Choosing the right Realtor®

Whether you are buying or selling your home, choosing the right REALTOR® is critical.

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You need a REALTOR® who really listens to your unique needs. A resourceful REALTOR® with the energy and dedication to walk you every step of the process.

There’s an amazing synergy that my approach to real estate sales fosters, and I serve my clients on a very personal level.  My style and energy is represented in my real estate concepts and is evident in my confident and positive attitude!

That’s why when looking to buy or sell Tulsa area real estate, you need Lori Cain …a problem solver who goes the extra miles and takes a personal interest in helping you achieve your goals and dreams.

My knowledge and years of service in the real estate industry, in addition to my superb grasp of the use of technology in real estate enable me to serve you best!  Not all Realtors understand how the Internet works. Let me tell you how I would market your home.

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Pricing your home for sale – are you working WITH the internet?

Pricing your home for sale – are you working WITH the internet?

We know that almost 90% of home buyers are searching on the internet, so if you’re selling your home, you are going to select a Listing Realtor who understands how home Buyers shop today.

You know that your home needs to be prominently displayed on multiple internet sites. You know that you want a significant number of photos of your home, a lengthy and detailed description of your homes’ amenities and a virtual tour.Online home shopping

But, let’s not forget how the price you and your Realtor choose can make a difference as to your internet presence and exposure!

If your home is priced at $300,000, your home will come up when buyers search from $275,000 to $300,000. It will ALSO come up in buyer’s internet searches if they are searching from $300,000 to $325,000. By pricing your home at $300,000, you are DOUBLING the number of prospective Buyers who will view and consider your home. However, if you price your home at $299,900, your property will only come up in the first search of $300,000 maximum.

Pricing your home for sale – are you working WITH the internet?

When possible, price your home at what I call a “price point.” It’s NEVER a good idea to over-price your home, and neither of us want to leave money on the table. But, if you’re close to a price-point, go for it. If your home should be priced slightly above or slightly below $200,000, consider pricing it at $200,000. Do not price it at $199,900!

Search results on realtor.com

Choosing a Realtor who understand how Buyers search and shop on the internet is key. Call me today to learn more about the internet exposure I provide home sellers!

About the author: Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen serving the greater Tulsa area. Visit her web site or call 918-852-5036!

Lori Cain
www.LoriCain.com

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How Best to Search for Homes for Sale in Tulsa – get truly customized home search results delivered to your e-mail inbox!

How Best to Search for Homes for Sale in Tulsa – get truly customized home search results delivered to your e-mail inbox!

My client is searching for a one-level condo under $125,000. She wants a specific area of town and needs more square footage than most condos available in her price range. Her needs are unique and specific – nothing she is willing to compromise.

Which leads me to my pitch about “custom searches” that real estate professionals can set up for you – to get truly customized home search results delivered to your e-mail in-box.

If you are searching from any real estate brokerage’s web site or the public MLS or realtor.com, you have probably already discovered the limitations of your search ability. Yes, you can search by price and zip code – even school district – but don’t you really have more specific search criteria?

You can’t search by lot size or a specific geographic area – the tool I love most about the custom searches available to Realtors. We can literally search from Lewis to Harvard, from 21st Street to 36th Street. If you don’t want to consider homes with the washing machine in the garage, you don’t have to – we can search for an inside utility also!

How Best to Search for Homes for Sale in Tulsa – get truly customized home search results delivered to your e-mail inbox!

Once your custom search is set up with all the parameters important to you, we set up a web portal to store your search results. From your web portal, you can view data on the property, photos and virtual tours.

There is a place for you to ask me questions, such as “how old is the roof,” or “how long has this property been on the market?” We can literally shop together on our computers and select homes that truly meet your needs.

Custom Home Search Results in your Web Portal

Note the highlighted area in the above image where I have written a note to my client about house #1 – she wants a sprinkler system and this house has one!

You can also categorize your search results as ‘favorites,’ ‘possibilities’ and ‘not considering.’ I encourage Buyers to move properties to the ‘not considering’ category if they truly dislike the appearance of the house – once moved to that category, you will not be notified of price reductions.

