Too Much Stuff!

It is all too common to hear someone say, I have way too much stuff! Some people hoard, others save “just in case”, and many find out they have too much stuff when they have to move. Whatever your reasons, any time is the perfect time to go through that stuff and figure out what to do with it. Here are your five basic options: Keep it, Store it, Sell, it, Donate it, and Throw it Away. The hard part is trying to put that stuff in the right category. First, ask yourself these questions:

• Does this item add positive value to my life or does it make me feel bad?
• Does this item have sentimental value? Is it a family heirloom?
• Have I used this item or worn these clothes in the last year?

If the item is in the keep pile consider storing it. Larger items or items that you decide to keep but still don’t have room for can be put into storage. Remember to think about insurance coverage and special needs for certain items, such as temperature, parking, etc.

If you are getting rid of the item, follow these basic rules to categorize that “stuff”!

• Throw it away if it is torn, ripped, broken, or stained.
• Sell it if it is something that you think someone else would buy or could imagine someone else using. These items can be sold in a garage sale, consignment store, or even online.
• Donate items that are in good shape and would be helpful to others. Places like Salvation Army and Goodwill take many donations and pick up in certain areas. Also remember that some items like children’s toys, book and videos can be donated to children’s hospitals and other organizations with needy or sick children. Be creative and check around. There are many worthwhile places to donate good used items.

For information on storage facilities, rental costs, and other storage tips call Mike Steinberg, Relocation LLC at 918-459-6683 or www.relocationllc.net.

For all your real estate needs in the Tulsa, OK. area contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

New Luxury Real Estate Investors!

Foreign investors have been particularly interested in luxury real estate since the US economy and dollar have declined. They are able to purchase real estate in many areas of the US for half of what they would have paid a few years ago. The currency in countries such as Brazil, Canada, and France is stonger than the dollar. Foreign investors from these countries are buying luxury condo's in cities like Las Vegas, Miami, and New York City. They also buy in Texas, Arizona, and California.

For more information on the Tulsa, Oklahoma area Luxury Real Estate Market, contact the Tulsa Luxury Property Group of McGraw Realtors at www.tulsaluxurypropertygroup.com.

Things to Consider When Building a Home!

When building a new home, there are so many decisions to make, from the location and builder to which carpet and paint to choose. Keep the following tips in mind when you decide to build a new home.

• Location- Work with your Realtor when purchasing land and building your home to make sure that the location you desire will fit your budget as well as the style and size you want in your home. Don't find out after purchasing that you can't do what you want or that the market will not handle your specific plans.
  
• Building- Select your builder carefully! Ask for recommendations from your Realtor, after all they work with builders everyday. Ask builders for referrals and contact them. Ask plenty of questions and don't be afraid to get more than one quote!
• Products- Once you have purchased land, selected a builder, and begun the building process, there will be many products to choose. Ask about your options and shop around in advance to make sure you get what you want at the price you want. When selecting roofing products and styles- keep in mind your budget, style of home, and the weather in your area. Remember that by adding ridge vents or using certain materials you can decrease your energy costs.
• Mortgage Options- Check with your mortgage banker to find out what mortgage options are available to you. For example, can you qualify for a VA or Rural Home Loan? Also, make sure you know your budget and how much down-payment you have. If you have less than 20% to put down, ask about loans that require less down-payment!

Want more information? Contact these professionals:

Home-Building in Tulsa, Oklahoma- Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-734-1293 or usbs@att.net.

Tulsa, OK Mortgages- Steve Currington, Currington Mortgage at 918-810-0092 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

Roofing in the Tulsa, OK. Area- Jonathon Knapp, Royal Roofing, at 918-398-6500 or www.royalroofingllc.com.

What is Special About Bank of Oklahoma Mortgage

Special holiday pricing - call me for a rate quote!

Other great features

In-house underwriting and processing, we service our loans, and we have a proven and stable history!

Karen Heston
Bank of Okhaoma Mortgage
918-488-7353 (direct)
800-947-2655 (toll free)

A-Best Roofing Expands into OKC!

A-Best Roofing of Tulsa has expanded to serve the Oklahoma City area. They have provided residential and commercial roofing services in the Tulsa area for 21 years and now serve OKC. Their new office is located at 13722 N. Lincoln Blvd. in Edmond. You can also visit their Tulsa location at 1411 E. 3rd St. For more information on roofing products or for an estimate for roofing services, contact Judy Smith of A-Best Roofing at 918-587-1426 or judysmith@abestroofing.com.

For a list of home maintenance professionals visit www.tulsahomemaintenance.com.

The Top Questions You Should Ask Your Mortgage Banker!

