Tulsa Real Estate Blog

Thanksgiving Decorations the Oklahoma Way

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:36 -0600

There are many holidays during the year that are perfect for decorating your home. Thanksgiving is another great holiday for decorating your home with things from both nature and items from the craft store. Therefore, if you are wanting to make your home look and feel festive this Thanksgiving holiday, we have some tips on how to make Thanksgiving decorations the Oklahoma way.

* Table Centerpiece - Everyone loves a beautiful centerpiece on their Thanksgiving table and it's very easy to make one. You can easily take a beautiful basket or bowl and fill it with mini pumpkins, fall flowers, herbs or pieces of beaded fruit.

* Autumn Wreath - These wreaths give a warm welcome feel to every home. You can simply start with a plain grapevine wreath and use a glue gun to attach fake fall flowers, mini pumpkins, berries and other fall foliage. To make your wreath really pop, you can hot-glue a Thanksgiving themed bow to it.

* Place Cards - For a more formal Thanksgiving setting, you can add place cards to your table. To make your place cards, you will need to cut pieces of card stock to the desired size you are wanting and fold them in half so the cards will stand up on the table. You can use Thanksgiving themed stickers or stamps to decorate your cards. The name of each dinner guest needs to be on the front of each card. You can use a marker, letter stickers or templates to do your writing.

* Napkin Rings - Napkin rings really help give off a festive feel. A simple way to make napkin rings is to use items from nature, such as acorns. Or make them out of card stock by cutting a piece of colored card stock into 2" wide x 6" long strips. Loop each strip and staple them. Using a hot glue gun to glue acorns or other fall décor to the napkin rings. Be sure to allow your napkin rings to dry completely before using.

If you are pressed for time and still want to decorate for Thanksgiving, no worries. You can still do it. Simply write your guests' names on napkins or mini pumpkins and use those for your place cards. Use fake fall leaves and throw them around your table or group a bunch of mini pumpkins together for a festive feel.

We hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving holiday decorating tips the Oklahoma way. For more ideas, visit the DIY website.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all from Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring

Home Sales Bouncing Back Strong

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:29:40 -0600

Home sales bounced back strongly in September with the help of the first-time buyer's tax credit driving much of the activity. This marks five gains in the past six months, making sales activity its highest in over two years, according to an article released on Realtor.org.

Existing home sales include single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes and co-ops. Each one jumped 9.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units in the month of September from 5.10 million in August.

Since the tax credit has recently been extended for first-time home buyers and there has been an addition to the tax credit for repeat buyers, many are feeling hopeful to see even more strong home sales activity because it's what's needed for a few additional quarters to help us reach a point of a self-sustaining recovery.

Since September, housing inventory has fallen 7.5% to 3.63 million existing homes for sale. Now, unsold inventory totals are 15.0% below a year ago. The current housing supply is the lowest it has been in over two years. If this could continue, home prices could return to normal by next year.

In the Northeast, existing home sales were 11.8% higher than September 2008. The Northeast's median home price was $234.700, which is down 7.0% from one year ago.

In the Midwest, existing home sales jumped up 9.6% in September, making them 7.8% higher than they were that same month one year earlier. The median home price in the Midwest was $147,600 in September, which was down by 1.0% from one year ago.

The South's existing home sales rose 9.0% in September, which is 10.0% higher than sales of September 2008. The South's median home price in September was $153,500, which is down 7.6% from one year ago.

The West saw a surge of 13.0% in their existing home sales in September, which was up 5.7% from September 2008. The West's median home price was $219,000 in September, which was below what they were one year ago.

Discover the Difference...Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring

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Tulsa’s ONEOK Field - A Definite Benefit to the Community

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:17:32 -0500

There's a lot of talk about ONEOK Field around Tulsa, Oklahoma and its benefits to the entire metro area. So, we wanted to talk about some of those benefits in our blog this week.

The creation of ONEOK Field will create new jobs, bring visitors and visitor dollars and help increase property values. The benefits will result in increased property tax revenues and sales tax revenues, 1.417% of which goes to the county. Tulsa is continuing to do their best to rank among the best in the nation by continuing to invest in improving in economic development.

The ONEOK Field will benefit Tulsa most by providing around 1,400 temporary construction jobs and 200 permanent positions. The field is expected to bring in an estimated 400,000 new visitors each year to downtown Tulsa, resulting in an estimated $160,000 in annual sales tax revenue for Tulsa, which will significantly help improve city's development activity.

Tulsa, Oklahoma residents throughout the region will benefit from the new jobs, the visitors' dollars, the increase in property values and sales tax revenues. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy more activities and entertainment in the downtown area.

The ONEOK Field will be a great addition to Tulsa, Oklahoma and we hope to see more like it that will be just as much of a benefit.

