Edmond Real Estate - Thoughts from a Tech-Junkie Realtor

Merge Your Facebook Calendar With Your Google (iCal) Calendar

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:14:59 -0600

In this day of social media explosion, it can get overwhelming to keep up with all the websites, calendars, inboxes, etc. In fact, it's almost at a point that I need a checklist to go down to make sure I'm checking all the different inboxes, social calendars, tweets, status updates, connection requests... well, you get the point.

So, I'm always THRILLED when I find a way to make one or two of these items share information with each other, thus reducing the likelihood of my missing something important.

Yesterday, I stumbled upon one such golden nugget of information. This particular nuggets is so simple that I can't believe I didn't figure it out myself sooner, but nonetheless, I'm glad someone figured it out and told the rest of us how, so now I'm here to share it with you.

You know all those little events that you get invitations to on facebook? You know, you go in and check it out and you RSVP that you'll be there, you might be there, or you won't be there, then these little events show up in the calendar on the right side of your homepage. Well, if you remember to go back and look at that little calendar every day, you may not need this, but if you use a Google Calendar, or any other kind if iCal calendar, you can just import those little events right into your calendar, so they'll be right alongside the other important things on your calendar, like getting a manicure, meeting your buddies for a drink, or picking up flowers for the Mrs.

Here's how:

In Facebook, go to your EVENTS page.
At the top of that page click EXPORT EVENT
You'll get a pop up window with a URL, copy it.
In Google Cal, on the bottom left you'll see ‘Other Calendars' and below that a link to ADD. Click ADD
One of the new options you'll be presented with is ADD BY URL, select that
Paste the URL from Facebook where it asks for it.

That's it! It really is THAT EASY! Now, if you need illustrations or anything, be sure you click on the link above to see the original post where I found it. Enjoy your new streamlined, more-efficient calendar!

Do Your Clients Blog? Why Not?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:10:50 -0500

We have a client who has become a dear friend, who worked hard over the past couple of years to put herself in a position to be able to buy her first home. We're so very proud of her and she's so very proud of herself. Add to that, she's a giver, so it's just natural that she wants to share her experiences as a new homeowner with others who could benefit from them.

Earlier in the week, she sent me an email outlining what she had to do to file for her first time homebuyer tax credit and I thought it'd be great if she'd outline exactly the steps she had to take in a blog for other buyers to see. She agreed, and was quite excited about it. In fact, she did a bang-up job with the blog post!!

Well, that got me thinking about how valuable it would be for consumers to see these types of posts on a regular basis, so I asked Fallon if she'd be willing to do a monthly blog post about the adjustments she faces as a new homeowner and what she learns in the process. She, of course, agreed, because she's so excited about her new home and the road ahead of her!

Sure it's great when I blog about these things, but how much better would it be for the consumers out there if they could read the first-hand accounts from our actual clients, as they take the steps of buying and selling their homes?

Are We Taught by History or Marketing?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:32:38 -0500

As an iPhone lover who's unfortunately still using PCs (hopefully not much longer), I can totally appreciate this new Mac ad. In fact, I almost spit my coffee out watching it.

With all of the hype lately about Windows 7, I've been wondering why it is that we, as Americans, are so easily duped by marketing. We fall for the same empty promises over & over, whether they be from politicians or computer companies.

Does anyone REALLY believe that Microsoft suddenly figured out how to get it right and Windows 7 will magically be bug-free? Yeah, this time it's going to be different!
Does anyone REALLY believe that our government suddenly figured out how to stop the misuse of our tax dollars and if we just let them run THIS aspect of our lives, they'll do it right and everything will be fixed?!

I, for one, go on track records and past achievements when I'm evaluating whether or not to believe something that's being marketed to me. Generally speaking, past performance IS an indication of future results. ALMOST every time.

I know this; Windows has done more for selling me on Apple products than Apple has. IMO, if Windows had a product that could actually compete with Mac, I wouldn't have had to shop around. When I did, however, I found that there is a better way.

p.s. Special thanks to my buddy Sam Soffes for sharing the link to the Mac Ad!

