Home Automation, What is It?

Home automation is, basically, anything that gives you control over certain aspects of your property from one location, whether that is inside your home or remotely. Home automation systems can be as simple as being able to control some or all of the lights in your home from one control. It can also be quite complex.

Home automation systems can include: lights (both interior and exterior), security systems, home audio systems, home theater systems, heating and A/C systems, and even window draperies and shades. These systems allow you to use one controller inside your home to control these systems. They can also be set up to allow access through the internet or your cell phone. You can even use voice recognition to access some systems.

What's even better than being able to do all these things without getting up? Saving energy costs at the same time. Many of the features, especially lighting systems, can pay for themselves with a 10% energy savings each year.

For more information on home automation system installation and pricing in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Keegan Beck of KMB Enterprises at 918-527-1031 or www.kmbenterprisesllc.com.

To have a home security system installed in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Tory Tipp of TNT Security at 918-313-4074 or www.tntsecurityservices.com.

For all your luxury real estate needs in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Gordon Shelton of The Tulsa Luxury Property Group of McGraw Realtors at 918-739-0397 or www.tulsaluxurypropertygroup.com

Preventing Water Damage!

Water damage and leaks can be anything from a minor irritation to a major problem. For some homeowners, the damage caused from water leaks may be covered under their homeowner's insurance policy. For others, the cost to repair these damages is out-of-pocket. No one likes to spends lots of money in repairs, therefore preventing damage is the best way help prevent those excess expenses.

• Occasionally, check appliances that use water. Check for leaks around hoses, underneath for soft flooring and nearby for evidence of water leaks. When leaving the house, don't leave these appliances running. Disconnect or turn off the water to your washing machine before leaving the house for extended periods of time.
• Check sinks, showers/tubs, and toilets for clogs and loose caulking. Also check for soft flooring or water nearby that might indicate a leak.
• Check your water heater for rust and for wet spots on the floor.
• Make sure your roof is in good condition, all soffits and vents allow for good air flow, there isn't any debris on the roof or guttering, and there is no evidence of bent, missing or damaged shingles.
• Before and during cold weather keep faucets off and hoses disconnected from the spigots.
• During warmer weather, have your A/C unit serviced to ensure that it is in good working order.
• Check all caulking and paint on the exterior of your house and around windows and doors.
• Prevent water from sitting around the foundation of your home by filling low spots.
• If you suspect a leak that you can't find, turn off all appliances (that use water), faucets and don't flush the toilet. Record your water meter reading at the beginning and ending of an hour. If the number has changed, a leak is possible.
• Make sure everyone in the household knows where the water shut-off valve is in case of an emergency. Turning this off while away from home for vacation can also help to prevent damage from leaks.

Remember to keep the above tips in mind to help prevent water damage, however when water damage does occur consult with home maintenance professionals.

If you suspect roof damage on your Tulsa, OK area luxury home, contact Judy Smith of A-Best Roofing at 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.

For property drainage solutions and landscaping needs in the Tulsa area, call Nathan Vaughn of Bluum Outdoor at 918-599-8500 or www.bluum.net.

If you have suffered water damage or suspect water damage to your Tulsa, OK area home, contact Roger Fisher of PCC Cleaning and Restoration at 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

For A/C service or for installation in the Tulsa area, contact Stephen Taylor of Air Assurance at 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.

How to Select a Moving Company...

There are lots of decisions to make when moving to a new home. Selecting a moving company may seem like an easy and quick decision to make, however, there are several important things to consider in order to avoid damage to property and extra fees.

Don’t accept any estimate unless it is a a visual estimate. It is difficult to be accurate with estimates without visually inspecting all of the items that will be transported. If a company is unwilling to give you a visual estimate, don’t use them. It is also important to verify that the inventory that the company has is accurate.
Always get more than one quote. The best way to know what the average prices are for a move is to get more than one quote. After you have received several quotes be cautious with any estimates that are much lower than the others. Some companies that give much lower quotes will add extra fees or charges on your bill later.
Make sure that the company is property licensed and insured. Does the company have a good safety record? Are they licensed through your city/state and through the Department of Transportation. Do they have the proper insurance required by law? Will they provide adequate insurance to cover the value of your property?
Before you come to an agreement or sign a contract, make sure that any fees and charges that they company could charge you are clearly marked on the contract. Don’t find out later that your bill is much higher than expected.
Check with other customers and the Better Business Bureau. Find out if they have had any complaints and how they were handled. Ask other customers how they were treated.

