Saturday, August 07, 2010
Monday, August 02, 2010
What to Consider When Buying a Home
Thanks to the perfect storm of low prices, attractive inventory, and affordable interest rates, this continues to be a lucrative time to invest in a home, whether it be a first home, a move-up home, or a second home.
Choosing a home is no easy process, however, and many factors must be carefully weighed before making your selection. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, advise our clients to pay careful attention to a few details in particular when considering a home—these important details will significantly impact your long-term happiness in the home as well as the home’s appreciation over time. So, as you begin to consider properties in our neighborhood, here are a few issues to think about that may help you find exactly the right home for you and your family:
Type of home: One-story or two, single-family, duplex or condo? How will paying homeowner dues affect your overall buying power? Will a swimming pool be a bonus or a hindrance? Making these decisions in advance will help you focus on the right types of home to look at.
New or existing: A new home is all shiny and clean, but will carry with it some hefty initial costs such as landscaping and window coverings. An existing home will have many of these things, but repairs or renovations that may need to be made will also impact your budget.
Features: Weigh the costs of gas vs. electric heating and cooling, and the possible need for fencing. How important is a fireplace? Does the home have enough bedrooms and bathrooms to support your family in the coming years?
Ease of maintenance: What is the condition of the roof? The appliances? Will you have to paint the interior or exterior and/or replace the carpeting? Be sure to factor in such costs in your budget and your negotiations.
Location: Do you want to be in the city or in the country? Nearer to libraries, parks and entertainment or set among tall trees and lakes? What about the need for public transportation? Nearby hospitals and schools?
Crime rate and public schools: Check with local enforcement and local residents to get a feeling for statistics and quality. We can also provide you with up-to-date statistics on this information.
Economic stability: Whether an area is growing or not can affect its future property value—as will the economic stability of the area.
Property tax: Examine the annual amount of real estate taxes and other assessments levied in the neighborhoods you are considering.
We can help find the answers to the above concerns as well as provide more suggestions on what to look for in a new home—just e-mail our team. Also, please pass this article onto others who may benefit from this information.
To buy or sell your Tulsa, OK area home, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.
For all your Tulsa, OK area roofing needs, contact Judy Smith of A-Best Roofing at 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.
For all your Tulsa, OK area home maintenance needs and more, visit www.tulsahomemaintenance.com.
Choosing a home is no easy process, however, and many factors must be carefully weighed before making your selection. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, advise our clients to pay careful attention to a few details in particular when considering a home—these important details will significantly impact your long-term happiness in the home as well as the home’s appreciation over time. So, as you begin to consider properties in our neighborhood, here are a few issues to think about that may help you find exactly the right home for you and your family:
Type of home: One-story or two, single-family, duplex or condo? How will paying homeowner dues affect your overall buying power? Will a swimming pool be a bonus or a hindrance? Making these decisions in advance will help you focus on the right types of home to look at.
New or existing: A new home is all shiny and clean, but will carry with it some hefty initial costs such as landscaping and window coverings. An existing home will have many of these things, but repairs or renovations that may need to be made will also impact your budget.
Features: Weigh the costs of gas vs. electric heating and cooling, and the possible need for fencing. How important is a fireplace? Does the home have enough bedrooms and bathrooms to support your family in the coming years?
Ease of maintenance: What is the condition of the roof? The appliances? Will you have to paint the interior or exterior and/or replace the carpeting? Be sure to factor in such costs in your budget and your negotiations.
Location: Do you want to be in the city or in the country? Nearer to libraries, parks and entertainment or set among tall trees and lakes? What about the need for public transportation? Nearby hospitals and schools?
Crime rate and public schools: Check with local enforcement and local residents to get a feeling for statistics and quality. We can also provide you with up-to-date statistics on this information.
Economic stability: Whether an area is growing or not can affect its future property value—as will the economic stability of the area.
Property tax: Examine the annual amount of real estate taxes and other assessments levied in the neighborhoods you are considering.
We can help find the answers to the above concerns as well as provide more suggestions on what to look for in a new home—just e-mail our team. Also, please pass this article onto others who may benefit from this information.
To buy or sell your Tulsa, OK area home, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.
For all your Tulsa, OK area roofing needs, contact Judy Smith of A-Best Roofing at 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.
For all your Tulsa, OK area home maintenance needs and more, visit www.tulsahomemaintenance.com.
Emailing tweet from: dbaskin (dbaskin)
dbaskin: Support Teaching Tulsa's young people valuable financial skills. Donate $5 to Junior Achievement. Text: INVEST JAOK to 20222
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Darryl Baskin
The Baskin Real Estate Specialists
McGraw Realtors
8040 S. Sheridan Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74133
918.258.2600 Ofc
918.398.5110 fax
918.740.0077 cel
www.DarrylBaskin.com
www.BaskinCommercial.com
www.TulsaLuxuryPropertyGroup.com
Make a difference in a child's life. Speak for a child in court. www.TulsaCasa.org
Sunday, August 01, 2010
US Cell Phone Emergency Numbers
Some of you may have received various emails claiming that you can dial *112 or *77 (among others) from your cell phone in any state to contact the highway patrol or police. According to snopes.com, that is incorrect. Dialing 911 is the only official emergency number in the United States. There are, however, other helpful emergency numbers that you can dial from a cell phone to reach highway patrol to report accidents and other highway problems. Check out the numbers for Oklahoma and neighboring states:
To buy or sell real estate in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.
- Oklahoma, dial *55
- Texas, dial *DPS or 911
- Louisiana, dial *LSP
- Arkansas, dial 501-296-1860 or 911
- Missouri, dial *55
- Kansas, dial *HP or *KTA
- Colorado, dial *CSP, *DUI, or 911
- New Mexico, dial 505-827-9301
To buy or sell real estate in the Tulsa, OK area, contact Kelly Howard of McGraw Realtors at 918-230-6341 or www.kellyhowardhomes.com.
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