While economic statistics may not be perfect here in Oklahoma, there are still plenty great things to hang our hats on, such as the good ole’ housing market. Check out Richard Mize’s latest assessment/report of where we’ve been and where we are, and keep these things in mind as you decide whether or not buying a home or selling your home are the right moves for you right now.

So, I’m 5 months into homeownership and my “To Do” list has somehow expanded as quickly as waistlines in the winter. I’ve had to learn to be realistic and learn to “trim the fat,” so to speak. Having been spoiled for years as a renter, I’m now realizing that changing the air filter, seasonal pest control, winterizing the doors and windows, putting those cover jobbies on the crawlspace vents, etc are responsibilities that now rest squarely on my shoulders. Not that I wasn’t aware of those responsibilities, I just didn’t realize how time-consuming it can become when the list begins to expand. I’ve had to learn to prioritize and make time for those pressing matters and schedule far in advance the seasonal things before they creep up on me. As for responsibilities, general maintenance seems lightweight in comparison to being a landlord.

The thought of my roommate no longer being just my roommate, but my renter can sometimes be a taxing proposition. Not that our relationship as friends has suddenly become more formal, but I’m now realizing that as my tenant her reasonable enjoyment and standard of living are my responsibility, as far as the roof over her head goes. If my water-heater goes out, I might be able to live for some time with cold water until I can get it fixed or work out some other solution. However, with a renter, I’m not the only one to consider. With her living under my roof, as my tenant, I’m now saddled with the responsibility of fulfilling contractual obligation to my tenant. As our agreement states

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The Internal Revenue Service has clarified which documentation taxpayers need to submit to claim the first-time and move-up homebuyer tax credit.

While the IRS is still requiring the filing of Form 5405, it is not demanding that all parties’ signatures be on the HUD-1 settlement document in areas where…

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Last week’s video blog from West Edmond is for the local Realtors and the home sellers, about making your home/listing as easy to show as possible, and why it’s so important. Please feel free to voice your opinion on this topic in the comments below, and have a great day!!

Whether you are selling your home or staying put, chances are you have (or will have) a small space on your hands. Most of us are not lucky enough to have walk-in closets the size of kitchens, so what’s a girl (or boy) to do? Below are my top 5 tricks to making any room feel more spacious!

1. Large artwork will make small rooms appear bigger, so skip the random hanging of small prints and go for one sofa-sized painting or blow up a photograph using a site like Photogonia.
2. Monochromatic color schemes can be your best friend, especially when staging a home to sell. Using many different colors causes the eye to jump around and can visually break up a room. A monochromatic scheme (the use of various shades of the same color) encourages an ebb and flow appearance and makes even dark, small rooms less claustrophobic. For example, a bedroom could be visually enlarged by using a khaki-colored carpet, beige bedding and a neutral paint on walls (try Sherwin Williams’ ‘Trusty Tan’ or ‘Macadamia’).
3. Speaking of paint, a ceiling that is painted lighter than the walls

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Well, all the buzz around OKC over the past couple of weeks has been about the return of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Oklahoma, to work with Ideal Homes on their next project.

Our local RE pro, Richard Mize printed a nice summary of the festivities, as they ‘moved that bus,’ and here’s a nice little video about the project:

One of the great things about living in Edmond is the parks system that’s in place, and the support the city continues to give. While many will always argue where the tax money should be spent, parks & recreation are always a great investment for a community. Keep up the great work, Edmond!