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FOR SALE: 3 Bed/2 Bath Cleveland OK Home with Fantastic Lake View

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:26:40 -0500

Fantastic Lake View!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$230,000

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 2044 sqft

Location

1523 Rock Ridge Dr
Cleveland, OK 74020

Tom Herring

Coldwell Banker Select
(918) 712-4405
tbherring@yahoo.com
http://www.tomandbev.com

Listed by: Coldwell Bank Select

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FOR SALE: 3 Bed/2 Bath Well Cared for Mobile Home in Sapulpa OK

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:24:17 -0500

Well Cared for Mobile Home!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$65,000

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Interior: 1152 sqft
Lot: 2.50 acre(s)

Location

4216 Dickey Rd
Sapulpa, OK 74066

Tom Herring

Coldwell Banker Select
(918) 712-4405
tbherring@yahoo.com
http://www.tomandbev.com

Listed by: Coldwell Bank Select

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FOR SALE: 3 Bed/2 Bath Keystone Lakefront Home in Cleveland OK

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:20:57 -0500

Keystone Lakefront

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$240,000

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Unit
Interior: 1966 sqft
Lot: 1.50 acre(s)

Location

Rte 3 Box 166
Cleveland, OK 74020

Tom Herring

Coldwell Banker Select
(918) 712-4405
tbherring@yahoo.com
http://www.tomandbev.com

Listed by: Coldwell Banker Select

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Real Estate Investing is Still a Good Investment

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:37:51 -0500

Real estate investing is still a good investment, as the majority of Americans plan to work as long as they possibly can during their retirement age. Therefore, if you want to enjoy your retirement, we have some advice about real estate investing to help you along your way.

Recently, Bankrate, Inc. released a study that showed that most working Americans are planning to work well into their retirement age. This will definitely redefine the view of traditional retirement. Bankrate's study found that 75% of working Americans plan to keep working during retirement age. One-third of those plan to keep working because they will need the money and 30% plan to keep working because they enjoy it.

From these findings, it is important to be financially ready for retirement so you can enjoy it. And, real estate investing is still a great way to do that. No matter how much value properties have lost over the last few months, we must remember the fundamental reasons of investing in property: equity building and long-term investment. Real estate should be a long-term investment, not a get-rich quick scheme. Therefore, here are some fundamental things to look for when searching for a property to invest your future in.

* Income Production: When buying the property, you want one that will be a good rental or lease property. The payments you receive will be income you can use to pay the mortgage and other expenses associated with the property. Ideally, you want to collect enough in rent to cover the mortgage payment, expenses and have a little extra left over to put in savings.

* Equity Build-Up: When receiving payments from your tenants for rent, a portion of each payment goes to the principal and interest of the loan. To pay down the principal faster and save on your interest payments, add as much extra as you can to your payments.

* Control: You can have control of part of the property without having to pay for the whole thing upfront. This is done by using "Other People's Money." It allows you to use the income gained to pay off the mortgage and gain more equity.

* Tax Advantages: Your rental property can be considered a business. You can get great tax deductions with the property. A good accountant will help you take every advantage of these tax laws.

* Buying Property at the Right Time: Now is the perfect time to find great properties at below market value. This is also a great time to build equity in the property you purchase. The market will be turning around soon and your property will have instant equity.

* Picking the Right Time to Sell: Once each one of your properties has a considerable amount of equity in them, you can then sell each one. Contact a real estate professional to seek their advice on when is a good time in the real estate market to sell.

Discover the Difference with Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring

Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

Tulsa’s Schools are Getting A+ for Their Hard Work

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:51:24 -0500

A few of Tulsa's schools are getting A+ for their hard work. This isn't just good news, but excellent news. Three of Tulsa's schools were awarded the Blue Ribbon Award, making them official Blue Ribbon Schools: Booker T. Washington High School, Miami Wilson Elementary School and Claremore Roosa Elementary School. This is a very special honor given only to schools that are academically advanced or have made extreme gains in student achievement. After learning about this distinguished accomplishment, we began to research how these schools have become Tulsa's Blue Ribbon Schools and we found that they have superior goals.

Tulsa's district goals include:

* Student Learning and Performance - Students will meet or exceed national and state standards in mathematics, reading, social studies and science. Students will also be prepared for post-secondary education and employment.

* Effective and Efficient Operations - Tulsa Public Schools and offices will meet or exceed standards for excellent performance. They will provide a safe and secure learning environment for each and every student while addressing knowledge and improvement opportunities. The district will also systematically deploy an alternative education for students who need it.

* Parent/Guardian Community Support - Every school community will demonstrate parent/guardian involvement and support by 100% membership in the parent/guardian association. This will help collaborate schools, parents, business, civic, community organizations, local and state agencies to support student success.

