Dang cold wind, glad I am off today.

Yes the thermometer says 36 degrees but the wind is wicked.

How about a new "Land Wagon"

It is getting close to the end of the year and I have been shopping for a new land wagon to take clients out on land to view property.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello partners. Happy Thanksgiving.

Productive day

I finally got my signatures on the ranch sale. Also listing a small horse place in Claremore. Ideal place for a couple of horses. Nice barn. It should sell pretty quick.

I recieved this picture from the Marketing Director of the City of Claremore today. I just finished the first Citizen's Government Academy. This is me receiving my diploma from the Mayor of Claremore.

It must be Thanksgiving.

For the past two years Thanksgiving has been the only time that my real estate business has slowed down. Sunday was quiet with no visitors. I did a lot of paperwork. I expect it will be slow this week. I am working with 3 new clients who are looking at property with me. I do not mind the slow down for a little rest.

I have been out showing houses in Chouteau to a buyer client. It is cold out there with the wind.

I have found there are a number of nice horse farms in Oklahoma. I was out and visited one today. They are planning to hire me to market and sell it for them.

Some people just never change "cute cowboy" to "handsome landman" lol.

It is going to be 24 degrees in the morning. I think I will stay in bed and cover up my head. Do you remember the ice storm in Claremore last year. I lost electric for two days.

TULSA HOME VALUES HOLD STEADY

TULSA WORLD FILE
By ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
11/19/2008 12:02 PM
Last Modified: 11/19/2008 1:48 PM


Real estate Web research site Zillow has reported that values for all homes in the Tulsa area — including those that haven't been sold — stayed steady from the third quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of this year.

Though flat, Tulsa's results are vastly better than the 9.7 percent nationwide drop the company reported for the same period.

Over the last 10 years, Zillow estimates Tulsa homes have gained 4.6 percent in value each year.

Cash deals

Apparently a number of citizens have decided to move money from stocks, bonds and other paper investments and put their money into real estate. I am getting calls every day from men and women who are looking for the great deals in Oklahoma real estate. These calls are coming from all over the nation. I am going to be busy all thru the holidays.

No bull

I really think this real estate market will continue to improve. If you are looking for a personal residence, there is a good selection. If you are an investor, there are plenty of foreclosures to pick from.

Real Estate market appears to be warming up.

I have recieved calls from several home buyers that are moving to Tulsa. All of them have new jobs in Tulsa. One is from Chicago, IL. One is from Texas and another one is from Indiana. All are looking to buy a home. Many of these folks already have financing in place.

Busy today.

It is another busy day. Company meeting in Tulsa, Showing a buyer in Inola, Realtor meeting in Tulsa and then a buyer showing in Chouteau. I love this job.

Winter is almost here.

Winter is almost here and I am looking for a convertible. If you know of anyone that has a Chevrolet Camaro Convertible from 1993 to 1998 model in any condition, I would be interested in talking to them. Will make a nice winter project and great driver for next spring.

Tonight in Claremore

I just got home from the Claremore City Council meeting where I and 19 other citizens graduated from the very first Citizens Government Academy and recieved our diplomas from the Mayor and then ate dinner with the city counsel members. Quite a nite. Very interesting class.

Business is good.

Today I have two new buyer clients and a new listing client. Business is good and God is still on his throne.

For your information.

Did you know that a new law has been passed in Chouteau Oklahoma that allows licensed drivers over the age of 16 to drive ATV OR GOLF CARTS in the city of Chouteau. The driver can be ticketed for breaking any trafic law. The driver can cross highway 69 but can not drive on the highway. Interesting huh? Only in Oklahoma.

www.frontdoor.com

Have you visited HGTV's new home website? Good articles and free home search.

Open House

I will be holding 3 new home construction model homes open today Sunday from 1 to 4 pm if you would like to stop by. We are in Chouteau Oklahoma off Highway 69 east of Marvin's Grocery.

Foreclosures in Oklahoma

Foreclosure rate dives in state

Source: RealtyTrac

By ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
11/13/2008
Last Modified: 11/13/2008 4:27 AM


A new report indicates that home foreclosures in Oklahoma plunged 36 percent from September to October.

The report by real estate data service RealtyTrac estimated that 817 foreclosures were filed for the month, or one for every 1,967 households in the state.

Nationally, foreclosures rose 5.11 percent for the month and 24.55 percent for the year, with a rate now at one foreclosure for every 452 households.