Each day as new listings come in, our MLS (multiple listing service) will compare the new listings to your individual search criteria. If it’s a match, it is added to your portal and you are notified by e-mail. The entire system is automated.

So, you can search comfortably from your home or office and get a feel for what’s available in your price range with your specific needs. Each morning as I enjoy my morning coffee, I check my clients’ portals to see if there are questions to be answered. Shop at your leisure until you have selected a few homes that you’d like to make appointments to see.

And, you’re not limited to one search. My client that is searching for the perfect condo is also looking at houses in the same geographic area, but only those with small lot sizes. She knows that she would wind up paying someone to mow her yard should she move into a house, so she doesn’t want a large lot.

Even if you are not ready to buy a house for several months, it’s good to start your search right away. As you see houses come and go from your search portal, you’ll get a good feel for how quickly they are selling – very helpful information when you ARE ready to get out and look.

And one quick note to Tulsa Home Sellers — make sure your property is listed on MULTIPLE internet sites with multiple photos and a virtual tour. Buyers are shopping on the internet today, so you must make sure your home is prominently displayed!

Let me set up a custom search for you today! Lori Cain, e-mail: lcain@tulsarealtors.com, 918-852-5036. Web: www.LoriCain.com

Ready. Willing. Able. CAIN.

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Components of a real estate offer: what a first-time home buyer needs to know

Components of a real estate offer: what a first-time home buyer needs to know

Our first-time home buyer has been pre-qualified with a Lender and has been shopping online and in person with his/her Realtor.

FHA Financing

Now you’ve found the perfect house and are ready to make an offer.

The first thing your Realtor will do is prepare a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to show comparable properties in the neighborhood and what they have sold for. We study what has been sold in the past six months and use this data to determine a fair market value price. What you decide to offer depends on how quickly the properties are selling in that particular area, how long the property has been on the market and other factors – your Realtor representing you will advise you.

In the price range in which first-time home buyers are shopping, the pricing may not be as competitive as you might expect as we near the deadline to get under contract.

Although we consider the purchase price the largest component of a real estate offer, other components come in to play.

  • Are you asking the Seller to contribute towards your closing costs?
  • How quickly can you close?
  • Are you asking for a residential service agreement and home repairs?
  • Are you writing a large earnest money check to make your offer look attractive?
  • What TYPE of financing are you using?

When the Listing Realtor presents an offer to his/her Seller, he/she will point out:

  • Sales price
  • Amount of earnest money
  • Type of financing (FHA, VA, conventional, RD, cash)
  • Amount requested in repairs
  • Seller concessions (amount Seller may contribute towards Buyer’s closing costs)
  • Closing date
  • Other additional provisions

Components of a real estate offer: what a first-time home buyer needs to know

Earnest Money

If you are looking at a home your heart is set on and it’s possible for it to receive multiple offers, you want to begin with a clean and attractive offer. If you have the funds available, write a STRONG earnest money check – in our area, 1% of sales price is typical, but I encourage first-time home buyers to write their earnest money check for a larger amount if they intend to make a “low-ball” offer.

If first-time home buyers NEED to ask the Seller to contribute to your closing costs, it may be necessary to offer more than list price. Keep in mind that the property must appraise for the amount you are going to borrow, and you don’t want to spend money on an appraisal and inspections if it’s not likely to appraise. Again, your Realtor can advise you in this area.

TYPICAL first-time home buyers are using FHA financing and paying the minimum 3.5% down-payment. Your closing costs can be $4,000-$7,000, depending on the price of the home.

The expenses you can expect to pay up front include:

  • Appraisal $375-$400
  • Earnest money: 1% of sales price
  • Inspections: $300-$500

Some home inspectors will be willing to be paid at closing, but may expect a credit card on file, should your contract fall through.

Good luck to first-time home buyers in crafting your offer. Rely on the skills of a competent, full-time Realtor to advise you and represent you.