* Staff and Faculty Focus - Create a positive work environment in self renewing organizations. The district will also provide high quality development to every employee, ensure recruitment, support and retention of certified personnel.

* Performance Excellence - To win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by 2010. (We think the most impressive goal.) Track and tend to all of the above goals.

If you are looking for awesome schools for your children to attend along with a great community to relocate to, you can find it right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The community offers both Blue Ribbon Schools and a wonderful community to live.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Pending Home Sales Up, UP, UP

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:27:32 -0500

We have great news: pending home sales are up, up, up for the sixth consecutive month. And, according to the National Association of Realtors®, this is also the first time in six years that the market has seen such a streak.

Here's a quick look at the Pending Home Sales Index according to realtor.org. A forward looking indicator, which is based on contracts signed in June, rose 3.6% to 94.6% from 91.3% in May and is 6.7% above June 2008, when it was 88.7%. July 2003 was the last time there were five consecutive monthly gains.

We believe that a combination of positive market factors is what's fueling the gains. Affordable home prices, low interest rates and a large selection of homes are also encouraging buyers who have been procrastinating about buying a home.

The lower priced homes have seen the most activity. Many first-time buyers are taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit before the November 30, 2009 deadline.

More statistics show that Pending Home Sales rose in the northeast 0.4% to 81.2% in June and is 5.8% above one year ago. Pending Home Sales in the Midwest increased 0.8% to 89.9% and is above June 2008. There was a big jump in the index in the South from 7.1% to 100.7% in June and is 8.9% higher than one year ago. The West's index rose 2.9% to 100.4%. However, it was 0.2% below June 2008, which isn't down too much.

Currently, a median income family who earns $60,700 could afford a home that costs $289,100 if they put 20% down. That is assuming they dedicate 25% of their income to the mortgage principal and interest.

Everyone likes good news about the real estate market, especially when it's news like having Pending Home Sales being up for six consecutive months, which hasn't happened in six years.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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The Cherokee Nation Investing in the Future of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:38 -0500

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

Here's some interesting news we recently came across. The Cherokee Nation is investing in the future of Tulsa, Oklahoma. They will be launching a new tourism campaign designed to share their heritage with outsiders.

There will be four historically authentic new tours offering insight into the lives of the Cherokee people. They will tell their story and share their lives with the general public.

Along with the tours, visitors can enjoy several historical cultural sites throughout the 7,000 square miles of the Cherokee Nation. Visitors will find that each place they visit has a story of its very own to tell of a legacy that its ancestors left for the community.

The Cherokee Nation is now inviting visitors to visit these historic places to learn how their Nation evolved and grew from it.

Tours for the Cherokee Nation are $35, which includes lunch. And visiting the historical sites is free. For more information about the tours and historical sites, you can visit the Cherokee Nation website at www.cherokeetourismok.com

We enjoy sharing news that will benefit the communities we serve and it looks like this will definitely help boost the economy in and around the Tulsa area. So, if you are interested in learning about the Cherokee Indian culture, this would be a great opportunity to benefit from the information they will be sharing.

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Buy a Home and Help a Charity

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:04:01 -0500

In some areas of the country, including our own, we have seen some innovative ways to sell a home in today's real estate market. You can actually buy a home and help a charity all at the same time and feel really great about it.

The house raffle has been in the real estate industry for decades. However, now there is a whole new way that the house raffle works.

Many homeowners are worried that they will not be able to sell their home in this bad economy. Therefore, several have turned to raffling it off in hopes of selling it for what they owe or more. The catch now is, for the raffle to be legal in many states, you have to donate a portion of it to a charity.

Single-family homes are being raffled off for $100 per ticket, with an open raffle of around two to three months. Some homes raffles have been successful, selling 27,000 $50 tickets to buy a $432,000 home. Others have seen success with selling 6,280 $100 tickets to buy a $390,000 home. And yet others have been successful with selling 6,500 $100 tickets to buy a $400,000 home. The list goes on and on with many success stories.

Some homeowners have had more trouble with house raffles than others because of state laws. However, many have gotten around that with the help of nonprofit organizations. Whereas an individual cannot raffle their own home and donate a portion of the money to the charity, a charity can raffle a home and donate a portion of the money to a person. Of course, more legal issues arise in this type of situation, but many have found success in it.

So, if you're a homeowner having a really hard time selling your home, this may be an option for you. Just remember, it is always good to contact a real estate professional when handling any type of real estate transaction. Even if it's a house raffle.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa Oklahoma Real Estate

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Cost-Effective Ideas to Sell Your Home

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:34:23 -0500

Selling a home in today's real estate market can be slightly hard to do, especially against the competition of the many short sales and foreclosures. Therefore, homeowners have to prepare their homes to sell quickly. We would like to share some cost-effective ideas to help sell your home that we found on pillartopost.com.

