HOUSE PLAN
LISTING OF THE WEEK
Cozy getaway
Old World charm
The Northlake is a minimalist’s dream. This cozy vacation cottage would be at home on a lake, ocean beach, or tucked into a mountain grove.
The Listing of the Week is a Tudor Revival-style home in Oklahoma City’s Miller neighborhood.
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REAL ESTATE
Paul Bianchina
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
Habitat for Humanity Homes built on family foundations
HANDY @ HOME
STARTING AT THE TOP Before winter’s bad weather can catch up to you, if you’re having any problems with your roof, this is the time to get those repairs out of the way. PAGE 6F
IN BRIEF
Volunteers from Buy For Less and PepsiCo work on a home for the Enriquez family built by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity in the Las Rosas neighborhood southeast of downtown Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
CARRY ‘STYLE’ WITH YOU
BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com
Once the dust is settled and the paperwork done, Diana Enriquez’s eldest daughter, whose name also is Diana, will be able to close the door on something she’s never had before: A room of her own. In a family of six children and two adults, privacy can prove precious. “Where I live is small, and they’re all crowded,” Enriquez said of her family. Their new home at 633 SE 26 in the Las Rosas neighborhood, just southeast of downtown Oklahoma City, features four bedrooms and two baths in about 1,530 square feet. They close on the house Wednesday, and then Diana, 30, and her husband Ismael, 26, along with their children — Diana, 14, Osvaldo, 11, Adriana, 8, Julissa, 6, Edward, 3 and Benjamin, 10 months — will start moving in. And teenage Diana’s first order of business? “She wants to paint her room purple,” her mother said. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity handed over the keys this week in a dedication ceremony laden with meaning and goodwill. A door mat from the Edmond Board of Realtors symbolized the fact every new adventure begins with a first step. Fast Fixin’ helped stock their freezer with food, a nod toward bringing the family back to the dinner table, and Buy for Less offered up two bags of groceries and a gift certificate to help fill the pantry. Habitat also presented them with a new family Bible, which comes with a special warranty, said Renee Cardona, Habitat’s family services coordinator: “When you wear this one out, come back to us, and we’ll give you another one,” she said. Ismael and Diana Enriquez, center, help raise a wall of their new home at 633 SE 26, which they will buy interest-free from Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity. SEE HABITAT, PAGE 2F
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CENTRAL OKLAHOMA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Putting some energy into underwriting WASHINGTON — When you apply for a mortgage to buy a house, how often does the lender ask detailed questions about monthly energy costs or tell the appraiser to factor in the energyefficiency features of the house when coming up with a value? Hardly ever. That’s because the big three mortgage players — Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration, who together account for more than 90 percent of all loan volume — typically don’t consider energy costs in underwriting. Yet utility bills can be larger annual cash drains than property taxes or insurance, key items in standard underwriting, and can seriously affect a family’s ability to afford a house. A new, bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill could change all this dramatically and for the first time put energy costs and savings squarely into standard mortgage underwriting equations. A bill introduced Oct. 20 would force the big three mortgage agencies to take account of energy costs in every loan they in-
sure, guarantee or database to arrive buy. It would also at an estimated require them to cost. This would Kenneth then be factored instruct appraisers Harney to adjust their into the debt-toproperty valuaincome ratios that tions upward lenders already use when accurate THE NATION’S HOUSING to determine data on energy whether a borrowefficiency savings er can afford the are available. monthly costs of the mortgage. Titled the SAVE Act (Sensible Allowable ratios would likely be Accounting to Value Energy), the adjusted to account for the new bill is jointly sponsored by Sens. energy/utilities component. Michael Bennet, a Democrat For houses with significant from Colorado, and Johnny Isak- energy-efficiency improvements son, a Republican from Georgia. already built in and documented Here’s how it would work: Along with a professional audit such as with the traditional principal, a Home Energy Rating System interest, taxes and insurance study, lenders would instruct (PITI) calculations, estimated appraisers to calculate the net energy-consumption expenses present value of monthly energy for the house would be included savings — that is, what that as a mandatory new underwritstream of future savings is worth ing factor. today in terms of market price — For most houses that have not and adjust the final appraised undergone independent energy value accordingly. This higher audits, loan officers would be valuation, in turn, could be used required to pull data from either to justify a higher mortgage previous utility bills — in the amount. case of refinancings — or from a For example, Kateri Callahan, Department of Energy survey president of the Alliance to Save
Energy, a nonprofit advocacy group and a major supporter of the legislation, estimates that a typical new home that is 30 percent more energy efficient than a similar-sized, average house will save about $20,000 in utility expenses over the life of a mortgage. Under the Bennet-Isakson bill, appraisers would be required to add those savings to the current market valuation of the house. In this instance, Callahan said, the increase in value would be about $10,000. Dozens of housing, energy and environmental groups have endorsed the legislation including appraisers, large homebuilders, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Natural Resources Defense Council, green-designated real estate brokers, the Institute for Market Transformation and the National Association of State Energy Officials, among others. Sooner or later this is going to happen. Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP
House Beautiful’s new “Style 101” is an antidote to decorating indecision. The book helps readers define their style and then offers tips and ideas from top designers to help achieve that look. It’s loaded with room photos for inspiration, along with useful information, such as suggested colors and favorite accessories. You can even take the pocket-size book along on shopping trips for reference, if you like. “House Beautiful: Style 101” is published by Hearst Books and sells for $16.95 in softcover.
PAINT GOES ‘CLASSICAL’ Vermont company Fine Paints of Europe is collaborating with New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on two new lines of paint colors. One of those collections, Classical Colors, comprises 150 wall colors taken from paintings in the Guggenheim’s permanent collection. The other, Gallery Colors, is a set of 50 hues that Guggenheim curators, artists and designers have found over the years to be effective for displaying art. The paint comes from Wijzonol Paint Works in the Netherlands. You can order at (888) 6804278. Oil-based interior wall paint is $35 a half-liter; acrylic interior wall paint is $45 a liter. Other types of paints and primers are available. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
INDEX Stone Permits Smart Moves
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Volunteers from PepsiCo and Buy For Less lift a wall during the Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity blitz build at 633 SE 26. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
Habitat: Affordable housing is aim FROM PAGE 1F
Buy for Less and PepsiCo Inc. joined forces in October for a “blitz build” through Habitat, a highoctane effort that involves about 80 volunteers who built the Enriquez home in less a month. This marks the second blitz build for Buy for Less, said Denise Hawkins, marketing director. “Everyone in our company liked it so well, and we just thought the results were real good — the partnership with Habitat — that we wanted to do it again this fall,” she said. And the Las Rosas neighborhood was a natural choice since the company has four Hispanic stores within 2 miles of the area, she said. Affordable housing is the core mission of Habitat for Humanity, a Christian ministry established by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife Linda in 1976. The organization’s efforts reach around the world, building about 400,000 houses a year. Volunteers donate time, money and materials to build each house, and prospective homeowners are partners in the work, putting in a required 300 hours of “sweat equity” to kick-start the projects. Habitat then sells them the homes at no profit with no interest. Enriquez said she and her husband wanted to buy a house for both space and stability. “We wanted to stop renting and have our place — for the kids and stuff, not to be moving from school to school,” she said. They looked at several options before deciding to go through Habitat. “Habitat gave us the better deal, the bigger houses and not having any interest or anything,” she said. Scouting new locations to build keeps the Central Oklahoma Habitat busy, said Ann Felton, CEO. “We really are always looking for land to keep up with our aggressive building schedule because there is such a great need out there,” she said. “I mean, we’re building about 45 to 50 houses a year, and I’d really like to be building 100.” The organization has built about 600 houses total in the Oklahoma City area, according to its website, www.cohfh.org.
Buy For Less employees David Streets Jr. and Donna Sommers paint a Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity House at 633 SE 26. PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
Volunteer Ron Jackson, with PepsiCo, frames a wall during a Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity blitz build at 633 SE 26. PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
The Enriquez family: daughter Diana, at top, son Osvaldo at right, Edward in mom Diana’s lap, Julissa bottom left, Adriana behind her at left, and father, Ismael at center. PHOTO PROVIDED BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Felton said Central Oklahoma Habitat does six or seven blitz builds a year. Habitat offers eight house plans, and prospective homeowners can pick out their own lot, she said. “We have really tried to mix it up in our neighborhood where we know we’re going to have 217 houses, so it’s not like cookie cutter all down the street,” she said. “But they can pretty much select their house plan.”
Habitat for Humanity House at 633 SE 26.
Prospective homeowners can tweak those plans. Diana Enriquez said they opted to expand the dining room, though it meant sacrificing a little yard space. “We do have a lot of kids,” she said, and all of them are excited about the move, but daughter Diana started packing two weeks ago. “So I guess she’s very happy,” her mother said, chuckling.
Buy For Less employee Tonya Burton Terpening seals a door while working on a Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity House at 633 SE 26. PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
HOUSE PLAN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
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LISTING OF THE WEEK
The Listing of the Week is at 2536 NW 12.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Kitchen features granite counters, updated appliances The Listing of the Week is a Tudor Revival-style home in Oklahoma City’s Miller neighborhood. The 1,377-square-foot home at 2536 NW 12 has three bedrooms, one bath, one living room, two dining rooms and a detached two-car garage. The home has wood
Cozy vacation cottage offers an open plan The Northlake is a minimalist’s dream. This cozy vacation cottage would be at home on a lake, ocean beach or tucked into a mountain grove. Slender wooden posts support a gabled entry porch, while perennially charming Craftsman-style windows sparkle across the front. Cedar shingles fill the two front-facing gable ends, both of which are accented by decorative supports. Abundant natural light spills into the vaulted entry and great room through a transom and clerestory windows. This room has a surprisingly spacious feel. The ceiling line rises up from the front, peaks, then slopes down at the rear. Even the lowest parts of the ceiling are several feet higher than average. Natural heat emanates from a cleanburning, low-maintenance pellet stove that nestles into a brick-lined alcove by the stairs. The built-in cabinet that fills most of the rear wall has a display area on top. This could serve as shelving for books
and games, while housing a home entertainment center as well. Sliders on the left access a screened porch, ideal for bugfree outdoor meals. The kitchenette is directly to the right of the entry. Its ceiling is lower, but otherwise this space is totally open to the great room. Cupboards, counters and appliances rim two walls. Twin windows fill half of the third, creating a delightful view from the kitchen table. A storage room and combination bathroom-utility room fill out the rest of the Northlake’s main floor. Washer and dryer are stacked to maximize space usage. Additional storage is available under the stairs. Double doors in the vaulted loft upstairs open onto a front-facing balcony with a wooden handrail. A review plan of the Northlake, 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.
Inspector missed code violations in new home DEAR BARRY: Last year, we purchased a newly built home. Before closing, we hired a home inspector, and no defects were reported. But now we’ve learned that there were code violations. How could the house be sold if it didn’t meet code, and why weren’t these things found by the home inspector or the city building inspector? How do we find out who did the code inspections during the building process? What do we do next? Sandy DEAR SANDY: Without knowing the nature of the code violations, it is hard to say why these defects escaped the attention of the home inspector and the city building inspector. But here are some general perspectives. When a home inspector says that a new house has no defects, there is good reason to question the thoroughness of the inspection. There simply are no homes, new or used, without a small or large list of defects. The defects may be minor, but they are definitely there. In most cases, they do not mean that the house is substandard, but they reaffirm that all things
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
made by hands are imperfect. A truly qualified home inspector would probably have found those imperfections. Liability for home inspectors is limited according to the standards of practice for the industry and the terms of the contract that you signed when the inspection was done. When a municipal inspector signs off a newly built home, this is not a guaranty that everything is built to code. It simply means that remaining code violations were not observed during the inspection. Municipal inspectors do what they can with limited time and constraining circumstances, such as cramped bureaucratic budgets, limited personnel, and heavy work loads. Liability for municipal inspectors is specifically disclaimed in the building code itself. With a brand-new home, liability for undis-
closed defects resides with the builders. DEAR BARRY: Last year, when I bought my home, the adjacent property was being prepared for construction. The lot had just been regraded, and this caused a drainage problem that became apparent with the first rains. Water from that property now runs into my yard. Are there any laws that require developers to avoid drainage onto other properties? Angie DEAR ANGIE: When builders and developers alter the drainage characteristics of a construction site, they assume responsibility for the effects such changes have on adjoining properties. However, laws governing these situations vary from one state locale to another. Therefore, you should consult your local building department, and possibly a private attorney, to determine your legal position and the liability of those who regraded your neighbor’s lot. If they are legally responsible, then drainage improvements should be made to divert water flow away from your property. To write to Barry Stone, go to www.housedetective.com. ACTION COAST PUBLISHING
floors, Travertine tile in the kitchen, breakfast room, landing and bath and updated fixtures. The kitchen has granite counter tops and a marble backsplash. Appliances, roof, sewer line and heat and air have recently been updated. The home, built in 1926,
is listed for $144,900 with Anne Wilson of Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate. For more information, call 348-4422 or 820-8139. 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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Permits Oklahoma City The Hodges Group, 14025 S May Ave., school, add-on, $925,000. Carl and Shandee Mikesh, 7809 NW 158, residence, erect, $550,000. Cary Jones Inc., 12230 Cardinal Lane, residence, erect, $450,000. Justice Homes Inc., 7604 NW 130 Terrace, residence, erect, $375,000. Neal McGee Homes Inc., 3220 NW 177, residence, erect, $365,000. J. Hill Homes Inc., 3608 Chatfield Circle, residence, erect, $360,000. Daddy Ernie LLC, doing business as Semco Homes, 7501 E Wilshire Blvd., residence, erect, $350,000. GLW Homes LLC, 13601 SE 95, residence, erect, $330,000. Justin Corcoran, 7416 SW 112, residence, erect, $300,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14308 Willow Reed Drive, residence, erect, $260,000. Justice Homes Inc., 4701 NW 154, residence, erect, $255,000. Southern Cross Custom Homes LLC, 15400 Coral Creek Lane, residence, erect, $248,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14401 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $245,000. Kirk Brown Homes, 19821 Crest Ridge Drive, residence, erect, $240,000. Artisans Three Designs LLC, 5605 NW 164 Terrace, residence, erect, $240,000. Artisans Three Designs LLC, 5601 NW 164 Terrace, residence, erect, $240,000. 4 Corners Construction LLC, 14709 Almond Valley Drive, residence, erect, $240,000. C-Jay Management/ BDC Construction Inc., 4825 SW 124, residence, erect, $229,000. Reco Enterprises, 13321 N Meridian Ave., office, remodel, $225,000. Owens (Ray) Homes LLC, 17324 Grove Hill Terrace, residence, erect, $210,000. Vesta Homes Inc., 4912 SW 126 Terrace, residence, erect, $210,000. Taber Built Homes LLC, 3216 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $200,000. Magnum Foods, 2511 NW 23, restaurant, remodel, $200,000. Mita Investment, 17901 N Pennsylvania Ave., shell building, erect, $200,000. Mita Investment, 17901 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $200,000. Mita Investment, 17901 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $200,000. Mita Investment, 17901 N Pennsylvania Ave., retail sales, remodel, $200,000. Mita Investment, 17901 N Pennsylvania Ave., canopy-carport, erect, $200,000. Heartland Homes LLC, 2408 NW 177, residence, erect, $199,000. Rice Custom Homes LLC, 19028 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $199,000. Rice Custom Homes LLC, 19020 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $186,500. Heartland Homes LLC, 11317 NW 7, residence, erect, $184,900. C-Jay Management/ BDC Construction Inc., 4905 SW 127, residence, erect, $179,414. Aaron Tatum Custom Homes LLC, 17105 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $177,361. Heartland Homes LLC, 17617 Red Tailed Hawk Way, residence, erect, $171,500. Rice Custom Homes LLC, 19024 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $170,000. Dodson Custom Homes LLC, 18405 Haslemere Lane, residence, erect, $168,375.
Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2432 NW 180, residence, erect, $166,000. Samples (Mark) Homes LLC, 7404 Kaylee Way, residence, erect, $163,000. Scott Cheatam, 17304 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $163,000. First Star Homes, doing business as Turner & Son Homes, 6200 NW 8, residence, erect, $162,000. Bitter Creek Homes LLC, 8817 NW 109, residence, erect, $155,000. Vintage Custom Homes LLC, 5012 SW 126 Terrace, residence, erect, $155,000. Bitter Creek Homes LLC, 8821 NW 109, residence, erect, $150,000. Cotney (Delbert), 13801 Sky Harbor Way, residence, erect, $150,000. Lochner, 6611 S Meridian Ave., parking, install, $150,000. C-Jay Management/ BDC Construction Inc., 12113 Chesterfield Lane, residence, erect, $147,500. Neal McGee Homes Inc., 3405 Brookend Court, residence, erect, $144,000. J. Bentley Developments LLC, 6401 Bent Wood Drive, residence, erect, $135,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9620 Kylie Drive, residence, erect, $130,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 9624 Kylie Drive, residence, erect, $130,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11808 NW 133, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11805 NW 133, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11821 NW 131, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11821 NW 131, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11821 NW 133, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 11821 NW 133, residence, erect, $109,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 8513 SW 47 Circle, residence, erect, $100,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2605 NW 186, residence, erect, $82,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6064 Johnnie Terrace, residence, erect, $80,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6060 Johnnie Terrace, residence, erect, $80,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6056 Johnnie Terrace, residence, erect, $80,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6024 Johnnie Terrace, residence, erect, $80,000. Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6020 Johnnie Terrace, residence, erect, $80,000. Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity, 633 SE 26, residence, erect, $80,000. Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., 2 S Mickey
REAL ESTATE Mantle Drive, amusement, erect, $55,000. RGP Restoration LLC, 18001 Highland Park Road, apartment, fire restoration, $45,000. Sam and Bonnie Pierce, 11001 Massey Terrace, manufactured home, move-on, $37,000. Kelly Alexander, 7901 S Council Road, manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $34,000. SAS Construction LLC, 2000 S Meridian Ave., restaurant, remodel, $32,000. James D. Hodges, 5923 S Terry Joe, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $29,999. Westgate Marketplace Developers, 209 S MacArthur Blvd., retail sales, remodel, $28,000. Robert and Rebecca Boren, 632 NW 16, residence, remodel, $25,000. Advantage Remodel Inc., 15215 Bay Ridge Drive, residence, add-on, $20,000. Advantage Remodel Inc., 15215 Bay Ridge Drive, residence, add-on, $20,000. RBA Architects, 11600 Broadway Extension, office, remodel, $20,000. Mark and Tonya Mann, 622 NW 18, residence, add-on, $20,000. Marcus Hulings, 4207 NW 48, residence, addon, $18,000. OKChomepro Roofing & Construction LLC, 10700 NW 31 Terrace, residence, add-on, $18,000. B&J Concrete Inc., 5924 NE 63, residence, add-on, $15,000. Two Structures LLC, 3841 NW 34, residence, remodel, $15,000. Larry Greenfield, 5009 S Luther Road, storage, erect, $13,000. Austin Cheatham, 3405 SW 123, residence, addon, $10,000. Maverick Homes, 1137 SW 37, accessory, erect, $8,500. Steve Wenate, 15330 SE 39, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,295. Blade Hudsen, 4909 SW 124, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,200. Matthew and Kassidy Malone, 400 SW 145, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,000. Michael Bourgeous, 120 SW 173, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000. Ben Doherty, 7604 Twin Oaks Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,825. Hallman Group LLC, 8405 Surrey Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800. Germaine Bohlman, 406 NW 44, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,695. Beverly Brodell, 1633 W Park Place, accessory, erect, $3,600. City of Oklahoma City, 200 N Walker Ave., office, remodel, $3,500. Kari Autry, 6253 Cypress Grove, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,500. Jay Armstrong, 11300 Quail Creek Road, condominium/town house, install-storm shelter, $3,400. George Dawson, 5000 Stacy Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395.
Jeffrey Crawford, 4821 SE 88 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,295. Anne Knights, 15509 Himalaya Ridge, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Elaine Bagwell, 17309 Avila Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,200. Gerald Tucker, 10617 NW 41, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Shajan Abraham, 13329 Ambleside Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100. Benice Martin, 11308 Rosehaven Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Chelsea McCarty, 4801 Eric Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Claudia Sanchez, 336 SE 47, canopy/carport, add-on, $3,000. Johnny Griggs, 3049 Brush Creek Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Melissa McPherson, 9012 Crooked Creek Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000. Monica Guzman, 2200 N Quapah Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000. Kimberly Pennala, 3712 Beckets Crown Court, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995. Kristin Hightower, 12008 SW 10, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,975. Stan Reyes, 5021 SE 150 Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,950. Don Ledbetter, 10721 Woodridden, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Margrett Tramell, 11128 SW 40, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Lee Tyner, 15613 Summit Parke Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,895.
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM Aletha Prince, 11416 N Florida Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Bobby Adams, 2324 NW 162 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Irving Vaughan, 8612 NW 113 Court, storm shelter, install, $2,800. Michael Weed, 13421 Lake Shore Drive, shell building, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Robert Duck, 1305 NW 198, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Christopher Keyes, 3104 SW 139, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Marcella Rivera, 12440 NW 2, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Robert Bogardus, 7324 SW 112, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Rong Lillieroos, 11109 Leaning Elm Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,700. Becky Ethridge, 120 NW 160, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500. Robert Hart, 4200 NW 144, residence, installstorm shelter, $2,500. Rhonda Northcutt, 15900 S St Clair Ave., storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,350. Robert Elliott, 12324 Readoza Circle, storage, erect, $2,000. Juan Montoya, 1425 SW 31, accessory, erect, $1,800. Brady Ali Property, 1002 SW 104, medical clinic/office, remodel, $1,500. Cesar A. de la Fuente, 2501 Dittmer Road, accessory, erect, $1,500. K&K Construction, 10911 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $1,500. K&K Construction, 10911 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $1,500. K&K Construction,
10911 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $1,500. K&K Construction, 10911 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $1,500. K&K Construction, 10911 N Western Ave., retail sales, remodel, $1,500. Michelle Liu, 910 NW 20, residence, remodel, $1,000.
Demolitions Crosby Construction, 4303 S Triple X Road, residence. Crosby Construction, 2608 W Wilshire Blvd., residence. Crosby Construction, 1137 SW 37, garage. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 1410 NW 49, residence. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 1506 NW 49, residence. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 1508 NW 49, residence. Bill’s Hauling, 800 NW 114, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 2909 Pine Ridge Road, office. Kendall Concrete, 2315 NW 10, garage. Kendall Concrete, 737 SE 10, residence. Ray’s Trucking, 5708 NW 32, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 1009 NW 49, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 6301 E Wilshire Blvd., mobile home. Midwest Wrecking, 1162 NW 58, residence. Midwest Wrecking, 5901 N Shartel Ave., office.
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
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Several positives for housing are seen When it comes to the financial issues facing average Americans, real estate is front and center. And those wanting to buy a home in the near future are understandably concerned, said Karl Case, an expert on home valuations. “Homebuyers are nervous — and appropriately so. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to buy,” said Case, co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which tracks property value trends in certain big cities across the nation. Obviously, no one knows for sure the direction of the U.S. economy, particularly given uncertainty about the 2012 presidential election and problems in Europe. But Case, an economics professor emeritus at Wellesley College, said there are several positives for housing in the forecast.
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES For one thing, he said the inventory of vacant homes is dropping in many neighborhoods, due to the gradual sell-off of foreclosed homes. Also, values have started rising again in several major metropolitan areas and should remain stable for the foreseeable future in many sections of the country. Here are a few pointers for those planning to buy a home before the end of 2012: I Realize there’s always some element of risk associated with reward. Several years ago, when
banks were more liberal in their lending practices, it wasn’t uncommon for purchasers to buy a home with the expectation of selling it soon for quick appreciation. However, many who attempted to “flip” real estate for a hasty profit often failed to reach their goal and ultimately lost their property in foreclosure, said Leo Berard, charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org). “With a few exceptions, most people should now think about holding any home they buy for a good four or five years at least,” he said. Clearly it’s a poor time to buy if your job situation is unstable or you’re heavily in debt. But if your financial picture is relatively strong and buying a home would give your children access to better
schools, Berard said the benefits of buying now could outweigh the risk. I Make a prudent and thoughtful neighborhood selection. All too often, homebuyers let personal sentiment rule over the facts when it comes to choosing an area to live, says Michael S. Knight, a Chicago-area financial adviser affiliated with Garrett Planning Network (www. garrettplanningnetwork. com). Knight recommends that homebuyers interview three possible agents to assist in their search, making sure the person they choose is experienced and offers in-depth answers to their questions. How can you predict which neighborhoods will be most likely to hold their value or gain in the future? Knight said that well-rated public schools are an especially important factor,
Land returns to farming roots BY SANDRA FORESTER McClatchy News Service
BOISE, Idaho — Milan Gould has been farming in the Middleton, Idaho, area, not far from the state capital of Boise, since 1959. This year, rows of corn stretch from his property across 80 acres of the subdivision, which once was approved for about 200 homes and a park. A lender ended up with the subdivision after developer Corinthian Homes defaulted on its loans, said Star, Idaho, Mayor Nate Mitchell. Gould leases the land from the lender. “It keeps the weeds down. It keeps the land in production. It gives them a tax break,” Gould said. “It benefits all of us and keeps us in business.” During the boom years that drove up land and home prices, demand for new homes seemed endless. From about 2005 to 2007, many farmers sold out for cash, or committed portions of their land to developers. Plans for subdivisions that would gobble up farmland covered Idaho’s Treasure Valley. But when the housing bubble burst in 2008, home buyers and construction loans faded. Deals fell apart. Developers and speculators found they had purchased too much property at inflated prices. As values dropped, many had more money invested than they could recoup by selling. “After the shakeout, many of those properties (were short sales) or went to banks that have sold or are trying to sell them,” said John Starr, a land broker with Colliers International in Boise. Other scenarios played out, as well, especially after farm income and prices for commodities like corn and wheat rose, said Idaho state Rep. Pat Takasugi, a farmer in Wilder, Idaho, who was once Idaho’s agriculture director. Farmers continued to work the acreages they owned in fizzled subdivisions, he said. They also sought out owners of other parcels, whether investors or banks, to buy or lease land to plant crops. Investors who lease to
Milan Gould grows corn and grain on the land he leases in Canyon County, Idaho. The land was planned for residential development before the developer defaulted on the loan. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
farmers benefit from advantageous tax treatment. “Local farmers have done a good job of pressing developers, banks and owners to keep land operational,” Starr said. “If you find land sitting idle, it’s because they just haven’t found the right people to talk to or the owner said no.” Or because the developer built roads, sidewalks and utilities that make farming the land impossible. Gould said he’d like to buy, but he chooses to lease land near his properties in Middleton because the investors sank too much money into them for development and need to make it back on the sale. “I couldn’t afford it,” he said. Many prime farm parcels have had their irrigation ripped out and have been broken up with streets, sidewalks and utilities. To convert such land back to agriculture would be too costly, some experts say. It can’t be farmed anymore. Take the 235-acre Meadow Park off of Purple Sage Road near Middleton. Streets and utilities cut through weedy fields, along with the remnants of vinyl fencing. Initially platted in 2005, the subdivision with three sections — the Crossing, the Pines and the Estates — sits waiting for the day when
This land in Canyon County, Idaho, was planned for residential development before the developer defaulted on the loan. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
demand or pricing make it attractive to investors or developers. “There’s a lot of room to build, and nobody’s building, and the economy’s not helping,” Takasugi said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever see it like it was before.” The breather from development at a frenzied pitch has led to better planning and smarter growth, and perhaps the chance to correct some of the mistakes that were made, he said. “They’re not dropping subdivisions in the middle of farmland,” Takasugi said of the new crop of planners. “They’re developing closer to infrastructure (city services like sewer and water). Maybe we’ve finally got a little common sense.”
particularly now that private schools are out of financial reach for many families. In addition, he thinks quality public transit is an increasingly important factor. I Seek out sellers who are highly motivated. “If the owners are facing foreclosure, you could actually be doing them a favor to buy their place rather than have the bank take it away and ruin their credit in the process. Plus, a home sold under duress is usually a better deal than one whose owners can afford to wait,” Berard said. What’s the best way to identify highly motivated sellers facing foreclosure? Typically your agent can find them through the Multiple Listing Service. But another approach, recommended by Berard, is to walk around your target neighborhood, striking up informal con-
versations with residents there. I Be especially cautious before deciding how much to bid on a property. For help in developing a realistic estimate of value, ask your agent to provide you with statistics on nearby homes that have sold in the last three to six months — the fresher the data, the better. Berard said to make sure this analysis includes the “distressed sales” that have occurred lately, as well as bank-owned properties that have sold at sacrificial prices. “You’ll want to be savvy and try to get the best possible purchase price. But in doing so, you have to recognize that there’s always a small element of risk in any real estate you buy,” he said. Email Ellen James Martin at ellenjames martin@gmail.com. UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Three commonly overlooked roof repairs Before winter’s bad weather can catch up to you, if you’re having any problems with your roof, this is the time to get those repairs out of the way. Even when your shingles appear to be holding their own up there, you could have problems with flashings, attic and plumbing vents and other penetrations into the house that can allow water to enter, creating the potential for big problems down the road. Repairs begin with an inspection, both inside and outside. You or a qualified, licensed roofing contractor should do a thorough inspection of the roof to examine the condition of several key areas. Look at the attic vents to see if there’s any evidence of cracking, loose or torn screens, loose fasteners or other problems. Examine plumbing vents for worn, loose, cracked or brittle seals around pipes. Check flashings around chimneys, wood stove flues, siding intersections, skylights and other areas for evidence of loose fasteners, bending, denting, water leaks or other issues that need to be taken care
Paul Bianchina HANDY @ HOME of. From inside the attic, look for water staining on the rafters, ceiling joists and roof sheathing that might indicate a possible leak. Also look for areas of insulation that appear crusty on top, or that are flattened out or depressed, indicating that water has been dripping there. If you spot something, remember that the water leak may not be directly overhead. With roof leaks, water often runs down at an angle from above, so you may have to do a little detective work to trace the leak back to its origin.
Vent replacement If you find an attic vent that needs to be replaced, first locate a replacement one of the same size. That will help you avoid having to make any changes to the size of the hole that already exists in the roof sheathing.
Health crisis follows foreclosure crisis BY SHARI ROAN Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — The mortgage foreclosure tragedy is not only hurting Americans’ wallets, it’s affecting people’s health, particularly older Americans who lose their homes, according to a new study. Researchers led by the University of Maryland performed the first study to determine the health effect from the foreclosure crisis that began with subprime lending practices in 2003. As recently as 2009, the authors note, a little more than 2 percent of all U.S. homes were in foreclosure. The study examined data from the 2006 and 2008 Health and Retirement Study, a poll of people ages 50 and older. In 2008, people were asked about their mortgage status and whether they had fallen behind on payments, were in foreclosure or had lost their homes. The analysis showed that people who had mortgage problems were much more likely to have mental health problems as well as other health-related disadvantages, such as not being able to afford prescription medications and adequate healthy food. Nearly one-third of the people who were mortgagedelinquent reported fair or poor health compared to 19 percent who were not delinquent. “The rise in mortgage defaults may have important public health implications that could ultimately prove costly to affected individuals, employers, the health care system, and society,” the authors wrote. The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
Dave Moeller acquires professional designation EDMOND — Dave Moeller, managing broker owner of Redbud Realty & Associates in Edmond, has earned the Certified Investor Agent Specialist professional designation, having completed training to understand real estate investor types and the opportunities, financing options and calculations needed for each. Over the past 12 months, investment and secondhome properties comprised more than $300 billion in sales, representing some 27 percent of all residential real estate transactions, said Moeller, a former president of the Oklahoma City Metro Associ-
Dave Moeller
ation of Realtors. With the CIAS Designation training, Moeller will help investors, as well as assist homeowners facing foreclosure find potential buyers for their properties.
Joli Carman joins office of Churchill-Brown EDMOND — Joli Carman has joined ChurchillBrown & Associates Realtors’ Edmond office, 201 N Bryant, as a residential real estate sales associate. She has six years of experience selling real estate in Tulsa. She previously lived in the Oklahoma City area for 10 years and recently moved back. She earned an associate degree while studying to be a paralegal. Her background also includes experience in
Joli Carman
marketing, promotions and human resources.
Working from the bottom up, carefully work a flat pry bar between the shingles around the vent to break the tar seal between them. Very carefully — and this is best done when the shingles are warm — lift the upper shingles to expose the nails or staples holding them in place over the vent. Remove the fasteners with your pry bar. Be careful not to bend the shingle too far or you’ll snap it off. When you’ve exposed the roof vent, you can remove the fasteners that hold it in place and slip it out of position. Install the new vent, and fasten it down with new roofing nails. Reverse the procedure to reinstall the old shingles. To avoid the possibility of additional damage from your hammer, it’s better to use an air-driven nailer or stapler instead of hand-driven nails. To ensure a good seal, apply a few dabs of roofing cement to the underside of the upper shingle and press it carefully and firmly down onto the new shingle. Plumbing vents are replaced in much the same manner, except that you have to slip the vent up and off the pipe. In some cases
this is easy to do, in other cases you may have to cut the pipe in the attic, pull it down through the plumbing vent, replace the old plumbing vent with a new one, and then reinstall the pipe. The pipe can be reattached in the attic with a coupling.
Flashing repairs Flashings rarely need to be replaced unless they’ve been damaged, such as by a falling tree limb or other impact. Typically, they need only to be refastened and resealed. You can fasten flashings using wideheaded roofing nails, or roofing screws with a washer underneath. Don’t simply drive existing fasteners back into existing holes, as they’ll just come loose again. After the flashings have been resecured, seal them with a flashing sealant approved for that use. Flashing sealants are available in caulking tubes, and are easy to apply with a standard caulking gun.
New nailer If you have a lot of roof repairs to do, or if you’re a roofing contractor or handyman who’s often faced with roof repair sit-
uations, Duo-Fast recently introduced the Cordless Roofing Coil Nailer (Model DFCR175C, $459), which really makes life easier. It operates on a combination of a battery and a fuel cell, and drives 1¼- to 1¾-inch roofing nails without a compressor and hose. The nailer weighs just 7.5 pounds, and will drive about 900 nails on a fuel
cell. Simply slip in the fuel cell and a charged battery, put in a coil of nails, and you’re ready to go. For improved convenience and safety on the roof, the complete kit also includes a backpack that carries the nailer, nails, battery and fuel cell. Remodeling and repair questions? Send email to paulbianchina@inman.com. INMAN NEWS
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
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Work begins on ‘Makeover’ homes in Joplin BY JIM SALTER Associated Press
JOPLIN, Mo. — When executives with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” contacted builder Sam Clifton about a project in Joplin, he told them it was a great idea, but building a single home wouldn’t send much of a message to a community that lost more than 7,000 of them to a devastating spring tornado. So last week, work began on a project to build seven homes in seven days that will be featured on the popular ABC show. It is another effort by volunteers to reshape the southwest Missouri community that is still in the early stages of recovering from the May 22 twister that killed 162 people, one of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history. The homes, a few blocks from the city’s hospital, which was destroyed, will be far from opulent. Clifton, who is overseeing the project, said the new units will be functional, 1,300to 1,800-square-foot homes, similar in size and style to many of the dwellings destroyed in the tornado. “We want to help get the community going,” Clifton said. “Get some excitement going in the town. That’s my goal.” The TV show typically rebuilds a single home for a family that has been struck with some tragic circumstances. In Joplin’s case, the seven homes are being built along the same street, just a few blocks from the hospital that was destroyed in the tornado. “This is what we do,” said Diane Korman, senior
An “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” construction team of volunteers works on a new home for the Nguyen family of Joplin, Mo. The family’s home was one of many destroyed in the May 22 tornado. AP PHOTO
The Walters family of Joplin, Mo., run down the hill at Cunningham Park in Joplin to meet Ty Pennington, host of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” and other representatives of the show. Their new home is one of seven being built for the show in the 2500 block of Connor Avenue in Joplin to replace homes destroyed by the May 22 tornado. AP PHOTO
producer for the program. “We look for families in trouble and how to help them.” Korman said the show’s staff gathered on May 23, the day after the tornado, to discuss a project in Joplin. They contacted Clifton, with whom they had worked on a 2009 show in Ash Grove, Mo., and concurred with his assessment that the project needed to be bigger than one home. The families getting the new homes range in size from two to six, and their stories are compelling. They include single mother Crystal Whitely, who took cover with her three children in a bath-
tub. Two were killed, leaving only Whitely and her 4-year-old daughter, Keana. Joplin firefighter Kyle Howard was working the night of the tornado and didn’t know if his family survived, yet he rescued trapped victims and tended to injured people as he drove through the rubble to get home. Clifton said 10,000 volunteers signed up to help with the project, along with 21 general contractors from around the region and hundreds of skilled tradesmen. The show paid for the families to take a trip to Disney World for the week. The episode is scheduled to be the 200th for the
Ty Pennington, host of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” speaks to the camera about the volunteers who are building for the Whitely family of Joplin, Mo. Their home was destroyed in the May 22 tornado that ravaged Joplin. AP PHOTO
program, and is tentatively scheduled to air Jan. 20. The TV show has generated a lot of buzz in Joplin, where new homes are springing up and construction crews work late
into the night. Millions of tons of debris have been cleared, and for-sale signs dot now-vacant land — in some cases, land that stretches for several blocks.
Banks and pharmacies are operating out of makeshift buildings or mobile homes. The Home Depot, where several people died in the tornado, has reopened in a huge tent. Signs of rebirth are everywhere, but there’s still a lot of work ahead. Huge tarps still cover holes and blown-out walls on many homes, there are still piles of debris awaiting disposal and homes damaged beyond repair awaiting demolition. Clifton, who lives in Springfield, characterizes Joplin’s process of rebuilding as slow. “I think people are waiting to see what the community will do, if their neighbors will rebuild.” Despite the heartbreak and tragedy in Joplin, the makers of the show have been overwhelmed by the spirit, Korman said. “There is such a heart here in Joplin,” she said. “It’s such a strong community.”
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
It’s easy to stylishly hide dirty laundry BY KIM COOK Associated Press
When we were young, “laundry hamper” might have referred to the floor under the bed. A little later, it may have meant a mesh sack kept by the front door, with a pouch full of quarters for the Laundromat. But we are grown-ups now. An attractive receptacle for the day’s castoffs is one of the small civilized gifts we give ourselves. It’s generally a modest investment that banishes the chaos and brings in the calm that is the hallmark of a well-kept home. For contemporary bath or bedroom suites, consider Bed, Bath & Beyond’s sophisticated black faux leather hamper with removable basket, or West Elm’s sleek white lacquered cylindrical hamper. (www.bedbathand beyond.com, $79.99; www.westelm.com, $99) If you’ve got a luxe bath, you may want to outfit with the Blomus Slice stainless-steel hamper, with a sharp black lid; the Vipp receptacle in black or white enamel; or Zack Quadro’s Drumpolish, a shiny cylinder that could probably double as an end table. (www.everything modern.com, Blomus, $193.04; Vipp, $599; Zack Quadro, $241.80) Hampton Bay has a beautiful tilt-door double hamper that’s really a piece of furniture; it would work as a vanity as well, and comes in white or hazel wood finish. (www. homedecorators.com, $209) A nice willow hamper from Seville has a hinged
The Fyllen hamper is available in red or gray from Ikea. AP PHOTO
The Redmon Stars and Moon vinyl hamper is perfect for the nursery. AP PHOTO
Ikea’s Lillangen tall-boy cabinet has portholes for laundry, perfect for a tight, narrow space. AP PHOTO
lid and comes in white or natural. (www.bedbath andbeyond.com, $39.99) Seville also makes a professional-looking three-bag rack on a sturdy metal frame, complete with telescoping hanging rack and locking wheels. (www.sevilleclassics.com, $59.99)
Ikea has the Lillangen tallboy cabinet with portholes for laundry, perfect for a tight narrow space. The Fyllen basket in fireengine red turns laundry gathering into a colorful exercise. (www.ikea.com, Lillangen, $119-$134; Fyllen, $7.99)
In the nursery For the nursery, Southern California designer Nina Selby has a sweet aqua-and-lemon-striped hamper for her Cotton Tale label. (www.justfor babies.net, $54.95) Redmon’s Stars and Moon vinyl hamper in
white, pink or blue is charming. (www. everythingmodern.com, $29.99) Trend Lab’s Chibi Zoo hamper has a cute, friendly, zoo-animal print in a trendy blue, green and brown color combo. (www.babybeddingzone. com, $40) Jo Jo Designs has several baby-friendly cotton prints for its nursery hamper, including a graphic
The Vipp black steel basket with rubber feet comes in black or white. AP PHOTO
circle motif, an animal print, a brown and pink damask, and a sweet bluetoned argyle. (www.bed bathstore.com, $44.99) Or choose Jo Jo’s chic black and ivory French toile hamper, suitable for both the baby’s room and the boudoir. (www.baby beddingzone.com, $37.99)
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
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Modest house gets a thoughtful makeover BY KIM PALMER Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS — Most people who update their homes want them to look bigger, better and newer. But Brita Hansen and Eric Hazen wanted their remodeled Minneapolis home to look like its small, 1880s self. “We really liked the proportions of the original house and the gables,” Hansen said. They bought the house, their first, in 2004. And while they loved their location and didn’t want to move, they were ready for something a little roomier, more functional and more refined. That posed a dilemma: How do you expand a modest house without making it look like a bloated McMansion in a neighborhood where many of the homes date back to the 19th century? The solution wasn’t quick or easy, but the result was worth the time and toil. Today, the newly remodeled home blends with its neighbors while still giving the couple another 750 square feet of living space in addition to the 1,100 they started with. In the process, Hansen and Hazen kept the things they love about their home: its traditional gabled look, the Seward neighborhood and their deep lot. (Both are avid gardeners, interested in edible landscaping and urban homesteading.) And they’ve fixed the things they didn’t love: not enough bedroom space and a strange staircase that divided the living room.
There a now four levels at Britta Hansen and Eric Hazen’s south Minneapolis, Minnesota home, as seen May 9, 2011. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
The exterior view of Britta Hansen and Eric Hazen’s south Minneapolis, Minnesota home is featured, May 9, 2011. The newly remodeled home blends with its neighbors while still giving the couple another 750 square feet of living space in addition to the 1,100 they started with. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
The couple did a lot of the work themselves, with help from relatives and friends, including demolition, tilework and interior painting. That saved them about $70,000 off the cost of the remodeling, their designer estimated. “We like the creative process, especially working with tile,” Hansen said. But they knew that designing an addition and integrating it with the existing house was going to be way beyond their DIY skills, so they turned to Michael Anschel, principal/designer at OtogawaAnschel. “It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever designed — resolving the exterior so it’s in scale
Condo NW 51 & Portland 2bed, 1.5ba, 990sf, FP, A/C, gas heat & hw, pool, prkg. Gas, water, trash paid. Quiet, no pets. 625/m or $27k to buy. 210-1724.
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and style with its surroundings,” he said. “We went through version after version. There was a lot of thinking, digesting and sharing of ideas — a lot of minds coming together.” The final design of the remodeled home was inspired by an offhand suggestion to build another house next to the original one. “That was a really good idea,” Anschel said. “It ended up solving a lot of issues.” Instead of one big boxy addition, the addition is recessed in the middle of the house to minimize its visual impact from the street. Inside, instead of bigger multi-use spaces, the couple has compact
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Casady 751-8088
1bd 1ba $350mo, stove, fridge, very clean 818-4089
added. So the couple gave their house a charm retrofit. Their antique buffet is an architectural salvage piece, sawed in half to get it through the front door, then refinished and rebuilt in the dining room. The gleaming wood floors in the kitchen are made from local elms, salvaged by Wood From the Hood, a reclaimed lumber compa-
1 bed, all bills paid, $575 mo, $25 move-in special, Section 8 okay. 718K NE 25. 204-4308
1 BED, 1 BATH, ''Almost Gingerbread' $450 month » 787-7029
AUCTION
523.5 SW 26 (&Walker) 1bed 1ba 800sf garage apt $325/mo $175 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 $99 Move In Special 1 & 2bds, carports, coin lndry $345-445 470-3535
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077 $99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849
TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. Try Plaza East 341-4813
San-Tee Apts, Sm. Eff, $275 a month 685-2909
Yukon Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
438
»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 354-5855 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Specials » »»»»»»»»»»»»
1&2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY
CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL 3037 North Rockwell
495-2000
3/2/1 yr lease, kit appls 1400sf, fenced avail now $750+, 454-2314/664-3751
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
2621 NW 50th 2bd 2ba 1car 1200sf, $950, $800 dep, no Sec 8 409-7989
214 W Michael nice 2bd brick home 1car ch/a, fenced, clean, only $550 Sec 8 ok, Fidelity Real Est 410-4200, 692-1661
902 and 908 N. Gardner 3bd, 1.75 baths, fireplace $550/mo 408-5836
1016 Willowbrook 3bd 1.5 baths w/den $750/mo 408-5836
BILLS PAID! 2bd 1ba 1233 N Grand. $500mo $250dep ¡ 314-9606
9321 NE 13 Pl, 4bd, 1.75baths w/den 1car garage $795/mo 408-5836
Large 1bd 2609 N Dewey new carpet $425 232-9101
3712WoodsideDr3/1/1 $495 1305PinewoodCt3/1/1 $550 681-7272
Lake side 2-3 bedroom TH 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, gated, Yukon Schools, from $825. 789-3705 Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.
Heat Pd Nice Efficiency$350 1608 NW 16th 232-9101
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
Houses for rent
House for Rent Moore 3BR, 1 3/4bath, fireplace, 2car garage, 1525ft lovely patio grill $900. 4059191424 4bd 2ba MH 2050sf 5acre $975 (WAC - No Horses) Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 220 S. Norman, 3 bd, 1 bath, 1 car garage, $695/mo 408-5836
3bd 1ba 1car, ch&a, fncd, new carpet No Sec 8 $730+dep 470-2148
Oldetowne » 2bd 1ba 9129 Pepperdine attach gar. 2 mi. to Tinker 769-7177
1920 Karen Dr 2/1 2208 Doris 2/1 3921 Pearl Way 3/1/1 837 Scott St 3/2/1 681-7272
$425 $450 $650 $750
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 bed, 2 living, ch&a, Mid-Del Schools, $900 month, W Ent, 732-2285. 3bd/2ba, ch&a $600mo, $400dep 4604 SE 26th 381-4841 or 990-4869
8713 Woodbend 4/2/2 1840sf fp$1275+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
17456 Blackjack Rdg 3/2/2 1600sf $1000+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
MCT INFORMATION SERVICES
3 bed $400mo +200dep. Others 2 bd & 1 bd 1524 NW 10th 639-0556 1018 N. Lackey 2bed, 1ba, $525 Call 903-523-9060--No Sec.8 Cute rental 3 bed 2 bath $685. Call 789-1111 3bed 1 bath ch&a carport Large yard. Sec 8 OK. $650mo + dep 286-9658 207 NW 84th, 5/2, brick, ch&a, $850 rent, $600 dep, sec 8 ok, 408-6361. 4236K NW 16th, 1bd 1ba garage apt, $375mo $250dep 701-1722 2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car $625/mo 7004 NW 59th Terr. Call Mon-Fri, 495-3460
3bd, 2ba, 2car, fenced backyard. 324 NE 61st. $800 + $800 dep, no pets, no sec 8, 519-2845 1020 Clover Ln 1200sf 3bed 2ba $800 mo, $600 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 1215 NE 46 3/1.5/2 $795 681-7272
8632 NW 111 3/2/2 $1795 12304WalnutCrk3/2/2 $995 2901 Quail Crk 2/2/2 $1250 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com 2930 NW 12th large 1bd duplex, water paid $395 3232 NW 28th 2/1 $475 1445 N Bradley 3/1.5/2$900 681-7272
3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, 1800sf $1200 mo, Call Alex 990-0488
2929 NW 67th 2bd, ch&a, Very Nice $675+ dep. No Sec 8, No pets. 691-5479
1, 2 & 3 bed houses, SW and SE OKC, Best Way Now Realtors, 634-1100. 3315 1/2 SW 28th 2bd apt all bills pd $595/mo 408-5836 4024 SW 27, 3bd, 1bath, $475/mo 408-5836 2905 SW 52, 3bd, 1 bath, $575/mo 408-5836
2504 SW 32, 3 bd, 1.5 bath, $575/mo 408-5836
3137 NW 39th Terr. 3bd new remod. hrdwd flrs appls nice $695mo 721-3757
2600 SW 102 3/2/2 $950 681-7272
Exceptional 3bd 2ba home 1900sf $1075 255-4300 Picnic in backyard! 3bd duplex 1800sf $845 255-4300
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 522 SE 48th, 3 bed, 2 bath, CH&A, washer/dryer hookup w/ appliances 405-501-6570 $350 $375
5529 S. Dimple 3bd, 1.75 ba, 2car, CH&A, fncd yd, nice, $675/mo, 413-6204 2/1+bonus rm 900sf, 2.5ac no horses $650+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 704 SE 31, 1 bd, 1 ba, w/d hookup, $425 a month 408-5836
3bd 1ba, Oakcliff Addn, new remodel, Sec 8 ok, $700 913-244-9591 4Bd, 1K Ba, fncd, $0 dep. $700, Sec. 8, Other homes avail. 1-800-529-0307 code 37
Rennovated tudor-style 2-story 4 bd, 3.5 ba, 3800sf. Avail for longterm lease. ¡ $2500/mo + deposit. ¡ 740-1856 Near SW 47th & Blackwelder, new paint, very pretty 2 bed, garage, ch&a $575 $500dep no pets no sec 8 691-5479
2bd 1ba 1car new paint & carpet. No pets no section 8 3605 NW 18th $650mo 789-4525 lv msg Nice 3bd liv din stove/frig h/w flrs w/d hookup 1941 NW 15th $600. Also 2bd 2908 NW 18 $590. 301-5979
WHY RENT? Lease/Purchase. OWNER FINANCING! 3 bed, ch&a, fenced yard, $678 mo, 990-9235.
3/2/2, 1400sf mol, all elect, ch/a, 308 Cherryvale Rd $995mo $995dep 370-1077
2316 Cashion Pl. 2bd, ch&a, stove, frig, W/D, new carpet/paint, fncd yd $695+$500dep 822-3783
2 bed, 1267 sq ft, wood floors, new carpet, remodeled, gar, 323 SW 24th St, $550, 745-4414
3 bed, 2bath, 2 car, 1450sf, $1100 mo, Call Alex 990-0488
»» SECTION 8 OK»» 3 bed, 1149 NW 81st, $795 per mo, 942-3552
Rental List at 4524 S May 1-4 Beds from $325-950 SW Home Rentals 681-7272
3/3/3, 2 stables, 5 acres $1,000; 3/2/1 1acre $700. Deer Creek Schls. 341-6164
2123 SW 51, 4bd, 2.5 baths, garage, lg storage, $795/month 408-5836
3bd 1.5ba, new appl., 529 N. Thompkins, new schl, $675mo $400d 787-1554
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
4bd, 2.5ba, 2car w/openers, F/P, convenient loc., lrg yard $1100 348-4823
934 SW 63rd, 2 bd, 2 ba, 1 car, fenced, ch&a, $600 mo, $300 dep, 692-7459.
920 SW 48 3bd 1bath $550/month 408-5836
4bd/2ba, ch&a $600mo, $400dep 4204 SE 46th 381-4841 or 990-4869 13305 Green Valley Dr Executive Home 4bd 3ba 2car, Edmond Schls, 2500sf Granite Counters, Covered Patio & more $1500mo $1500dep 409-7989
3304 SW 50th. 4bd 1ba, new remod. ch&a, No Sec 8 $775mo 721-3757
1805 W. Park Pl. Nice 5bd, 2ba, ch&a $750mo, $300dep ¡ 314-9606
29 SE 33rd 1/1 824 SE 22nd 1/1 681-7272
$595 2bd 1ba, very clean, stove, fridge 818-4089
Beautiful home!! 3BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$950.593-1432
ny in the Twin Cities. The vintage and vintage-look tiles, light fixtures and woodwork were salvaged, found on eBay and crafted by handy friends. “We’ve put so much of ourselves into this house,” Hazen said. Hansen said, “We’re staying here until we’re too feeble to get up and down the stairs.”
3/2/2 brick with fireplace, $950/mo, Dave @ Realtex 691-0611
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849
NICE BRICK HOME 2632 NW 14th St, OKC Household Furnishings MON., NOV. 14th 10AM Preview: Nov 6th & 13th 2-3pm 866-874-7100 LippardAuctions.com
I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO
Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077
»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 681-7561 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Special » »»»»»»»»»»»»
Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
Wanted: approximately 15-40 wooded acres within 1 hour of Lake Hefner. Must be very low priced. 405-684-1028
Designer Michael Anschel, from left, along with home owners Britta Hansen and Eric Hazen, talk about the remodeling of the couple’s home, May 9, 2011.
2 Bed 1Bath PC Schools 6125 NW 55th Street 405-773-4777
Over 100 Repos on Land or 0 down w/your Land! WAC 866-764-3200,405-631-3200
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 410-5700
FIRST MONTH $159 Your choice 1,2,3 bed PC Schools, N Rockwell The Belmont 455-8150
800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506
3 bed/1 bath '06 $695 month in Oak Ridge Lot rent/lawn svc included Edmond 341-9209
95 Acre Hunting Land Auction. Red Rock/Sooner Lake area Saturday Nov. 5th @ 10:00 am. Visit www.premierok.com
»» ALL BILLS PAID »» $189 FIRST MONTH ALL FLOORPLANS No hidden charges 293-3693 DREXEL ON THE PARK
I-35 Frontage, Norman, OK 3acres, heavy zoning, income producing, owner financing. 405-229-4843
Business Property For Rent
Owner carry 5533 S Huddleston. Mid-Del Sch 3/2/2 Renov. 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com
$100 lot rent for 6 months. Move Your Mobile Home FREE!
38 acres, new 3 bd, 3 ba log siding home, gated entry, 1 mi to marina on Tenkiller Lake, boat slip available, great investment for development. $385,000, 918-640-8556.
About to Repo 2bd/2bth, Large Living, Fenced Yard $324/mo. ready now wac. 405-577-2884
3 Bed, 2 Bath ready! Granada Village MHP Cash Sales Price $9,999! www.midstatehousing.com 405.527.5669
cozy rooms more typical of the home’s original era than of today’s open floor plans. “We wanted relatively small, functional spaces,” Hansen said. “That was important to us, rather than having large rooms you don’t use.” The remodeled home exudes Old World charm, but many of the features that contribute to it aren’t original. When the couple bought the Victorian-era house, it had none of the decorative flourishes associated with that period. “It was a workingman’s house, probably a railroad worker,” Hansen said. “There probably never were a lot of fancy things here to salvage,” Hazen
1119 Park Manor 3 bed, 2 full & 3 half baths, 2car, office, wd flrs, $1650mo, $1500dp TMS Prop348-0720 1900 Carlisle. 3 bed 1 bath, CH&A, $725/mo, garbage included. 773-9943
1229 Sumac, 2000+ sf executive home, 3bd 2ba 2 living, 2 car, on nicely landscaped cul-de-sac lot, $1350 mo Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 1724 Marian 3bd + bonus 1bath $775+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
406 Willowood Dr Luxury 3/2/2 duplex in quiet Silver Eagle neighborhood. Community pool, gardener, secure entry. $875/mo. No Sec. 8. Call Keith, 405-413-2555 2501 Renwick 4/3/3 $1995 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com
Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777
usespectrum.com Mgmt » Leasing » Sales PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES SINCE 1982 Spectrum Management 848-9400
Room for rent, $425, utilities included, mature person, Del City, near Tinker AFB, smoking okay, 326-9251. SW OKC house to share, $375 with K utilities, no smoking, 918-231-4787
10F
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Bedbug infestations are more than pesky How to keep out little pests BY AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
This undated file photo provided by Orkin LLC shows bed bugs.
AP PHOTO/ORKIN
BY MARY BETH BRECKENRIDGE Akron Beacon Journal
Bedbug reports have sent people scurrying for relief. Some are snapping up bug killers targeted at the nighttime marauders. Others are researching doit-yourself methods on the Internet. What they hope to find is a fast, inexpensive fix. But don’t count on it. Unfortunately, there is no easy remedy for most bedbug infestations, according to experts. “It is very, very difficult for an untrained individual to get rid of bedbugs unless they have caught it at a very, very early stage,” said Susan C. Jones, an urban entomologist at Ohio State University and an authority on bedbugs. And infestations are rarely discovered until they’ve passed that stage, she said. That’s frustrating for many people, because the only viable option for a serious infestation is treatment by a professional pest control company. That can involve multiple visits and can cost $1,000 or more. Bedbug eradication works best with a variety of approaches, including chemicals, monitoring and nonchemical methods, said Donald Baumgartner, a bedbug specialist with the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 5. “Unfortunately, there’s no single answer,” he said. So why are bedbugs so hard to get rid of? Largely it’s because no single insecticide that’s permitted for indoor use can kill bedbugs, entomologist Dini Miller wrote in one of the fact sheets she’s developed for the state of Virginia, where she is the state’s urban pest management specialist and a widely recognized authority on bedbugs. The government limits what kinds of pesticides can be used indoors because of the potential for harming people and pets, said Miller, who also runs the Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory at Virginia Tech. Bedbugs are also hard to treat because they’re so good at hiding, she said. Their hiding places can be many and difficult to pinpoint, and they often include places that can’t be treated with insecticides. Bedbugs can move easily, which makes control especially problematic in shared housing, such as apartment buildings. Few lay people know enough about bedbug biology and behavior to control the pests effectively, said Tim McCoy, a research technician in Miller’s lab. What’s more, they don’t have access to more concentrated products and other methods pros can use. The products the public can buy legally are minimally effective, Jones and McCoy said. Many use pyrethroids, a class of insecticides to which modern bedbugs have become highly resistant. Others are made from natural ingredients that are generally regarded as safe, so they’re exempt from federal regulation, Jones said. The natural products don’t have to undergo safety testing, she said, and their manufac-
A bed bug is displayed at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington. AP PHOTO
turers don’t have to prove they work. Most products available to consumers have no effect at all once they’ve dried, “and that’s the downfall,” Jones said. The products are often labeled “contact kill,” “kills on contact” or some similar wording. That means the product will kill a bedbug only if it’s sprayed directly on the insect, Jones said. But bedbugs come out at night, and even then, only in limited numbers. At any one time, the majority of bedbugs are in hiding, Jones said. There’s no way to kill them all with a contact insecticide without staying up all night, every night, for a month or more. What’s more, those products are no more effective than spraying a bug with soapy water or squashing it with a tissue, she and McCoy said. Here’s the good news: If you catch bedbugs early enough, getting rid of them may be a much simpler — and cheaper — process.
Enclosing the mattress and box springs in encasements made specifically for bedbugs can help in a minor infestation, McCoy said. Jones suggested vacuuming or scrubbing the mattress and box springs first, spraying them with a contact pesticide or treating them with a steamer. Work very slowly, covering about 12 inches every 30 seconds. Heat kills bedbugs, so dry bedding, clothing and anything else that can go into a clothes dryer for at least 30 minutes on high heat or 90 minutes on medium heat. A dryer with a removable shelf can be used for items that can’t be tumbled, such as leather shoes, handbags, knickknacks and books. Or take advantage of the summer’s heat by simply placing everything in trash bags and putting them in a hot car for a couple of hours, McCoy suggested. But if the bugs persist, get help, the experts say. It’s a problem you just can’t tackle yourself. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
Bedbugs ride into your home on things, such as clothing, furniture and suitcases. Here are some tips for keeping bedbugs out: I Inspect used goods such as furniture and books before bringing them into your home. I Avoid renting furniture or storing other people’s furniture. I Don’t buy refurbished mattresses or old couches. I After helping a friend move or transporting someone else’s belongings, inspect your vehicle. Bedbugs probably won’t survive the heat of a car in hot weather, but they can thrive in cool weather. I If you buy a new mattress, transport it yourself. Often the same trucks used to deliver mattresses are used to haul old ones away. I Don’t pile guests’ coats on a bed. I When traveling, inspect the hotel room for signs of bedbugs. Pay close attention to the mattress and box springs,
including their seams and the underside of the mattress, and inspect the luggage rack. If possible, pull the bed away from the wall and inspect the back of the headboard, particularly the holes for set-in screws and the plate that allows the headboard to hang from the wall. Use a flashlight to inspect the closet. I Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack, not a spare bed. Keep your belongings in it rather than unpacking and putting them in drawers. I When you get home, unpack in a place other than the bedroom, such as the garage, bathroom, basement or mud room. Launder all clothing and dry in the dryer, or put everything in a garbage bag and leave it in a hot car for a few hours. You can do the same with your suitcase if you have reason to believe it has encountered bedbugs. I If you can’t treat your suitcase with heat, put a NoPest strip in the bag to fumigate it. SOURCES: DINI M. MILLER AND TIM MCCOY, VIRGINIA TECH; SUSAN C. JONES, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.