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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Tips and Tricks for First-Time Home Buyers – just in time for the April 30, 2010 stimulus deadline!

Tips and Tricks for First-Time Home Buyers – just in time for the April 30, 2010 stimulus deadline!

Because I am working with so many first-time home buyers at the moment, I thought I would write one general outline for all to follow.First Time Home Buyers' Checklist

Your first step as a first-time home buyer is to speak to a Lender to determine what type of financing you should use, how much money you will need for a down-payment and how much you can spend on a home. Which type of financing you choose as a first-time home buyer will depend on your credit score, how much down-payment you can afford, etc. I am not a Lender and will not advise in this area, but I do list several excellent Lenders from which to choose on my Preferred Vendor list. My favorite Lender is Julian James-Thomas, of 1st Capital Mortgage, by the way, 918-274-1519.

Once you know the amount you can comfortably afford, search for a Realtor to represent you in your first-time home buyer home purchase transaction. DO NOT search the internet and call the Realtor who has the property listed. You will want to work with ONE Realtor who clearly understands your goals and objectives and who will represent only your interests. If you call the Realtor who has the property listed, he/she will represent both you AND the Seller. While this can be done ethically, don’t you think you’d be better off with your personal and exclusive representation? Remember that the Seller pays the Buyer’s Agent’s commission, so this representation IS FREE to you.

Ask friends for referrals, interview Realtors and ask for references. I pride myself on my negotiating skills, but don’t take my word for it – ask for contact information of my previous clients and read my testimonials! Do find a full-time Realtor and don’t be guilted into using your cousin who sells real estate part-time.

Negotiating your first-time home buyer contract

Start shopping online. Your Realtor can set up a customized search for you that is much more fine-tuned than the searches you can do on the internet. If you want a specific lot size, inside laundry, master bedroom on the first level – we can search for all this! Do a little shopping from home and narrow down your possibilities before you get in the car to actually visit homes.

Tips and Tricks for First-Time Home Buyers – just in time for the April 30, 2010 stimulus deadline!

Start shopping in person. Take your camera and a note pad. Ask questions. Is this home priced reasonably? How long has it been on the market? What is the age and number of layers of the roof? Have any major components been updated (heat, air, electric, plumbing, hot water heater) – these can be costly repairs down the road, so don’t fall in love with a house and ignore the sagging roof!

Fall in love with your future home and write an offer.

Follow your Realtor’s advice as to how much to offer, how much earnest money to put down, what to ask for in repairs and Seller’s concessions. I’ll write a bit more about this tomorrow. The housing industry is still strong in Tulsa and surrounding areas, and we’re not giving houses away yet – so be prepared to learn about the components of an offer and how to get yours accepted.

Good luck to all first-time home buyers! We’re excited for your future! 65 days until the deadline for first-time home buyers to get your contracts written – we can do it! Get started today!

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com 

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Florence Park Bungalow for Sale – Midtown Tulsa Real Estate

This Florence Park bunaglow for sale has possibly the highest pitch roof in the neighborhood. Cozy covered porch invites you right in! Offered at $167,900.

Florence Park Bungalow for sale - midtown Tulsa real estate

The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into this beautiful bungalow is the stunning vaulted ceiling in the great room. You can fit one tall Christmas tree in this room! The beautiful stone on the art deco fireplace will capture your attention along with the recently finished hardwoods original to the house and the detailed crown molding throughout.

Vaulted ceiling in Florence Park bungalow for sale

Art deco fireplace and wrought iron schones in Great Room of Florence Park bungalow for sale

To the right of the great room is a second living area or office with four windows providing much natural light.

Office or 2nd living of Great Room in Florence Park bungalow for sale

The formal dining room is separated from the Great Room and kitchen area by arched doorways and is accented with beautiful crown molding.

Formal dining in Florence Park bungalow for sale

The kitchen includes an adjacent breakfast nook with bay windows. The kitchen/nook area has ceramic tile flooring and counter tops are an attractive black granite.

