What Are the State Questions for November 2, 2010

Quite frankly, I've been a little confused about the state questions that are up for vote on November 2nd.  I am trying to make informed decisions about which way to vote - Yes or No.  Why not hit the internet?  Here is a great website that explains each of the questions. 

https://www.sos.ok.gov/gov/proposed_questions.aspx#sq744

Check it out and make great decisions.  Get out and vote on Tuesday, November 2nd!

Housing Trends Newsletter

Check out this Newsletter with trends and helpful tools for home selling and buying. 

Housing Trends Newsletter

Oklahoma Named #1 and #2 in Investment Real Estate Markets

The Wall Street Journal just released a study done by Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina firm that measures the potential for price appreciation in real estate markets with more than 200,000 residents.  It identified the top 10 best and worst metros for conservative investors.  For the full WSJ story, please click HERE.

Here are the 10 most-promising areas for conservative investors:

1. Tulsa, Okla.

2. Oklahoma City, Okla.

3. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.

4. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.

5. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.

6. El Paso, Texas

7. Winston-Salem, N.C.

8. Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

9. Worcester, Mass.

10. Louisville-Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, M.P. McQueen (10/01/2010)

If you have an interest in investing in homes in OK, please contact me today to see how we can help you build a real estate portfolio in the top rated market in the US.  Thank you!

Mc Laren's Pantry Has Moved

If you are a cookie lover like me, you might want to make note of the new location of this wonderful bakery and sandwich shop.  They have moved into the old location of City Bites in the Mardel shopping center at Boulevard and 33rd in Edmond.

McLaren's has all kinds of cookies including chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, shortbread, sugar (wonderful) and my favorite, no-bakes.  I love all of the cookies.  They also have all kinds of yummy bar cookies.

At lunch, they have all kinds of sandwiches, quiches, soups, salads, chips and drinks.  And did I mention that the the cookies are absolutely to die for?  YUM!  They also make trays for parties and special occasions.

The new location is larger with lots of windows, more tables (I think) and what looks like a larger kitchen.

Next time you are in the area, or just craving chocolate, be sure to stop by the new location of Mc Laren's for some yummy treats!

6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home

6 Creative Ways

to Afford a Home

1. Investigate local, state, and national down payment assistance programs. These programs give qualified applicants loans or grants to cover all or part of your required down payment. National programs include the Nehemiah program, www.getdownpayment.com, and the American Dream Down Payment Fund from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, www.hud.gov.

2. Explore seller financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you would do with a mortgage.

3. Consider a shared-appreciation or shared-equity arrangement. Under this arrangement, your family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the home and share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and maintenance costs, but all the investors' names are usually on the mortgage. Companies are available that can help you find such an investor, if your family can’t participate.

4. Ask your family for help. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the down payment or act as a co-signer for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a co-signer if you have little credit history.

5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the chance to save more toward your down payment. And in many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.

6. Consider a short-term second mortgage. If you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage, this would give you money to make a larger down payment. This may be possible if you’re in good financial standing, with a strong income and little other debt.

As your realtor, I am happy to help by answering your questions or pointing you in the right direction to get these and more questions answered.

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.  Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.

5 Things to Do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Oklahoma City - Shakespeare in the Park - Romeo and Juliet

Yesterday was my husband's and daughter's birthday.  To celebrate we drove about 13 of my daughter's friends down to eat at The Wedge in Deep Duece.  After dinner, we all headed over to see Romeo and Juliet at Bicentennial Park in Downtown Oklahoma City.  Wow!  What a great show!  With its wonderful actors, updated clothing, newer music, and original script, we really enjoyed the show.
Another great thing was that since there were so many of us, my husband and I got in free.  I think it was actually Edmond Memorial High School night at the show, so we saw even more people that we knew.

If you can make it, you should go.  It runs through September 4th, 2010.