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Right now the Tulsa State Fair is in full swing.&nbsp; Some like to enjoy the vendors in the building, or the animals at the petting zoo, and some love the games and rides.&nbsp; But almost everyone can agree that the food is where it's at.&nbsp; I read in the Tulsa World they tried a number of new foods and they thought the Bacon-Gator was the best!&nbsp; There's still time to get adventures with your taste buds and try a number of different items.&nbsp; The fair runs through this weekend.&nbsp; And here's a link to the new and returning favorites this year:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.tulsastatefair.com/p/attractions/awesome-eats">https://www.tulsastatefair.com/p/attractions/awesome-eats</a>&nbsp;

Tulsa State Fair brings new food items for 2019 and returning ones from 2018.  

Tulsa State Fair Foods

Today is 918 Day!&nbsp; It's a celebration for the city we love and lots of fun things are occuring today from various activities to special discounts.&nbsp; There are still some other local places offering discounts today, so go out and support our wonderful city.&nbsp; City of Tulsa website has a great list of things happening today:&nbsp; https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/resilient-tulsa/

918 Day

Selling your house without a real estate agent might seem to be a very tempting idea, but there are usually various threats homeowners need to learn and protect themselves against those threats. One should be familiar with the steps that are necessary to protect oneself while selling your own house. Many homeowners are growing increasingly confident about selling their houses, since the heating up of the housing market in many parts of the United States. Some houses are selling quicker and for much more money, leading many owners to believe that they can sell their property themselves without any real estate broker assistance. However, having a real estate agent do the bidding for you can make a lot of difference while selling your property. There are reasons, that many choose not to risk the property and hire a real estate agent to do the needed tasks as a way of precaution.
So what exactly do you need to know and how should you navigate the issues of selling your own house? There are few points noted below that will help you make a thoughtful and right decision.
<ol>
<li>The first priority obviously is the concern for individual safety. Before letting a track of complete strangers into your house for exhibiting, ensure that you pre-qualify them. Ask for their verified ID&rsquo;s, secure valuables and intricate information, such as, passwords and bank statements.</li>
<li>While the majority of ruined apples were driven out of business or locked behind bars several years ago, there are still opportunists who pose as professionals and prospective home buyers, and might try to trick the homeowners out of ownership of&nbsp;their own houses. &nbsp;You have to be really sure that all the real estate closings are handled by the way of valid title companies and good attorneys, and you should never sign over any deed without payments.</li>
<li>If it is about selling your own house, you&rsquo;ll no doubt be pitched on both listing your property and paying some sort of commission for qualifying a potential and willing buyer. There are many great realtors in the market now, but there are also a few who are new to the field and ill equipped to help their customers well unless backed by a supportive team lead or Broker. Beware of those that cut their commission, what services are they cutting unlike full-service agents. Make sure you read the documents thoroughly and look them over for any loopholes you might miss at first glance.</li>
</ol>
4. There are also some greedy buyers, who will try to drag out the real estate process to their benefit and may try to manipulate sellers by demanding additional maintenance tasks or changes in terms and conditions. If normal, you may still find it better to re-negotiate in certain scenarios. However, you don&rsquo;t have to get bullied by any such buyer into giving in to their terms after the contract has been inked.&nbsp; A professional agent helps negotiate and mediate each step, in order to best help

Great things to consider if wanting to put your home on the market.  

Thinking of Selling?

Tips to Keep in Mind When Selling Your Home

While a great deal can make you a million bucks right now but the fact is that a bad deal could also make you bankrupt. Have a look at the commonalities:
Motivation is the key.
There has to be a higher level of motivation from the owner. Whether you are working with an individual property owner or a company like the bank, courts or city entity, they should all be motivated to offer.
That does not necessarily mean desperate, but whenever they have no need or want, your likelihood of having a good price is significantly lower. You ought to look closely at the motivation; if you don&rsquo;t know what it truly is, then you should discover it. Ask the owner why they are selling and see if you possibly could help them solve problems. The banks motivation will be to get a negative asset off his or her books, but whenever they have multiple offers then their determination level changes and they get back around the drivers&rsquo; seat.
Figures are vital.
You ought to be able to purchase the house or building in a discount of some kind. Determining the economy value quickly, understanding repair costs after which it formulating the price you are able to pay is a process that you have to understand and get proficient at.
The old MAO (maximum allowable offer) formula is surely an investors quick general guideline. ARV (after repair value) X 70% &ndash; Maintenance = MAO.
There are many ways to invest. You&rsquo;ll find short sales where you can create your unique equity. You can get property with owner financing and no money coming out of your pocket. You can assign contracts and you don&rsquo;t need to own the residence. In all cases you need to look at the particular numbers. If you don&rsquo;t buy in a discount, you are a retail buyer acting as an investor.
Problems change into profit.
Usually the problems with the owner or property will be directly proportionate towards profit. The more problems you can find, the greater the particular profit (usually). If the house has been around a major flame, you are into troubles. Therefore you must be able to buy at deeper discount. When the REO has fallen away from contract 4 periods, the bank has problems and is also motivated to sell quickly and for just a lower price. Presently there are exceptions to this particular, of course, but in many instances, more problems mean more money.
Education puts you prior to the curve.
Fear is the result of lack of education. The more educated you might be, the better you are able to evaluate leads in addition to determine deals. Also, look at the benefits. If you are educated about it more than others, they will check you out for answers and assistance with their deals. You become the authority inside your circle and for that reason; more deals come your path. Education will help you know what a deal is, but it could also bring more deals to your account.
While there are many points that make a good deal, these are the particular big ones that you ought to keep on your radar.
&nbsp;

Several tips to consider when looking for a good real estate investment. 

