Tuesday, December 7, 2010

South Tulsa Homes For Sale...

Charming Old World Home in Jenks, OK!

6338 East 111th Place
Woodfield Village in Tulsa, OK.

$325,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Garage

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New Construction in Bixby, OK!

14558 South Urbana Court
The Auberge in Bixby, OK.

$214,900

2 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
2 Car Garage


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Gated and Secluded Luxury Estate in Bixby, OK

1724 East 151 Street
in Bixby, OK.

$2,675,000

5 Bedrooms
6.5 Bathrooms
4 Car Garage


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Gorgeous Luxury Estate on Over 1/2 Acre in Bixby, OK.

11707 South Fulton Avenue
Forest Hills Estates in Bixby, OK.

$725,000

4 Bedrooms
3 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage





For more information on these Tulsa, OK area homes for sale or to buy or sell your Tulsa, OK area luxury home contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Tulsa, OK. Area Homes for Sale


602 Cross Timbers Blvd.
The Lakes at Cross Timbers
$339,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Full 1 Half Bathrooms
3 Car Garage


Broken Arrow, OK. Home for Sale

1705 S. Juniper Ave.
Village Park
$165,000

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
2 Car Garage


11425 S. Louisville Pl.
The Estates of Waterstone
$2,850,000

6 Bedrooms
6 Full 2 Half Bathrooms
7 Car Garage

For more information on these Tulsa, OK Area Homes for Sale or to buy or sell Tulsa, OK real estate, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ways to Go Green in Your Tulsa, OK Home This Christmas!

With Christmas fast approaching, there are many tasks that you might find yourself rushing to complete in your Tulsa, OK home. For some, it is decorating, for others it is completing last minute projects and touch-ups that have gone undone. Whatever you find yourself trying to complete before you Christmas guests arrive, read this great article on ways that you can go green this Christmas season!

RISMEDIA, December 4, 2010—(MCT)—Now that the holidays are in full swing, the thought of guests descending on your home may have you in an all out redecorating rush. Do your part this holiday season and go green while you paint, clean, and even accessorize.

We all know that paint can completely and inexpensively change the look of any space. But did you know that it’s one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution? That’s because conventional paints contain volatile organic compounds—or VOCs—which are known to cause everything from headaches to certain cancers.

Now, it’s easier than ever to get your hands on low or no VOC paint from nearly any paint manufacturer. The cost of low or no VOC paints are comparable to conventional paints and they last just as long. Just look on the can’s label to make sure you are choosing the healthiest option for your home.

Another source of those dangerous VOCs is household cleaners. If you’re like me, you may take cleaning to a whole other level when company comes to town. Before you spend a lot of money on store-bought cleaners, take a look at the non-toxic options you may already have in your pantry.

Items like baking soda, vinegar, and borax are effective cleaners for every room in your home. They do everything from disinfecting surfaces to killing mold. If you want to go the store-bought route, look for cleaners that are plant-based and biodegradable.

Now for the fun part of buying things for your home. If you’ll be picking out a new piece of furniture before your friends and family arrive, pick ones that don’t emit dangerous chemicals into the air. Some affordable pieces made from medium density fiberboard—or MDF—actually contain a formaldehyde-based resin.

Gas from the formaldehyde is known to slowly release into the air and can irritate eyes and cause breathing problems. Formaldehyde is also used in many furniture adhesives. When shopping, find out what the furniture is made of and if any formaldehyde adhesives are used in the manufacturing process to ensure you aren’t bringing toxic pieces into your home.

There may also be some smaller items on your shopping list this year. If you’ll be getting new towels or sheets for your guests, opt for organic cotton items. These pieces are produced from cotton that is grown without using harmful pesticides or insecticides. Not only that, you’ll also find organic cotton items are generally softer. Major retailers now offer organic options in every price range. You can also find decorative bed pillows made with organic cotton at many home goods stores.

There are plenty of ways to get in the green spirit this holiday season and it won’t cost you any more money or time. So do your part when guests come to visit to make sure your home is the healthiest it can be.

(c) 2010, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

Click here to view this article, "Around the Home: Green Your Home for the Holidays"


To buy or sell Tulsa, OK area luxury real estate, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhoward.com.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

November Housing Scorecard Shows Continued Signs of Stabilization in House Prices and High Home Affordability

RISMEDIA, November 24, 2010—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the November 2010 edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard (www.hud.gov/scorecard). The latest housing figures show continued signs of stabilization in house prices and high home affordability due in part to record low mortgage interest rates. The housing scorecard is a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market.

“The Obama Administration has made significant strides in promoting stability for the housing market and the nation’s homeowners. Through a range of swift actions since we took office, we’ve seen millions more families able to stay in their homes and a steady rise in responsible borrowers refinancing their loans or becoming homeowners,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostic. “But, while we cannot stop every foreclosure, we know that more has to be done to reach homeowners in distress and to help unemployed borrowers. That’s why we’re continuing to focus on successfully implementing the programs we’ve put in place—such as neighborhood stabilization funding, additional assistance on refinancing and emergency loans to help unemployed homeowners—and ensuring that help is available to homeowners as early as possible.”

