Brand new or existing?  Which type of home do you think Edmond home buyers prefer?  This year, I've noticed that a large percentage of my clients are opting for the new construction.  To be more specific, 54% of the sales I have represented buyers in, have been new home sales.  I ran the numbers and found that 49% of the homes sold in Edmond (within Edmond Public School boundaries January 1, 2011 through today) were built in 2001 or later.  So, no more than ten years old.  Of those, 22% were brand spanking new construction.   I took a look back over the past three years to see if this is a new trend.  It's not.  In fact 22% new was fairly consistent; in 2010 during the same time period 21% were new home sales and in 2009 24% were new home sales.  It seems that we like the New House Smel... 06/22/2011

Don't you just love new house smell?  New carpet, fresh paint, mmm.  Everything is so shiny and new.  It sure smells good!  For many buyers that's the way to go when buying a home.  So far this year, I've had the opportunity to help several clients purchase new construction.  I have sold homes in Stone Creek Canyon, La Sonata, and Rolling Meadows.  I have two more that are currently pending in Covell Village.The process of buying a newly built home is a bit different than buying an existing (new to you) home and there are a few things you should keep in mind along the way.  For today, I'm not talking about a custom from the dirt up home.  I'm referring to what builders call a "spec" home.  It's called a spec because it is being built on speculation that it will sell.  There is not a spe... 06/15/2011

Are you sure people are still living in this house?  What a great question to be asked by a client while showing homes.  So far this week I've shown about 25 homes in and around Edmond that were listed between $200,000 and $325,000.  I'm pleased to report that each and every home was show ready!  All the homes were clean, organized and clutter free.  On more than one occasion I was asked if the home was actually occupied.  Sellers have learned that in our current market, property condition is a huge factor.  And it's the one thing you can control.  Aside from the tidiness, a couple things my clients and I have noticed this week while touring Edmond were air conditioning (on a hot day like today, when we would walk into a home with the air set a bit lower, I would hear "it sure is nice a... 06/09/2011

Three homes in Muirfield Village will be open this weekend, Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th of June from 1:00 to 5:00 each day. Directions are from NW 162nd and May Avenue, go west on NW 162nd through the gates into Muirfield Village. Open Homes 16217 Scotland Way | $429,900 | 2 beds, 2½ baths plus study and flex room | 2,362 square feet 16256 Morningside Dr | $499,900 | 2 beds, 2½ baths plus study | 2,745 square feet Will lease for $3,000/mo. 16305 Scotland Way | $649,000 | 2 beds, 2 full, 2 half baths & game room | 3,662 square feet Will lease for $3,400/mo. 16210 Muirfield Place | $365,000 | 3 beds, 2½ baths & loft | 2,510 square feet Will lease for $2,300/mo. Additional Information for Muirfield Village 06/03/2011

As an active listing Realtor, I'm constantly reminded of just how important the kitchen is to a home's value. Afterall, it has become THE most popular room in the home, and the hub of the family's living.I recently had the chance to visit with Roger Shollmier, owner of KitchenDesign.com and creator of the Galley Sink, about kitchen design, function and workflow.Be ready to have your eyes opened to concepts you may have never considered, as I did. Enjoy!**Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond. 05/31/2011

Many of my clients that are relocating to Oklahoma don't have the luxury of hopping in their car and cruising through a neighborhood after finding a home online.  The reality for a lot of them is that they only get one house finding trip to an area before making a decision.  That can be pretty stressful. So when I can, I like to help them out by taking my video camera along as I drive through for them.  You could call it home finding reconnaissance!!  It gives them a look at the whole picture outside of the house they are interested in. Over the weekend, one of my relocation clients inquired about a home listed in Antler Ridge.  Because it's new construction there were only a few pictures posted to the MLS.  So today I went on a recon mission and drove through Antler Ridge in Deer Creek... 05/31/2011

Happy Memorial Day!  The 99 days of summer are officially underway!  Can't you just hear Will Smith singing Summertime?  I sure can!  Last week I gave you my suggested timeline for buying a home before school starts again in August.  Believe it or not, even when you are buying a home there is still time for some fun!  Luckily between now and Labor Day there will be plenty of opportunities to have fun in the Oklahoma City metro.  Here's a list of 99 things (Memorial Day through Labor Day) to do in and around Edmond this summer.  My list is a combination of events for kids, family and adults.  Keep in mind some may require registration in advance.  Have a fun filled summer! May 30 Annual Paseo Arts Festival May 31 Visit Pelican Bay Aquatic Center in Edmond   June 1 Play in the Park at Mit... 05/30/2011

