Keep cool this summer

Oklahoma Cottonwood trees are doing their thing.  It looks like little angels floating down from heaven in the sunlight, but they are the devil when your air conditioner's condenser gets plugged up with them.  I'm talking about the fluffy little parachutes that drop the seed down from the eastern cottonwood tree which is also known as the Populus deltoides. 

Every year, I try to wait until they have fallen to clean up our condensers so that the fluffy little buggers won't stop them back up.  A lot of the time, it's very hot when it's time to complete the preventive maintenance.  But even if you have home warranty, it will not cover a plugged condenser.  Usually they can be rinsed out of the condensing unit by a professional or someone who knows what they are doing.

Some years they are very sparse and hardly noticed.  Other years they come down like a blizzard and pile up everywhere.  Some people probably experience allergies from them.  It makes my nose itch just thinking about them.  They remind me of the little fluffy things in Avatar when I saw it in 3D.

The cottonwood is the Nebraska State tree.  Oklahoma is fortunate to have the red bud tree for their state symbol.  A lot of people don't know this, but as a small child, I was shown that you could cut a small branch of a cottonwood tree at the rigid joint and you can see a small star in the middle.  

The cottonwood typically lives for 70 to 100 years, but can live up to 400 years with the right genetics and proper environment. They can grow up to 100 feet to the top of the canopy and have a trunk as big as 5 - 6 feet wide.  The female trees produce the cottony seed.  This of course means the males are not messy.

More about life in Oklahoma by:

Dreams Do Come True

Edmond and Oklahoma City Homes for Sale

Dreams Do Come True is a very comprehensive and dynamic website designed to help those interested in Edmond andOklahoma City real estate. The website is orchestrated to the highest quality for those relocating to the Oklahoma City area from other states, as well as first time buyers and investors, and is easily navigated by going to the home page and clicking on the topic that most suits your needs. The website works well on all browser platforms, as well as mobile applications.

Included in the content you will find buying procedures, optional purchases, and selling techniques having to do with real estate. Each titled link opens a new page with content pertaining to the title. Also provided free of charge is an MLS Search page. This can be used to search Oklahoma County and the surrounding areas for all homes that are on the market. It is a live search provided by the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of Realtors which shows current prices along with photographs of homes listed through a brokerage. The contact boxes request no personal information. They exist only for your benefit to provide the information you wish us to have. We hope that you will feel comfortable communicating with us.

The Dreams Do Come True blog also contains neighborhood information assembled through our personal experiences while living in the Oklahoma City and Edmond area. Your comments are welcome.

Dreams Do Come True is waiting to make your dreams come true .

Click here to visit us now.

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Oklahoma City Shopping

Oklahoma City shopping couldn't be much better.  Depending on what area your home is located, there are many locations to pick from.  From the new Oklahoma City Outlet Shoppes on the west side of the City, to the Heritage Shopping center on the east side of OKC in Midwest City.  From Quail Springs Mall on the north side of the City to the to the shopping outlets in Moore, OK.  There are locations to shop in Edmond, Norman, and Tri-City and Newcastle.  Even as you drive on out of town the smaller towns offer some unique ideas and resources for gifts.
There are also a lot of smaller malls in Oklahoma City.  I miss the Crossroads Mall on the southeast side of town that was located at I-35 & I-240.  I have done a lot of Christmas shopping there.  The building itself was ahead of it's time, with good parking.
If you work in a merchant retail store anywhere, I hope that shoppers treat you with respect and don't take any of their tension out on you just because you were in their path.  I hope shoppers will have great success in their endeavors and that you enjoy the experience in the Oklahoma City area.
Thanks for reading,
Rick Jackson
www.DreamsDoComeTrue.US is a top of the line web site to look for Oklahoma City and Edmond homes for sale.  Many listings are available for home searchers and the MLS gateway will find all the home on the Oklahoma City MLS market.

Knowing when to sell your home

Knowing when to sell your home is the key to making a transition into another home.  Knowing what it's market value is, and knowing the bottom dollar you would like to net is the key to when you want to make your move.  Unless your a have to sell your home, you probably won't be comfortable listing for less than breaking even.  You probably would like to come out ahead on it.  You may want to lease it if your mortgage will assist you on your next home without selling it.
Leasing your home is an option sometimes as apposed to selling your home.  However, you will still have to pay taxes, maintain the property, and keep tenants happy enough to stay there.

Read more about buying and selling your home at www.DreamsDoComeTrue.Us

MLS Search

Many websites offer a MLS search.  These are great for looking for a home surfing around the cyber network.  However, you are limited to a ambiguous amount of information.  Most website searches don’t tell you how long properties have been on the market.  Some websites have expired, sold, and pending listings that show up as For Sale.