Many homeowners get overwhelmed at the prospect of the repairs, renovation or upgrades needed before they can put their home on the market. However, there is good news. There are many home fixes that can be done to make the home appear more appealing for little or no cost.

Here are some cost-effective fixes that will help get your home sold quickly:

Get Rid of Odors

Bad odors are offensive to everyone. Before showing your home to prospective buyers, open the windows and let in some fresh air. Use baking soda to help get rid of really bad odors. You can lightly sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let it stand for a while and then vacuum it up. Average cost - $0.

Focus on Curb Appeal

Pay close attention to your yard and landscaping. Cut back any overgrown plants and bushes. Use a blower or sweep off the driveway, sidewalk, porch, deck and stairs. Also, pressure wash anything that's dusty, dirty or moldy. Average cost - $15.

Window Washing

Clean windows will always make a home look clean and well-kept. Purchase a good streak-free window cleaning product to clean your windows. No professional cleaner is needed for this task. Average cost - $25.

Homeowners may also want to consider having an inspection done prior to putting their home on the market. This will let you know of any major problems that may need to be repaired, such as plumbing, electrical, mold growth, etc. Many inspectors will often give advice on what you need to do right away and what can be held off on; something that is not that big of a problem.

Simple yet cost-effective ideas such as these can really make a big difference when it comes time to sell your home. For more tips and advice for homeowners, buyers and sellers, please visit our website.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa Oklahoma Real Estate

Big Plans for Tulsa – What a Master Idea

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:12:52 -0500

At Tuesday night's public meeting, city officials unveiled their new ideas of a master plan for the City of Tulsa. The new plan will include many exciting proposals along with urban housing of many kinds and a train that will travel through downtown Tulsa and connect to all nearby suburbs.

Everyone in Tulsa knows that from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Tulsa is the place to be. However, after 5 p.m., it's a virtual ghost town. Therefore, there is a need for change in the city and the new master plan will be a huge help with that.

In the downtown Tulsa area, there are currently around 300 residential units that are ready to be built with hundreds more on the way. This will allow for thousands of Tulsa residents to work and live in the downtown area.

Downtown Tulsa will soon be transformed, making it easier for the next generation to come in and do their own thing in Tulsa.

More of the master plan includes changes to the East Village. It will soon include an art museum, an outdoor amphitheater, green buildings and tons of green space. Everyone has been talking "green", and the City of Tulsa is going all out.

The city now has a wonderful plan ahead of it and what could be a great future for many years to come. We can't wait to see some of these great changes start to take place.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa Oklahoma Real Estate

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Changes in Mortgage Rules Helps Lure Investors

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:25:31 -0500

Realtors® Tom &Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

Many real estate investors follow the guidelines of Fannie Mae, which is a major mortgage investor themselves. And good news investors; Fannie Mae has recently increased the number of properties an investor is allowed to carry. The property limit imposed since September stated that investors were only allowed to carry four financed investment properties at one time. However, now things are changing and investors will be allowed to carry 10 financed investment properties at one time.

The limit change took effect in March, which was welcomed by many investors nationwide.

Before the invest property limit was raised, investors who owned more than four homes couldn't refinance one of their properties or add a new mortgage even if they had a down payment and perfect credit. It was crushing many investors who wanted to add to their list of investment properties.

Now that the 10 financed investment properties are back, many investors are happy that they will be able build their investment list once again.

Find more tips and advice for homeowners, buyers and sellers.

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Give Your Kitchen That Much Needed Facelift

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:10:04 -0500

As homeowners, we often want to redecorate to help change things up and give our homes a bit of a different feel. The most common rooms that homeowners redecorate are the family room, bedrooms, office and living room. Many times, the poor kitchen just gets left out in the process. However, we are now seeing more kitchens getting facelifts than ever before. We would like to share some of these ideas for giving your kitchen that much needed facelift.

Many homeowners think that tackling the kitchen can be an overwhelming task, but that's actually not true. A small facelift can be very simple.

· Match all your appliances. Do you have mix and match appliances? If so, decide on what you want to stick with. Do you like stainless steel, white or black? Stainless steel is the most popular choice for boosting a kitchen's appearance. Now, shop for bargains to save money.

· Cabinets can be a big job or you can keep it simple by painting them. If you choose to paint them, keep within the neutral shades. If you are up for a tougher job, you can sand them down and re-stain them. Be sure to check all your knobs also. Are they up-to-date and do they match?

