for months. These apprehensions were raised even higher when some policy analysts predicted that a Congress as fractious and dysfunctional as the current one would never get its act together to pass any tax bills until the closing moments
of the lame-duck session expected after the November election. A few Republican policy strategists have speculated that tea party freshmen in the House might oppose the debt-relief extension because they see it as another costly bailout funded by taxpayers. The estimated revenue cost to the Treasury for a two-year extension is $2.7 billion. The mortgage insurance deduction is another key housing benefit that made it into the Senate committee’s 11th-hour extender bill. Under a provision in the tax code that expired last December, certain borrowers could write off their mortgage insurance premiums on their federal income taxes, just as they do with mortgage interest. To qualify for a full deduction, borrowers could not have adjusted gross incomes greater than $100,000 ($50,000 for married taxpayers filing separate returns). The Senate’s bill would extend the write-off retroactively to this past Jan. 1, and would continue it through December 2013. No buyer or owner who planned to write off premiums during 2012 would be penalized, in other words, despite the expiration last December. The outlook for the extenders: Given the popularity of the housing deductions and credits, look for supporters to press the full Senate for early action in September in order to get these issues settled before Election Day. If there are serious objections in the Republican-controlled House, however, then all bets are off until the lameduck session, when election losers as well as winners get to write tax policy. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
Building permits Oklahoma City Flintco Inc., 15400 N Rockwell Ave., school, erect, $10,708,250. CSRS Inc., 14100 N Pennsylvania Ave., restaurant, erect, $900,000. Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 15400 N Western Ave., church, add-on, $650,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, retail sales, remodel, $620,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, retail sales, remodel, $620,000. Specialty Consulting, 3315 Northwest Expressway, retail sales, remodel, $500,000. Wieland-Davco, 7301 S Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $500,000. Sam Gresham, Architect, 26 E Main St., office, remodel, $400,000. Home First Inc., 15415 Coral Creek Lane, residence, erect, $375,000. Quick-Mincey Properties LLC, 7701 NW 135, residence, erect, $350,000. C&C Builders Inc., 6625 Whispering Grove Drive, residence, erect, $300,000. Wood Ridge Homes LLC, 10700 Malaga Way, residence, erect, $300,000. Chet Walters Homes Inc., 1512 NW 172, residence, erect, $290,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14501 Yorkshire Lane, residence, erect, $289,200. Carol and Sam Vladovich, 14777 Sharon Springs Drive, residence, erect, $280,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 4708 SW 126 Place, residence, erect, $270,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 5616 NW 119 Circle, residence, erect, $261,000. Landmark Fine Homes LP, 18308 Orozco Circle, residence, erect, $250,000. Shawn Forth Custom Homes, 16121 Evan Shaw Court, residence, erect, $249,000. Ken Aduddell, 16768 Little Leaf Lane, residence, erect, $230,000. Vickie James Custom Builder Inc., 6709 Chelsey Lane, residence, erect, $230,000. Willis (Don) Custom Homes Inc., 3917 Chesterfield Place, residence, erect, $225,000. Oklahoma Diamond Group LLC, 10016 Volare Drive, residence, erect, $225,000. J. Hill Homes Inc., 10908 SW 21, residence, erect, $220,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 4820 SW 126, residence, erect, $205,000. Harvest Homes Properties LLC, 317 SW 174, residence, erect, $200,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15300 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $200,000. Denise Patterson Custom Homes, 3301 NW 163, residence, erect, $199,900. Garnet Homes LLC, 3917 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $195,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2405 NW 180, residence, erect, $195,000. Garnet Homes LLC, 4009 Wayfield Ave., residence, erect, $190,000. Vickie James Custom Builder Inc., 7321 Stinchcomb Drive, residence, erect, $190,000. Quality Designed Homes LLC, 2316 Wayne Cutt Ave., residence, erect, $187,900. Debbie Gregory Homes, 9021 NW 84 Terrace, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 17216 Woodvine Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 15224 Homecoming Drive, residence, erect, $180,000. D.R. Horton, 4201 NE 119, residence, erect, $179,900. Todd and Jesse Clark, 19700 N Choctaw Road, manufactured home, move-on, $176,700.
