Edmond, OK and Oklahoma City, OK Metro Areas Real Estate Specialist

Tip for Adding Color to your Home

2012-02-01T09:56:00.000-06:00

Adding Color

Choosing a color palette for your home is important, but where do you start? Here are some expert tips to help you out.

Start with the formal rooms
These areas include the entry hall, the dining room and the living room. Once you have chosen a palette for those rooms you can pull one color. Take that color and use it, possibly in a different shade or tone, in another room such as your bedroom.

Use the color of your clothes as a cue
People usually buy clothes in the colors that they like and feel they look good in, so use that. Use colors in rooms that look good on you. Not just on the walls but also in furniture and accents.

Decorate from dark to light
An easy way to make any space look great is to use dark color values close to and on the floor, medium values on the walls, and light values on the ceiling. This mirrors the way the external environment looks.

The color wheel
Generally, if you want to create a room of relaxation and informality or privacy, related colors work best. These are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, say yellow and orange. To create a feeling of excitement and formality, great for entertaining, you should use complementary colors. These are colors opposite on the color wheel, such as blue and orange.

Dominant, secondary and accent colors
Use the 60-30-10 rule. Divide the colors of a space into the components of 60 percent dominant color, 30 percent secondary color and 10 percent accent color. This is a no fail equation. Typically the walls make up the most area, so use the dominant color. Then the upholstery uses the secondary color and the accessories, like throw pillows make up the accent.

One last tip
No matter what color scheme you go with, it’s a good idea to put something black in every room. A picture frame, a lampshade, for example. Black helps to anchor all of the other colors in the room.

Your Real Estate Experts in Edmond, OK Heidi Rose, Realtor and Todd Rose, Realtor of Rose Team Homes. For All Your Real Estate Needs

Expired listing?

2011-10-11T22:51:00.002-05:00

So your listing has expired and your wondering what should we do now? Call Todd Rose our Listing Specialist to ask about our 59 Day Guarantee. Email him at Todd@RoseTeamHomes.com or call 405-517-0171.

11713 Shasta Lane

2011-09-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

Great new listing in Summit Place within walking distance of Putnam City North. This great home on Shasta Lane for $157,000 Check it out! Call The Rose Team for all your Oklahoma Real Estate Needs!
11713 Shasta Lane

1301 Twin Grove Cts

2011-08-24T15:50:00.000-05:00

1301 Twin Grove Cts

2308 NW 173RD

2011-06-21T11:56:00.000-05:00

Brand new home in Silverhawk. Home for sale in Edmond. Price per foot is UNBELIEVABLE. Check out this 3 bed, 2 bath and a GAMEROOM! 3 car garage.2308 NW 173RD Call Heidi Rose at Rose Team Homes. Want to see other homes check out www.RoseTeamHomes.com

1517 Auburn Crossing

2011-06-09T14:44:00.001-05:00

Brand New listing Edmond, OK Homestead Community Click on 1517 Auburn Crossing. This Edmond home for sale is B E A U T I F U L!! This area offers community pool, playgrounds and ponds and walking areas throughout!

1815 Redtail Hawk

2011-06-06T15:05:00.000-05:00

Click on 1815 Redtail Hawk to view pictures and info. home for sale in Edmond, OK in Hawks Landing. Great home, great community pool, playground. Edmond Schools.

4317 Starwood Trail

2011-05-18T15:19:00.001-05:00

4317 Starwood Trail, Edmond, OK 73012 Oak Tree Park. Great home with four bedrooms, three full baths, and one half. Awesome yard with trees, cul de sac location. Private!! This is one of favorite communities of homes. Call Heidi Rose to view! Rose Team Homes.

5904 Vixen Way

2011-05-16T15:14:00.000-05:00

5904 Vixen Way, Oklahoma City, Ok. In Fox Run. Why would you be paying rent when you could own your own home. Low maintenance, great location!! Call us today to see what payments would be. 405-330-2626 Heidi Rose or Todd Rose. Rose Team Homes.

1207 Westchester Drive

2011-05-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

1207 Westchester Drive, Oklahoma City, OK. This home ROCKS!! Located just East of Nichols Hills. Beautiful tree lined street of stately homes!! Call Todd or Heidi to view!!

1204 Shelly Lane

2011-03-28T16:57:00.000-05:00

1204 Shelly Lane Edmond, OK listed for $175,000 one acre home with 3 bed, 2.1 baths, 2 car. Contact Rose Team Homes, Heidi Rose or Todd Rose 330-2626.

1373 Stone Canyon Circle

2011-03-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

1373 Stone Canyon Circle Edmond, OK Real Estate. Home with 0ne acre. Get yourself under contract before PMI goes up! Call us to view.

5400 N Hudson, Oklahoma City home for sale

2011-03-07T08:43:00.000-06:00

5400 N Hudson Fixer upper, loads of potential. Check out the area some are selling in the 120's. Close to Bishop McGuiness.

4420 SE 87TH

2011-03-04T09:55:00.001-06:00

Close to Tinker Airforce base, Real Estate in Oklahoma City 4420 SE 87TH , OKC

4420 SE 87TH

2011-03-04T09:55:00.000-06:00

Close to Tinker Airforce base, Real Estate in Oklahoma City 4420 SE 87TH , OKC

17708 Rich Earth Lane

2011-02-25T14:46:00.000-06:00

17708 Rich Earth Lane Edmond, OK listing in Deer Creek. Gated community.

1201 WB Meyer Parkway, Edmond OK

2011-02-24T16:40:00.000-06:00

1201 WB Meyer Parkway Great new listing with community pool, tennis courts, and playground. Edmond schools only a short drive away. Excellent community.

829 NW 116th STREET

2011-02-07T16:32:00.000-06:00

Why Rent when you can buy this home 829 NW 116th STREET Oklahoma City! Remodeled, new carpet, new appliances. Seller will assist with $3000 towards closing costs.

January 2010 Seller Notes for Rose Team Clients

2011-02-04T13:19:00.002-06:00

Hello Sellers – Please find attached a Market Overview of the Months of Inventory of Homes in the Edmond/Deer Creek area. The market right now is pretty stable. Of course this weather will have a BIG impact on showings. People don’t like looking at homes in the cold and slippery conditions. However, they do go online to view homes!!!

We attended the Economic Preview of Edmond last week at UCO and conditions in Edmond are going well, we have lots of development of new jobs on the I35 corridor with Mercy, Integris and other restaurants and so forth moving into that area. The Economist stated that Edmond is in a great position to attract more businesses. That we have a highly educated job force and that we have a large number of our homeowners working.

In lending news, the interest rates are moving up a little bit, which causes urgency for some buyers that may be sitting on the fence, which are a lot!! They are hoping that you will lower your price or that something else will come on the market, the “deal” that they cant miss. Does that happen no, but they wait, and wait….some of you are experiencing that now. We have had a couple of sellers with success make an unadvertised offer to the buyer. If you want to sell now and have a minimum price you will take, let them know that thru us, that is what they are looking for. If they don’t take it, it wasn’t advertised anyways! It helps try a price reduction as well. We of course understand you want the most for your property, we get that, but some of you need it or want it sold now.

We forecast a slew of properties coming on the market in March, so try to beat the new crowd that will come on. Also, hope that we have no more bad weather, because Jan real estate traffic was really good!!

In Rose Team marketing news the text signs are up on a few properties with the remainder coming this week (waiting for the UPS man thru the snow!!) We have a large mailing in Feb to our sphere of contacts on the homes we have in inventory. Homes.com has been pulling some quality leads, and our Keller Williams site has upped its push to more websites.

Things I want you to remember with the weather, keep the walkways and driveways clear, and a mat at your front door, inside and out. You are still liable for someone falling on your property. Keep your home warm. Check your pipes. If something happens to home let us know asap!

If you are a social media person, let us know, when you see your home on our posts, share it with your friends and then ask them to share it with their friends. We can also send a virtual tour via email that you can share with people you work with. The homes are also on Twitter, Linkin and Facebook. You never know who may be looking. I have sold two homes to people that work together who bought the homes and didn’t even realize it was their co-workers home!! Never assume!

So as you can see by this rambling email, we have been snowbound, so hope for some really sunny weather to melt this stuff and get this show on the road!!!

16801 Autumnwood

2011-02-04T13:18:00.000-06:00

New listing in Edmond, Ok. Located in popular Woodvine. Community offers pool! Check it out $171,900
16801 Autumnwood

13509 Raintree Lane, Edmond Ok. Raintree Acres LOT AVAILABLE

2011-01-28T11:27:00.000-06:00

13509 Raintree Lane

14040 Osage

2011-01-19T16:22:00.000-06:00

Home for sale in Edmond, OK. 14040 Osage Drive, Edmond. Over 2500' for $190k, remodeled kitchen, newer roof, hvac, hot water tank. new carpet. Nothing for you to do but move in and make the fun changes if you want!!!
14040 Osage

2843 Indian Creek Blvd

2011-01-19T12:41:00.000-06:00

New listing that is turn key ready for a homeowner, investor or tenant. Quail Country Village in Oklahoma City features a POOL and tennis courts. Call Heidi or Todd Rose for info or showings 405-514-0171.2843 Indian Creek Blvd

2532 NW 179th Court

2011-01-05T12:29:00.000-06:00

New listing in Edmonds Valencia at 2532 NW 179th Ct. This home has four large bedrooms. The builder Ideal Homes is a nationally recognized builder winning many awards, the most important to you is in Energy Efficiency. With low e windows, a fresh air ventalation system and lots more. Call us for more information on this home, or others!! Heidi and Todd Rose 405-274-9210. 2532 NW 179th Court

1912 NW 161 St

2010-12-16T18:15:00.000-06:00

Looking for a Garden Home in Edmond, Ok thats for sale. This home has little outside maintenance. Perfect for the busy person who wants to come home to a 2car garage, 2 bedroom, large living room, study and kitchen with solid surface counters. A gated community, with pool, clubhouse and green space.
1912 NW 161 St

2125 NW 161st

2010-12-16T17:37:00.000-06:00

New Edmond Oklahoma home for sale. This Fossil Creek home is great! Clean and ready for you. Trendy Ralph Lauren Colors and lots of upgrades. Extra side concrete patio, tiled hallways, three car garage, storm shelter. Check out the link....2125 NW 161st

Check out Rose Team Homes Nov Newsletter

2010-11-29T12:52:00.001-06:00

NOVEMBER - 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more.

