Welcome to Localism

The Gateway to Edmond , Oklahoma

01-22-09

Gordon Wynn: Real Estate Agent in Oklahoma City, OK

view my blog
Office: (405) 330-2626

Mobile: (405) 203-3963

The Centennial Groves are a gateway to Edmond , Oklahoma and they are getting a financial boost from the Edmond City Council for improvement projects. The Centennial Groves welcoming site will receive just over $34,000 to plant new trees and for a good irrigation system.

The Centennial Groves project will include long-term development and quality of tree parks as well as other landscaping at 2^nd Street , 15^th Street and 33^rd Street along I-35.

A budget of $187,000 was approved and setup by the City Council for Street Scape and median maintenance which included Centennial Groves. Some of the money will pay for contracting services. Some of it will also pay for electrical costs. Some money will also be dedicated to paying for mowing the grass and tree replacements and the expenses of entrance improvements that have already been done.

The Centennial Groves project truly shows that the City of Edmond really does value its environment and is looking out for the future by making the community a better place to live now. It looks like Edmond is trying to maintain its integrity as being named one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live" in 2006 by Money Magazine.

Interesting facts about Edmond :

· Located in central Oklahoma

· The sixth biggest city in Oklahoma

· Was founded in 1832

· Became an official city in 1886

· Has three wonderful, public school districts

· Lots of attractions and recreation

· A great place to live, work and play

Edmond, Oklahoma offers all the convenience of the bigger cities, only in a small town atmosphere.

Edmond, Oklahoma Community Information

Edmond, Oklahoma Real Estate

Homes for Sale in Edmond , Oklahoma

Edmond, Oklahoma Realtor® Gordon Wynn

0 Comments

Edmond City Parks

01-15-09

Cynthia Hutcherson

view my blog
Office: (405) 359-8700

For those of you who have lived in Edmond for a while, it is no secret that Edmond has a fine park system. What I didn't know was the number of parks that are maintained by the city. And some of the parks I thought were maintained by neighborhoods are actually city maintained!

The city parks and recreation department is one of the reasons that young families flock to Edmond to establish a home for their young families. Even this senior citizen can enjoy the amenities of the city parks. There are 26 total parks maintained by the City of Edmond.

The surprise (for me) neighborhood parks maintained by the city are the following:

Kelly Park

Meadowlakes Park

Whispering Heights Park

Westborough Park

Brookhaven Park and many more.

What a simple pleasure to throw some sandwiches in a sack and walk with the kids to the park for a picnic lunch. Thank goodness the city forefathers had the foresight to plan for these small neighborhood parks.

One of my favorite Edmond city parks is Stephenson Park, located at Boulevard and 5th street. The rocket slide was a huge draw when my kids were little. And the landscape is mature and beautiful. In the spring, the crepe myrtles are breathtaking. Of course, another draw to this park is the Edmond Historical Society museum located inside the old armory. If you haven't visited, do so! It's free and interesting to learn about Edmond's early days.

Mitch Park features an amphitheater, softball fields, walking/biking trails and a disc golf course. The disc golf course is dedicated in memory of my fellow Re/Max Associates' son, Ty Cunningham. Be sure to take a look at the statue dedicated in his memory if you visit the disc golf course.

Hafer Park seems to be a haven for young families with the duck pond and fishing for the littlest Edmond citizens. In addition to the pond, there are outstanding pavilions, walking trails and the baseball complex.

Fink park is another wonderful park. Located across the street from the University of Central Oklahoma, the park features a large picnic pavillion with chargoal grills set amongst beautiful canna lilies and crepe myrtles. But when you cross the creek that divides the park, there is another park area with playground equipment, picnic pavillioins and charcoal grills. This is a perfect spot to spread out a blanket and watch the fireworks at UCO on the fourth of July!

The other BIG park in Edmond is relatively new. It is the park featuring the 'dog park' at 33rd and Rankin, Bickham-Rudkin Park. Many people don't realize that there are walking trails, a pond and a large playground behind the pavilion on 33rd street.

Here is the City of Edmond's complete listings of city maintained parks.

And click here to see a short video featuring the city parks.

Do you have a favorite park that your family enjoys?

0 Comments

The Real Estate Buyer-Seller Disconnect

01-14-09

Joe Pryor.com Realtor Oklahoma Investment Properties

view my blog
Office: (405) 216-0020

Mobile: (405) 590-2135

Sorry for the delay in my blogging lately. It seems cancer can be a full time job. I just got back from MS Anderson in Houston to have to deal with two investor offers on a new already rented home. The orginal list price was $175,000, but the builder financed this home with was his last since that company was absorbed by another, and the note was due. We lowered it for a quick sale to $149,900, paid the 87.5% lof the first month leasing fee, and had a solid year lease. This was also in East Edmond Oklahoma where the absorption rate is 2-3 months in this price range, and where the average and median price went up over $10,000 in 2008. Take that Miami, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Oklahoma may be the place to be that is stable.

