LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Stucco exterior
Home draws attention
The Listing of the Week is a large, two-story home with stucco exterior and a garage apartment in the Heritage Hills neighborhood.
Gently arched windows nestled under street-facing gables draw eyes to the Balentine.
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REAL ESTATE
Kenneth Harney
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
TINY HOUSING ADDITION STILL ECHOES LARGE NEIGHBORHOOD
THE NATION’S HOUSING
Insurer discounts The first direct-toconsumer national title insurer is offering 35-percent discounts off standard premium pricing and has been making steady inroads across the country. PAGE 10F
IN BRIEF
DOORBELL UPLOADS AUDIO FILES
Developer David Yost and Joyce Brown, Realtor and co-developer, stand at the entrance to The Reserve at the Estates of Apple Valley, a 5-acre, four-lot neighborhood near Britton Road and Air Depot Boulevard. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN BY DYRINDA TYSON Special Correspondent dyrinda@gmail.com
Five acres, four lots — The Reserve at the Estates of Apple Valley is both laboratory and a series of lessons for developer David Yost and co-developer Joyce Brown. Brown, also a Realtor with Metro First Realty in Oklahoma City, has been involved in marketing the homes in Yost’s developments for seven years, but Yost said he wanted to give her a taste of developing from scratch. “This little project actually demonstrated all the phases that you go through in a development because we had to do the engineering that you would do in a big development — just like we did on the original Estates at Apple Valley,” Yost said. “You have to go through all the permissions with the city, the preliminary plat, the final plat, all the approvals of the paving and so forth, and arrange for all the utilities. It’s really about like bigger developments, like any development would be.” Enclaves have been popping up all over the metro area in recent
BOOK OFFERS PAINT IDEAS
A view of the pond in the nature park in The Estates of Apple Valley.
years, he said, “but a lot of them are zero-lot line.” In contrast, The Reserve offers thickly wooded ¾-acre to 1-acre lots along a teardrop-shaped cul-
de-sac tucked just inside the entrance of the Estates of Apple Valley, off Britton Road just east of Air Depot Boulevard. A sprinkler system plumbed in-
PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
to an existing water well has helped the grass in the rights of way survive the brutal summer, SEE RESERVE, PAGE 2F
Trying to time housing market usually futile Q. We are tired of renting and want to buy a home but we are afraid that prices will keep falling. How do we know when it is the right time to dive in? A. If you are emotionally and financially ready to become a homeowner and feel that you have found your dream home, now is a great time to take advantage of the record low interest rates. You can’t time the bottom of the market, so don’t try. There really are two types of economies: the national economy and your personal economy,
The Tommyknocker Digital Doorbell is out to banish the boring door chime. The doorbell, from Predominance LLC, can be personalized with your favorite music or sound. It comes with a memory stick loaded with a selection of sounds, or you can use a computer to upload an MP3 audio file. A sound-editing tool lets you select a specific section of a song, if you like. The doorbell can be connected to up to four doors and can be programmed to play sound files in rotation. Its 4-inch, 8ohm speaker can be adjusted to up to 80 decibels. It sells for $169.99 plus shipping at www.tommyknockerdoorbell.net.
Gary M. Singer REAL ESTATE LAW
and your personal economy matters much more. Don’t worry so much about whether the home declines slightly in value. Just focus on finding a place that you want for your family and that you can afford. Those are the most important long-term considerations. Happy hunting.
Q. I want to leave my house to my son when I pass away. It is my only asset so I don’t want my son to have to probate my will to get my house. Someone recommended a living trust, but the attorney I spoke to wanted a small fortune. Do I have any options? A. Yes. You should seriously consider a life estate, which is much less expensive than a living trust. Owning property as a life estate means that the property is yours as long as you live. When you pass on, the property instantly passes to whom you previously designated.
This means that no probate is necessary, and a living trust doesn’t need to be drawn and maintained. The downside to the traditional life estate deed is that once you set forth to whom the property will pass, that interest “vests” in whom you decided, and you can’t change your mind, sell or mortgage the property without that person’s agreement. This can be a desirable result in certain situations, such as to protect an elderly relative from being coerced into deeding the property away to a caretaker. If you want to set up a
life estate, but do not want to lose control of your home, you do have another option: an enhanced life estate, which is commonly called a “Lady Bird deed.” This is basically a life estate where the holder can change her mind and sell or mortgage the property without getting anyone else’s consent. In most cases, this is the type of ownership I recommend to people in your situation. Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. Send him questions online at sunsent.nl/mR20t7 or follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
Paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform a home, but using paint artfully can be a challenge. The folks at Better Homes and Gardens’ Do It Yourself magazine provide plenty of guidance in “Do It Yourself: 100+ Paint Projects.” The book provides ideas for painting a variety of surfaces, including furniture, fabrics, glass and ceramics — and, of course, walls. Instructions and patterns are included, so you don’t have to be an artist to achieve professionallooking results. “Do It Yourself: 100+ Paint Projects” is published by Wiley and sells for $19.99 in soft cover. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Handy Permits
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REAL ESTATE
HOUSE PLAN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
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LISTING OF THE WEEK
This week’s Listing of the Week is at 518 NW 14 in Heritage Hills.
PHOTO PROVIDED
1917 Heritage Hills home offers updates The Listing of the Week is a large, two-story home with stucco exterior and a garage apartment in the Heritage Hills neighborhood. The 4,063-square-foot home at 518 NW 14 has four bedrooms, 2½ baths, three living areas, two dining areas, four fireplaces and parking for two cars. The formal living room has
Balentine offers large gathering spaces Gently arched windows nestled under street-facing gables draw eyes to the Balentine. Stone wainscoting, slender porch posts and varied window treatments further enhance the appeal of this large contemporary home. Families who enjoy entertaining will appreciate the abundance of generously sized gathering spaces. Light spills into the expansive foyer through sidelights and transoms. Gallery walls fill the right side, while a wide opening on the left leads into a sunwashed, vaulted living room. Straight ahead and past the stairs, you emerge into a naturally bright great room, open to the dining room and kitchen. Windows fill most of the rear wall here. Entertainment cabinets (or bookshelves) flank a fireplace that can be appreciated from anywhere in this wide-open space, even standing at the kitchen sink. A long eating bar rims the peninsular counter that borders the dining room. Work space is plentiful, with counters on four sides and on the central work island with a built-in prep sink. Mere steps away, in the J-shaped utility room, a laundry chute delivers soiled laundry from the second floor. The room is outfitted with a pull-down ironing board, a long counter for folding clothes, a window-lit sewing desk and lazy Susan shelving. The Balentine’s luxurious owners suite has a vaulted ceiling, two roomy closets and a deluxe soaking tub. Shower and toilet are separately enclosed for added privacy and steam containment. The suite also offers direct access to a private patio, creating an ideal location for a spa. Three more bedrooms and a bonus room are upstairs, along with a study
Light spills into the expansive foyer through sidelights and transoms. Gallery walls fill the right side, while a wide opening on the left leads into a sun-washed, vaulted living room. Straight ahead and past the stairs, you emerge into a naturally bright great room, open to the dining room and kitchen.
alcove and two bathrooms. Vaulted ceilings expand the bonus room and front bedroom.