Please click here to view the NOVEMBER - 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.

Out of town sellers! We can help!

2010-11-22T14:03:00.004-06:00

We just successfully closed a real estate transaction for a seller that lived out of town. Here is what she had to say:
"Hi Heidi,

Back from Colorado. Funds have hit the bank. Thanks for everything. You and Todd make a great team! You are the best.

Best of wishes for the holiday seasons and always. You have my highest recommendations!

JudyK"
We took care of finding her repair people, coordinating with the title company so that they did not need to come to closing and wiring her the funds after closing. All she had to do was move out! If you need that help, please call on Todd and Heidi Rose at www.RoseTeamHomes.com

Top Seller Ideas to help sell your home!

2010-11-14T21:59:00.002-06:00

Here are some great ideas to help sell your home. Take a step back, view your home through a buyers eyes and see if any of these need to be done. We help so many sellers see the little things that count and have helped many sellers in todays market. Check out our listings at www.RoseTeamHomes.com

TRIM BUSHES
LANDSCAPE FOR CURB APPEAL
MULCH
SHUTTERS
REPAINT FRONT DOOR
REPAINT KITCHEN CABINETS
NEW BACKSPLASH
KITCHEN KNOBS N PULLS
PAINT LIVING ROOM
UPDATE LIGHT FIXTURES
STAGE YOUR ROOMS GIVE THEM A DEFINITION
ADD CROWN MOLDING
REMOVE WALLPAPER
STOW AWAY PERSONAL ITEMS
MAKE BATHROOMS FRESH AND CLEAN

Dip to make with Pepper Jelly

2010-11-01T09:56:00.002-05:00

As many of my clients know and some have receive Pepper Jelly from me. It reminds me of my boating years on Lake Winnepesaukee with my family in Braun Bay. We would drop anchor and have bagel chips with cream cheese topped with Pepper Jelly YUMM! After moving to Edmond Oklahome it was hard for me to located the yummy jelly, a few friends made it, but just wasnt the same. I even had some shipped in from the Lollipop company that made it. Now there is a great gourmet shop on Danforth between Kelly and Santa Fe called Woods Floral, and they have the yummy jelly. Well Janie the owner sent me this dip to make with it, and it is yummy!!! So I thought I would sharethis is a great recipe to use with jellys. enjoy!
janie at woods floral.

Gone in 60 Seconds!
(makes about 2.5 cups)

This is a quick and easy, drop-dead delicious spread for crackers.
Ingredients
• 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 c. chopped pecans

• 1 c. chopped green onion

• 1/4 c. mayo (for a looser dip) OR 1/2 c. softened cream cheese (if you prefer a formed ball or torta)

• 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. liz & lindas pepper jelly

Preparation
Combine cheese, pecans, green onion, mayo or cream cheese. At this point this mixture can be frozen for later use. Chill for a few hours and place on pretty plate and spoon jam over the top of the dip just before serving. This is great with crackers!
!

504 Concord Lane

2010-10-26T16:45:00.000-05:00

We just took a great new listing in Copperfield. Home of the Copperhead swim team. Now I know you all know I am fond of the Hurricanes, but I will make the exception because they are a great team too! This Edmond Oklahoma community is located off Edmond Rd between Kelly and Santa Fe. Home will be fantastic with a little paint update and new carpet, and seller is giving $3000 towards closing costs so you can do that!!! Woo hoo! Want to buy an Edmond Home, call Heidi or Todd Rose we want to help. View all our homes at www.RoseTeamHomes.com Click this link to see the Copperfield home at 504 Concord Lane. 504 Concord Lane

4305 Riders Mark

2010-10-15T15:06:00.000-05:00

Just placed under contract this great home Edmond, OK home in Oak Tree Park.
4305 Riders Mark

8304 Blackberry Ridge

2010-10-05T12:02:00.000-05:00

8304 Blackberry Ridge

TIPS FOR PREVENTING PLUMBING PROBLEMS

2010-09-24T12:01:00.000-05:00

Home Maintenance Tip -
Tips for Preventing Plumbing Problems
When your home's plumbing system is working well, all is right with the world! Here are a few maintenance tips to help avoid plumbing problems that can literally soak you.
• Use strainers for sink and tub drains to prevent clogs.
• Refrain from flushing anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.
• Do not pour grease down drains.
• Close foundation vents in the fall and winter seasons to prevent pipes from freezing.
• If your house is going to be vacant for an extended period of time, leave your heat on low and wrap exposed pipes.
• A sagging ceiling may be a sign of a severe water leak. Other signs of leaks may include water spots or dark spots on walls and ceilings, or rusty spots underneath sinks, the water heater, and clothes washer.
www.harfordcountymd.gov
Testimonial of the Month
“Old Republic means peace of mind. I have used their home warranty personally and professionally. I recently did a presentation to my Business Networking group (BNI) about how they can protect themselves for a small amount of money. Home protection is just like having car insurance - you never know when you will need it but you will be protected when you do. Because of my personal knowledge of your warranty I have convinced many of my clients to purchase a warranty.
In my opinion your service truly is ‘People Helping People.’”
S. R., Edmond, OK
Please share this with your clients and friends. You could make someone's day.

Warmly,

Barbara Sander

1312 Shelly Lane

2010-09-23T14:46:00.000-05:00

JUST ON MARKET. Edmond Home. Shop, Another Building for an office, storm shelter, three car, one acre. REMODELED home, kitchen, gameroom, master bath. Make sure you check it out. 1312 Shelly Lane, EDMOND,OK home for sale.1312 Shelly Lane

1700 Tifton Drive

2010-09-21T16:48:00.000-05:00

Brand New Listing in Homestead at 1700 Tifton Drive Edmond, OK
Open House this Sat & Sun 2-4
1700 Tifton Drive

329 W Main Street

2010-09-15T11:54:00.000-05:00

Great Edmond home for sale, close to Downtown and close to UCO.
329 W Main Street

14515 Old Barn Road

2010-09-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

14515 Old Barn Road

1804 Singingwood Road

2010-09-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

1804 Singingwood Road

HOME Maintenance Tip

2010-08-19T13:45:00.003-05:00

Home Maintenance Tip -
Tennis, Anyone?
Do you have tennis balls just sitting around losing their bounce? Here are some creative ways to use them without ever setting foot on the court.
• Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the end of an old broom handle. Rub the ball over scuff marks on your wood or hard surface floors, and voila...they're gone...with no bending, stooping or scrubbing!
• Got a light bulb that broke off in the socket? Carefully clear away any remaining shards of glass, then gently push a tennis ball against the light socket and twist to remove the bulb's embedded stem.
• Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the head of a hammer. Now you're less likely to ding up fragile or expensive wood.
• Cut a tennis ball in half and use one of the sides to open those stubborn jars.
• In the garage, hang a tennis ball on a string from the ceiling so that the ball touches the top left corner of your car's windshield. Now you have a marker and know exactly how far to pull the car in every time!

Pools in Edmond -- Private Oasis

2010-07-06T17:16:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, Todd and I specialize in selling homes with pools. We LOVE our pool, and appreciate a home with one. Here is an interesting article that I ran across that we wanted to share. This is from At Home in Edmond magazine Spring 2010 by Justin Neely. (with commentary by Heidi in between on our personal experience)

In Oklahoma, the combination of heat and humidity during the summer is enough to make you want stay inside and wait it out. What better way to cool off than with your own private oasis by adding a pool in your backyard?

While the construction of a pool can be a costly investment, the enjoyment you and your family will receive can be well worth it. Pools can also add value and be a selling poing when it comes time to sell. For current pool owners who are afraid to use it due to high operating costs, energy efficient pumps, filters and lighting provide huge savings!

If you're looking to add a pool, the first decision is whether to use vinyl or concrete. (we chose vinyl) On average, a concrete pool costs $40,000 to build and may take four to six weeks for completion depending on weather. (when talking to people that put these in, plan longer) Concrete allows for a more versatile design and features such as waterfalls that can be easily added. Vinyl pools cost an average of $30,000 and take around three to five weeks to construct. (again we found it to be longer) Some people choose vinyl over concrete not only because it is less expensive but because they prefer the feel and believe the liners to hold up better to chemically treated water. (we chose a salt water pool, and did rock edging versus coping.

A main concern for pool owners is the cost of heating and operating. Today companies such as Pentair offer heat pumps over traditional gas-fired heaters. Heat pumps utilize the heat of the outside air to warm the pool. Geothermal technology is a similiar idea in which the heat from the earth is transferred to warm homes.(we chose the traditional gas fired, it is expensive and i feel unneccessary in this area unless you need it for a hot tub. We barely use ours.)

"Heat pumps can save up to 80 percent in energy costs compared to gas heaters. The pump uses electricity over gas keeping the cost down. They also use a R-410A refrigerant which is enviromentally friendly," said Greg McDougall of Pleasant Pools.

If you're looking to add a little mood lighting at night, color changing LED technology is energy efficient and long lasting. Colored LED pool lights use 75 percent less wattage than tradtional incandescent and halogen lights. (we have two lights and love them!!!) The white light uses 86 percent less energy.

