In a local community near by own, the city proudly displayed a sign that said it was the hometown of the young lady who was the Queen of Baton Twirling in the state. All communities whether at the local or state level love the celebrities we can call our own. In Oklahoma, there’s no shortage of famous people who can hang their cowboy hats on the panhandle they call home.
Here’s a who’s who of just a few famous Oklahomans and some info about houses available in what was or still is their neck of the woods.
Miss America 1981 – Susan Powell
Susan hails from Elk City, a town of about 10,000 people that is located in Western Oklahoma about 100 miles from Oklahoma City. The town has changed names a couple of times, but Elk City stuck in the early 1900’s, named after Elk Creek that runs through the middle of the town.
Elk City didn’t experience the terrible devaluation of home values that impacted so many other parts of the country. In fact, values have gone up just a little more than 2 percent so far in 2010. For about $523 per month, there is one home currently for sale that exactly meets the average sales price of $122,000. It has 1348 square feet, three bedrooms, and two baths. In all, about 100 homes are currently for sale.
Compare mortgage rates for Oklahoma to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Oklahoma at Banks.com. Oklahoma Mortgage Rates
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa finds itself the virtual centerpiece of famous people. They include bank and train robber Jack Blake, New York Senator Patrick Moynihan, Radio Great Paul Harvey, Hee-Haw Star Roy Clark, Golfer Nancy Lopez, Football Player Tony Casillas, Country Music Superstar Garth Brooks, Musicians Elvin Bishop (“Fooled Around and Fell in Love”), Leon Russell, and David Bagsby (composer), Odd Couple Tony Randall, and actors Jeanne Tripplehorn, Anita Bryant (the orange juice lady), and William Boyd.
Tulsa must have pretty good water to put out that kind of talent! A virtual boom town, Tulsa currently has over 4,000 homes available with the average list price of about $129,000 and an average sales price of $105,000. We can’t guarantee that you or your family will be the next famous person living on Tulsa time, but a lovely brick 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home with a sunroom is now available for just $129,900.
Geronimo
One of the most famous Native Americans in the U.S. hailed from what is now Ft. Sill. The town was at the epicenter of the Indian Wars of the late 1800’s, established to keep hostile tribes from raiding border settlements in Kansas and Texas. While the frontier has all but disappeared, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe exists still and brings about $10 million to the local economy through its casino and other industries.
Housing in nearby Lawton has experienced a down-turn in value, but in the last quarter prices are on the upswing. While the median list price is just at $100,000, there are many homes available up to $200,000 that offer modern floor plans, all brick, stainless steel appliances, and other great amenities.
If the values of real estate in Oklahoma, the famous and smart who were born and raised there, and those who have helped form the history of the United States isn’t enough to entice you to living in Oklahoma, perhaps this will convince you: Brad Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Guthrie Is Both Affordable And Charming
Oklahoma is so much more than wind sweeping down the plain, rodeos, and tornadoes! It is a thriving, vibrant state with real estate options that range from stately Victorian mansions to small affordable ranch homes complete with garages and basements.
Nowhere is the diversity and beauty of Oklahoma more prevalent than in Guthrie, located in the center of the state just north of Oklahoma City. My cousin moved to Guthrie several years ago upon his retirement from the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife had the great fortune of finding their perfect home and it was a masterpiece. The Victorian home was built in 1890 and has over 3,000 square feet, lots of wood trim, hard wood floors, and it is conveniently located near city-center of the town that as a whole is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Famous because of the run for land by settlers, Guthrie was established in 1889 and quickly earned the reputation as a forward thinking, carefully planned town. Early on, amenities like city water, city electric, a transportation system, and even underground parking were put in place. Even today, the beautifully buildings that house local businesses are more like gems decorating streets rather than hubs of retail.
With this appreciation of both thoughtful planning when the city grew and its charming beauty, it is no small wonder that a scattering of art galleries and two major museums are part of the landscape. You can find a publishing museum in Guthrie, as well as the Territorial Museum, the stunning Scottish Rite Temple for the Masons, and the Frontier Drugstore Museum. Art galleries include fine arts and a great sampling of Americana.
Compare mortgage rates for Oklahoma to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Oklahoma at Banks.com. Oklahoma Mortgage Rates
If you think the perfect life of living in this prairie town with plenty of recreation, outdoor activities, festivals, and the lure of Oklahoma City is out of reach for you, think again! Another stately turn-of-the-century home is now available on the very street where my cousin lives. The real estate features four fireplaces, incredible wood floors, gorgeous windows, over 2500 square feet, four bedrooms, two baths, and warm gas heat. How much? A great buy at $169,900!
You'll love Guthrie – a true land of new beginnings for those ready to start fresh.