For all your home and commercial moving needs in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Mike Ellingson of Relocation LLC at 918-459-6683 or www.relocationllc.net.

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

New Luxury Listing...

Extraordinary Mediterranean Style Residence!

720 West 108th Place
Jenks, OK. in Aberdeen Falls

$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!

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

Why You Should Buy a Home Now…Even after the Tax Credit .

While much press coverage has been given to the recent first-time and move-up buyer tax credit, there are many time-sensitive factors that make the current climate an exceptional time to buy a home…even without the tax credit. 

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have seen many real estate markets come and go, and we know for a fact that the many outstanding opportunities that exist for home buyers today will not be around forever.

Besides mortgage interest rates that have been hovering at near-record lows, homes in many markets have become more affordable. Prices have moderated from the highs of the housing boom that occurred in most of the country, especially in major markets where they had increased significantly.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), new construction homes are an especially wise investment for home buyers. New homes are generally built to be much more energy efficient than homes constructed a generation ago, making them more affordable to operate. Plus, new homes often incorporate open floor plans, flexible spaces, improved safety features and low-maintenance materials—making them well-suited for today’s modern families.



So, if you’re thinking about buying a home, please don’t count on interest rates or prices staying at current levels—we’ve seen them change unpredictably and quickly! Mortgage rates are sensitive to market conditions, and even a slight increase can push monthly payments beyond a family’s budget. As the country recovers from the recession and people stabilize their financial situations, NAHB economists expect that home prices will begin to increase by 2011.

For further advice on buying a home or market conditions, feel free to e-mail our team anytime. And be sure to pass this information on to friends and family who might also be considering a real estate purchase.

Sincerely,

Darryl Baskin 



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

Interested in building a new home in the Tulsa, OK area? Contact Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-518-5913 or email him at usbs@att.net.

To become pre-approved for your Tulsa, OK home mortgage or for a rate quote, contact Steve Currington of Currington Mortgage at 918-394-5626 or www.curringtonmortgage.com

New Luxury Property Listings!

Exceptional Luxury Estate!

10001 N. Glen Ellen Drive
Clear Brook Subdivision in
Owasso, Oklahoma

$2,100,000

5 Bedrooms 6 Full 2 Half Baths
4 Car Garage

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

Grandeur!

10726 S. Lakewood Ave.
The Gates at Forest Park Addition in
Tulsa, Oklahoma

$4,200,000

6 Bedrooms
7 Full 4 Half Baths
5 Car Garage

Never Before Has a Home of this Grandeur, Quality, and Technology been Available! 6 Bedrooms, 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.

For more information on these luxury properties in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area or to buy or sell your Tulsa, OK area home, contact Kelly Howard, McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

What NOT to do with Your Credit Card!

For most of us, using a credit card has become a way of life.  To improve our credit score, or keep our credit score high, and keep those credit cards available remember what NOT TO DO!

1.  Seek a lower rate.  Although asking for a lower rate can be a good thing sometimes, keep in mind that when you ask for a lower rate, credit card issuers will often check your credit score or credit report or even question you about your financial situation.  Once you ask for a lower rate, companies will often treat you as if you are a new customer and check your most recent credit history.  If you have had any credit problems that show up in your credit report, this could actually cause your credit limit to be lowered or your account closed.  To prevent this, check your credit report before you ask the credit card company for a lower rate.

2.  Close your account.  If may seem that closing your account would improve your credit score, but it may not.  Credit bureaus use the information from these creditors to track your information and give you a score.  When there is too little information, it will actually cause your score to decrease.  Closing an account will not remove any information from your credit history right away.  It can take up to 7 years for delinquencies to get off your record.  In addition, credit bureaus use the information they get from your credit report to figure the "debt-to-limit ratio".  When you close an account that already has a zero balance it will cause your available credit to decrease which raises that debt-to-limit ratio.  Instead of closing the account you owe nothing on, consider reducing the balances on other credit card accounts.

Remember that a lower credit score makes it more difficult to get a loan for school, a car, or a mortgage.  Keep your credit score high and you will increase your chances of getting that much needed loan next time you want to buy a car or a home.

Read more from this Tulsa World article "Safety in the Credit Card Ring", here.