Kitchen and breakfast nook in Florence Park bungalow for sale

Kitchen cabinets are maple and stainless steel range/oven, vent hood and sink are new. The inside utility is conveniently located off the kitchen area.

Kitchen and breakfast nook in Florence Park bungalow for sale

The center bedroom is large enough for a queen-size bed, and back bedroom has TWO closets and private entry to back patio. Hardwoods throughout, new light fixtures and ceiling fans throughout.

Center bedroom in Florence Park bungalow for sale

Back bedroom in Florence Park bunaglow for sale

Yard is fully fenced. Full size two-car detached garage has additional storage in back, and there is also a storage shed in corner of lot. Trees were all recently trimmed by local arborist, Greg Cole. New roof 2010.

  • Completely updated 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 2 car detached garage, storage shed
  • Fenced back yard
  • Refinished Hardwoods throughout (done by Gil DeLozier)
  • Fresh paint throughout (Jane Halliwell, Prime Painting & Restoration)
  • Trees trimmed (by Tulsa arborist, Greg Cole)
  • Crown molding, arched doorways
  • Vinyl, energy-efficient, tilt windows throughout
  • Tile in kitchen and breakfast nook area with bay windows; original tile in bath
  • Inside utility
  • 2 living areas – one with vaulted ceiling
  • Art Deco Fireplace w/gas logs
  • Kitchen – maple cabinets, granite counters, new SS appliances
  • All new light fixtures and ceiling fans throughout
  • New door knobs and door handles throughout (except for original glass ones)
  • New hot water heater (2009)
  • New insulated exterior metal doors
  • New programmable thermostat
  • New roof on home and detached garage
  • Patio for entertaining; covered front porch
  • Brick, English style bungalow

Visit here to see more photos and a virtual tour of this Florence Park bungalow for sale.

Now that you’ve seen this great home, let me tell you a bit about the area and neighborhood!

Florence Park is one of the nicer, yet still affordable historic midtown subdivisions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Within Florence Park are some of the most beautiful bungalows – architectural wonders, sidewalks, parks and manicured lawns.

Florence Park has always been a special and revered neighborhood within our midtown Tulsa community. The architecture of homes built in the 1920s through mid 1930s is varied and unique – ranging from English style bungalows to adobes to traditional brick. No two homes look the same and you’ll find welcoming side-walks and beautiful old trees.

Within Florence Park are two actual parks. Pratt Park is on the 1600 block of Florence Avenue, and that’s where the Florence Park Neighborhood Association typically has its seasonal get-togethers. There are grills, picnic tables, drinking fountains and play equipment for the kiddos.

The second park, actually named “Florence Park” borders 21st Street between Gary Avenue and Florence Place. It has a water fountain for the kids to enjoy during the hot summer, jungle gym equipment, picnic tables and a tennis court.

Florence Park has an active Neighborhood Association with voluntary dues among residents. Officers and committees meet regularly and general meetings are held on a quarterly basis. Topics discussed include neighborhood safety, park maintenance, tree restoration and historical preservation. A quarterly newsletter is provided.

Florence Park boundaries are from the Broken Arrow expressway (west) to Harvard (east); Cherry Street (or 15th Street, north) to 21st Street (south). Just five blocks south of the University of Tulsa, Florence Park is minutes away from Utica Square Shopping Centre and the hub of popular restaurants on Cherry Street.

Florence Park is truly a tight-knit community within our midtown Tulsa community. We visit as we garden and manicure our lawns and as we walk our dogs. We watch each other’s homes and know when something or someone is out of place in the neighborhood.

It’s a great place to live!

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com 

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What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

My favorite Lender, Juliana James-Thomas of 1st Capital Mortgage, contacted me about a client interested in purchasing a FSBO property – “for sale by owner.” She was concerned that he didn’t have his own representation and that he may be paying too much for the property. The Buyer feels rushed to make an offer on the property because the Sellers have offered to pay a portion of his closing costs and have come down from their original list price. Home Buyer's Checklist

Juliana asked me to investigate to determine if the Buyer was indeed getting a good price on the “for sale by owner” property. He is getting pre-qualified in preparation to make an offer. Many Lenders wouldn’t care whether their client are actually paying a fair price, but Juliana takes a very personal and ethical approach to lending, which is why she builds client relationships for life.

