For those of you having lived in Oklahoma for more than a couple of weeks, you know the "Okie" mantra: If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, just wait a minute. In all my 35 years as a resident of Oklahoma I've never heard of a highschool baseball game cancelled due to wind. Until yesterday! There were no storms on the horizon, nor tornados brewing, it was just good 'ol Oklahoma wind. The kind that'll whip your hair around and smack ya with it! The kind that'll convince you to never again forget to check with Gary England before donning an adorable skirt, lest it be reduced to an accessory around your neck!

Fortunately, there's a silver lining of green in that wind. Energy leaders from Oklahoma are on a mission to bring wind power projects to our state. Oklahoma plans to position itself as a producer of equipment to generate electricity from wind as well as a research hub,and potentially create 18,000 jobs by 2019 according to Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, Natalie Shirley.



The next time you feel the need to wear lead weights in your shoes to combat the wind, try to remember that it's a gift we can use as a resource for energy which translates to a projected $1.48 billion in total personal added income for Oklahomans from the wind industry cluster alone!

Labels: Gary England, jobs, wind, wind energy

In the early 1990's FHA had about 15% of the home purchase market according to the Inman News. Until a couple of years ago, FHA lost business to the growing subprime market. Once the subprime market cratered, FHA is back in business offering appealing financing for home buyers since they accept lower credit scores than conventional loans and are more forgiving of past financial mistakes. Requiring only 3.5% downpayment is also a plus for first time homebuyers. FHA borrowers pay a monthly mortgage insurance premium (PMI) of .5% per year and an upfront premium of 1.75 percent, which is almost always included in the loan amount. In contrast, Conventional loans require larger downpayments than government backed loans. Interest rates are set by each lender and can exceed those of FHA and VA loans. However, lenders may allow some creative financing options for the Conventional buyer. And of course with the larger downpayment, the PMI disappears quicker once the 20% down is reached.

In short, when considering financing, there are many options. The right financing program may not be ONLY about the interest rate but about the entire package. Looking for a lender? I can help!

Labels: conventional, fha, home loans, Inman News, real estate

I get asked nearly every day, "Is anyone buying homes in this economy?" And the answer is, "YES!"

Every buyer wants a deal and every seller wants top dollar. There are very important keys to both sides of that equation. On the "deal" side it's important to have an experienced realtor who is a savvy negotiator. Today's topic however, is about selling. On the "top dollar" side it's critical to have a home that shows well, is spotlessly clean, staged beautifully to maximize space and priced right.



One of my listings sold for full price last week after only a few days on the market. All of the above came into play and the stars were in alignment for one lucky new homeowner! The seller had been 1.) Diligent about maintaining the home, addressing repair items immediately over the course of the seven years they'd owned it and 2.) Pre-pared their home for sale by de-cluttering rooms and closets and packing up unnecessary items so that their home would be welcoming and spacious.



This particular experience was a classic example of "show" condition and perfect pricing! It did not require high-end furnishings for staging or a team of experts from HGTV. It was simply clean, uncluttered and neatly furnished. The buyers got a great home, move-in-ready and the sellers got a quick sale at full asking price!



For more tips on preparing your home for sale, look here: http://www.kaypratt.com/sellhome2.html

Labels: real estate, sell homes fast, show homes