LISTING OF THE WEEK
HOUSE PLAN
Dallas chic
Southwest style
The Listing of the Week is a Dallas-style home with a flagstone patio and fire pit in the gated Lone Oak Ridge addition in the Deer Creek area.
Inspired by the sun-warmed pueblos of the Southwest, the Mesa Verde exudes an air of freshness and simplicity.
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REAL ESTATE
Paul Bianchina
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
A home in the clouds
HANDY @ HOME
DYI GIFT IDEAS It’s time to think about gifts for the do-it-yourselfer on your shopping list! How about some interesting, highquality tools? PAGE 3F
IN BRIEF SOLUTION FOR PLASTIC SMELL Q: I have a Real Simple underbed storage bag. The problem is the overpowering stink of the plastic bag, kind of a petrol smell. Do you have suggestions for getting rid of the odor? A: You’re smelling the plasticizer that makes the bag very flexible, said Neal Langerman, a member of the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health & Safety. He suggested leaving the bag open outdoors or in a wellventilated garage until the odor dissipates. Washing it with hot, soapy water and thoroughly drying it will help also.
The 32nd-floor penthouse at City Place is finished and furnished as a model for space for sale at around $400 per square foot. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
CONDOMINIUMS | TUCKED DOWNTOWN AMID SKYSCRAPERS, CITY PLACE OFFERS EAGLE-EYE VIEW OF CITY WITH AMENITIES BY TIM FALL Special Correspondent trfall@gmail.com
The southeast corner of Park and Robinson is about as hard-core urban as Oklahoma City gets: short city blocks, tall bigcity skyscrapers, people afoot. Red light, green light, walk, don’t walk, walk, don’t walk — walk. The mood changes and a paradigm shifts as you head home — yes, home, to 204 N Robinson. You coax your wheels from slowmoving traffic along Park Avenue into a garage reserved just for you and a few others. It seems like a five-car garage attached to a McMansion out in the suburbs. There’s another attitude adjustment coming: an
elevator, and an altitude adjustment. This is no suburban home. Up, up, up until the Art Deco-ish car stops — right in your foyer. Someone will just adore the penthouse view at City Place. Design and construction is complete on three new, eye-popping condominiums atop the 33-story tower in downtown Oklahoma City, with three more floors available for custom design as residences. After acquiring the landmark building in 2007, developers undertook a massive infrastructure renovation, said Mark Beffort, one of the group of owners led by Roy Oliver, who has ownership in several office buildings down-
town. Beffort said the owners made sure that the condos’ skyscraping price tags include something buyers at every level love — amenities. Beffort said they considered “every element and system” of the monolithic building, replacing Depression-era elevators to the tune of $2 million, installing a new generator grid and rethinking heating and cooling by replacing boilers and cooling towers with steam and chilled water circulated downtown by Trigen Energy Corp. Such massive investments were made “to assure maximum reliability for the long run,” Beffort SEE CONDOS, PAGE 2F
POTTY TRAIN YOUR CAT
The remodeled lobby of City Place, 204 N Robinson in downtown Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
Be rational when facing homebuying fears After arriving in a new city because of a job transfer, the manager of a manufacturing plant spent several months obsessed about whether to buy a home there. Given the uncertainties of the economy, she was scared to move forward. And her fears were stoked by her retired parents, who urged her not to buy. But the manager did her own financial analysis on the pros and cons of making a purchase. Based on that, she decided it was the right time to act on her cherished dream of achieving homeownership. “Now that she owns the house, she’s extremely excited that she stepped up to the plate and didn’t let fear stop her,” said Mary Biathrow, the buyer’s real estate broker. The house is in an established neighborhood with highly regarded schools and close to a popular new outdoor mall, “a major positive for property values in the area,” said Biathrow, who’s affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists. Despite its ideal location, how-
Ellen James Martin SMART MOVES
ever, the plant manager wouldn’t have gone ahead with the purchase had she not been sure it made financial sense for the price she paid. Through negotiation with the motivated sellers of the property, she was able to obtain the home below its appraised value. Given its location, Biathrow believes the plant manager can reasonably expect her house to appreciate during the next three years; the buyer believes that forecast is plausible. Biathrow said that “the holiday season through about January 15, is an extraordinarily good time for discounts on real estate” because “it’s generally only motivated sellers who are out in the market during this season.” Here are a few pointers for those
now considering a home purchase: Remember the key reasons you want to buy a home. Anxiety is an influential factor that can stop people from actualizing their homebuying plans — even when logic tells them it’s the right time to go forward, said Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.” What’s important is to head into any purchase with as much objective information as possible, he said. Gain the early support and backing of a reputable mortgage lender. In this era of conservative lending, most mortgage lenders are going to great lengths to ensure that the loans they originate are solid. This means borrowers must be unusually well-prepared to respond to the lender’s requests for documents, Davis said. As proof of income, many lenders now insist on much more than the customary pay stubs and W-2s. For example, they’ll likely
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ask you for tax returns. In addition, they’ll probably want assurances that the funds you’ve amassed for your down payment have been in your savings or checking account for some time and weren’t borrowed from your cousin just a month ago. Exercise caution in choosing a home. “Get more information to make the best choice. Walk the neighborhood around a house that interests you. Talk to the neighbors — they can give you a gold mine of information on real estate trends in the community and whether it’s a good time to buy there now,” Davis said. However, he cautions you to be wary of any real estate agent who tries to push you into buying a property that doesn’t appeal to you — no matter how favorable the price. “If any agent attempts to pressure you into buying the wrong house, walk the other way and find a new agent,” he said.
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E-mail Ellen James Martin at ellenjamesmartin@ gmail.com.
A new training aid can help your cat break the litter-box habit — assuming you’re comfortable sharing your toilet with your feline friend. Litter Kwitter is a three-step system designed to potty train your pet. The system eases a cat from litter box to toilet seat, teaching it to balance and go. Training can take eight weeks or more, depending on the cat’s demeanor. Litter Kwitter sells for about $59 at some pet stores and www.litter kwitter.com. Now if it would just train the cat to flush. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
CONFIDENCE UNCHANGED Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes remained unchanged in December from the previous month at 16 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. “Builders are bracing themselves for a slow holiday season (with) uncertainty among consumers and builders alike,” said association Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
INDEX Stone Permits Harney
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FROM THE COVER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
Mark Beffort, a partner in City Place, shows space renovated into a condominium on the 32nd floor at 204 N Robinson. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
Condos: Art Deco style, detailing FROM PAGE 1F
said. And, he said, on City Place’s top seven floors — the ones now converted to residences — “everything is new.” “Every aspect” of a future City Place resident’s experience has been taken into consideration, Beffort said — starting on the ground floor. A big part of the fun of calling City Place home would be the transition from city street to home in the clouds. A private, enclosed garage in 24-hour monitored security provides parking in what once was the drive-thru for Liberty Bank. Before boarding a dedicated elevator, a resident might stop by a personal storage unit (one is included with each condo), which lies behind the footthick steel doors of what once Liberty Bank’s vault. The elevator itself, though renovated, retains City Place’s original 1934 Art Deco-inspired touches. When the doors open, it is in the foyer of a private home — 27 to 32 stories above downtown. Saving the best for first, Beffort introduced recent visitors to City Place living with a tour that began in the penthouse — 5,500 electrifying square feet comprising the building’s top two floors. Working with Jeremy Gardner and Hans Butzer of BG Designs, and with Carson See of Sees Design, Beffort and his partners have achieved an open, light-flooded, contemporary living environment unique in Oklahoma City. The penthouse is furnished and decorated in details both breathtaking and whimsical. A rich, mahogany-tone hardwood hallway flows from the foyer to the main living area, opening to the western horizon through picture windows. A kitchen stretches out along the length of the home, finished with state-
The master bedroom of the 32nd floor penthouse at City Place is a space like no other in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
The residential parking garage at City Place.
of-the-art fixtures and appliances. The main floor features a bedroom, but the jawdropping master bedroom is situated up a staircase on the second penthouse floor. Also sunset-facing, the master suite features twin baths out of an Italian villa — one with a room-sized shower, the other with an opulent bath — and private terraces overlooking the city. The 31st floor, at 2,900 square feet, feels twice the size. An open-air terrace surrounds the unit on three sides, providing views that span from the Survivor Tree at the Okla-
PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
homa City National Memorial & Museum to the topmost floors of adjacent First National City — it seems almost close enough to touch — to, well, practically to Tulsa. The design team finished the 31st floor as in the penthouse — kitchen details, gorgeous flooring and luxurious baths. A guest suite with its own terrace might encourage especially long visits. The 27th through 30th floors each feature 4,900 square feet of living space — though only the 30th has been renovated so far. Here, the same care has been taken in every detail
of floors, walls, surfaces and fixtures. Obviously optimistic about residential growth downtown, Beffort said he predicts that residential growth with follow MAPS construction programs and other highly visible downtown corporate investment. Beffort said he knows that “getting to the urban lifestyle takes time.” For potential City Place buyers — the condominiums are being offered starting at “about $400 per square foot” — Beffort said, “We’re emphasizing the idea of downtown as your backyard.”