Most home buyer's have questions about their mortgage and the mortgage process. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the process so keep this list handy to get you started:

• How much down-payment do I need to buy a house? If you are a Veteran or buying in a rural area you can get 100% financing. The seller is also allowed to pay your closing costs. If you are Native American you may be eligible for a Hud 184 loan. This loan requires as low as a 1.25% down-payment, depending on the loan amount. For an FHA loan, you must put down 3.5%, for Conventional a 5% down-payment is required, and Investment loans require a 20% down-payment.
• What are Points/Origination Fees? Points and Origination Fees are additional fees paid at closing to lower your interest rate. 1 point is equal to $1000.
• How do I find out exactly what my closing costs, fees, and other items are when I am comparing mortgage companies and rates? Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Look at fee lines 800-900. Compare the rate, points/origination fees, and other items within that range.
• What constitutes a rural development loan? A rural development loan is all based on the population of an area. Owasso and Glenpool, for example, are still rural and are eligible for a rural development loan. USDA Rural Development website can give you more information about any areas you are interested in.
• How do Mortgage Bankers get paid? Generally, it is based on a commission calculated from the volume produced. The more produced, the higher percentage.

If you have questions about a mortgage, contact Karen Heston at BOK Mortgage, 918-230-9432 or visit her website.

For real estate questions and all your real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-259-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Mold! What Do I Do?

Mold is a problem that we hear about often. It is also something that causes great concern when it is found in our home or workplace. Because of potential health issues, it must be taken care of quickly. At what point, however, do you know when it becomes a legal issue and a lawsuit might be appropriate? Keep these things in mind before you contact an attorney:

• Make sure that you inform your landlord or employer about the problem. Remember to keep proof that your landlord or employer received the information. Many times, your landlord or employer might not be aware of the problem, which can often be repaired at little cost. Make sure that you give them plenty of time to repair the problem as well. As the property owner, your insurance policy might cover the repairs. Contact your insurance agent to find out.
  
• Finally, if you suspect health problems as a result of the mold, see your physician. Don’t let health problems linger and potentially get worse.

If you own a home or business, have mold problems repaired before the mold spreads, health problems result, or a lawsuit occurs. 



For more information about when it is appropriate to sue over mold in your home or place of employment, contact Chuck Richardson, Richardson Law Firm at 918-633-5070 or www.richardsonlawfirmpc.com.



To discuss cleaning, preventing, and repairing mold, contact Roger Fisher with PCC Cleaning and Restoration at 918-641-1111, pccc@sbcglobal.net or visit their website www.pcccr.com.

To discuss insurance coverage of mold damage in Oklahoma, contact Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance at 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.



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


Improve Your Home or Move?

Right now, during these difficult economic times, many homeowners are choosing to improve their home rather than move. By doing so, when the economy changes they will have increased the value of their home and will be able to sell it at that point. There are many ways to improve your home and add value, including: repairing and replacing your roof, repainting the interior and exterior of your home, installing energy efficient products, providing curb appeal through landscaping, upgrading fixtures, and doing basic maintenance and pest control.

• Repairing or Replacing Your Roof- Make sure that you keep your roof in good repair and when needed, replace it. Check with your roofing professional to see if you need a new roof, have venting problems, have loose shingles, or have any other roofing issues that are in need of repair.
  
• Repainting- repainting your home not only helps maintain the property but it is also appealing to buyers when you decide to sell. Keep neutral colors in mind, however, so that it will be appealing to a large number of buyers.
  
• Installing Energy Efficient Products- replace old windows, appliances, hot water heaters, and heating and a/c units with newer energy star rated ones. This will help decrease your energy bills and will be attractive to buyers.
  
• Providing Curb Appeal through Landscaping- make sure that your landscaping is attractive to buyers. An attractive exterior can help ensure that buyers will at least take a peak inside. Also remember to provide landscaping that will look good in every season.
  
• Upgrading Fixtures- this is an easy and often inexpensive way to improve your home. Replace doorknobs, cabinet pulls, light fixtures, and plumbing fixtures for newer ones.
• Doing Basic Maintenance and Pest Control- this is one of the best ways to improve your property and prevent buyers from walking out the door. Many buyers simply don't want a "fixer upper" or problems with pests. They want it move in ready. Simple home maintenance and pest control will keep buyers interested and will help prevent more expensive repairs later.

Remember, if you don't have the time or skill, hire a professional to do needed improvements and repairs. A poor repair job won't attract buyers when you decide to sell. Check our the professionals listed below or visit www.tulsahomemaintenance.com for a complete list of professionals.