· Replace your out-of-date countertops with new ones. Many homeowners are opting in for granite. It is very popular and quite beautiful. They can also be pricey, so shop around for the best prices. You may have to shop in nearby cities to find the best price.

· Change your flooring. If your floors are linoleum, consider replacing them with ceramic tile or hardwood. The floor is an eye catcher, so be bold.

· Splash some paint on the walls. Stay in the neutral family when choosing colors for your walls. This will be best if you ever try to sell the home. Not everyone likes bright or dark colors, so it's best to just stay neutral. Also, consider adding a little backsplash to your walls behind your counters. This really makes the room pop. Simple ceramic tile backsplash is inexpensive to add, but looks like it's worth hundreds.

If you ever decide to put your home on the market, these simple ideas can be very beneficial. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy your kitchen's new facelift. It is sure to be the center of attention when you have house guests.

Realtors® Tom and Bev Herring ~ Tulsa Oklahoma Real Estate

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It’s Time to Get Your Lawnmower Into Gear

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:26:41 -0500

Since the arrival of spring, most of the nation has seen alot of rain. Many homeowners have a long list of chores to accomplish as the weather permits. During this season, it is so important for homeowners selling their homes to maintain a beautiful lawn. With all this rain, the grass seems to get out of control if we don't stay on top of it, which is a big turn-off for potential homebuyers.

First impressions mean alot when it comes to selling your home. To get buyers in the home, you first have to get them past the yard. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a beautiful lawn, especially in this day and time when it can be more difficult to sell real property.

Some homeowners are able to hire a service to maintain their lawn for them. However, many of us are unable to afford the service fees and have to maintain the lawn ourselves. A dependable mower with a sharp mower blade is essential. Dull blades simply make for a ragged, ugly lawn.

Here are some tips and advice to get your mower in tip-top shape to maintain a beautiful lawn while your home is on the market.

Routine Maintenance:

· Drain the gas - Pull the gas plug from the gas tank and run the engine until the mower stops running.

· Unplug the spark plug wire - Disconnect the spark plug wire so the mower cannot start.

· Change the oil - Remove the oil drain plug and drain all old oil into an oil drip pan. Replace the oil plug securely back in place.

· Clean under the mower - Tilt the mower to its side and scrape away any grass stuck on the mower with a putty knife. Use a water-hose sprayer to remove any remaining grass or dirt.

· Remove the blade for sharpening - Using a towel or rag, remove the blade with a socket wrench. You can now sharpen the blade yourself or have a professional sharpen it for you.

· Replace air filter - You can either clean or replace the air filter. However, it is suggested to change the air filter at least once a year.

· Replace the spark plug - You can either clean or replace the spark plug. However, it is also suggested to change the spark plug at least once a year. If you choose to clean it, use a wire brush to clean off carbon deposits.

· Getting started - When you're finished with the maintenance, it's time to replace the spark plug wire and fill the mower with gas. You are now ready to get started on maintaining a beautiful lawn.

Sharpening your mower blade yourself:

· Wearing safety-glasses, begin sharpening the blade with a steel file by using smooth, quick strokes across the blade.

· After every few strokes, dip the blade in icy cold water so the steel doesn't soften.

· Test for balance after grinding by placing the blade on a screwdriver and spinning it. If one side is heavier, work more on that side. Once you are satisfied with the sharpness of the blade, leave it alone. To help with balance, grind a little off the back or a corner of the blade.

· Reattach the blade once it's sharpened. Be sure to oil the bolt hole before replacing.

These tips and advice are sure to get your mower ready to help you maintain a beautiful lawn that potential homebuyers will be very pleased with. Now that you've got them past the yard and into the house, that's a whole other blog. Check back often for more homeowner tips and advice.

Realtors® Tom and Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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What to Look for in a Realtor

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:40:28 -0500

Many sellers of real estate believe they can sell their home without the help of a real estate professional. And many of them don't expect or factor in many things, such as the gap between the selling price and the actual net proceeds. All too often, in the haste of transferring real estate property, the cost of selling is often overlooked or underestimated. As real estate professionals, we see this time and time again.

Once the loans and liens are satisfied, there comes the cost of brokerage fees and more. This is where many sellers go wrong by not seeking the help of a real estate professional.

Many sellers simply don't know what to look for a Realtor® or they are leery of all the newbies that seem to flood the real estate field each year. Therefore, we have some tips and advice on what to look for in a Realtor® when you're ready to sell your home.

A real estate professional's duties can be broken down into three main categories: compliance duties, functionary duties and fiduciary duties.

Compliance duties basically mean the real estate professional will make sure you are in compliance with all the legal mandated requirements for your state. This is also known as a risk reduction strategy. Without the help of a real estate professional, many sellers will not know what the government regulations are and the sellers responsibilities or what will happen if they fail to provide them.