Attention ALL Realtors... A CALL TO ACTION!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:07:58 -0500

Whether we were for or against the Economic Stimulus Plan, it's tough to argue against the effectiveness of the Home Buyer Tax Credit. It's helped move some buyers to action who might've otherwise waited in the uncertainty of where the housing market was heading.

As you know, the current housing tax credit expires in just over 45 days, which could very well slow down what has been an instrumental increase in local home sales; instrumental in the stability of our local economy and in the recovery of the national economy.

That said, IT'S UP TO EVERY ONE OF US TO TAKE ACTION TO KEEP THE TAX CREDIT ALIVE.

I'M ASKING ALL OKLAHOMA REALTORS AND INDUSTRY-RELATED PROFESSIONALS TO CLICK HERE AND SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES THAT YOU WANT THIS ECONOMIC RECOVERY TO CONTINUE.

To those of you outside of Oklahoma: PLEASE spread this to your locals as well. We need the help of ALL industry professionals to spread the word let's make a difference!

Blogging Class Needs Your Insight!

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:41:35 -0500

Being one of only a handful of agents in my market who've embraced social media in my business, I get a lot of questions about the how and why of blogs, facebook, twitter, etc, so I've recently decided to help others by sharing what I know in a 'classroom environment.' Monday morning will be the frist such class and I'd like to demonstrate to my fellow agents, by example, the power of Active Rain.

With that in mind, I'm asking for my fellow Rainers to chime in with the why and how of Active Rain. What's it done for your business? Feel free to share real-life stories, links to any AR blog posts that you feel address this well, and advice on how to get started. My hope is that these agents will get to see, firsthand, the power of interaction on AR, so go ahead and tell us your story!

I believe the following video may open a few eyes as well:

$1M+ Acreage in Dutch Forest - 12301 Dutch Forest Pl

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:23:30 -0500

Here's a HOT property that's about to hit the short-sale market:

4 Beds
3.5 Baths
4 Living Areas
2 Dining Areas
7,780 square feet (MOL)
3.36 beautifully-landscaped acres (MOL)

More info to come in a day or two!

12301 Dutch Forest Pl

Ryan Hukill
Hukill Group - Paradigm AdvantEdge
405.802.4663

UPDATE: After careful consideration, and determining that this seller's needs are not in line with our business specialties, we decided to decline this listing. If you're in the market for a home in or around Dutch Forest, please let us know and we'll be happy to help you find the perfect home.

Oklahoma County Short Sales and Foreclosures

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:46:52 -0500

We've found a couple of needs to fill, and have created a new blog to do so.

We're now handling pre-foreclosure properties all around Oklahoma County. These types of properties typically attract a different type of buyer than a typical listing, so we've created a blog to display ONLY short-sale and investment-type homes. This should serve as a direct resource for investors and home buyers looking only for pre-foreclosure and foreclosure homes.

CHECK IT OUT!

iPhone Users FINALLY Get MMS!

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:05:00 -0500

It's a long-awaited upgrade that brings the 'most advanced mobile phone on the market' up to speed with a feature I had on the free phone AT&T gave me in 2001... MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Services, which allows you to send a photo to others via text message. Sorry, but I had to poke a little fun, as I've been baffled by how this amazing phone was missing such basic features from it's introduction.

So, I've already had several people email me asking how to get it to work. It's a basic, simple upgrade of the OS, but still confuses some folks, so here's a step-by-step on how to upgrade your OS to give you the ability to use MMS:

Turn on the computer or laptop that you use to manage your iPhone/iTunes
Open iTunes on your computer/laptop
Plug your iPhone into your computer/laptop with the white USB cord that came with your phone
Once iTunes recognizes your iPhone, it may automatically prompt you to upgrade your OS.. if it doesn't, just click on 'Check for Update'
It'll prompt you to backup, then update your OS. Just follow those prompts and be patient... if you have a lot on your phone, it's going to take quite a while to complete this process.
Once your computer tells you it's done, you'll need to uplug your phone, power it off and wait 30 seconds or so, then turn it back on.