I did some quick research on the property, and the “for sale by owner” property is over-priced by at least $10,000. In fact, the Sellers are asking almost $30,000 more than they paid for the property four years ago and from what I can tell from our MLS data (Multiple Listing Service), they have made limited improvements since their purchase.

Even IF Seller and Buyer agree on price, this property may have a problem appraising for the agreed-upon sales price, and that won’t be discovered until the Buyer has already spent $400 on an appraisal and possibly $500 on inspections. What happens then?

What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

Stimulus Money from the Federal Government

Often Buyers think they will get a better deal on For Sale by Owner properties because the Seller is not paying Realtor commissions. In actuality, Sellers rarely pass that savings along to the Buyer. Without having Realtor representation, a Buyer will often pay too much for a property and not negotiate needed repairs or know to ask for a residential service agreement.

Buyers, please take advantage of the many services a Buyer’s agent can offer you. We can access records to determine what was originally paid for a property, what improvements have been made, what the Sellers owe on the property and much more.

We help people buy houses every day, so we can craft an offer asking for the appropriate amount for repairs, closing costs, home warranties and more. We will be aware of what will likely be an appraisal requirement and will know if the house will appraise for the amount paid.

We will guide you through the buying process — the largest investment you will make in your life time.

With the deadline approaching for 1st-time home Buyers to be under contract by April 30th, please contact me if you are considering purchasing a home.

Time is of the essence and Buyer representation is PRICELESS.

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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Homes for Sale in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa, Jan/Feb 2010 – Market Snapshot Florence Park in midtown Tulsa for February 15, 2010

Homes for Sale in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa, Jan/Feb 2010 and Market Snapshot for Florence Park in midtown Tulsa February 15, 2010* – Florence Park’s northern border is 15th Street (Cherry Street); southern border is 21st Street; western border is the Broken Arrow Expressway and eastern border is Harvard. Florence Park in midtown Tulsa real estate - market snapshot

There are currently 14 single family homes for sale in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa and four homes pending. The listing prices of these homes ranges from $105,000 to $269,000 and the median home price in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa for single family homes pending sale is $193,492.

Click here to request a current list of homes for sale in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa real estate.

As of February 15, 2010, 17 homes sold in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa in the past six months, with the low sales price of $119,000 and high of $317,000 – average sales price of $175,823.

The average size of homes sold in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa is 1,606 square feet, mostly 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 car garage.

Florence Park google map - midtown Tulsa real estate

Are you interested in what is going on in the hyper-local real estate market at this moment? The market snapshot shows homes for sale and homes recently sold, including price.

If you are buying or selling a home in Florence Park in midtown Tulsa real estate, please contact me as I offer extensive knowledge of the area, an aggressive marketing program and strong negotiation skills. When midtown Tulsa real estate is your focus, please call me!

* Based on information from the Greater Tulsa Association of REALTOR’S® MLS. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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Let’s Get Connected!

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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The Salon at Philtower: Amanda and Ashley style the new within heritage of the old

The Salon at Philtower: Amanda and Ashley style the new within heritage of the old

What better place for my friends Amanda Woolman Burn and Ashley Thompson to open their new salon, but in the lobby of the grand Philtower building – actually in the same corner where a “Barber Shop” existed for many years.The Philtower Building, Tulsa Oklahoma

Amanda is a nail technician, offering manicures and pedicures; Ashley is a hair stylist. The two have worked together in various shops over the years, but finally ventured out on their own in one of Tulsa’s finest and most renowned examples of architecture.

Of course, their salon is called quite simply, “The Salon at Philtower.”


The Lobby in The Philtower Building, Tulsa Oklahoma

Ashley and Amanda: The Salon at Philtower

Amanda and Ashley’s patrons will follow wherever they go, and for some, navigating the one-way streets and downtown parking has been a challenge. But, once you enter the lobby of the magnificent Philtower building, it absolutely takes your breath away.