Oklahoma City has a very well put together MLS search for licensed Realtors that will allow searches to be set up in very specific ways.  These searches are programmed to eliminate listings from a clients preferences so that the client doesn’t have to wade through hundreds of homes that are not for them.

If you are looking for a home in the Oklahoma City area or anywhere else, contact a Realtor and ask them to set you a search up.  Continue to communicate with the Realtor and let them act as you Buying Agent or (Single Party Broker) until you get in your new home.

Your listing can be received in the form of a web site that allows you notification as soon as a property comes on the market.  It will also keep you current on properties as prices drop or go up.  It is very easy to call or email and ask your Realtor for more information or to see a property that interests you.  You also have the option to screen properties or add notes about a specific property as you see them.  You can categorize listings as your favorites, possibilities, or reject them.  Your Realtor can modify your search if your circumstances or wants have changed.

It makes it much easier and much more efficient than driving around and looking or trying to find a home yourself on a  conventional web site. 

A MLS search is a must if your relocating to another city and you have a limited amount of time or a long distance to drive.

We have shown many homes to clients in one day because of MLS searches are easily coordinated into showings by professional Realtors.  We have schedule many showings not had to show all of the homes because of the first homes was what our clients wanted. 

Feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about receiving a MLS search or have any questions about this simple home finding assistant.

Rick Jackson

405-826-8599

Dreams Do Come True

Keeping your home safe

Keeping your home safe can be rewarding and fun to do.  Many times the things we do on a normal day to day routine produces a safe environment.

Keeping the lawn in good shape not only gives your home more curb appeal, but lowers the chances of a fire spreading from another area to your home. Keeping bushes, leaves, and other growth away from your exterior walls helps also to prevent foundation problems and control insects that may be harmful or damaging to your home.

Keeping your garage clean and organized is another area that some of us neglect. Combustibles such as paint, gas, and cleaners should always be treated with respect.

It’s also very easy to start out with an extra extension cord in your home and branch it off to 15 different powered devices. Remember there are just 2 little wires to supply everything you have plugged into your wall per outlet. Also some breaker boxes hang weather for long periods of time. They can become filled with insects. Sometimes breakers won’t trip when they are supposed to due to corrosion. The purpose of a breaker is to stop the flow of electricity of the wires coming from it. If the wires pull more amperage than they are rated for by being overloaded or a direct short the breaker should trip.

Homes with wood burning fireplaces should have the chimney cleaned and inspected along with the insert periodically. Every winter when you first build a fire, you should make sure the chimney is clear of anything that might burn or prevent smoke and sparks from going up and out. If you have an attic fan, it should never be turned on if fireplace is going.

Water hoses that are connected to the outside of the home during winter can cause the plumbing to freeze and even burst.

Most of us know these things. They have become a way of life for some of us older home owners. Others have learned the hard way. I’m writing this to help that one person from going through a bad experience that could have been avoided.

Each season, I evaluate the primary concerns that we all hear about on the news. There are many tragic things we don’t hear about. I know several Firefighters and they want you to keep your homes safe too.

Please keep your home safe. It is your castle.

Rick Jackson

Dreams Do Come True

Confused by open houses?

Don't be confused by open houses.  They are what they are.  If your home searching, it’s very convenient to stop in and look at homes that are advertised as open.
Realtors love for you to come by and look at the home they are opening in the hope that you will buy it or tell someone else about it.
Not all homes are listed by a Realtor.  Builders have open houses and sometimes use a community sales manager to help you.  They can only assist you with the builder’s home.  If you are not interested in what they have, they can’t help you any further.
For Sale by owners can have an open house for their own home, but it the same as a sales associate for a builder in that if you are not interested in their home then they can’t help you further.   
Realtor open houses are usually attend by the Listing Realtor or one of their associates who is also a licensed Realtor.
Realtors who hold open house on their listings are all a little different.  Some have a presentation.  Some will give you the grand tour.  Some will just sit at their desk and offer to answer any questions you may have about the home.
If you find a home you want to purchase by going to an open house, you are still entitled to have your own Realtor represent you as a buying agent.  Your Realtor can give you the numbers from recent sales in the area of the home you interested in.  Your Realtor will act as an advocate on your behalf.  Your Realtor will walk you through the paper work process and help you make an offer on the house.  Buyer's agents work for you without charging you, the buyer, a fee.
If you find the home of your Dreams at an open house you should consult your Realtor.  Be sure and tell the person showing you the home that you have a Realtor so that they will know up front. 
Have some fun with it, and go house shopping.  Don’t let it be confusing.

Rick Jackson
405-826-8599
Dreams Do Come True