For some, a high water bill might be another concern during the hot, dry summer. Cartridge filters allow the use of smaller pumps or lower speeds to minimize energy. As opposed to backwashing, cartridge filters can be rinsed thus reducing water use by hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons each year. (we did not know of this option and back wash, wish we had known)

Lastly, choosing the right pump such as those with a permanent magnet motor, could cut energy use up to 90 percent, saving you anywhere from $600 to $1300. "Permanent magnet motors are used in hybrid cars. Magnet motors are more energy efficient and owners can save up to 30 percent over a traditional pump, says McDougall.

Choosing the right equipment to operate your pool could save you thousands of dollars. Dont let operating costs be the reason for not building a pool or usings your existing one.

We have a number of beautiful homes for sale with pools. Call or email us or visit www.RoseTeamHomes.com

UPDATE 1-Senate votes to extend US home tax credit deadline, EDMOND, Oklahoma

2010-06-17T13:31:00.001-05:00

UPDATE 1-Senate votes to extend US home tax credit deadline
WASHINGTON June 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday to give homebuyers another three months to settle on their contracts and take advantage of a popular tax credit that sparked a rush of activity in the housing market.
The Senate, with a vote of 60-37, accepted an amendment by Democratic Leader Harry Reid that extends the closing deadline to Sept. 30 for buyers who met the April 30 deadline to have a signed contract.
The current deadline requires buyers to close by June 30 to get the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers. Existing homeowners buying a new primary residence are eligible for a $6,500 credit.
Reid offered the measure as an amendment to a bill that would extend some popular business tax breaks and extend unemployment insurance benefits for jobless workers.
The proposal would not have a significant impact on future home sales as the extension would be only for home buyers who already had a contract in hand by April 30.
The popularity of the tax credit has caused some anxiety because settlement offices are inundated with buyers trying to close on transactions by the end of this month to get the tax break. (Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

Ted Clay
Sr. Loan Officer
NMLSR # 217991
OK License # MLO01963
Office: 405-341-8644
Cell: 405-826-1320
e-Fax: 1-866-208-5309
tclay@wrstarkey.com
www.TedClay.com

913 Chartrand Ct

2010-06-16T17:13:00.000-05:00

913 Chartrand Ct

1643 Birchfield Road

2010-06-16T16:55:00.000-05:00

1643 Birchfield Road

6280 Valley View Road

2010-06-16T16:36:00.000-05:00

6280 Valley View Road

Problems with Recent Closings...due to new Fannie Mae Guidelines

2010-06-04T14:35:00.001-05:00

This was just given to me by one of my Lender Partners, Cody McCollom at Premier Nationwide Lending call him to get qualified. 405-990-2855.

Applying for mortgage? Starting June 1, you could face another credit screening.
If you’re thinking about applying for a home mortgage, here’s some important news: Beginning June 1, 2010, your lender is likely to order a second full
credit screening immediately before closing. The last minute credit report will be designed to find out whether you have obtained, or even shopped for,
new debt between the date of your loan application and the closing. If you’ve made applications for credit of any type, for furnishings or appliances for the
new house, car, landscaping, a home equity line, a new credit card, you name it-the closing could be put on hold pending research by the lender.
If you’ve actually taken out new loans that are sizable enough to affect the debt-to-income ratio calculations used in your original mortgage approval, the
whole deal could fall through. The added debt load could render you ineligible for the mortgage because you suddenly appear unable to handle the
payments without a strain on your household budget.
The June 1 changes are part of a new effort by mortgage giant Fannie Mae to cut down on slipshod underwriting by lenders and fraud by borrowers.
Fannie’s “loan quality initiative” will require lenders not only to pull two credit reports for each mortgage transaction but to perform additional verifications
of borrower occupancy plans for the property, Social Security numbers and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.
There is almost an irresistible urge for borrowers that have been approved for the loan to think about shopping for all of the things you need for the house.
In the past, that might not have raised an eyebrow-or even been detected. But under the new double-check policy, when new applications for cards show
up as a “hard”, or borrower-initiated inquiry on a credit report, the lender is going to have to contact the merchant and determine whether credit was
extended, in what amount, and how this might affect the applicant’s home financing transaction. Most often the new debt involves furniture or other goods
for the new house.
Fannie Mae spokeswoman Janis Smith said lenders “will have to look for things like new credit accounts, increased credit lines, increased balances on
existing accounts, undisclosed or newly recorded liens, second mortgages-anything that may have incurred or closed up to the concurrent with the
closing” are considered the final loan analysis. All of this may not be as straightforward as it sounds. For example, if the credit report is pulled immediately
before closing to comply with the “up to and concurrent” requirement, there may not be sufficient time to check out inquiries-especially those in which no
actual drawdown of debt has been reported to the national credit bureaus. There is question whether the entire loan packages might need to be reunderwritten-
a time-consuming process-based on credit data discovered at the eleventh hour.
In that event……… Poof goes your closing!
How should home buyers and financers prepare for the new credit check procedures? Lenders and credit
reporting company executives say everybody needs to follow just one basic rule: abstinence! Between your
application for a mortgage and the date of closing-which might be a span of 46 to 60 days or more-resist the
irresistible. Don’t apply for new credit unless you discuss it in advance with your lender and get a green light!

Rose Team Homes adds Stewart Concierge for Buyers and Sellers!

2010-06-03T16:18:00.003-05:00

As of today, Heidi & Todd have added a new service for our clients. It's called Stewart Concierge...what does this mean for you? This service is being offered by one of our preferred partners, Stewart Concierge will be your single point of contact for getting utilities connected. This is a complimentary service that can guide you through options and plans specific to the utility providers in the area and help secure services based on your budget and individual needs. Services available for Concierge assistance include: electricity, gas, water, sewage, moving services, cellular, internet and cable services, home security, blinds and more!

This is just one more value added for using Rose Team Homes to be your Realtor choice! If you want to buy a home in Edmond, OKC, Piedmont or have other real estate needs, tell us you would like the Stewart service!

Client in Edmond Testimonial for Rose Team Homes

2010-05-11T11:59:00.001-05:00

In today's housing market wherein trends come and go, rules and information changes by the minute, simplicity is a thing of the past and all you want to do is buy or sell a house, I would strongly recommend using Heidi Rose as your Realtor. As we all know, purchasing a home is one of the largest investments to be made and all of us want the peace of mind that we have done our best to make a wise investment. To make a wise investment, you must be able to see beyond the initial "curb appeal" and prepare yourself to gather information - - lots and lots of information. Information such as: who was there builder; how old (or new) are the appliances; what schools will my children be attending; how old is the roof, hot water tank, AC system; what kind of financing is available etc . So, you can drive yourself NUTS trying to obtain this information on your own (good luck!) OR you can work with a hard working, honest, great realtor - not a good realtor - but a great realtor. That realtor for us was Heidi Rose.

We loved Heidi's straightforward style while we were looking for a home. If she didn't have the information - she would do her best to get it. Heidi never shyed away from the hard questions and never gave us less than an honest answer. Heidi stayed committed to helping us find the home we wanted - even if we didn't find the right property within the first 30 days. Heidi never attempted to change what we wanted in a home but worked hard to find the home WE were looking for.

Heidi's thorough knowledge and understanding of the housing market, as well as the closing process, made the purchase of our home much easier. Once we found the home we wanted to purchase, Heidi continued to work with us by carefully preparing us for every step of the closing process, thereby eliminating a lot of the "surprises" that leave many home buyers sitting at the closing table facing delays and/or additional expenditures. We love our new home and we loved having Heidi as our Realtor. Heidi is an excellent realtor and now a good friend, who is welcome at our "new" home anytime. If you are buying or selling a home and want direct answers to your direct questions - give Heidi Rose a call.

Respectfully,

Mr. and Mrs. R. Kelm
Edmond, OK

Tornados Hit Edmond and Oklahoma City areas

2010-05-10T20:28:00.002-05:00

Whew! We are safe here in Edmond, no tornado hit on this storm. Unfortunately not the same can be said in Shawnee, Choctaw, Norman and other rural areas. We hope that the people are safe and recover quickly from these storms. The great thing about Oklahoma is that they have done this before, we band together and take care of people. Just heard a story on the news on how a homeowners church congregation made it to the home before they did just to help get their items. It's a nice community!

Just a little FUN!

2010-04-01T14:31:00.002-05:00

Well, here I am writing this on a Thursday April Fools day and I have not even tricked anyone! But Im happy to report that I talked to an old client of mine that I had lost track of. He stated that he read my blog! OMG, I really truely didnt think anyone was looking at this, so I have been neglecting it a bit. So here is some silly things. Just got an iPhone, another client of mine Justin did such a sales presentation to Todd and I that we purchased three!!! So I hope it is worth all the hype. Actually we are saving $ because we had two different providers and now went to one, we also bundled for uverse. Im not crazy!! Gotta save $....If you know of an application we should use let me know. Things have been well here for Rose Team Homes, Todd has decided to join my team!! A husband and wife team! So if your in for fun and good service we are the team to meet with. So far so good, we are rank #3 in GCI for all of KW - Edmond currently. Got to love that, but there is a long road ahead! Some great listings out there. Poor Todd the first week of touring homes with the Keller Williams Edmond bunch and he got a ticket for speeding trying to keep up with them in the neighborhoods. He will be using the Garmin from now on :) I sincerely hope everyone has a nice Easter weekend. We are blessed to have great friends that treat us like family and they have been gracious to have us over for Easter dinner. Being away from family on holidays can be a downer. So, if you have family here or away and want to move back towards them, let us know!!! We have contacts all over the US and Canada who can help!!! Out for now!