A review plan of the Balentine 30-340 can be purchased for $25. It is available online, by mail or phone. Add $5 shipping ands handling. Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. (800) 634-0123.
a fireplace. The remodeled kitchen has eating space, a pantry, Corian counters and stainless-steel appliances. The master bedroom has a fireplace, sitting area and walk-in closet. The guest quarters over the garage were renovated in 2010 with new refrigerator, range, microwave and dishwasher. The home has three crystal chandeliers, a
security system and underground sprinkler system. The home, built in 1917, is listed for $750,000 with Sandy Faught of The Covington Co. For more information, call 840-4141. Nominations for Listing of the Week are welcome. Send information on single-family homes to The Oklahoman, Richard Mize, P.O. Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Nominations may be faxed to 475-3996.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM HAS A NUMBER OF BENEFITS INCLUDING FEWER STORM DRAIN PROBLEMS SUCH AS EROSION
Glen Hamrick and Brandon Dwyer install a Clean Rain water filter that will filter and divert rain water from the roof of a home.
Chris McClure, left, of Atlantic Water Gardens, and Joe Reynolds, of Pond Supplies of Ohio, make room for a waterfall unit at a home that will serve both as a landscaping feature and a water retention basin. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTOS
Pondless waterfall also eco-friendly reservoir BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron Beacon Journal
GREEN, Ohio — Karen and Bill Hoffman’s new waterfall has a serious side. Sure, the waterfall is beautiful, tumbling down the Hoffmans’ sloped front yard in Green. But the aesthetics disguise its practical purpose: It’s a rainwater harvesting system, designed to capture runoff and hold the water for reuse. Think of a rain barrel, only bigger and prettier. The pondless waterfall is just the decorative part of the system, which catches water running off the Hoffmans’ roof and sends it into an underground reservoir. There the water is constantly recirculated to feed the waterfall, but it’s also available for watering plants, washing cars and other uses that don’t involve drinking it. That will save the Hoffmans money on their water bills as it benefits the environment, said Jeff Weemhoff, president of Atlantic Water Gardens, the Mantua, Ohio, company that manufactured the system’s components and oversaw its installation last week. Rainwater harvesting systems have a number of benefits. They lessen storm-related problems such as erosion and basement flooding. They reduce the amount of rainwater that dumps into storm sewers, often carrying with it fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants that end up in bodies of water. And they lower the demand for treated water, easing the burden on water-treatment plants. Rainwater is also good for plants, because it doesn’t have the chlorine or added salts that can be found in treated water. Karen Hoffman said her main motivation for adding a waterfall was to cover the traffic sounds she can hear through the couple’s bedroom window. After all, her husband, Bill, is in the water-feature business: He owns both Pond Supplies of Ohio, a wholesaler of water gardening equipment, and Hoffman’s Garden Center, which caters to do-ityourselfers who want to build ponds and other water features. Making the waterfall functional and green as well as decorative didn’t involve that much more expense or effort, so it only made sense, she said. “I mean, why not?” The Hoffmans also used the installation as a sort of on-site classroom so Pond Supplies’ landscaping crew could learn how it’s done. Instead of flowing into a
pond, the waterfall pours into a gravel bed that disguises a reservoir below. The reservoir is a 7-by-8foot, 35-inch-deep hole in the ground, lined with a rubberized material and filled with two layers of porous plastic blocks called Eco-Blox that support the gravel and some larger decorative stones. The blocks, which look a little like plastic milk crates, were used because they provide much more strength than just covering the opening with a grate, explained Atlantic’s rain harvesting sales manager, James Lavery. A layer of landscape fabric over the blocks keeps small stones from falling through the openings. The reservoir is fed by an underground plastic pipe connected to the Hoffmans’ gutter system. When it rains, water coming off the roof flows down a downspout on the side of the house, through a diverter and into the feeder pipe. The diverter doubles as a filter to keep debris out of the reservoir, Lavery said. Flexible plastic fins bounce bigger pieces of debris out an opening in the front of the diverter, and a screen catches smaller pieces. The diverter is also designed to allow the first flush of water coming off the roof to bypass the res-
ervoir and go straight to the storm sewer. Dirt, bird droppings and other contaminants are washed off the roof in the first couple of minutes of a rainfall, Lavery explained, so the system lets the first eight to 12 gallons pass right through an opening in the bottom of the diverter and into the sewer drain. Absorbent rings near that bottom opening swell as the water passes through them and push on a stopper, sealing the opening after about two minutes. The water is then redirected into the pipe that leads to the reservoir. If the reservoir reaches its 1,000-gallon capacity, an overflow pipe will send any excess to the storm sewer, Lavery said. Should the water level drop, an auto-fill device would refill the reservoir from the municipal water system. Lavery said the Atlantic system costs about $2,700 to $3,500, depending on its capacity. But since much of the work involved in installing the rainwater harvesting system has to be done anyway when a water feature is installed, the system doesn’t necessarily add that full amount to the cost of the water feature, he said. “It’s an easy add-on to something people already do,” Lavery said. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
Right: Chris McClure, of Atlantic Water Gardens, stands on ECO-Blocks in the retention basin of a waterfall feature that also is a water retention basin.
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
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The flipsides of flipping Investors tour devastated neighborhoods BY PAUL OWERS Sun Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — They boarded the Foreclosure Express Bus early on a Saturday, ready to hunt for bargains amid South Florida’s housing bust. The monthly tours, which start at $99, help investors find, buy and fix up the thousands of bankowned homes across Broward and Palm Beach counties. “The distressed real estate in California and Florida is the biggest opportunity I’ve seen in my career,” said Ray List, 67, a former chief executive of public companies and one of eight investors on the tour. Another investor, John Tuoto, 45, was looking for more foreclosures after completing his first project last week. He bought a three-bedroom home west of Boca Raton, Fla., for $93,500, spent $20,000 on renovations and resold it for nearly $150,000. With so much money tied up in the home, Tuoto, who works full time for a paint manufacturer, said it was torture waiting the 10 days for a buyer. “It feels like somebody grabs your heart and squeezes it,” he said. Multiple foreclosure bus tours started popping up across the state three years ago, shortly after the foreclosure wave turned into a tsunami. David Dweck, founder of the Boca Real Estate Investment Club and organizer of the 4 ½-hour
David Dweck, founder of the Boca Real Estate Investment Club, leads members on a bus tour of foreclosed and distressed properties in Palm Beach County, Fla. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTOS Left: Real estate investor Aziz Charania goes to check out a home for sale while on a bus tour of foreclosed and distressed properties in Palm Beach County, Fla.