Built in 1927, the Philtower Building in Tulsa, Oklahoma, represents the late Gothic Revival style embellished with Art Deco details. Located on Boston Avenue, Tulsa’s premiere architectural corridor, it was conceived of as the link between the then-proposed Union Train Station to the north and the soaring Boston Avenue Methodist Church to the south. Features in this amazing 24-story building include marble travertine, brass, mahogany walls and fabulous chandeliers.

The building included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Salon at Philtower: Amanda and Ashley style the new within heritage of the old

Downtown Tulsa seems poised to undergo a renaissance of sorts, a return of the relevance that characterized it in the heady days of the Oil Boom and the decades that followed. Recently downtown has seen a revitalization of the Brady Arts District and the passage of a proposal to build a world-class arena, among other exciting developments. The Philtower converted floors 12-20 to private luxury residences, creating Tulsa’s first ever mixed-use high rise.

I can’t write about Tulsa architecture without mentioning local artist, Celeste Vaught, who is on

Celeste Vaught's painting on the entrance of the Philtower Building

a journey of painting Tulsa architecture in her new Series, Tulsa, Brick x Brick. Celeste has painted the entrance of the Philtower Building, included in this post. Celeste’s paintings highlight the heritage of Tulsa Architecture and can be found on her web site.

If you’re looking for a great hair cut and style, manicured fingers and toes and a huge piece of Tulsa’s rich history, look no further than the Salon at Philbrook. Call for an appointment: 918-808-0943 or friend Amanda on Facebook.

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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Let’s Get Connected!

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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Turning a Negative into a Positive: the great synergy of Active Rain

Turning a Negative into a Positive: the great synergy of Active Rain

I posted last week on Active Rain about the Listing Sales Book that I keep at my listings and all the contents that I include. Wow, did I get a lot of great suggestions from the comments!Home with shared driveway

Liz Bolton commented that she had seen a “Seller Questionnaire” of sorts at a listing that included where the school bus stops, trash and recycle days, where to vote and the Seller’s comments about what they liked most about their home. Obviously, I’m going to include this in my next Listing Sales Book!

Now, I’m selling my personal home in Florence Park that has a shared driveway, which most would consider a negative feature. I was brainstorming with my home stager, Peggy Givens,about who would most likely purchase my home and what were the positives and negatives of my home. I told Peggy that my home would most likely be purchased by a single person and first-time home buyer.

When we discussed the issue of the shared driveway, Peggy commented, “I think that would not be a negative – I think a single person would appreciate the safety factor of sharing a driveway.”

Bingo! What was once a negative is now a positive!

Turning lemons into Lemonade!

So, on my Seller questionnaire, I wrote about the many things I love about my home and added that I appreciated the safety factor of the shared driveway, noting that my neighbor Elizabeth is an awesome neighbor! Maybe someone who falls in love with my home will read that and say, “I hadn’t thought of it as a safety factor, but it does seem comforting to have a neighbor so close to watch my home.”

Turning a Negative into a Positive: the great synergy of Active Rain

So, thanks to Liz and Peggy, I’ve turned a negative into a positive – turned lemons into lemonade!

The synergy here in Active Rain is contagious – we all do truly pay it forward. Often here in the Rain, we learn much more from the blog comments that the blog post itself!

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

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Let’s Get Connected!

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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R you insulated?

Catchy title and good information for home owners!

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

Via Dallas Chambers (Re/Max Agents Realty):

Insulation is an important factor in keeping your heating and cooling costs down.  The higer the R value of insulation, the greater its resistance to heat flow.  The higher its resistance to heat flow, the greater its ability to keep heat inside your home in the winter and keep it outside in the summer.

The insulation in your home should meet or exceed these values:  walls R-13, floors – R-19 and ceilings R-30.  Your ductwork should have a minimum R-6 insulation (2.5 inch duct wrap), and all joints and seams in the ductwork should be tightly sealed.