1300 NW 187th

2010-03-26T16:24:00.000-05:00

1300 NW 187th

New Orleans - Keller Williams Family Reunion 2010

2010-02-25T20:43:00.002-06:00

Just getting back from the KW convention in New Orleans. Here are some quick notes, more to come.
* what a company to place God, Family and then business
* over 8300 attendees from US and Canada
* Keller Williams the only real estate company to grow in this shifting market
* Keller Williams to go worldwide
* Gary Keller to be on Good Morning America on Fri Feb 26th
* so many great ideas to help buyers and sellers when purchasing/selling in Edmond and the Oklahoma City areas

Translating Buyer Comments at Real Estate Showings

2010-01-11T15:33:00.003-06:00

So sellers having a hard time with what is being said by a buyer and what is really meant. Here are some tidbits that can help when selling a home!
What They Say vs What they mean
Thought home was too small... meaning.....They found larger homes for the same price
They liked the house but bought a different one...meaning...They found other homes of better value
They liked it but purchased new...meaning....Buyers will pay more for a NEW home
They didnt like the carpet....meaning....You should replace it due to age,color or condition
THey thought yard too small or busy....meaning they found others in similiar price without those objections
The home needs some work...meaning...The seller may need to make some minor repairs, declutter, and neutralize
They didnt like the floor plan...meaning...they didnt like the floor plan
Too much updating for the Buyer...meaning...Their taste suggests the home is not up to today's colors and trends.
THey want the master bedroom downstairs...meaning...they want privacy from the second bedrooms; they dont want to climb stairs
They prefer north.south.east.west orientation...meaning...they want different sun exposure or their nationally suggests home orientation.

If you want to work with someone who understands how to interpret what is being said about your home and view my 14 point Marketing Plan contact me Heidi Rose!

FHA Tightens Guidelines on Short Sales

2009-12-30T15:07:00.001-06:00

FHA Tightens Guidelines on Short Sales
December 23, 2009
The Federal Housing Administration has tightened its guidelines on short sales so that borrowers who defaulted on their previous mortgages can't get a new FHA-insured loan. The new guidance is designed to prevent borrowers who want to take advantage of the decline in house prices to buy a new home at a reduced price using an FHA loan for doing so. "Borrowers in default on their mortgage at the time of a short sale (or pre-foreclosure sale) are not eligible for a new FHA-insured mortgage for three years," FHA says in a mortgagee letter. The new policy has been causing problems for some lenders with loans in the pipeline, according to Bud Carter, an FHA consultant with Potomac Partners in Washington. In general, FHA will not approve loans if the borrower has defaulted within the past three years. However, FHA never provided specific instructions on short sales, Mr. Carter said, so lenders were dealing with this issue on a "case-by-case basis." Mortgagee Letter 09-52 also addresses cases where a lender takes a principal writedown and refinances the borrower into an FHA-insured mortgage. The agency clarifies that the borrower has to be current on all their payments to qualify for an FHA refinancing.Dan Perreira
Branch Mgr at Allied Home Mortgage

Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?

2009-12-29T15:53:00.001-06:00

Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?

When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.

It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded with not enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, you can give your house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?

But wait! Most top Realtors agree that taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. The house surely isn't going to sell off the market! What is the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your Realtor take care of things.

The holidays are a wonderful selling period. Why? Because most people take off work sometime during the season. The husband and wife are both off and want to see houses. Most agents like the holidays because the buyers have more time, and they can look at homes together.

Before you take your home off the market, consider the following points:

Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Agents believe the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school activities.

Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year isn't a consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however, is.

Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before either the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.

At Christmas time, our culture focuses on family and the home. Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive environment you have created.

When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a five-minute blitz pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum.

With many motivated buyers in the marketplace, you may find you have more showings than you would if you sold your home during a busier time of the year.

If you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can put in the closing date of your choice. Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time. Possession and closings are very negotiable.

Written by Blanche Evans

Selling a Home and Need to Move, Edmond here is help.

2009-12-07T14:37:00.000-06:00

Heidi,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me recently and giving me the opportunity to inform you of our company.

A-1 Freeman Moving Group has been at the forefront of the moving industry since 1974, growing to be the one of the largest agents for North American Van Lines with 9 offices throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia. Our corporate offices are here in Oklahoma City.

I contacted you to make you aware of our local services we offer. Because of our affiliation with North American Van Lines, people often discount us from the option of providing local moves by mistaking us for an “interstate only” moving company. This could not be farther from the truth. While we do service interstate moves everyday throughout the country, our “specialty” is local moving. Our local crew is equipped to offer Full Service moving including packing, crating sensitive pieces such as art, storage as well as unpacking after relocation. We also offer the same services for businesses moving to other locations.

Currently we are offering a program I would think would be especially interesting to your profession. I would like to introduce “Clear the Clutter”, a program to assist in staging homes during marketing. This unique program offers 3 months of storage at no charge to the client up to 3,000lbs of household goods. Individuals who are interested in this offer are only required to pay for labor to load and place the items in storage. Our minimum charge for this service will be $375.00. I believe most families in this market would be glad to not deal with finding a storage unit or more importantly finding the time to move their belongings themselves. I feel as though this program will benefit Realtors in general by having such a unique tool to offer prospective clients when confronting them with the task of de-cluttering. You no longer have to say this is what you need to do without an option as to how one should go about this process to better market their home.

I hope I can be of service to you and your clients and look forward to meeting with you in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Dusty Hutchison/Relocation Specialist/A-1 Freeman Moving Group
11517 North Broadway Extension/Oklahoma City, OK
800.654.9286 ext 209/Fax 405.751.2759

4312 Nw 63rd Apt 1

2009-12-04T12:17:00.000-06:00

4312 Nw 63rd Apt 1

Just listed Condo in NW OKC

2009-12-04T12:16:00.004-06:00

Just listed $125,000 2180' with 3 beds, 2 full baths, two living areas, courtyard, deck and more. Two car garage with ample storage and workout/shop area. Call Heidi to see it 274-9210 to view www.RoseTeamHomes.com

This weeks Edmond Real estate news!

2009-10-19T13:50:00.001-05:00

Some good economic news shows the economy is starting to recover and the Fed is buying less mortgage backed securities which means that rates have seen their lows…probably for a long, long time. A melt down in the stock market would give us a brief reprieve, but rates are headed up…BANK on it.

More importantly, for our buyers who need mortgages to buy homes, is the issue of disputed credit accounts. Since credit has tightened, there has been a proliferation of ‘Credit Repair’ companies. The standard practice is to dispute all accounts (whether the bad credit is correct or not) and hope to catch the creditor on a technicality and get the bad credit removed. NO MORE! NOW, Fannie and Freddie will NOT underwrite any loan that has trade lines reported as ‘disputed’. So, while credit repair might remove some of the bad accounts, if any of the trade lines still show up as disputed, YOUR BUYER can’t get a loan! Yep, my guess is that the credit card companies had better lobbyists than they credit repair people. So, BEFORE you send your buyers to credit repair, SEND THEM TO US. Credit repair is now VERY tricky and time consuming when it comes to getting a mortgage. Don’t loose a buyer by letting them go it alone.

STATE BOND MONEY HAS BEEN RESOLVED FOR FHA BUYERS! SORRY TO PUT THE CONCERN OUT THERE LAST WEEK, BUT THE BOND AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET IT WORKED OUT, AND THE MORTGAGE CLOSERS & POST CLOSERS WILL HAVE A BIT MORE WORK. The Bond Money is moving so if you have a buyer that is interested in receiving this assistance they can possibly still get it, I recommend a 45 day contract which might put them past the November 30th close date, so they may not be able to get the tax credit.

Please give me a call if questions or if you need to have a buyer pre qualified for a Mortgage!!!

Make it A Great Weekend!!

Thank you,

Ted Clay
Sr. Loan Consultant
Office: 405-341-8644
Cell: 405-826-1320
tclay@wrstarkey.com
www.TedClay.com

Important Lending Updates of Edmond Real Estate

2009-10-09T14:21:00.001-05:00

DOOM AND GLOOM? YES, we are in the middle of a recovery and unemployment is high, but all the talking heads and nay-sayers in your offices seem to forget the good stuff – so here goes:

• New home sales have risen for five straight months.
• Existing home sales are up in four of the last five months.
• Construction of new homes increased for the third straight month in August.
• Home inventories down.
• Average home prices in the conforming price range are up for the 3rd month in a row.
• The Case-Shiller Index shows prices for homes in ALL price ranges in 18 of the top 20 cities up two months in a row, and up 3 months in a row in 15 of the largest 20 cities.

Why is this not important anymore? But there’s more….

• Last week’s economic data that showed a 30% drop in corporate layoffs vs last year.
• The ISM Manufacturing report shows that, although weaker than anticipated, we’ve had the second consecutive month of growth in the manufacturing sector.
• 90% of our workforce is working.

AND FINALLY

• With the slide in the dollar rates have dropped back to where they were last May – 4.75% to 5.25% depending on program and credit…
• AND with the low rates and lower home prices, NOW is the MOST AFFORDABLE TIME IN THE LAST 30 YEARS to buy a home. Tell you buyers to BUY NOW!

Yes, we have some bumps yet to go through, but don't forget the positive. Have a great weekend. Call me if your ready to buy or selling and get you talking to a reputable lender.

705 Timberdale Drive

2009-10-02T16:24:00.001-05:00

705 Timberdale Drive

Shared via AddThis

Some local recommendations! For Oklahoma City restaurant and entertainment

2009-08-20T08:10:00.004-05:00

Well, this summer I have tried some new things that I am recommending to my existing and new clients. My husband saw that the Lyric Theater was having some great productions this summer. Now I have to admit, when I first had heard about this, I thought it was a small town production and I was not excited to go. We headed downtown to Bricktown to dinner and it was just too busy for our time frame. We decided to head west of Bricktown and see what else might be available. To our pleasant surprise as we circled the Civic Centre we found on Main just west of Walker a place called Trattoria Il Centro. Me being in sales and all about expectations, I went in and told them, we unfortunately had only 50min and needed to be at the play. They were packed. I figured for sure we were heading to Subway. The hostess stated, "if you dont mind sitting over here, I will have Sean take care of you." They sat us at a counter overlooking the brick oven prep area, which actually was fun to watch, and almost private from all the other diners. Sean came to the table told us he knew we were on a time line and that he would have us out of there in 30 min. AND He DID!! Not only that but, if you know me sometimes I just cant decide what I want to eat, and it being a new place, I was just exhausted anyways from a day of showings and listing appts. Well, Sean suggested all of our meals, and it was not normally something that we would have ordered ourselves. They were great!! We were very impressed and out in time for us to see "The Producers". The Civic was a great place to watch a quality show. Well, last night we were headed out again to see "Little Shop of Horrors" and went back to see Sean at Trattoria Il Centro. We were seated and again he met all of our expectations. This is a place I will recommend for my clients that want great service, great food, and a good time in Oklahoma city, you dont have to be just in Bricktown!!! Stop in to see Sean and tell him I sent you, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!!! As always if you are moving to this area, please contact me for the best areas, locations and top service!!