The view from the 32nd-floor penthouse at City Place warrants a sitting area. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
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Some cool tools for do-it-yourselfers It’s time once again to be thinking the battery is interchangeable with the about gifts for the do-it-yourselfer on entire TEK4 line of tools. Includes a batyour holiday shopping tery, charger, bit assortment list! Here are some of and a soft case. Black & Decker Ratchetmy suggestions for ing ReadyWrench (Model some interesting, Paul high-quality tools Bianchina RRW100, $29.99) A whole toolbox full of worth considering this sockets in one clever wrench. year, listed in order of You get the equivalent of eight their manufacturer’s SAE sockets (5/16 inch to ¾ suggested retail price. HANDY @ HOME inch) and eight metric sockets And hat’s off to all those manufacturers who are moving (8 to 19 millimeters) contained in a single, away from blister packs toward more us- forged steel handle with a rotating head at each end. This is a new version of this er-friendly packaging! Milwaukee Fastback Utility Knife popular wrench, now with ratcheting (Model 48-22-1901, $19.95) heads that make it even easier to use. Ames True Temper Pulverizer This is a rugged workhorse of utility knives! Fast, one-handed blade opening, ($39.99) If your next project starts with demo and convenient, tool-free blade changes that let you change blades up to five times work, the Pulverizer will get it done! It’s a faster. You can strip wire up to 10-gauge, 3½-pound sledgehammer with a 1½and there’s an integrated hook that lets inch strike face, but at less than 13 inches you cut without opening the knife. And long you can carry it in your tool belt. Bethe slim red body just looks cool. Five hind that there’s a V-shaped head to rip through drywall, with claw teeth that grip blades are included. Ryobi Tek4 Lithium-Ion Screwdriv- better for ripping. At the other end, er (Model HP53LK, $29.97) they’ve added a 2-inch scraper and a nail Here’s a lightweight 4-volt rechargea- puller. Fully forged and heat treated, with ble screw gun that’s helpful for a variety of a shock-absorbing, nonslip grip on the do-it-yourself tasks around the house. It handle, it’s an awesome tool. Stanley Waterproof Spotlight has a 24-position clutch, a two-speed gear box, and a built-in LED light. The (Model FL5W10, $59) For do-it-yourself projects or camping chuck accepts standard ¼-inch bits, and
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Buyers, banks growing leery of distress sales as woes mount BY MARY SHANKLIN The Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — A funny thing happened to DeBary, Fla., resident Russ Vas Dais as he was about to buy a foreclosed home: He learned the bank selling him the house didn’t actually own it. Fannie Mae had foreclosed on the property but in an apparent paperwork problem never took ownership. “It was quite shocking to learn the bank didn’t have title to it,” said Vas Dais, who had worked in the real estate sales and appraisal business for 18 years. “I just felt that there are a lot of incompetent professionals who aren’t paying much attention. … We were trying to boost the economy by purchasing a foreclosed home, and we’re getting punished for it.” Distress sales, long the darling of bargain hunters, have become the subject of so many legal missteps in recent months that buyers may be getting squeamish. News of illegally signed loan documents, of lenders pulling suspect cases off court dockets, and of title problems such as Vas Dais’s appear to be dampening sales. Regular, old-fashioned home sales, meanwhile, are on the rise. “There is definitely a new hesitation, and countless renegotiations of (foreclosed) properties that are under contract. Lenders are dropping prices 15 to 20 percent to get the buyer to stay in the deal,” said Jay Heckendorn-Telenda, who oversees foreclosures for Keller Williams Classic Realty in Orlando. Foreclosures in recent months have become tainted by reports of missing documents and by notaries “witnessing” signatures of bank representatives even though the notaries and reps were physically in different states at the time. Another emerging obstacle that could further complicate the foreclosure process: legal appeals that can reverse judicial foreclosures and can put a property’s ownership into deeper doubt. Christopher Hunt, senior attorney with the Orlando law firm KEL, said the firm has beefed up its appeals staff and plans to start filing 20 foreclosure appeals a week. The firm in July persuaded the 5th District Court of Appeal to overturn state Circuit
There is definitely a new hesitation, and countless renegotiations of (foreclosed) properties that are under contract.” JAY HECKENDORNTELENDA, WITH KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC REALTY IN ORLANDO
Judge William Law’s foreclosure against Stephanie and John Crown, of Lake County, Fla. The bank that took ownership, Chase Mortgage, never put the house on the market, and the Crowns have been able to continue living in it. Buyers of foreclosed properties could find themselves caught up in such litigation if the foreclosure is overturned in the courts, Hunt said. “I think that is actually going to happen,” he added. “We’re not going to be able to prevent that in every instance. When that does happen, it’s bad for everyone. It’s a disaster in the making.” For Vas Dais, the confusion over ownership was just one in a series of missteps he encountered while trying to purchase a foreclosed home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Mistakenly thinking he could move into the house by the end of November, he did not renew the lease on the house he was renting in DeBary. Fannie Mae was eventually able to take title of the house that he wanted to buy, but the sale still unraveled. Vas Dais was forced to move his belongings into temporary storage and to look for an extended-stay suite two days before Thanksgiving. “We are not expressing our frustrations to throw a pity party for ourselves, but just feel that the public should know that we are ‘ready, willing and able buyers’ and, ultimately, all of our tax dollars pay for the upkeep of these properties and we have no legal recourse,” said Vas Dais, who was still hoping last week that the issues could be resolved and he could eventually buy the home. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
trips afterward, this is a handy spotlight to have on hand. It’s a comfortable and rugged 5-watt, 200-lumen light with a dimmer switch, and the 7.2-volt battery is rechargeable with an AC house charger or a DC car charger, both included. And it’s waterproof down to 6 feet.
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Stanley 500 Amp Jump Starter with Compressor (Model J5C09, $89.99) A heavy, solidly built unit that will jump-start your car, truck, lawn tractor, ATV and other 12-volt equipment in an emergency. It’s easy to use with the builtin battery cables, and it recharges off a household outlet with just an extension cord. Includes a built-in 120 PSI compressor for inflating tires and sports equipment, and you can recharge phones and other electronics with the USB connection. It even has a built-in LED light.
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Campbell Hausfeld Home Decor Kit (Model FP260096, $140) Here’s everything you need for doing window treatments, upholstery, decorative paint treatments, crafts and more, all in one package of tools. The kit includes a good-quality, 1-gallon air compressor; 3/8-inch upholstery stapler and staples; pin nailer and pins; 25-foot hose; an air brush; plus a storage bag to keep it all together.
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Wagner Procoat Airless Paint Sprayer (Model 0515030, $199.95) You can make fast work of all those small to medium painting projects with this handy, portable airless paint sprayer. The Procoat sprays latex and oil-base paints, stains and sealers, and you can draw directly out of a 1- or 5-gallon bucket. It has a pro-quality spray head with a reversible tip, and a capacity of 0.24 gallons per minute at 2,800 PSI. The included garden hose attachment helps with the cleanup chores as well. Bosch Power Box 360 Radio (Model PB360S, $199.99): Want to really light up Christmas for your favorite DIYer? Surprise him or her with the ultimate job-site radio. It offers five speakers with an integrated subwoofer and 360-degree sound placement, AM/FM radio, a weather-sealed compartment for an iPod or other MP3 player, and the ability to work off both 120-volt power or 14.4- or 18-volt Bosch rechargeable batteries. When it’s plugged in, it charges the batteries and can recharge small electronics as well. And it’s all protected with a tough — and rather cool — aluminum-and-rubber roll cage.