“The recent reports of problems in the foreclosure process underscore the importance of helping responsible homeowners avoid the pain of foreclosure,” said acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Timothy Massad. “As we implement additional program enhancements to reach more homeowners, we continue to stress to mortgage servicers the importance of making every effort to enroll eligible homeowners in HAMP and provide meaningful alternatives to avoidable foreclosures.”

The November Housing Scorecard features key data on the health of the housing market including:

-An additional one million families refinanced their mortgages in the last quarter, taking advantage of the lowest rates in history on 30-year fixed mortgages. Since April 2009, record low interest rates have helped more than 8.3 million homeowners to refinance, resulting in more stable home prices and $15.2 billion in annual borrower savings.

-As expected with the expiration of the Home Buyer Tax Credit, new and existing home sales have remained below levels seen in the first half of 2010. At the same time, home prices remained level in the past year after 33 straight months of decline and homeowners added $95 billion in home equity in the second quarter.

-More than 3.73 million modification arrangements were started between April 2009 and the end of August 2010—more than double the number of foreclosure completions during that time. These modification arrangements included nearly 1.4 million trial Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) modification starts, more than 600,000 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, and nearly 1.8 million proprietary modifications under HOPE Now. While some homeowners may have received help from more than one program, the number of agreements offered were more than double the number of foreclosure completions for the same period (1.6 million).

Data in the scorecard also show that the recovery in the housing market continues to remain fragile. While the recovery will take place over time, the Administration remains committed to its efforts to prevent avoidable foreclosures and stabilize the housing market.

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.


Interested in a Tulsa, OK area mortgage? Contact Karen Heston of BOK Mortgage at 918-488-7353 or visit her website.

To take advantage of the affordability of the Tulsa, OK area luxury real estate market, contact Kelly Howard of the Luxury Property Group of McGraw Realtors, 918-230-6341 or www.tulsaluxurypropertygroup.com.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Is the U.S. Economy Growing?

In an article posted on RISMedia.com titled "New GDP Numbers Show Economy Growing Slowly" by Kevin G. Hall says that newly reported Gross Domestic Product figures show that the economy could be growing. For most of us that is a great thought, especially with so many foreclosures, job losses, and difficult economic times. The article also mentions that consumer spending is up, which is a sign that stress over job losses and other financial woes are decreasing. Want more information on this news? Visit the link to the article here.

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

Increasing Your Tulsa, OK Home's Security

Security in our Tulsa, OK home is important to just about everyone. If you're like me, you probably feel pretty secure in your home and automobile. Even though we may feel secure, are we really secure? Keep these simple tips in mind to improve your home security.
  • Always know your surroundings. If you are in a new subdivision, take a walk or drive around during the day and check out the area. Make a note of routes that might be safer to walk or drive. Also, make a mental note of normal parking routines and people in your area.
  • Get to know your neighbors. Find out who lives where and what's been going on.
  • Keep your windows and doors closed and locked when you are not home. Don't assume everything will be okay.
  • Leave a few lights on. If you will be away for more than a day, consider putting a few lights on a timer.
  • Install more exterior lighting, including landscaping lights and lights that are on a motion sensor. Keep your landscaping well lit. Although the focus is on the landscaping, should a burglar be nosing around in your landscaping, near any windows, they will be more visible this way. Also, keep exterior lights on a motion sensor that way they come on when there is any movement.
  • When going on vacation or a business trip, be prepared. Put lights on timers, cancel mail and newspaper delivery or arrange for it to be picked up. Have a friend stop by a few times to check things out. Don't leave clues that you are not at home.
  • Remember to set your security system!

For help with exterior or interior lighting installation or for all your Tulsa, OK electrical repair and installation needs, contact Larry Murray of Murray Electric at 98-557-3020 or www.murrayelectric.com.

For Tulsa, OK landscaping that includes well designed lighting, call Nathan Vaughn of Bluum Outdoor at 918-599-8500 or www.bluum.net

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Improving Indoor Air Quality in Your Tulsa, OK Home!

Indoor air pollution in your Tulsa, OK home can pose many health risks, including: allergies, asthma, and even cancer. The average person spends about 30% of their day at work and 75% of their day indoors . These simple solutions can improve the air quality in your business and your home:
  • Avoid smoking and the use of chemicals indoors.
  • Use building materials that don't emit toxins. Ask your builder for some eco-friendly building options.
  • When replacing flooring, use eco-friendly flooring such as bamboo , stone, or cork.
  • Dehumidify in moist areas.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation.
  • Use filters that help reduce air pollutants.
For information on high quality air filters to improve indoor air quality, contact Rick Butefish at www.Filters4Me.com or 918-292-8600.

To build a new Tulsa, OK home or for questions about acceptable green building materials in Tulsa, OK, contact Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-518-5913.

For eco-friendly flooring products in Tulsa, OK, contact Jim Ecrette of ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings at 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com