Functionary duties are what the real estate professional does best. They will canvas the neighborhood, design flyers, hang a lock-box, market your home and so much more.

Fiduciary duties are what the public does not usually see. Top professionals are usually selective in the clients they accept. The fiduciary relationship is built on fairness and honesty. In a nutshell - trust. Basically, the real estate professional has educated themselves, continued their training and committed themselves to mastering the legal and technical duties of the business.

Some other factors you will want to look for in a Realtor® is one that is attentive to your needs and one that is easily accessible when you need them. When you are talking to your real estate professional, are they listing to you or talking over you? Can you call your real estate professional anytime you need to speak to them?

These are very important questions to ask yourself and good tips to look for when you are ready to sell your home.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Tulsa Entrepreneurs Get Into the Spirit of Competition

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:06:32 -0500

The 3^rd Annual Mayor's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award was recently kicked-off. This year's competition is sponsored by SpiritBank of Tulsa. Representatives and business leaders from the local and state levels were all there to lend their support to the new entrepreneurs getting involved in this year's business competition.

For interested entrepreneurs, you can enter the competition by submitting your executive summaries to the Spirit Award website anytime between April 2^nd and May 15^th. The lucky first place winner will win the grand prize of $30,000, second place will win $5,000 and third place will win $2,500. All prize money is being donated by SpiritBank.

Many people don't know this, but Tulsa was built on entrepreneurial spirit and creative thinking. So, for the past three years, the Mayor has been making sure the city will continue to grow and strengthen through business success.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Competition is open to anyone in the City of Tulsa with an existing business from a start-up business, an idea for a new business or one that has been in operation for five years. Two more things entrants need to know before entering: the company must be based in Tulsa and the entrant must agree to establish or expand in the City of Tulsa if they win.

Once submissions are complete, the top 25 business will be contacted. These companies will then go through a series of judging and coaching rounds where entrepreneurs will pitch their business idea to a panel of judges. The top three winners will be announced on November 17^th during the Entrepreneurial Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. They will also receive their cash prize on this day.

Anyone interested in entering the competition can find more information on instructions and submissions at www.tulsaspiritaward.com.

We wish luck to all Tulsa's entrepreneurs entering - Good luck!

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring - Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Should You Do Your Home Repairs Yourself?

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:17:59 -0500

Many homeowners think about home improvements. And while many of us have expensive tastes, we also have a small budget. We find ourselves calling contractors and getting bids we can't afford. So, then we begin thinking about becoming do-it-yourselfers. Many times, by doing it ourselves, we can cut the expense of the project in half.

But the big question is, should you do the work yourself? This answer could depend on many factors and your abilities. Do you have the time, proper tools, safety gear and are you ready to do some hard work? If you are not highly skilled at home improvements, you should avoid taking on this type of work, as it could prove to be dangerous and difficult. It could also be costly when mistakes are made. Some jobs are worth hiring a contractor to do it for you.

Here are some projects you may want to hire a contractor for:

· Plumbing work that involves piping under the house.

· Concrete work, such as pouring a floor or new parking pad.

· Extensive electrical work.

· Siding work on homes higher than two stories.

· Roofing work on high or steep roofs.

· Any work you don't know anything about.

Take a closer look at your time, skills and tools before you make your final decision. When you're accessing your skills, be realistic. Don't take on work that you really don't know how to do. It will only end up looking unprofessional or may not get finished at all. If you end up hiring a professional to finish the job for you or fix your work, it can end up costing you much more than it would have if you would have hired a professional to do it in the beginning.

Check to make sure you have the proper tools needed for the job. You may need to buy or rent the necessary tools for the job.

And, once again, consider your time for the project. Many home improvements can take days, weeks or even months in your spare time. Do you have it? A great option to save both time and money is to do some of the work yourself and hire a professional for the complicated tasks. Just be sure to check with your contractor beforehand about what you will be doing and what they will be doing. Good luck on your home improvement project.

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Tulsa, Oklahoma Easter Celebrations

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:03:15 -0500

Tulsa and some of its surrounding communities are celebrating Easter with many great activities for the whole family to enjoy. Therefore, we are taking the opportunity to blog about these activities to keep our community's residents and visitors up-to-date.

· Egg Hunt and Food Baskets - April 4^th (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) at Faith CP Church, 2801 S 129^th E Ave. Children ages 3-8 join one another for a fun egg hunt complete with prizes. Parents can register for drawings for a chance to win a meal basket.

· Egg Hunt at Bixby Community Center - April 8^th (9:45 a.m.) in Haikey Creek Park, 113^th & S. Garnett Ave. For children ages 12 and under. Rain date is April 9^th at 12:45 p.m.