That's it... you're done and you now have the ability to send and receive MMS messages. Enjoy!

Earlywine Estates - HOT New Listing!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:49:56 -0500

2936 SW 127th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73170

Looking for a ton of square footage, an open floorplan, a true mother-in-law suite, Moore public schools, a swimming pool, hot-tub and huge covered outdoor living area?

If any or all of those are a yes for you, this house is a must-see. Check it out:

Facebook App Gets a Big Upgrade

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:44:09 -0500

For those of you using your Facebook profile and your iPhone to connect with friends, clients, colleagues and neighbors, you might want to make sure you have the most recent version of your apps, because the new Facebook app is light years ahead of the old one.

Not only is the interface easier and more familiar, it offers functionality that the old one simply didn't. I couldn't pull up fan pages on the iPhone before, but now I can. It's easier to upload pictures, update your status, reply to messages and so much more. Here are a couple of screenshots for ya:

Beautiful 4 Bed, 2.5 Bath Home Just Listed in Cedar Pointe

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:26:41 -0500

Having lived in Cedar Pointe up until a year and a half ago, I have a lot of great things I could tell you about this small, close-knit Edmond community, but if you found this, you've probably already chosen Cedar Pointe as your next home. Now it's time to find the right home, right? Here's a great one I just listed yesterday:

4 Beds, 2.5 baths, 3-car garage and so much more. The thing you'll notice from the pictures is the wonderful decor and the perfect condition of this open, inviting home at 1920 Cedar Pointe Ln. Click here to let us know when you'd like to see it in person.

Originally posted at my Edmond Real Estate Blog.

Gen Y - Why You May Not Be Connecting

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:13:25 -0500

I just read a gem of an article about how GenYers view their online relationships. I frequently find myself in discussions about the long-term upsides and downsides of social media, so I found this particular article useful from both standpoints.

But what we, as Realtors, MUST understand is the way that social media is interpreted by the next generation of home buyers. Like it or not, buyers in their early twenties prefer to communicate in ways that are far different from what you may be used to.

Text messaging is a great example of this. I personally prefer texting over voicemails and phone calls at certain times. Now, don’t get me wrong; phone calls are necessary when you have a lot to discuss, but which is more efficient when you simply need to find out what time your teenager’s going to be home? Without a doubt, a quick text is most efficient and definitely preferred by the teen, which is why I think so many parents fight this transition so much.

What about when you need to just remind your client of their 9am home inspection? Is it quicker for you to send a quick text message, or to make the phone call that will likely turn into a long list of other unrelated questions, that could just as easily be discussed at the inspection in the morning?

Funny thing is, a short time ago, text messaging was considered to be something just for the teens, but now the baby boomers are the fastest-growing group of users of this technology. Is there a chance that social media will take the same course? Maybe it already is. The early adopters of new technology are often the younger crowd, but I can personally attest to the growth of Facebook users getting to an older average age.

The point is, if you don’t adapt to these new mediums, you’ll find your potential client pool diminishing over the years to come as that generation grows and the boomer generation begins to shrink.

Additionally, these “new” mediums offer you new ways to meet and get to know your potential clients in a way that doesn’t make them feel like they’re being solicited. They give you an opportunity to actually build a relationship with someone who may have some common interests or affiliations with, rather than just seeming like another used car salesman.

iPhone Apps for the Home Buyer and/or Realtor

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:01:07 -0500

I thought I'd share an interesting blog post I recently found, which highlights 15 iPhone apps (good and bad) that focus on our industry. Several of these I've used.. several I haven't, but the blogger makes a good point:

I think mobile is really important for real estate and that, right now at least, the iPhone is the most compelling mobile platform for application development.

As an agent, you NEED to be incorporating mobile into your marketing strategy. Be mindful of the mobile version of your website as you design and brand, and use technologies like SMS (text) to promote your listings. People want information and today that means information on their mobile devices, so think these things through as you advance your marketing efforts.