How Do You Define a Good Real Estate Investment Deal?

Does your own home feel more cramped rather than cozy? Does those mauve walls irritating you? Then it&rsquo;s time to give your home a much-needed face lift. Although renovating or maybe rehabbing properties may be expensive, especially in this economy, there are several tricks you need to use to make the old house give a new impression without going out of the budget. Here are some that you can try:
Paint a space or two &ndash;&nbsp;If you will need to remix your house&rsquo;s look, then the best destination to be is from the paint aisle at local home supply store. By putting on the fresh coat of the paint, you can make a room experience bigger, smaller, louder or quieter all at under $100 and an afternoon&rsquo;s worth of work. As an extra bonus, a fresh cover of paint is a surefire way to be able to increase your home&rsquo;s value. So grab a brush and Get Set Go!
Re-arrange &ndash;&nbsp;When you&rsquo;re genuinely strapped for income, rearranging your furniture gives your own home a fresh completely new perspective without requiring you to spend a penny. Don&rsquo;t be afraid for getting drastic with your current experiments &ndash; moving furniture to diverse rooms and floors gives your entire house the latest vibe.
Fix your current fixtures.&nbsp;New furniture may very well be expensive, but completely new lights and lamps definitely aren&rsquo;t. You can find them in a variety of shapes and sizes at local department with affordable price ranges, so pick up few of them and experiment. Switching out your lamps will change the aesthetic value of a room &ndash; it&rsquo;ll change the whole feel of the room, at the flip of a switch.
You don&rsquo;t need to hurt you wallet to make your current old house experience new again. With just a little creativity and a few small purchases, you&rsquo;ll be the talk of the neighborhood quickly.

Here are a few easy things to do to help make your home feel newer.  

How to Make Your Old Property Feel New

How much of a home do you need to be happy after retirement?
Retirement weighs heavily on a large proportion of the population. However, most of the people have little perception of what do they need to retire, other than taking retirement early along with comfort. Now you don&rsquo;t need to think as much for your retirement.
It&rsquo;s good to dream big. The thrill of competing for making it on or the Forbes&rsquo; richest listing can be a lot of fun. Not only having a grand estate to live in, but numerous vacation homes would be incredibly attractive. Nevertheless, according to the Moss survey released at the year end, there is a clear plateau where happiness derived from homeownership drops off. Surprisingly, this wasn&rsquo;t $10 million, or even $1 million, but just $350,000. Actually, the median home value on the happily retired seemed to be just $300,000.
Needless to say, this may be the result of declining home values in recent years. So what is now a $300,000 house within San Diego, a popular coastal city, would have been a $400,000 for you to $600,000 a few years ago. These numbers might often be twisted by countrywide averages. Consider the particular national median residence value today, when compared to median home price in certain real estate hot spots which can top $700,000 or perhaps $1 million.
For those looking to purchase a home within sunny Southern Colorado, what can this manner or money enable you to get? A search of active San Diego County, California homes listings before writing this write-up was found:
<ul>
<li>A four bedroom 1,500 square foot single-family San Diego short sale intended for $300k</li>
<li>A four bedroom Fannie Mae Homepath, bank owned foreclosure intended for $339k</li>
<li>A 680 sq. feet, two bedroom 1924 Spanish bungalow for $350k</li>
<li>A re-designed 3 bedroom residence with large lawn for $350k (already impending sale)</li>
</ul>
Needless to say, the home you obtain and live within during your retirement is one of the major parts of the puzzle when it comes to finding happiness. Ironically, when happy retirees were surveyed made a lot less than $30,000 over their unhappy counterparts; clocking in at typically just over six figures annually during their doing the working lives.
What actually seemed to make the difference in getting happy after their working years was the confidence in getting financially comfortable, having disposable income to invest in hobbies and article topics, having diversified interests as well as a purpose. Other notable distinctions which separated people who were happier within retirement included getting no mortgage (which means more free cash), together with education.
Education was found important not only for the retirement but well-rounded interests. Getting to a happy retirement not only require committing to real estate for a lot, but also experienced tax planning, finding whatever you are passionate about and securing streams of passive income besides wealth.

How much home do you need when you retire?  

Retirement Home

How much “Home” would it take to Retire Happy?