I know I shouldn't be insulted by one investor offering $130K, but then he really got under my skin. He said that according to Zillow, which as most educated Realtors know is a veritable font of misinformation, that that was what the property was worth. My 20 years experience, the fact that I went through appraisal school, do electronic spreadsheets on IRR's, finished my CCIM, and have two PHD researchers who do economic and demographic studies for me didn't matter. he would rather trust a company that tries to represent values in 50 states without significant research. This guy really believed in their value. I would have understood it if he was just trying to get an outrageous deal and was using that as a weapon on his side. Fortunately we had someone else who knew that a 10 CAP in a new home, in a stable market, was a heck of a deal and wants to buy it even though we are still negotiating.

The problem is that Realtors have become a dumbed down group. From NAR, to the real estate commissions, to the Boards, and the recruiting agencies, it has just become a money machine, and the heck with a higher entry level, great service, and knowledge. I can sympathize with people who think we are just order takers. Just because I have 20 years experience also doesn't make me a good Realtor. What makes me a good Realtor is keeping up with the changes, studying how to encourage green type energy efficiency, and having a team of people who work with me to insure that we offer the best service with the most knowledge, and specialties that we have spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to perfect. When some buyer wants to believe Zillow then it is my time to fire the buyer. That's what happens to me when a seller is not happy for whatever reason. That's what I do to people who have no sense of reality. It doesn't mean that they have to accept my representations blindly, in fact I have had buyers who have given me valuable knowledge. But I know a professional buyer from someone posing as one. For those who want to collaborate with my team, we will give uncommon service to and it is not just marketing and salesmanship. We can't sell ice to eskimos. What we can do is give honest advice backed up by research, and the proper use of math.

1 Comment

Just Dancin' and Singin' in the Rain

01-13-09

Jim Lee & Janet Holt Edmond Oklahoma Luxury Home Realtors

view my blog
Office: (405) 348-7900

Mobile: (405) 550-3307
Secondary: (405) 771-5291

I’ve been on Active Rain the better part of two months now and a big chunk of that time has been the Holidays. I’ve tried to follow the advice of so many of the Rainers by posting blogs using the formats they described, installing pictures, reading other blogs and making detailed comments. It has been great fun. I feel like I’m learning more and more about what’s happening in the national real estate market, not just in Oklahoma and more specifically not just in the Edmond Oklahoma real estate market. edmond real estate, real estate, realtor, homes for sale, christmas, edmond Oklahoma

But this weekend blew my mind. I sold not one but three homes in two days directly related to my posting here on Active Rain! It doesn’t top my personal best of five in a day but in a real estate market that is purported to be down and for it to be January to boot, I think I’m killing bears. What was even more amazing is the fact one couple read a comment I made on another blog and it was that comment that got them to first look at our properties on our website and then get in touch with me.

In the short time I’ve been on Active Rain, I have already become a huge fan so I doubt there will be any stopping me now. All three of these properties belonged to one builder-Sooner Traditions. After telling the builder how all three of the sales came about, he is listing more with me today. Thank you Active Rain and thank you to all the bloggers here on AR that share so openly. Good things come in threes. Because of those three sales three other wonderful things happened this weekend.

1. The folks that bought those homes got a well built house with great amenities plus spectacular after market service during the builder warranty period.

2. The builder is happy with his three sales in two days.

3. And as for Janet and me…….well like Gene Kelly, we just threw that old umbrella away and we’re just “Dancin’ and Singin’ in the Rain!!!”

2 Comments

The Wizard of Oz is coming to Edmond North High School

01-08-09

Gordon Wynn

view my blog
Office: (405) 330-2626

Mobile: (405) 203-3963

Here's a wonderful story about a great high school in Edmond , Oklahoma .

Soon Edmond will see tornados, lions and witches flying through the air of the Edmond North High School . The dreams of fifty-two local high school students will come true when they star in the Wizard of Oz musical in March. These energetic students will dance, sing and fly in the upcoming musical.

The Wizard of Oz has been an iconic American musical fantasy since 1939. The musical was based on the 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Tickets go on sale this week in Edmond , Oklahoma as rehearsals also begin. Seats and equipment will be rented, totaling $55,000. The money used to rent the seats and equipment came through the support of the community over a two year period.

The flying effects will be supplied by ZFX in Kentucky and costumes and set design will be rented from a music theater in Wichita .

Chris Castleberry, a choreographer, will teach the students the dances and oversee all practices. He will also oversee a full orchestra that will be performing for the musical.

Students will set up and maintain all lights and sound. It's unique and will have mistakes. Remember, it's live theater. There will also be over 100 parents participating in the set up of the musical. Parents will help with ticket sales, publicity, merchandise, concessions, decorations, food, t-shirts and programs.

Performances will be held on March 5^th & 6^th at 2 p.m. and March 7^th at 8 p.m. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens and children under 3.

It looks like Edmond is not only a great place to live, but also a great place for education and fun.

Edmond, Oklahoma Community Information

Edmond Real Estate

Homes for Sale

Edmond, Oklahoma Realtor® Gordon Wynn

0 Comments