NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE WEEK-END

It’s the perfect weekend to shop. For many people, now really is a good time to buy a home. Inventory is high, prices are down and mortgage rates are near 50-year lows. And right now, first-time buyers can qualify for up to $8,000 and current homeowners for as much as $6,500, but contracts must be in place by April 30, 2010, so get out and start shopping!

READING UP ON REAL ESTATE

Some first time home buyers really do their home work. They read books, and the news and learn as much as they can about the home buying process. Some even watch television shows about buying a home. There are plenty of books about getting rich in real estate and of course all you have to do is "follow these simple steps", and plenty of books about how to buy a home.

I don't think much of most of the books that I have seen, but if I didn't know anything about the home buying process I would consider reading one to get started. That is what I did when I had my first child, I bought a how to book.

The problem with the books is that real estate is local. The laws and contracts are regulated on the state level. General business practices are not the same in each market either. The books are pretty generic and they try to cover situations that most Oklahomans will never encounter while at the same time missing important parts of the process in this state.

There is a great guide for Oklahoman home buyers that's free and on the internet, published by the Oklahoman Real Estate Commission. It may not be a literary master piece or have the drama of the television shows about buying a home, but it is packed full of useful information about buying a home in Oklahoma. Find it here. 

TULSA AREA HOME STARTS UP

The March 20, 2010 Tulsa World had an article intitled "Home Starts Accelerating." It stated that the year-to-date total for the Tulsa area is 9% more than at the same time in 2009. Home Construction picked up speed in February and has built a sizable lead over the first two months of 2009. The year-to-date now stands at 340 over the 312 for the first two months of 2009. Gary Soderstrom, president of the Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Tulsa, attributed much of the increase to the home buyer tax credit. To read the entire article (click here.)

CLOCKS FORWARD THIS SUNDAY

Well, it's only Wednesday, but let's remind one and all: Clocks "spring" forward early Sunday morning. And as fire officials would remind you, it's an excellant opportunity to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. While there will be more daylight in the evening, beware of the kids waiting for buses in the dark morning hours for the next few weeks.