How should aspiring homeowners afford to buy their dream home faster?
Here are Five Approaches for Fast Tracking your Dream Home
<ol>
<li>Real estate Assistance Programs</li>
</ol>
Unlike rumors of these programs fading away, there have been many of these programs being launched recently. From coast to coast, municipalities and not for profit organizations offer an array of grants, subsidies, subsequent mortgages, tax breaks for down payment assistance and benefit closing costs. Some even provide extra funds in making home upgrades and adding strength efficient features which can often reduce overall fees of homeownership.
<ol start="2">
<li>Buy Now &amp; Grow Equity for the Down Payment</li>
</ol>
With real estate property being a bastion of growth at the moment, many will discover that buying what they are able to afford now could be the easiest and surest way to fast track the dream home through appreciation. Home equity will probably grow much more quickly than any savings account and will help buyers benefit from this price increase.
<ol start="3">
<li>Rent to Possess</li>
</ol>
Many could also look for a happy medium throughout rent-to-own homes. This may be a great option for anyone who is afraid that they won&rsquo;t be eligible for a bank loan, or who just don&rsquo;t need to give their hard-earned cash to the banks, which they feel did them wrong during the past.
<ol start="4">
<li>Seller Loans</li>
</ol>
Some sellers are ready to finance the sale of the houses today. This assists the seller to relieve tax burden, while selling homes now. For buyers, it could offer immediate offer of their dream place, with smaller and decreased down payments and attractive prices, again, without likely to go to the bank.
<ol start="5">
<li>Improve Your Credit &amp; Budget</li>
</ol>
If credit and budget is the fact which is stopping, you towards your dream home then you should consult a mortgage professional and formulate a genuine plan for increasing your appeal as a borrower. This may include improving or restoring credit, as well as organizing the paperwork in a better way organized in making a formal loan application.
&nbsp;
Whatever type of home you want, and whatever may be the issues you are facing to achieve your dream home, think practically about whatever you desire and need and apply the strategy which will help you fetch it sooner rather than later.

Several different ways you can plan to purchase a home.  

5 Tips to Home Purchasing

5 Tips on How You Can Save For Your Dream House

Are you looking to sell your property? Why not give your home a luxury facelift. It doesn&rsquo;t need to cost a lot of money, but it can make a huge difference when buyers come to view your home. These simple tips will transform your home for ordinary to extraordinary and allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Make your ceilings higher with drapes
Hanging floor to ceiling curtains really can give your home some extra style. Remember to hang the curtains as close to the ceiling as possible and allow them to reach just above the floor.
Add cushions
Cushions are a fab solution for updating a family room. Rather than going for the same style throughout, why not try mixing them up with many different sizes, fabric, textures. Just as great shoes can change an outfit, great cushions can change the look of a sofa.
Get De-cluttering
Perhaps you have noticed that essentially the most luxurious of properties are clutter free. Help your home look like these kinds of homes. If you can&rsquo;t bear to throw away these items, just box them up.
Display Artwork
Luxury homes frequently have great, oversized art on display. Several luxury homes have a place to showcase an assortment of works. Let&rsquo;s use that style. Have your favorite photo enlarged or feature a print of a famous painting to mimic the look.
Flowers as well as Candles
Luxury properties smell beautiful. And nothing screams luxury more than fresh flowers and candles. The beauty of flowers is that they look great everywhere, and you can choose your colors to match your room, to tie in with all your cushions, or just to inject some color. I personally love white plants with green leaves. You can certainly cheat like we have done. There are some terrific artificial plants available. Also, candles smell wonderful.
Luxurious Rugs
It sounds strange when told to others, but when show some good properties, many customers often stop and feel the rugs. Strange but true! Rugs can also be great as centerpieces in a room, and if they&rsquo;re large enough, they look fabulous below a dining table.
Statement Light Fittings
Light fittings don&rsquo;t have to be expensive to look expensive. Luxury properties feature big light fittings. A chandelier may look really elegant, more so than a dining room stand, or romantic in a bedroom. Try one out. You may be surprised!
&nbsp;

Several tips to prepare your home to sell to get that luxury look for a successful sale.  

Home Selling Prep

Give Your Home a Luxury Look for a Successful Sale!

When you&rsquo;re selling a House, property value is probably one of the main concern you have. Property value could be subjective to a lot of things, but there are some key elements which help determine your premises value and keep it realistic:
<ul>
<li> Neighborhood&ndash; Your first step for determining your property or House value when selling a House is to check out the average House value around your neighborhood. If your House is in an up-and-coming area, you may be capable of getting a betterrate for your property. Conversely, Houses in neighborhoods which can be stagnating or low in amenities will not be worth as much as you think.</li>
<li> Check nearby listings&ndash; A great way to figure out your property value is always to find properties listed with similar features close to your neighbourhood. If a House continues to be listed for monthly or more and it is likely, that the asking price can be too high, so keep that planned when selling a House.</li>
<li> Ask the World wide web&ndash; There are many websites online that will give you an indication of your property or House value. You should take these tips with a hemp of salt, nevertheless, since these sites only provide you with an idea of what your House is worth, and may become off by just as much as 10% to 20%.</li>
<li> House value determination&ndash; Although a House appraisal can cost many dollars, it may be worth it if you&rsquo;re selling a House. This is one of the most accurate way to determine your property worth, and may certainly be a necessary step in selling a House anyway. If you&rsquo;re set on selling your House, then this is usually your best option for a realistic valuation.</li>
<li> House functions&ndash; Does your House have a very new roof? Did you recently remodel any rooms in your House? Consider all the features of your dwelling for an accurate property worth.</li>
</ul>
When you&rsquo;re trying to sell a House, it&rsquo;s important to learn your property value so that you can sell your House easily and quickly. Remember to maintain your expectations realistic &ndash; in today&rsquo;s housing market, your House will not be worth as much as you think.

A few key factors in helping with property value.