Wanna buy a home with the $8000 tax credit/incentive

2009-07-22T17:39:00.002-05:00

Hey Oklahoma City, Edmond, Piedmont, Moore, Mustang, Yukon real estate buyers.....time is ticking. On Aug 1st there is a new procedure put into effect that will slow down the title companies and lender process. They have to have a HUD to a buyer within 3 days of closing (this is good news for buyers, right now it has sometimes been last minute). What does that mean though, if your in the market and waiting like most people think is a good tactic, dont!! It will get very busy in Oct/Nov and if your closing does not make the deadline, that incentive is NO good. Plan at the very least on 45 days for closing. So, that means that you should be out now looking at homes to find the one you love. I would be happy to help you with that. Not every Realtor is "in" this business full time and paying attention to market trends. Make sure you work with a Reputable Realtor one that does multiple transactions, we have done over 112 last year, those numbers beat ALOT of people. We have repair people that are ready for any problems we need to overcome. Dont go it alone. Call me to help!!!

REAL ESTATE -- Home staging is IMPORTANT!!

2009-07-06T16:36:00.002-05:00

Home Staging Invites Buyers Into Your Home
Before gaining popularity and becoming the theme for several HGTV shows, many homeowners were skeptical about the impact home staging would make on prospective buyers. Barb Swarz is credited with inventing home staging in 1972 and starting the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, which now has over 9,000 members. Did you know a form of home staging has been around for thousands of years?
Roberto Gonzales blogs about his first experience selling a home that has been staged with Feng Shui:
“I recently had a listing that makes me realize how important the feeling of a home is. It was a very peaceful feeling, as I enter this home, this very pleasant, very open feeling. Even though the house was small, the atmosphere was terrific. I noticed a center fireplace in the family room, the colors throughout the house were all earthy, it was like everything was in perfect harmony with all the pieces on the walls as well as furniture. Nothing fancy, just simple. Then the owner ask edme if I ever heard about Feng Shui, so my answer was no, and she explained to me in great detail all she had done to the house. We had 5 showings, and everyone said they loved it. We got a contract in less than 30 days–did you think this could be possible? Well I do, so now my first advice to my sellers is to rearrange some things in the house. Less is more, and do not overdo with personal touches.”
Home staging has become a must for sellers who are looking for a speedy sale and increased value. Whether your technique is modern and savy or rooted in an ancient culture, creating an inviting atmosphere will help buyers visualize themselves in the home.

We can assist in staging your home when we list your property. Call Heidi today at 405-274-9210.

Dec 1 is coming soon, dont miss the $8000

2009-06-29T14:32:00.000-05:00

With the recent signing of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it’s an ideal time to buy a new home. If you are a first-time homebuyer and close on a home before December 1, 2009, you could receive a tax credit of up to $8,000.
With historic low interest rates, you’re now closer than you think to achieving the dream of homeownership. Call Heidi Rose today at 274-9210 for your next step….

Help for Homebuyers! in Edmond Oklahoma or anywhere!

2009-06-17T16:12:00.001-05:00

Seven steps to buying your home

1. Define your needs.
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin house hunting, so that your agent can help you define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items, so your agent can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf.

2. Get preapproved.
Now that you know what you want in a home and neighborhood, you need to find out what you can afford. The best way to do this is to get prequalification or preapproval for a home loan. Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. In most markets, preapproved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are prequalified. Your preapproved status lets the seller know:
You have gone through an extensive financial background check.
A lender is willing to do business with you.
The likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.
3. Let the house hunting begin!
Now you are ready to embark on your home search — an endeavor that can prove overwhelming if not approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings pique your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email — sometimes as often as daily, depending on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you’d like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.

You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it’s important to note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections.* That means it’s more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on the weekends.

* National Association of REALTORS®

4. Make an offer.
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, your real estate agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It’s important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller’s changes.

5. Strike a deal.
Sometimes, you get lucky and the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most instances, the seller will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent’s experience in negotiations will be invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a house. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process — that is, if you have adequate information and you use it in an appropriate manner.

Some items you may negotiate:
Price
Financing
Closing costs
Move-in date
Repairs
Appliances and fixtures
Landscaping
Painting
Remain in close contact with your real estate agent so you can quickly review any changes from the seller. Remember: Bargaining is not a winner-take-all deal. It is a business process that involves compromise and mutual respect.

6. Prepare for the closing.
When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:
Conduct a home inspection.
Get an appraisal and finalize your financing.
Secure title insurance.
Shop for a home warranty.
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could threaten a successful closing. A first-rate real estate agent should be able to serve as your “one-stop shopping” referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.

7. Close the deal.
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where home ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company’s or lawyer’s office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.

In advance of your closing date (24 hours at minimum), your lender will send a final closing statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you’ll need to bring to closing.

Real Estate Sellers Helpful hints!

2009-06-02T15:26:00.001-05:00

Just came across this article and liked its content and wanted to share with anyone looking to sell. If I can help please call me!!! 513-6212.
Emotions Sell!!
3 simple, steps to setting the scene and getting the sale
by Sandy Dixon,
The old adage that ‘location, location, location’ sells a house may still hold true, however just as significant to the buying decision is ‘emotion, emotion, emotion’. The human mind loves images and emotion and buyers in particular, are extremely visual when it comes to deciding on the ideal property to purchase. It frequently happens that if buyers do not like the appearance of a property at curbside, they will refuse to even look inside. So it is crucial that agents and sellers have a detailed strategy for showcasing the property.
Capturing the interest of buyers can be as simple as creating visual ‘cues’ or scenes both inside and outside the property that will trigger a positive response to what they are seeing. The key to success is to make certain that the setting presented is relevant to the majority of buyers and will both capture and maintain their interest.
So where do you start? It’s as simple as 1-2-3… PLAN-POSITION-PROMOTE.
#1 Plan:
Educate sellers upfront. Providing ‘full service’ means offering professional advice, suggestions and remedies when needed, to your sellers. If you are uncomfortable discussing topics relating to cleanliness, clutter or style, provide the services of a real estate stager as part of your listing package. Their expertise in preparing homes for sale and consulting with sellers can be invaluable and timely with regard to staying ahead of the competition
Stay true to the function of the space. Buyers get confused when rooms are not used for their intended purpose. If it’s a dining room, make certain there is dining room furniture and not office, game or toy related items taking over the space. Master bedrooms need to look like master bedrooms and secondary bedrooms should not take on the function of a storage room.
Net it out. Sellers tend to lose their objectivity after living in a home a long time. They become oblivious to what surrounds them. It is imperative, if buyers are to envision themselves living in the property, that the seller’s ‘imprint’ be removed. In order to eliminate sensory and visible overload, everything that is not used on a daily basis, is obsolete or redundant (multiple tables, chairs, etc.) should be removed from all rooms---and don’t forget the outside of the property. Remember that first impressions are lasting!
#2 Position:
Ambiance is the goal. Freshly painted walls, sparkling windows and light fixtures, carpets that are cleaned, uncluttered surfaces and fresh scents all contribute to creating a positive first impression. However, going one step further and creating a ‘call to action’ by adding some well thought out props will help the buyers feel connected to the property and envision themselves living there.
Top props for setting inviting scenes:
Fresh flowers near entry, on dining room table or on bedside table
One or two books on a chair or ottoman, bedside table or on a chaise lounge overlooking a pleasant view
Teacup and saucer w/napkin on a chair side table or on a tray that can be placed on an ottoman or bed
Bath salts and candles on a tub surround
Afghan draped across a chair near a fireplace
Bowl of fresh fruit on kitchen counter or table
Bottle of wine and glasses on a tray by a fireplace
Full place settings (placemats, napkins, dinnerware) on dining tables---inside and outside.
Soft background music
Game board set up on table in family room
Vignettes tell a story. A vignette is a ‘mini scene’ or themed arrangement and is used frequently to create a specific mood. They are quite useful when it comes to helping buyers see the potential of a property. A vignette can be as simple as a music stand with sheet music opened and a violin propped up against it---and don’t forget to have soft, classical music playing in the background. More frequently vignettes are comprised of one or two chairs, a small table in between with a lamp, a couple of books and some greenery. For an added burst of color and texture, an area rug can be added to the arrangement. If there is a view to highlight, position one or two chairs, ottoman, floor lamp and greenery along with two wine glasses and bottle of wine to visually help the buyers imagine relaxing and enjoying the view. Bottom line, determine the best features of the property and set the stage to highlight them.
#3 Promote:
Photos and virtual tours: Emotions can also be triggered with eye-catching visuals in your marketing materials. Include the scenes you’ve set in various areas inside and outside the property.
Open houses: (both broker and public). Have a fire burning in the fireplace in the fall and winter; open windows and patio doors to let the outdoors in whenever possible. The sound of water coming from indoor and outdoor fountains elicit a comfortable and inviting feeling to visitors.
Computer program or cue cards: If the property is challenged with a confusing floor plan or has rooms that can be used in a variety of ways, S-P-E-L-L is out for the buyers! Use ‘cue’ cards in those areas to suggest the multiple uses for a room and post the cards where they are easily visible in the room. A more dramatic and highly effective tool would be to use a computer program to draw one or two possible remodeling floor plans and attach to the door of the problem room. Buyers can’t make changes mentally and tend to think remedies might be impossible until they see potential layouts visually laid out for them.
‘Seeing is believing’ and ‘what you see is what you get’ both address the fact that our visual intake has a direct effect on our emotional assessment of things, which in turn, determines the actions we take. The National Association of Realtors statistics show that the longer a home is on the market, the less it sells for…which should send a strong message to sellers. Take action upfront and do everything possible to help buyers not only see the best features of the property, but to emotionally see themselves living there.
Remember…emotion sells!

