When Janet and I work with relocating buyers, we send them a questionnaire in order to help target their needs. We know that in most cases we will have only forty-eight hours with them. We also know they need to find a house in those forty-eight hours, in one of the countries largest metro areas. (That’s by geographic size not population.) Under our "additional comments" section we usually always get a question regarding tornadoes. 
Since the May 3, 1999 F5 tornado that ripped through the metro area and killed 44 people and destroyed over 10,000 homes, we understand the concern. It was horrible and the destruction horrific but I have to say, Oklahoma has one of the most advanced weather services in the country.
A famed native Oklahoma son, Will Rogers, once said, “If you don’t like the weather wait five minutes.” As a native Oklahoman myself, I would say, “Truer words t’aint never been spoke.” This year our season started early. Our first tornadoes of the year popped up on February 10th. Three tornadoes move through the metro and yes did do damage but the weather coverage was superb.
When tornadoes come to Oklahoma a well oiled machine moves into action. All three major networks move into storm tracker mode and we have some of the most awesome weather coverage in the world. This last bout with Mother Nature happened mid day and did not interrupt any of my favorite television viewing, therefore affording me the luxury of just watching and not being ticked off because they interrupted just when we were about to find out who that disembodied head belonged to on CSI. I say this to emphasize the fact that when it come to tornadoes even CSI and Law and Order aren’t safe. The local networks dump the top shows in order to insure that Oklahomans are well informed about weather conditions and life threatening events. Local newscasters with at least three kinds of storm tracking radar team up with storm chasers to create an action adventure show that some times rivals even classics like Indian Jones. Even the public can get involved by texting in info regarding the weather.
The point of my sermon today is simply this: In times of severe weather in Oklahoma, LISTEN to what the weather service is telling you and then DO what they tell you to do and in most cases you’ll be fine!
After May 3, 1999, the hide-e-hole (storm shelter) business was off the charts here and many folks have them and use them religiously. Personally, I’ll take my chances out running the storm verses hopping in a hole in the ground and risking some heavy object ( like a car, a house, a dead cow) landing on top of the EXIT door.
I guess all things are a trade off. An Oklahoman can walk down most any street at night and feel safe. In Oklahoma the people are very friendly. In Oklahoma the cost of living is great!!! You can bask in the ultimate in luxurious living (sans ocean and mountains) for around $295 a square foot. Typical square footage in our luxury home markets are between 3800 square feet to around 8000 square feet. We are only an eight to ten hour drive from snow skiing, have many beautiful lakes, and are ten to twelve hours from the Gulf of Mexico.
It isn't London, Pairs or Rome but I like to call it home base!
double digits for the holding period, and if you buy a short sale with us, then you also get equity. That equity is predicted to hold firm in 2009 which I believe will be the worst year we face in home values.