Couple Factors in Property Value

Key Factors That Determine Your Property Value

Like any game of sport, investment in real estate requires acumen that makes deals successful in a prudent sense. The development of this investor aptitude requires one to be vigilant at all times. Even the most experienced and professional investors fail recognize the mistakes. One needs to be aware of all the potential wrongs that he/she may commit. In order to help you avoid financial blunders in real estate and sign major deals at your disposal, here is a list of major mistakes that an investor makes:
<ol>
<li>Failing to clearly state the deal</li>
</ol>
About 80 percent of the real estate deals failures are because of inconspicuous nature of the deal. A party may not clearly state the terms and conditions at the time of the deal which may lead to miscommunication. This can be dealt easily by penciling down the deal properly to facilitate efficient communication.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2. Stating the deal using unreal figures
Many investors resort to the usage of fictitious figures or numbers to state their sources of revenue to the other party. This may lead to a domino effect at a later stage making the entire deal to collapse.
<ol start="3">
<li>Wrong renovation estimates</li>
</ol>
Most buyers don&rsquo;t consider the market prices of the commodities which are to be used for renovation; rather they resort to imaginary fantasies. A person may draw up the estimate to $30000 whereas post the bidding it may turn out to be $80000.This is not just disappointing but can also land the buyer into bankruptcy.
<ol start="4">
<li>Underestimating the renovation time</li>
</ol>
Investors, especially the amateur ones tend to underestimate the total time period of renovation. In this sense, it is better to take advice of an experienced investor in that particular area of real estate investment.
<ol start="5">
<li>Making false assumptions</li>
</ol>
False assumptions relating to the cost of renovation material or the cost of getting any additions done may prove to be detrimental to the deal itself. In reality, items tend to usually cost more than the presumed cost. It&rsquo;s always advisable to keep the estimates well beyond the potential amount.
<ol start="6">
<li>Considering Real estate investment to be comparable to other forms of investment</li>
</ol>
Real estate investment in its essence is a unique form of investment. It cannot be compared to investment in stocks and bonds. Thinking that sitting at home one can generate returns through real estate is a false belief. One needs to be aware of all the potential stressors like maintenance cost, tenants and bills.
<ol start="7">
<li>Perceiving real estate investment to be a cake walk</li>
</ol>
Real estate investment works at a lot of levels ranging from proper communication and offer to the signing of the deal. So, thinking it to be easy is just going to make things harder.
<ol start="8">
<li>Switching hands is investment</li>
</ol>
The myth of swapping properties creates a pseudo self fulfilment for the investors. Ironically, they lose money doing this.
<ol start="9">
<li>Real Estate is low risk</li>
</ol>
The risk in real estate is quite high. On one hand, it could turn a person into a billionaire, and on the other hand could prove to be financially painful for him. So, beware!
<ol start="10">
<li>Blindly believing Real Estate &lsquo;pundits&rsquo;</li>
</ol>
One should not always listen to whatever the self-proclaimed gurus have to say. Smart sense of selecting the right advice is required here.
&nbsp;

Real Estate Investor Tips

Top Ten Real Estate Investor Mistakes

Communication is at the center of real estate. While it is crucial for the success of any transaction &mdash; from a traditional resale to a short sale &mdash; proper communication is almost never achieved without facing major obstacles.
Simply put, a real estate transaction is a negotiation between a buyer and a seller who must communicate effectively to complete a deal. However, looking more closely, their ability to communicate depends on the real estate agents and other entities involved in the process such as closing and title offices, attorneys and loan originators.
Inevitably, at some point communication will break down. One person will mistakenly fail to pass along a message; one party will be confused about next steps; a real estate agent will take a vacation day; a document will go missing &mdash; the causes are numerous.
The best way for agents to repair persisting communication issues is to identify exactly where the most common barriers lie. From there, they must proactively work to prevent those occurrences from creating poor experiences for their customers. Contact must be improved not only between buyers and sellers, but also among every party and individual touching the transaction. By creating a more streamlined experience in a process notorious for challenges and delays, agents have the opportunity to create returning customers and secure the valuable referrals on which their businesses rely.
&nbsp;
The art of negotiation
The real estate transaction centers on the negotiation. It is during the offer negotiation process that communicating accurately and in a timely manner is absolutely paramount. There are often communication breakdowns in the time between when the buyer&rsquo;s agent submits the offer and when that offer is accepted. Prospective buyers make their decision and expect an offer to be sent and received immediately; however, they are not always aware of the lengthy chain it must go through to be processed. By the time the listing agent reviews the offer and discusses it with the seller, days can pass. And, several hindrances can transpire before a counteroffer is made.
&nbsp;
Taking confusion out of the closing
During the closing process there are often gaps between the selling and buying sides. For instance, the buyer&rsquo;s agent tells his or her customer that everything is on track, but inspection paperwork has not gone through and delays have not been communicated with the loan officer. In this case, the agent is not able to manage the customer&rsquo;s expectations beforehand about the change in closing date.
Agents must find a way to keep this scenario from recurring. All parties understand delays to some degree, but what they do not understand is the lack of communication that has become so commonplace.
&nbsp;
Making the process something (good) to remember
A home sale or purchase is one of the most important, life-changing decisions a person can make. And, unfortunately, communication breakdowns have often kept it from being a pleasant experience. The real estate process has long been looked at by consumers as a closed-door transaction &mdash; a huge, personal life event that they must entrust to agents. However, today&rsquo;s business and tech-savvy consumers demand more interaction and insight. They want transparency into their own transaction, and their use of technology in every other aspect of their lives tells them that open lines of communication are possible.
Agents in today&rsquo;s complex and competitive market must rely on new methods and technology to effectively communicate with customers, colleagues and other third parties. Making key changes to the traditional way of managing a real estate transaction goes beyond improving operations &mdash; it is now a crucial part of an agent&rsquo;s overall business strategy. Agents now have the opportunity to remove these common obstructions to communication; new tools and technology empower them to take their businesses and the consumer experience into their own hands.
&nbsp;