Liberty Homes Inc., 5912 Holly Brooke Lane, residence, erect, $175,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 9100 Lolly Lane, residence, erect, $175,000. Cedarland Homes LLC, 4912 SW 120 Terrace, residence, erect, $173,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14700 Pepperwell Oaks Drive, residence, erect, $169,000. Manchester Green Homes LLC, 1424 NW 188, residence, erect, $160,900. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18601 Mesa Road, residence, erect, $157,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 15412 SE 58, residence, erect, $145,000. Oklahoma Diamond Group LLC, 10909 NW 118, residence, erect, $145,000. Manchester Elite Homes LLC, 14916 Stone Manor Drive, residence, erect, $145,000. Jaime Hernandez, 10700 Daryl Drive, residence, erect, $140,000. Snyder Homes LLC, 11832 SW 17, residence, erect, $132,078. Westpoint Homes, 6113 NW 157, residence, erect, $130,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $130,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $130,000. Snyder Homes LLC, 11924 SW 17, residence, erect, $129,707. J&A Homes LLC, 19137 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $125,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 1509 Kingsridge Drive, residence, erect, $120,000. Foster Signature Homes LLC, 10737 SW 35, residence, erect, $120,000. Prime Development, 2309 NW 159 Terrace, residence, erect, $120,000. First Oklahoma Construction Inc., 16316 Montague Drive, residence, erect, $110,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11441 SW 24, residence, erect, $109,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2629 NW 183, residence, erect, $107,000. Home Creations, 18224 Scarborough Drive, residence, erect, $104,600. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 416 Parsons Drive, residence, erect, $103,000. Home Creations, 904 Aspen Creek Terrace, residence, erect, $101,700. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6100 Cielo Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9632 Kylie Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. First Oklahoma, 16308 Montague Drive, residence, erect, $100,000. NAI Sullivan Group, 8127 Northwest Expressway, church, remodel, $100,000. Dees Construction LLC, 4334 Northwest Expressway, office, remodel, $90,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 7608 S Miller Ave., residence, erect, $85,000. Home Creations, 12601 Edison Drive, residence, erect, $84,600. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 8516 N Lindsay Ave., residence, erect, $84,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 516 SE 26, residence, erect, $84,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 8509 N Phillips Ave., residence, erect, $84,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 8525 N Lindsay Ave., residence, erect, $84,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 16017 Raindust Drive, residence, erect, $83,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 500 SE 26, residence, erect, $80,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 8556 Durland Way, residence, erect, $80,000.
Memorial Square 1031 LLC, 13722 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $80,000. Home Creations, 12053 NW 133 Terrace, residence, erect, $78,200. Lee Asset Group, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $75,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $75,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $75,000. Samantha Hanby, 3539 W Memorial Road, business, remodel, $75,000. Cornerstone Group LLC, 10721 SW 34 Terrace, residence, erect, $70,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $52,000. B&J Concrete Inc., 16000 N May Ave., church, erect, $50,000. Cal LLC, 119 NW 132, office-warehouse, remodel, $50,000. Urban Zip, 5220 E Wilshire Blvd., barn, erect, $50,000. General Lighting & Sign Services Inc., 5100 S Interstate 35 Service Road, bank, erect, $42,000. Richard Hanks, 10108 SE 51, add-on, add-on, $40,000. William Jolly, 11001 SE 80, manufactured home, move-on, $37,000. Vallandingham Construction, 2404 SW 32, accessory, erect, $35,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $32,000. Trinity Group Architects, 4130 Northwest Expressway, restaurant, remodel, $30,000. Melinda Burns, 11823 SW 15 Terrace, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $28,000. Studio Architects, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $28,000. Lee Asset Group, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $25,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 5700 SE 148, storage, erect, $20,000. Greenturf Inc.., 600 NW 42, canopy-carport, add-on, $20,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, remodel, $20,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, remodel, $20,000. No name provided, 11902 SW 16, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $18,000. Mosco Construction, 801 S Mustang Road, medical clinic-office, remodel, $16,000. Covenant Renovations Inc., 1504 SW 61, residence, remodel, $15,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, shell, $15,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, shell, $15,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, remodel, $15,000. Bockus Payne Associates Architects, 2300 W Memorial Road, shell building, remodel, $15,000. Pamcorp, 10135 N Rockwell Ave., tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 2012 Westwood Blvd., tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 16820 N Pennsylvania Ave., towerantenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 1259 W Interstate 240 Service Road, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 5506 N Santa Fe Ave., tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 6828 NW 122, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 6828 NW 122, tower-antenna, install, $15,000. Pamcorp, 8629 Northwest Expressway, towerantenna, install, $15,000. Scott Davis, 13316 S Western Ave., cleanerslaundry, remodel, $15,000. Lee Asset Management Group LLC, 6701 Broad-