Dallas Chambers

RE/MAX Agents Realty

Office:  770-922-7777 X316

Cell:     770-595-1541

Web: http://dallaschambers.agentsrealty.com

E-Mail: dallasc@remax.net

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.  All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

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Our family’s rendition of the Super Bowl party – chili cook-off with the Kingsleys

Our family’s rendition of the Super Bowl party

Deme and I are happy to be included in the Kingsley family’s annual Super Bowl get-together and chili cook-off. Chili cook-off winner, Alex and fiance Barbra

Now, a chili cook-off may sound like a simple thing during a Super Bowl game, but this family owns the Coney Island restaurants around Tulsa and they all make excellent chili every day. So, it’s slightly intimidating to enter their contest for the best chili.

Tonight, chili entries were submitted by Chuck and Pope; Michael Kingsley; Deme; Alex; and Barbra. First time contestant and fiancé to Barbra, Alex came out the winner and took home the trophy. Congrats Alex!!

Best thing about Super Bowl evening with the Kingsleys is that the guys watch the game in the den and the ladies visit in the kitchen. Tonight’s kitchen entertainment was Cranium, a fun and interactive game guaranteed to make you do silly things.

Sophia and Allison teamed up; Barbra and Kate teamed up. I was on a team with Evonne and Pope. If you’ve never played Cranium, you should try it. It’s a combination of trivia, cherades, drawing, humming, sculpting and more.

The chics playing Cranium

Sometimes the artist has to close her eyes while drawing. Sometimes everyone playing gets to guess the answer. The humming was definitely fun, as well as acting out a person your team-mate has to try to guess.

Barbra did an excellent impression of Clint Eastwood. Pope stumbled a bit over humming “Stop in the name of love,” and Evonne drew an awesome King Kong that I couldn’t guess. We invented a few dances tonight and Barbra got her aerobics in.

Sophia and Evonne are the natural artists, although Kate sculpted an excellent burger. Pope is the wordsmith and Allison is the dictionary. Most amazing win was Barbra and Kate’s drawing of the toucan, guessed in less than ten seconds.

Eventual winners of the Cranium game were Pope, Evonne and myself.

Oh, and we heard that the “Saints” won as well. Coincidence?

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Get Connected!

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com 

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Tulsa’s Florence Park Fourth Quarter Real Estate Update – Midtown Tulsa Real Estate

Tulsa’s Florence Park Fourth Quarter Real Estate Update – Midtown Tulsa Real Estate

Florence Park is one of the nicer, yet still affordable midtown subdivisions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Midtown Tulsa real estate is very competitive, and this subdivision definitely holds its value.Map of Florence Park - midtown Tulsa real estate

Borders are 15th Street (Cherry Street) to the north, 21st Street to the south; Harvard to the east and the Broken Arrow Expressway to the west.

Within Florence Park are some of the most beautiful bungalows – architectural wonders, sidewalks, parks and manicured lawns.

There are currently twelve homes for sale in Florence Park and four contracts pending. Between October 1st and December 31, 2009, fourteen homes sold with the average size being 1,596 square feet and average price of $174,035.

Homes sell quickly in this neighborhood, with the average days on market of those sold averaging at 86, but many selling within the first two weeks.

Tulsa’s Florence Park Fourth Quarter Real Estate Update – Midtown Tulsa Real Estate

Florence Park Bungalow - midtown Tulsa real estate

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Florence Park, please call me for advice.

I own a home in the neighborhood and am active in the neighborhood association – and produce our Florence Park neighborhood newsletter!

Florence Park is truly a tight-knit neighborhood within our midtown Tulsa real estate community. We visit as we garden and manicure our lawns and as we walk our dogs. We watch each other’s homes and know when something or someone is out of place in the neighborhood.

It’s a great place to live!

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Get Connected!

Midtown Tulsa Real Estate on FacebookMidtown Tulsa Real Estate on TwitterMidtown Tulsa Real EstateMidtown Tulsa Real Estate Agent on LinkedIn

If you’re looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com 

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