Tips in handling some of Real Estate’s most frustrating communication barriers

Best methods in overcoming Real Estate's communication challenges

The Most Effective Method to Handle Real Estate’s Most Problematic Communication Barriers

Picking up a foreclosure can be a fantastic opportunity for you to save money on your next home purchase. According to RealtyTrac, approximately 1 in every 1137 houses in the United States are under foreclosure with averages of around 1 in every 1829 in Oklahoma. The&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;market is in recovery, but is still largely a buyers market. Whenever you buy a house that has went through foreclosure, there are some things that you ought to be aware of to avoid problems later down the road.
&nbsp;
Prepare for Initial Problems
Houses that are foreclosed upon on the&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;market usually come with some initial problems that you are going to have to face with in exchange for your savings. For one, you might run into some problems with the previous owner if he or she is still living in the home or is resentful with the bank about taking the house in the first place. This can lead some previous homeowners to vandalize the property before they leave or refuse to leave at all until you have to evict them.
You might also run into some repair or maintenance problems that will need to be addressed. This can be due to general neglect of a property that was lost in foreclosure, or again, vandalism. Expect to put in some money to make the home livable and to make it personal to you. Seeing as you are most likely saving money on the property compared to other&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;properties on the market, you should have some extra spending money to perform these fixes.
Be Competitive and Prepared
Foreclosures are a goldmine for potential investors and if you want to beat the crowds and be the proud owner of that home, you are going to need to put in some work to make that happen. Get yourself pre-approved for a mortgage on the property and remain in constant contact with your&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;agent and the lender of the property. The easier it is for the bank to unload the property with you and recoup their losses, the more likely it is that you will become the next owner of that home.

Couple tips to consider when purchasing a foreclosure home.  

Purchasing a Foreclosure

What To Know When Buying A Foreclosure!

Around every corner is a scam artist or thief looking to take advantage of an unsuspecting victim. The best way to avoid becoming a victim yourself when purchasing real estate is to educate yourself on some of the most common scams and understand how to avoid them. These are some of the more common real estate scams that you should look out for whenever you are in the&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;market to buy a new home.
Never Send Money or Information Without A Legal Contract
If you are asked to wire money to an owner or landlord, or provide any type of down payment, make sure that you have the contact conditions in writing and notarized. Any type of residential or commercial&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;transaction will deal with large sums of money, and if someone is truly interested in doing business with you, they will meet with you in person and go through the proper channels to make a legitimate transfer.
Along the same lines, don&rsquo;t give out your social security number, bank account information, or any personal records without using the same scrutiny.
Be Wary of Empty House Scams
Even if the other party has a contract that looks legal, be especially cautious when renting homes in the&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;area. Many fake realtors and scam artists have been known to &ldquo;rent&rdquo; out houses that are under foreclosure or that are waiting for a sale, taking your money and leaving you in an awkward predicament when the bank or future buyer shows up at your doorstep. Never work with a real estate agent that utilizes aggressive selling techniques because they are &ldquo;going out of state&rdquo; or that the price is so low you can&rsquo;t resist.
Always work with a&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;agent or company that you can trust and that has experience rooting out potential scam artists. Protect your interests and be cautious around any offer that sounds too good to be true.

Home Buying Scams to Avoid

Real Estate Scams And How To Avoid Becoming A Victim

Buying your first home is going to be something that you&rsquo;ll remember for the first of your life. It&rsquo;s an exciting milestone in anybody&rsquo;s life as your making the first steps toward ownership and financial independence. Here are 5 tips for first time homebuyers that can get you the best deal on your&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;property and a memorable home buying experience.
<ol>
<li>Use A Mortgage Calculator</li>
</ol>
There are countless tools available online to calculate mortgages in order to find out how much your monthly payments would be. This can help you to better plan your budget and determine how much you can actually afford.
<ol start="2">
<li>Search Real Estate Listings Online</li>
</ol>
Go online and search sites like Zillow and Trulia to find the best&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;deals in your area. This can help you to map out certain areas and features that you are most interested and save you a lot of time. Just be warned that sometimes these sites aren&rsquo;t always updated right away and a house you are interest in might be off the market.
<ol start="3">
<li>Obtain A Credit Report</li>
</ol>
Ask for a credit report from a least one of the major credit agencies; that way you can be informed and ready to negotiate when purchasing home. This will play an impact on your total mortgage payments as well as help lenders decide whether or not you are a good investment.
<ol start="4">
<li>Take Advantage Of Market Lulls</li>
</ol>
Watch for spike and drops in the&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;industry and take advantage of market lulls. Whenever the market is slow, you are more likely to get a great deal on a home property and save yourself some money.
<ol start="5">
<li>Contact A Tulsa Real Estate Company</li>
</ol>
Contact a&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;company for cheap listing prices on homes in their inventory. By working with a real estate company have to pay a big cut of the purchase price to realtors or negotiate with any sellers. Real estate companies are often the fastest and cheapest way to buy a home in today&rsquo;s economy.