Home For Sale in Warwick V - Completely Updated!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:41:41 -0500

This one just hit the market and won't last long with all of the updates the owners have made. Here are just a few of the details to get you started:

3,242 square feet - 4 beds, 3 of which have a master suite setup. 2 are upstairs and 2 are down. All bedrooms have walk-in closets and ceiling fans.
3.5 baths, which include one powder bath located conveniently for the great-room.
Open, flexible floorplan which features 3 living areas (2 down and 1 up).
Large greatroom features refinished hardwood floors, 10' ceilings, surround sound, and is perfect for entertaining.
Newly remodeled island kitchen is a cook's dream, with tons of cabinet and countertop space, stainless-steel appliances, a gas Dacor cooktop, and a double self-cleaning oven.
Your guests will be greeted by a two-story entry, updated neutral paint throughout, and all carpeting was just replaced.
The large, picturesque front porch is covered in brick pavers and surrounded by white railings.
Both front and back yard are extensively landscaped and can be enjoyed from the 2 large covered patios in the back, or the covered porch out front.
Huge utility room, separate from the garage entry allows for more usable space on laundry day.
James L Dennis Elementary and Putnam City North High School are both only one block away, making the kids' walk to school short and easy.

Priced at $273,949.00, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value than this home, and it's completely move-in ready! Call 405.802.4663 to schedule your private showing.
View Featured Homes - Hukill Group in a larger map MLS#397297 - Listing Realtor is related to the sellers.

You Want iPhone 3G Tethering Now??

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:24:08 -0500

One of the things that excited me most when I heard the 3G upgrade was coming for OS3 was the rumor that we'd be able to tether our iPhones to our computers for wireless internet connectivity. I've had an air card for a few years, but the idea of being able to deactivate that and just use my iPhone's internet connection of course excites me, because it equates to more money in my pocket. Needless to say, I was highly disappointed to learn after the upgrade that AT&T wasn't offering tethering as an option 'yet.'

Well, there is now a work-around. I actually just did this and am now posting this blog post without the use of my standard office internet connection, but rather with the connection my laptop is borrowing from my iPhone. Follow this link to an article at pcmag.com, which will walk you through setting up iPhone internet tethering on your 3G. Once you're done, please come back here and let us know that you successfully pulled it off!

DISCLAIMER: As you'll read in the article, nobody knows if AT&T will charge extra for this or, if they do, how much it will cost, so use it at your own risk!

By the way, what's up with the spellchecker telling me "internet" isn't a word?

iPhone OS Upgrade Problems?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:37:27 -0500

A few people have emailed me this weekend, asking how to upgrade their iPhones to the new 3.0 Operating System, which Apple just released early last week, so I thought I'd provide a quick run-down on the easy steps to upgrade. Just have your iPhone, your computer, and your iPhone cable ready.

First, open your iTunes on your computer and click the 'Help' tab at the top, then go to 'Check for Updates' to verify that you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer. If you're up-to-date, great! If not, go ahead and update it now.
Next, with iTunes already open, plug your iPhone into your computer. It may take a minute, but once your iPhone shows up in the list on the left side of your iTunes screen, click on it. This will bring up your iPhone's control screen. In the middle of the summary page, you'll see a button that says 'Check for Update.' Click that button and wait. It will either tell you that your version is current, or that you need to upgrade.

From there, it's easy, just follow the prompts on the screen as it automatically walks you through the upgrading of your iPhone's OS.

Once it's done, go exploring and check out all the nice little extras you just go for free!

