Congratulations to Ron Sumner for receiving the award for being GTAR’s 2009 Realtor of the year.

Ron started his career in real estate back in 1980. He has been with Coldwell Banker Select (formerly Coldwell Banker Radergroup) since the start. Currently he is the manager of the Coldwell Banker Select office located in Broken Arrow.

During Ron’s time as a Realtor, he has served on numerous GTAR and NORES task forces and comittees to include keybox, RPAC, Finance. He has been the chair of the Data Systems Committee nd GTAR strategic planning Task Force. Currently Ron is serving on GTAR’s rofessional Standards and Stanndards Forms Committess, and NORES’ bylaws, rules and regualtions commitee. Read the rest of this entry »

At times buyes fing themselves ina a situation where they may need to move prior to closing.Early occupancy may be a solution to the problem, but it is a situation typically hated by Realtors.

One of the risks taken with this type of situation is that the buyers may fail to close on the house. You would be surprised of what can between the contract agreement date and the date of closing. Lenders may come up with last minute issues, buyers could get laid off, there could be appraisal issues, or an item fails to get fixed. Whatever the reason, it is usually something that was unexpected and out of the blue. If early occupancy is needed, make sure that it is stated in the agreement about what would happen if the closure does not take place by a certain date. Read the rest of this entry »

Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.

First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don’t pay enough taxes to cover the credit.

Other factors that should spur buyers:

Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.

Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets,(but that only helps if you want to live there).

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the value of the average home in the Tulsa area rose 1.91% last year during the period ending December 31st 2009. This ranks Tulsa Oklahoma as number 3 in the nation.

Thanks to a steady economy and no bubble in the real estate market here, the market value has continued to rise while other markets have fallen. Although the rise in values is less than previous years, this is a very good sign for both buyers and sellers in the Tulsa real estate market. Read the rest of this entry »

Curb appeal can present many difficulties when it comes to spring time.

For most areas through out the country this time of year means brown leaves, trees and bushes without any leaves, and dull or even no color.

The lush landscaping and splashes of color that go along with the summer months are not present, but what can we do during this time of year to improve curb appeal?

Since improving your curb appeal has proven to not only increase the value of your property, but also the value of other properties in your neighborhood, we need to take some steps to ensure that we can achieve this goal.

Here are 5 tips that you can take to help you show a beautiful home. Read the rest of this entry »

Now that President Obama has signed into law the expanded and extended the first time home buyers credit, as well as great mortgage rates and home prices near rock bottom, there is a rush of first time home buyers taking advantage of the market. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, projects there will be 1.84 million home sales to first-time home buyers in 2010, compared with 1.73 million in 2009. If you are one of the new buyers about to take the plunge, here is a list of common mistakes to avoid as well as some helpful tips that could make the difference between financial security and massive debt. Read the rest of this entry »

The federal foreclosure prevention program has helped about 12 percent of borrowers who applied for help since the plans were announced a year ago, the Treasury Department says.

About 1 million borrowers initiated the application process, and as of January, about 116,000 home owners–12 percent–had their loans modified. But administration officials say another 76,000 applications have been approved and are awaiting signatures.

Another 830,500 home owners are currently in a trial modification review period during which banks make sure payments are feasible for the borrower and ensure the qualifications of the assistance program are met.

For those who qualify, the Home Affordable Modification Program brings monthly loan payments down to 31 percent of home owners’ pre-tax income.

Nearly 60,500 people have been denied permanent modifications.

Strong gains in existing-home sales were the predominant pattern in most states during the fourth quarter, with many more metro areas seeing prices rise from a year earlier, according to the latest survey/span by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®. Sales increased from the third quarter in 48 states and the District of Columbia; 32 states even saw double-digit gains.

Year-over-year sales were higher in 49 states and D.C.; all but three states had double-digit annual increases.

Total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 13.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.03 million in the fourth quarter from 5.29 million in the third quarter, and are 27.2 percent above the 4.74 million-unit level in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Distressed property accounted for 32 percent of fourth quarter transactions, down from 37 percent a year earlier. Read the rest of this entry »

When people think about water heaters they usually think “maintenance free”. They usually don’t think about performing any type of preventive maintenance. However, you can keep your water heater in top condition and make it last longer just by performing two little tasks every six months. All you need to do is test the pressure valve and flush the tank.

Testing the pressure release valve is important to make sure it is operating properly. If it is not, the tank can over pressurize and explode. Flushing the tank every six months is also very beneficial. Doing this will prevent sediment build up which will reduce your water heater’s energy efficiency and clog up your water lines. If you are unsure how to perform these steps, consult your owner’s manual.