2009-05-21T15:29:00.001-05:00

Keller Williams Edmond Gives back to Edmond Community

2009-05-21T15:24:00.002-05:00

Gary Atchley and myself participated in RED DAY yesterday May 20th and helped give back a little to the Edmond community. Gary worked on painting at the Boys Ranch in Edmond, and Heidi painted at a person in needs home. Other projects throughout the day included clean up at Lake Arcadia, and more projects at Boys Ranch and at Friedas home. For the wonderful business we are blessed with in Edmond real estate, it was a small token of appreciation. Lots of fun and great work was accomplished!!!

Edmond's Economic Report

2009-05-01T16:47:00.001-05:00

Information Is obtained by The Edmond economic development authority www.eeda.com EDMONDS ECONOMIC ABSTRACT for 2009Population 83,259 Total Number of Households 29,917Edmond is located in Oklahoma County which has an estimated population of 707,765Average Household Income in Edmond $90,913 US Avg is $68,953 Edmond has experienced 49.2% growth in Average Household Income from 1990 to 2000.Edmond's median age is 34.7Edmond's average household size is 2.72Edmond had more thatn 200 restaurant establishments, 30 parks and outdoor venues, 40 shopping centers and a cost of living index that is 11.3% below the national average.Edmond has one of the lowest crime rates of any city in Oklahoma with a population of more than 100,000The average price of an existing single family home has grown 28% during the last five years bringing it to $253,329Edmond's highly educated labor force, low cost of living, favorable quality of life and excellent school system make it an ideal place for executive living. Executive homes are abundant in Edmond with more than half of the existing inventory between the $225K to $1M+ price range. Many of these homes are 3,000 ft to 5000 sq ft, have four to five bedrooms and can be found on one of Edmond's three residential golf courses.

Oklahoma Citys own Chesapeake listed among best places to work

2009-04-28T13:09:00.002-05:00

The Journal Record April 27,2009 reports that Chesapeake Energy Corp. of Oklahoma City was ranked 12th on Outside magazine's second annual "Best Places to Work" list.
The list included 30 companies.
The magazine noted Chesapeakes incentive based volunteer program, onsite fitness center and employee special events.

OKC hits Forbes List again!!!

2009-04-07T16:53:00.000-05:00

A bit of good news for your relocation clients - Forbes just made Oklahoma City their number 6 pick among "America's Most Livable Cities." Reasons for the ranking include low cost of living, job growth, low unemployment, and income growth. And as you know around this time last year they also named us the #1 most Recession proof. We like Forbes!

You can see the ranking and the article here: http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/cities-city-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-livable-cities_slide_11.html

Atchley Group wins Platinum Again!

2009-03-26T12:44:00.002-05:00

The Atchley Group was the proud recipients of four awards at the recent Keller Williams award ceremony in Tulsa this Mar.2009. The awards received:

Platinum in Outstanding Production
Top Group in Oklahoma Region in GCI
Top Group in Edmond in Units Closed
Too Group in Oklahoma Region in Units Closed.

Our producers Gary Atchley - Listing Agent
Heidi Rose - Buyers Agent
Deb Atchley - Business Mgr
Vonna Lovett - Closing Mgr

Spring Break outside of Edmond

2009-03-23T16:56:00.003-05:00

Well, we are back from our Spring Break in Newport, Ri. Here are the top TEN aspects about Edmond Oklahoma that I am bringing back with me:
1. Our road system is much easier to navigate than the Northeast
2. As noticed by my 11yr old son when driving home from the airport, "Mom, our roads are much wider, I feel like I can breathe here in Edmond."
3. Our homes are much MUCH MUCH more affordable and have some of the best amenities. Looking thru the Real Estate Guides in Mass, RI I would not switch my home for one of those at the same price. Thank goodness for steady Oklahoma!
4. Every place we went people were talking about the down economy, now I know things are down a bit, but we certainly are not feeling what they are feeling.
5. Our weather was much warmer while I was gone, it was 32-48degrees the whole time we were there, I had my winter coat and scarf the whole time.
6. They do have better seafood than us. Sorry, but thats ok, because I DO NOT eat seafood. Just my husband and kids. Go steak!!!
7. When people asked where we were from we proudly stated OKLAHOMA and most people stated they would love to go see it sometime! I told them I could sell them some good real estate :)
8. Our airport is nice, clean, and easy to manuever. Theres well....... Providence was comparable.
9. A typical lunch cost us $70 for four. That is a typical dinner here!
10. Oklahoma feels like home, but that is a great place to visit!!!

Changes in FHA Requirements

2009-03-04T11:27:00.001-06:00

This just in from one of our Preferred Lender Partners The Bomar Team
Hello Friends!

We just got notification on Monday that our lowest FICO score for FHA and VA loans is now 600 (previously 580). . I personally feel that 620 is going to be the new industry standard, as many of the big national lenders have already made this change.

If we have sent you out a pre-approval for someone that you suspect has a lower credit score, please reply and ask if their approval is still good. We have issued many pre-approvals over the past 90 days, and we are not sure who is actively looking or not. These changes have all happened this week, so it is a bit sudden, and we just don’t want to have any disappointments if one of your buyers finds a home, but the loan is no longer available.

Thank you!

If you need to be preapproved or have questions please contact heidi@atchleygroup.com

Keller Williams Family Reunion 2009 Orlando

2009-02-28T10:23:00.004-06:00

Just getting back from family reunion in Orlando. What a great and educational real estate experience. The Atchley Group were receipents of the Platinum Award with over 700kGCI. We closed over 115 transactions in 2008 making us the top Group in Keller Williams Edmond!! I was able to go see the Vision Speech with Gary Keller where "House on Fire" was our discussion and that people need knowledged and experienced Realtors in this economy. Great because we are one!! And, we will up our Game. Also attended seminars on social networking, blogging, listing, master of language, staging and the importance, and so many others. Im excited to share this information with people, so dont hesitate to call or email me with what is happening in our market and how you can take advantage of it!!! This is a great time to be a buyer or seller, you need to find out why!! I also saw a wonderful speaker Clint Swindal and his "Tell me something good" motto, that is mine baby!!! I love good news, so if you have good news tell me I want to hear something good. We were invited to a reception with Mo Anderson, Vice President of Keller Williams International and visit with her on the great Oklahoma region. Our office was tops, and we are so proud of our Tulsa market center and their committment to KW Cares. This is a great company Keller Williams, our motto is God, Family and then real estate. So if you value that you should be working or using Keller Williams, to find out more ask me!!! Find me on facebook and add me as a friend and see some great photos!!

Oklahoma Realtor report

2009-02-18T08:24:00.000-06:00

2008 Home Prices Rise
From Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®
Yesterday at 10:33am
The Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® (OAR) released statewide figures for 2008 home sales and home values today. The OAR statistics show Oklahoma home prices in the state last year increased by .52% percent overall. And while home prices held their ground through the national mortgage crisis and slumping economy, the number of home sales declined 9.4 percent from the previous year near record high. Association officials say the decrease in the number of homes sold is likely attributable to the ‘one-two punch’ of last year’s press coverage of the national housing market followed by the weakening economy which resulted in job losses and reduced consumer spending in most parts of the country. “Oklahoma bucked the national trends on home sales and prices for much of 2008, and it’s no small thing that we saw an increase in home values in the face of a national credit crises and slumping economy,” said Mike Craddock, 2009 president of the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®. “However, as the national economy continued to falter in the fourth quarter of last year, our markets statewide were impacted as Oklahomans took a ‘wait and see’ approach on home buying. In February of 2008, the OAR launched the ‘Good Thing You’re in Oklahoma’ initiative to educate home buyers and sellers about the affordability, stability and security of the Oklahoma housing market. Many local boards of REALTORS across the state adopted a similar campaign in their home towns. The average cost of a home in Oklahoma increased by a half percent compared to home prices in 2007. In 2008 the average cost of a home sold was $149,482 compared to $148,715 in the 2007. Statewide, 49,269 homes were sold last year. This is 9.5 percent less than the number of homes sold in 2007 in which showed 54,378 homes were sold in the state.“We are encouraged by the fact that Oklahoma’s home values increased despite the national economic downturn,” said Craddock. “It reinforces our belief that buying a home in Oklahoma is still an affordable, stable and secure investment.”

Tornados in Edmond

2009-02-12T14:41:00.003-06:00

Well, gosh, I am so thankful everyone is ok. This one was too close for comfort and hit my neighborhood and did significant damage to numerous homes. I am proud of Edmond Schools for taking the right steps in putting our children in lock down. No buses on the road. Everyone was safe. The Atchley Group was safe at the office as it went by. Homestead and Oak Tree were hit hard. The American Red Cross has set up a way to donate if you wish to. I dont know what people need, but it seems they will. Check me out on facebook to see the pictures posted of the damage. Make sure if you live locally you know what to do in a situation like this. Even me being a Yankee knew what to do, as did my children!

