CASA Sherri Sanders/Darryl Baskin

CASA fund raiser

What to Anticipate When Pricing Your Home

Hello, Valued Member! Top 5 in Real Estate Network® Members are dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date, helpful real estate information. This monthly newsletter, "Real Estate Matters," offers articles on a range of topics that will inform you in your real estate pursuits. Having trouble seeing this email? Click to view it as a web page. Add newsletter@rismedia.com to your address book to ensure email delivery. Buying Selling Owning Financing Home Improvement My Website My Listings Darryl Baskin Broker Associate McGraw Realtors My Website Member, Top 5 in Real Estate Phone: 918-258-2600 Cell: 918-740-0077 Fax: 918-398-5110 Email Me What to Anticipate When Pricing Your Home This month’s newsletter provides a detailed look at what sellers should anticipate when pricing their home. A detailed checklist offers advice for creating a fair, competitive and marketable sale price. Also this month, a look at the new lending landscape; selecting a real estate agent; improving your home's exterior and more. Top 5 Members are uniquely qualified to not only help you get educated on these matters, but make them as effortless as possible. Only Top 5 Members can provide you with the kind of exclusive information found here in Real Estate Matters - a monthly look at what's really happening in the housing market. It's a privilege to provide you with this important information. Enjoy this monthly e-newsletter, and as always, your feedback is welcomed - call or email any time! This Month's Top Story What to Anticipate When Pricing Your Home RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—Most sellers have an emotional connection to their home and feel it deserves top dollar when sold. Everyone naturally wants to get the most money for his or her product, but "sellers must not be hasty with this all-important decision," cautions real estate expert Robert Jenson, a CEO of a luxury Las Vegas real estate purveyor. More Top Stories Navigating the Lending Landscape RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—The lending landscape has changed quite drastically over the past several years. Practices, approvals and standards that were once widely accepted have either vanished or transformed beyond the point of recognition. Third Time's a Charm - Experts Recommend Talking to at Least 3 Agents before Choosing One to Represent You RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—In today’s real estate market, using the first real estate agent you speak to is a recipe for disaster for home buyers, according to the home-buying specialists at the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, (NAEBA.org). For years, real estate sellers have been told to interview a number of agents before they pick one to list their home because of the difference in the service levels provided. However, most home buyers end up using the first real estate agent they meet. How to Add Resale Value to Your Home's Exterior RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—Change the siding? Add new shrubbery? Replace the cracked sidewalk? When it comes time to enhance the curb appeal of your home, there are a multitude of improvement projects you can consider—but which ones will add the highest resale value to your home? 4 Important Tips to Keep in Mind when Seeking Senior Housing RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—People are living longer today. The century-long expansion in the world’s population that is 65 and older is the product of dramatic advances in medical science and health lifestyles. Currently, 13% of the U.S. population is 65 and older, up from 4% in 1900. As Baby Boomers turn 65 in high and higher annual numbers, it is estimated that one in five Americans will be over age 65 and about 5% over 85. Have You Heard About The Top 5 Real Estate Social Networking SystemSM? Sign up to receive my free, weekly e-Articles - brief, compelling, home-related informational articles that you or your family and friends will find helpful in pursuing your real estate goals! Here are some article samples recently sent out to my Real Estate Social Network: Top 5: Looking for a Summer Remodeling Project? These Tips Might Help Top 5 Tips for Buying a Luxury Home Remodeling? New Lead Regulations You Need to Know About Top 5 Mortgage Options for Home Buyers Buying a Foreclosed Home? Top Problem Areas to Look Out For Email me for more information. * This monthly newsletter is brought to you by your Top 5 in Real Estate Network® Member Agent and is intended as educational information only. RISMedia's Top 5 Real Estate Network® is a network created by, for, and of "leading real estate professionals" who are dedicated to providing "leading real estate information to consumers." The RISMedia Top 5 in Real Estate Network is backed by the commitment and resources of RISMedia. Top 5 was created to fill a profound void in how high-impact consumer relevant information was presented by leading real estate industry members to increasingly sophisticated, discerning, and demanding consumers, in order to both sustain and elevate the ongoing viability and appeal of the industry's leading professionals. For more information, visit www.top5inrealestate.com RISMedia, publisher of Real Estate magazine, is dedicated to providing real estate professionals with the most up-to-date news, information and business development resources in the industry. To submit questions, comments, suggestion, press releases or story ideas, please e-mail realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com. RISMedia, Inc./Top 5 in Real Estate Network® 69 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851 P (203) 855-1234 F(203) 852-7208 www.top5inrealestate.com © 2010. RISMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email is intended for: darrylbaskin.luxury@blogger.com. If you wish to edit your subscription or unsubscribe from Real Estate Matters, please click here.

New Luxury Homes for Sale in the Tulsa, OK Area

Elegant Luxury Home For Sale in Bixby, OK.

$999,000

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

5 Bedrooms
5 Full, 1 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage

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Secluded Owasso, OK Luxury Home For Sale

15601 East 82nd Street North
in Owasso, OK.

$1,900,000

4 Bedrooms
4 Full, 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

To buy or sell a luxury home in the Bixby, OK or Owasso, OK area, or to buy or sell luxury homes in Tulsa, OK. contact Kelly Howard of The Tulsa Luxury Property Group at McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Easy Ways to Fit in Exercise!