tour, said he’s been doing them for 15 years. When the bus pulled up to the first foreclosure, a cream-colored house with tan trim, Dweck walked through the living room,
pointing out potential renovations. “Now with this black marble flooring,” he said, “what I would do here is go right over it with tile.” The three-bedroom
house near Boca Raton is listed for sale at $93,000, more than many other foreclosures. The profit margin after renovations might not be suitable, Dweck said, adding that the home likely would make an investor more money as a $1,300-amonth rental. If so, Dweck said, whoever buys it shouldn’t
Homebuyers are frustrated by cash-wielding investors BY EVE MITCHELL Contra Costa Times
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — After getting the good news on a Friday night that their offer topped all the others on a foreclosure in Vacaville, Calif., they wanted as their retirement home, Jack and Donna Pfister spent the weekend packing. But the following Tuesday they were told the bank had decided to go with an all-cash buyer, whose offer was $25,000 less than the $475,000 offer from the Pfisters. “My husband was heartbroken,” said Donna Pfister of Rodeo, Calif. “I was heartbroken because he was heartbroken. … Right now, we both feel kind of let down.” The Pfisters are far from alone. While no reliable figures are available, San Francisco Bay Area real estate agents report dozens of people like the Pfisters have lost their dream houses, edged out by a steady increase in homes bought by those who don’t plan to live in them. Investors are gravitating toward low-end properties, the same homes that first-time and move-up buyers want. The median price paid by all-cash buyers in July was $230,000, down from $270,000 a year ago. Most sellers, including banks that own foreclosed homes, prefer all-cash buyers because the deal can close faster than a transaction involving a loan, according to real estate professionals. In the past few years, many regular buyers have turned to government-insured Federal Housing Administration loans after conventional and jumbo loans became harder to get as a result of the housing meltdown. “Over the past two years, cash has been king,”
Mark Bressem watches his wife play with their 5-year-old son Lyndon, in Hercules, Calif. The Bressems, who recently purchased a new home, had been frustrated with their homebuying efforts after competing against all-cash investment buyers. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTO
said Dominic Carano, an East Bay Realtor with ZipRealty. “Then next comes a conventional loan with 20 percent or better down, and the next is the FHA loan with 3.5 percent down.” Carano’s territory is eastern Contra Costa, where low home prices have made it a ground zero for investment buyers. “Silicon Valley (buyers) are buying up properties in Antioch and Pittsburg to become landlords,” he said. “Most of the investors are buying into the firsttime homebuyer price range of $200,000 to $400,000,” said Linnette Edwards, an East Bay associate broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. All-cash buyers are also buying a lot of homes on the east side of San Jose, said Sami Asfour, a broker with Keller Williams Realty. “Most of them will buy them, fix them up and flip them,” he said. He said that one of his
clients, who is looking for a home in San Jose for under $300,000, has lost out several times to all-cash investors. “We made six or seven offers; in some cases it was above the asking price. (The buyer) that comes in with all cash takes it,” Asfour said. As his client and the Pfisters discovered, sellers will often take all-cash offers that are less than the bid from someone using a loan. Loans require timeconsuming appraisals before a sale can close. Also, FHA loans have property inspection requirements that can slow down the process even more. “The investor has the cash wherewithal to be able to close on the property without the risk of the seller worrying about whether the buyer can get the loan or not,” said Mike Sibilia, another broker with Keller Williams. But while all-cash buyers are dashing the homebuying dreams of regular buyers, the trend is
also helping to move along the glut of foreclosures dragging down home prices, real estate experts said. “You have to see both sides,” said Ivonne Valdes, a South Bay Realtor with Coldwell Banker. There are many times when a bank won’t make a loan to a regular buyer because the property is “in a state of disrepair or sometimes there are safety issues,” she said. “(The homes bought by investors) are getting a face-lift and are getting rebuilt,” said Jeff Pereyda, a broker with Tri-City Real Estate Brokers in Fremont, Calif. “Usually, the allcash buyers are out there looking for a flip. They’re going to use all cash to buy it, fix it up, turn it around, and sell it.” And while many firsttime buyers do buy bargain-priced foreclosures, the process can be intimidating, especially if the home needs to be fixed up, he said. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
outfit it with fancy finishes and high-end appliances because tenants don’t demand them. Dweck insists that the “buy low, sell high” mantra is a misnomer. He preaches “buy low, sell low” so that investors don’t get stuck with properties they can’t unload. His rule of thumb: Buy a home that costs no more than 65 percent of the market value after repairs. He said people don’t have to be rich to invest in foreclosures, but they must have some savings. Dweck offers shortterm financing to buy the
homes. Still, investors need $15,000 to $20,000 of their own cash to fix up one property and carry it until it’s sold. The last of the six homes on the tour presented a challenge for any investor. It was a split-level property on a corner lot in a good neighborhood — but it needed a new roof and extensive repairs inside. Claudia Dunne, a selfdescribed HGTV junkie who took the tour because she expects to become a full-time investor, decided to pass. “Too big of an undertaking for me,” she said as she settled back into her seat on the bus. A couple of the more experienced investors seemed interested, if they could buy the home for well below the $80,000 asking price. Real estate investors helped fuel the housing boom, and many were devastated financially when the market crashed. Investors now are sometimes derided as vultures, but they insist they’re helping the housing market recover by renovating homes and improving neighborhoods that have been decimated in the past several years. “The homes are on the market; we didn’t put them there,” investor Valerie Szymaniak said. “We’re not taking advantage of anyone’s misfortune. Some of these homes are in such bad shape that (a regular buyer) couldn’t see the potential.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Cruise ship cabins inspire smaller homes BY PAUL GORES Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — When pondering how to construct smaller homes that young adults and renters could afford, homebuilder Tom Hignite turned his attention from the land to the sea. Cruise ships, to be exact. He studied how the cabins in cruise ships were able to shoehorn essentials of living into a small space, then figured out ways to incorporate some elements — such as built-in bunk beds and wooden lockers instead of closets — into a house containing a little more than 1,000 square feet. The result is what Hignite, owner of Miracle Homes, calls the “Mi-Pad” — a home with three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms and a fireplace for as little as $89,000. “They’re contemporary in look,” Hignite said. “They are little bit more in size than a garage. But they’re extraordinarily compact, using cruise ship technology and cruise ship design architecture to create cabins instead of bedrooms. Some of the bedrooms are 6 feet by 9 feet and they sleep two.” While a far cry from the roomy McMansions that sprang up during the housing bubble of the last decade, Hignite’s houses pack lots of amenities in a small space. One model includes a 10-foot-by-12-foot attic play loft for children. Master bedrooms are shaped to handle queen-size beds. High ceilings help to blunt the smallness of the homes, which, facing the road, are only 26 ½ feet wide. Patios are out the back door.
Construction workers put together a Mi-Pad by Miracle Homes in Milwaukee, Wis. MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE PHOTOS
Construction workers fix up the inside of a ranchstyle Mi-Pad home. The crew works in a shared space that will be the living room and kitchen area combined.
Although construction of houses the size of the Mi-Pad was common during the 1950s in Milwaukee and many suburbs, houses got bigger and bigger in the years that followed. Now, such huge homes have become harder to sell in a weak housing market and in an atmosphere of high unemployment and wide-
scale foreclosures. There is no shortage of existing homes for sale in today’s market. Houses selling for less than $100,000 often are foreclosed properties that need a lot of work. “We kind of looked at repo prices and decided to create a product line that would compete with that
sort of repo price area of $90,000 to $150,000 — and get you a new home,” Hignite said. The final cost of a MiPad varies depending on what’s included and where the lot is located. One model can be developed to have five bedrooms, Hignite said. Mike Ruzicka, president of the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, said Hignite may be on to something. “It sounds like he might fill a niche,” Ruzicka said. Ruzicka said construction of such small homes presents a “back to the future” scenario because small homes were built en masse in the post-World War II era. They could be an alternative by offering a new product instead of a foreclosed property that may need repairs, he said. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
This view shows the master bedroom in a Mi-Pad under construction.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Concrete pavers make good deck alternative If you’d like to improve your outdoor living space but desire an alternative to a wood deck or a boring concrete-slab patio, look no further than concrete pavers. Beautiful, durable and available in a range of colors and patterns, pavers can give you whatever look you’re after. You can create a simple square patio or an intricate showpiece in complex curves. Walkways, eating areas, play areas, a spot for that shiny new gas grill — they’re all possible with these versatile paving stones. And with a little work, they’re also a great do-it-yourself project that will not only bring satisfaction and outdoor enjoyment, but also add resale value to your home.