Nowhere is the diversity and beauty of Oklahoma more prevalent than in Guthrie, located in the center of the state just north of Oklahoma City. My cousin moved to Guthrie several years ago upon his retirement from the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife had the great fortune of finding their perfect home and it was a masterpiece. The Victorian home was built in 1890 and has over 3,000 square feet, lots of wood trim, hard wood floors, and it is conveniently located near city-center of the town that as a whole is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Famous because of the run for land by settlers, Guthrie was established in 1889 and quickly earned the reputation as a forward thinking, carefully planned town. Early on, amenities like city water, city electric, a transportation system, and even underground parking were put in place. Even today, the beautifully buildings that house local businesses are more like gems decorating streets rather than hubs of retail.
With this appreciation of both thoughtful planning when the city grew and its charming beauty, it is no small wonder that a scattering of art galleries and two major museums are part of the landscape. You can find a publishing museum in Guthrie, as well as the Territorial Museum, the stunning Scottish Rite Temple for the Masons, and the Frontier Drugstore Museum. Art galleries include fine arts and a great sampling of Americana.
Compare mortgage rates for Oklahoma to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Oklahoma at Banks.com. Oklahoma Mortgage Rates
If you think the perfect life of living in this prairie town with plenty of recreation, outdoor activities, festivals, and the lure of Oklahoma City is out of reach for you, think again! Another stately turn-of-the-century home is now available on the very street where my cousin lives. The real estate features four fireplaces, incredible wood floors, gorgeous windows, over 2500 square feet, four bedrooms, two baths, and warm gas heat. How much? A great buy at $169,900!
You'll love Guthrie – a true land of new beginnings for those ready to start fresh.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Two Faces of Michigan
Michigan is a state with a split personality. First you have the industrial, blue collar areas where you'll find the well-known cities of Detroit, Lansing, Flint, and Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo is fun to say, isn't it? But hiding up north is the other face of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula.
To live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, you must have an eye for beauty. Of course given the tranquil surroundings consisting of lakes, waterfalls, and forests, finding the beauty in this stunning area is fairly easy to do. You can start lakeside where the "U.P." offers 1,700-miles shorelines from three Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, and Huron.
Surrounding the lakes are gorgeous forests of cedar trees, but interspersed are trees that offer breathtaking foliage in the autumn including, black gum, black ash, red maple, and pin oaks. My favorite tree is plentiful in the U.P. as well, the sometimes a nuisance box elder which releases the whirly-gig helicopter seeds that children love to gather and throw into the air.
Michigan Mortgage Rates - Compare mortgage rates for Michigan to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Michigan at Banks.com.
Another favorite of kids and adults alike is a food introduced to the area by Cornish miners. If you have ever wondered what a meat pie would taste like, try munching on a pasty (pronounced pass tee). The flavorful turnover is filled with chicken, venison, pork, hamburger, and sometimes pizza. You can make a pasty at home, but none will ever be as incredible as those made in the UP.
Perhaps the biggest and best surprise is the fact that housing is incredibly affordable in the UP. You can easily find a home for under $50,000, but even some of the nicest with wood floors, tile counters, and numerous bedrooms can cost well under $150,000. For under $200,000, houses on the lake are easily obtainable with architecture ranging from stone fronts to A-frames. Real estate priced over $250,000 range from older wooden houses with a lot of lake-frontage to gorgeous new brick construction with all the modern features.
If you prefer low maintenance real estate, condominiums can be easily found in the Yooper state. They too overlook lakes, rivers, or are convenient to the tourist areas where most jobs can be found. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is truly a hidden diamond whose beauty and affordability shine.
To live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, you must have an eye for beauty. Of course given the tranquil surroundings consisting of lakes, waterfalls, and forests, finding the beauty in this stunning area is fairly easy to do. You can start lakeside where the "U.P." offers 1,700-miles shorelines from three Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, and Huron.
Surrounding the lakes are gorgeous forests of cedar trees, but interspersed are trees that offer breathtaking foliage in the autumn including, black gum, black ash, red maple, and pin oaks. My favorite tree is plentiful in the U.P. as well, the sometimes a nuisance box elder which releases the whirly-gig helicopter seeds that children love to gather and throw into the air.
Michigan Mortgage Rates - Compare mortgage rates for Michigan to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Michigan at Banks.com.
Another favorite of kids and adults alike is a food introduced to the area by Cornish miners. If you have ever wondered what a meat pie would taste like, try munching on a pasty (pronounced pass tee). The flavorful turnover is filled with chicken, venison, pork, hamburger, and sometimes pizza. You can make a pasty at home, but none will ever be as incredible as those made in the UP.
Perhaps the biggest and best surprise is the fact that housing is incredibly affordable in the UP. You can easily find a home for under $50,000, but even some of the nicest with wood floors, tile counters, and numerous bedrooms can cost well under $150,000. For under $200,000, houses on the lake are easily obtainable with architecture ranging from stone fronts to A-frames. Real estate priced over $250,000 range from older wooden houses with a lot of lake-frontage to gorgeous new brick construction with all the modern features.
If you prefer low maintenance real estate, condominiums can be easily found in the Yooper state. They too overlook lakes, rivers, or are convenient to the tourist areas where most jobs can be found. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is truly a hidden diamond whose beauty and affordability shine.
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