Questions, or problems? Post them here!

iPhone OS 3.0 Upgrade in Process

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:35:11 -0500

So, as I type this, my trusty iPhone is under the knife. It's getting the new 3.0 Operating System installed and, needless to say, I'm WAY excited. I know, say it, I'm a geek. So, I wanted to post a quick run-down of the new features that iPhone users will gain by taking advantage of this FREE upgrade. All you have to do is hook your phone up to your computer and let iTunes upgrade. Here's what I copied from the screen as my phone updates:

iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update

This update contains over 100 new features, including the following:

Cut, Copy & Paste with shake to undo
Landscape keyboard in key applications
Enhanced Messages application- Send and receive photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS* - Forward and delete single or multiple messages
Added search feature in Mail, Calendar, Notes and iPod
Spotlight search across iPhone
Support for CalDAV and subscriptions in Calendar
Improvements to Safari - Performance - HTML 5 support - HTTP Streaming audio and video - Auto-fill usernames and passwords
New Voice Memos application
Sync Notes with a Mac or PC via iTunes
Internet Tethering over USB and Bluetooth*
Browse and download movies, TV shows, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store**
Stereo Bluetooth***
Wi-Fi auto login
Enhanced Stocks application
More Parental Control options for Apps, Music, Movies and TV Shows
iTunes account creation and login**
YouTube account login and access to subscriptions, ratings and favorites**
Shake to shuffle
New languages, dictionaries, and keyboards
Find my iPhone and Remote Wipe via MobileMe (subscription required)**
Support for more Exchange policies
Create and send Exchange meeting invitations
Search mail on server (Exchange Server 2007 and supported IMAP servers)
Search LDAP company directory
VPN on demand and VPN proxy support
Encrypted configuration profiles
Encrypted iTunes backups
1,000 new developer APIs, including: - In App Purchases - Apple Push Notification Service - Accessories support - Peer to Peer Connectivity - Embedded Maps - iPod Library Access
Bug fixes

Products compatible with this software update:

iPhone
iPhone 3G
iPhone 3G S

* Compatible only with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S and requires support from your wireless provider.

** Not available in all regions or in all languages.

*** Compatible only with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S.

Granted, some of these features are pretty much no-brainers and should have been thought of in the beginning, but some of them are nice upgrades also.

Which new features have you most excited about this upgrade??

UPDATE: Here's a screenshot of the landscape keyboard:

And a screenshot of the new spotlight search feature in action:

11665 Marbella Dr - Rio de Bella Open House This Weekend!

Sat, 16 May 2009 11:03:07 -0500
The 'LISTING OF THE WEEK', located at 11665 Marbella Dr, is one of our beautiful listings, and will be open to the public today and tomorrow from 2 to 5. Here are some pictures to whet your appetite:

NEED DIRECTIONS??

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This post was originally written and posted at our Edmond and Oklahoma City real estate blog.

iPhone Camera Tips

Wed, 06 May 2009 07:53:14 -0500

One of the most used features of my iPhone might well be the camera. While the experts will tell you the camera on the iPhone is lacking (and it is in some ways), it's far better than they'd have you believe. In fact, I frequently get comments like 'Wow, you took that with your phone?'

The convenience of always having my iPhone in my pocket has provided far more opportunity for capturing those unexpected moments with my wife & kids, in addition to taking listing pics on the fly and posting them for immediate marketing exposure, or capturing funny or interesting things I see when showing homes and sharing them with my followers and friends.

I recently stumbled across a pretty detailed write-up of tips for maximizing your iPhone camera's abilities. Using a little thought and experimenting with different techniques, you'll be surprised what you can do with that handy little camera phone.

One tip I'll add as well, which was shared with me by a good friend and fellow tech-junkie not too long ago is this; when you're taking a picture, put your finger or thumb on the shutter button and hold it there until you've steadied the camera and you're ready for the picture to be taken, then just release. This helps you eliminate blurry pics by reducing the amount of movement when you're ready to snap your pic.

Happy shooting!!

UPDATE: Special thanks to my friend Douglas for sharing a link to some further proof of the abilities of an iPhone camera.

Zillow Launches Their iPhone App

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:45:44 -0500

Being a huge tech junkie, I always enjoy new gadgets, especially if they have some useful function that helps me with my day-to-day real estate work, and I'm always looking for the latest and greatest iPhone apps.