5 Tips for 1st time home buyers in Tulsa, OK

Home Buying Tulsa, OK

5 Tips For First Time Buyers

The most timeless argument in the field of&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;is trying to figure out which is better: renting vs. buying. Both choices have their advantages and disadvantage that could play a part in a homeowner&rsquo;s reasoning process. Here are some questions to ask yourself to figure out which one might be better pick for you.
&nbsp;
Do You Get Bored Easily?
Are you someone that likes to pick one place to live and stay there for the rest of your life, or do you get bored with a home after a few years and like to mix it up? If you are someone that likes to stick to one house for around 5 or more years, you should simply buy a&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;property. But, if you stay less than that time, don&rsquo;t bother trying to buy a home because you&rsquo;ll spend most of your time moving in and moving out.
Do You Have A Down Payment?
Most homebuyers need some type of down payment in order to get into a mortgage. If you have a substantial savings or at least enough to throw down a 5-20% payment, you might as well invest that money for the time being and make monthly payments to yourself. That way whenever you sell the home you can get all of your mortgage payments back.
How&rsquo;s The Housing Market?
Renting has a clear advantage when it comes to a volatile housing&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;market because you aren&rsquo;t trapped in home trying to get out. Renting allows you the flexibility to jump around at will, and a little more leverage over desperate landlords trying to fill their units. Buying a house will mean that you are stuck like the rest of the homeowners and in a competition to see who can offer the lowest rates.
&nbsp;
The convenient thing about both of these choices is that there is&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;professionals out there that can help you find what you are looking for. Buying a home means ownership, and this can be beneficial to you in the long run when you go to sell, but buying isn&rsquo;t for everyone. Even in a troubled housing market, a&nbsp;Tulsa real estate&nbsp;agent can point you toward alternative home buying and selling options to get you the best deal and ensure your satisfaction.

Renting Vs. Buying

In ordinary circumstances, buyers pay for the home inspection. It can be a good idea for sellers in Tulsa to consider paying for a pre-inspection prior to listing their home for sale in some circumstances.
The biggest reason for paying for a pre-listing home inspection is to reassure buyers that you have nothing to hide. In many ways, a pre-listing home inspection is a gesture of goodwill. It can also serve to set your home apart from others on the market. While buyers may still wish to have their own inspection performed, your inspection can provide buyers with increased confidence and peace of mind.
While paying for a pre-inspection is an investment, it can save you money in the long-term. In the event that there is a problem with your home, you will know about it in advance and have the opportunity to repair it before your home goes on the market. Remember that the more problem-free your home is, the faster it will sell. Without a pre-inspection, if the buyer discovers problems during their own inspection, this will likely result in a lower sales price or even the loss of the contract.
Opting for an inspection of your own is also a good way to draw attention to your home&rsquo;s assets, including any updates you may have made to your home. If the local market possesses a number of fixer-uppers at lower listing prices, this can also be a good way to demonstrate that your home is worth the higher price.
There are circumstances in which it simply does not pay to invest in a pre-inspection. For instance, if you were listing a fixer-upper, a pre-inspection simply would not be worth the investment when selling your home in Tulsa.

Should you get a pre-inspection before listing your home?  

Home Sellers Pre-Inspection

Should You Pay for an Inspection Before Listing Your Home?

The prospect of buying a home following a foreclosure can be both exciting and frightening. Understanding what to expect and how to prepare can help to eliminate many of your concerns and ensure the process is as smooth as possible.
Begin by carefully reviewing your credit report. Remember that you are entitled to receive one free credit report from each of the three major crediting reporting bureaus once a year. If you see anything inaccurate reported, do not hesitate to dispute that item. Review your credit scores and determine where they stand in comparison to recommended lending guidelines. If your scores are still low, now is a good time to begin working on raising your scores by paying off debt and ensuring payments are made in a timely manner.
Bear in mind that while your credit report is an important part of being approved for a new mortgage, debt ratios are important as well. In particular, your lender will review your debt-to-income ratio to make sure you can handle the addition of a mortgage payment. The best way to lower this ratio is to avoid taking on new debt and working toward paying down all existing loans and credit cards.
Many people who were victims of the housing crisis found they had no choice but to rent after losing their homes to foreclosure. Ensuring that you have&nbsp;a solid trail showing that you paid your rent in a timely manner can go a long way toward helping you to qualify for a new mortgage when the time is right. While receipts are good, cancelled checks with a memo are even better.
Finally, make sure you file your taxes and keep excellent records. If you are self-employed, this will be even more important when trying to obtain a mortgage following foreclosure.

What to do when buying a home after a foreclosure

Getting Prepared to Buy a Home After Foreclosure

While the real estate market in Tulsa is beginning to recover like much of the country, it is still important for sellers to avoid falling into common traps. Homes are now selling faster than they were, but overconfidence can prove to be a costly lesson.
Pricing
One of the most common mistakes that many homeowners in the Tulsa area make when trying to sell their homes is not pricing it right. When your home is priced too high, some buyers may not even bother to request a showing. At the same time, it is important to ensure that you do not list home too low. Not only could this cause you to lose money on your home, buyers may wonder what&rsquo;s wrong it.
Over Renovating
In some instances, it can be a good idea to renovate your home, or at least update it before placing it on the market. Making too many improvements to your home can actually decrease the value of your property.
Not Getting the Most Money Possible
Unless you need to sell your home as quickly as possible, it is a good idea to make sure you are maximizing the value of your property to get the highest selling price possible. Even making a few minor improvements can help to position your home for a higher price.
Not Taking Advantage of the Market
As the Tulsa market turns around, it is important to ensure that you do not wait too long. Many sellers are still sitting on the fence while waiting to see if the market will grow even stronger before they list. This can actually be a dangerous gamble. If you are ready to sell, now is an excellent time to take full advantage of the recent gains in the housing market.