I can't believe that today is the last day of school in Edmond.  Where did the school year go?  Weren't we just carving pumpkins?  But here we are, the official beginning of summer, Memorial Day Weekend.For most people Memorial Day kicks off a summer filled with rest and relaxation, the smell of BBQs and the happy sound of kids playing in the pool.  For me, it starts the busiest time of year!  Wahoo!Many of the clients I work with begin their search for a new home now so that they can move before the school year begins.  Did I really just mention the first day of school?  Yep, I'm sorry.  We both know it will be here before you know it.  So, if you are considering a move before the kiddos head back to class (August 19, 2011 for Edmond Public Schools), here is my suggested timeline. June... 05/27/2011

Let's be honest; to say the past 6 months (or more) as a listing agent in the Oklahoma City metro has been sketchy and unpredictable would be grossly understating reality. In turn, this means that being a home seller in Central Oklahoma has been, well, sketchy and unpredictable.The numbers (the statistics) don't lie. We've seen the number of homes sold in the metro take a pretty consistent dive but, surprisingly, home values haven't taken the same dramatic dive. Sure, they've softened in some areas, but overall the median home value has stayed pretty level.So what's the real key to selling a home in this market? I'll give you a hint. It starts with a P. No, it's not pricing (although always critically important).It's Patience. Take a look at this:The chart you just saw is your visual wa... 05/19/2011

Interest rates are lower than ever, Edmond homes more affordable than in the past 35 years, and the monthly gross income allocated for the mortgage payment is at around 17%, so what's the roadblock for buyers? Access to credit and higher down payments! Though homes are selling in this buyers' market, it's rare that a buyer won't need some financing. And that's the problem. Credit scores must be in the 700s with higher being better. The Zillow website reports even those scores won't always guarantee a loan. When lending standards tightened after the subprime trend, it necessarily increased the access to loans. Research from the Federal Reserve indicates that over a quarter of all mortgages in 2006 were subprime, meaning buyers with credit scores below the 620-660 range were given loans. ... 05/16/2011

You know your credit is top-notch, your money owed is small and you can easily afford that Edmond home you've been eyeing. Well at least you think all this is true. Wham - you are rejected for the home loan. You are left scratching your head and wondering what the heck is going on. Well, mortgage laws have tightened and mortgage lenders are more reluctant to write the loans. It's getting harder for those homebuyers. Loans are rejected, sometimes for no good reason. Here's the issue: Government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have tighter standards. Most believe that's a good thing. However, most home mortgages have typically been backed by Freddie and Fannie. This makes banks and lenders skittish if there is no loan guarantee. If the loans aren't backed, this makes it more difficult t... 05/06/2011

April was a whirlwind for me.  How about you?  It seems it was in Edmond real estate too.  During April, 414 homeowners made the decision to list their house for sale.  Among those 79 have already accepted offers and 9 have already closed on the sale.  I imagine they would agree April was a whirlwind!Within the boundaries of Edmond Public Schools, 257 properties went under contract last month after an average of just 76 days on the market.  Of those, 35 have already been to the closing table.  At the time the contracts were accepted the average list price was $235,195 or $95.78 per square foot.The title companies stayed pretty busy in April too.  They saw 219 transactions close after an average of 90 days on the market.  The average sold price was $232,863 which was about 97% of the sel... 05/04/2011

Wondering about the housing market in Oklahoma? Most people around here are these days, but would you have guessed that Oklahoma is among the 5 States Where Housing Is Predicted to Recover the Quickest? Oklahoma. Home prices in the Sooner State fell just 2.3% from peak to trough and mortgage delinquencies are 2.9%. Unemployment is 6.9%. **Originally posted on the ShowMeOKC Real Estate Blog, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond. 04/27/2011