· Egg Hunt at Chandler Park - April 8^th (9:45 a.m.) 6500 West 21^st. For children ages 12 and under.

· Egg Hunt at Glenpool Community Center - April 8^th (10:00 a.m.) in the practice field near Glenpool High School, 144^th & Fern. For children ages 10 & under.

· Egg Hunt at LaFortune Park Community Center - April 8^th (10:00 a.m.) in LaFortune Park Gardens, 51^st & West Hudson. For children ages 3-8.

· Egg Hunt at O'Brien Park Community Center - April 15^th (11:30 a.m.) 6149 N. Lewis Ave. For children ages 12 and under. Doggie hunt will immediately follow the children's hunt.

Each Easter celebration is within Tulsa County and is free for all to enjoy. We hope everyone can get out and enjoy as many activities as possible.

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Sell Your Home Successfully

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:32:17 -0500

As real estate professionals, sellers ask us all the time, "What is the most successful way to sell a home?" Therefore, we have some helpful hints to share with everyone for a successful home sale.

If you are going to live in your home while it is on the market, begin by decluttering your home. Box up anything that you are not using or anything that is taking up unnecessary space. Leave only what you absolutely can't live without. You want the house to look as empty as possible. Don't forget your closets and kids rooms. Potential buyers will look in closets, so be sure to only leave what outfits you will need. You want this area to also look as tidy as possible. In the children's rooms, pack away all their toys except just a few that don't leave clutter or large messes. Explain to them that their toys will be waiting for them at their new house. And pack up any valuables such as jewelry, cash, saving bonds, etc. You don't want these lying around when potential buyers come to look at your home. Remember, no matter how professional a real estate agent is, they are not guards for your valuable items. That is up to you. Another important thing to remember is to make sure the trash gets taken out regularly to avoid offensive odors. You can always help by placing scented candles around the home.

If you are not going to live in your home while it is on the market, then by-pass the above and begin here - cleaning the home. Everyone likes a clean home. Therefore, you will need to do a thorough cleaning of your home. Everything from the ceilings to the floors needs to be cleaned. Dust for cobwebs around the corners of your ceilings, clean bathrooms, polish bath fixtures, clean appliances, clean floors, etc. You will need to keep this up at all times while your home is on the market. Keep in mind that you are going to be up against model homes. Also, always keep your beds made. Unmade beds create negative images. You may even want to consider scheduled showings throughout the week. For example: Showings available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

If you do decide to have scheduled showings, ask your real estate professional if he or she is available to come at this time on these days. Also, make yourself scarce. Ask a neighbor if you can come over for a visit or take a drive somewhere. You never want to be around when potential buyers come to view your home. And you never want to volunteer any information or answer any questions the potential buyer may have. That is our job as real estate professionals to handle for you. And, it's in your best interest.

On warm days, turn your air conditioning down 4-5 degrees to help the home feel airy and inviting. In cooler weather, you may consider starting a fire in your fireplace with natural wood. This also sends an inviting feeling.

Do any necessary home repairs before you place your home on the market, such as fixing leaky faucets, touching up paint, replacing blown light bulbs, replacing any damaged blinds, etc.

Let's not forget the outside. You want potential buyers to come into your home right? Well, we have to get them to the door first. Start by cutting the grass. Fertilize, if necessary, for a greener lawn. Trim the hedges and clear out flower beds. Plant seasonal flowers to spruce things up a bit or add some mulch for a little décor. Also, paint the outside of your home if it needs it. This is a big deal for many buyers. Don't forget to clean out the gutters. You can also add some lawn furniture for extra home appeal.

Following these simple steps should help you have a successful home sale. Good luck everyone.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring - Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Spring Cleaning for Your Home the Green Way

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:11:04 -0500

Although many areas around the country have seen warmer weather, we are still in winter. However, Spring is only a few weeks away. And, we love Spring. It's an exciting time of the year. The weather begins to warm to almost perfect temperatures, flowers begin to bloom and the skies are absolutely beautiful. Spring is also the perfect time of year to spend time gardening and the traditional "Spring cleaning." And, it's more important than ever to clean in a more eco-friendly fashion. Therefore, if you truly love your home and environment, then follow these simple tips for your spring cleaning.

· Freshen your home by opening your windows. This is the perfect time of year to air out your home with the freshest air available, so take advantage of it. By opening your windows, you will eliminate dirty air while cleaning your home's interior air.

· When it comes to cleaning, take advantage of nature's cleaning products. Vinegar is excellent for an all-purpose cleaner. Vinegar is an acid-based product and can be used to clean almost anything you need cleaned. Use it on windows, floors, countertops, sinks, tubs, carpe, and so much more. When mixed with baking soda, it creates a cleaning paste. Vinegar is a non-toxic substitute for cleaning.

