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 these 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 won't 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 that 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. When selecting flooring products- remember to check wear, stain resistance, and even product type (such as carpet, tile, or hardwood).
  
• Mortgage Options- Check with your mortgage company 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 that 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 smaller down-payments.

Want more information? Contact these professionals or visit www.tulsahomecare.com:

Home Building in the Tulsa, OK area- 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.royalrofingllc.com.

Flooring Products- Jim Ecrette at ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings at 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com. Don't forget to ask for Darryl Baskin's pricing discount!

Construction Increases Nationwide!

The construction industry seems to be looking up. According to Realtor Magazine, January new home construction was up 2.8 percent to 591,000 from 575,000 in December. The building industry hopes that this is an indication that recovery has started.

Want to build a new home in the Tulsa, OK area? Contact Bruce Gardner of Gardner Construction at 918-481-1377 or gcc1946@aol.com.

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

Building Industry Shows Signs of Improvement

Despite the economy and the constant news that the housing market is failing, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and the Tulsa metro area are doing quite well. Tulsa and Broken Arrow both had 32 housing starts (new residential building projects started) for the month of December. Broken Arrow, however, had 375 housing starts for the year of 2009, where Tulsa had 353. 190 building permits were issued in the Tulsa metro area in December. That is a 14.5% increase over November of 2009 and an 81% increase over December of 2008. Tulsa's housing starts for the year of 2008 were only 9.5% behind that of totals from last year at the same time. While that may not sound positive, the beginning of the year housing starts were 50% behind those of last years.

That news causes many to believe that the building industry is improving. While there is no one factor that could cause this improvement, there are several that may have helped with it: the first time buyers tax credit and new legislation in Oklahoma that would require builders to carry worker's compensation insurance.

To build a new home in the Tulsa, OK or Broken Arrow, OK area call Bruce Gardner of Gardner Construction at 918-481-1377 or gcc1946@aol.com.

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

For more information on the first time home buyer tax credit contact Steve Currington of Currington Mortgage at 918-810-0092 or stevec@curringtonmortgage.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.

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.