way Extension, office, remodel, $14,880. Timberlake Construction, 3600 S Sara Road, temporary building, move-on, $12,000. Lee Asset Management Group LLC, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $11,160. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14700 Pepperwell Oaks Drive, accessory, erect, $10,000. Covenant Renovations Inc., 10220 SE 55, residence, remodel, $10,000. Lee Asset Management Group LLC, 6701 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $7,650. Maria Cabrera, 2633 SW 23, residence, addon, $7,000. Leonard Rasenburg, 2400 SW 100, canopycarport, erect, $6,800. William Smith, 512 NW 32, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $6,400. Angela Ann Stover, 13220 NW 1 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,000. Ralph and Kathleen Parker, 8309 Aspen Place, residence, add-on, $5,000. Flat Safe, 3705 Keith Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,150. Flat Safe, 10421 Katy Line Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,100. Jaynie Rich, 4105 Rankin Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,050. Bruce Black, 12309 Shorehan Court, storm shelter, erect, $4,000. John M. Whittenbers, 5901 SW 21, move-onmobile home park, moveon-mobile home park, $4,000. Dewayne and Shirley Spencer, 7405 NW 118, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,500. Vortech Storm Shelters, 4012 NE 138 Terrace, storm shelter, remodel, $3,375. Ali Anvar, 15812 Claremont Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. No name provided, 10404 NW 45, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. No name provided, 19021 Meadows Crossing Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Stacey Rose, 3641 Quail
Creek Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Thomas McLuckkie, 5608 Lanceshire Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200. Matthew Major, 6404 Connaught Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,050. No name provided, 6112 NW 152, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. No name provided, 2946 Village Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Gary Knodel, 8216 NW 6, storm shelter, remodel, $3,000. Geoffrey Warlick and Jane Lucas, 8900 Prairie Ridge Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Ground Zero, 9008 Bella Vista Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. John Norman, 3337 NW 170 Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Ken Worth, 2509 NW 115, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Thomason, 8100 S Youngs Blvd., storm shelter, erect, $3,000. Mark Heath, 3505 SW 124, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Merritt Daggs, 10708 NW 40 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Veralea Sealy, 8125 Timothy Lane, storm shelter, remodel, $3,000. Flat Safe, 15704 Prairie Run Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Ground Zero, 1400 NW 183, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Benny and Joyce Thome, 2216 SW 117, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Bobby Yarbrough, 5104 SE 88, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995. Melissa and Francisco Silva, 3908 SE 89 Terrace, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Mahawta Hargis, 8232 Wilshire Ridge Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,970. Gilberto Rodriguez, 1352 SW 61 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,910. Reginald Harding, 4720
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Royal Oak Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,825. Sherry Teoli, 8513 SW 39, storm shelter, erect, $2,825. Ryan Whitlow, 8713 NW 157 Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Glenn Fast, 2308 Makaila Way, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,750. Terry Howard, 500 Prairie Hill Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,720. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2713 NW 186, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,300. Byong C. Rhee, 4500 S Sunnylane Road, restaurant, remodel, $2,000. Ground Zero, 3301 Venice Blvd., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,000. Arthur and Susan Ghere, 12721 Oakdale View Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $1,900. Jose E. Compean, 3216 SW 72, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,500. Charles Campbell, 1237 SW 39, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,500. Arnold Sullivan, 3005 Baron, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $1,000. Outland OK Office Buildings, 1145 W Interstate 240 Service Road, retail sales, remodel, $1,000.