Why Use a Buyers Specialist for Edmond, Deer Creek, Moore, OKC in Oklahoma

2009-02-01T20:08:00.001-06:00

While many homeowners turn to a real estate agent when selling their property, not very many home buyers turn to a buyer’s agent when purchasing real estate. It’s very surprising that buyers try to “go it alone” when making a purchase that will affect their finances and their lifestyle for years to come. The average person spends around 1/3 of their income on their home, so any mistakes made when buying a home can add up to huge losses. A good buyer’s agent is a professional with the insight into the market that every buyer needs. A qualified agent offers:
1) Full Access to the MLS Only realtors can fully access a powerful tool known as The Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which lists approximately 99% of homes for sale within a given market. The MLS is a comprehensive list of all homes that have been listed by realtors, and a buyer’s agent has access to this resource. An experienced buyer’s agent can use the MLS to find homes that meet your specific parameters.
2) Big Savings of Time
It can take months or even longer to research neighborhoods, building plans, architectural details, and the real estate market. A good buyer’s agent can not only do all the research for you – he or she can also help you translate your lifestyle needs into a home purchase. Simply tell a buyer’s agent what you are looking for and he or she will do all the work in finding you a list of homes that match what you are looking for. A buyer’s agent has helped many buyers in your position and with his or her help, you can spend your time looking at homes that meet your wants and needs.
3) Representation Real estate agents hired by home sellers enter into legally binding agreements that require them to act in the best interest of the seller. A buyer’s agent, on the other hand, will use their expertise to act in your best interests. Your agent can coach you through every step of the buying process. If the seller has professional help, shouldn’t you?
4) Negotiating Power A Buyer’s Agent will run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to establish the Fair Market Value (FMV) on a property. This not only helps to ensure that you will not end paying more than a home is worth, but it also means that a buyer’s agent can professionally negotiate price on your behalf.
5) Experience The average homebuyer will purchase just 3-5 homes in their lifetime. A good buyer’s agent will help in buying that many homes per month. An agent simply has the experience most buyers do not.
6) Industry Contacts A good buyer’s agent has access to a quality closing team that may consist of an inspector, listing agent, loan officer, appraiser, insurance agent, general contractors, and others. By working with this team, your buyer’s agent can help ensure that your home purchase is as hassle-free and as positive as possible.
7) Peace of Mind A buyer’s agent acts as a second, professional opinion on one of the largest decisions of your life. By working with a professional, you can rest assured that you are making the right decisions for you. Working with an expert, you know that you can avoid some of the common pitfalls that can affect home buyers.
Buying a home can be exciting and fun. However, no matter what sort of real estate transaction you are interested in making, a buyer’s agent is a must. A real estate professional who specializes in working with buyers can help you avoid costly mistakes and can help you feel more comfortable as you make your decisions. (Source EzineArticles.com)

Edmond, Deer Creek and Oklahoma Real Estate news

2009-01-25T17:51:00.002-06:00

Hello, yes it has been awhile but the numbers are out. The Atchley Group again hit the number one group with Keller Williams in Oklahoma. We are looking forward to the Keller Williams Family Reunion in Feb in Orlando, Florida to gain even more knowledge insight and chance to talk with other KW realtors from all over the country. Our web business is still strong and our Turner and Son model traffic has been increasing. We are still blessed to be in Oklahoma. I've written a number of contracts lately on existing homes, new homes, short sales and foreclosures. So to say business is in all one category would be misleading. Interest rates have been great, a lot of lenders are busy with refi's. Im planning a homebuyer seminar in Feb /Mar so keep your eyes open for info. Always visit our website at www.atchleygroup.com. Also if you are a facebook person feel free to check me out.

2008-12-23T15:14:00.002-06:00

Lots of questions about todays interest rates In Edmond and Oklahoma City, this just in from one of my preferred lenders The Bomar Team
Looking to Refinance?
6 Important Things To Know

1. Refinancing an FHA Loan – Most people do not know that if you currently have an FHA loan, you will be charged interest through the end of the month no matter what day of the month you pay it off. This is crucial – if you are currently in an FHA loan, and your lender schedules the closing date in the beginning of the month, or even in the middle, you are going to pay interest on your new loan from closing until the 30th/31st, but you will ALSO pay interest on your old loan through the end of the month. Per day Interest can run anywhere between $20-$100 per day (depending on loan size), so if you close too early you could literally waste one to two thousand dollars in interest that is not necessary.

2. Refinancing an FHA Loan, pt 2 – When you purchased or refinanced into an FHA loan previously, you paid an ‘Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium’ – otherwise called an FHA Funding Fee. If you are refinancing into a new FHA loan, you are entitled to a partial refund of your previous FHA Funding Fee. This could be anywhere between $500-$3,000, and it is important that your lender takes this into account.

3. Streamline Refinancing – If you are currently in an FHA or VA loan, you will not have to requalify for a new one. By virtue of the fact you were qualified before, you automatically qualify for a new FHA or VA loan as long as you are only lowering your interest rate (not getting cash back). So, just because your job or income situation has changed, don’t count yourself out. The only thing that would really be a problem is if you haven’t made your mortgage payments. But a Streamline Refinance is essentially a “everyone qualifies’ refinance, and no employment, income, or assets are even listed on the loan application.

4. True Payback? – Many people look at interest rates as a “shiny red car”, and unfortunately are all too willing to take a refinance option simply because there is a low rate along with it. This may sound cliché, but there are many other factors that need to be considered for you to decide whether you should refinance or not. A $200 per month savings is great – but what if it adds 3 years onto your mortgage, and raises your balance by $5,000? It might still be worth it, but it might now. A lot of it depends on your future plans, and how long you will stay in your house. Make sure that your lender calculates how long it takes for you to recoup the costs of refinancing, to see if it makes sense in light of your future plans.

5. Appraised Values – Although we are seeing values hold steady for the most part in Oklahoma, that isn’t always the case in every neighborhood. Before you spend $300-$400 on an appraisal, your lender should do you the courtesy of checking with an appraiser to make sure your house will still appraise high enough to refinance. 8 times out of 10, you’ll have nothing to worry about, but the other 2 times it would be really bad to spend that much money on an appraisal only to hear that the house won’t appraise, and the refinance will not work. Of course, an appraiser can’t be held to giving a “comp check”, but it at least gives everyone a good idea of whether it makes sense to order a full appraisal, to get the true appraised value at this time. Additionally, I would recommend working with a lender who has a say in who the appraiser is, as opposed to one who has their appraisal orders assigned out in a round-robin fashion.

6. Market Volatility – Neither the government, nor the Fed, sets mortgage rates…they are determined every day by what yields investors in the bond market are willing to receive to invest their dollars into mortgage pools. This can change a LOT from day to day. We have seen rates at 5.5% (or lower) only 3 times this year. Once in January/February, once in June/July, and right now. Both of the other two times, the low rates lasted about 2 weeks. Even with a slight increase in rates on Monday December 22nd, interest rates are still at all time lows. If you can take advantage of this, I would recommend it. Although there is a possibility for rates to go lower, but they can’t possibly go too much lower than the levels they are at now. But also, there is also a possibility that rates go higher, and there is much room for them to increase.

Now of course, you could always buy a newer home, just give me a call :) Heidi

Great rates for New Construction

2008-12-20T09:55:00.002-06:00

Are considering building, NOW is the time. This just in from our preferred lender The Bomar Team "We just wanted to let you know that rates are really good this morning. If you have anyone in the works, closing more than 60 days out, we are setting up quite a few folks with some 6 months locks with float down options. If you have anyone that you think would be beneficial, we would love to help (we are doing an FHA today on a 6 month lock at 5.0%). " To get yourself preapproved for this, call the Bomars today at 445-5445.

Consider a Turner and Son Home view at www.turnerandsonhomes.com.

This is quite a savings, if you want to pick your lot, and start building your home, call Heidi at 285-2856 today. You can be in a new home in less than 6 months, and Turner has great new plans starting at $85/ft. We even have programs to help sell your exisiting home. Dont miss this opportunity. As always our models in Frisco Ridge and Lone Oak are Open 1-6 weekends, and Deer Spring and Hidden Prairie are currently by appt.

News from Edmond Cornerstone Lender - The Bomar Team

2008-12-09T11:52:00.000-06:00

There has been quite an uproar about “4.5% Interest Rates” here recently. Apparently, someone suggested it in a meeting as a possibility to help the market out, the suggestion got published, and now there are many, many people starting to hold out for better rates to come.

I wanted to send an email out with my thoughts on it, and hopefully that will help all of us be better prepared when asked about it. I hope this isn’t too long or too technical, but I think it is good for you to not only have an answer for this question, but also to know they “why” behind it.

First of all, mortgages are pooled up as a securities, and sold back and forth every day. When a 6.0% bond sells for more than it’s worth, then it actually pays less than 6.0% (It pays 6.0% interest on $100, but you actually paid $102 for it, thus you are making 4% on $102, not 6.0% on $100). So, the higher the prices on Mortgage-Backed Securities, the lower the yield. The lower the yield, the lower the rate that borrowers have to pay. In order for the US Treasury to drive rates down by buying mortgage-backed securities (which is what was mentioned), the only way to do this is by simply buying up A LOT of mortgages. How much is “a lot”? Well, the federal government would have to enter into the market with such a huge amount of money that it begins to swallow up the all of the supply, causing prices to rise. And, as the prices rise, it will draw in more supply (old mortgages to be sold, or new mortgages created as refi’s or purchase), and then the demand will have to again increase to outstrip that supply.

The average trading volume of mortgage-backed securities (for January through August of 2008) is $344 Billion per day. Yes, Billion with a B. That isn’t just new mortgages, but also trading back and forth of old mortgages that are still alive. That means, for the government to affect market rates, they would have to put a TON of money into the system…possibly more money than they have put in anything else. $344 Billion per day equals a Trillion in about 3 days. And, as the interest rates/yields on mortgage backed securities go down, a lot of private money will simply leave the market place, meaning the treasury will have to increase its buying of MBS even more to not only continue to drive prices up, but also suck up the supply of the sellers that enter due to the unreasonably high prices, and also buy up enough to compensate for much of the demand from private money exiting, due to the returns being too small.