Key critical mistakes sellers should avoid.

Mistakes Home Sellers Should Avoid

Crucial Mistakes Sellers Must Avoid

Beginning the search for a new home is an exciting time, and it is only natural that you would wish to get started as quickly as possible. While such eagerness is understandable, you should know a few things before you begin searching for a home for sale in Tulsa.
Begin by becoming knowledgeable about what is on your credit report. Unfortunately, many buyers assume that their credit is in good shape only to be surprised when they submit an application for a loan. Your credit report provides a snapshot of your financial affairs and how well you manage them. While negative items do drop off your credit report after a while, even items from a few years ago can impact you today. Take the time to find out what is on your credit report so that you have an opportunity to correct any errors and/or improve your credit prior to applying for a loan.
Additionally, you need to know how much home you can afford. Buyers often mistakenly believe they can afford more of a home than a lender is willing to loan them. Until you obtain pre-approval for a mortgage, you really have no idea how much you can afford to buy. Spending time shopping for a home prior to obtaining that all-important number will be an exercise in frustration and could lead to disappointment.
Finally, make sure you have a good idea regarding how much you can afford for a down payment. At one time, 20 percent was considered the gold standard for down payments. Many buyers are not able to afford such a large down payment. Still, it is important to know how much you can afford, keeping in mind that you will also have other expenses, including closing costs and moving expenses.

What Should You Know Before Searching For a Home?

If your home for sale in Tulsa has been languishing on the market without any offers, you may wonder about the cause. You certainly would not be alone. Even so, when you are facing competition from other sellers, it is important to identify possible causes for your home not selling.
One of the most common reasons that prevent many homes from selling is the condition of the property. If your home looks worn and dated while other properties for sale in the local Tulsa area are updated, chances are your home will not sell quickly. If you do not have the time or the money to make updates, you might wish to consider selling your home to a real estate investor who will purchase it in &lsquo;as is&rsquo; condition.
It is also important to consider your marketing methods. Many sellers make the mistake of not offering enough photos of their homes or do not have enough quality photos. Today, most buyers begin their search for a home online. If your online listing does not show your home&rsquo;s best assets, buyers will skip over it and never even request a showing. To resolve this problem, make sure you have plenty of wide angles with ample light. If possible, consider hiring a professional photographer. At a minimum, make sure you have photos of the following:
<ul>
<li>Master bedroom</li>
<li>Multiple photos of the kitchen</li>
<li>Dining room or dining area</li>
<li>Living room</li>
<li>Back yard</li>
<li>Any interesting architectural features inside/outside</li>
</ul>
Also, remember to solicit feedback from prospective buyers who have viewed your home. Find out what they liked and what they were not so thrilled with when viewing the property. Make adjustments based on the feedback you receive.
Finally, ensure that your listing price is in line with other comparable homes in the Tulsa area.

Why Won’t My Tulsa House Sell?

Today, many people are naturally concerned about property values in Tulsa. Although it might seem as though the biggest threat to your property value would stem from foreclosures, there are actually several other areas that you might not have thought of that could lower your home&rsquo;s property value.
<ol>
<li>In many instances, when a homeowners makes updates to their home, they try to go bigger and better than the neighbors. This is not necessarily a good thing. Overall, your home should be in line with other homes in the neighborhood. A home that is larger, and more expensive than surrounding homes will often actually discourage buyers.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Creativity is certainly a trait to be admired, but when it comes to your home, it could impact your property value. This is not to say that your home should be a cookie-cutter copy of other homes in the area, but a home that significantly clashes with others in the neighborhood may not attract the kind of attention you desire.</li>
<li>Even though you may not realize it, a large number of rental properties in the area could also decrease your home&rsquo;s value. Some estimates indicate that a neighborhood saturated with rental properties could decrease your property value by as much as 15 percent. It&rsquo;s not necessarily the fact that the properties are rentals but the fact that renters may not maintain properties as well as homeowners.</li>
<li>A lack of attractive landscaping in the area could also drive down your own home&rsquo;s value. While many homeowners do not give a lot of thought to landscaping, pristine landscaping could increase the value of your home by as much as 10 percent.</li>
</ol>
Understanding that a variety of factors can affect your home&rsquo;s value can help you to make the most of your property and ensure you get the best price possible.