Demolitions Crosby Construction, 2323 SW 29, warehouse. Crosby Construction, 6415 N Meridian Ave., restaurant. Crosby Construction, 2616 W Wilshire Blvd., residence. Crosby Construction, 200 NW 18, garage. Total Demolition Services LLC, 7101 NW 150, residence. Kendall Concrete, 3120 NE 15, residence. K&M Wrecking LLC, 2550 SE 59, residence. K&M Wrecking LLC, 637 SW 85, demolition, residence. Ray’s Trucking, 20821 Reland Ave., accessory. Ray’s Trucking, 20821 Reland Ave., accessory. Ray’s Trucking, 20821 Reland Ave., residence.
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
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Builder calls faulty carpet ‘normal’ DEAR BARRY: We bought a newly constructed home without having a home inspection. Now we’re wondering if we should hire an inspector before the one-year builder’s warranty expires. One problem we’ve had involves the carpet. It sheds lint fibers that get in our hair, clothes, socks, etc. Each time we use the vacuum, the hose and bag become filled. The builder said this is normal and that nothing can be done about it. This has been going on for seven months and we fear that there could be other problems we haven’t yet discovered. What do you recommend? May DEAR MAY: A common practice among some builders is to say that a
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
problem is “normal” when it is absolutely not normal. In this way, they attempt to avoid liability. Carpet that sheds lint to the extent that you describe is so abnormal that it is almost unheard of. You should have the carpet inspected by a local flooring contractor and get a written evaluation of the problem. A qualified professional will be aware of product recalls or of conditions that could produce this type of defect. A written statement
from a carpet contractor will help to overcome the builder’s excuses. Buying a new home without a professional inspection is a mistake. A good inspector can identify defects in a new home, and repairs can then be demanded as a condition of the purchase. Rather than wait till the end of the oneyear warranty, you should hire a home inspector now. Try to find an inspector with years of experience and a reputation for thoroughness. Call a few real estate offices and ask who is the most thorough inspector in the area. If the builder continues to be unresponsive, get some advice from an attorney who specializes in construction defect law. DEAR BARRY: When
Buying a new home without a professional inspection is a mistake. A good inspector can identify defects in a new home, and repairs can then be demanded as a condition of the purchase. we purchased our home, the seller submitted a written statement that disclosed a moisture problem in the basement. But this statement was not in-
cluded in our paperwork from our Realtor, and we never saw it during or after the transaction. Our home inspector reported the moisture condition, but he said nothing about mold. Several months after moving in, we discovered mold in the basement and spent $7,000 to have it removed. That was when we requested, and finally received, a copy of the seller’s disclosure statement. Who is responsible for the cost of correcting the mold problem? Clarence DEAR CLARENCE: The seller apparently acted in good faith by submitting written disclosure of the moisture problem. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the seller was not aware of the undis-
closed mold. Environmental hazards such as mold are outside the scope of a visual home inspection. Therefore, the inspector cannot be held liable. However, if the mold was visible, the stains should have been reported by the inspector with a recommendation for further evaluation. The liable party in this case is the Realtor. If the agent received the disclosure statement from the seller and failed to provide a copy, that was a major professional breach. A real estate attorney can advise you on the best way to proceed with this claim. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING
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HOUSE PLAN
Missouri church Simple Kent plan offers charm renovates home of cancer patient
People who feel drawn to simplicity will find much to appreciate in the Kent. Call it a cabin, a bungalow or a vacation retreat. Whichever designation you choose, this home is charming. And being small, it’s as economical to build as it is to maintain. Slender wooden posts support and define a long front porch that wraps around to the right. Exposed rafter tails along the roof’s edge create visual interest there, while cedar shake shingles give a rustic texture to the exterior, above the batt-and-board siding. Entering, you step through one of the two atrium doors into a surprisingly large and sunny vaulted great room. Windows line much of the side wall, and a kitchen with a large work island fills the rear. If a wood or gas flame stove is part of your dream, the front corner by the door is an ideal location. Standing at the kitchen’s four-burner stove, you can easily serve up hot soups, cocoa, coffee and assorted culinary delights to family and friends perched on stools along the raised eating and conversation bar. A stacked washer-dryer is nearby, hidden behind doors that front the hallway leading to the back porch. Shelves fill the other half of the alcove. Its lower half could be outfitted with a folding counter atop storage cabinets. More storage is available in a smaller alcove across from
BY LEE HILL KAVANAUGH The Kansas City Star
the bathroom. Two rooms fill the rest of the left side. The Kent’s front bedroom is larger and has a wide closet.