In short, to manipulate the markets in any way that has a long-lasting effect would be something so incredibly enormous, I am skeptical that it could be pulled off. If attempted, I can’t possibly see how rates could stay that low for longer than a week, simply because the supply of mortgages would sky-rocket, and the demand simply would not be there unless the government increased it’s buying even more.

There are option that is more likely is for some pool of “special mortgages” that only certain people qualify for – whether it be low-income housing, purchases in a distressed market, etc. The key here is that it would be very limited, as opening up that cheap of money to the general public would create such a flurry of activity, the money would be gone very, very quickly.

So, hopefully this helps explain the situation a little better. Right now, rates are extremely low – at their historical lows. For a customer to hold off and wait for something better is truly looking a gift horse in the mouth. But, it happens all the time…someone goes from 6.0% down to 5.5%, and they think they’ll hold out for 5.375…only for it all to shoot back up to 6.0% within a day or two!

Great News on Oklahoma again!

2008-11-28T12:38:00.002-06:00

Check out the KFOR website and search real estate. You will see latest reports about Oklahoma being a strong area, as well as foreclosure rates down. Nice to see the local media reporting what is happening HERE and not combining us with national!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2008-10-31T18:18:00.002-05:00

BE SAFE HAVE FUN AND EAT CANDY! EDMOND IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO TRICK OR TREATING, WITH SO MANY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES YOU CAN GET SOOOOO MUCH CANDY!!!

Tips For Edmond and Oklahoma City Real Estate owners

2008-10-10T10:48:00.004-05:00

Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home
Statefarm Insurance
Check all window and door locks for proper operation
Check your home for water leaks
Review your fire escape plan with your family
Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
Have a heating professional check your heating system every year
Protect your home from frozen pipes
Replace your furnace filter
Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
Test your emergency generator
Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring

NO PMI is going away!!

2008-10-07T16:18:00.002-05:00

This just in from one of my reputable lenders.......If you have have a customer that wants to avoid PMI and do an 80/15/5 or 80/10/10, Friday is the last day to lock them in and they must close by the end of the month. So...HURRY!!!
Doug BrennerPresidentBrenner Mortgage Corp.

Why should I buy now?

2008-09-26T14:42:00.003-05:00

Well, if you listen to the news, you would think the world is crumbling. It is just like hanging out with people that talk negatively all day, that is what the news is, negative. You know I had a call today from someone who thinks they should not buy a home. Wow! so where are you going to live. Well I'll rent. That just blows my mind!!! A home is the one investment you have control over and actually get to use, it gives you shelter, warmth, a place to be with family, friends and you control your enviroment. You are investing in yourself and the way you care for things.

Lets look a renting, the landlord has no emotion to that home, if things go bad, they will get rid of what you are living in a lot faster than what they are living in. Not only that, they dont want you to make any changes to it, and if something goes wrong, it is not their first priority to take care of. I dont know about you but if things go bad I want to be in MY HOME, and something I can work with.

People!! Listen to me, we never had a huge subprime lending practice here in Oklahoma. We have a lot of home for the money!!! We have a good economy. People are still buying gas, still going to WalMart, still at Sams, we still exist!! We did not need to lend on homes that were so over inflated at regular wages!!! Gary and I do a lot of business and when we look back there was only 1 person that did a sub prime loan!! This makes sense, people get greedy and the thought of lending to people money when they could not afford it does not make sense. But people were making a practice of it, and now they are shocked when they did not pay!! Why is this surprising. I know that I dont have all the facts, thats true, but I do know that our phones are still ringing, yes we have more inventory, its because people trying to move here cant sell their homes elsewhere. Dont give up on this nation people!! Buying a home makes sense, prices are not over inflated, interest rates are still great! My parents bought at 18%, during good times, we are in the 6's. Make sure you talk to a LOCAL Realtor and do me a favor, stop watching the news and hanging out with negative people. Your parents were right when they stated that you should surround yourself with positive influences!!!

More News About How Great Oklahoma Is!

2008-09-25T13:16:00.002-05:00

Did you hear this on the Today show this morning? Florida real estate is showing a 1 to 66 foreclosure ratio currently. That means for every 66 homes -- 1 is facing the dreadful loss. Nationwide the average is 1 to 416. Now for the really fantastic news-- Oklahoma is 1 to 1,200 homes. Yes, you heard correctly. We are seeing no more than 1 foreclosure for every 1,200 homes in the state. Isn't great to live in Oklahoma where real estate is still a great investment.

Tips for Moving

2008-09-17T14:22:00.002-05:00

Moving Checklist
Send change of address cards to:
Post Office
Charge Accts
Friends and Family
Coordinate arrangements with moving company
Disconnect utilities at old address and advise where final bills are to be sent
Coordinate turn on of utilities in new area
Cancel Deliveries, ie newspaper
Transfer Memberships ie Church, Clubs, Civic Organizations
Have cars tuned up for move
Notify insurance companies
Obtain legal records
Obtain Medical Records
Obtain School records
Notify VA office
Have prescriptions refilled
Leave old keys

Parade of Homes 2008

2008-09-12T18:34:00.003-05:00

Parade of Homes starts September 13-21,2008, models are Open 1-7 pm daily. Please stop by the Turner and Son model homes in Edmond, Deer Creek, Piedmont and Yukon. visit www.turnerandsonhomes.com to see a map.

2008-09-10T11:19:00.000-05:00

EDMOND and Oklahoma City TOP REAL ESTATE PLACES TO LIVE!!!
Forbes just came out with a list of the top ten places that home prices are expected to rise and Oklahoma City made the list.
Here is the video. http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=849268581
We still have a strong economy based on good jobs and home pricing.

What is the Edmond Real Estate market like?

2008-09-04T09:24:00.001-05:00

You know I get that question a lot! And I would love the opportunity to talk to you about it. The national media housing slump is not what is happening in Oklahoma. Make sure you talk to an experienced realtor when finding out that information and jumping in the market. Interest rates are still competitive, some price ranges are moving quickly and some a little slower. Please call me to discuss where you fall. Also, lending practices seem to be changing daily, so make sure you are with a reputable lender, I would be happy to recommend some.

Have a Safe Labor Day

2008-08-29T15:57:00.000-05:00

Hope you enjoy the holiday weekend. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

NEW FHA CHANGES

2008-08-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

Bloggers ....this just in from one of my trusted lender contacts.....
Major changes continue. I've attached Fannie Mae's new guideline about borrowers qualifying if they are keeping their current home and renting it out. If that's the case, we can't count 75% of the monthly rent unless they owe 70% or less against that house as determined by a BPO, appriasal, or AVM which is a computerized value. THey also must have 6 months PITI in reserve for both houses unless DU approves them with less. Bottom line, don't assume they can keep their current house a rental until I get them pre-approved for it. Take care.

If you want a copy of the new guideline that was attached please email me. Heidi

The Olympics AWESOME

2008-08-11T21:23:00.000-05:00

Not only do I sell Real Estate in Edmond OKC, Moore, Yukon, and Deer Creek, but I also help manage the Homestead Hurricanes Swim Team, which is part of the NW OKC Chesapeake Swim Clubs Summer League. We took second for this Summers Large Team this season. We swam against Fenwick, Warwick, Asheford Oaks, Coffee Creek, Steeplechase, Old Farm, Chimney Hill, Copperfield, Oak Tree Park and others. With the Olympics this year it has made the season so much fun, I love to DVR the Olympics and then watching what Team USA is able to accomplish this year in the pool. We love swimming so much that we put a pool in last year. So if you need a home with a pool, please contact me, I can certainly assist with this!! I have some great recommendations for pool contractors, pool suppliers, and have some great homes with pools listed. So dont miss out on the swim season.

My Mom and Dad are Realtors too!

2008-08-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

Well the apple did not fall from the tree, both my parents are Realtors in Fort Wayne Indiana, so if you are moving that way check them out. They are with the Mike Thomas and Associates Brokerage. That actually is where I orginally started real estate. After the urging of my mom to try Real Estate and leave my job as Marketing Director from an Engineering Firm, I did so. In the first year I was named Rookie of the Year. It was exciting. They too are a top team so if you need a referral in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area, contact me and I will get you in contact with them. They are Don and Debbie Oldakowski, when you are on the Go call Debbie O.

Edmond Schools are open next week

2008-08-11T20:51:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh...the kids are going back to school. Edmond North for my daughter and John Ross for my son. Im nervous, my daughter is a freshman. Does that mean Im old? Nooo, not me Im too young at heart. Anyways, make sure if you are registering to bring your utility bill for registration. Make sure the high schoolers look their best for they are taking pictures for their IDs. If you want info on the Edmond Public School System or the Deer Creek School System, send me an email. We will take care of you!!!

Turner & Son Homes

2008-08-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

Did you know that I represent Turner and Son homes as well. These guys are top notch builders. Check out their website at http://www.turnerandsonhomes.com/, better yet, you need to contact me to see these homes. We can customize a home for you and build it in six months. Locations are Lone Oak in Deer Creek Schools, Hidden Prairie in Edmond Schools, Frisco Ridge in Banner and Yukon Schools, and Deer Springs in Piedmont Schools. Their prices are from the 180's. Make sure if you are considering a new home you check them out. They have models open make sure you tell them I sent you!!!

Did you know about the $7500 tax incentive

2008-08-11T20:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I hope you have been listening to the news if you are a first time homebuyer. Not only in Edmond, but everywhere, the Federal Government is offering a first time homebuyer a $7500 tax credit. This is huge for those who have need a nudge to get into the market. This is the time to buy interest rates are still low and now this!! You should always get preapproved before looking for homes so that you know what your purchasing power is. If you need a lender I know fabulous trustworthy lenders, who will get not only inform you of all your choices but help you decide on the best options. Please email me at heidi@atchleygroup.com for a list of reputable lenders.