Pick a pattern and color At your local home center, lumberyard or other retailer of paving stone products, you’ll be able to get a look at the many different stones available. They range from uniform squares and rectangles to ones that appear to have a more random, flagstone appearance. Look at the different displays and brochures available, and you’ll also see how the stones can be mixed and matched in different configurations to create patterns. Even those seemingly random flagstones actually fit together in a
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME
pattern. There are also lots of colors available, especially in the earth tones. You can stick with a single color, or you can blend complementary tones. If you want, you also can use contrasting colors to create a pattern within a pattern, such as a big sundial in the middle of the patio. It’s all up to your imagination. Once you’ve made your decision, the dealer can help you determine the number of pavers needed for your specific area and the pattern you’ve selected, and will arrange delivery to your site.
Layout and preparation Next comes the actual layout. Mark the layout directly on the ground using spray paint, then remove any grass or other landscaping as needed, and rake the soil to remove rocks and debris. Using a long, straight board and a level, or, better yet, a laser level, which can be rented, begin rough-grading the soil. For drainage, paver installations should slope a minimum of 1½ inches
or more every 10 feet. Use a gas-powered flat plate compactor, which also can be rented, to compact the soil. Next comes a layer of about 4 inches of paver base rock material or ¾-inch “minus” gravel, which is available from wherever you buy your pavers or from any retailer of landscaping supplies. Level the gravel, then compact it. Next comes the sand base, which needs to be 1-inch thick. To simplify measuring this thickness, make some guides from long pieces of 1-inch plastic pipe. Simply lay the pipe down on the compacted gravel, pour on the sand, then smooth and level the sand by running a straight board along the tops of your pipes. Remove the pipes, fill in the remaining areas, and mist the sand with water to settle it in.
Install the pavers Start up against the house in order to give yourself a straight starting point. Lay full pavers on the sand base in the pattern you’ve predetermined. Use a long level to make sure the pavers are level. If they’re high, tap them down with a rubber mallet. If they’re low, add some paver sand under them, then tap them down. Continue laying out full pavers until you have all of them installed, making certain that you carefully follow your pattern de-
sign. Where you need to cut pavers, use a diamondbladed wet saw, which you can get from any rental yard. Mark the cut lines with a masonry crayon, and cut along the line with the wet saw — be sure you’re wearing hand, ear and eye protection while cutting, as well as a dust mask. At the outside edges, away from the house, secure the pavers with a flexible plastic retaining edge. Simply place the edge firmly up against the pavers so that the top of the retaining edge is below the pavers, then secure the retainer in place with spikes driven into the ground. When all the pavers are installed, compact them with the plate compactor until they are uniformly level and are at the desired grade. Spread a final layer of coarse, dry sand over the top of the pavers and work the sand into the cracks with a push broom. Spray the installation with a light mist of water to help settle the sand, then repeat with additional sand after the installation has had a couple of days to settle. Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul Bianchina 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
Home security systems touted to stop burglars BY ALAN HEAVENS The Philadelphia Inquirer
More and more American homes are being burglarized, The Associated Press reports — all in pursuit of gold, whose price peaked last month at $1,891 an ounce. Gold rings, gold chains, gold bracelets, gold earrings. Getting rid of them is easy — they can be melted down and sold, no evidence left. For homeowners, there are at least a couple of ways to look at this distressing trend. First: how to protect your house from breakins. Second: how to keep your losses to a minimum if a burglary does occur. The New York-based Insurance Information Institute says burglars won’t find your home an “easy mark” if they are forced to work in the light, have to take a lot of time breaking in, or can’t enter without making a lot of noise. Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a house, the intruder will go elsewhere. Thus, deterring burglars is a blend of common sense and expense. Let’s start with expense, as in security systems. Eighty percent of homeowners with burglar alarms — in a recent, nationally representative survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center — rated their systems effective at protecting their homes.
Consumer Reports magazine says homeowners should expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot for a complete system, and about $25 per month for monitoring. If you buy a system, the website Homesecurity.org says, costs start at $400 to $500 for a 1,200-squarefoot home. If you lease a system, startup expenses range from zero to $99, plus the costs of a monitoring package. State Farm describes monitored systems as those in which a private company keeps watch 24 hours a day, every day, alerting police if something goes wrong and you cannot be contacted. Monitoring subscriptions can run from month to month or up to 36 months, Homesecurity.org says, adding that you should obtain multiple quotes “to ensure you are getting the best value.” Unmonitored security systems have on-site sirens and flashing lights that alert your neighbors of a break-in, meaning that you’ll be relying on them instead of an alarm company to contact police if you aren’t home. State Farm recommends contacting your local police department before you talk to security-system providers, to find out how long it takes to respond to a call and to discuss fines for false alarms, which, after two or three freebies, can start to add up. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Permits Oklahoma City TAParchitecture, 209 N Walnut Ave., hotel-motel, erect, $16,000,000. Bockus Payne, 3232 NW 65, school, add-on, $3,300,000. PM Architects, 1901 SE 15, school, add-on, $2,194,000. Bill Morris, 1520 SW 119, day care center, erect, $800,000. Denise Patterson Custom Homes, 10500 Creek Meadow Drive, residence, erect, $550,000. Home First Inc., 5013 SE 150 Court, residence, erect, $450,000. PSH LLC, 9304 NW 99 Circle, residence, erect, $422,000. Flintco, 900 NE 15, office, remodel, $400,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 16121 Scissortail Drive, residence, erect, $360,944. Central Precast, 105 S Douglas Ave., warehouse, erect, $350,000. Van Hoose Construction Co., 1200 E Interstate 240 Service Road, office-warehouse, remodel, $350,000. Dave Carr Construction, 4600 NW 155, residence, erect, $345,000. Mike Davidson & Co. LLC, 13600 SE 95, residence, erect, $312,000. Home First Inc., 5012 SE 152 Court, residence, erect, $300,000. Biltrite Construction LLC, 11712 Sawgrass Road, residence, erect, $260,000. Chad Hefty Custom Homes, 5600 Creekmore Drive, residence, erect, $234,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 19117 Pinehurst Trail Drive, residence, erect, $231,000. First Star Homes, doing business as Turner & Son Homes, 2432 NW 177, residence, erect, $230,000. First Star Homes, doing business as Turner & Son Homes, 2433 NW 175, residence, erect, $230,000. Brandon Faulk, 15324 Marie Drive, residence, erect, $228,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 19016
Pinehurst Trail Drive, residence, erect, $210,000. Brass Brick III LLC, 19041 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $204,000. M&J Homes LLC, 9821 SW 27, residence, erect, $200,000. Nash Construction Co., 4301 Amelia Earhart Lane, parking, install, $200,000. Joe Roberts Construction Co., 9105 NW 83, residence, erect, $199,000. Elite Construction, 700 Evening Drive, residence, erect, $190,000. J. Hill Homes Inc., 2105 Sycamore Creek Ave., residence, erect, $185,900. J. Hill Homes Inc., 2109 Sycamore Creek Ave., residence, erect, $180,000. United-Bilt Homes LLC, 9801 S Dobbs Road, residence, erect, $171,841. D.R. Horton, 9101 NW 86, residence, erect, $169,200. D.R. Horton, 2228 NW 193, residence, erect, $169,200. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 16221 Dustin Lane, residence, erect, $163,800. Sure Safe Homes LLC, 2424 SE 92 Terrace, residence, erect, $160,000. Lami/Grubb, 7100 Terminal Drive, retail sales, remodel, $150,000. Sure Safe Homes LLC, 9112 Misty Lane, residence, erect, $140,100. Two Structures LLC, 9113 NW 91 Circle, residence, erect, $140,000. John Pinion, 5101 Gaillardia Corporate Place, office, remodel, $125,000. Home Creations, 16205 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $123,900. Two Structures LLC, 9020 NW 93 Circle, residence, erect, $120,000. Two Structures LLC, 9304 Tara Plantation Drive, residence, erect, $120,000. Home Creations, 16209 Romeo Drive, residence, erect, $112,100. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 18229 Bridlington Drive, residence, erect, $103,250.
