Just in time for Halloween, a video of how we DON’T do business… Enjoy!

A special thanks to @enaylor for sharing this video with us!

As Tuesday’s election draws nearer, there’s more and more discussion about how to vote, and why one candidate is better than the other.  The important thing about voting is knowing who/what you’re voting for/against.  Keeping an open dialogue with other people, whether they agree or disagree with your views, is the only way to truly know who/what you should vote for.  Remaining open-minded and knowing the fact from both sides of an argument is what makes a good voter.

But Tuesday’s vote isn’t just about the election.  Here in Edmond, we also have a very important proposition being put before us.  I’ve blogged about the proposed increase of our property taxes a couple of times over the past few months, and will continue to post more opinion columns about this issue between now and Tuesday.  Please, take the time to read these opinions for and against this issue, and go vote what you believe to be the right thing for the present and the future of our great city!

I’m not overly-optimistic that the reduction will be passed along to us in the form of lower mortgage rates, but the fed decided today to lower the federal funds rate by a half of a point. If you need more information or advice on mortgage rates, let us know and we’ll get you in touch with someone you can trust.

If you’re one to observe Halloween, make sure you’ve got plenty of candy to keep the goblins happy on Friday. According to the Edmond Sun:

Regional leaders in Central Oklahoma have recommended Oct. 31 as the night for Trick-or-Treat activities in the metropolitan area this year. The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors, comprised of local elected officials, endorses one Trick-or-Treat night in the region to keep a uniform date for children, families and public safety officials.

There’s also a cool event in downtown Edmond called ‘Trick or Treat on the Street’ if you’re looking for a place to go that’s outside the ordinary door-to-door in the neighborhood.

Keep those kids safe, and have a Happy Halloween!

Right now, there’s plenty of fear out there; more than enough to go around. With the seemingly consistent flow of scary financial news, and the recent downfall of one of our larger local builders, it’s understandable that the perception may be that the local real estate market is taking a major nose-dive, but we have to keep things in perspective. The sky is not falling, and you still have to live somewhere, right?

In this business, smart business practice – which includes fiscal conservatism – is what separates the men from the boys, especially in a soft market. It just so happens that the builders we work closely with are a few of those who’ve positioned themselves to ride out the storm. Jeff Click Homes is one; and another of these builders was just highlighted in the Oklahoman.

Over the past few years, while the Edmond real estate market has been so strong, many home buyers have asked “Why do I need a REALTOR® when I’m buying a new home? Can’t I just go directly to the builder?” As you’d probably guess, I always advise against this, for several reasons, but in today’s softer market, with several builders teetering on the edge, it’s more important than ever to get some guidance from someone who’s plugged in and has a grasp on how to help you make sure your next move is a smart one.

An additional way to stay in tune with the OKC and Edmond market is by subscribing to this blog. We’ll keep you up-to-date on market statistics, trends and news.

Home prices in OKC and Edmond may have just taken a turn in favor of the buyers. With an already attractive cost of living in Central Oklahoma, things here are comfortable and it’s hard to imagine lower home prices. Here’s how the month of September shapes up in comparison to last month and this time last year:

As you can see, all categories are fairly level, and even the pricing decline is ever-so-slight, but it is the first decline I’ve seen in both average and median pricing. Home Sellers take note and make sure you’re priced accordingly to get your home sold.

**Based on information provided to and compiled by MLSGateway.com, Inc. covering a period (9/1/07) through (9/30/08). MLSGateway.com, Inc. does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.

Foreclosure. It’s a scary word, and these days it’s a popular, common buzzword. You’d be amazed at how many of our clients ask us about finding them a home that’s been foreclosed on. Sometimes that can be a great way to find a great deal; other times it’s a great way to find a dump.

Either way, it seems to be what lots of folks are looking for these days, so I’ve been looking into ways to easily put this information at your fingertips, and lucky for you, I just found a way to provide a search of Oklahoma City and Edmond foreclosure homes right from our main website. Now, these listings aren’t free like our Edmond MLS searches, but I’ve decided to reimburse our clients’ costs on these searches at closing. So, go check it out, and let me know what you think!

I just got back from meeting with a client of mine to list a beautiful, treed 2+ acre homesite lot. If you’re thinking about building a home in Northeast Edmond, you’ll want to see this beautiful piece of land.

As soon as this weather clears a little, I’ll post up some pictures, and more details.

I question how much of this particular trend will flow into the Oklahoma City real estate market, but with last week’s fall of a few of Edmond’s larger home builders, we’re definitely seeing a more conservative approach on both the building and buying sides. I guess the key here comes from the money quote in an article about shrinking homes:

“We’re getting back to more the way things were historically, kind of undoing the excesses…”

You’ll hear this one debated a lot, but your opinion will usually depend on which side of the transaction you’re on. If you’ve been around here much, you’ve seen a few of my rants on overpriced listings, and I’m not the only one. Richard Mize, Real Estate Editor at the Oklahoman, published a nice piece on this topic late last week.