• For information on how to improve your home by repairing or replacing your roof, contact Judy Smith of Abest Roofing at 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.

• For information on pest control in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area contact Duane Montgomery, Montgomery Exterminating at 918-438-4885 or www.montgomeryexterminating.com.

• To have a estimate on property repairs contact Jonathon Knapp of Residential Repairs at 918-621-1020 or www.residentialrepairinc.com.

• For heating and air conditioning repair and replacement contact Stephen Taylor at Air Assurance at 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.

• For information on how to improve your home or on buying or selling a home contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Buy Now or Wait for Lower Rates?

With memories of home mortgage rates of 16% and 18% in years past, current mortgage interest rates are at some of the lowest points in the last 25 or 30 years. At this time, mortgage interest rates are in the 5% range, depending on the type of loan obtained. For most "First Time Home Buyers," the interest rates have probably never been lower in their lifetime. Even for seasoned home buyers, current interest rates are a real bargain! Waiting for a possible drop of perhaps 1/4% of mortgage rate does not justify waiting to purchase a home when the mortgage interest rate could just as easily go up 1/4% to 1/2%. If a home purchase is a consideration, taking advantage of the current interest rates would be a wise course of action.

To discuss current mortgage rates and information contact Steve Currington of Currington Mortgage at 918-810-0092 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

To buy a home in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

For a directory of home maintenance professionals visit www.tulsahomemaintenance.com.

Preparing Your Landscaping For Cold Weather

When the temperature drops and cold weather months arrive, it is important to remember that our landscaping still needs attention. There are many things that we can do to prepare our landscape for the cold weather. Here are just a few:

• Prune- it is helpful to prune some varieties of plants during the Fall and Winter months.
• Plant- check out plant and vegetable varieties that can be planted during the cold months.
• Mulch- remember to keep about 3 inches of mulch on your flowerbeds all year long. Mulch can help keep the roots warm and hold in moisture.
• Container Plants- don't forget container plants. Some work well inside during cold weather and some can re-grow simply by taking a cutting of the plant.

If you have questions about preparing your landscaping for cold weather or want an estimate for landscaping services contact Nathan at Bluum Outdoor at 918-599-8500 or nathan@bluum.net.

To find out how to prepare your home for sale and for all your real estate needs in the Tulsa, Ok. area, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Petition to Partition

Many times, people will purchase a property with a friend or family member, only to find that years later a strain happens in the relationship and one or both parties want to sell their share in the property. That in itself is not a big problem unless the parties disagree about what should happen with the property. When a disagreement happens that can't be resolved, each party will need to seek an attorney. Usually, it will end up before a judge. Each party will lay out their interest for the property and the judge will determine what will happen with the property, including the interest each party will have with the property. The judge can also appoint appraisers to determine the property value. Getting to this point will usually cost quite a bit of money in legal fees. To avoid this type of situation, contact an attorney to discuss plans before a contract is signed.

If you have questions regarding a Petition to Partition or other legal issues, contact David Keesling with Richardson, Richardson, Boudreaux at 492-7674 or www.rrblawok.com.

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

Homebuyer's Tax Credit Extended

The $8000 tax credit for first time home buyer's has been extended. Originally, the tax credit was only offered until November 30, 2009. The new tax credit extension enables home buyers under contract by April 30, 2010 to use the tax credit. The extension also allows for a $6500 tax credit for home buyers who have owned a home and lived in it for 5 years. In addition, home buyers have an additional 60 days to close the sale. For more information on the tax credit extension, contact Jeff Sargent at ONB Mortgage at 918-392-6572 or jeff_sargent@onbbank.com.

For your Tulsa, OK. area real estate needs, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Month's Supply of Inventory - Tulsa Public Schools District

Month's Supply of Inventory in Tulsa Public Schools District has trended down over past 2 years.

Why Do I Need a Survey When I Build a New Home or Addition?

When you decide to build an addition or a new home, you will need a survey. A survey shows where the property lines are as well as any buildings, easements, driveways, or encroachments on the property, such as a neighbor's driveway. You might say, "I don't need a survey. I have a plat map". A plat map only shows the property boundaries. It doesn't show easements or encroachments which can cause a problem with a legal title. A survey will ensure that anything you are building is not on someoone else's property or easement. It will also help if you have acreage and decide to sell some of it later.

For more information on land surveys, titles, and the closing process, contact JJ Pierce at Closings of Tulsa at 918-493-2241 or www.closingsoftulsa.com.

If you are interested in building a new home or addition, contact Bruce Gardner of Gardner Construction at 918-481-1377 or gcc1946@aol.com.

For real estate needs in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.