Four Weird Threats to Your Property Value

Owning a dream home is one thing that many of us struggle to make a reality within the shortest time possible. The following tips will be a major guide that will help you on how to choose your dream home.
<ol>
<li>Square Footage of the Home &ndash; An appropriate and sizeable home currently should be about 2,195 square feet. In the past, it used to be around 1,645 square, but it is true that time and circumstances change everything. What counts most is the size of the house that you are interested in owning. If you need superfluous spaces like offices, media rooms and studies, it will mean a relatively bigger size.</li>
<li>The Floor Plan &ndash; If you admire rooms that have traditional or intimate floors, you must factor this in during the search. In addition, you can opt for open floor plans that are perfect for parties and general entertainment. Personal preferences should help you make the wise choice in terms of the layout.</li>
<li>The Home Grade &ndash; This is simply the price range of the expected home. The specifics that will put a home on a high home grade include mahogany wood paneling, stone flooring and granite counterparts. A home with ceramic floors, pine paneling and laminate counterpart will be on a lower scale as compared to the one mentioned in the first scenario.</li>
<li>Home&rsquo;s Landscaping &ndash; The landscape of the home will either make maintenance a piece of cake or an expensive and involving procedure. A townhouse is known for its ease of upkeep. The main issue is with their inability to host groups to entertain like cook-outs due to their small yards.</li>
<li>Picking the Right Neighborhood &ndash; This is among the hardest things that one has to decide. For one, you do not know much about the place meaning that you can&rsquo;t be 100 confident with the information you collect. However, do your best and make sure that you end up with the right neighbors. Recommend driving by prior to setting up a showing and different times of the day once feel like the home is a serious option.</li>
</ol>
These tips are just what you need to help speed up the acquisition of your new home. They are the primary factors that need to be given a thorough focus.

How to Choose Your Dream Home

The prospect of selling your home in Tulsa without involving a real estate agent can certainly seem appealing. What you might not realize is that you are at risk for a number of threats when selling your home on your own. Learning to recognize those threats and how to avoid them can help you to stay safe.
&nbsp;
First and foremost, always make sure that you pre-qualify any buyer before you allow them into your home. This can be accomplished by asking buyers to provide a letter of pre-qualification from their lender. Also, always make a point of asking for identification, such as a driver license.
&nbsp;
Never make the mistake of giving out too much information about your home when speaking to prospective buyers over the phone. Only show your home by appointment and never to someone who just stops by. You may even wish to consider setting aside certain days of the week to schedule showings for your home. When you do show your home, ensure that all windows are open and that you have as much light as possible coming into your home.
&nbsp;
Ensure that your valuables and all confidential information, including bank statements and passwords are secured whenever showing your home.
&nbsp;
Carefully consider any requests to make repairs or requests for changes to the terms of the sales contract. In some instances, renegotiating may very well be justified, but do not allow yourself to feel bullied.
&nbsp;
The most effective way to ensure you stay safe when selling your home is to work with a professional and qualified real estate company in Tulsa. Doing so will give you the benefit of allowing the agent to obtain the necessary information upfront and it&rsquo;s a third party, plenty of buyers are uncomfortable when the sellers are present, they don&rsquo;t feel they can speak honestly directly to the sellers when they would to an agent, allows more access to home at various times through an agent without only nights and weekends per your schedule to show, and an agent can negotiate on your behalf.&nbsp;

Tips for Staying Safe When Selling Your Own Home

When buying a home in Tulsa, it is important to understand how your future home purchase will be affected by interest rates. Ultimately, increased interest rates can make the purchase of a home for sale in Tulsa more expensive. Even half a point increase in interest rates can significantly impact the cost of home ownership.
&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s take a look at an example. Suppose you are considering the purchase of a home in Tulsa&nbsp;with a list price of $100,000. With an increased interest rate of half a point, your home mortgage would increase by about $42.00 monthly. By comparison, if you are considering the purchase of a home that costs $300,000, then you would be looking at an additional $125 per month in mortgage costs.
&nbsp;
An increase in interest rates not only affects the cost of your mortgage but also the ability to qualify for a home loan. Lenders typically base qualification on the amount of an applicant&rsquo;s income. Loan ratios are usually based on the type of the loan as well as various details of the loan, including the amount of the down payment and the applicant&rsquo;s credit score. If you are already pushing the limits of the lender&rsquo;s qualification standards, that additional amount on your mortgage could make the difference between being able to qualify for a home mortgage and being denied for a loan.
&nbsp;
While even half a point increase in interest rates might not sound like much, it can make a significant difference when you are buying a home in Tulsa by determining how much home you can afford to buy as well as whether you can actually qualify for a loan.
&nbsp;

What Do Higher Interest Rates Mean for you when Buying a Home

One of the most common reasons that many people give for not getting involved in real estate investments is a lack of funding. While this can certainly be a problem, you might be surprised to discover that you may already have an easy source for funding your Tulsa real estate investment.
The solution is as simple as using your tax refund.
Obviously, your ability to use your tax refund for a real estate investment will depend on the amount of your return. One of the easiest ways to apply your tax refund toward a real estate investment is to use it as a down payment. In particular, an FHA down payment is ideal when combined with a tax refund. With the ability to put just 3.5% down on the purchase price for a property, you may be able to pick up a property in need of some repairs. If you are able to locate a property available with seller financing and flexible terms, this may be another great opportunity.
Another option would be to apply your tax refund toward private real estate investments. As a private money lender, you gain the benefit of being able to recoup your investment quickly and at a higher rate of return than is offered through most other investment options. Even if it does not seem as though your tax refund will go very far, you might be surprised to discover how many investors would be interested in working with you. Additionally, you can easily parlay the profits that you earn on your first project as a private real estate investor into a larger investment opportunity the next time.
Even if it appears your means are limited, your tax refund could be just the springboard you need to begin investing in real estate.
&nbsp;

Using your Tax Refund to Invest in Real Estate

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This is a Blog Post!

Published 02/14/2018 | Posted by Jennifer Schumacher

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