Well, Zillow just launched a new app that appears to have some useful functions. Now, I'm not a big fan of Zillow's 'Zestimates' because I've found major variances between their numbers and the real numbers in my market, both for the plus and the minus. I've seen houses over-zestimated by $50K and I've seen other under-zestimated by $50K, so I wouldn't advise anyone to use Zillow's numbers as a guide to determining the value of a home they're thinking about buying or selling, but this new app does show you some public record information about most given properties, based on your GPS location.

So, let's say you're driving down the street and you're curious when a particular home last sold, or how much it sold for... you can find that out immediately with this app. You can also find out the asking price of a house that's for sale as you drive by.

I haven't had a chance to fully test this app, so I'm not making any claims yet, but it's worth the money (FREE) to download it and see if it's useful to you in any way. Here are a few screenshots that show the map view and what it looks like if you tap on a house:

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Oklahoma City Metro Real Estate Statistics for March 2009

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:25:46 -0500

In case you missed it, the latest real estate statistics have been published for the OKC Metro, including such areas as Edmond, Deer Creek, Moore, Norman, Piedmont, Yukon and beyond. Judge for yourself, but I'd say there are some very positive indicators of where we've been and where we're going, with sales up and inventory levels down.

With the flurry of activity our team - and almost every other agent we've talked to lately - is experiencing, I fully expect that April's numbers will be even more impressive. Stay tuned!
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Sorry, I'm Too Busy to Tell You About My Listings

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:08:30 -0500

WARNING: RANT AHEAD!!

From time to time, I come to the conclusion that I've found the floor of incompetence in our industry, but then - to my amazement - someone comes along that shows me that there's actually a basement below that floor. It's times like these that I'm ashamed to be considered in the 'same profession' as many of my colleagues. I'm then left wondering, 'Can I change the title and image associated with what I do?' The answer is Yes of course, but only a little bit at a time. Can I truly exile myself from that negative image, though? I pride myself on working hard to stand out in the sea of Realtors as one of the best, and my clients will tell you that I do so quite well, but to the average consumer, we're all the same, which is why I get so frustrated with some of the things I see almost daily.

Case in point; like many Realtors in today's changing world, I'm heavily plugged into social media platforms as a means of building relationships with colleagues and clients. In fact, I use it so much that I find myself actually selling homes and setting up showings via Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms on a daily basis. When it comes to social media, the average consumer gets it, but there's a huge void within the Realtor community between those who get it and those who don't have a clue. Take a look at the image below then, before reading any further, please take a second to evaluate what's wrong with this picture:

The first question that came to my mind when I read the response to my query for more information was "What is the primary job of the listing agent?" There are many tasks involved with our job, but what is our primary purpose when we list a home? IMO, it's to get buyers through the door. Sure, there's far more to it than just that, but through many varied means of marketing, we must get qualified buyers to see the homes we list. Advice, contract negotiations, etc mean nothing if you can't get your listing seen. The more who see them, the more likely it is to sell, and the more likely it is to sell for a higher price, rather than a lower one, right? We must capitalize on EVERY opportunity to show off our listings, and when someone starts asking questions, we better be able to answer.

Next question, if you're posting your listings online, should those 'online fliers' be treated with any more/less care than a real flier you hand to someone, or an ad in the paper? If an agent saw your listing on a flier and called for information, would you say 'I don't know, call my assistant?' What if it was an unrepresented buyer calling?

How can a homeowner honestly expect their agent to sell their house, if he/she doesn't even take the time to know what they're selling, or at the very least to take the time to find the information that's requested? I simply asked for an address or MLS number, so I could look it up myself and possibly schedule it as a part of my clients' home tour tomorrow morning. Who's job is it to know the listing, the agent or their assistant? Furthermore, who's job is it to get the information from that person, mine or theirs?

Most importantly, did this agent just display to the world (possible future clients) that he/she is willing to go above and beyond to get her client's home sold?

In this market, we Realtors must be FAR more proactive than we ever have been before. When we list homes, we have to pursue the qualified buyers, and the agents who are working with those qualified buyers. We can't sit back and expect someone else to do all the work, can we?