Suburban, NE
RE for sale Bethany/ Warr Acres
311
Bank Owned 4/2.5/2 blt 06 2021sf .41ac trees $159.9k Realty Experts 414-8753
Del City
302
PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on K ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N. Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com SE 164th & Air Depot, extra nice 5 acre corner building lot with pond, excellent area. A steal at $59,900! Fidelity Real Estate 692-1661, 410-4300 Norman: Extra Sharp 2bd Home w/1car garage, tastefully decorated, ch/a, park like O acre lot, nice area, only $93,900! Fidelity RE 410-4300, 410-4200 5 acres, Newalla, corner lot, well, septic, fence, pond, asphalt driveway, $20,000 firm, 918-4732648 or 918-843-1952. Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 Nice Acreage. 1hr E of OKC Deer, Turkey, Owner Fin. Dudley Realty. 275-5673 2 or 3bd House E of Harrah 2K A, small barn. TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695
Farms, Ranches For Sale, Okla. 308
320 Acre Ranch For Sale
South Pott. Co. FSBO 320 acres Live water every 40 acres, fenced pasture, good hay, large barn & shop, lots of deer, quail, turkey & dove, 2500 sq.ft. MOL 3 bed/2 bath brick. Lg indoor cellar. Will not divide. No agents please. (405)659-1585. $800,000 1,390 acres Range Land, 1K mi. River frontage, Excellent hunting. Greer County, 580-706-0085
Moore
318
BANK OWNED 3/2/2, 2 fp 2006 blt, 1642sf $127,500 Realty Experts 414-8753
OKC Northwest
324
COTTONWOOD FARMS newer 4/2/2 w/lots of extras Near NW Exp & County Line $194,000 Richard 313-1726 BANK OWNED Historic 4/1.5, 3 liv, 2 din, 2342sf, hardwood floors $84,900 Realty Experts 414-8753
OKC Southeast
325
3bed 2ba 2.5 car gar. ch&a 1900sf 1Acre. 2011 appraised $145,000. For sale $134,900 735-5586
OKC Southwest
326
BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR SALE Completely remodeled 3bed, 2ba, 2 Car Garage, 1765 sq/ft 1FP, 1-story Custom Home, 1978 central heat, central A/C, city sewer, $132,500 Steve (405)308-6940 OWNER FINANCING $2000 down No Credit Ck 3208 SW 38 3/1 $49,000 524 SW 26 2/1 $500 dwn 596-4599 » 410-8840 Open Sun 2-4, 15620 Camellia Rd, 3 bed, 2 full bath, 2 car, 1168 sq ft, ch&a, $115,800, 590-9469 5824 S. Shartel Avenue, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, $45,000 550-2145. Bank Owned nice 3/1.5/2 brick, 1239sf, storm cellar $69.9k RltyExprts 414-8753
Piedmont
Country Home & Acreage
AUCTION
$25,000 Opening Bid
Sun Oct 2nd, 2 pm 313 329277 E Hwy 66 Luther, OK
Open Sun 2-4, 4373 Woodedge. Tonya 455-7000 Paradeigm AdvantEdge
Acreage For Sale
(Luther, McLoud, Meeker, Wellston, 331 etc.)
327
OPEN SAT 2-4 Price red $179,900 nearly new on 3/4 ac mol 3/2/3 + office approx 1820' From NW Exp & Mustang Rd go N past 164th to Jane Circle W to home on right Carmen 833-0106 UPSCALE HOME open flr plan 4/3/2 + office on 1 ac MOL $265,000 Richard 313-1726 EMERALD POINTE 4/2.5/2 on 1/2 ac MOL on cul-de-sac $202,900 Richard 313-1726
Open Houses: Sep 18 & 25 2–4 pm. 2,425 Sq ft on 16.29 Acres & pond, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Brick, Granite, 30’x40’ metal building, more details at web site. Terms: 10% Down day of Auction, Close in 30 days. Directions: From Edmond, I-35N & Hwy 66, East on Hwy 66, 17 miles to property.
bidloud.com 918/639-7653 Keller Williams Realty Bid Loud Auctions
Open Houses 334.2 OPEN SAT 2-4 Price red $179,900 nearly new on 3/4 ac mol 3/2/3 + office approx 1820' From NW Exp & Mustang Rd go N past 164th to Jane Circle W to home on right Carmen 833-0106 PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5. Model home. New hms on K ac lots. Info also available for new hms in other additions. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N. Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494
Mobile Home Parks Community /Acreages 338
$100 lot rent for 6 months. Move Your Mobile Home FREE!
Or...$5000 towards a New Home. 9 Communities in NW, SW, SE (Moore), MWC, Choctaw...Offer Expires 7-31. Call for details 405.326.5728
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Huge Summer Clearance Sale! Own Land/Family Land ZERO Down. Instant Rebates up to $8000. Use toward furniture, land improvements, etc. Your choice. E-Z Approval by phone 405-631-7600 wac $5000 Towards Your New Home! You Pick the Home, You Pick the Lot! 9 MH Communities in SW/NW/SE (Moore) MWC/Choctaw. Call for Details 405.326.5728
About to Repossess Take up payments $389/mo. 3bd/2bth 405-324-8000
Home Creations, 2344 NW 196, residence, erect, $102,400. Home Creations, 2324 NW 196, residence, erect, $102,100. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6205 Cielo Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6145 Cielo Terrace, residence, erect, $100,000. Home Creations, 11241 NW 100, residence, erect, $99,300. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 16420 Drywater Drive, residence, erect, $97,000. Home Creations, 1000 Cimarron Creek Drive, residence, erect, $92,800. Home Creations, 16012 Sonador Drive, residence, erect, $91,300. Home Creations, 15804 Carriage House Road, residence, erect, $91,000. Home Creations, 2332 NW 196, residence, erect, $90,600. Home Creations, 2328 NW 196, residence, erect, $89,700. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 16424 Drywater Drive, residence, erect, $89,000. Midwest Commercial LLC, 1 Remington Place, restaurant, remodel, $75,000. J. Construction Inc., 8216 Glenwood Ave., residence, add-on, $75,000. D.R. Horton, 17708 Morning Sky Lane, residence, erect, $73,400. B&B Steel, 2237 SE 15, warehouse, add-on, $55,000. Kitt Wakely, 6312 N Portland Ave., nursing home, install, $47,500. Clayton Homes, 600 SE 83, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $45,000. Quality Renovations LLC, 8304 Arlington Drive, residence, fire restoration, $35,000. Bradley Eckel, 333 NW 5, retail sales, remodel, $32,000. Portland Aire, 3807 SW 23, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $32,000. Connie Hughes, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park,
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339
REPO, REPO, REPO Singles,Double,Land/Home E-Z Financing 405-577-2884