James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac, said in a news release that legislation filed by several states mandating delays in the foreclosure process did not have a significant effect on home loan defaults.

"While the intention behind this legislation — to prevent more foreclosures — is admirable, without a more integrated approach that includes significant loan modifications, the net effect may be merely delaying inevitable foreclosures," he said.

The national rate was above the previous year for the 34th month in a row.

Nevada had the highest state default rate for the 22nd straight month, with one of every 74 homes filing foreclosure during October

Dave Ramsey

For those of you who are having financial dificulty, or just want to live debt free and be prosperous, visit www.daveramsey.com. I highly recomend it.

Love the sunshine.

Even though it is 38 degrees.

tulsarealtors.com says

Home Values Have Held Up

TULSA, OK (September 23, 2008) – The Tulsa housing market has calmed down a little and is pretty much back to normal. Listing inventory processed for the month of July 2008 decreased from a year ago 7%, and is down year-to-date -.9%. The number of homes for sale on the last day of the month increased 6.4% from the same time last year. We are seeing now exactly what we expected and predicted stated Doug Horton, President of the Northeast Oklahoma Real Estate Services. Residential closings for the month continued to trail 2007 by only -4.5%.

Its very important for Oklahomans to understand that our home values have held up, and even increased, over the past year. We are now one of the best real estate markets in the country, and are consistently in the top 10 in home value appreciation. Horton predicts that our worst time is over.

The average sales price increased from a year ago 3.6% and 2.8% year-to-date from this time last year. About this same time last year we began to hear the horror stories of the real estate market across the county; this put a lot of fear into potential buyers. The sub-prime markets dried up, practically overnight, in August of 2007. Then, the Alternate-A (stated income loans) followed suit in September, basically just disappearing. By October, we had no 100% loans of any kind available (except for VA). So, many people who could have bought homes before these financing options disappeared can no longer qualify for a home mortgage. Fortunately for home buyers, the Government has greatly enhanced the Government Insured FHA loans during 2008. FHA loans are gathering steam, and are available to many of the buyers who were shut out by the elimination of the Alternate-A conventional loans and the 100% conventional loans.

A recent report from Global Insight and National City Corp shows the historical values of the City of Tulsa since 1985 (see attachment). The Q1 of 1985 the median price of a home was $59,300.00 and the market was considered to be overvalued by 50.4% at that time. In 2008 Q1, the median home price was $102,900, undervalued by 23.2%. The report shows the Tulsa market has been undervalued since Q1 1992, and has gradually increased in undervalue to its current peak today. (The valuations are based on the median values for single-family dwelling units and are based on the 2000 Census of Housing. That point-in time Census estimate is then extrapolated, based on price indices published by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO). Because OFHEO has acknowledged that these price indices overstate increases when refinance activity is strong, the valuations are further adjusted to correct for this influence.)

Do you know anyone from Claremore?

I am trying to put together a contact database for my classmates that graduated from Claremore, Oklahoma High School in 1972. Can you help me.

Now that I am back, can't stop talking.

I am enjoying this weather. 38 degrees this morning and wind and sunshine. Love Oklahoma.

While I am talking about financing a home.....

Are you aware that there is still 100% financing available for home purcases in Northeast Oklahoma? The USDA Rural Developement loan is 100 percent plus you can borrow closing costs. Veterans can still get VA mortgages at 100 percent. One bank in Tulsa is offering 103 percent to also cover closing cost. Interest rates are hovering around 6%. If you are a Native America, you can get a grant from the Cherokee Nation for $15,000 to pay for your down payment and closing costs. For more information go to my website www.mikethelandman.com and click on the get pre-qualified button.

Getting organized again.

I have spent this year working. The Landman team is on track to sell $10 million dollars worth of residential and land real estate in Northeast Oklahoma in 2008. No gloom and doom for us. We have sold homes in town and in the Country in Adair, Pryor, Locust Grove, Inola, Claremore, Foyil, Chelsea, Oologah, Owasso, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Coweta and Catoosa. If your property did not sell, I believe that marketing is probably the reason. I have a special marketing plan that I customize for each property that I list. Our buyers have had no problem obtaining financing because my prefered lenders do not offer "stupid loans" If you think differently please let me know. Drop me an e-mail at mwashburn@cbtulsa.com.

Where have I been?

Hello folks I have been away from the blog. Have no fear. I am back. Did you know that I have moved my license to the South Yale office of Coldwell Banker Select, Land and Ranch Division. More to follow.