Ken Rutherford

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Wednesday, April 08, 2009
TBJ Article

With Affordability Up, Home Buyers Return to MarketTulsa Business Staff4/8/2009 Thanks to record low mortgage rates and declining home prices, 55 million families - or half of all U.S. households - can afford today's $200,000 median-priced new home, according to figures released by the National Association of Home Builders.
"That's an increase of 17 million households from conditions just two years ago and the best housing affordability number we have seen in years," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a Tulsa home builder. "We are now seeing the first signs that buyers are returning to the marketplace."
Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau comparing home prices, mortgage rates and minimum income needed to purchase a median-priced home in February 2007 and February 2009, a typical family today can purchase a house with $20,000 less in household income and save nearly $500 per month on their principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The number of households that can afford to purchase a home today is 55.4 million, compared with 38.4 million two years ago, according to figures compiled by NAHB.
Single-family permits were up 11 percent in February, new and existing home sales also posted gains and the huge inventory backlog is being slowly whittled down. In a survey for Century 21 Real Estate last month among prospective first-time home buyers who indicated they were likely to purchase a home in the next two years, a majority - 78 percent - said that now is a good time to buy a home. Of those responding to the online poll, 68 percent said that now is a better time to buy than six months ago.
Another sign that consumers are considering jumping back into the housing market is the growing interest in the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit included in the recently enacted economic stimulus package. During February and March, 1.5 million visitors logged on to NAHB's consumer Web site, www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com, to learn more about the tax credit. Further, a new survey commissioned by Move, Inc. found that nearly 20 percent of those who plan to purchase a home this year are doing so to take advantage of the tax credit, which expires at the end of November. Article from the Tulsa Business Journal Kensellshomes@aol.com www.kensellshomes.net

Mobile Solution to your home search

Did you know that when you drive by a house that has a real estate FOR SALE sign in front of it you can get all of the details from your internet capable mobile phone. If your phone has Internet access, then enter the URL http://kensellshomes.mobi/ Once you have gained access to kensellshomes mobile site you can enter the first few numbers of the address. The home will be displayed on your mobile phone. You can view the interior pictures, price and all of the amenities. You can even map it.

Be sure and register the first time you save a home that you are interested in. The homes will be E-maled to me so that I can arrange for you to see them.

Terry and I continue to search for ways to make your home buying or selling experience less stressful and more profitable. Give is a call. KenSellsHomes.
Ken Rutherford,CRS KenSellsHomes@aol.com 918-260-9932 http://kensellshomes.mobi/ http://www.greatertulsahomesales.com/ http://www.tulsaareahomesales.com/

Monday, January 26, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

2008 YTD Numbers for Tulsa Housing Market Outperform National Averages


TULSA, OK (January 26, 2009) - In 2008, amid what most consider the worst financial crisis of our time, Tulsa home values remained stable. The local 2008 YTD average price outperformed the national market. The Tulsa MSA average price YTD showed a slight increase from $146,354 in 2007 to $147,118 in 2008. Nationally, the average price of homes sold in 2008 fell 8.6%; it should also be noted that nationally the average price of $243,100 is almost $100,000 more than the local average of $147,118. GTAR noted that as one major strength of the local market; Tulsa has always had significantly lower prices than most of the country which allows buyers to get more house for their money.
Although prices have fallen nationally, lower prices are the stability of the local market. When other markets experienced rapid price increases, we remained steady at reasonable growth rates. The number of closed transactions in December 2008 were 3 fewer than that of a year ago; nationally, sales increased 6.5%.

Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS®PR - GTAR December 2008 Stats
Page 2
The Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS® (GTAR) statistics are published monthly by GTAR based on the Northeast Oklahoma Real Estate Services (NORES) multiple listing service data. The statistics are based on residential properties in the Tulsa MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), which is defined as a standard government based area. The Tulsa MSA currently includes seven counties: Tulsa, Creek, Osage, Rogers, Pawnee, Okmulgee, and Wagoner.
The Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS® is a real estate organization whose Northeast Oklahoma members are united to provide services; to promote education, professionalism, and ethical standards in order to assist members in better serving the public and protecting the free enterprise system and private property rights. For comments on the statistics, contact NORES President, Gloria Allred at 481-8200 or GTAR President, Harriett Dunham at 825-2847.
Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS®PR - GTAR December 2008 Stats KenSellsHomes Kensellshomes@aol.com 918-260-9932

Have a little fun with this Home price comparison index. (click here) You will be glad we live in Tulsa. Tulsa is very affordable. In fact it is the 5th most affordable market in the nation. And we all know what a wonderful place Tulsa is to live in. Ken Rutherford, Kensellshomes@aol.com Kensellshomes 918-260-9932

Time To File

Oklahoma law allows the owner(s) of a residential real estate property to file for and receive a Homestead Exemption on that property if they were the owners of record on January 1 and are living in the property. In addition, the Homestead Exemption also establishes a legal record of Homestead on a residence.
If you would like to know if you currently have a Homestead Exemption on your home, or how to file for the Exemption, contact me at 918-260-9932. You have until March 15th to file for the Homestead Exemption for 2009. If you have already filed for the Homestead Exemption on your current residence, you do NOT need to file again.
The Tulsa County Assessor's Office has a website which allows taxpayers in Tulsa County to download the forms for filing the Homestead Exemption. The web address is http://www.assessor.tulsacounty.org/.
With the website, Tulsa County taxpayers no longer have to go downtown to the Tulsa County courthouse to file for the Homestead Exemption. You can simply download the application, complete and mail it to the Assessor's office. Don't forget, the deadline for filing for the Homestead Exemption for 2009 is March 15, 2009.
Call me if you purchased a home in another county and I will get you the information for your county. Ken Rutherford,CRS Kensellshomes kensellshomes@aol.com 918-260-9932