Spring is in the air in Edmond and that means Broker's Opens.  Broker's open houses are a great opportunity for area REALTORs to tour several homes in a neighborhood while networking with other agents.  If you are lucky, there is usually something yummy to eat and maybe even a drawing.  Sure it's great to visit with friends and have lunch.  But I like to use it as a chance for both you and me to learn about a neighborhood you may not have considered.Today I toured six homes in Fallbrook.  Fallbrook is a relatively new addition in Edmond.  You may have heard of the neighborhood.  I believe a few of the homes were included in last year's Parade of Homes, but I may be mistaken.  It's located off of Covell between Santa Fe and Western.  Currently homes in Fallbrook are starting in the mid 3... 04/26/2011

Today is April 25, 2011 and this is your real estate market report for Edmond, OK in the last week.  During the last seven days 96 properties were listed within the boundaries of Edmond Public Schools.  Of those the average list price is $217, 450.  Two of those new listings have already gone under contract!  Last week 70 homeowners accepted offers on their houses after an average of just 43 days on the market.  The average list price of those pending listings is $189,838. Last week saw 51 transactions closed.  They had been on the market for an average 62 days.  Those sellers received an average of 97% of their last list price. Keep in mind, all real estate is local.  For a market report for your specific neighborhood or subdivision, call me at the CENTURY 21 Goodyear Green office, 4... 04/25/2011

My name is Zach Sikes, and I am a Realtor with RE/MAX Associates in Edmond.  I often get asked a lot of the same questions over and over again.  However, they are usually asked about different neighborhoods: What high school - middle school - elementary school would my kids go to if we bought in this neighborhood? What is the crime rate? Do people take care of their homes here? What demographic of people live in the neighborhood? Are there college kids going to be partying next door all night? How is traffic? What's it like after dark? How far of a commute is it from downtown? Is there any new construction? Are they going to put a Wal-Mart in my back yard? Plus many others... My goal is to go through the bulk of the neighborhoods in Edmond over the next several months and give details a... 04/15/2011

Edmond Oklahoma is one of the top communities in Oklahoma. It has the hghest per capital income and the highest level of college graduates in the state. People come to Edmond for two reasons. First, the school system is in a class by itself. Since 1977 Edmond residents have voted for every bond issue for school improvements that has come up. Second, Edmond has a well respected city government that is dedicated to providing events, activities, and recreational facilities for the population that is copied by other Oklahoma cities but never to the extent of what Edmond gets done. The under $180K in Edmond Oklahoma is a good example of affordability and is ready for you to move in.   2005 built 3 bedroom home in Edmond, OK Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood $179,500 Sing... 04/06/2011

Oak Tree March 2011 Real Estate Market Update Current Monthly Change Active Listings 22 -1 Under Contract 3 +3 Sold (December) 0 -3   High list price: $939,000 Low list price: $324,000 Average list price: $444,397 Median list price: $409,500 High sales price/ft: n/a Low sales price/ft: n/a Average price/ft: n/a Median price/ft: n/a Average days-on-market: n/a Median days-on-market: n/a Oak Tree Homes For Sale Oak Tree Recent Price Reductions Oak Tree New Listings   04/05/2011

Valencia March 2011 Real Estate Market Update Current Monthly Change Active Listings 35 -1 Under Contract 12 -1 Sold (December) 8 +5   High list price: $334,575 Low list price: $126,025 Average list price: $194,250 Median list price: $183,636 High sales price/ft: $118.27 Low sales price/ft: $94.63 Average price/ft: $102.85 Median price/ft: $101.04 Average days-on-market: 46 Median days-on-market: 7 Valencia Homes For Sale Valencia Recent Price Reductions Valencia New Listings Originally posted on okchomesellers.com 04/05/2011

Muirfield Village Open House Saturday April 2nd & Sunday April 3rd, 2011 You are cordially invited to the OKCHomeSellers Team weekend open house in Muirfield Village Edmond OK this Saturday and Sunday. Time: 1:00 – 5:00 Two homes are open in Muirfield Village Saturday’s & Sunday’s from 1:00 to 5:00 along with a furnished model home. Muirfield Village is at NW 162nd and May Avenue, just behind the Paradigm AdvantEdge offices. Addresses are 16256 Morningside Drive, and 16217 Scotland Way. Location View Muirfield Village Open House in a larger map Muirfield Village Photos   Hosted this weekend by Bill Wilson. 04/01/2011