The second room could be used as a study or another bedroom. A pulldown ladder there provides handy attic access.
A review plan of the Kent, 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.
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — While Rhonda Van Sickle and her three boys were in Florida recently, courtesy of a late-stage cancer charity, members of her church set in motion a secret plan to show them how much they are loved. Work crews swarmed their two-story contemporary house on SW Leeward Street in Lee’s Summit. The crews didn’t just tackle a few tasks on her to-do list. They drove in with several trailers of new things and hauled off the old. Van Sickle, 51, has stagefour bone cancer. As a physical education teacher at Summit Pointe Elementary and a single mom of Alex, 20, Austin, 17, and Blake, 15, she has let slide a lot of daily chores and larger home projects. The gym teacher who was always instructing children to exercise more was just too tired to do much for herself. When members of her church, Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church, asked what chores they could do for her, she shrugged and asked if they could paint some walls to freshen up the place. Unknown to her, Van Sickle, a member of the church for 27 years, moved to the top of her church’s Impact Project, a missionbased ministry making a difference beyond the church’s walls.
But the more the volunteers looked at her home, the more they saw things that needed fixing. Calls went out and people signed on to do whatever they could. The little project of love grew into a major gift. Ed Lipowicz, a church member who owns Floors and More, parked his trailer at the home and brought in crews to take care of plumbing, flooring and carpeting. “When you get older,” he said, “you really start thinking hard about the importance of giving back. It’s very important.” Associate pastor David Hutchison, who has been preaching on the topic of service for a few weeks, knows that his flock heard the message. He has a name for all of this: extravagant generosity. “We’ve touched every inch of this home. It’s not about being a light in the community. It’s about giving of yourself,” he said. “People’s hearts are huge.” Weeds are gone now. A once-stagnant fish pond is the clean home of six shimmering goldfish. Thirty-year-old mattresses were thrown out, along with a broken stove, tired refrigerator, rotten floorboards and leaky faucets. Dozens of 1970s fixtures were replaced and the air conditioner was overhauled. It’s now a peaceful place where Van Sickle can reflect, pray and know that she is much loved. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
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Vacation homes on inside should reflect outside BY LORI JOHNSTON
owners are placing a greater emphasis on creating large spaces for themselves and their guests to eat indoors. Chamberlain is seeing an increase in requests for massive tables that seat 12 to 16 people. The Henes have a custom 12-foot table at their lake home.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATLANTA — When you’re paying for the view, a vacation home doesn’t need to have fussy decor or over-the-top interiors that distract from the lake setting. “That’s the reason why they’re buying the house,” said Alicia Mooney-Macchia, owner of Alicia Mooney Interiors, an interior designer at Lake Oconee, Ga., and throughout metro Atlanta. “What you want to do is walk in the house and look straight back at the view.” Heavy fabrics and details such as fringe on furniture are out, replaced with clean lines, linen fabrics and neutral colors, she said. Still, vacation homes don’t have to be shabby or suffer from the barebones look of a college apartment. Lake home style can enhance the serene environment while maintaining functionality for friends and family. “The layouts are more efficient and effective,” said Dan Jones, owner of Jones and Jones Premier Builders and president of the Lake Oconee Builders Association. “There’s not as much wasted square footage. Obviously, openness is a continuing trend,
Work in wood
Stair South is placing stair rails in a horizontal format to emphasize the views at a vacation home at Lake Oconee, Ga.