Top Dollar for UR Trade-In We buy mobiles Call 405-324-8010 Abandoned D/W set up on 5 acres. Brick foundation, driveway, ready to move in. Free phone application 405-631-7600 3/2 Bath Repo set up in quiet park. Ready to move in Free phone app 631-7600 Over 100 Repos on Land or 0 down w/your Land! WAC 866-764-3200,405-631-3200
Business Property For Rent 360 Nichols Hills shopping center, 7608 N Western. 1200sf MOL, $930/mo. $930 dep. Call 370-1077
GREAT Office Space Various NW locations 300-6000sf 946-2516
Warehouse Space For Rent 363.5 6000sf Warehouse Ofcs 13919 N. Harvey Ave Oklahoma City,OK 73114
Real Estate Wanted
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
Apartments Bethany/ Warr Acres 420.5 $99 Move In Special 1 & 2bds, carports, coin lndry $345-445 470-3535
Edmond
422
MWC
Business Property For Rent 360 Nice newer car lot for lease. 1200sf building includes office & 2car gar. Lot measures 95x180. 3417 N Shields, Moore $2500mo 405-826-2853 Small Business/Storage 1250sqft, 28Wx50L, 14x14 O/H door, $500 month. 89th St. & I-35 S. OKC, 631-4447
» » » » » » » »
All Utilities Cable High speed internet Telephone Fully Equipped Kitchen Linens Free Laundry Business Center 2 Pools Free Movie Rental Breakfast Mon.-Fri. Social Hour Free Gym Passes
$99 MOVE IN
New Arbuckle Lake house 1/2 Acre waterview 3b 2b custom cabinets,wood floors, etc. $124,000 580-658-0578 580-222-5449 405-238-0900
Commercial Property 1821 Hayes & Gary Blvd. Clinton, OK 6 lots, bldg w/ office & lg work area $179,000. 580-445-1346 Claudia
» » » » »
495-2000
TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813
Commercial Property For Sale
Rates starting at $800.00 month. First month FREE. Citadel Suites, 5113 N. Brookline 405-942-0016 www.citadel suites.com Including are the following:
3037 North Rockwell
Vacation Property For Sale 347
Commercial RE
TOTALLY FURNISHED AND UNFURNISHED ALL BILLS PAID
CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL
345
346
431
431
$200 off
Great lake view w/home! Gated comm near Sulphur. 3+Br, 2ba. Landscaped yd $82,000. 580-622-3214
Owner carry with down Nice homes and fixers James • 417-2176
OKC Northwest
1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY
Oklahoma Property For Sale 340
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100
factured home, move-onmobile home park, $9,000. Crenshaw Construction, 14024 S Broadway Ave., residence, remodel, $8,000. Lue Nelson, 2400 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $8,000. Matthew Siavashpour, 2913 N May Ave., recycling, erect, $8,000. AC Solutions, 4800 Foster Road, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $8,000. No name provided, 6226 N Meridian Ave., retail sales, remodel, $8,000. Radius Design & Construction LLC, 7402 Knight Lake Drive, apartment, remodel, $6,000. Aman Aggrwal, 7400 Knight Lake Drive, apartment, remodel, $6,000. Jana Lee Pressler, 529 NW 18, residence, remodel, $5,800. R&R Homes LLC, 2820 SW 128, residence, remodel, $5,500. A Life Of Service, 5002 S Anderson Road, day care center, remodel, $5,024. Galina Morey, 7706 N May Ave., retail sales, remodel, $5,000. Glen Huff, 18700 Hunter Creek Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $5,000. Goodman Networks, 9333 SE 49, equipment, modular, $5,000. J.P. McLaughlin, 4112 NE 141, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,500. Carlos Espinoza, 3515 Steele Ave., residence, add-on, $4,000. Lakepointe West, 4045 NW 64, office, remodel, $4,000. Lakepointe West, 4045 NW 64, office, remodel, $4,000. Cecil Cline, 6113 SE 55, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,395. Chad Poage, 8600 NW 105 Terrace, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,300. Cheryl Hawkins, 3128 SW 99, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,300. Brian Pearson, 12425 SE 89, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,200. Debora Renshaw, 509 SW
363
Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
Real Estate Notices
$32,000. Lucio Sandoval, 1421 Regatta Drive, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $30,000. Blake Duorshale, 11730 S Mustang Road, manufactured home, move-on, $28,000. Lloyd Cude, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $26,000. Jason Longenbaugh, 5712 Sunset Ridge Road, accessory, erect, $25,000. Vanessa Day, 1401 Whitecap Lane, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $25,000. Eric Cheatham Construction Co., 12600 Olivine Terrace, residence, supplement, $24,000. Patricia Wood, 9717 NW 10, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $24,000. AT&T Mobility, 6403 S Meridian Ave., tower-antenna, add-on, $22,800. Lester Adams, 400 SE 52, residence, erect, $20,000. Fine Metal Structures, 11616 Pamplona Way, accessory, erect, $20,000. John Bartholomew, 12015 Old Mill Road, cabanagazebo, erect, $17,000. No name provided, 9940 SW 35, accessory, erect, $17,000. Donald Pierce, 2001 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $12,000. Joseph Herndon, 7901 S Council Road, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $12,000. Brannon Smith, 520 NW 42, residence, remodel, $11,000. Lue Nelson, 2400 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $10,000. Lue Nelson, 2400 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $10,000. Rodney Umsted, 2400 SW 47, residence, add-on, $10,000. Smith & Pickel, 6140 N Western Ave., temporary building, move-on, $10,000. Lue Nelson, 2400 S MacArthur Blvd., manu-
Hair salon, Memorial and N Western area, partially furnished, call or text 414-7585
Office Space For Rent
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
424
Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
Moore
425
$99 1st mo rent Lg 1&2bds small, quiet complex, pool, laundry $365-$420 794-5595
Selected Units LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces
WILLIAMSBURG
OKC Northwest
1bd upstairs, All bills pd. $560+dep. Sec 8 OK. 718K NE 25th. 204-4308 $25 Move-In Special
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
2 bd $25 Move-In Special Sec 8 OK. $500/mo +dep 704 NE 25th ¡ 204-4308
Plaza 1740 NW 17 1bd 1bath 800sf $500mo $250/deposit 409-7989 » MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423
Quiet Casady!