It seems like these days just about everyone knows that exercise is one of the most important factors in good health and longevity. For many of us though, getting to the gym or devoting time just for exercise can be difficult. There's work everyday, taking the kids to school, running errands, paying bills, cooking, yard work, and even cleaning the house. After taking care of all of those things, where can you fit exercise? Well, read on for some ideas to fit in exercise, because it's simpler than you think. (Calories burned are an estimate based on 60 minutes of activity for a 150 pound person)

1. Packing Suitcase for Vacation- 144 calories
2. Ironing Clothes- 153
3. Washing Dishes- 153
4. Pushing a Stroller with a Child- 180
5. Cooking Dinner- 180
6. Loading and Unloading the Car- 216
7. Carpentry Work- 252
8. Walking or Running Play with Your Kids- 270
9. Raking the Lawn- 270
10. Push Mowing your Yard- 297
11. Washing the Car- 306
12. Painting the House- 342
13. Cleaning the Gutters- 360
14. Gardening- 369
15. Construction or Remodeling Work- 396
16. Rearranging Furniture- 450

So next time you think you have too much to do to exercise, think again! Pick an activity and get going. For more information on calories burned during different activities, check the website: http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc.

For all your Tulsa, OK luxury real estate needs, contact Kelly Howard of the Tulsa Luxury Property Group at McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Luxury Homes for Sale in Jenks, OK and Owasso, OK.

Luxury Home for Sale in Jenks, OK.
The Gates at Forest Park

$4,200,000

6 Bedrooms
7 Full 4 Half Bathrooms
5 Car Garage

Never Before Has a Home of this Grandeur, Quality, Technology been Available! Magnificent Master Suite & 4 other Luxury en-suite, Apartment w/Elevator. Cinema, Gym, Sauna, Tennis Court, Pool/Spa. Rare Opportunity to Own One of Tulsa's Foremost Properties.

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Luxury Home for Sale in Owasso, OK.
Clearbrook Addition

$2,100,000

5 Bedrooms
6 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

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

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Jenks, OK Luxury Home for Sale
Aberdeen Falls Addition

$1,695,000

5 Bedrooms
5 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
4 Car Garage

Extraordinary Mediterranean Style Residence, Classic & Stately. Be Prepared to Enter a World of Opulence Exceeding Every Buyers Expectations in Architectural Design, Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail!

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

The US Housing Market Slowly Improves

Pending home sales have risen slightly after a drop following the end of the Buyers Tax Credit. According to Realtor Mag online, "The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 5.2 percent to 79.4 based on contracts signed in July from a downwardly revised 75.5 in June, but remains 19.1 percent below July 2009 when it was 98.1. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months."

Although this is good news, it doesn't mean that the recovery will happen overnight. The housing market will take time to recover. For buyers in the Tulsa, OK area, this means the ability to get a better deal on a home. These great deals combined with today's low interest rates could mean the deal of a lifetime for many buyers. Tulsa sellers need not be discouraged, however. Working with an experienced Realtor and being realistic and patient will make the process go much smoother and faster.

To buy or sell a Tulsa, OK area luxury home, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

From Our Top 5 Team: Foreclosed Homes Trouble Spots

Buying a Foreclosed Home? Top Problem Areas to Look Out For

Today's real estate landscape offers some great buys for savvy real estate consumers, especially when it comes to foreclosure properties. Unfortunately, even though there are already a large number of foreclosures on the market, analysts are predicting that yet another wave of distressed properties will crop up in the coming months.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have consulted with many clients seeking to capitalize on a foreclosure purchase. We always advise them, however, to weigh the pros and cons. While a foreclosure could represent your best chance to get a great deal, make sure you educate yourself about the potential pitfalls of purchasing a distressed property in advance - and what correcting those pitfalls might cost. In most cases, it's not so much about what damage occurred but rather the source of the damage and how long before the problem was addressed.

Here are the top 10 signs that may indicate trouble in a foreclosed home:

1. Unheated house in winter months. If the home has been properly winterized, there's no need for heat. But if the home has not been properly winterized, pipes will burst and cause water damage.
2. Missing sinks, toilets and other fixtures. Make sure they've been properly removed and not ripped from walls and floors.
3. Peeling, bubbling and discolored paint; swelling in walls or ceilings (especially around kitchens and bathrooms), or a musty odor all indicate water damage and, potentially, the presence of moisture and mold.
4. Fungus growth inside cabinets, behind drawers and built-ins. Fungus could mean that there has been water damage. Since water falls down, look for the source above the mold.
5. Blocked drains or pipes will cause future problems and may have already created sewage backups.
6. Black cobwebs, greasy gray residue on walls and/or a strong oily odor. This could point to potential soot damage or a malfunctioning furnace.
7. An older home with extensive renovations. Check with the city for pulled permits in order to get remolding details. If asbestos is present and has been disturbed, be sure it's been remediated by a certified specialist.
8. Excessive painting of every nook, cranny, door and floor may mean that the seller is covering up mold.
9. Discolored subflooring. From the basement, check the subflooring above for stains and small holes, both caused by mold.
10. Air quality. The air quality within a home tells a lot about the home's condition. Be sure to include air and surface testing in your home inspection. It's a few hundred dollars well spent.

There are indeed many great opportunities in today's market, but proper education and preparation are essential to making the right investment. Please e-mail our team for further information and be sure to forward this article to others who might be considering a foreclosure purchase.

Sincerely,

Darryl Baskin
McGraw Realtors
Office: 918-258-2600
Mobile: 918-740-0077
Darryl@DarrylBaskin.com
http://www.DarrylBaskin.com

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