signers and homeowners shared other ways to decorate vacation homes with the scenery in mind: While much of the time is spent outdoors, homeowners are placing a greater emphasis on creating large spaces for themselves and their guests to eat indoors, such as this 12-foot table in a lake home. MCT PHOTOS
and less walls.” Carol Morrison, who owns a vacation home with husband, Ken, on the 10th hole of the Harbor Club golf course at Lake Oconee, said they used minimal window treatments to keep the house open and emphasize the view. The desire for openness even extends to decisions about placing stair rails so they don’t obstruct the
200 Hardy Drive, 1560sq. ft. 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, custom kitchen, storm shelter, corner lot, 10x20 insulated storage barn, $129,900 Open House Sat & Sun, 11-3. 596-6582
view. Dennis Chamberlain, owner of Stair South, based in Eatonton, Ga., said his company situates iron rails horizontally (allowed by local building codes), instead of vertically, both inside and outside the home. “If you’re sitting on your porch and looking onto the lake, you can look horizontally and see more,” he said. Builders, interior de-
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Use nautical decor You don’t want to get seasick at your lake home. If you want to give a nod to the water setting and participate in the nautical trend in homes and fashion, Mooney-Macchia advises against creating a “lake room.” Instead, keep it simple. She accessorizes with nautical items, such as old oars or glass fishing floats and buoys covered with netting. Or a throw pillow could have a nautical or water motif.
Make guest space Requests for bunk-bed
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BEAUTIFUL almost new 3/2.5/1 approx 1777' Bethany schls $129,000 Lisa 919-5717 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
OWNER FINANCING $2000 down 4010 Pearl Way 3/1 $54,000 No Credit Ck ‘ 596-4599 ‘ Owner carry 4005 Corbett 3/2/2 Like new 650-7667 www.homesofokcinc.com
Midtown Walford Apts 518 NW 12th, 650 sf Studio $675/mo $400/dep 409-7989 804 NW 21st St upstairs Apt 2bed 1 bath $700/mo $350/dep 409-7989 No Sec 8
Abandoned D/W Repo set up on 5 Acres!! Ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600
800 N. Meridian
800 N Meridian 946-9506
1bed 1bath $350 mo, very clean, stove & fridge 405-314-4667
Large 1 & 2 beds. Stove, refrig,
3 SW OKC Locations $345 to 420 mo 632-9849
Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
Double Wide REPO Like New $395mo. wac 405-577-2884
Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777
8005 NW 8th Unit 272 Thousand Oaks 1bd condo, fridge, stove, washer/dryer, ch/a $525 Fidelity RE 410-4200
THE BEST MOBILE HOME 2400 S. MacArthur Bvd. #12, OKC renewed to better than new 2 large portable bldgs, 22X8 covered porch 2bed, 2ba, 1280 1FP, 1-story Mobile Home, 1986 standard electric, central A/C, city sewer, community pool, $19,500 Jerry Dawson 405-924-4851/405-862-8879 jerrydawson@att.net 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 Cash 4 Clunkers! Guaranteed $5,000 for any trade towards down pymt of new home WAC 405-631-7600 405-834-8814
Beautiful 2 bed, 2 bath, w/d, SW OKC, Sec 8 okay, $545/mo, $200 dep, 812-8834.