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

TYPro's- Tulsa Shock - Junior Achievement

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July 13th Tulsa Shock Game to Benefit       Junior Achievement fans are invited to cheer on the Tulsa Shock, the city's newest professional sports team, for a nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Tuesday, July 13 at the BOK Center. Tickets are just $15, and if purchased through the contact below - $5 goes to Junior Achievement.   This partnership, made possible by Tulsa's Young Professionals Group, TYPro's is open to everyone!      Join TYPros and The Tulsa Shock as they  support Junior Achievement!    Consider these options:  Make this a fun night for your family  A team building time for your employees  Invite some friends Come meet new people who also are JA fans Pass this along to others For information or to purchase tickets, contact AJ Weir at 918.949.9725 or ajweir@tulsashock.net   Hope to see you there!!!

Tulsa OK House For Sale in Union School District

5618 E. 80th Pl. Tulsa, Oklahoma,
Holland Pointe Subdivision, Union Schools,
4 Bedrooms, 3 Full-1 Half Baths, 2 Car Garage,
3610 Sq Ft, $325,000.
3 Living Areas, Two story entry with hardwoods.
Contact Darryl Baskin,McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com

Jenks Public Schools Real estate market update - Oklahoma

 Based on the most recent numbers available for Jenks  school district in Oklahoma, various opinions could be drawn and any of them could be correct. One thing is for sure, the real estate market for single-family homes in Jenks  is showing stability-something many around the United States envy.

 

Slope of linear trend line reflects the 0.20% per month downward movement of prices over the last 24 months.

 

 

 

Slope of linear trend lines reflect a downward movement of Supply (FS) and Demand (UC, Sold).

 

 

 

Month's Supply of Inventory (UC Calculation) linear trend line reflects a downward movement over the past 2 years.

 

 

 

Month's Supply of Inventory (Sold Calculation) linear trend reflects an upward movement over the last 24 months.

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas E Allen, CRP, RAC Member

Thomas E Allen Appraisals, LLC

PO Box 702438

Tulsa, Ok 74170-2348

 

(918) 481 3500  FAX (918) 477 2044

TomAllen@TulsaCoxMail.com   or TomAllen@RAC.net

Relocation appraisals, destination due diligence, loss mitigation, REO analysis-appraisal, consulting, mortgage loan appraisals for origination, review appraisals, market condition analysis, forensic studies, and collateral value estimates.

© 2010 Thomas E Allen Appraisals, LLC  All rights reserved.

 

 

 

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world.  But the U.S. ARMED FORCES don't have that problem."  ...Ronald Reagan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updates from Oklahoma Speaker of the House, Chris Benge

Here are a few notes from a meeting this afternoon with Speaker Benge...

Oklahoma Workers Comp. Reform:
Changes will include reducing the number of judges from ten to eight.

State Budget:
Projections for state income have continually been missed- causing legislators to have to scramble to find funds and cut expenses. Benge explained estimates have been lower to better reflect the reduced income to the State of Oklahoma. Cuts have been minimized in the education and roads sectors but have been required in order to balance the budget.

Taxes:
A Supreme Court ruling established the ground work that It is possible to assess an ad valorem tax on intangible property which could include the value of the brand of your business. SCARY!!!! The state legislature created a revenue neutral tax of $25 for business to be a stop-gap measure to prevent abuse of this potential threat to businesses. Benge explains he does not support a new tax/fee but the dangers of government agencies abusing this new-found funding source could be disastrous. The $25 fee is directly deductible on your taxes.

Speaker Benge described many of the choices state leads have been forced to make this legislative session fall between Bad and Terrible- in many cases, good options were simply not available.

The best ways to communicate with your elected officials are through email at www.houseok.gov and then follow up with a handwritten letter. Form emails, while noticed, carry less weight and influence than personal communication.

The "Norm" Changes for Mortgage Down-Payments!

Before the housing market crashed a few years ago, the "norm" used to be for buyers to save for years until they had enough money to put a down-payment on a home. Lenders are now taking us back in time as they change the requirements for a loan. If you are thinking about buying a home or are in the search for one, keep these things in mind:

• To receive low-rate mortgages or refinancing, lenders now require 10% down-payment or equity.
• If you can't put down 10% you still have the option for an FHA insured mortgage but you will still need 3.5% down-payment
• For no down-payment loans you need to qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs Guaranteed Home Loan or a USDA Rural Housing Service Loan.
• A first mortgage of 80%, with a 5-10% down-payment, and the remaining 5-10% on a second-mortgage can, in many cases, be cheaper than getting the home loan with mortgage insurance.

Take advantage of extremely low mortgage rates and buy or sell your Tulsa, OK area home today. Contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.

To read the original article in the Tulsa World, "Buyers Forced to Jump Through Hoops", click here.