11665 Marbella Dr - Stunning Rio de Bella Acreage!

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:09:54 -0500

Rio de Bella Beauty For Sale - 11665 Marbella Dr
Location: Rio de Bella
Entertain your family & friends - Amenities galore in this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath beauty. The open mother-in-law floorplan offers a huge dining room, warm colors, crown molding, granite countertops, stainless-steel applicances, and a secluded entertainment wing, which includes a gameroom, a full-service bar area, and a theatre room. Every bedroom is large, with a walk-in closet, and the finishes used throught this home are top-notch. All of this on over 1 acre that backs to the creek area, with a view of the pond. Don't miss out on this jewel!
Information
Contact Information
Ryan Hukill
405.802.4663
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Pricing
Price: $394,607
Flexibility: Negotiable
Property Location
11665 Marbella Dr
Oklahoma City, OK 73173
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Features
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2.5
Year Built: 2006
Subdivision: Rio de Bella
Lot Size: 1.19 acre
Garage Size: 3
School District: Moore Schools
Square Footage: 3907
Agent Name: Ryan Hukill
Broker: Paradigm AdvantEdge
MLS #: 381515
Attributes
Interior Amenities
Fireplace
Hardwood Floors
Wet Bar
Security System
Kitchen Island
Vaulted Ceilings
Attic
Granite Countertops
SS Appliances
Walk-in Closets
Gameroom
Theatre Room
Exterior Amenities
Grass Lawn
Secluded setting
Large Covered Patio
Circular Concrete Drive
Photo Gallery
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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
VFLYER ID: 2367110
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Maybe I Was Unclear? Home Buyers Get FREE Down-Payment or Closing Costs!!

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:29:04 -0600

I posted some information yesterday that's blowing the socks off of the people who get it, but maybe I wasn't clear enough in my initial post to help enough people 'GET IT.'

I'll try to be more direct:

If you or your client qualify for the New $8K Home Buyer Tax Credit, you/they can claim it on their 2008 (last year's) tax return and GET THE MONEY NOW, BEFORE BUYING A HOUSE. This means, that money can be used toward down-payment and/or closing costs.

Did everyone get that? GET THE MONEY BEFORE BUYING A HOUSE!

Now, there are some caveats to this deal, so make sure you read all the details and check with your CPA to get clarification on the advantages and disadvantages to this approach. I'm not a Tax Pro, so make sure you cover yourself by checking with your Tax Pro on this BEFORE taking any action!
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Home Buyer Tax Credit Twist That You NEED to Know About!

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:39:37 -0600

I've been waiting to hear back from CPA for some clarification on how the new Home Buyer Tax Credit can be used, and I finally got confirmation today... There's a twist to this new credit that EVERY HOME BUYER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT. MAKE SURE YOU'RE TELLING YOUR CLIENTS!

Home Buyers Incentive - NEW TWIST
About a week ago, I told you about the new version of the Home Buyer Tax Credit, and at that time I had an idea of how this could REALLY be a benefit to someone thinking about buying a home, especially if he/she didn't have a lot of cash for down-payment or closing costs. I wanted to make sure I had correct information though, before posting it here for all the world to get excited about... I was waiting on my CPA to get clarification on the program.

So here's the scenario: If you meet the qualifications for the Home Buyer Tax Credit (click HERE for more details), you can claim the credit on your 2008 income tax return, EVEN if you haven't bought a house yet! Yep, that's right, you can claim it and get the money NOW, then put it toward your down payment and/or closing costs.

The other biggie is that this credit doesn't have to be re-paid. It's free money for home buyers that meet the criteria!

OK, so here's my disclaimer; this info came from my CPA, Rusty Hale. I'm putting this info out here for you to take advantage of, but please investigate and make sure it will work for you. Get advice from your CPA before taking any action, just to be sure you're not going to get jammed up somehow. One bad scenario I've though of is if you were to take the credit, get the money, then you can't qualify for a mortgage. My guess would be that you'd have to pay that money back, but again, CHECK WITH YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL TO BE SURE! If you don't have one, call Rusty @ 405.330.6000.
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