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700
Near NW 39th & Penn 2bd 2ba Hemingway condo, poolside, gated, no pets $700+dep 751-2934
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
SE OKLAHOMA NEAR OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Historic Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow Lake & acres of Pine forest. Spend your days on the lake fly fishing, hiking, golfing, biking, horseback riding & kayaking. Little Lake Cabin Photo#205 First State Bank Valliant, OK Mike at 580-933-4201 Member FDIC & Equal Housing Lender. Photos & info at: www.foxruncabin.com
VERY, VERY QUIET Near mall, schls, hosp 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
Landscaping/Garden Center Successful 12 year old Landscaping Service and Garden Center in Western Oklahoma. Excellent cash flow/ROI. 7.5 acre property and building may be purchased and adjacent home on 2.88 acres. Appraised $1.85M Bendure and Associates, Inc 405-249-7434
1st Mo Rent Selected Units Large Townhomes & Apartments • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
Restaurant & Convenient Store LAKE TENKILLER 918-261-5932
7301 NW 23rd 787-1620
$200 off
Casita Blanca 2614 NW 50th 2bd 2ba 2car garage, 1200sf, $1300mo $1300 dep 409-7989 no sec 8
Working production machine shop with CNC lathes, machining centers, saws, manual lathes & mills + building & real estate. Marlow area ¡ 405-990-9589
MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
3/2/2 + study 1650sf, 1.3ac $1100 Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777
833 E Eubanks 3/1 + storage $495 681-7272
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
3bd 1ba dining, circle drive, ch&a, all appliances, carport, fenced yard, move-in ready 320 NW 122nd $650mo + dep 348-0306 Perfect location for OCU students 1blk from the college. 2bed home w/office space $600mo ALL BILLS PAID » » 229-3085 221 NW 121st St 3bed 2ba 2 car 1200sf $900/mo $800/dep 409-7989 NO Sec 8 Beautiful 1700sq 2b 1 1/2bth 2car 2 living, FP 3328 Eastman Dr $1,050 405-830-3399 Walk to elementary school, 4901 NW 26th, 3/2/2, ch&a, $850 mo, w/good credit, no sec 8, 426-5497 1324 NW 98th, 3bd/1ba W/D hkup $500mo, $250dep 820-3076 2326 NW 19th, 3 bed brick, ch&a, $600 + dep, nice area, 222-1510. 1540 NW 48 3bd 1ba ch&a $725 mo $500dep sec 8 ok 831-0825
1st Mo Rent Selected units 2 & 3 bed Townhouses Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces, P.C. Schools
PARKLANE
721-5455
8100 N. MacArthur Blvd
2317 N Woodward 1 bed 1ba 1car 850sf $600 mo 409-7989 no sec 8
Bills Paid
Furnished/Unfurnished Weekly/Monthly 370-1077
3/2/1 Available Now 124 Bryan Drive - 1200 sq ft, $950 mo + Deposit. No pets/smoking. Call Kelly @ 405-250-2435.
4/1.5 brk ch&a new roof/windows 1305 McDonald Dr $50K 205-6500
1200 Karen Ln, 3bd, 1.5ba, 2car, ch&a, nice clean $627. 476-5011 3bd 1ba ch&a, fncd backyard, carpet, Sec 8 ok $600+ $250dep OKC Schls, 1225 McDonald, 733-0470.
•City bus route/Shopping •Washer/Dryer hookups
1 mi E of Tinker, 3b 1b 2c, ch&a, $575+$400dep No pets 732-4351
Valencia Apts
2221 N. Meridian 946-6548
Large 2bd $575
1 month Free
Casady 751-8088
2 bedroom, $300 + $300 dep. No Pets. 703 SE 20th. 405-412-6881
NEW ON MARKET 3 & 2 BEDS No appliaction fees. Low dep or work for dep. Need Handyperson! 702-9798 or 209-7827 1208 SW 77th Terr. 2/2/1+ FP new carpet, utility rm, fenced yard, $750 w/disc. + dep No pets Duplex Owner: LR 405-642-4116 2444 SW 50th sharp 3bd home on corner lot, fresh paint/new carpet only $575. Fidelity RE 410-4200
$99 Special
1 & 2 BD & Townhouses
$475
3bd 2.5ba, extras, $800, 405-787-7029
WILLIAMSBURG $200 Off
Tulsa Massage Business for sale, nice location, nicely equipped, fully licensed. Joanne 918-841-6909
Neutrals keep the attention on the view, and grays are the new neutral, Mooney-Macchia said. She brings in bold splashes of orange and blue through pillows and other accessories. Homeowners find that water-inspired hues can add to a home’s soothing setting.