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Remodeling and repair questions? E-mail Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers. INMAN NEWS
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Mortgage lender to pay $2 million in case BY MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
PrimeLending, a mortgage loan unit of Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank, has agreed to pay $2 million to nearly 3,300 black borrowers, whom the Justice Department said were victims of discriminatory pricing of home loans in Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston, Texas, and Raleigh, N.C., from 2006 through 2009. “Charging borrowers more to obtain a home loan based on
their race is absolutely intolerable,” said Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general in charge of the department’s Civil Rights Division. “But it is a practice that occurred all too often during the past decade and stripped a vast amount of wealth from communities of color. “Vigorous enforcement of fair lending laws is a top priority, and we will continue aggressively to pursue compensation for the
victims of such discrimination.” A Federal Reserve review of mortgages exposed a pattern of blacks charged higher interest rates than whites by PrimeLending. The company paid cash incentives to loan officers from such “overages,” which at the time did not need to be justified, the Justice Department said in a consent order signed by both sides. PrimeLending, which the
government says cooperated after being notified of the case, denied that it had violated the federal Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The government didn’t prove individual cases of discrimination. Moreover, the wholly owned PlainsCapital unit altered its pricing policy early this year, both sides said. “We are pleased that an agreement has been reached and the issue resolved,” said Carol
Tiny-house movement thriving BY TERENCE CHEA For The Associated Press
GRATON, Calif. — As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving. To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans are buying or building homes that could fit inside many people’s living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the smallhouse industry. Some put these wheeled homes in their backyards to use as offices, studios or extra bedrooms. Others use them as mobile vacation homes they can park in the woods. But the most intrepid of the tiny-house owners live in them fulltime, paring down their possessions and often living off the grid. “It’s very un-American in the sense that living small means consuming less,” said Jay Shafer, 46, co-founder of the Small House Society, sitting on the porch of his wooden cabin in California wine country. “Living in a small house like this really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else.” Shafer, author of “The Small House Book,” built the 89-square-foot house himself a decade ago and lived in it full time until his son was born last year. Inside a space the size of an ice cream truck, he has a kitchen with gas stove and sink, bathroom with shower, two-seater porch, bedroom loft and a “great room” where he can work and entertain — as long as he doesn’t invite more than a couple guests. He and his family now live in relatively sprawling 500-square foot home next to the tiny one. Shafer, co-owner of Tumbleweed Tiny House Co., designs and builds miniature homes with a minimalist style that prizes quality over quantity and makes sure no cubic inch goes to waste. Most can be hooked up to public utilities. The houses, which pack a range of amenities in spaces smaller than some people’s closets, are sold for $40,000 to $50,000 ready-made, but cost half as much if you build it yourself. Tumbleweed’s business has grown significantly since the housing crisis
Above: Jay Schafer, owner of Tumbleweed Tiny House Co., sits inside one of the homes he built for himself in Graton, Calif. AP PHOTOS
Left: Jay Schafer reads a book in the loft of his tiny house. In a country where most people want to live large, Schafer helps people live small.
began, Shafer said. He now sells about 50 blueprints, which cost $400 to $1,000 each, a year, up from 10 five years ago. The eight workshops he teaches across the country each year attract 40 participants on average, he said. “People’s reasons for living small vary a lot, but there seems to be a common thread of sustainability,” Shafer said. “A lot of people don’t want to use many more resources or put out more emissions than they have to.” Compared to trailers, these little houses are built with higher-quality materials, better insulation and eye-catching design. But they still have wheels that make them portable — and allow owners to get around housing regulations for stationary homes. Since the housing crisis and recession began, interest in tiny homes has grown dramatically among young people and retiring Baby Boomers, said Kent Griswold, who runs the Tiny House Blog, which attracts 5,000 to 7,000 visitors a day. “In the last couple years, the idea’s really taken off,” Griswold said. “There’s been a huge interest in people downsizing and there are a lot of young people who don’t want to be tied down with a huge mortgage and want to build their own space.”
Jay Schafer stands on the porch of his tiny house. The California homebuilder, who lived in a 89-squarefoot house with his wife before his son was born last year, builds houses that are smaller than most people’s living rooms.
Gregory Johnson, who cofounded the Small House Society with Schafer, said the online community now has about 1,800 subscribers, up from about 300 five years ago. Most of them live in their small houses full-time and swap tips on living simple and small. Johnson, 46, who works as a computer consultant at the University of Iowa, said dozens of companies specializing small houses have popped up around the country over the past few years.
Towne, a PlainsCapital spokeswoman. “The agreement is not an admission of liability, and PrimeLending denies any wrongdoing,” Towne said. “We work diligently to meet or surpass the standards set by all federal and state regulations that apply to our businesses.” No one at PrimeLending or PlainsCapital has been disciplined, she added.
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
REAL ESTATE
HOUSE PLAN
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
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LISTING OF THE WEEK
The Listing of the Week is at 4804 NW 159.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Home offers flagstone, fire pit in gated addition
Mesa Verde blends Southwest style with contemporary space Inspired by the sun-warmed pueblos of the Southwest, the Mesa Verde exudes an air of freshness and simplicity. Its bright, stuccoed walls are softly rounded at the edges. The flat roof is rimmed by eye-catching stepped parapets, and accentuated by decorative log ends. Exposed lintels and smooth posts add additional eye appeal. Inside, the sense of openness is totally contemporary. Light washes into the high-ceiling great room through a wealth of windows at the back, and another on the side. If desired, a fireplace could nestle into the far corner, and a wet bar could extend along the nearby wall. Triple sliders access a covered patio that spans most of the rear. A 2-foot drop in ceiling height marks the transition from great room to kitchen and dining room. In the kitchen, a long work island fronted by a raised eating bar also provides partial visual separation. Other than these two indicators, this spacious room is entirely open.
Cindy Cheatwood
Cheatwood to join new Piedmont branch Cindy Cheatwood has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge Real Estate, 16301 N May Ave., and will be managing broker at a branch in Piedmont opening in January. Cheatwood has been a Realtor for 22 years. She lives in Piedmont and has served five terms as president of the Piedmont Chamber of Commerce. She is serving her second term as chairman of the Piedmont Economic Authority. She also has served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council and Long Range Planning Committee for Piedmont Public Schools. She also serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma City Metro Association of Realtors, the Oklahoma Association of Realtors and MLSOK Inc., the Multiple Listing Service.
Standing at the cook top, you can stay fully involved with family activities and keep tabs on backyard goings-on as well. Laundry appliances are mere steps away, in a fairly large utility room that connects to the garage. A generously sized pantry adds to the storage space, and a utility sink can easily be built into the long counter. Bedrooms and bathrooms line up along the left side of the home. Interesting angles shape the Mesa Verde’s owners’ suite. Sliders offer direct patio access, which will be even more appreciated if the owners install an outdoor hot tub or spa. Bedrooms two and three share a twosection bathroom that can also be reached from the entry. For a review plan, including scaled floor plans, elevations, section and artist’s conception, send $25 to Associated Designs, 1100 Jacobs Drive, Eugene, OR, 97402. Please specify the Mesa Verde 11-126 and include a return address when ordering. For more information, call (800) 6340123.
The Listing of the Week is a Dallas-style house with a flagstone patio and fire pit in the gated Lone Oak Ridge addition in the Deer Creek area of northwest Oklahoma City. The 2,213-square-foot house at 4804 NW 159 has four bedrooms, a separate study, two baths, two living rooms, two dining rooms and an attached two-car garage. The main living room
has a fireplace and ceiling fan. The study has a builtin bookcase, ceiling fan and double doors to the master bedroom. The kitchen has a breakfast bar, pantry, wine refrigerator and eating space. The master bedroom has a ceiling fan, walk-in closet and bath with whirlpool tub. Secondary bedrooms have ceiling fans. The house has a utility room with sink and exten-
sive cabinetry, a covered patio, security system and underground sprinkler system. Built in 2003, it is listed for $217,500 with Karen Blevins of ChurchillBrown & Associates Realtors. For more information, call 330-0031. 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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REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Developments shrink as buyers seek community BY JIM BUCHTA Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS — Kristy Paul grew up on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac where on warm summer nights the kids could stay out late while the parents grilled in their backyards and kept watch. Now she’s a mom with two kids, a husband and a town house they built five years ago in a massive Woodbury, Minn., development where she is surrounded by people but is tired of all the traffic, anonymity and competition to use some of the neighborhood amenities. “You go to the basketball court, and you can’t even get in,” she said. “It’s almost like going on vacation when it’s really busy — like going to Six Flags and standing in line forever, but this is where we live. We’re just one of the many.” That’s why she and her husband have decided to rent out their townhouse and move to a brand-new,
Construction crews lay water pipe in The Willows, a small development by Pulte Homes in Plymouth, Minn. MCCLATCHY PHOTO
39-lot development called the Preserve, where the houses are lined up along one street that ends at a quiet cul-de-sac. The Preserve, like dozens of other mini-developments near it, repre-
sents a shift away from the supersized developments that dominated the industry leading up to the recession. Developers built under the mantra “the bigger the better” — from the size of homes to the number
House remodel brings fear of asbestos contact DEAR BARRY: We recently remodeled our bathroom and stripped the walls down to the framing. Then we learned from a neighbor that the drywall in our subdivision contains asbestos. When the drywall was being removed, a lot of white, powdery dust settled on everything, but we thoroughly cleaned it up. Do you think this exposure will damage the health of our family? Van DEAR VAN: Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers has been linked to at least two kinds of lung disease. But the levels of exposure that are likely to pose a health threat are commonly misunderstood. Fallacies about asbestos have raised fears that even slight exposure is dangerous. Although airborne asbestos should be avoided, some perspective is needed regarding actual levels. So here are some basic asbestos facts: 1. The term “asbestos” includes several types of mineral fibers that have been used in the manufacture of numerous building materials and other products because of their beneficial properties. Asbestos adds strength and resilience to many materials and is excellent as a fire retardant. 2. When the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure were recognized in the 1970s, its use was prohibited in many, but not all, products and building materials. 2. Studies that link asbestos exposure to cancer and mesothelioma involve people who were exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time, usually in their work environment. Examples include workers who mined asbestos from the earth, who worked in factories where asbestos-containing materials were manufactured, or who installed asbestos products such as acoustic ceiling texture, air duct insulation, or automobile brake linings. 3. There have been no conclusive studies that link lung disease to incidental asbestos exposure, such as drywall removal. Such studies, however, would be inconclusive because the health effects of asbestos exposure can take decades to appear and because there are other sources of environmental asbestos to which all of us are exposed. As for the possible asbestos exposure that occurred in your home, you should hire a professional inspector who can test the air for residual asbestos. If contamination is detected, cleanup should be performed by qualified, licensed professionals, followed by retesting.
Barry Stone INSPECTOR’S IN THE HOUSE
DEAR BARRY: We are buying a brand-new home. When we asked about scheduling a home inspection, the builder said, “We cannot have outside inspectors through the home before closing due to liability reasons. You can have the home inspection done post-closing and submit all concerns on your 30day list.” This refusal makes us suspicious of their motives. What do you think we should do? John
DEAR JOHN: Your suspicions are understandable. Refusing to allow a home inspection before close is a major red flag. It is not the kind of thing that an honest, reputable contractor or developer would do. The liability excuse is preposterous when you consider the number of people who routinely traverse a construction site. Honest builders allow home inspections on site as a matter of course. The time for a home inspection is before closing, when you have some negotiating leverage with the builder. If the builder does not agree, a letter from an attorney might help him see your point of view. To write to Barry Stone, go to www.housedetective.com. ACCESS MEDIA GROUP
they could fit on the plots they snatched up in outerring suburbs where land was plentiful. Developers couldn’t pave streets fast enough to satisfy the demand. They offered sports courts, nature trails and
wine-tasting community rooms that were all the rage during the building boom. These days, it’s all about restraint. “It’s a total shift in people’s perception of what they feel is important,” market analyst Ryan Jones said. “In the 2000s, it was excess on every scale. Now people have reorganized and reassessed what’s important.” What’s important today, according to several developers, is living close to work, knowing your neighbors and not having to worry about whether the developer will be able to sell all the lots. Jones, director of the Minneapolis-St. Paul division of Metrostudy, drives from community to community tracking new construction activity. During the past year, more than half of the two dozen or so new communities have fewer than 50 home sites, and most of the remaining ones are much
smaller than what he saw in previous years. “The trend is toward much smaller,” he said. Pulte Homes, for example — a big national developer that’s accustomed to platting developments with more than 1,000 home sites in some parts of the country — now is building in the Minneapolis area developments with an average of 40 lots. It’s a strategy that’s being driven in large part by consumers who simply don’t want to wait several years to have new neighbors. “Back when real estate and home building was booming, consumers wanted to be the first to buy in a big neighborhood because the mindset was that prices would go up and it would be a good investment. Those neighborhoods had a lot of amenities, but that’s changed a little,” said Marv McDaris, Pulte’s Minnesota division president. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
7F
8F
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
A little piece of living history ARCHITECTURE | SIMPLICITY, FINE WORKMANSHIP AND DETAILING OF BUNGALOWS CREATE A CHARM THAT’S TIMELESS BY KATHLEEN LYNN The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
HACKENSACK, N.J. — As
Kevin Flaherty drove down Bradford Street in Glen Rock, N.J., one day in 1994, he spotted a homeowner sticking a “For Sale” sign in the lawn. He pulled over immediately, and pretty soon, he and his wife, Cathy, were the proud owners of a 1913 bungalow with a handsome front porch overlooking the leafy street. “I love the look of the house,” Flaherty said. “It’s really quaint.” Built across America between 1900 and 1930 for middle-class homeowners, bungalows have a warmth and coziness that still have appeal a century later. These buildings — often with 1½ stories — have a horizontal, closeto-the-ground profile, with overhanging roofs and wide front porches on solid piers. The bungalow style can be traced back to the Bengal region of India, where bangalas — one-story buildings with thatched roofs — were adapted by the British. The bungalow’s simple style and emphasis on fine workmanship — as well as its use of wood, stone and other natural materials — made it a favorite with the Arts and Crafts movement, which began in Great Britain as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. Bungalows spread rapidly in the United States after 1900 as more households bought cars and early suburbs sprouted around the nation. The
Bungalows, such as these seen in Glen Rock, N.J., are part of the history of home styles in the United States. MCCLATCHY PHOTO
style was popularized by Craftsman magazine, published from 1901 to 1916 by designer and furniture maker Gustav Stickley, whose own house, Craftsman Farms in Parsippany, N.J., has been preserved as a museum. Bungalow interiors are full of details such as fireplaces, window seats, wood trim and pocket doors. “The original bungalow may have been a reaction to the industrial age and its dehumanization,” said John Brinkmann, founder and publisher of the quarterly American Bungalow magazine, which is based in California. “We have a similar situation going on
today, with the electronic age. We yearn to return to something that feels like home.” Many mail-order house kits, offered by Sears and other companies, featured bungalows, said T. Robins Brown, an architectural historian and co-author of “The Architecture of Bergen County.” “They’re a lot of house for the money,” Brown said. They’re all about comfort, not ostentation, said Ray Stubblebine, of Oradell, N.J., a photojournalist and author of “Stickley’s Craftsman Homes.” Bungalows can be built with a number of different
materials, including stone, wood, brick and even concrete. Because they have a low profile and were constructed with local materials, “They look like they just sort of grew up out of the land,” Brinkmann said. “They’re not a towering, ‘look-at-me’ structure like a Victorian. “We’re a wealthy country, and people want to show off their wealth,” Brinkmann adds. “But at some point you want to show, ‘I live a quality life, not just an abundant life,’ and a bungalow states that fairly well.” Brinkmann said it’s common for bungalow owners to love their sur-
roundings almost as much as their houses, because the homes tend to be in well-established neighborhoods, and the front porches offer a lot of opportunities to get to know the neighbors. The most modest bungalows have only two bedrooms, with little living space upstairs. Bob Versheck’s 1922 bungalow in Ridgewood, N.J., for instance, has about 1,000 square feet. Versheck inherited the house from his late wife, whose grandparents bought it in 1926. He is now selling it, asking $368,000, down from $420,000 a few years ago.
Built across America between 1900 and 1930 for middle-class homeowners, bungalows have a warmth and coziness that still have appeal a century later. These buildings — often with 1½ stories — have a horizontal, close-to-theground profile, with overhanging roofs and wide front porches on solid piers. Older homes like his have their challenges, including an underground oil tank that had to be removed, Versheck said. But bungalows also offer rich architectural detail, he notes. “If you wanted to have beautiful wood French doors installed now, it’s a big deal,” he said. “Then, it was standard practice. There’s a level of workmanship you don’t see in new houses. You stand in this house and you feel there’s a sense of history in it.” MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE INFORMATION SERVICES
REAL ESTATE
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Building permits Oklahoma City City of Oklahoma City, 5600 NW 122, public building, erect, $8,100,000. Flintco Inc., 1000 N Lee Ave., hospital, remodel, $3,200,000. Allenton Homes & Development LLC, 5416 Pulchella Lane, residence, erect, $985,000. Goodman Construction LLC, 16735 Rugosa Rose Drive, residence, erect, $800,000. Aaron Tatum Custom Homes LLC, 10000 SW 36, residence, erect, $345,000. Manchester Green Homes LLC, 15600 Colonia Bella Drive, residence, erect, $344,400. Dave Carr Construction, 16121 Pointe Manor Lane, residence, erect, $325,000. Garrett Building Materials, 612 NW 7, residence, erect, $300,000. Ruby Red Properties, 11301 E Memorial Road, residence, erect, $300,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 912 SW 92, residence, erect, $300,000. Geremy Rowland, 13205 Grapevine Trail, residence, erect, $300,000. Dave Carr Construction, 4709 NW 157, residence, erect, $280,000. Willa Construction Co. Inc., 13512 Portofino Strada, residence, erect, $280,000. Carr Custom Homes, 4701 NW 153 Terrace, residence, erect, $255,000.
MWC
Manchester Green Homes LLC, 18700 Shilstone Way, residence, erect, $233,000. Bill Atkinson, 1508 NW 175 Court, residence, erect, $220,000. Manchester Green Homes LLC, 1209 NW 187 Circle, residence, erect, $217,000. J.W. Mashburn Development Inc., 14109 Cadorna Strada, residence, erect, $214,000. R&R Homes LLC, 13117 NW 1, residence, erect, $195,000. RW Custom Homes LLC, 1717 NW 195 Circle, residence, erect, $175,000. Gary Owens Carpet & Construction Inc., 11817 SW 18, residence, erect, $160,000. Rachel and Miles Maynor, 8801 S Hiwassee Road, residence, erect, $150,000. SWM & Sons Inc., 10300 SE 54, residence, erect, $135,240. Richard and Jan Hall, 15704 Hyde Parke Drive, residence, add-on, $130,000. Mashburn Faires Homes LLC, 3125 SW 140, residence, erect, $129,000. JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11224 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000. JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11228 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000. JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11233 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000.
317
Lovely custom built home, extra large living area w/skylight, 3bd 2ba 2car, beautiful area, mint cond, only $128,500 Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661
Moore
318
Luxury Home, Furnished. Owner finance 10% down ‘‘ 405-641-0124 ‘‘
OKC Northwest Acreage For Sale
302
FSBO: 4008 acres in western Oklahoma in both Beckham & Greer Counties. Approx. 10 mi SW of Sayre, OK. Hay stack Creek and other creeks run through the property. Big trees, good hunting, good cow operation, corrals, ponds. Price Reduced. 806-2487224 or 806-676-6503 or night 806-354-0253 1N to 10A, E. of OKC, pay out dn. before 1st pmt. starts, many are M/H ready over 400 choices, lg trees, some with ponds, TERMS Milburn o/a 275-1695 paulmilburnacreages.com OWNER FINANCING 1-28 Acres Many Locations Call for maps 405-273-5777 www.property4sale.com
165 acres with 3600 sq ft brick home, Noble, $3800 /acre must sell 872-5457 Payout dn pmt before 1st pmt starts. Your opportunity to own land, 40 areas, E, NE, SE of OKC 1N A. Milburn o/a 275-1695 terms 1.25A Indian Hills Rd 6K 4A Nicoma Park 15K 1900 NE Grand 12K 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com Call for Maps! See why we sell more acreages than anyone in Okla. E of OKC. o/a 275-1695
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2506 NW 20 4/2K /2 4621 NW 33 Terr 4/2K /2 503-5057 www.homesofokcinc.com
Del City
313
4725 SE 19 3,1,1 & 4005 Corbett 3,2,2 • 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com Bargain for cash 3712 SE 48 Pl, 3/2/2 63K 417-2176 www.homesofokcinc.com
Edmond
314
» BORGATA » Custom Built 3bd, 2 K Ba, Oversized 3Car Garage on 2 Lots. Inground Pool w/ Electric Cover, View @ VirtualSharp.com $399,000. Call Pat @ 627-1934
FORECLOSURES 72, 1-4 bdrm homes in Edmond start @ $49,900 Patrick @Allied 740-6616
Oklahoma Property For Sale 340
OKC Southeast
Real Estate Notices
325
701 SE 47th,2 bed, 1ba $15,000 firm, 921-0215, 414-9391
Yukon
330
Need Backyard Access... Here it is. 1944 sf mol + Sunroom 230 sf mol not included in sf, 3bd/2ba/2car gar. Blt '66. Updated windows, roof shingles & more. For more info Call Carol w/Russell-Davis Realty, Inc. 326-9748 BANK OWNED 5/2.5/2 brk 2538sf, blt 82, 2 liv, ch/a $109KArlene CB 414-8753
WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN? Easy financing. No credit needed. Yukon Schools
BANK OWNED 2/2/2, 2 liv, brick, ch/a, .33 acre, $59.9K Arlene CB 414-8753
14x72 3x1N needs TLC $6900 301-2454/517-5000
BANK OWNED 4/2/2, 2 liv 2190sf .34 acre, corner lot $119.9KArlene CB 414-8753
240 Acres, excellent hunting land, 15 mi E. of Wilburton, OK, $480/per acre. 573-896-8667.
311
01 Repo 3bd 2ba 16x80 Nice 301-2454/517-5000
405-815-7245
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339 Huge year end clearance sale! Own land/family land use land to purchase home. New, repo, modulars w/ no cost construction package. Save thousands. 1000 furniture package w/purchase 405-631-7600 or 405-204-4163 Merry Christmas!! Enter to win world's largest Xmas stocking. Own land/ family land use land to purchase home. Houses start 35 sf 405-631-7600 REPO REPO REPO 3bd. Vinyl Sided/ Shingle/2x6 walls Free del/set, Financing available @$335mo. 405-787-4035 Abandoned D/W set up w/ 4.5 acres. Brick foundation, driveway & all improvements. Read to move in. 405-631-7600, 602-4526 Land/Home For Christmas We have homes on land ready NOW! Call today 405-787-5004
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DO NOT Call Unless… Foreclosure/Behind Paymt Overleveraged/Repairs Call/Web 800-Sell-Now.com
417-2176 Cash for any property!
I BUY HOUSES Any condition. No cost to U 495-5100
Real Estate Wanted
346
Heard of a SHORT SALE? SELL YOUR HOUSE TODAY! Foreclosure/behind Pymts 340-9879/HouseKings.com I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM
Commercial RE Investment Property For Sale 355 Bank owned 18 units $350K, 4 plex near OCU $169K - 6 units hrdwd flr $225K, Short sale $69K, Income Property $200K 12% CAP, $1 MM mortgage 10% Seabrooke Realty 405-409-7779 PRICED TO SELL! 1224 NE 19th $26,900 2118 N Prospect $26,900 5021 Fairmont $59,900 Prices Neg. Kruger Inv. Jim, 235-9332/812-1657
Office Space For Rent
363
Apartments Edmond
422
ROSEWOOD MANOR
Affordable Senior Housing 55 and Older 1 Bedroom Apts.
405-348-4065
ROSEWOOD MANOR
Affordable Senior Housing 55 and Older 1 Bedroom Apts.
405-348-4065 VERY, VERY QUIET Near mall, schls, hosp, Try Plaza East 341-4813
MWC
424
$200 OFF RENT 1 & 2 bedrooms. Spring Tree Apartments. 405-737-8172. 1 & 2 BEDROOMS, QUIET! Covered Parking Great Schools! 732-1122
Moore
425
$99 move in special Lg 1bd quiet, clean, coin lndry on site, pool $365mo 794-5595
OKC Northwest
431
$100 off
1st Month-Selected Units EXCELLENT LOCATION LARGE 1-2-3 bedrooms 1 block to schools Washers/dryers, pools Near shopping 15 min to downtown OKC Exit 137 I-40 Czech Hall/Cornwell 1000 Cornwell Dr.
Move in Special No Deposit 2810 Dorchester Dr Apt 5 spacious 2bd 1.5ba, large living area, ch/a, completely remod, $575 mo. Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661
$149 FIRST MONTH 17 Floorplans, U Pick Kids and Dog Friendly Mention this ad 416-5259 WILSHIRE VILLAGE 1716 NW 17th 1bd ch/a built in appls, fresh paint, clean, water & garbage paid, only $295 Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 Mesta Park 804 NW 21 K Off Special 2bd 1ba 1000sf wood flrs, ch/a Free Laundry $600mo $350dp 409-7989 no sec8 2, 3 & 4 bedrooms Starting at $599/month OFHA & OCHA accepted.
405-478-3260
Oakwood 5824 NW 34 $325/mo $175/dp 800sf K off special 409-7989 no sec 8 3400 N Robinson 1bd 1bath Apt $425mo $200dp Electric. Free laundry 900sf 409-7989 8840 NW 80th St PC Schools 3bed 2bath 2car 1650 sf. $1250/mo $1250/dep 409-7989 no sec 8 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818 MAYFAIR 1 & 2 bds, shops secure nghbrhd livg. wash dryr hrdwd flrs 947-5665
495-2000
MOVE IN SPECIAL $199
GREAT Space OFFICE Norman, 808 NW 24th Ave, up to 2200 sq ft avail, $10 per sq ft, call Jason at 314-6122.
Florence Apts-Midtown1bd 1 ba Studio 600sf, Granite Counter tops, wood floors, CH/A, All Elect, Free laundry $600650 mo, Downtown view, $400 dep. 409-7989
460
433
$99 SPECIAL Lg 1bdr, stove, refrig., clean, walk to shops. $325 mo. 632-9849 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818 $99 Move In Special!!! Lg 1 and 2 Bdr, $325 to $395 mo. 632-9849 FREE WASHER/DRYER OR $ 1 to 3 bdrms $459 & up. 602-3344 or 691-0115 Clean 1 bed Apartment You pay electric. 2328 SW 28th, 685-8278
Yukon
438
»»»»»»»»»»»»» » Yukon All Bills Paid » » 1 bd From $495 Move» » 2 bd From $595 In» » 3 bd From $695 Today» » Open7days/wk354-5855 » »»»»»»»»»»»»
Condominiums, Townhouses For Rent 441 3528 NW 51 2 Bd, 1.5 Ba, Gas & water Pd, Sec 8 Ok $600 ‘ 405-748-8520 www.redbudrealestate.com 14305 N Penn-2 Bd, 2 Ba, Cable Pd, Gated $895 www.redbudrealestate.com 748-8520 NANTUCKET 2 bd, BARGAIN PRICED @ $695 mo., no pets, 823-8398.
Duplexes MWC
446
OLDETOWNE 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 miles to Tinker, 769-7177.
OKC Northeast
452
1bed $365 » 2 bed $500 off NE Kelley Everyone + sec 8 welcome 427-7566
OKC Northwest
» MOVE IN SPECIAL » LARGE 1, 2 & 3 BEDS Rockwell Arms, 787-1423 No Deposit, No App Fee. Huge 2, 3, 4bd, W/D hk, ch/a, PC Schls 722-0787 MAYFAIR 1 & 2 bds, shops secure nghbrhd livg. wash dryr hrdwd flrs 947-5665 1bed, clean, not fancy, $300/mo, Ready now, 3rd & Virginia 722-0787
NOW LEASING
3037 North Rockwell
OKC Southwest
Putnam Heights Plaza 1 bed, ch/a, Dishwasher 1830 NW 39th 524-5907
Bills pd clean quiet furn eff/1bd $100/wk&up 10& Penn 751-7238/640-9413
1 & 2 BEDROOMS Furnished & Unfurnished NEWLY REMODELED GATED COMMUNITY
Buffington Road, storage, erect, $16,000. Cliff Wilson, 4217 SE 49 Terrace, accessory, add-on, $12,500. We Know Technologies Inc., 14201 SE 149, accessory, erect, $12,000. Juan M. Lopez, 812 SE 31, residence, add-on, $12,000. Tim Farmer, 8100 NW 129 Place, residence, remodel, $10,000. Allenton Homes & Development LLC, 5416 Pulchella Lane, accessory, erect, $7,000. Terry Building Co., 1627 Jo Ann Drive, canopycarport, add-on, $4,483. David and Jennifer Robinson, 3308 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on mobile home park, $4,000. Alfredo Carreon, 2001 S Stonewall Ave., storage, erect, $4,000. Arun Kuriakoje, 9305 SW 21, storage, erect, $3,708. Jerry Johnson, 1420 N Pennsylvania Ave., canopy-carport, erect, $3,450. No name provided, 11716 Hackney Lane, residence, add-on, $3,100. D.R. Horton, 19425 Currant Drive, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,900. Ground Zero Storm Shelters Inc., 605 SW 164 Terrace, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,800. Ground Zero Storm Shelters Inc., 5821 NW 83, storm shelter, installstorm shelter, $2,800. Scott Johnson, 2800 Fontaine Place, storm shelter, install-storm shelter, $2,600. Mike Stuart, 3208 Chesterfield Place, storm shelter, install-storm
2 bed, ch&a, $500 mo sec 8 ok, $25 Move in Special 1526 NE 42nd, 204-4308
Colonial Hills 354-3485
$77,900. Home Creations, 2240 NW 197, residence, erect, $77,200. No name given, 914 SW 92, residence, erect, $75,000. Jimmie Smith, 4020 SE 89, manufactured home, move-on, $72,000. Tony Aguilar, 4942 N Portland Ave., fourplex, remodel, $65,000. S&R Construction, 1435 NW 35, storage, erect, $60,000. The Upchurch Co., 901 NW 40, storage, erect, $45,000. Don Black Construction, 3600 NW 26, residence, remodel, $36,000. T-Mobile, 6359 S Independence Ave., towerantenna, install, $35,000. Complete Landsculpture of Texas LP, 15416 Brenton Hills Ave., residence, add-on, $32,000. Ronald and Diana Fine, 1137 N McMillan Ave., residence, add-on, $24,500. H.D. Moon & Associates, 2344 NE 22, residence, add-on, $24,000. Eric Cheatham Construction Co., 3409 SW 123, residence, add-on, $20,000. Kribbs Enterprises LLC, 4211 Laverne Ave., residence, remodel, $20,000. The Remodel King, 4001 S Missouri Ave., residence, add-on, $20,000. Devin Cline, 2944 NW 65, residence, remodel, $20,000. Gary Ballew, 2641 Lakeridge Circle, residence, add-on, $18,752. Ghassan Dabbour, 2328 W Memorial Road, restaurant, add-on, $16,000. Debbie Rookstool, 13228
NICE Quiet Xtra-Lg 1-2bd Walk-in closet, bus line PC schls $400/500 787-5885
800 N. Meridian: 1bd, all bills paid & weekly rates available. 946-9506
1-2-3 Bed available. 1 Bed deposit $150. 2 & 3 Bed deposit $200. 1st month rent $199. Call Village On The Lake at 721-5744 for rates.
Various NW locations MOVE IN SPECIALS 300-6000sf 946-2516
431
CANTERBURY GARDEN MOVE IN SPECIAL Big 2 Bedroom w/ample storage, ch&a, sec. 8 ok, $495. Broker 677-9116 www.hoppishomes.com
Business Property CAVE CREEK For Rent 360 ON ROCKWELL Office or Retail, approx 1000 sq ft, 4737 SE 29th, Del City, 677-2211.
OKC Northwest
Plaza Apts-1740 NW 17 Art Deco, K Off Move in Special! 800ft 1bd 1ba, cha, all elec, wood or tile floor, $450mo $200dp. No sec 8 409-7989
Brand New
Investment Property Multifamily Duplexes in OKC $40k $175k; 16 units in Norman $645k; 16 units in OKC $550k; 10 units in OKC $550k; Larger Properties Available, First Commercial Real Estate 918-495-1551
OWNER FINANCING $1000 down No Credit Ck 2133 Cashion 2/1 $53,000 ¡ 596-4599, 410-8840 ¡
1, 2 & 3-Room Suites $150 & up ¡ 50th & N. Santa Fe area 235-8080
DW on Acreage, 4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2350 sq ft, 2 car garage ¡ 405-412-6236
Repo 18x80 $24,900 301-2454/517-5000
1101 Woodlawn Pl (55th & Western) 3 bed, 2 ba, 2 car, ch&a, 1200 sq ft, $125,000, 721-1164.
363
Build on your land. No cost construction package!! Homes starting $35 sq ft 405-631-7600 405-413-7257
FORECLOSURES 171, 1-4 bdrm homes in NW OKC start @ $19,900 Patrick@Allied 740-6616
Office Space For Rent
YEAR END CLEARANCE Free 60” HDTV w/ stock purchase 405-470-1330 THCOK.COM
16x80 3bd 2ba 631-3609
Mobile Home Parks Community /Acreages 338
Bethany/ Warr Acres
$49,900 2005 4/2 on 6 acres 820-8330 bannerhomesok.com
For Sale By Builder 11709 Bellhurst, OKC Glenhurst (122nd / McArthur).Study, 3bed, 3ba, 3 Car 2255 sq ft $209,900. Mihir 410-7871
5 acres, corner lot w/small pond, Moore schools, SE 164th & Air Depot $59,900 Fidelity 410-4200 692-1661
RE for sale
Mobile Homes, Manufactured Houses 339
JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11237 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000. JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11232 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000. JJ&R Roofing & Construction LLC, 11236 NW 6 Terrace, duplex, erect, $120,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 2228 NW 157, residence, erect, $119,000. Leonhardt Enterprises Inc., 2224 NW 157, residence, erect, $119,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 19500 Skylers Drive, residence, erect, $110,000. Denise Barr, 12201 Biltmore Drive, residence, erect, $106,875. Michael L. Tuttle, 13201 Taylor Wayne Lane, residence, erect, $105,000. Sooner Traditions LLC, 19412 Thomas Court, residence, erect, $100,000. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 13801 Kysela, residence, erect, $95,000. George Schott, doing business as Two Turtles Property Management, 3312 Arcadia Drive, residence, erect, $92,000. Home Creations, 900 Cimarron Creek Drive, residence, erect, $91,500. Home Creations, 2236 NW 197, residence, erect, $81,600. Home Creations, 2237 NW 197, residence, erect, $79,500. Ideal Homes of Norman LP, 18532 Cola Drive, residence, erect, $79,000. Home Creations, 2248 NW 197, residence, erect,
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
453
2000 sq ft, 3 bed, 2K bath, 2 car garage, living, dining, kitchen, 1831 NW 42nd St, 10 minutes from downtown, no pets, »»» 607-6775 »»» » 2 Extra Nice Duplexes » 2 bed, 2 ba, 2 car, appls 7125 NW 115th. $745 mo 8027 NW 80th, $735 mo No sec. 8 or pets. 721-1831 Model Open 10-4 New Luxury Duplex 13516 Brandon Place 3/2/2, fp, Deer Creek Schls, near Mercy842-7300 East Heritage Hills 1806 N Robinson-1200sf 2bd 1bth 1 car $700/mo $400/dep wood fl, cha, 409-7989 no sec 8
Good Value?
7206 Kings Manor Ct. 2/2/2, large $700 + dep. 285-0305 or 823-6550
•ABC• Affordable, Bug free, Clean » 787-7212»
3/3/2, 1650sf, F/P, No pets. Near PCN. $900mo 722-6963 after 11am
OKC Southeast
3613 NW 51-2bed 2bth 2car 1300sf $900/mo $900/dp 409-7989
2bd$525 Casady 751-8088
432
A December to Remember Move-In Special 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apts & townhomes for rent in our gated community. We are in the process of completing our Community Activity Center, which will include an exercise room, children's playroom & computer stations. We are offering SUPER MOVE-IN SPECIALS. Call 619-0541 for information
2510 W. Park Pl, beautiful 2 bed, ch&a, no sec 8, $550 + deposit, 255-1075
Village/ Nichols Hills 459.5 6527K Avondale 2bd 1ba 1car 1100sf $950/mo $800/dep or 6523Avondale 3bd 3.5ba 2car 2300sf $1200/mo $1200dp 409-7989 no sec8
Yukon
Duplexes, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, some new, some gated, call Rick, 405-830-3789.
Garage Apartments
461
Near OCU Studio $475 all bills pd. 2112 N Florida 618-7055
Hotels/Motels 462 Furnished/Unfurnished Bills Paid » Wkly/Monthly Wes Chase Apts, Elk Horn Apts, Hillcrest 943-1818
RE for rent Bethany/ Warr Acres 464.5
Moore
469
13125 Moccassin 3bd 2ba 2car Eastlake Estates, fireplace, ch/a, large yard, Westmoore Schls $995 mo. Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 4 Bed Homes » 320 SW 40th, $1150 » 735 Butler, $745 hoppishomes.com at 677-9116 Broker Nice 4bd 1.5ba 1car & carport FP ch&a no pets. sec 8 ok. walk to schls. $950 + dep. 473-6400 Luxury Home, Furnished Lease To Buy ‘‘ 405-641-0124 ‘‘ 13100 Springcreek 3/2/3 1800sf, fp $1300+dep Home&RanchRlty 794-7777
Mustang
470
2 or 3 bed house, PCN Schools, wood flrs, ch&a, $650 mo, 6108 NW 57. hoppishomes.com at 677-9116
535 Hillcrest Lane, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, ch&a, Mustang Schools, $1050 month, $900 deposit, 405-262-0179.
Del City
OKC Northeast
465.5
474
3 & 4 Bed Houses » 4216 SE 25, $700 » 4313 SE 40, $650 hoppishomes.com at 677-9116, broker
4417 NE 20 St. 3 bed, 1 bath, $425 month, $150 deposit. 323-6187
Section 8, 3 bed, 2 living, 1K bath, carport, $800 + $400 deposit, 840-2887.
1236 NE 48th 3bed 1bath 2 living 2car $725 681-7272
3116 Dentwood $550 3609 Frostwood $600 Giles Ent. 670-4833 O/B 1321 Beachwood Drive 3/1.5/2 $675 681-7272
Edmond
466
Oak Tree Townhouse 6125 Stonegate Pl, Gated, Newly carpeted, 3 bed, 3.5 ba, 3 car, 4231sf $3300 748-8520 www.redbudrealestate.com 16925ValleyCrst3/2/2$1195 712 Scott 3/1.5/1 $895 523 Nimrod 2/1/1 $700 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com Coffee Creek! 3 bed, 2 bath + office, community pool/club house, $1295. 245-3166 Newly remodeled 2 bd 1 ba fenced yard, no pets, $750 month. 607 W. 2nd. Available Now! 361-3670 DEER CREEK 21951 Horseshoe 4/3/2 ch/a, fp, 2.5 acres $1295 Others Free List 605-5477 14013 Jeffery Drive, 3 bed, 1K bath, 2 car, ch&a, $695 mo, 348-4352
Harrah
466.5
1755 Tim Holt Dr Sharp 2bd home, carport on K acre, only $575 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661
Jones
467
3-1-2 kit appls, $675+dep 3-2-1 kit appls in Harrah $675+dep 454-2314 664-3751
MWC
468
3 bed, 2 bath, remodeled house, 1500 sf mol, $1050 mo 2309 Celina hoppishomes.com at 409-5542 Broker 1002 Bell Dr. Immac 2/1/1, no pets/smoker $650 + dep. 705 Holoway Dr. updated sale. 3/1.5/1 787-8099 2028 Turner $585 1005 Holly Dr. $550 Giles Ent. 670-4833 3 bed, 1 bath, w/d hkup, dishwasher, $600/mo. 405-246-9378 9100 Jennifer Pl 3/1/1$475 3605WoodsideDr3/1/1 $475 681-7272
OKC Northwest
475
3 Bd, 2 Ba 6212 NW 24th near Bethany. New hardwood floors, granite counter tops and new kitchen. Immaculate. $900 month, $1200 deposit. No Sec. 8. Available now! 1 year lease. 627-3791 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage, fp, Putnam City Schools, sprinklers, section 8 ok. $1100. 7512 NW 11th, available 12/15. 405-812-1086 21951Horseshoe4/3/2 $1295 4014 Westridge 4bd $795 4227 NW 28th 4bd $695 229 NW 91 4bd ch/a $595 913 N Tabor 3bd ch/a $495 Others Free List 605-5477 9701 Devore 3/2/2 $950 3213 Orlando 3/1.5/2 $975 8300 NW 10 3/1.5/2 $700 12305CedarSpr2/2.5/2 $925 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com
shelter, $2,500. Alfred Speaks, 615 Mason Drive, manufactured home, move-on mobile home park, $2,000. Home Creations, 12001 NW 133 Terrace, temporary building, move-on, $2,000. Tony McDaniel, 905 N Francis Ave., canopycarport, erect, $1,800. Alfred Speaks, 607 Mason Drive, manufactured home, move-on mobile home park, $1,500. Alfred Speaks, 600 Mason Drive, manufactured home, move-on mobile home park, $1,000.
Demolitions The Upchurch Co., 901 NW 40, garage. Ali Tahir, 10820 NE 52, residence. Kendall Concrete, 13500 Kasbaum Lane, house. L&S Demolition, 1213 NE 14, residence. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 1000 SW 2, church. M&M Concrete & Wrecking Inc., 4205 Beaver Ave., abandoned house. Midwest Wrecking, 922 NE 65, house. Midwest Wrecking, 2700 N Santa Fe Ave., office shed. Midwest Wrecking, 12 NE 27, office building. S&R Construction, 1435 NW 35, garage.
OKC Northwest
475
1513 NW 47th 2bd $450 2337 NW 38th 2bd $450 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 Nice 3bd, 2ba $565 NW 30 /Penn; Also lrg 2bd, 2din $545 NW 18/Penn 301-5979 No pets/No Sec 8 2139 NW 14- 1400sf 3bd 2bath $750/mo $500/dep Wood floors, ch/a, big kitchen 409-7989 no Sec8 709 NW 25, 2/1 3212 NE 12, 3/1 701 SE 61, 3/1/1 Sec 8 ok. 405-436-4648 3bd 2K ba 2800 Windsor Pl 2300sf $1200mo $1000dep no smoke/pets 620-0421 or 919-1298 7708 NW 101st, Northaven, 3 bed, 2 ba, NO PETS, no sec 8, $800 mo + $800 dep, 396-8583 Remod 3 bd brick, ch&a, W/D hkup 2car $595/$250 2336 NW 31st 943-4303 2 bed, 1 bath, $550 month + $300 deposit, 3833 NW 25, 720-1951. 3750 N Geraldine 2 bed, 1 bath, stove, no sec. 8 $475mo » 755-1316 1 bd, W/D, stove, refrig, $385mo+dep 1 yr lease 1817 NW 28th 521-1691 3209 Pioneer, 1 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, 1 year lease, $450+$300 dep, 694-9730 1313 NW 104th Terrace 3/1/2 $650 mo, $500 dep TMS Prop 348-0720 For 3bd or 4bd homes & apartments, go to katpropertiesllc.com 1418 NW 49th, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car, appls, w/d hookup, ch&a, 570-5865 NW 36 & May area, 2 bd, 1 ba, 1 car, No pets, like new, $750 mo. 659-4642 1 bed Duplex 905 NW 94th, newly redec, water paid, no pets. 843-1408. 4/3/2, 2liv/2din, 2680sf Yukon Schls $1300mo + $1300dep 245-6003 1033 Hoyt 3/1/1 3232 NW 28th 2/1 681-7272
$575 $475
2100 NW 114th Amazing 3bd 2ba 2 car plus study $1095mo $1095dp 1600sf Call for Special free rent Month of December 409-7989 no sec 8
4100 Holiday Pl 3Bd, 2Ba 2Car $900 ‘ 748-8520 www.redbudrealestate.com
1514 NW 17th Colonial Home 4bd 2ba 2car 2000sf wood floors large kitch, mature trees $1200/mo $1200dp 409-7989 no sec8
Gracious 4BR 2BA home 2000sf, $1245 255-4300
3529 NW 21st Sharp 3bd home, ch/a, excellent condition. Only $650. Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 11404 Glade Ave, extra 3bd 2ba 2-car, fireplace, ch/a, nice area $895 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 Deer Creek Schools. 7517 NW 129, Braden Park, 4 bed, 3 bath, 3 car, $1675, 570-0193 2604 NW 50th 3bd 1bth 2car Amazing wood floors 1000sf $900mo $900dp 409-7989 no sec8 Elegant 3BR Executive Home. Marble, granite. Rare, never rented, 2300sf $1645 255-4300 11717 Century Drive 4Bd 3Ba, 2Car, 2Liv $995 www.redbudrealestate.com 748-8520 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car, ch&a, PC Schools, $1050 mo + $700 dep, 6701 Greenway Dr, 720-1951.
9F
4BR 2BA vaulted ceilings 1900sf, $1085 255-4300
OKC Southeast
476
1624 SE 52 4bd ch/a $795 628 SE 13 4bd ch/a $695 1724 SE 51st 4bd $595 6216 S Kelley 3bd $595 649 SE 21st 4bd $495 6420 S Kelley 3bed $495 Others Free List 605-5477 6617 S. Phillips 2bd 1ba fireplace $495 2525 SE 45th 3bd 1ba gar converted to liv $550 681-7272
OKC Southwest
477
1020 SW 103rd Ter Sharp completely remodeled spacious 2bd patio home 2ba, oversized garage, new carpet, fireplace, ch/a, vaulted ceilings, $750mo Lease purchase option available. Fidelity RE 410-4200, 692-1661 1001 SW 65 3bd ch/a $695 6412 S Indiana 5bd $650 5116 S Agnew 3bd $650 1001 SW 81st 3bd $650 3216 SW 44th 3bd $495 3241 SW 46th 2bd $450 3120 Parkview 2/1/1 $450 Others Free List 605-5477 1616 SW 68th 3/1/1$695 600 SW 49th 2/1/1 $575 1217 SW 50 2/1/1 $550 3009 SW 20th 2/1 $450 2401 SW 43rd #7 1bd apt, total elect, water paid $325 681-7272 2925 SW 50th. Nice 3bd 1 car detached, good area, ch/a, only $550 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 3429 SW 21st Street 3 bd, 1.5 bath, den, large backyard, ch&a $700mo, $400dep Call 681-1041 5324 Indepen3bd Sec8 $700 3513 S Woodward 2bd $400 FLESHMANS INC 235-5473 or 314-3551 2bd/1ba, ch&a, fncd, w/d hkup, 4508 S. Robinson, $450, no sec. 8, 503-5742 2423 SW 90th St, 2/2/2, avail now, $695 mo, $500 dep, no pets, 692-2381. 4 bd, 1K ba, section 8 ok 2317 S Brock, $750 mo. + $500 dep., 685-8240. 3 bd, 1 ba, ch&a, 1500 sf $675 mo, $675 dep, 5021 S Villa, 405-205-3328. 1476 Rancho Dr. 3/1. 2413 SW 48, 3/2, section 8 ok. 627-0690 Nice 3/2/2, Moore Schls fp ch&a, fencd, $750, no pets, 1yr lease 503-5742
Norman
473
1606 Wind Hill Rd Spacious 3bd 2ba 2car fenced yard, clean, fresh paint, nice area $750 mo Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car home 1600 sf mol, $1000 mo 1109 Golden Eagle hoppishomes.com at 812-5646 broker Elegant 3BR Exec Home Park-like yard on creek, cul-de-sac, never rented, 1900sf, $1375 255-4300
Yukon
482
11717 SW 3rd 4 Bed, 2 Liv, 2 Ba, 2 Car, 2600sf $1295 748-8520 www.redbudrealestate.com 3 bd, 2 ba, 2 car gar, fncd yard, ch&a, fp, Mustang Schl, no pets, 826-2023 12405 SW 2nd, 2/2/1, Mustang Schls, $695, no smoke/no pets, 650-3067
221 SE 57th Nice 2bd home, completely remodeled, fridge stove, washer/dryer, only $475 Fidelity410-4200, 692-1661
Mobile Home Rentals 483
522 SE 48th, 3 bed, 2 bath, CH&A, washer/dryer hookup w/ appliances, 405-570-5865
Lease or Purchase: 1997 2 bd, 2 ba, Moore Schls $350/mo + lot rent or $15,000 816-289-9855
Very Nice 2/1/1, ch&a, lrg living. No Sec 8, No Pets. $585+dep 650-9684
2006 3/1 $600 month $99 1st mth Edmond 3 4 1 - 9 2 0 9
Near Tinker 3/1.5/2 $695 + $500dep. Mid-Del Schls 4008 Ray Dr. 650-1909
$ FREE RENT 1ST MO $ 2BR $350+, 3BR $450+, MWC NO PETS 427-0627
10F
REAL ESTATE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Condo owners affected by federal deadlines WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of condominium unit owners around the country may not know it, but their ability to sell or refinance could be jeopardized by a rolling series of federal government deadlines. On Dec. 8, an estimated 25,000 condominium projects missed an eligibility deadline involving sales or refinancings using Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages. The deadline was originally set by FHA for recertification or approval of these projects, but at the last minute the agency agreed to extend eligibility for most of them — 23,000 projects — into next year, with a series of rolling expiration dates. A group of 2,200 condo projects around the country received extensions only until the end of this month. What this means, say lenders and condo experts, is that unsuspecting unit owners nationwide could suddenly be cut off from an increasingly important source of mortgage money. In some markets where FHA accounts for 75 percent or more of first-time home purchases, condo sellers could be severely handicapped. The eligibility issue dates back to November 2009, when FHA published new rules on the types of condo projects acceptable for mortgages on unit sales and refinancings. The rules were the outgrowth of a review that found that FHA — essentially a government-own-
Kenneth Harney THE NATION’S HOUSING
ed insurance company — had approved thousands of projects over the previous two decades but possessed inadequate current information on their underlying homeowners associations’ budgets, legal documents, insurance coverage, renter-to-owner ratios, delinquencies on condo fee payments, the amount of commercial space, and a variety of other characteristics that could affect a project’s financial stability. The 2009 guidance spelled out toughened standards in these areas, and set up timetables for taking fresh looks at projects before sanctioning additional unit financings. Condo projects that had been approved by FHA before October 2008, the guidance said, would have had to submit the information required for renewed approval by Dec. 7, or lose eligibility for FHA financing. FHA officials issued bulletins and notices during the past year to lenders, condo management companies and consulting firms warning them about the approaching deadline. Ultimately, however, according to FHA officials, roughly 25,000 projects nationwide missed the cutoff. Officials said they
Morgan joins Paradigm Melissa “Mel” Morgan has joined Paradigm AdvantEdge’s south office, 1530 SW 119, as a residential real estate sales associate. She was born in Norman, is a lifetime resident of Oklahoma and after studying abroad in New Zealand graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s of arts degree in creative writing. She obtained a real estate license in 2005.
Mel Morgan
had no estimate on the total number of individual units affected, but clearly it’s a sizable multiple of 25,000. For example, Eberhardt said the average condo project in California contains between 80 and 90 units. Rather than abruptly eliminate financing for such a large and important segment of the country’s housing market, FHA re-
lented and announced the revised schedule of expirations. Though the precise expiration schedules were not immediately available, FHA officials said they plan to notify condo associations, management companies and lenders on the specifics shortly. To check the approval status of your condo project or one where you’re interest-
ed in purchasing a unit, you can go to: https:// entp.hud.gov/idapp/ html/condlook.cfm and select by state. What else can you do? Tops on the list, according to FHA officials, is to get in touch with the leadership of your homeowners association. Ask them to do what’s necessary to get the project through the approval hoops — either by
submitting the required documentation on their own, hiring a consulting firm or lawyer knowledgeable about FHA condo procedures. Large mortgage lenders also can get the ball rolling if they want to finance a unit in the project. E-mail Ken Harney at kenharney@ earthlink.net. WASHINGTON POST WRITERS GROUP