· If you really like buying cleaning products out of convenience, be sure to purchase those that are vegetable-based. There are several vegetable-based cleaners on the market. These cleaners reduce your home's air pollution and toxins.

· Always avoid using any cleaner that contains bleach or chlorine. These chemicals are very harmful and toxic to us and our environment, especially when ingested or sent down our drains. Clorox now has a great line of cleaning products called Green Works. They contain no bleach or chlorine. In fact, the toilet bowl cleaner smells like limes.

· Last but not least, we can reduce our amount of waste by using rags to do our cleaning, not paper towels. Even using a reusable rag will be better than paper towels.

We hope these tips will help you do some great, successful Spring cleaning for your home the green way

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring - Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Home Buyers Spending More Time Online

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:50:10 -0600

As real estate professionals who have our own website and two real estate blogs, we have personally seen an increase in web traffic. Today, you can go online and find any and everything you want to find about real estate. And this is good news for buyers, sellers, real estate professionals and builders. It helps everyone make better decisions when they can go online and find the information they are looking for.

So, what kind of information are homebuyers spending time looking for online? Homes for sale seem to remain the top searched real estate item. However, following closely behind are community information, school information, demographics, things to see and do, buyer/seller tips, dependable real estate professionals, remodeling tips, home maintenance tips, real estate trends, current market conditions and real estate blogs.

Homebuyers are seeking trustworthy, comprehensive and timely information as they consider making such a large investment in real estate. Therefore, real estate search tools and resources are on the rise to deliver the right information to the right people at the right time.

Many homebuyers that once put off buying a home because of economic conditions are now considering buying a home within the next 12 months because of the information they were able to find on the internet. The numbers speak for themselves: homebuyers spending time online are now turning to real estate professionals for expert services and advices.

Realtors® Tom & Bev Herring - Tulsa, Oklahoma Real Estate

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Tulsans are Shaping Up One Mile at a Time

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:56:24 -0600

When the Tulsan Million Mile began just four months ago, we knew it would be one of the most challenging events for Tulsans. However, many Tulsans have gone the distance and have been happily logging their activity miles every day on TulsaMillionMiles.com. The website's odometer has just turned over to 125,000 miles. That means, Tulsans are an eighth of the way to their goal of one million miles. Yeah!

Mayor Kathy Taylor began the Tulsa Million Miles so Tulsans can get up and get active. She started the website so they can track their exercise miles by walking, running, swimming, biking or any other form of exercise activities that will keep them fit and healthy. With the help of the website, individuals and groups can progress together with the miles they have logged.

We all know that small changes to our health can pay off. One way to help track your miles is to clip a pedometer on your pants and wear it everyday. It will track your steps and you will soon see those miles add up quickly. A stationary bike will take you five miles in approximately 22 minutes. You'll not only start to look better, but you'll start to feel better too.

It's never too late to sign up for the Tulsa Million Miles for those who have not done so yet. Just visit www.tulsamillionmiles.com. You can begin logging your exercise after signing up. You can also check out Tulsa's 2009 fitness events, join contests and much more. And don't forget to share your success stories.

We want to congratulate all Tulsans who are taking the Tulsa Million Miles challenge. Keep up the good work.

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Don’t Miss the Tax Deductions on Your Real Estate Investment

Tom and Bev Herring (Coldwell Banker - Rader Group) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:01:26 -0600

There are around 11 million real estate investors in the United States, though many of them didn't consciously choose this. Due to the recent real estate market conditions, many investors became so accidentally. People who were buying homes and flipping them for a profit are no longer able to sell them. However, they can rent them out to avoid foreclosure. These types of investors are more likely to lose out on tax deductions if they are unaware of how to manage their investment properly.

There are many tax benefits and write-offs for real estate investors to take advantage of. However, to take advantage of these benefits, you have to keep careful track of your income and expenses.

There are five areas you should pay close attention to to make sure you are not losing money on your real estate investment.

1. Depreciation deductions. Set up a depreciation expense so you can write-off all the value over 27.5 years. The IRS allows real estate investors to use an accelerated depreciation method. Only 13% of investors actually take advantage of this method. Ask your accountant for more information.

2. Track your travel to the property. All your travel to and from the property can be written-off, so keep up with all your millage.

3. Tax preparation. The Schedule E form, which you have to fill out for rental property, can be written off.

4. Document repairs. As long as the repair was done in the same year, it can be written off.

5. Property damage. If there was damage to the property from rain or a storm, then you can file a casualty expense for a write-off.

These tax deductions will help you get the most from you taxes this year and each year you own your real estate investment. Good luck with it.

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