This year National Fire Prevention Week is October 7th through the 13th. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Practice Your Escape Plan” Fire safety advocates across the county will be spreading the word that when it comes to escape plans, practice is the key.
So far in 2007, 4 people have lost their lives as a result of fires. Certainly, the majority of home fires occur during the colder months of the year. That is why Coldwell Banker RaderGroup supports National Fire Prevention Week and reminds residents to implement fire safety tips, including installing and/or checking smoke alarms and canvassing your home for fire hazards.
In addition, every family should have a home fire escape plan. When you create your plan, here’s what to remember:
· Have two exits from every room
· Pick a partner and exit together
· Choose a safe place to meet outside
· Get out first and then call for help
· Practice you plan twice a year
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Not Here in Tulsa
Judging from most of the news stories related to home sales, one would assume the real market is “horrible” everywhere, including the Tulsa metropolitan area. Yet, while the residential market is suffering in many parts of the country, this simply is not the case here in our local market.
For example on September 7, 2007 the Tulsa World ran a report on Tulsa area sales with the headline “Home sales down 9 percent from June level”. While the headline was technically true, it totally misrepresented the story. First of all, a drop in home sales from June to July is a common seasonal adjustment. In fact, home sales have fallen from June to July during four of the past five years, including 2007 which was the all time best home sales year in Tulsa area history.
What the article said - but the headline did not represent - was home sales for July 2007 were higher than July 2006 and both the average price (up 12.6%) and the median price (up 8.6%) were up significantly from a year ago. While total home sales for the year are down slightly (-2.2%) from the record pace of 2006, home sales are extremely good!
There are three basic reasons for our good market: (1) We did not have the huge inflationary price increases which were enjoyed in other parts of the U.S. and are not experiencing a “market correction”. (2) We are not having the number of foreclosures other areas are suffering. In fact, in an August 15, 2007 article in the Tulsa World, Tulsa was one of only 18 cities in the U.S. which had realized a decrease in foreclosures during 2007. (3) Our local economy is good with comparatively low unemployment and strength in the energy and agriculture sectors.
So, if you are thinking this is a bad time to buy or sell a home, it may be in some part of the country, but not here. Interest rates have fallen and prices have risen!
For more information contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
For example on September 7, 2007 the Tulsa World ran a report on Tulsa area sales with the headline “Home sales down 9 percent from June level”. While the headline was technically true, it totally misrepresented the story. First of all, a drop in home sales from June to July is a common seasonal adjustment. In fact, home sales have fallen from June to July during four of the past five years, including 2007 which was the all time best home sales year in Tulsa area history.
What the article said - but the headline did not represent - was home sales for July 2007 were higher than July 2006 and both the average price (up 12.6%) and the median price (up 8.6%) were up significantly from a year ago. While total home sales for the year are down slightly (-2.2%) from the record pace of 2006, home sales are extremely good!
There are three basic reasons for our good market: (1) We did not have the huge inflationary price increases which were enjoyed in other parts of the U.S. and are not experiencing a “market correction”. (2) We are not having the number of foreclosures other areas are suffering. In fact, in an August 15, 2007 article in the Tulsa World, Tulsa was one of only 18 cities in the U.S. which had realized a decrease in foreclosures during 2007. (3) Our local economy is good with comparatively low unemployment and strength in the energy and agriculture sectors.
So, if you are thinking this is a bad time to buy or sell a home, it may be in some part of the country, but not here. Interest rates have fallen and prices have risen!
For more information contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Home Buyers Tip
Pay off your small bills and always make timely payments on revolving accounts.
For more information contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
For more information contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
Monday, September 3, 2007
A Costly Decision!
Recently, a colleague of mine was showing homes to some prospective buyers. The sellers of one of the homes they wanted to see were represented by a limited service real estate company. When my colleague called to make an appointment to show the property, one of the sellers informed our associate they did not have a key box, and she would just leave the house and leave the door open. Needless to say, the safety concerns of such a procedure are obvious.
Later, when the prospective buyers became interested in the home, a market analysis revealed the home was noticeably under priced. Nevertheless, the buyers decided to make an even lower offer. With no one to represent them, the sellers accepted the low offer without negotiation. The offer they signed was lower than the market value by a larger percentage than they saved in the costs with the limited service company. In other words, they lost more than they saved in addition to “going it alone” and putting their family at risk.
At Coldwell Banker RaderGroup Realtors, we believe full service representation is in the best interest of our customers. If you are interested in learning what you could net from the sale of your home by putting the tools and marketing programs of Coldwell Banker RaderGroup to work for you, contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
Later, when the prospective buyers became interested in the home, a market analysis revealed the home was noticeably under priced. Nevertheless, the buyers decided to make an even lower offer. With no one to represent them, the sellers accepted the low offer without negotiation. The offer they signed was lower than the market value by a larger percentage than they saved in the costs with the limited service company. In other words, they lost more than they saved in addition to “going it alone” and putting their family at risk.
At Coldwell Banker RaderGroup Realtors, we believe full service representation is in the best interest of our customers. If you are interested in learning what you could net from the sale of your home by putting the tools and marketing programs of Coldwell Banker RaderGroup to work for you, contact me at slaunchbaugh@cbtulsa.com
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