2 bed $550
751-8088
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212» 800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506 1bd 1ba $350mo, stove, fridge, very clean 818-4089
OKC Southwest
433
»»»»»»»»»»»»» » SW All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Open7days/wk681-7561» »»»»»»»»»»»» $99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849
7301 NW 23rd
$200 OFF
$99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849
Washer/Dryers, Fireplaces PC Schools-Townhouses
PARKLANE
8108 N. MacArthur Blvd. »»» 721-5455 »»» Walford Apts-Midtown518 NW 12 large 1bd 1ba 1100sf $900mo $800dep washer/dryer hookup. Studio 600sf $675mo $575 dep. Basement efficiency $425mo $325dp 409-7989 $89 FIRST MONTH Bring this ad for Special. Affordable Luxury Spacious, too 416-5259 TUSCANY VILLAGE »» ALL BILLS PAID »» 1 Beds-Move in Today! $99 First Month 2 Beds & Townhomes, too DREXEL ON THE PARK Pool & Park 293-3693
$79 SPECIAL!! Newly remodeled 1 2 & 3 beds Putnam Green 405-721-2210 THE BELMONT First Month $87.50 1,2,3 Beds 455-8150 MOVE IN TODAY PC SCHOOLS Florence Apt-429 NW 11 Midtown Studio 600sf 1bd 1bath free Laundry $675mo $400dep409-7989 Briargate Apts 1bd 1ba 850sf, wood floors, ch/a $550/mo $300/dp 409-7989 no sec 8
452
1716 NW 17th spacious upstairs 1bd apt with ch/a, clean $295. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
787-1620
OKC Northeast
Yukon
438
»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Yukon All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Open7days/wk354-5855 » »»»»»»»»»»»»
Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 8012 NW 7th Unit 329 Thousand Oaks (W of Council on NW 10) Extra sharp 1bd condo, pool, tennis courts, $500 mo. Tenant pays elect only. Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 Moore Condominium $1200 + Dep. 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car w/ appl. 408-8432 GRAND POINTE CONDO $1050, 2bd, 2.5ba, 2car gated, exc cond 974-0582
155 Court, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,175. Marion and Nancy Kellem, 21244 SE 103, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,150. Dede Baker, 7724 Hillcrest Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Owens Concrete & Coatings LLC, 3222 W Wilshire Blvd., residence, add-on, $3,000. Dale Self, 18109 Pawtucket Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Hu Hoan Ho, 2916 SW 137, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Kenneth Burch, 12224 Lorien Way, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Alloy Building Co., 2625 SW 98, canopy-carport, add-on, $2,800. Philip Runels, 5104 SE 56, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Robert Hollister, 1308 SW 116 Terrace, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Tue Nguyen, 9720 Blue Bonnet Place, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Mark Ridlen, 14901 Bette Lane, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,750. Homes By Taber, 19208 Garden Creek Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Craig Hanlon, 15221 Turtle Lake Place, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,450. J.D. and Mary Kay Wilson, 13705 Oak Hill Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,400. Steve Payne, 15308 Burning Spring Road, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,300. Elizabeth Blakely, 15616 Himalaya Ridge, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,200. J-Construction Inc., 8216 Glenwood Ave., canopycarport, erect, $2,000.
Demolitions K&M Dirt Services LLC, 1401 NW 3, office. K&M Dirt Services LLC, 724 NW 18, residence. Dagoberto Rodriquez, 2214 SW 51, residence.
Moore
469
3/2/2+study 1745sf $1300 3/2/2 1550sf fp $950 2/1/1 900sf $600 Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 3bd 1O ba WD hkup ch&a fncd yd den w/fp $800mo $400dep 313-6046
460
Beautiful home Moore!! 4BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$1125.593-1432
Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.
3 bd, 1ba, newly redecorated, new appl., $750+ dep 405-799-9579/206-2377
Garage Apartments
OKC Northeast
Yukon
461
Garage Apt 523K SW 26 1bd 1ba 650sf $325/mo $175/dep 409-7989
Hotels/Motels 462 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 Furnished, all amenities, bills paid, quiet $840 2404 Reeves ¡ 370-0278
RE for rent Del City
465.5
3 bed, 1bath, 1 car gar. frig stove & micro., Sec. 8 okay. $725. 443-204-2070 Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 1920 Karen Dr 2/1 2208 Doris 2/1 681-7272
Edmond
$425 $450
466
924 Fox Ridge 4/3.5/3$2395 16417 Old Oak 3/2/2 $1895 2805VeronaWy2/2.5/2$2495 2075RaineysBlvd4/2/3$1895 14509 Wicklow 4/3/3 $1695 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com Beautiful home!! 3BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$1050.593-1432 3600 NE 143, 3bd 2.5ba 2car, total elec, ch/a $1050 mo, $1050 dep 370-1077
MWC
468
Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th
9F
474
1120 NE 19th 3/2 $595 1909 NE 25th 3/1 $395 1708 N Elton 2/1 $395 681-7272
OKC Northwest
475
4 bedroom, 2 1/4 bath, central heat & air, 2 living, formal dining, large kitchen with dining area, utility room, study, 3 car garage, 2850 square ft. $1600/mo, $1200dep. 16104 Himalaya Ridge. 340-8416 7007 Pebble Lane, 2 bed, 2 bath, 2c gar, Duplex in PCN area, quiet neighborhood, $725 + deposit, no section 8, Call Keith, 405-413-2555 9204 Lansbrook Ln 4bed 2.5ba 3car 2655sf $1600/mo, $1600/dep 409-7989 no sec 8 2930 NW 12th large 1bd duplex, water paid $425 3232 NW 28th 2/1 $475 681-7272 13305 Green Valley Dr 4bd 3ba 2car, Deer Creek Schls, 2500sf, $1550 mo $1550 dep 409-7989 4409 Dahoon Dr. 3 bed, 2 ba, 2car fenced FP. ALL Appls $1200. 755-8025 »» SECTION 8 OK»» 5bd, 2ba, ch&a available NW OKC area 942-3552 904 NW 109 3bd 2bath 2car 1200sf $875/mo $800dp 409-7989 no sec 8
OKC Southeast
476
Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 3/1 900sf, 1.5 acres, no horses $675+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
OKC Southwest
477
Houses All Areas- Free List 4 bed from $595-1295 3 bed from $495-995 2 bed from $395-795 605-5477 2545 SW 59th 3812 SW 43rd sharp 2bd home with carport, fresh paint inside & out, fenced. Clean! Only $450 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 1138 SW 77 Ter Sharp 3bd 2ba ch/a fireplace, fresh paint, clean $675 Fidelity410-4300, 692-1661 2936 SW 48 Remodeled, beautiful 3bd 1ba 1car 1100sf $725 mo, $600 dep. 409-7989 no section 8 4bd, 3ba, Section 8, No pets, close to Capitol Hill School. 405-672-0877 2336 SW 50th 3bd 1ba 1gar, ch&a. W/D Hkups, $700mo $525dep 701-1722 3bd, 1O ba, den, 2car, ch&a, fncd $650+$650dep No pets 306-5437/632-2328 3bd, CH&A, appls, c-fan, no pets, $550 month 505 SW 26th St. 721-3757 Nice 3/2/2 with fireplace No pets. ¡ $925/mo + security dep. 691-6290 Rental List at 4524 S May 1-4 Beds from $325-675 SW Home Rentals 681-7272 2736 SW 53 3bd 1bath 1car $675/mo $600dp 409-7989 no sec 8 2337 SW 49th St. $450+dep 2bd/1car attach Hestand RE, 685-6817
Tuttle/ Newcastle
481
3bd, 1ba, 10 min S. of Blanchard $700mo w/ opt to buy. 925-229-1742
Village/ Nichols Hills 481.5 1116 Park Manor 3/1.5/1 New tile/carpet, fenced, fp office, laundry rm $1350mo $1000dp TMS Prop348-0720 1119 Park Manor 3 bed, 2 full & 3 half baths, 2car, office, wd flrs, $1650mo, $1500dp TMS Prop348-0720
Norman
473
Spacious 800sf 1bd 1ba condo fireplace near campus $450 + dep 863-2999
Yukon
482
4/2/2, 1576sf, ch&a, near I-40, Good neighborhood, close to schl. 304 S. Bell $800 No Sec. 8¡426-5497
224 SE 58th 1/1 $350 1121 SE 21st 2/1 $395 681-7272
3 Bed 1.5 Bath, 1 Car Garage, Section 8 ok, $690 mo. 405-205-2343
Nice brick, 3/1.5/2, fncd bkyd, ch&a, new paint, $725, Sec 8 ok, 990-6016
446
1 mi E of Tinker, 3bd 1ba 2c, ch&a, util rm, $575 + $300 dep no pets 732-4351
3bd/1.5ba den ch&a, near schls/Tinker $750 security incl. Sec 8 Ok 794-5918
Mobile Home Rentals 483
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REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Title insurer with discounts is making inroads WASHINGTON — When you spent $2,000 to $3,000 to buy title insurance and closing services on your home purchase or refinance, did you really know where your money was going? Did you shop for competing prices? Or did you end up using the title, escrow agency or lawyer your realty agent or loan officer recommended? Consumers’ answers to these questions involve billions of dollars a year — $10 billion in title insurance premiums alone in 2010. Yet buyers and refinancers often don’t shop for the most expensive item on their settlement sheets. They don’t know how little of their premiums are actually paying for an insurance policy, and they’re in the dark about who ends up with their money. These are not idle opinions. They’re among the findings by the Government Accountability Office in a critical study of the industry and its practices. But now, in fits and
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
starts, the landscape appears to be changing. The first direct-to-consumer national title insurer is offering 35-percent discounts off standard premium pricing and has been making steady inroads across the country. The first consumer-rating service solely devoted to title agencies — assigning rankings to competing firms on legal protections, services and prices — is in startup mode in Colorado. A handful of agents in states where regulations permit discounts off closing-packages are now offering them. Plus growing numbers of title agencies are gearing up software platforms to provide services to consumers that have long been standard in other industries: online rate quotes, transaction
updates notifying customers about the status of their title order. Some are even emailing documents in advance of closings for customers’ inspection, rather than hitting buyers with last-minute settlement surprises.