616 NW 92nd 3bd 1ba 681-7272
Wilshire Valley Apts. Newly Remod. 1, 2 & 3 bed S8 (upgrd. + 1 bd) Call 475-9984.
Pipeline construction company for sale in Elk City, OK. 2012 fleet vehicles, 2006 Side booms, all necessary supplies, haul trucks, Low Boy, firewagons, & much more. 580-225-7473
Match the scenery
Newly Remodeled, 2 bed, NW 50th & Portland »» 405-692-5584 »»
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
5824 S. Shartel Ave, Very Nice 2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, $42,500, 550-2145
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
Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695
Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid » Wkly/Mnthly. Wes Chase Apts Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
NEW 3bd/2bth $1500 down, 7.5% $281mo. 405-324-8010
10 beautiful wooded a MOL, unrestricted, just SE of Blanchard $35,000 405-485-3178
House & lg shop TERMS 4bd, 2ba, lg. on 1N to 3O A NE of Harrah Milburn o/a 275-1695 www.paulmilburnacreages.com
While much of the time is spent outdoors, home-
Brand New 2 Bed 2 Bath
REPO REPO REPO 4bd/3bth $648MO. wac 405-324-8000 2 bedroom, 1 bath, garage, AS IS $20,000. 405-886-1643
Go big
1 bed. All bills paid 946-9506
Lot Model Liquidation. New homes at preowned prices Call Kyle Today 405-634-4812 2 brick houses on 1 lot, main house 1700 sq ft, back house 625 sq ft, $27,000 cash. 705 NW 91 301-6495
rooms are rising, especially as grandparents seek to accommodate multiple grandchildren during weekends and summers. “One of the neat things we’ve done is bunk rooms,” Jones said. “You know you’re going to be loading the house with people. Instead of a bedroom with a queen or king bed, put bunks.” He adds that the main thing to consider is ceiling height; at least 9 feet is optimal. Stair South recently was installing bunk beds out of solid ash in Bert and Trudy Hene’s home at Harbor Club. The downstairs room will have seven beds.
Incorporating cedar beams or placing tongueand-groove boards on the walls and ceilings in keeping rooms, living rooms and master bedrooms are two popular ways homeowners add natural elements. In lake homes, though, the wood is painted with a whitewashed look. “It’s not going to be overwhelming. It’s not going to feel like a rustic log cabin,” Mooney-Macchia said.
1112 Sycamore Dr 3/1/1 681-7272
3600 S Meta spacious 3bd house 1car garage, clean, fenced $550 mo. Fidelity RE 410-4200 2121 SW 27th 2bd 1ba $395 2832 SW 83rd 2bd 1ba 1car $650 Free List ¡ 681-7272
Purcell 805 Crown Hts Ln. 1100sf 3/2/2 small bk yd no pets or sec 8. $1000+ dep Maria 618-0563
2124 White Oak Circle 3 bed 2ba 2 car 1369sf $1200/mo $900/dep 405-409-7989 no sec 8
Rent to Own: Nice 2 & 3bed MWC $350 & up 390-9777
$525
3bd 2ba 2car 1370sf $975+dep 4/2/2, 1750sf fireplace $1350+dep Home & Ranch Realty 794-7777
PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES » SINCE 1982 Mgmt » Leasing » Sales Spectrum Management 848-9400 usespectrum.com
10E
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM