Reasons to Buy a Broken Arrow, OK Home in 2011!

In a recent article posted in Realtormag, Michele Lerner gives 5 reasons why you should buy a home in 2011. They include:

▪ Mortgage rates will stay low. Even with rates climbing — maybe to as high as 6 percent by 2012 — they are still well below where they have been historically.
▪ Tax cuts could help. Extending the tax cuts could encourage a more rapid recovery for the economy.
▪ Americans want to be home owners. A recent Fannie Mae survey showed that Americans still believe a home is a safe and desirable investment.
▪ Builders are about to begin building. Home builders have been sitting on the sidelines. This year, they think pent-up demand will create an appetite for new homes.
▪ Homes are shrinking. Homes are getting smaller, which has made them more affordable.
Source: Investopedia, Michele Lerner (12/24/2010)

If you are considering buying or selling a Broken Arrow, OK home, now really is a great time! Contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com to find out more.

What is Home Automation?

Home automation is, basically, anything that gives you control over certain aspects of your property from one location, whether that is inside your home or remotely. Home automation systems can be as simple as being able to control some or all of the lights in your home from one control. It can also be quite complex.

Home automation systems can include: lights (both interior and exterior), security systems, home audio systems, home theater systems, heating and A/C systems, and even window draperies and shades. These systems allow you to use one controller inside your home to control these systems. They can also be set up to allow access through the internet or your cell phone. You can even use voice recognition to access some systems.

What's even better than being able to do all these things without getting up? Saving energy costs at the same time. Many of the features, especially lighting systems, can pay for themselves with a 10% energy savings each year.

For more information on Broken Arrow, OK home automation systems, contact Keegan Beck of KMB Enterprises at 918-527-1031 or www.kmbenterprisesllc.com.

For all your Broken Arrow, OK real estate, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Dealing with a Home or Business Fire

A home or business fire is not only destructive it can also leave you wondering "what do I do next"? First, contact your insurance company and inform them of the fire and gets things going from their side. Second, get all your important documents together , especially those that have survived the fire. If they didn't survive the fire, attempt to get another copy. Third, take inventory of what was and wasn't damaged. Damaged property can be difficult and stressful to handle, so call the professionals. Fourth, contact your insurance agent as soon as possible.

For more information on Broken Arrow, OK fire and water restoration, mold damage, or helpful tips after this type of damage to your property call Roger Fisher, PCC Cleaning and Restoration at 918-641-1111 or visit their website at www.pcccr.com.

For Broken Arrow, OK insurance, contact Mike Tedford, Tedford Insurance at 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.

For all your Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Just for Fun....Which Celebrity Would Make the Best Neighbor?

Many of us have dreamed of becoming rich and famous, so to speak; however, have you considered which celebrity would make the best neighbor? In Broken Arrow, OK real estate you could find many local celebrities that would make a best neighbor choice. When considering national and international celebrities, however, what do Americans think? Zillow, a real estate website, conducted it's fourth annual Zillow Celebrity Neighbor Survey. Who is it that Americans would most like as a celebrity neighbor and who would they least like as a celebrity neighbor? Read on to find out:

Most Desirable Neighbors for 2011
Sandra Bullock – 26%
Sarah Palin – 10%
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi – 9%
The Obamas – 8%
Conan O’Brien – 7%
Lady Gaga – 3%
Katy Perry and Russell Brand – 2%
Justin Bieber – 1%
Other – 7%
None of the above – 27%

Worst Neighbors of 2010
The Jersey Shore Cast – 26%
The Obamas – 15%
Sarah Palin – 13%
Kanye West – 11%
Mel Gibson – 10%
Charlie Sheen – 8%
LeBron James – 3%
Mark Zuckerberg – 1%
Other – 1%
None of the above – 13%

For more information on the Zillow Celebrity Neighbor Survey, visit www.rismedia.com to read their original article.

For all your Broken Arrow, OK area real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Incorporating Green Products into Your Broken Arrow, OK Home

When building, remodeling, or replacing products in your Broken Arrow, OK home, eco-friendly or green ideas can be very easy and often inexpensive to implement. Here are some easy ways to incorporate green products into your home:

• When building a new home, face the widest part to the north or south.
• Place doors and windows where you will receive good cross-ventilation.
• Ensure your attic space is well ventilated by using roof ridge vents, lighter colored roof materials, lots of insulation, and by placing A/C ducts in the attic to help absorb the heat.
• Install an energy-efficient and properly sized heating and A/C system for your home, make sure that duct work is correctly sealed, and use a programmable thermostat.
• Utilize landscaping materials, plants and design that is appropriate for the climate and rainfall levels in your area. There are even newer products, such as Garden Glass, that incorporate glass as a safe use in landscaping.
  
• Use low-flow toilets and shower-heads and energy-efficient appliances.
• Recyclable and renewable materials can be used for decking, siding, interior and exterior trim, and more.
• Choose flooring materials made out of concrete, bamboo, or recycled wood.
• Replace your air conditioning filter regularly to enhance the performance of your air conditioning system and to reduce pollutants in your home.
• Replace older lighting fixtures and dimming switches for newer ones that utilize more energy efficient technology.
  

When you're done with all the old products, remodeling, and building supplies, call David Tittle with I-Haul at 918-261-4008. I-Haul will remove all the old products, recycle and donate what they can and dispose of the rest.

For more ideas or estimates on incorporating green products into your Broken Arrow, OK home, contact the professionals below:

Broken Arrow, OK area Roofing: A-Best Roofing, Judy Smith, 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.
Landscaping Design in Broken Arrow, OK: Bluum Outdoor, contact Nathan at 918-599-8500 or www.bluum.net.
Broken Arrow, OK Heating and Air Conditioning: Air Assurance, contact Stephen Taylor, 918-258-HEAT or 918-258-COOL or www.airassurance.com.
Building and Remodeling in Broken Arrow, OK: US Building Systems, contact Rick Oberlender at 918-743-1293 or usbs@att.net.
Air Conditioning Filters: Filters 4 Me, contact Rick Butefish at 292-8600 or www.filters4me.com.
Broken Arrow, OK Flooring Products: ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings, contact Jim Ecrette at 252-7711 www.prosourcefloors.com/tulsa (ask for Darryl Baskin’s preferred pricing).
Broken Arrow, OK Electric Services: Murray Electric, Larry Murray, 918-557-3020 or www.murrayelectric.com.
Garden Glass of Oklahoma: Leigh Murray, Garden Glass, 918-232-0210 or www.gardenglassofoklahoma.com.


To find energy-efficient, eco-friendly, or green homes in the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw realtors 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Homes for Sale in the Tulsa, OK Area

Gorgeous Horse Ranch for Sale in Mounds, OK!

19983 S. Sheridan Rd
Mounds, OK. with 80 Acres

$2,699,000

4 Bedrooms
3 Full, 2 Half Bathrooms
5 Living Areas
3 Car Garage

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Updated Owasso, OK Home!

11607 E. 84 Ct. N.
Three Lakes Village in Owasso, OK.

$99,500

3 Bedrooms
1 Full, 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Garage

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Exquisite Custom Luxury Home in Bixby, OK.

15080 S. Columbia Ave.
The Estates of Posey Creek Farms in Bixby, OK.

$1,250,000

4 Bedrooms
3 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Living Areas
3 Car Garage


For more information on any of these Tulsa, OK area homes for sale or to buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK area real estate, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

De-stressing Your Broken Arrow, OK Closing!

Buying and Selling your Broken Arrow, OK. home can be a stressful process, but when the closing process doesn't happen smoothly, it can add even more stress. Here are a few tips to help the closing process happen without a few of the most common glitches. First, listen to the professionals. If your Broken Arrow, OK real estate agent or mortgage broker gives you suggestions for the closing and moving process, heed their advice. They see problems regularly and can help you avoid some of the most common problems. Second, pack and move out of the house as early in the day, or even the night before, as possible and schedule closing for the afternoon. For buyers, schedule the final walk through earlier in the day as well. This added time should help with any unplanned delays. Third, consider adding a little extra expense to your budget in case there is a delay in closing and storage or hotel costs are needed or you need to hire a professional for an unexpected home repair. Finally, ask for a final settlement statement a day or two in advance of closing so that there last minute surprises are kept to a minimum.

For more information on Broken Arrow, OK closing process or if you are in need of Broken Arrow, OK closing services, contact JJ Pierce, Closings of Tulsa, 918-493-2241 or www.closingsoftulsa.com.

For all your Tulsa mortgage needs, contact Steve Currington, Currington Mortgage, at 918-394-5626 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

For all your Broken Arrow, OK. area real estate needs, contact, Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Tulsa, OK Area Condo's For Sale

Tulsa, Oklahoma Condominiums for Sale

Enjoy the View from these Charming Spacious Condo's just Steps Away from the River Parks. Downtown and major interstates are only minutes away.

3731 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$172,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage

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3727 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$169,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage
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3729 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$169,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage


To sell your Broken Arrow, OK area Condo or to find condominiums for sale in Broken Arrow, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Luxury Homes for Sale in the Tulsa, OK Area

Secluded Owasso, OK Luxury Home For Sale
15601 East 82nd Street North
in Owasso, OK.

$1,900,000

4 Bedrooms
4 Full, 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

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Luxury Home for Sale in Jenks, OK.

10726 S. Lakewood Ave.
The Gates at Forest Park

$4,200,000

6 Bedrooms
7 Full 4 Half Bathrooms
5 Car Garage

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Luxury Home for Sale in Owasso, OK.
10001 N. Glen Ellen Dr.
Clearbrook Addition

$2,100,000

5 Bedrooms
6 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage




For information on any of these Tulsa, OK area luxury homes or for all your Broken Arrow, OK area luxury real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Habitat For Humanity Builds its 400,000th Home!

Probably most of us have heard of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that helps eliminate poverty and homelessness by providing shelters. These shelters are built by volunteers of all races and religions for needy families. These families provide hundreds of hours of labor on their project as well as making down-payments and mortgage payments on their home, which is sold to them at cost. Habitat for Humanity has now built over 400,000 homes for families. To read more about Habitat for Humanity, visit their website. For a Tulsa, OK area Habitat for Humanity office or find a Tulsa, OK area ReStore (a store that sells reusable and surplus building materials) near you.

To buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK area real estate contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Owasso OK Luxury Home for Sale!

Luxury Home for Sale in Owasso, OK.
Clearbrook Addition
10001 N. Glen Ellen Dr.
$2,100,000

5 Bedrooms
6 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

Exceptional Luxury Estate Features All the Finest Details. Hardwoods, Beams, Travertine Marble, Gorgeous Moldings, Granite, & Chateau Cabinetry Throughout. Culinary Kitchen, Office, Wine, Hobby & Media Room. Master Suite w/Spa Bath, Laundry & Exercise Rm.

For more information on this beautiful luxury home in Owasso, OK. or to buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK. real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Foreclosed Tulsa Area Properties Sell for 32% Less...

According to a recent article in the Tulsa World, "Buying on the Cheap", Tulsa area foreclosed properties during the third quarter of 2010 were shown to have sold for 32% less than regular properties (Realtytrac). Nationwide, foreclosed properties sell for 36% less. Even though Tulsa's foreclosure sales prices are a little higher than the nationwide or even Oklahoma average, 32% is still not a good figure. Doug Emve, Oklahoma Association of Realtors president said that the figure is still too high.

Although there is still a high number of foreclosures in the Tulsa market, many sellers are turning to short sales. Sherri Sanders with McGraw Realtors, says that she is seeing more short sales in this market. Despite all of this news, Sanders thinks that "people think the situation is worse than it is" and is "optimistic that clearing out the excess inventory of foreclosed homes will strengthen the local housing market."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at www.tulsaworld.com.

Want to buy a Broken Arrow foreclosed property? Want to stop your Broken Arrow foreclosure? Contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.stopmytulsaforeclosure.com.

Need Broken Arrow foreclosure legal advice? Contact Chuck Richardson of Richardson, Richardson, Boudreaux at 918-663-5070 or www.rrblawok.com.

Preventing Identity Theft!

While checking out some blogs recently, I ran across a great blog, "How to Prevent Identity Theft This Holiday Season" by Paul Quinn. Thankfully, many of us have never experienced identity theft. For those that have, though, they will tell you that it is a long road! Read on for information Paul shares on methods thieves use to steal your identity and ways to prevent identity theft.

The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. As you look for in-store and online deals this holiday season, it is crucial more than ever to be mindful of identity theft.

The following facts and tips are extracted from the FTC’s website and Kiplinger’s article “10 Oline-Shopping Traps That Catch Even Smart Shoppers.” Enjoy this holiday season but at the same time, be smart.

Identity theft is generally defined as someone using your personal information (such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information) in a fraudulent manner.

Know that skilled identity thieves may use the following methods to get hold of your information:

1. Dumpster Diving -They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming - They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing – They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address - They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing – They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records or bribe employees who have access.
6. Pretexting - They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies and other sources

The best way to deter identity theft is shredding financial documents when discarding them, keeping your social security card in a safe place, not giving out your personal information to suspicious callers, mailings or internet sites and closely monitoring your bank and credit card statements.

The Kiplinger’s article gives 10 online shopping traps that made lead to fraud. They are:

1. Blindly clicking into unfamiliar sites – Don’t rely on search engines for comparisons, go to well-known comparison sites.
2. Assuming You Have the Same Protections with Debit as Credit – If a hacker steals your debit-card information and raids your bank account, you must report any misuse within two days to get the same $50 limited liability as you would with a credit card. Miss that deadline but report your loss within 60 days and you could be liable for up to $500.
3. Not Monitoring Your Accounts – If you do a lot of shopping online, review your credit card statements regularly to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized purchases. Compare receipts to credit card statements or use just one credit card for online purchases.
   
4. Shopping From a Public Wi-Fi Connection – Hackers can tap into Wi-Fi connections at hotspots, such as coffee shops, airports and hotels, to capture your personal information. That’s why you should never shop online using a public Wi-Fi connection. Also, never use a public computer to shop or check accounts online.
5. Billing Directly to Your Smart Phone – Use a credit card instead of having purchases billed through your mobile carrier because the card provides more security.
6. Wiring Money to Pay for an Item – If you purchase an item from an online auction site, such as eBay, and the seller asks you to wire your payment, don’t do it. Pay with a credit card so you can dispute the charges if you don’t get what you paid for.
7. Falling For Too-Good-to-Be-True Deals – If a website or individual is offering a deal better than anyone else, won’t accept credit cards and demands a direct transfer of funds, it’s probably a scam. A common one: Someone claims he’s selling a vehicle at a low price because he needs the money fast (he lost a job or is a soldier going overseas, for example).
8. Clicking a Link in an Unsolicited E-Mail – Don’t ever click on a link in an unsolicited e-mail to go shopping, even if the e-mail looks as if it came from a legitimate retailer, It’s safer going directly to a retailer’s site to see whether it’s having a sale rather than clicking on a link that could take you to a fraudulent site.
9. Clicking URLs on Social-Networking Sites – Using Twitter can be a smart way to stay on top of deals, but you have to make sure the deals are legit. The URLs on Twitter (and sometimes Facebook) are often shortened, so you don’t know whether you’re going to land on a legitimate retailer’s site by clicking the link. Use Twitter as a tip, then find sales on your own.
10. Assuming an Escrow Service Is Always Safe – If the seller is pushing you to use a particular escrow company to handle a transaction, be suspicious because it might be part of a scam. You can verify a company’s legitimacy by checking with state regulators, or ask to use an escrow company of your choosing,

The FTC says that filing a police report, checking your credit reports, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are steps you must take immediately if you are a victim of identity theft.

To view the original blog post click here!

To buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK area real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

South Tulsa Homes For Sale...

Charming Old World Home in Jenks, OK!

6338 East 111th Place
Woodfield Village in Tulsa, OK.

$325,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Garage

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New Construction in Bixby, OK!

14558 South Urbana Court
The Auberge in Bixby, OK.

$214,900

2 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Garage


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Gated and Secluded Luxury Estate in Bixby, OK

1724 East 151 Street
in Bixby, OK.

$2,675,000

5 Bedrooms
6.5 Bathrooms
4 Car Garage


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Gorgeous Luxury Estate on Over 1/2 Acre in Bixby, OK.

11707 South Fulton Avenue
Forest Hills Estates in Bixby, OK.

$725,000

4 Bedrooms
3 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage

For more information on these Tulsa, OK area homes for sale or to buy or sell your Broken Arrow, OK area home contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Tulsa, OK. Area Homes for Sale

Sapulpa, OK Home for Sale

602 Cross Timbers Blvd.
The Lakes at Cross Timbers
$339,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage

Broken Arrow, OK. Home for Sale

1705 S. Juniper Ave.
Village Park
$165,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
2 Car Garage

Jenks, OK. Luxury Estate for Sale

11425 S. Louisville Pl.
The Estates of Waterstone
$2,850,000

6 Bedrooms
6 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
7 Car Garage

For more information on these Tulsa, OK Area Homes for Sale or to buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK real estate, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Ways to Go Green in Your Broken Arrow, OK Home This Christmas!

With Christmas fast approaching, there are many tasks that you might find yourself rushing to complete in your Broken Arrow, OK home. For some, it is decorating, for others it is completing last minute projects and touch-ups that have gone undone. Whatever you find yourself trying to complete before you Christmas guests arrive, read this great article on ways that you can go green this Christmas season!

RISMEDIA, December 4, 2010—(MCT)—Now that the holidays are in full swing, the thought of guests descending on your home may have you in an all out redecorating rush. Do your part this holiday season and go green while you paint, clean, and even accessorize.

We all know that paint can completely and inexpensively change the look of any space. But did you know that it’s one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution? That’s because conventional paints contain volatile organic compounds—or VOCs—which are known to cause everything from headaches to certain cancers.

Now, it’s easier than ever to get your hands on low or no VOC paint from nearly any paint manufacturer. The cost of low or no VOC paints are comparable to conventional paints and they last just as long. Just look on the can’s label to make sure you are choosing the healthiest option for your home.

Another source of those dangerous VOCs is household cleaners. If you’re like me, you may take cleaning to a whole other level when company comes to town. Before you spend a lot of money on store-bought cleaners, take a look at the non-toxic options you may already have in your pantry.

Items like baking soda, vinegar, and borax are effective cleaners for every room in your home. They do everything from disinfecting surfaces to killing mold. If you want to go the store-bought route, look for cleaners that are plant-based and biodegradable.

Now for the fun part of buying things for your home. If you’ll be picking out a new piece of furniture before your friends and family arrive, pick ones that don’t emit dangerous chemicals into the air. Some affordable pieces made from medium density fiberboard—or MDF—actually contain a formaldehyde-based resin.

Gas from the formaldehyde is known to slowly release into the air and can irritate eyes and cause breathing problems. Formaldehyde is also used in many furniture adhesives. When shopping, find out what the furniture is made of and if any formaldehyde adhesives are used in the manufacturing process to ensure you aren’t bringing toxic pieces into your home.

There may also be some smaller items on your shopping list this year. If you’ll be getting new towels or sheets for your guests, opt for organic cotton items. These pieces are produced from cotton that is grown without using harmful pesticides or insecticides. Not only that, you’ll also find organic cotton items are generally softer. Major retailers now offer organic options in every price range. You can also find decorative bed pillows made with organic cotton at many home goods stores.

There are plenty of ways to get in the green spirit this holiday season and it won’t cost you any more money or time. So do your part when guests come to visit to make sure your home is the healthiest it can be.

(c) 2010, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

Click here to view this article, "Around the Home: Green Your Home for the Holidays"

To buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK area real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhoward.com.

November Housing Scorecard Shows Continued Signs of Stabilization in House Prices and High Home Affordability

RISMEDIA, November 24, 2010—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the November 2010 edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard (www.hud.gov/scorecard). The latest housing figures show continued signs of stabilization in house prices and high home affordability due in part to record low mortgage interest rates. The housing scorecard is a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market.

“The Obama Administration has made significant strides in promoting stability for the housing market and the nation’s homeowners. Through a range of swift actions since we took office, we’ve seen millions more families able to stay in their homes and a steady rise in responsible borrowers refinancing their loans or becoming homeowners,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostic. “But, while we cannot stop every foreclosure, we know that more has to be done to reach homeowners in distress and to help unemployed borrowers. That’s why we’re continuing to focus on successfully implementing the programs we’ve put in place—such as neighborhood stabilization funding, additional assistance on refinancing and emergency loans to help unemployed homeowners—and ensuring that help is available to homeowners as early as possible.”

“The recent reports of problems in the foreclosure process underscore the importance of helping responsible homeowners avoid the pain of foreclosure,” said acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Timothy Massad. “As we implement additional program enhancements to reach more homeowners, we continue to stress to mortgage servicers the importance of making every effort to enroll eligible homeowners in HAMP and provide meaningful alternatives to avoidable foreclosures.”

The November Housing Scorecard features key data on the health of the housing market including:

-An additional one million families refinanced their mortgages in the last quarter, taking advantage of the lowest rates in history on 30-year fixed mortgages. Since April 2009, record low interest rates have helped more than 8.3 million homeowners to refinance, resulting in more stable home prices and $15.2 billion in annual borrower savings.

-As expected with the expiration of the Home Buyer Tax Credit, new and existing home sales have remained below levels seen in the first half of 2010. At the same time, home prices remained level in the past year after 33 straight months of decline and homeowners added $95 billion in home equity in the second quarter.

-More than 3.73 million modification arrangements were started between April 2009 and the end of August 2010—more than double the number of foreclosure completions during that time. These modification arrangements included nearly 1.4 million trial Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) modification starts, more than 600,000 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, and nearly 1.8 million proprietary modifications under HOPE Now. While some homeowners may have received help from more than one program, the number of agreements offered were more than double the number of foreclosure completions for the same period (1.6 million).

Data in the scorecard also show that the recovery in the housing market continues to remain fragile. While the recovery will take place over time, the Administration remains committed to its efforts to prevent avoidable foreclosures and stabilize the housing market.

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.

Interested in a Tulsa mortgage? Contact Steve Currington of Currington Mortgage at 918-810-0092 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

To take advantage of the affordability of the Broken Arrow, OK area real estate market, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Is the U.S. Economy Growing?

In an article posted on RISMedia.com titled "New GDP Numbers Show Economy Growing Slowly" by Kevin G. Hall says that newly reported Gross Domestic Product figures show that the economy could be growing. For most of us that is a great thought, especially with so many foreclosures, job losses, and difficult economic times. The article also mentions that consumer spending is up, which is a sign that stress over job losses and other financial woes are decreasing. Want more information on this news? Visit the link to the article here.

To buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK real estate, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Lead, Why it is it Such a Big Deal in my Broken Arrow Home?

There are many health concerns that go along with lead. One of the main concerns involves children. When kids get a hold of it, it can cause central nervous damage, ADD and many other issues. Why does lead create such a problem? Lead particles are very small and can be easily disturbed. 1978 was the cut off date for using lead in the US, however it has been found in things from other countries. With children it is very concerning because they put their fingers in their mouth and ingesting lead can cause health issues. How do I know if there is lead in my home? The biggest areas to watch are paint and caulk. When disturbing paint or caulk, be cautious and call professionals. Instead of sanding or removing it yourself it is better to paint over it so that it is not disturbed. It can spread easily even when taking precautions. For health reasons, it is important to call a professional instead of trying to handle it yourself. Professionals must be certified in order to handle lead removal.

Call the professionals at PCC Cleaning and Restoration for lead paint removal in the Broken Arrow, OK area at 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

For real estate needs in the Broken Arrow, OK area, contact Darryl Baskin of McGraw Realtos at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

How are Broken Arrow, Oklahoma real estate matters resolved in court!

There are different types of cases and courts in which a Broken Arrow, OK real estate related matter can be heard. When it comes to real estate, there could be issues related to property lines, ownership, title problems, failure to declare previous issues in a disclosure statement or much more. Here are several types of issues that could arise and how they are generally handled.

In small claims court, the case is usually over things with a value of less than $6000. Many times in small claims court people are unrepresented when it comes to a small dispute over less than $6000 or disputes over a renter and landlord. Cases like these are usually heard by the judge within 30 days and are decided the day of the court hearing. For an eviction, you give notice to a tenant and have it posted. If they don't respond or pay you the debt they owe, you file a petition at the courthouse with appropriate information. It is filed and you pay a small fee and they send a notice out. You are usually given a court date within 30 days. If you are a renter and the landlord's property (where you live) is involved in a foreclosure, there are several things that can happen. Sometimes even if you are in the right, you may still lose any prepaid money.

For more information on legal matters involving Broken Arrow, OK real estate, contact David Keesling with Richardson, Richardson, Boudreaux at 918-492-7674 or www.rrblawok.com.

Need Broken Arrow, OK title insurance? Contact Ann Rollins of Closings of Tulsa at 918-493-2241 or www.closingsoftulsa.com.

Prevent legal issues due to lack of insurance coverage. For Broken Arrow, OK insurance, contact Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance at 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.

For all your Broken Arrow, OK real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

South Tulsa Luxury Home for Sale

Bixby, OK Luxury Home for Sale!

10824 S. 93 E. Ave.
Bixby, OK. in The Legends Addition
$725,000

5 Bedrooms
5 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
5 Living Areas
3 Car Garage
Bixby School District

Casual elegance combined with private backyard backing to green area & mature trees. Gorgeous brick & stone 5 Bedroom. Main level master with his & her's bath off Laundry Room. Granite Kitchen open to family room. 3 bedrooms, game & exercise rooms upstairs. Outdoor living with Pool and Bath.

To get more information on this Bixby, OK luxury home for sale or to buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK area real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Will Buying a Broken Arrow, OK Area Condo Lead to Higher Bills?

For many home buyers, considering a condominium or townhouse seems like a smart idea. They can avoid doing exterior maintenance on the property such as lawn care and painting, but also have the benefits of home ownership. With the increase in foreclosures in the last couple of years, however, owners can find themselves being required to pay extra dues and expenses caused by owners who have had their properties foreclosed. An article, recently printed in the Tulsa World, Shared housing can lead to shared bills, discusses some keys to avoiding extra expenses when purchasing a condo or other type of shared housing.

Shared housing can lead to shared bills

For those who have a lot of cash or can get credit, this could be an ideal time to buy a house.

But beware if you are looking to buy a condominium, co-op, town house or other property that's part of a homeownership group - you could end up responsible for some of your neighbors' bills.

That's because people in shared ownership communities chip in to pay the cost of maintaining the buildings and amenities such as swimming pools. Also, the funds, usually paid in monthly installments, are often used to pay for landscaping, as well as to insure the structures.

But when individual owners in a group walk away from their homes or lose them to foreclosures, the bills end up getting split by the remaining homeowners.

Sometimes associations let bills pile up, creating potentially devastating surprises for owners.

"There's really a crisis within a crisis in the shared ownership community," said Gary Poliakoff, co-author of "New Neighborhoods: The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-op and HOA Living."

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) trade group recently reported that more than half of the nation's 310,000 community associations are struggling with "serious" or "severe" financial woes.

Some 59 percent of association managers reported that more than 3 percent of homes in their community groups were vacant, the study said. Some 65 percent of associations reported that more than 5 percent of their homeowners were delinquent on their monthly assessments.

If an association determines that it needs to levy a special assessment on homeowners, there's no legal limit on how high that assessment can be.

And homeowners can't just decide not to pay. Associations can get legal judgments to allow them to take a portion of homeowners' wages or put liens on their properties.

To help avoid problems, check out the association thoroughly before you buy.

Dig deep into financial records. You should get the association's financial statement and find out what expenses the complex is paying, and what percentage of its overall obligations is handled by the dues.

Associations should have a balanced budget that covers both current and anticipated costs, he said.

Make sure the association has adequate insurance coverage. Associations generally hold the policy on structures.

Check into an association's reserves. Some states require that the associations maintain reserves for any expense that's likely to exceed threshold amounts, such as $10,000. In those states the association must have a reserve study showing what the anticipated costs are, when they're expected to be needed and how much money is set aside to handle them.

Look over the grounds. Some 35 percent of associations have reduced landscaping services and 12 percent are asking homeowners to do some work themselves, the CAI study said.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=364&articleid=20101114_46_E3_Fortho308694

To buy or sell your Broken Arrow, OK Area Condo, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Tulsa OK Condos For Sale

Tulsa, Oklahoma Condominiums for Sale

Enjoy the View from these Charming Spacious Condo's just Steps Away from the River Parks. Downtown and major interstates are only minutes away.

3731 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$172,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage

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3727 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$169,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage
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3729 South Riverside Drive
Tower Court Condo's in Tulsa, OK.

$169,900

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Attached Garage


To sell your Broken Arrow, OK area Condo or to find condominiums for sale in Broken Arrow OK, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Tulsa OK Area Luxury Homes for Sale...

Luxury Homes for Sale in the Tulsa, OK Area

Elegant Luxury Home For Sale in Bixby, OK.

13420 S. Lewis Ave.
$999,000

13420 South Lewis Avenue in Bixby, OK
The Estates of Hampton Hills Addition

5 Bedrooms
5 Full, 1 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage

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Secluded Owasso, OK Luxury Home For Sale

15601 East 82nd Street North
in Owasso, OK.

$1,900,000

4 Bedrooms
4 Full, 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

To buy or sell a luxury home in the Bixby, OK or Owasso, OK area, or to buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK real estate contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Will 2011 Be a Positive Year for The Housing Market?

The National Association of Realtor's Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, believes that since home "affordability remains strong" and if "consumer confidence and business spending" increases, we could see a "virtuous cycle" begin as early as next year. What happens if consumer confidence and business spending don't increase? Yun says that we could enter a "vicious cycle" instead! Read on for the entire article, Home Sales Could Enter 'Virtuous Cycle', as printed in Realtor Magazine Online.

Consumer confidence and business spending are key to whether the U.S. housing market will move into a virtuous or a vicious cycle in 2011, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told a packed audience at the Residential Economic Outlook Forum Friday in New Orleans.

After the downturn, the housing market has clawed its way back to a point of near stability, Yun said, with the pace of new foreclosures easing, sales moving toward historically normal levels and prices on a national basis gaining modestly.

At the same time, affordability remains strong. He said all of the price excesses from the housing bubble have been squeezed out. In San Diego, for example, buyers today would pay $1,564 a month in mortgage payments for a house that at the height of the boom would have cost them $2,833 a month.

The broader economy is also showing positive signs, with businesses enjoying strong profits, sitting on huge cash reserves, and even adding jobs. Yun predicts this positive trend to continue into 2011, with existing home sales reaching 5.5 million units, prices rising a modest 1 percent, and the U.S. gross domestic product increasing to about 2.5 percent.

“We are entering a virtuous cycle,” he said. But for the positive trend to continue, he added, businesses will have to start spending some of their cash to fuel job growth at a far greater pace than they’re doing now. Currently, businesses are adding jobs at a pace of about 100,000 a month. That needs to grow to about 400,000 a month for unemployment to start shrinking.

The scenario will be far more negative if businesses continue to sit on their cash. In that case, sales will fall, inventories will rise, the high rate of foreclosures will resume, and the cost to the federal government of bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will surge.

Federal Reserve Governor Thomas Koenig, who shared the dais with Yun, said the Fed’s continued effort to spur the economy, most recently through a $600 billion bond buying program, is understandable given concerns over the slow pace of growth. But the continued subsidization of the market could unleash inflationary forces.

Yun said he sees possible evidence of inflation building, but it’s not visible now because the housing-cost portion of inflation measurements is holding down prices.

—Rob Freedman, REALTOR® Magazine

Now is a great time to buy or sell your Broken Arrow, OK home! Contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Could the Economy Sink Even Further?

A recent article posted in Realtor.org, Fed's Aggressive Policy Sparks Critics, discusses the decision announced Wednesday that the Federal Reserve would be buying $600 Billion in Treasure securities.

When the Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it intended to buy $600 billion in Treasury securities through June, it also signaled that it could make more purchases after that if unemployment remained too high and inflation too low.

But after the announcement many deficit hawks who warned about inflation earlier this year repeated those warnings anew. The Cato Institute, citing a former vice president of the Dallas Fed, said the new program would “sink” the economy.

It’s always possible that the critics are correct and that, this time, inflation really is just around the corner. But there is still no good evidence of it. The better question may be whether the Fed is still behind the curve.

Some economists are optimistic that it has finally found the right balance. Manoj Pradhan, a global economist at Morgan Stanley, pointed out that bond purchase programs lifted growth in Europe and the United States last year—and a broadly similar approach also helped end the Great Depression.

“There are no guarantees,” Pradhan said, “but the historical precedents certainly suggest it will work.”

Others, though, wonder if the program is both too late and too little. “I’m a little disappointed,” said Joseph Gagnon, a former Fed economist who has strongly argued for more action.

The announced pace of bond purchases appears somewhat slower than Fed officials had recently been signaling, Gagnon added, which may explain why interest rates on 30-year bonds actually rose after the Fed announcement.

One thing seems undeniable: the Fed’s task is harder than it would have been six months ago. Businesses and consumers may now wonder if any new signs of recovery are another false start.

Source: The New York Times, Sewell Chan and David Leonhardt 11/03/2010

For your Broken Arrow, OK real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

How the Election Might Affect Broken Arrow Foreclosures

With the changes coming as a result of Tuesday's election, there remains a question about how these changes will affect the national and Broken Arrow real estate market. According to an article posted in the Wall Street Journal by Robbie Whelan, some of the initial results are:

1. Ten of the 12 state attorneys general on the executive committee heading the foreclosure probe lost their re-election bids and won’t be returning to office. However, Ohio’s Richard Cordray, one of the most outspoken AGs, says the change of watch won’t matter very much.

“The issue is still there. The elections don’t change that. It’s going to need to be addressed, from the industry’s standpoint,” he said. “The 50 state investigation will continue to go forward.”

2. In Florida, voters rejected a proposal to change the state’s constitution to allow voters to decide changes to local master plans. The proposal was rejected by two-thirds of voters.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Robbie Whelan (11/03/2010)

Broken Arrow, OK foreclosure rate for September 2010 was 1 in every 137 housing units. For Oklahoma, 1 in every 174 housing units and nationally, 1 in every 371. Compared to national foreclosure rates Oklahoma is mid-range. For Oklahoma rates, Broken Arrow falls in the high side and within Broken Arrow, 74011 is on the high side and 74012 on the low side (Source: Realtytrac.com). Although there is no guarantee how these foreclosure rates will be affected by the election changes, only time will really tell if the changes help the economy and lower foreclosure rates.

Stop your Broken Arrow Foreclosure, contact Stan of The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.stopmytulsaforeclosure.com

To read the original article in the Wall Street Journal, click here.
To read the article in RealtorMag, click here.

Luxury Bixby, OK. Ranch for Sale

Gated and Secluded Luxury Estate in Bixby, OK

1724 East 151 Street
in Bixby, OK.

$2,675,000

5 Bedrooms
6.5 Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

Incomparable Gated & Secluded Estate! Luxurious Private Estate sits on 4 Acres w/up to 100 acres available including a 12-acre pond. Rare & unusual hand carvings & stone accents. Master separate from the 3 guest en suites. Gourmet Kitchen, Saloon & More!

For more information on this Luxury Bixby, OK Ranch for Sale or for all your Broken Arrow, OK real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

KNOW YOUR VOTING INFORMATION!

One of the biggest and most important United States and Oklahoma elections is tomorrow, November 2, 2010. For many of you, you have already researched the issues and candidates, know your polling place, and are ready to go. For others, however, knowing what you will be voting on is a daunting task and you may not know where to start. For those of you in the latter category, or for those who simply want a little bit more information, read on for some helpful steps to take before you vote and for some vital links to ballot information.

Steps to Take to Ensure a Smoother Voting Process:

1. Know Your Information! Before you go vote, make sure you know the following: your voting precinct, state Senate district, state House district, County Commission district. Knowing this information can ensure that you get all the proper ballots and the right candidates to choose from on your ballot. Follow this helpful link to the Oklahoma State Election Board. Simply click on find your polling place and enter your name, birthday, and zip code. Take this information with you when you vote.
2. Know Your Oklahoma State Questions and Candidates! There will be 11 State Questions on the Ballot tomorrow, as well as elections for 9 statewide partisan offices, and 6 statewide judicial offices. There will also be many district judges and special elections all over the state. Take some time to check out the following links to be an informed voter. Follow this link to Ballotpedia for links to information on each of the 11 state questions. Follow this link to politics1 for information on the statewide elections. This link to tulsacounty will give you a copy of your sample ballot. You will need the information you found in point 1 to get the proper ballot.
3. Go Vote! Make sure you take notes of which candidates, questions, and issues you are in agreement with. You could even print out the sample ballot and mark it for easier reference.

The important thing is to make our voices heard. No matter which candidate or side of the issue you stand on, be informed and go vote.

For all your Broken Arrow, OK area real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Bailout Costs Taxpayers More than Expected.

According to a recent article posted by Paul Davidson in USA Today, the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will cost taxpayers more that was originally thought. So far, Fannie and Freddie have received $135 billion in funds from the Treasury Department. They are expected to receive another $19 billion by 2013.

Paul also mentions that the $154 billion bailout is not the compete figure...

"All these figures exclude dividends paid, or expected to be paid, to Treasury based on its preferred shares in Fannie and Freddie. If those amounts were included, the companies are expected to draw $221 billion to $363 billion by 2013."

The bailouts for the financial firms and auto industry cost taxpayers $50 billion.

Read the original article, "Fannie, Freddie bailout to cost taxpayers $154 billion", here.


To buy or sell Broken Arrow, OK real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Some of South Tulsa's Finest Luxury Homes for Sale...

Some of South Tulsa's Finest Luxury Homes for Sale...

Jenks, OK Luxury Home for Sale

720 W. 108th St. in Jenks
Aberdeen Falls Addition

$1,695,000

5 Bedrooms
5 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

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New Construction in Bixby, OK!

12204 South 68th East Avenue
Woodmere Addition in Bixby, Oklahoma
$935,000

5 Bedrooms
4 Full 1 Half Baths
4 Car Garage
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Magnificent Gated Estate in Jenks, OK!

777 West 106th Street
The Estates at Stone Bluff in Jenks, Oklahoma
$2,999,000

5 Bedrooms
7 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage


For more information on any of these Tulsa, Oklahoma area luxury homes or to buy or sell your home in the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com