A breakthrough These may all sound less than extraordinary, but for the traditionbound title and settlement industries, they are breakthroughs. Unlike most other real estate service providers, title underwriters and agencies market their products not to the end users who pay for them — buyers and borrowers — but to real estate agents and lenders who are in a position to recommend them to consumers. In contrast with other types of insurance underwriters, whose payments for claims represent a significant percentage of the premiums they charge, title insurers pay out only a tiny fraction, often under 5 percent. Most of the rest goes to the title and escrow agencies or at-
torneys who handle examinations of public records and “cure” problems they find in the chain of title, which the industry says keeps claims rates so low. Plus they conduct the closing, including document preparation. For these services, title agents in many parts of the country pocket a big chunk of the premiums you pay, sometimes ranging from 75 percent to 90 percent. In a move expressly designed to disrupt this decades-old system, an underwriter called Entitle Direct, based in Stamford, Conn., has been selling insurance to consumers online, and appears to be prospering at a time when the real estate industry as a whole is sagging. Tim Dwyer, a former investment banker and insurance industry adviser, sees huge potential in a field that historically has had minimal price competition. “Title insurance is an overpriced product,” he said in an interview. “Our mission is to provide a
more efficiently priced (policy) with the same coverages” but without the traditional middlemen. Entitle emphasizes “transparency from start to finish,” he said — a distinct contrast with the rest of the industry. Customers receive a flow chart outlining the stages of a title order from public records search to closing, and can use a “control panel” to order documents online during the process.
Other reform In Denver, Garry Wolff is launching a different type of reform. He has created an online venture called myTitleIns.com that plans to offer consumers rankings of title agencies and price comparisons. His main obstacle, he said, is opposition from title agencies that prefer the old way of attracting customers — through realty brokers who have financial tie-ins with title companies as “affiliated businesses.” In scattered locations around the country, inde-
pendent agencies are also rejecting the affiliated business model, and are offering discounted costs to consumers where permitted by law. In the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, Federal Title & Escrow Co. provides up to $1,000 off total closing costs for homebuyers who use its online “Real Credit” software platform for their transactions. Even among traditional title agencies there is a push under way to improve transparency — more educational content on websites and customer updates during the title and settlement process. Anne L. Anastasi, owner of Genesis Abstract LLC and 2011 president of the American Land Title Association, said her firm will shortly debut an online client update platform. As an industry, she said, “We’ve got to move in this direction.” At least. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
N.J. couple at home in a Frank Lloyd Wright house BY CAROLYN DAVIS The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — The uninvited visitors always seem to show up when Dan Nichols is mowing the lawn, looking like any other ordinary homeowner. Except he’s not any ordinary owner and he certainly doesn’t have an ordinary home. Nichols and his wife, Christine Denario, live in a Cherry Hill, N.J., house that is a celebrity itself — designed by one of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, who died in 1959 at the age of 91. Residing in a Wright house means living not only amid history, but also in a present-day tourist attraction. “I knew that this curiosity would come along with it to some extent,” Nichols said. “It actually has been less of a problem than I expected.” The couple’s house — known as the Sweeton House for the couple who asked Wright to design it in the late 1940s — is one of the buildings that attendees of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy’s annual conference were to have visited at the recent meeting here. “I’ve been interested in Wright since I was 9 or 10,” said Nichols, now 45. “Obsessed would be the term,” Denario said. Nichols’ fascination with modern architecture began at the knee of his father, an industrial designer. After seeing a Wright house and as a young boy reading about Wright, Nichols not only was smitten with the architect’s style, he decided to become an architect himself. So when he saw an online notice in 2007 that the Sweeton House was for sale, he bought it, for $350,000 — leaking roof and all. Fixing up the house, Nichols said, is “a 20-year project.” For Denario, 42, who grew up in Philadelphia, “It was a perfect opportunity to move back to the Philadelphia area where I was from, and to be a little part of history.” The residence is one of Wright’s Usonian designs, a word the architect coined that stands for the United States of North America. His goal: create a style that was uniquely American and fostered democracy by being practical and affordable to the middle class. The Sweeton family was solidly in the middle, and approached Wright to design a house for them that fit their “unpretentious lifestyle,” according to correspondence. Nichols said the Sweetons paid builders $24,000 to construct the
He didn’t design it thinking he was building a celebrity house. He built it with his vision.” PHILIP FERENTINOS
DIRECTOR OF STARLINE TOURS
house, which was completed in 1951. Wright’s design fee was $1,500. He responded with a three-bedroom, one-bath house on 7 acres. It has trademark Wright features, including a long, low, sloped roof that emphasizes the horizontal, a cantilevered carport, a gridded red-tinted concrete slab floor, concrete block and glass, and generous windows. The windows in the main room aren’t just holes in the wall, “They’re a subtle enclosure of the house,” said Nichols, pointing out that no frame connects the panes where wall meets wall. The glass is cut and mitered to fit together neatly so residents can absorb a full sense of the nature beyond. “When Wright designed the house, he really wanted to give the owner a sense of shelter, but also not confine the owner,” Nichols said. As so often happens with the famous, people come to catch a glimpse. “I actually was a tourist myself,” Nichols said of his own visit to the home on an August day in 1996. “I drove to the end of the driveway. There obviously was no one home, so I drove away.” Now as a Wright house owner, Nichols has found that “people tend to be pretty respectful. We’ve met people from all over the world having this house.” Wright’s homes have a magnetic pull just like celebrity homes, said Philip Ferentinos, director of Starline Tours, which began driving tourists past the Hollywood and Los Angeles homes of stars in 1935. He has toured many of the architect’s houses in the Los Angeles area. It is ironic, he said, that a Wright building should become as famous as a Hollywood star’s mansion. “He didn’t design it thinking he was building a celebrity house,” Ferentinos said. “He built it with his vision.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
Dan Nichols and Christine Denario live in Sweeton House, designed by architecht Frank Lloyd Wright in Cherry Hill, N.J. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO