The Oklahoman's Real Estate section

LISTING OF THE WEEK

HOUSE PLAN

Something’s Great view cooking Canyon walls, streams, The Listing of the Week is a traditional home with a remodeled kitchen in The Village.

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seascapes, lakesides, rolling hills or soaring mountain peaks can be fully appreciated from inside the Sandpoint.

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REAL ESTATE

Kenneth Harney

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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

IRANIAN BROTHERS FOUND HOME WHILE THEY BUILT FOR OTHERS

THE NATION’S HOUSING

Tax credit left mess The federal tax credits of $7,500 and later $8,000 for first-time homebuyers did deliver a jolt to the reeling housing industry, and they left a bureaucratic mess that the Internal Revenue Service is still slogging through.

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IN BRIEF WEBSITE EXPANDS

Home Creations built this model home at 704 Manhattan Drive in Moore. Builders Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh say the quality of materials, styles and energy efficiency of newly built houses have changed by leaps since they started building houses 30 years ago.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

BY DYRINDA TYSON For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com

MOORE — A pair of brothers, like so many other Iranians at the time, packed their bags in 1978 and came to the United States to study.

For Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh, this meant moving to Norman to study architecture at the University of Oklahoma.

“It was a temporary situation,” said Mohammad Farzaneh, now 56. “We thought we’d come here, get an education and go back. We never said goodbye and said, ‘We’re going to go away for 30 years.’ ” But then they didn’t see revolution coming — the one that engulfed Iran the following year, pushing its U.S.-backed leader Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi out of power and clearing the way for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to return from exile in France to establish an Islamic republic.

Militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran that November and took 66 Americans hostage.

Fifty-three of them would remain captive until January 1981, finally going free the day Ronald Reagan was sworn into office for his first term.

The Farzaneh brothers’ father, Jafar Farzaneh, lost his construction business of almost 50 years

during the revolution.

“He said, ‘Boys just stay,’ ” recalled Jalal Farzaneh, now 54.

And so began the adventure that would stretch out over the next 30 years.

The pair established their homebuilding business in Norman in 1981, practically before the ink was dry on their diplomas.

They started out as M&J Home Builders, but they folded it and other enterprises and partnerships under the Home Creations umbrella in 1996.

Night and day differences The houses they build now are like night and day compared with the houses they built back in the beginning — literally. Houses then required more lights to make up for smaller windows, Jalal Farzaneh said.

“The windows weren’t energy efficient, so they had to be smaller,” he said.

The brothers ticked off a myriad other differences: Ceilings are higher now and the living space more open. Engineering has improved the quality of materials.

Granite, once reserved for luxury kitchens and often imported, has almost become standard.

“I built my personal home about 12 years ago, and I had a hard SEE BROTHERS, PAGE 2F

Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh, cofounders of Home Creations, are shown in a model home at 704 Manhattan Drive in Moore. Home Creations is observing its 30th year in business.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Update your home’s look for younger buyers Are you an older baby boomer who yearns to sell the house you’ve owned for many years to downsize to a retirement property?

If so, those who know residential real estate say it’s a smart idea to update your place to make it more appealing to younger buyers, particularly those between their late 20s to early 40s, who now represent a major share of the homebuying market.

They urge you to thoroughly clean, clear and declutter your property before it goes up for sale.

“For this generation of young homebuyers, acquiring a place that feels light, bright and fresh conveys a sense of potential,” said Jeffrey Levine, an architect and planner who’s affiliated with the American Institute of Architects (www.aia.org).

Ashley Richardson, a longtime real estate agent, suggests you consider hir-

Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES

ing a “stager,” an interior design specialist trained to give properties a more polished look.

If your listing agent isn’t a stager, you can look for one in your local area through such organizations as the Real Estate Staging Association (www.realestatestaging association.com).

Here are a few other pointers for homeowners trying to make their property more salable: I Focus on your windows.

Levine recommends that sellers trying to appeal to young homebuyers — who like light rooms —

should remove all their heavy draperies. Often, the only rooms that need window coverings are bedrooms and bathrooms and even there, simple shades should suffice for privacy.

Another key step to brighten your rooms is to thoroughly clean your windows, said Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.”

He said that many people who are reasonably fit and don’t have unusually high windows can do this cleaning project themselves, without hiring a contractor.

I Remove family photos and other memorabilia.

There’s nothing that will date your place faster in the eyes of young homebuyers than personal photos taken decades ago. Davis said any personal photos, including those with

you posing with grandchildren, can make it difficult for young buyers to picture themselves living in your property.

I Make your bathroom lighting more contemporary.

In their bathrooms, many older homes still feature Hollywood-style lighting with globes set on a chrome bar. But Davis said such fixtures seem dated to many young homebuyers, who typically want something more stylish and less cliched.

I Freshen your home through repainting.

But Richardson said you’re much more likely to appeal to young buyers if you avoid repainting your rooms in the sort of bold paint tones that some agents call “commitment colors.” Instead, she urges you to pick paint colors that are muted, near-neutrals.

I Do a complete over-

haul of your front entrance.

Leo Berard, a real estate broker and charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org), has worked solely with homebuyers for more than 20 years. So he knows which updates excite a positive response in purchasers.

He said sellers who have some cash to update their property should consider using it to beautify their front entrance, which should enhance the home’s appeal to buyers of all ages. Owners who are serious about selling can better their prospects with a small investment in improvements to their front walkway, to the landscaping around their front door and to the door itself.

Email Ellen James Martin at ellenjames martin@gmail.com.

UNIVERSAL UCLICK

The National Association of Realtors and Move Inc., operator of Realtor.com, extended the reach of Realtor.com with the launch of the Realtor.com International website. The site, at www.Realtor. com/International, delivers some 4.4 million listings on Realtor.com to buyers around the globe, as well as residential properties fed to the site by foreign content providers. At launch, Realtor.com International featured homes for sale in the United States, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain. In the past three months, nearly 2.6 million international visitors searched for U.S. real estate on Realtor.com. The top five countries where searches originated from were Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and India.

OPEN DOOR WITH BUTTON SimpliciKey lets you unlock your home with the touch of a button. SimpliciKey is a remote-control electronic dead bolt that can be operated by a key fob that works up to 50 feet away, as well as by a key pad or key. The wireless key pad can accommodate up to 16 user codes and can be reprogrammed easily. The lock works on four AA batteries and fits right- or lefthand doors. It is available in polished brass, satin nickel or aged bronze. It can be ordered at www. simplicikey.com for $249.99 or www. homedepot.com for $229. Both offer free shipping.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

INDEX Handy Stone Permits

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Left: Colleagues and friends of Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh, founders and owners of Moore-based Home Creations, celebrate the brothers’ 30th anniversary of business at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOME CREATIONS

Brothers: Business survived trials FROM PAGE 1F

time finding white granite,” Mohammad Farzaneh said. “Now it’s so available.”

But the biggest changes are the ones not necessarily obvious to the naked eye, he said, like energy efficiency, which is “unbelievable compared to 30 years ago, even five years ago.”

Finding the turning point The road along the way, though, hasn’t always been a smooth one.

“I could see a number of things we could’ve done — wrong decisions — and our business could’ve gone totally under as it almost did back in the 1980s,” he recalled.

The oil bust of the 1980s punched Oklahoma and Texas in the stomach, putting their petroleum-industry-dependent economies into a free fall. The Farzaneh brothers saw business dry up, and though they continued building a handful of houses, it didn’t generate much income. They took on extra work during those years to keep food on the table — for one, overhauling foreclosed houses so Fannie Mae could sell them off.

They wouldn’t breathe easy again until 1987, “the turning point,” Jalal Farzaneh said.

But the housing crisis that clamped down on builders in most parts of the country in 2008-2009 passed them by. The company closed on about 375 houses a year up until 2009 — and then the number jumped up to 475, Jalal Farzaneh said. They closed on 475 in 2010 as well.

“We were blessed because we were at the right place at the right time with the right product,” he said.

Anita Wagoner, Home Creations’ director of sales and marketing, said the brothers have changed their approach.

“Even in a downturn, people still have to buy homes, so we seek out those people,” she said, at venues such as bridal shows. They also hold seminars for prospective homeowners to help them get their credit up to the more stringent lending standards that are now the norm. Sales staff has learned to generate traffic, as well.

And they are competing with some good builders, she said. “You just have to be better.”

have bread on the table. It pretty much comes to that.”

The real key to their success working together is their wives, he said — his wife, Shokoh, as well as Jalal Farzaneh’s wife, Azan.

Both worked as accountants in the business in the early days.

“They did understand that inside the business, they would act as another staff in their position and their capacity,” Jalal Farzaneh said with a smile.

“Outside the office, they act as boss. So they know who the bosses are, and we know who the bosses are outside the office.”

“They make the ultimate decisions in our lives except for business decisions,” Mohammad Farzaneh added.

Their wives came to the United States with them in 1978, and their children were all born here. Other relatives, including their father and two brothers, have also immigrated here, but the family travels back to Iran once every year or two.

And both brothers have become citizens, Mohammad Farzaneh in the mid-1990s and Jalal Farzaneh in 2000. “In the back of your mind you’re kind of thinking, ‘Well, things are going to improve, and one

The Home Creations model home includes a staged cozy dining area.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

day I’m going to go back,’ ” he said.

He recalled a conversation someone had with his son.

“They asked, ‘Where

are you from?’ And he said, ‘Norman’s my home.’

So that’s when I knew Norman is my home, too. I decided that’s it — Norman’s my home.”

The kitchen of the Home Creations model home at 704 Manhattan Drive in Moore.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Left: Bright color and stark contrast set off this bedroom staged for a girl in the Home Creations model home.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Keeping people employed More important, though, are the people, Mohammad Farzaneh said. The company employs about 120 with some 400 to 500 contractors in the field.

“That’s 500 or 600 people depending on us,” he said. “So we have to be better than anyone else to keep these people employed and make sure these people are working and make sure their families

Left: Oklahoma City Thunder items anchor a sports theme in this bedroom staged for a boy.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

HOUSE PLAN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

LISTING OF THE WEEK

Traditional home has a remodeled kitchen

The Listing of the Week is at 10005 Essex Ave. in The Village.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Sandpoint offers panoramic views Because panoramic views are a major plus in the Sandpoint, families will want to choose their lot with care. Canyon walls, streams, seascapes, lakesides, rolling hills or soaring mountain peaks can be fully appreciated from inside this home.

The most expansive are views from the vaulted hexagonal great room and the wide deck that spans the entire rear and segues into a large screened porch. But the visual fields are also splendid from the office-bedroom, the kitchen and both bathtubs.

Built-in benches rim part of the entry deck. To enter this shingle-style lodge, you walk between slender twin posts set on tapered stone veneer bases. The vaulted porch opens into an even loftier vaulted entry inside double doors. The entry is part and parcel of the hexagonal great room, where six ceiling segments soar to a central apex.

At floor level, the entry is separated from the great room by an 8-foot-high

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section of wall or shelves. On the other side, a freestanding wood stove backs up to that wall, which could be bricked, tiled or whatever suits. Bookshelves and a home entertainment center line the wall to the right of the entry. Two rooms are down the hallway on that side. A generously sized vaulted kitchen is to the entry’s left.

Skylights spill more light into the Sandpoint’s already bright kitchen.

Counters wrap around three sides, and an abundance of cabinets line two of them.

Laundry appliances and a deluxe owners suite are just a few steps down the hall.

Owners suite amenities include a vaulted ceiling and walk-in closet. The spacious bathroom has a dual vanity, roll-in shower, and a deep tub with what could be a wonderfully relaxing view.

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

The Listing of the Week is a traditional home with a remodeled kitchen in The Village.

The 1,645-square-foot home at 10005 Essex Ave. has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one living room, a study, one dining room and an attached two-car garage. The living

room has a cathedral ceiling, built-in bookcase and ceiling fan. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, pantry, wood floors, a commercial gas double oven, new backsplash and updated lighting and cabinets. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, ceiling fan and bath with tub and new large shower. The home has a screened-in porch,

PHOTO PROVIDED

outbuildings and an open patio.

The home, built in 1969, is listed for $109,000 with Christy Stanley of Keller Williams Realty. For more information, call 6405543 or 354-4888.

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.

Churchill-Brown gets new Nichols Hills associate NICHOLS HILLS — Rouchelle Osborn has joined Churchill-Brown & Associates Realtors’ Nichols Hills office, 6447 Avondale Drive, as a residential real estate sales associate.

The Oklahoma native is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. She holds a Master of Science degree in nursing and has been employed in the metro area for the past 23 years.

Rouchelle Osborn

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REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Federal tax program comes with headaches WASHINGTON — Remember the federal tax credit programs offering $7,500 and later $8,000 to first-time homebuyers? The credits were designed to deliver a jolt to the reeling housing industry and they did: More than 4 million people applied for and have received nearly $30 billion worth of credits.

Most of them, according to the Internal Revenue Service — the sole federal agency that administers the credits — went to people who legitimately qualified for the credits. But a series of audits by the Treasury’s inspector general for tax administration has documented foul-ups by the IRS, ranging from credits granted to prison inmates and dead people, fraud schemes involving claimants who never bought a house and even credits for alleged home purchases by teenagers and kids as young as 3 years old.

Far more commonplace, however, auditors say, were shortcomings by the IRS in distinguishing between taxpayers who were supposed to repay their credits over a 15year period — as required under the original $7,500 program in 2008 — and people for whom there was no such requirement under later versions of the program allowing credits up to $8,000.

Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING

The agency also had trouble determining whether recipients of the nonrepayable credits might have violated rules by selling their homes before the three years of required residency and earning a profit on the sale.

Now a new audit has turned up still more homebuyer tax credit problems. According to the inspector general, the IRS has been sending “incorrect” notices to thousands of taxpayers that either inform them that they owe no repayments on their credits when they actually do, or demand repayments from recipients who legally owe nothing.

The latest audit found that 61,427 homeowners were sent erroneous notices including in part: I 27,728 who bought homes in 2009 under the nonrepayable program but were told to send in payments.

I 12,495 who received the 2008 version of the credit, which was essentially an in-

terest-free loan, but were told no repayments are due.

I 832 dead people who were asked for repayments on their credits despite the fact that the law waives any repayment requirements for deceased taxpayers.

Another 18,220 owners who were supposed to receive notices of repayments due on their credits never were sent them. The audit also found that an outside vendor hired by the IRS to help identify credit recipients who may have sold their homes early used faulty data that led to 53,558 taxpayers receiving notices erroneously demanding repayments.

A key contributor to the early snafus was that the original version of the credit rules required essentially no documentation of home purchases.

J. Russell George, Treasury’s inspector general for tax administration, told a congressional hearing earlier this year: “We estimate that at least $485 million of the more than $513 million of potentially erroneous claims we identified were issued with no IRS scrutiny, such as an examination or steps to validate the claim. These erroneous credits might have been denied if documentation requirements were in place.”

After audits turned up signs of taxpayer misunderstandings,

Installation tips help with modular cabinets If you’re considering remodeling your at the inside top of the cabinet that’s inkitchen, bathroom, laundry room or any tended to receive the hanging screws, so other area in your home that needs cabi- drill through that. nets, modular cabinets can be a great time Make sure the cabinet is in the correct and money saver. position, and screw it Installation is well within loosely to the wall. Your installation screws the range of most moderately should penetrate at experienced do-it-yourselPaul fers, and all the tools you’ll Bianchina least 1½ inches into the stud. Don’t tighten the need are probably already in screws completely at your arsenal. this time, but make sure Simple projects such as a the cabinet is snug. bathroom or a laundry area HANDY @ HOME Set the second cabimay require only one or two cabinets, while a complete kitchen may net in place on the wall, slide it against the need 20 or more cabinets along with a va- first cabinet, and use clamps to secure the face frames together. Make sure the cabiriety of accessories.

Either way, rely on the designer at the nets are exactly in line and the face frames store where you’re buying the cabinets to are flush. Once again, measure and drill assist you with selecting exactly what you the installation holes, and screw the cabineed, as well as completing a scale layout net loosely to the wall.

Now, drill through the cabinet stiles drawing and complete material list. where you’ve clamped the face frames toPrepping gether. Be sure you drill pilot holes and When your cabinets arrive at the job then countersink your holes. Use flathead site, begin by sorting them. Check each wood screws to secure the face frames toone against the layout and the packing list gether. to make sure everything, including all of Now, snug the cabinets against the the accessories — fillers, toe kick covers, wall. Check the face frames with your levcrown moldings and any other items you el, and use shims between the wall and the ordered with the package — have been de- cabinet backs as needed to ensure the livered. Report any damaged or missing faces of the cabinets remain vertical. Reitems immediately. peat these steps for the remaining upper Next, gather all your tools and supplies. cabinets.

For a typical installation, you’ll need a drill/screwdriver; bits; 2-foot and 6-foot Installing the lowers The lower cabinets are installed in levels; clamps; flathead wood screws in various lengths; a stud finder; step ladder; much the same manner. Begin with a corshims; framing square; and some stan- ner cabinet, especially if you have a Lazy Susan. Make sure the corner cabinet is dard carpentry tools.

Some installers begin with the lower shimmed so that it’s plumb and level in cabinets, some with the uppers. My pref- both directions. Next, set the first cabierence has always been to start with the nets in place that are immediately adjauppers, working out from the corner on cent to the left and right of the corner cabinet. Clamp and then screw the face whatever is the longest wall.

Locate all of the cabinets that will go on frames together. This will give you a long that wall, then check them again against corner assembly to work from in the coryour plan to verify width, height and door ner, which will help you align the corner swing. Unpack each of these cabinets, and accurately.

From there, work out in each direction remove the doors and shelves and set them carefully aside so they don’t get lost to complete the runs. As with the upper cabinets, calculate the overall length of or damaged. the run, and make up any odd inches with Installing the uppers fillers, dividing them up so that they give Using your stud finder, locate and mark the best overall appearance. the stud centers on the first wall. Measure At the sink, you have two choices. You from the floor to the bottom of where the can carefully measure for each one of the cabinets will be — typically 54 inches off pipes, and drill the necessary holes to acthe floor, but verify this on your plans — commodate the plumbing. Or you can cut and mark this location on the wall. Mark a a large, square hole in the back of the cabilevel line at this point with your 6-foot net that will accommodate all of the level, then attach a piece of scrap wood to plumbing at once, which makes installathe wall as a temporary support. tion easier; keep the hole symmetrical to Modular cabinets are made in widths the overall size of the cabinet for best apstarting at 9 inches and going up to 48 pearance. inches or more in 3-inch increments — 9 As you install the lower cabinets, coninches, 12 inches, 15 inches, and so on. stantly check and adjust them for plumb Odd inches are made up using filler along the faces and level along the tops by strips of matching material. Let’s say your adding shims under and behind the cabiwall is 109½ inches long. Based on 3-inch nets. Screw the cabinets loosely to the increments, your cabinets will make up wall studs, and use the screws and the 108 inches of that wall, so you’ll need a shims to make final adjustments to the 1½-inch filler for the rest of it. run before tightening everything down.

For best appearance, the filler should be equal at each end of the run, so rip a Complete the installation The last step is to install any accessory ¾-inch filler for each end. Predrill the filler, then countersink your holes. Clamp items, such as rollout drawers, wine racks the filler to the left side of the first cabinet and the like. Install crown moldings, toe in the run so that the face of the filler is kick covers and other trim, and then reflush with the face of the cabinet, and mount the doors.

Most modular cabinets have hinge sysscrew the filler in place.

With a helper, lift the first cabinet into tems that adjust in three planes — verticalplace, resting it on the temporary support ly, diagonally, and in and out — so your last you installed earlier. Measure your stud step will be to carefully adjust all the doors locations, and drill and countersink the for even alignment and smooth operation. cabinet to receive the installation screws. Send email to paulbianchina@inman.com.

INMAN NEWS Most modular cabinets have a wood strip

along with outright fraud, Congress required that documentation be submitted with all credit claims, including a HUD-1 settlement sheet showing the date and other purchase details.

The repayment issue — both for people who sell their houses too early or who are supposed to be making regular annual payments because they purchased using the $7,500 credit in 2008 — appears to be an ongoing problem for the IRS. Of particular concern to auditors are the agency’s difficulties in keeping track of taxpayers’ current addresses and home sales. The unidentified vendor hired to help with the process provided “incomplete and/or inaccurate” information in 41 percent of cases in a statistical sampling, triggering incorrect notices to taxpayers, according to auditors.

For its part, the IRS says the tax credit program has “posed administrative challenges.” In response to the latest audit, Richard Byrd Jr., the IRS commissioner for wage and investment, cited the multiple legislative versions of the program and its “unprecedented” scope. A subsequent IRS statement noted that the agency has sent out information to households affected by repayment rules and that “despite some data and programming errors”

has achieved a “99 percent accuracy rate” in providing correct information. Nonetheless, IRS plans for the upcoming tax filing season include a shift to a “Web-based tool” that will help people determine if they have a repayment requirement.

In the meantime, if you’re one of the estimated millionplus taxpayers in this category, watch for the revised IRS notification approach. And if you get an official demand for a credit repayment that you know is wrong, don’t sweat it. You are probably not alone. Talk to your tax adviser to get it all straightened out.

Ken Harney’s email address is kenharney@earth link.net.

WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

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Be direct, simple when explaining hardships Q. I am trying to complete a short sale. My lender requested a hardship letter, but I don’t know what to include in it. Can you help?

A. Whether you are trying to complete a short sale or apply for a loan modification or deed in lieu of foreclosure, your lender will request a letter explaining why it should grant you the relief you are requesting. This is known as a hardship letter.

The majority of hardship letters I review share common mistakes. For example, most people want to go to great lengths to explain their situations in an apparent attempt to gain sympathy from their lender. This is not a good method because the lender’s representative literally is spending all day reviewing hardship letters. By the time the reviewer makes it to your letter, it may be the 400th hardship he or she has read that month. The bank rep probably has heard it all.

But the bottom line is, you either have a recognized hardship — job loss, forced relocation, burdensome medical expenses

my short sale application. My hardship is — or you don’t.

The next most common mistake is that due to two causes: 1. My current employer, Bigco, is downhomeowners make their hardship letters sizing, and my position is all about themselves. being eliminated locally, While this is understanalthough I am able to relodable, your lender already cate with my company to knows why it is in your Gary M. Gainesville, Fla. best interest to get a short Singer 2. There is no current desale or a loan modificamand in the local area for tion, so be sure to say why my skills as a bond analyst. it’s in the lender’s best inBased on the above, I terest as well.

REAL ESTATE LAW have no choice but to reloFinally, most hardship cate to Gainesville, Fla. letters are too vague, containing general information about not be- Unfortunately, we owe more than our ing able to afford the house. Be specific. home is worth. We owe $210,000, and our Say in the letter that your employer stop- real estate agent values the home at ped giving overtime, or whatever the case $145,000. On my salary of $55,000 a year, I can’t afford to maintain two houses, and may be.

I am moving too far away to make renting Sample hardship letter the home a realistic option.

Mary Smith Further, I have been advised that the 123 Main Street, Davie, FL 33324 property will not rent for nearly enough Loan Number: 1234567890 money to cover the mortgage payment Dear Sir or Madam: and homeowner’s association dues. My Thank you for taking the time to review monthly budget simply does not have the

extra money to cover the difference, as you can see from the attached budget worksheet.

I think your bank will be better off getting the market value for the property now while the property is maintained, rather than foreclosing on a vacant property and then selling it as a distressed house. I have attached to this letter all of the information that you have requested, including all of my contact information, as well as the contact information of my real estate agent and attorney.

I am ready to cooperate fully and immediately with whatever additional requests that you may have. Thank you for your kind consideration regarding our predicament.

Sincerely, Mary Smith 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 http://sunsent.nl/mR20t7 or follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw. MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Home office solutions can be easy and affordable

BY SHEA CONNER St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press

Whether you work from home, attend online classes or sort your family’s finances, you likely use some kind of home work space. But not everyone is fortunate enough to have a roomy office.

Some have to cram their work space into a nursery, the dining room or a seedy, poorly lit corner of the basement.

If you’re drowning in your cluttered home work space, here is some advice experts to help you transform your paper pit into an orderly workstation.

Creating the space When you can’t devote an entire room to a home office, you can save space by saying goodbye to those oversize desks. Opt instead for a small corner desk or an armoire that can house your computer and other equipment.

Some armoires have drop-down leaves that allow you to expand your work space when needed, and fold it up when you’re done.

Explore the vertical wall space. Use sturdy shelves to house your computer and keyboard. Stack boxes of papers,

books and lesser-used supplies on higher shelves.

Another piece of furniture that often hogs space is the desk chair. Many buyers spring for the big leather office chairs because they offer a plush place to sit.

Angela Wu — the home office organization expert who wrote the book “So You Want to Work From Home!” — said that’s not always wise. Those big office chairs take up far more space than the standard models, and sometimes they’re too comfy.

After all, you don’t want to doze off in the middle of a project.

Wu said the best option is a basic padded office chair with great lumbar support.

“Get comfortable, functional and affordable furniture — just enough to get you by while you’re getting started.”

Tying it together Many work spaces — whether they’re messy or not — invade otherwise pleasant, nicely decorated rooms. Those hand-medown desks and deluxe printers don’t often fit the decor.

This problem can be partly remedied by keeping to a consistent color scheme and pulling it together with a bold patterned

piece. The more colorful, the better.

“Choose vibrant colors that will make you feel energetic, happy and productive,” said John L. Brock, design consultant and owner of jBrock Design Co. in St. Joseph. “I recommend colors that appeal to the client other than white. Bright colors are best.”

Give your work space shelves the same finish as your kitchen table. If your office is in a nursery, pick a corner desk or armoire that matches the crib. Several office stores sell keyboard covers in a variety of colors, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one that couldn’t fit a decor.

Some people, however, may want to separate their work space from the rest of the room.

This is an easy fix. Simply purchase a folding screen, a pegboard, a traditional cork board, a chalk board or a magnetic message board. All of them give the space a feeling of separation, as well as a place to personalize your office design and keep yourself organized. Plus, they provide a great canvas for papers, pictures, clocks and other artwork.

“Decorate with photos of fam-

Buyer disappointed with inspector DEAR BARRY: Before I bought my home, I hired a home inspector. At the time, he seemed to do a good job.

Since moving in, I have found two major problems. First, an exterior gas line had such a major leak that the gas company refused to turn on the service. Second, one of the ceiling beams is cracked clear through. If you shine a flashlight on the crack, you can see light in the attic, and this worries me about structural stability.

Shouldn’t these conditions have been reported?

Ralph DEAR RALPH: The unreported defects may or may not reflect against the competence of your home inspector. It depends on whether those conditions were visible at the time of the inspection and whether they were within the scope of the inspection.

The location of the gas leak would have much to do with discovery by the inspector and the gas company. If the leak was occurring near the building, at the gas meter for example, a competent home inspector would probably have noticed it. If leakage occurred at a buried gas line in the front yard, that would probably be missed by an inspector.

The gas compan performs specific tests that reveal leakage within gas supply systems. For this reason, homebuyers should always request a safety inspection by the gas company.

If the crack in the ceiling beam is clearly visible, the home inspector should have reported it. However, not all beam cracks are structurally significant. If the crack runs parallel to the wood grain, it probably does not weaken the beam.

You should notify your home inspector and re-

Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE

quest a review of the problem. A second opinion by a licensed structural engineer is also advisable.

DEAR BARRY: My circuit breaker box doesn’t have a master breaker to shut off the electricity to the house. Should I have one installed, and is this a job for a do-it-yourselfer?

Michael DEAR MICHAEL: If your main electric service panel has more than six breakers, the code requires a main shut-off switch.

The intent of this requirement is to enable quick disconnection of the power in the event of an emergency. Older panels, containing six breakers or less,

typically do not have a main switch.

Many of these panels, however, have been modified to include additional breakers, but still have no main shut-off. Often the additional circuits were installed by people without sufficient electrical qualifications. In such cases, review and upgrades by a licensed electrical contractor are warranted.

Many older panels are not designed to contain a main disconnect switch.

Therefore, replacement of the old panel might be necessary.

At this point, it should be clear that these are not procedures to be undertaken by a “do-it-yourselfer.” Work of this kind requires considerable professional knowledge and expertise. So hire a qualified electrical contractor.

To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com.

ACTION COAST PUBLISHING

ily, pets and friends. If you enjoy art, hang it (there),” Brock said.

“Most of us who work from home will spend a lot of time in this space, so we need to feel comfortable while we are there.”

Getting it organized Wu said she has a cure for those endless stacks of paper.

Consider using a system of “baskets” or trays. Designate one tray for “to-do” items, another for filing, another for bills, another for work-related items and so on. Just make sure you stick to the system.

“If there’s a piece of paper you don’t need, don’t say, ‘I’ll just stick it in this file and throw it out later when I have more time.’

Get rid of it if you don’t need it,” Wu said. “It’s far easier to deal with one piece of paper at a time than two weeks worth of accumulated paperwork.”

For more organizational advice, use these tidbits from Real Simple magazine: I Matching storage boxes in neutral tones bring a calm sense of order to a home work area.

I Old jam jars get new life as practical (and inexpensive) desk organizers.

I A great new use for both

empty cans and leftover wallpaper: Pencil holders. Wash the can thoroughly, peel off the label, cut paper to fit, and secure with double-sided tape along the seam.

I You don’t need to buy a desk drawer tray to organize your office supplies. Simply repurpose ice-cube trays as desk-drawer organizers for paper clips, push pins and more.

I Use adhesive Velcro strips to secure surge protectors and dangling cords to the underside of a desk. Conceal excess wires by coiling them inside the colorful rubberized Cable Turtle (available at containerstore.com).

I Put “expiration dates” on labels for files that store credit card and bank statements so you’ll know when to shred them (after one year).

I If you tend to make piles of papers, use PileSmart binder clips (available at containerstore. com), which come equipped with erasable labels to fasten papers together by category and quickly find what you need.

I Rolodexes aren’t just for business contacts. Use them for recipes, website logons and passwords.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

6F

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Granite shares spotlight with glass, more

BY MARY MACVEAN Los Angeles Times

To anyone reading the real estate ads in recent years, it could seem that granite was the only material worth using for a kitchen counter, as important as updated electrical systems or a reliable roof.

Granite isn’t going anywhere. But many designers and homeowners are turning to glass, manufactured stone, metal and other materials to create counters that work for people who actually cook as well for those who see the kitchen as a decorative accessory.

“What consumers now have seen is there is kind of this granite fatigue. Everyone has granite,” said Ed Rogers, director of business development at CaesarStone US, based in Van Nuys, Calif.

CaesarStone and other brands, including Silestone, sell engineered quartz, a durable product made from more than 90 percent crushed quartz mixed with a resin.

Manufacturers are producing dozens of colors of engineered quartz, some of them trying to replicate the look of other stones or concrete, at prices comparable to those of midlevel granites. Both a virtue and a drawback is its consistency — no fossils or natural quirks, though that could change as companies work to mimic the natural variations of marble or add a leathery surface texture.

Glass counters also are shining. Lighted from below, they can add an appealing glow to a kitchen.

Buyers also like the hygienic qualities of glass in these days of the hand sanitizer.

Granite had been “reserved for the ultra high end,” but now it’s available in big box home stores, Rogers said. “It was the home center and the production builder that moved this market.”

And it moved some homeowners to other choices that are new and appealing to green consumers, such as engineered quartz, as well as

A ¾-inch-thick clear glass countertop is one alternative to the ever-present granite countertop in a modern kitchen.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Lavastone is another alternative to consider for a countertop in a modern kitchen.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Kitchen counter is a focal point

BY MARY MACVEAN Los Angeles Times

Stainless steel can complement granite countertops.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

some that have been around for centuries, including soapstone and marble.

“I have not done a single granite countertop in 10 years,” said Dan Campbell, a Los Angeles contractor who specializes in kitchen design and remodels.

“Maybe because it’s so overused. It all blends together.”

Troy Adams also hasn’t used much granite in the high-end kitchens he designs, although he acknowledged there are many beautiful granite slabs available. Improve-

ments to other materials, such as stainless steel with fine patterns that resist fingerprints, have made alternatives more popular, Adams said.

One of the materials he likes to use is lava stone, which is quarried from a volcano in France, enameled and then fired at high temperatures. It’s stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant, and it has a sort of crackly surface that can be made in intense colors. It’s also three to four times as costly as many granites, Adams said.

MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

Choosing materials for kitchen countertops

BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

The toughest part of the kitchen counter decision might be figuring out what you care about most. Durability? A unique look?

Color? Price? Here’s a look at some of the most common options, with an assessment of their quality from designers, manufacturers and the website www.kitchen.com.

Concrete

I Pros: Modern, industrial look. Can be made in any shape and in a variety of colors.

I Cons: Can stain and crack, though that also may be an appeal. Relatively expensive. May need a sealer and wax applied periodically to protect against staining.

Granite

I Pros: Huge range of colors and prices. Durable.

Stain- and heat-resistant, though some sealers commonly used to combat its porous qualities can be damaged by excessive heat.

I Cons: Some designers say it has become overused.

Tile

I Pros: Budget-friendly.

Unlimited color and pattern choices. Durable, heat- and stain-resistant.

I Cons: Grout can stain and be tough to clean. Not a smooth surface for some cooking tasks.

Glass

I Pros: Looks new and modern. Can be made in many colors, patterns and shapes. Translucent qualities enable natural light to pass through. Nonporous, heat-resistant, easy to

clean. Can be made from recycled glass.

I Cons: Shows fingerprints. Can crack or break.

Marble

I Pros: Classic looks.

Sometimes has translucent quality. Great for making and rolling pastry dough because it’s cool to the touch.

I Cons: Can stain.

Laminates

I Pros: Huge range of colors, patterns and finishes.

Budget-friendly.

Easy to maintain.

I Cons: Chips can be difficult to repair.

Engineered quartz

I Pros: Extremely tough. Dozens of colors and patterns. Easy to clean. Consistent color and detail. Many manu-

facturers, including CaesarStone, Silestone, Cambria.

Considered more sustainable, as remnants often can be recycled.

I Cons: Lacks unique colorations and details found in marble or granite.

Stainless steel

I Pros: Durable. Stainresistant. Looks like a professional kitchen. Other metals, such as zinc and copper, lend an unusual appearance that will change over time.

I Cons: Can show fingerprints and scratch.

Wood

I Pros: Can be used as a chopping board.

I Cons: Shows knife marks. Susceptible to water damage. Requires periodic reoiling.

LOS ANGELES — Whether the kitchen counter is just a spot to toss the keys and mail, the place for breakfast around an island, the lab for a chili cook-off entry or the respite for sitting alone with a glass of pinot grigio, the kitchen counter is inevitably a focal point of what’s become the center of many homes.

Kitchen designer Troy Adams builds his palette around the aspect of the kitchen with the most surface area, so a large, dramatic island might be the starting place.

In sophisticated, high-end kitchens, an island might be topped with one material, the sink and cooking area in another. In his own kitchen, Adams combined lava stone, stainless steel and glass.

That doesn’t mean the old standbys, including solid surfaces such as Corian, are gone from the market — particularly in budget-minded kitchen plans. Wood — often used for cutting blocks or other inserts to countertops — also can work for counters, whether in a farmhouse kitchen in the city or a sleek contemporary space.

Although it still represents a small share of overall sales, engineered quartz has been the fastest-growing category the past five or six years, said Ed Rogers, director of business development at Caesar-

Stone US in Van Nuys, Calif.

CaesarStone was the first engineered stone, made in 1987, said Arik Tendler, president of CaesarStone US. It was, and still is, made in Israel, where he grew up to become a stone fabricator.

When he was first approached by a salesman with engineered quartz, his reaction was: “Do me a favor. I’m a second-generation stone guy. Have some coffee and get out of here.”

Obviously, he changed his opinion. In Southern California, he went door to door to introduce his company starting in 1999.

Los Angeles contractor Dan Campbell said he likes the seamless counter front possible with engineered quartz. “No one wants to see the manufacturing of anything if you can avoid it,” he said.

Many companies also are working to make their products — natural and manufactured — as eco-friendly as possible.

Consumers who care might check a product for its percentage of recycled materials, which varies considerably, or the conditions of its mining.

Cosentino reports that its Eco line is made of 75 percent post-consumer or postindustrial materials, including mirrors, glass, stone scraps and porcelain. Other counters are being made from recycled glass or recycled paper sealed with wax.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Permits Oklahoma City Central Precast, 3937 W Reno Ave., warehouse, erect, $750,000.

Nathan Pavlica, 4529 NW 23, restaurant, erect, $600,000.

Kleinfelder, 7400 S Shields Blvd., parking, install, $600,000.

Summerfield Contracting, 4727 Gaillardia Parkway, office, remodel, $450,000.

J. Hill Homes Inc., 11921 SW 119, residence, erect, $395,000.

Abel Homes, 13525 High Sierra Blvd., residence, erect, $350,000.

Onpoint Construction, 8800 Halbrook Manor Lane, residence, erect, $275,000.

Chet Walters Homes Inc., 17333 Clove Hill Place, residence, erect, $255,000.

Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation, 10513 NE 43, recreation center, install, $250,000.

Seagull Homes, 13124 Cottingham Road, residence, erect, $250,000.

Jason Powers Homes, 8913 NW 109, residence, erect, $250,000.

R&R Homes LLC, 508 Prairie Hill Lane, residence, erect, $250,000.

Clark Construction Inc., 300 SE 79, warehouse, erect, $225,000.

Jason Powers Homes, 8912 NW 110, residence, erect, $225,000.

Woodland Homes LLC, 9204 SW 30 Terrace, residence, erect, $220,000.

Brass Brick III LLC, 19009 Meadows Crossing Drive, residence, erect, $212,000.

Landmark Fine Homes LP, 17900 SE 134, residence, erect, $209,000.

Timber Craft Homes LLC, 8337 NW 141 Circle, residence, erect, $202,270.

Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation, 301 NE 63, recreation center, install, $200,000.

Baer Hall Homes, 17321 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $200,000.

Hibbard Co., 15917 San Clemente Drive, residence, erect, $180,000.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 3220 NW 192 Terrace, residence, erect, $180,000.

Baer Hall Homes, 17308 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $180,000.

Lowe Company LLC, 5025 Gaillardia Corporate Place, medical clinic-office, remodel, $175,000.

Aaron Tatum Custom Homes LLC, 17217 Prado Drive, residence, erect, $174,400.

Aaron Tatum Custom Homes LLC, 308 SW 173, residence, erect, $172,300.

Timber Craft Homes LLC, 14316 Paddington Ave., residence, erect, $171,160.

Persona Homes LLC, 5136 NW 17, residence, erect, $170,000.

2K Country Homes LLC, 8600 Bella Circle, residence, erect, $170,000.

Witt Construction Inc., 12008 NW 138, residence, erect, $160,000.

Cedarland Homes LLC, 12121 Chesterfield Lane, residence, erect, $159,900.

Eason Homes LLC, 5100 SW 123, residence, erect, $155,000.

2K Country Homes LLC, 8548 Bella Circle, residence, erect, $150,000.

Sun Properties LLC, 11760 SW 24 Terrace, residence, erect, $135,000.

Clark Construction, 401 SW 80, medical clinic-office, remodel, $130,000.

Jose Ocque, 5121 NW 18 Terrace, residence, erect, $110,000.

Home Creations, 9605 SW 18, residence, erect, $103,300.

MRCO, 4554 S May Ave., retail sales, remodel, $100,000.

333 Choctaw LLC, 7501 S Choctaw Road, canopycarport, erect, $100,000.

Star Construction, 2001 Breakers West Blvd., residence, erect, $99,000.

Star Construction, 2808 Melina Drive, residence, erect, $99,000.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18212 Bodegon Road, residence, erect, $98,000.

REAL ESTATE Prime Development, 9301 NW 75, residence, erect, $98,000.

Stephen and Patricia Bradley, 10337 E Hefner Road, barn, erect, $89,000.

Eldridge Gordon Jr., 600 NW 112, residence, fire restoration, $80,000.

John Meek, 6444 Northwest Expressway, business, remodel, $80,000.

Rausch Coleman Homes LLC, 6121 Courtyards Court, residence, erect, $80,000.

Westpoint Homes, 15904 Burkett Circle, residence, erect, $80,000.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 1104 SW 155, residence, erect, $76,000.

Jamie Alvarez, 2916 N Hammond Ave., residence, erect, $75,000.

Tony’s Tree Plantation, 3801 S Post Road, business, erect, $75,000.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 2717 NW 186 Terrace, residence, erect, $71,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 4717 SW 121, residence, erect, $70,000.

J.L. Contracting, 8821 S McKinley Ave., residence, add-on, $70,000.

MRCO, 4554 S May Ave., retail sales, remodel, $70,000.

Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 1100 SW 155, residence, erect, $69,000.

Cornerstone Group LLC, 4721 SW 121, residence, erect, $65,000.

Swearingen Remodeling Inc., 909 NE 68, residence, add-on, $52,025.

Hibbard Co., 2224 NW 120, residence, remodel, $50,000.

Struble Construction, 1127 NW 15, duplex, remodel, $50,000.

Struble Construction, 1129 NW 15, duplex, remodel, $50,000.

Raymond Kinsley, 12533 SE 44, residence, add-on, $50,000.

City of Oklahoma City Building Management, 420 W Main, office, remodel, $50,000.

333 Choctaw LLC, 7501 S Choctaw Road, canopycarport, erect, $42,000.

C. Barrett and Lesa Determan, 4400 Amethyst Circle, accessory, erect, $41,000.

Cedarland Homes LLC, 3201 SW 62, residence, remodel, $35,000.

Cedarland Homes LLC, 6209 S Land Ave., residence, remodel, $35,000.

Integrated Construction, 13000 N May Ave., parking, add-on, $35,000.

HSE Architects, 4221 S Western Ave., medical clinicoffice, remodel, $34,000.

Treasure Built Homes, 7740 Jesse Trail, accessory, erect, $30,000.

Brown Development LLC, 2928 SW 140, residence, add-on, $27,500.

HSE Architects, 4221 S Western Ave., medical clinicoffice, remodel, $25,000.

Laurence Estes, 6105 Donna Lane, accessory, erect, $22,000.

Southwest Builders, 436

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 SW 102, residence, add-on, $20,000.

Turnage Construction, 2815 NW 10, business, remodel, $20,000.

Melvin Cutter, 11628 SW 18, parking, install, $20,000.

Verizon Wireless, 3003 N Grand Blvd., install, $20,000.

Nashert Contracting, 6446 N Peniel Ave., equipment, install, $18,400.

Marlene Marcacci, 3309 NW 22, accessory, erect, $15,500.

Israel Soto, 2732 SW 32, residence, add-on, $15,000.

Susan Brown, 4116 NW 21 Terrace, accessory, remodel, $12,000.

Paul B. Odom Jr., 2142 W Interstate 240 Service Road, restaurant, remodel, $10,000.

7F

Cindy Sandoval, 1828 NW 15, residence, add-on, $8,000.

Jennifer Simms, 2015 N Billen Ave., duplex, fire restoration, $7,000.

Tawana Fairbanks, 1321 NW 107, residence, fire restoration, $7,000.

Hand Up Ministries, 8041 S Shields Blvd., land mark, move-on-mobile home park, $6,000.

Hand Up Ministries, 8041 S Shields Blvd., six permits for manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $6,000.

Michael Barlow, 313 Kuhl Terrace, manufactured home, move-on-mobile home park, $6,000.

SEE PERMITS, PAGE 8F

8F

REAL ESTATE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Permits FROM PAGE 7F

David Frayer, 11315 Waters Welling Way, canopy-carport, add-on, $5,500.

7850 Co LLC, 2400 S MacArthur Blvd., manufactured home, move-onmobile home park, $5,000.

Huddleston Construction LLC, 3300 NW 170 Court, residence, add-on, $5,000.

Timothy D. Smith, 3101 Wexford Ave., storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,600.

Mike Scopel, 16101 Glimmer Circle, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,295.

Namatollah Moini, 5620 NW 117 Terrace, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,295.

Rob York, 1505 Two Bridge Drive, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $4,295.

Lee Haney, 12904 Doriath Way, residence, install-storm shelter, $4,200.

Mac Yearby, 5101 Eric Lane, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,200.

Nolen and Doreen Moore, 5713 SE 86, install-storm shelter, $4,200.

Paul Lee Ford, 6800 N Everest Ave., residence, install-storm shelter, $4,200.

Lauana Clark, 5700 Highley Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,200.

Tracy Green, 7921 NW 84, accessory, erect, $4,169.

Gary Culver, 2712 SW 110, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,095.

Cesar Castro, 10615 San Lorenzo Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $4,000.

Jorge Lopez, 4721 Creekwood Drive, storage, erect, $4,000.

David Ledbetter, 115 E California Ave., business, remodel, $3,850.

Albee Foye, 4333 NW 55, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,825.

Jennifer Tramble, 14400 Almond Valley Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,800.

Sherri Mitchell, 2221 NE 20, accessory, remodel, $3,500.

Chris Worley, 9705 SW 24 Terrace, storm shelter, install, $3,400.

William Pipher, 8613 S Virginia Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,400.

Jason Troyna, 15505 Calm Wind Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,395.

Bruce Gordon, 6817 Elk Canyon Road, residence, install-storm shelter, $3,200.

April Hampton, 7900 Westhaven Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100.

Jonathan Duerksen, 6621 Edgebrook Road, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,100.

Bill Green, 6524 NW 116, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

J.E. Dunn Construction, 5501 W Memorial Road, temporary building, moveon, $3,000.

Cathy and Wayne Isaacs, 3313 NW 170 Court, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Charles Owens, 12408 Bree Lane, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

Kimky Hutchines, 8205 NW 63 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Marlene Mendoza, 1340 SW Binkley, canopy-carport, add-on, $3,000.

Sandra Blackstock, 2217 NW 56 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $3,000.

Sara Hogan, 11632 SW 3 Terrace, storage, installstorm shelter, $3,000.

NAI Sullivan Group, 4045 NW 64, office, remodel, $3,000.

Gary Bradley, 1024 SW 109, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,995.

James Bullard, 2916 SE 96, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,995.

Carl Windham, 10404 NW 37, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Charlie Hamer, 12204 Ladonna Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Jennifer Irish, 16616 Rugosa Rose Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Norman Burch, 12225 Rivendell Drive, storm shel-

ter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Quang Pham, 8600 NW 106, residence, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Tan Nguyen, 10500 N Western Ave., residence, install, $2,800.

William Ackerman, 504 Old Home Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800.

Ora Landry, 2705 NE 19, residence, remodel, $2,600.

John Hayes, 2401 SE 44, manufactured home, moveon-mobile home park, $2,500.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 2745 Busheywood Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 8925 SW 46, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Taber Built Homes LLC, 8900 SW 48, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,500.

Brigido Ramirez, 1125 SE 40, residence, add-on, $2,000.

Alloy Building Co., 3221 SE 51, canopy-carport, add-on, $1,700.

Shaun Grady, 2808 SE 97, accessory, erect, $1,566.

Beverly Hardeman, 3673 N Lottie Ave., business, remodel, $1,400.

J.L. Walker Construction Inc., 6900 S Byers Ave., temporary building, moveon, $1,200.

Ralph Esquivioa, 3225 SW 26, residence, add-on, $1,200.

Guadalupe Martinez, 700 SE 14, canopy-carport, addon, $1,100.

Demolitions Ray’s Trucking, 1412 NW 2, single-family residence.

Ray’s Trucking, 1412 NW 2, residence.

M&M Wrecking Inc., 1422 NW 49, residence.

M&M Wrecking Inc., 1415 NW 49, residence.

Ray’s Trucking, 1412 NW 2, accessory.

Ray’s Trucking, 1412 NW 2, accessory.

Ray’s Trucking, 1412 NW 2, accessory.

Ray’s Trucking, 1408 NW 2, single-family residence.

Total Demolition Services LLC, 3332 NE 14 Place, residence.

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Low-cost ambience without a chimney is easy to achieve

BY JOHN EWOLDT Star Tribune

Jerry Prokes of Lakeville, Minn., didn’t hold back when he described an electric fireplace as looking like “a piece of junk.”

The plastic nodules meant to convey white landscape rocks or white-hot coals looked kitschy at best.

But Prokes is no purist who insists on a woodburning fireplace. He recently bought a different electric model for $400 at Sam’s Club with a cherry mantel that he’s satisfied with. “From a distance, the flames look real,” he said.

Fireplaces feed the need to take the chill off, but adding a gas or woodburning chimney in a home can easily cost $3,000 or more.

Electric models with built-in space heaters supply some of the ambience and as much heat as the real thing — for a fraction of the cost.

In these turbulent economic times, “plug and play” fireplaces have become a hot commodity for people who want a looky, lower-cost option to the real thing.

Electrics solve several issues. Venting is never a problem because a glorified space heater doesn’t require venting. And calling an electrician isn’t necessary. With the illusion of a flame created by a simple incandescent or

LED lightbulb and the warmth coming from a 1,500-watt heater, only a three-prong plug-in is needed.

Plus, placement is flexible because all models are portable and fairly shallow in depth (about 12 to 15 inches), whether it’s a small stove heater or a 72inch-long fireplace media center.

While most people buy the electric models for the coziness factor, some customers claim they’ve saved money by turning down the house thermostat and warming only the room they’re in.

However, Consumer Reports magazine said that turning the thermostat to below 60 degrees and heating only one room isn’t practical for most homeowners because they move from room to room frequently.

In addition, electricity costs twice as much as natural gas, said Tom Hoen, an Xcel Energy spokesman.

To their credit, electric fireplaces are safer and greener than most space heaters.

A large electric fireplace is much less likely to be overturned than a space heater. And wood-burning fireplaces can be environmentally and physically harmful.

The American Lung Association cites wood stoves and fireplaces as major contributors to particu-

late-matter air pollution in much of the United States.

Wood smoke can be as irritating as cigarette smoke for people with asthma, pulmonary disease or recurring lung infections, said Dr. Brenda Guyer, an asthma and allergic diseases physician at Park Nicollet.

For Prokes, the decision was more economical than environmental.

“I could spend $400 for an electric or $20,000 for a real fireplace that required a major remodel,” Prokes said.

“For several hundred bucks, I love it.”

Fireplace basics

I Where to buy: Home Depot and Lowe’s have the largest selection on display. Discounters, warehouse clubs and fireplace specialty stores usually have one model on display with a larger selection online. Also try online specialty stores such as www.electricfireplacesdirect.com .

I Features: Remote control, heater with thermostat, traditional wood cabinet or a sleek, contemporary, wall-mounted style, and an ability to control flame size.

I Prices: $80 to $800.

I Authenticity: Some of the flames look real from a distance, but the bloodred glowing log won’t fool anyone.

MCT INFORMATION SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

9F

Builders cite rise in mother-in-law suites

BY MONICA RHOR

tors, remodelers and architects have been certified.

One is Todd Jackson, CEO of San Diego’s Jackson Design and Remodeling, which handled the room addition at McCann’s home.

“There’s both a physical component and a sensitivity side to these projects. The family needs to take that into account,” said

Jackson, who noted that aging parents may be reluctant to move into their children’s homes, and may worry about losing their independence.

“The transition will go over a lot better if you bring the parent into the conversation,” said Jackson.

“Ask them: W ` hat do you need?’

W ` hat color do you want?’ ” That’s what McCann and her husband did when they decided to build an addition in 2008.

Brokus, now 93, was part of the planning.

“We didn’t want her to feel like a guest intruding on our house,” said McCann. “She kept telling all her friends about how she was involved in the design process, and that the paint colors were her choice.”

Brokus now proudly calls the addition, which includes a bedroom, wet bar and wheelchairaccessible doorways and bathroom, “her apartment,” said McCann. Every month, she writes a rent check covering the cost of utilities — an act that adds to her sense of independence.

The arrangement has given the family more time together and greater peace of mind, and may have averted a tragedy in July when Brokus suffered a heart attack. Had she been alone, McCann said, she might not have called 911. As it was, she just had to walk a few feet for help.

However, both Betsy McCann and Jane Merrill caution that this may not work for every family.

For one thing, their mothers-inlaw are self-sufficient and do not need daily medical care. In both families, they got along well before moving in together.

“If you can’t stand one week or one weekend together, this won’t work,” said McCann. “You need to have realistic expectations about the impact on your life.”

OKC Southwest

OKC Northwest

For The Associated Press

Betsy McCann and her husband, Jim Forbes, often worried that his mother was growing isolated in her Los Angeles-area home. At 90, Lois Brokus had stopped driving and was sometimes afraid to be alone in her house.

Jane and William Merrill also decided that they didn’t want his mother living on her own any more. Then 81, Jane Merrill, who shares her daughter-in-law’s name, was still active but in need of companionship.

Both families considered nursing homes, assisted living and retirement communities. In the end, they came to the same conclusion: Their homes were the best place for their mothers.

But they needed more home.

So McCann and Forbes added a 400-square-foot bedroom and bathroom to their Escondido, Calif., home; the Merrills converted a two-car garage at their 8-acre spread in Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis.

Now, both older women live with their adult children, with a large degree of independence and privacy.

Although it isn’t for everyone, it is a choice many families are making. Homebuilders across the country said they are getting an increasing number of requests for such additions, known as mother-in-law suites, granny flats or accessory dwellings.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 62 percent of builders surveyed were working on a home modification related to aging in 2010.

About one in five builders added an entry-level bedroom.

About 3.5 million American households last year included adult children and their parents — a number expected to rise as

Farms, Ranches For Sale Out-of-State 309

1891 Limestone Home on

Above: Jane Merrill spends time with her son, William Merrill, in her apartment in William’s home in Carmel, Ind. The Merrill family had their two-car garage renovated to create a mother-in-law suite for Jane.

AP PHOTO Left: Jane Merrill is shown in her apartment in the home of her son, William Merrill, in Carmel, Ind. AP PHOTO

the country ages and baby boomers move into retirement, said Nancy Thompson, an AARP spokesperson.

To accommodate the growing demand, AARP teamed up with

OKC Northeast

323

4 bd, 2 ba, 1500sf needs work. 1708 Homa Avenue $4000 ¡ 410-2227

OKC Northwest

324

184 Ac.

Acreage For Sale

302

PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 HOMES WITH LAND 2bd 4O A 1O bath cellar 4bd 1N A 1O bath trees 2bd M/H 3O A large trees 2-3bd 2K A animal shed 2bd unfin 5A private Milburn o/a 275-1695 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

By Owner: 5 acres, rural water, elec, Tenkiller Lake & Illinois River area, great hunting & fishing. Small down pmt & $169/mo 918-774-3741 9481 Lakeridge Dr Guthrie, OK 3bd/2bth Mobile Home on 2.5 acres (m/l) Woodlake Properties 273-5777 OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla.

E of OKC. o/a 275-1695 40 Acres near Talihina, LeFlore Cty $500 per Ac (918) 650-5403 698-6263 80 Acres 4bd 3K bath Pecan Trees Mclain Cty $275,000 405-833-3337 159 acres in Ellis county, within 2 miles of Lake Vincent. 580-885-7639

Churches Sales/Lease 303.5 Church Facility for Sale or Lease by Owner: Avail Now. 200 seating, prime location!

2901 N Rockwell, Bethany 204-3813 or 514-7747

Condominiums, Townhouses For Sale 304 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.

Chase Co, Elmdale, Kansas 647 Middle Creek Rd. 3 story limestone home with 4 bed, 3baths, 2592 sq. ft. Fully refurbished, Furnished in period style. Outbuildings.

Middle Creek, wildlife habitat, #1 cropland acres. Selling at AUCTION on DECEMBER 1, 2011 @7pm. Swope Park Cottonwood Falls, Ks. Showing anytime-Open House Sat. and Sun Nov 12-13 1-5pm.

Griffin Real Estate & Auction Service LC 305 Broadway Cottonwood Falls, Ks. Rick Griffin, broker and auctioneer. office 620-273-6421, cell 620-343-0473. see www.

GriffinRealEstateAuction.com for full salebill, terms and photos.

RE for sale Choctaw

312

Tri-level 4/3/2 workshop .80 acre, outbuildings, 2008 roof. Closing costs $97K Rlty Exprts 414-8753

Del City

313

Updated 4/2/1 near Tinker new paint, carpet. 1220sf Warranty + closing costs $69.9KRlty Exprts 414-8753

Edmond

314

Open House, Sun 1-5, 2313 NW 194th St, New home! 1485 sf, 3/2/2, brick/stone, granite, luxury master suite, builder wrnty, $155,925.

FSBO: Must Sell! OPEN HOUSE Sat/Sun 9-5. 2006 3/2/2.

16004 Deer Ct. $149,900 405-823-0929

MWC

317

Custom Home 406 Windsor Rd, FSBO, Buyers Lease for immediate move in. 10 min from Tinker 3bed, 2.5ba, 3 Car Garage, 2142 1FP, 1-story Custom Home, 2005 central heat, central A/C, city sewer, community pool, .2204 ac., $217,900 Laurance 325-660-5559 Open House Sunday 2-4 1114 Stansel Drive, 2bd, 1ba, ch&a, fenced, storage bldg, new roof, move in ready $67,400 Make an Offer! door prize to 1st 10 visitors. 206-6932

Moore

318

UPDATED 3bd 2ba lrg covered patio $104,900 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Norman

322

Extra Sharp 2bd Home w/1car garage, tastefully decorated, ch/a, park like O acre lot, nice area, only $93,900! Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661

OKC Northeast

323

Charming brick 1700sf, 3 bed w/basement. Best buy in OKC. $29,900 cash 1105 NE 17, ¡ 301-6495

Open Sun. 2-5. Riverbend Addition, Lakefront with pool, 3 or 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 3 car plus, $344,900.

6804 Green Meadow Ln 722-6598 or 417-5178 Nichols Hills Home For Sale 1201 Tedford Way- 3bed, 2.5ba, 2826 sf home on Corner lot $375,000 Call 590-2712 Owner/Agent Nice 3bd Brick Home 2ba 2car in excellent well maintained area. Only $69,900 Fidelity Real Est 410-4200, 692-1661 ARBORS townhouse w/lakeview 3bd 2ba Must see at $129,900 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494 Owner carry, 4621 NW 33 Terr, 4/2.5/2, 2500 ft.

Windsor Hills 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com Bank Owned 3/2/2 2035sf + enclosed patio/sauna, corner lot, PC Sch $119.9k Realty Experts 414-8753

OKC Southwest

326

Completely remodeled 3bd home w/indoor laundry room, large shaded fenced back yard, nice area, clean, only $48,900 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 5824 S. Shartel Avenue Very Nice 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car $43,500 ¡ 550-2145 Open House 2-4, 2736 SW 84th. Moore schls, 3/2/2, NM Rlty 613-9739

Piedmont

327

1 ACRE MOL 3bd+office & media rm approx 3100' $319,900 1.1 ACRE MOL 4bd 2.5ba approx 2400' $250,000. 2.6 ACRE MOL 4bd 3ba horse ready w/stg barn $199,000 Marian 850-7654 Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Yukon

330

Rent to own 1328 Oswego Brk 3bd 2 ba 2 gar, $3-5000 dn & $990/mon. 641-2105.

Open Houses 334.2 PIEDMONT OPEN SAT 2-4 & SUN 2-5 Model home. New hms on 1/2 ac lots. From NW Expwy & Sara Rd go 4.5 mi N Cleaton & Assoc 373-2494

Industrial Property

336

40 ACRES HUGHES CO. $30,000 or best offer.

405-886-1643

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 10-31. Call for details 405.326.5728

Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Special Gov't Program!

Own Land/Family Land ZERO DN! Instant Rebates up to $10,000. Use for lower price, furniture, land improvement. Huge Savings! New & Repo Homes avail. E-Z process & app by phone. WAC 405-631-7600

Own your own home for le$$ than you pay in rent 3 bd Double on Corner Lot $428/mo financing avail. 405-324-8010 $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

**$549/mo Including Lot** 3bed/Quiet Area/Great Schools 405-324-8000 THCOK.COM

About to Repo 2bd/2bth, Large Living, Fenced Yard $324/mo. ready now wac. 405-577-2884 312 S. Carney Carney, OK 3bd/2bth Mobile Home on large lot Woodlake Properties 273-5777 3 Bed, 2 Bath ready!

Granada Village MHP Cash Sales Price $9,999! www.midstatehousing.com 405.527.5669 Abandoned D/W set up on 3.3 Acres All improvements & huge deck. Ready to move in!! 405-631-7600

the builders association to create a designation for Certified Aging in Place Specialists, who are trained in designing and modifying buildings for the elderly.

About 3,000 builders, contrac-

Commercial RE Commercial Property For Sale NNN Investment Midwest City 10-year lease term 9.0% cap rate Ric Russell Cassidy Turley 415.677.0431 nrussell@ctbt.com /

Established Business For Sale Catering & Party Rental Business For Sale/Lease 50 years in business in Ardmore. Approx 4,500sf building, fully equipped.

Contact D. Allen Wint at 580-221-3777.

Trade area from Central OK to N Dallas...Priced To Sell!!

PIER/FOUNDATION Drilling Co.- OKC. Profitable.

Retiring. $220,000 Please, serious inquries only 4 0 5 - 6 7 0 - 2 6 7 6

Business Property For Rent 360 Hair salon, Memorial and N Western area, partially furnished, call or text 414-7585 New I-35 frontage bldg for rent: ofc/shop/whse, 1900sf $800mo 412-7665

Office Space For Rent

363

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

OKC Northwest

431

$100 Off

1st Mo Rent 1&2 Bedrooms Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY

CAVE CREEK ON ROCKWELL 3037 North Rockwell

495-2000 $100 off

1st Mo Rent Selected Units LARGE TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS • Washer, Dryers, pools • PC Schools, fireplaces

WILLIAMSBURG 7301 NW 23rd

787-1620 Walford Apts-Midtown518 NW 12 large 1bd 1ba 1100sf $850mo $750dep washer/dryer hookup.

Studio 600sf $650mo $400 dep. Basement efficiency $400mo $300dp 409-7989 $169 FIRST MONTH Huge floor plans FREE > NO APP FEE 416-5259 TUSCANY VILLAGE »» ALL BILLS PAID »» Simply Wonderful $9 APP FEE 293-3693 DREXEL ON THE PARK

433

$99 Move In Special!!!

Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $345 to $420 mo. 632-9849

Yukon

438

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 354-5855 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Specials » »»»»»»»»»»»»

Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 8012 NW 7th Pl Unit 324 Thousand Oaks Condos (1 blk W of Council on NW 10th) Extra sharp 1bd washer, dryer, fridge, stove, storage closet, wood deck. Tenant pays elect only, $500. Fidelity RE 410-4300, 692-1661 NW Condo 2bd, 2.5ba, 2car, gated comm. $1100mo 918-801-6234 Clean 2 bedroom, 1K bath, all appls with W/D, $525+$350dep. 326-3370

Duplexes MWC

446

Oldetowne » 2bd 1ba 9129 Pepperdine attach gar.

2 mi. to Tinker 769-7177 $79 SPECIAL!! Newly remodeled 1 2 & 3 beds Putnam Green 405-721-2210 Briargate Apts 1bd 1ba 850sf, wood floors, elec only $525mo $250 dep, 409-7989 No Sec 8 $99 FIRST MONTH 2B-1B, New Make Over $9 APP FEE THE BELMONT 455-8150

OKC Northwest

Must See! Lrg 2bd liv din stov/frig h/w flrs NW 18/ Penn $550 No pets 301-5979

$425 Large 1bd in Historic Paseo District, new carpet 2609 N Dewey 232-9101

Real Estate Auctions

» MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423

2621 NW 50th 2bd 2ba 1car 1200sf, $950, $800 dep, no Sec 8 409-7989

NICE BRICK HOME - OKC 6024 N Meridian Place Household Furnishings, Pinball Machines MON., NOV. 28th 10 AM Preview: 11/13, 27 2-3pm & 11/22 5:30-6:30pm 866-874-7100 LippardAuctions.com

AUCTION

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

Real Estate Notices

345

LARGE 2BD

$575

Apartments Bethany/ Warr Acres 420.5 $99 Move In Special 1 & 2bds, carports, coin lndry $345-445 470-3535

Edmond

422

VERY, VERY QUIET Near mall, schls, hosp, Try Plaza East 341-4813

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

MWC

Owner carry with down James 417-2176

Free Month Rent! 1&2bd QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122

Real Estate Wanted

OKC Northeast

346

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

424

430

2 Bed, water paid, appliances, $450 month off NE Kelley. 427-7566

Casady 751-8088

1bd 1ba $350mo, stove, fridge, very clean 818-4089 •ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212» 800 N. Meridian 1bd All bills paid 946-9506

OKC Southwest

433

»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Bills Paid 681-7561 » » 1 bd From $550 Move» » 2 bd From $650 In» » 3 bd From $740 Today» » Call for Special » »»»»»»»»»»»» FREE ONE MONTH! 2 Bed, Carports/Gated While it Lasts! 416.5257 MOMENTUM PROP MGMT 523.5 SW 26 (&Walker) 1bed 1ba 800sf garage apt $325/mo $175 dep 409-7989 no sec 8 $99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $345 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

Beautiful home!!

3BD/2BA/2Car Excellent nghbrhd.$950.593-1432

MWC

468

214 W Michael nice 2bd brick home 1car ch/a, fenced, clean, only $550 Sec 8 ok, Fidelity Real Est 410-4200, 692-1661 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 720 N Midwest Blvd, 9604 Rhythm, no pets, 2/1/1 $475, 3/1/1 $600, Giles, 670-4833/397-6237 Very nice 3bd 2ba 2car, alarm, FP, wetbar, brick, $875/mo. 787-1308 1016 Willowbrook 3bd 1.5 baths w/den $750/mo 408-5836 1409McDonald 3bd sec8$575 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 1305PinewoodCt3/1/1 $550 681-7272

10300 St. Patrick 3/1 CH/A $650 • 732-3411

Oakwood Apts 5824 NW 34 1bed 1ba $315 mo $175 dep 409-7989 no sec 8

MAYFAIR Great location!

1/2 bd W/D hdwd flr quiet secure ngbrhood ¡947-5665

3/2/2, 1400sf mol, all elect, ch/a, 308 Cherryvale Rd $995mo $995dep 370-1077

Quality 3 Bedrooms 2+ baths Duplexes 1500sf F/P, PC Schls, fncd yard, W Lake Hefner. No Sec 8. $810mo ¡ 209-9182

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

AUCTION

Edm Schls 3bd 2ba 2car $990 mo lease, possible purchase neg. 409-7877

1200 Lauren Ln 3/1.5/1, CH/A $700 • 732-3411

902 and 908 N. Gardner 3bd, 1.75 baths, fireplace $550/mo 408-5836

342

466

New Home Gated Area, 3 bed+study, 2 ba fp, no yard work, lease/option near Western & Danforth, $1650 month. 641-8774

453

Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

Over 70 Foreclosures on Land or 0 down w/ your land. wac 405-631-3200

Edmond

Yukon

460

Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.

Hotels/Motels 462 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 370-1077

RE for rent

OKC Northeast

474

Quail Creek, 4/2K /2, + 2 liv, 2 din, 3000 sq ft mol, $1695 mo, 642-0242.

1018 N. Lackey 2bed, 1ba, $525 Call 903-523-9060--No Sec.8 3925 NW 18th, 2bd,1ba, ch&a, clean, $650 mo 405-476-3212

1500 NE 26 2 bd As Is $200 732-3411

OKC Northwest

475

3/1, ch&a, W/D hkups.

New paint, crpt, disp.

Close to OCU, shopping.

2020 NW 41st ¡ No Pets $700mo, $500dep 405-642-4776

$425 $450 $650 $750

Must See! 3bd liv din stove frig h/w flrs w/d hookup 1941 NW 15th $595; 2bd 2908 NW 18 $590. 301-5979

3/1.8/2 ch/a, fncd, w/d hkup, stg bldg, new tile liv, new cktop $795 550-5128

Lansbrook Exec. 6036 Harwich Manor, 4 br, 2.5 ba, $1400+$1400 dep.

PCN schools, 359-4915 Cute rental 3 bed 2 bath $685.

Call 789-1111

477

3304 SW 50th St. 4bed (NO SEC 8) new remodel, very nice $775mo. 721-3757 3 bed, w/d khup $550 month, $250 deposit, sec system 631-8039 3321 S Stults 2bd $400 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 3bd, 1K ba, 2 car garage CH&A, no pets, fenced, $650+$650dep. 306-5437 Sec 8 Only - Acreage lot 4bdr/1bth $810/m low util, quiet area 759-6828 Nice 2/1.5/1, ref. req., No pets/Sec 8, 2430 SW 90 Pl, $725+dp 410-9777

Suburban

Picnic in backyard! 3bd duplex 1800sf $845 255-4300

PURCELL, 621 W Apache nice new 4bd 2ba $800mo $500dep 405-474-7046

OKC Southeast

476

3324 SE 57, 3 or 4 bd 1.5 ba $700 5533 Huddleston, 3 bd 2 ba 2 car $900 4201 SE 45, 3/1 $550 732-3411 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 1404 SE 41st, 3 bed, 1 bath, large backyard, W/D hkup w/appliances, ch&a ¡ 501-6570 2/1+bonus rm 900sf, 2.5ac no horses $625+dep WAC Home&RanchRlty 794-7777 29 SE 33rd 1/1 824 SE 22nd 1/1 681-7272

$350 $375

528 SW 102nd Spacious 4bd home 2ba 2car, large kitchen w/center island, fireplace, great area, Westmoore Schls. Only $1250 Fidelity Real Est 410-4200, 692-1661

1215 NE 46 3/1.5/2 $795 681-7272

OKC Southwest

Nice 3 bd 1 ba 1 car, CH/A, 1037 Hoyt 732-3411

4810 Casper, Nice 3/1/1 CH/A $600 • 732-3411

1920 Karen Dr 2/1 2208 Doris 2/1 3921 Pearl Way 3/1/1 837 Scott St 3/2/1 681-7272

720 Mallard 3/2/2 $950 2256 Melody 3/2/2 $1450 2075RaineysBlvd4/2/3$1695 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

Sect 8 accepted!

1135 NW 9th, 4bd, 2ba Homes4lease 917-9002

OKC Southwest

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

466

NW 11th Ter & Meridian, 3 bd, 1K ba, ch&a, wood floors, $900, 642-0115.

1020 Clover Ln 1200sf 3bed 2ba $775 mo, $600 dep 409-7989 no sec 8

465.5

Edmond

115 NW 21 - 2bed 1ba 1400sf $850mo $600/dep 409-7989 no sec 8

2 bed Trailer $400mo, $150dep. water/garbage pd. Refs req'd. 321-4773

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

$595 2bd 1ba, very clean, stove, fridge 818-4089

2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, wood floors $650mo, $500dep 1244 N. St. Clair 615-2750

Luxury 3 bedroom home for rent. Newly decorated $750/month + deposit.

640 NE 30th. 405-204-4308

228 NW 87 3bd $600 9921 McKinley 3bd $600 245 NW 87 3bd $600 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551

Del City

475

477

3912 S Harvey Sharp 2bd rock home 1car detached garage, basement. Clean! $495 Fidelity Real Estate 410-4200, 692-1661 8504 Wakefield Spacious 2bd home 2ba 1car brick ch/a Westmoore Schools $650 Fidelity Real Estate 410-4200, 692-1661

480

Village/ Nichols Hills 481.5 1119 Park Manor 3 bed, 2 full & 3 half baths, 2car, office, wd flrs, $1650mo, $1500dp TMS Prop348-0720

Norman

473

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

Yukon

482

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 2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, ch&a, f/p, fncd yard, Mustang Schls. No Pets. 826-2023 2501 Renwick 4/3/3 $1995 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

Mobile Home Rentals 483 Rent to Own: Nice 2&3bd MWC $350&up 390-9777

Roommates Wanted

488

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

Lady to share nice home in nice SW OKC 278-1060 call for appt.

2 bed, 1 bath, recently remodeled, will accept section 8, $500 month, $400 deposit, no pets, 3022 SW 19th, 340-3058.

489

Open Sun. 2-3, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1 car gar, $800 + $400 dep. 1049 SW 103rd Terrace. 641-7196 3 bedrm, 1.5 bath, 2 car garage, CH/A No Pets, No Sec. 8 ¡ $739/mo. ¡ 909-522-8714 ¡ 3 bed, 1 3/4 bath, large dining area, 2 car garage, large backyard, $850 mo + deposit, 605-9338

Village 2/1/1, ch&a, wd flrs, 2012 Carlisle $650+ $500 dep. 728-0308

3bd 1.5 ba ch&a 1 car gar 2car carport, sunroom, $600mo $300dep others avail. 733-8688

»» SECTION 8 OK»» 3 bed, 1149 NW 81st, $795 per mo, 942-3552

3bed 2bath $700mo $700 deposit. No pets or smoke. 580-467-0717

Rooms For Rent

Couple looking for roommate to share house. $400 utilities included, smoking okay. 326-9251 Furnished room for rent in Edmond directly across from UCO. $370 rent + $150 dep inclds utilities. 405-509-6789

Storage Units

489.7

BOAT STORAGE 4131 NW 23rd Street Enclosed-Secure 405-365-3889

10F

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011

REAL ESTATE

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

Decorate your home with original art

BY STACY DOWNS McClatchy News Service

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Original art, in addition to family photographs and heirlooms, makes a home personal and individual.

But making the leap into collecting art can be intimidating, even for the bright and the bold. Perhaps that fear factor forms early, after you’ve visited art museums and spotted security guards standing on alert. Or maybe it comes from the notion that you have to be an art insider to even step inside a gallery. And, of course, there’s the price tag issue.

“You don’t have to have a lot of money to buy art,” said Cortney Novogratz, who along with her decorator husband, Robert, has an HGTV show, “Home by Novogratz.” Original art is a major part of their design projects, and they typically spotlight an artist in each episode.

“Original art reflects who you are as a person, as a family, much more than buying something from a chain store,” she said.

For those who haven’t purchased art before, Novogratz advises going to art fairs to get an overview of what’s out there. She has attended Art Basel Miami Beach, where more than 2,000 international artists exhibit their work.

“You discover what your tastes are,” she said. “You quickly learn there’s more out there than paintings, which is what people think of as art. There’s photography, ceramics, charcoal and pencil drawings, glass and furniture. Some designer chairs we purchased have really held their value.”

The next step is visiting galleries, intimidating at first for the uninitiated art

seeker.

“They have the power, not the gallery owner,” said John O’Brien, owner of Dolphin, a gallery and custom framer in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City, Mo. “I always tell people to take their time.

Get a feel for what you like and don’t like.”

Galleries are Novogratz’s preferred method for buying art.

“Yes, online is the world we live in, but I like to see where my money’s going and to meet the artist,” she said. “It makes art a richer experience.”

For 32-year-old Erica Wren of Leawood, Kan., though, the Web is a great research tool. A gallery site led last year to her first major art purchase.

“I was hopping around websites, as usual, being a design junkie,” said Wren, vice president of communications at Barkley, a Kansas City-based advertising and marketing agency. “I came across pieces by artist Eric Zener, and I was struck by them.”

So Wren made an appointment with Blue Gallery in the Crossroads Arts District to see some of the California artist’s works.

Gallery owner Kelly Kuhn let Wren take home several on approval, a common try-before-you-buy practice among gallery owners and customers. Wren loved the piece “Bursting Through,” a photograph of a woman submerged in water that was painted with silver leaf on a light box. She discussed it with her family before buying.

Novogratz asks artists questions beyond what inspired their work. She’ll ask how many prints were made of a photograph. She also discusses decorative elements with the artist, such as framing: Lucite

Erica Wren shows the first major piece of artwork she bought for her home in Leawood, Kan. Having original art displayed in a home can set decor apart from others.

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE PHOTO

Brenda Conley, left, and Mary Pettit look at art items for sale at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in Kansas City, Mo. Having original art displayed in a home can set decor apart from others.

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box or chipped wooden molding?

Novogratz has found it works best when couples act as a unified front on purchasing art.

“It shouldn’t be stressful,” she said. “It should be fun. Remind each other we found each other, so we can definitely decide on pieces of art together.”

"Vessel with Neck 0801" by Christ Gustin is displayed at Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Mo. Having original art displayed in a home can set decor apart from others.

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