Premiere Listings
SOLD!
Halloween Fun in Tulsa OK
When you’re looking for Halloween fun in Tulsa, OK this year, you will find many fun events. Some events are food related and some are activities for the whole family. Here are some local events you can enjoy in and around Tulsa, OK.
Tulsa’s Halloween 2012 Fun:
√ Tulsa’s Oktoberfest – Urban Tulsa Weekly voted this event the “Best Festival”. Oktoberfest provides great fun for the entire family. Come celebrate and enjoy good food, refreshing drinks, live music, carnival rides, and much more. You can also savor authentic German beer that was imported from Munich or enjoy a glass of wine. Other activities include arts and crafts and Polka dancing.
Dates & Times:
October 18th 5:pm to 11:30pm
October 19th 11am to 11:30pm
October 20th 10am to 11:30pm
October 21st 12pm to 6:30pm
Location: Riverwest Festival Park – S Jackson Ave & 21st St. Tulsa, OK
√ Dracula Ballet – Scary lighting, haunting music, creepy sets and Dracula helps you enjoy a night full of hypnosis, thrills, seduction and music at the Chapman Music Hall of the Tulsa PAC.
Dates & Times:
October 29 – 30 @ 8pm
November 1 @ 3pm
Location: 110 E 2nd Street, Tulsa, OK
Price: $20 – $70
√ HallowMarine – The perfect event for trick-or-treaters, filled with carnival games and lots of pirates all over the Aquarium. There will be pirate and mermaid dive shows in the coral reef. So, come and prepared to get spooked under the sea.
Dates: October 27-31
Times: 6:30 to 9pm
Location: The Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Dr. Jenks, OK
Price: $7 for children, $10 for adults. Members get $1 off.
√ HallowZooeen – Bring your ghouls and goblins to trick-or-treat in the coolest neighborhood in Tulsa. You’ll get treats from business sponsored “Goblin Stops”, see zoo mascots, and play games as you wander through the trick-or-treat trail. This is a safe event that is un-boo-lievable for the whole family.
Dates: October 27-31
Times: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Prices: $7 per person or $6 for Zoo members
Location: Tulsa Zoo – 6421 E 36th Street N, Tulsa, OK
√ A Knight of Murder Spooky Hallowine Dinner Party – Enjoy dinner and wine while you try to find the guilty murderer. And, this is a murder at the manor that is punishable by death. Do you know who you can trust? Will you be the murderer
Date: October 31
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Price: $30 per person
Location: Summerside Vineyards & Winery, 441251 E Historic Route 66, Vinita, OK
This Tulsa OK Halloween fun information is brought to you by: Tom & Bev Herring – your real estate resource for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
It’s Bike to Work Week in Tulsa, OK
It’s bike to work week in Tulsa, OK. This week celebrates biking to work, with the Mayor and his wife kicking off the event. And, this year, there were city officials on hand to explain more about the plans for installing bike racks all around the City of Tulsa for the convenience of those who bike on a regular basis.
Mayor Bartlett, city officials and Tulsa citizens are joining in to help promote bicycling as a means of transportation and health. It will help cut down on auto exhaust emissions while promoting a very healthy lifestyle. And, this week you will see people all around town biking to show their support. Even the Mayor has been seen biking around his neighborhood with his wife. Walking and biking are excellent forms of exercise and will help bring down the high obesity rate if more people will get involved. It also enhances your overall quality of life.
Quick facts about active commuting:
* Bicycling and walking reduce cardiovascular risk by 11%
* It saves money on gas
* Helps the environment
* Can prevent obesity
If you have been participating in Tulsa’s Bike to Work Week, come out to Joe Momma’s Pizza at 112 S Elgin Ave on Friday, May 18th from 4:30 to 6:30pm. You will have opportunities to sign-up for free prizes and you can sign the Bike to Work Commuter Challenge.
Tom and Bev Herring – Your real estate resource for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
Shop Tulsa City Wide Initiative
The Shop Tulsa City Wide initiative is a nonprofit initiative that was created to educate local Tulsans on how the economic impact of spending local will only help the City of Tulsa. So, through the campaign, Tulsan’s are encouraged to spend their dollars within Tulsa. The spending of money locally will continue to improve the economy by keeping money in the city.
So, if you live in Tulsa, try to keep your spending local to help our community grow. Pushing the shop local initiative is more than a social passing movement, it is extremely important to the growth and health of the community. When you buy Tulsa, the few cents generated from sales tax goes directly to city services for fire and police protection, street maintenance, and more.
The goal of the city wide initiative is to provide all local Tulsa residents with the information needed that shows how we personally can enhance the City of Tulsa’s services. This helps Tulsa as a whole community. Supporting local businesses will directly impact your life as well as your city.
Shop local also supports the local businesses. Therefore, you can find many great deals and coupons and even gift certificates at www.shoptulsa.com. It’s never been easier to ShopTulsa first.
Tom and Bev Herring – Your real estate resource for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
The City of Tulsa Having Surplus Auction
The City of Tulsa is having its annual spring surplus auction on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 9:30am. You will find over 170 vehicles in this spring’s auction. Vehicles will range from six-wheel all terrain to police motorcycles to John Deere Gators to an assortment of cars and trucks. There will also be a few low mileage vehicles in the big auction. Last year, there was some low mileage vehicles with under 17,000 miles sold.
You can view the vehicles available on Friday, May 4, from 9am to 4pm, and again at 7:30am on Saturday before the auction begins. You can also view available vehicles online at: www.joepippinauctioneers.com. You can register for the auction at this site as well.
So, come out to the Tulsa, OK city surplus auction at 108 N Trenton Ave on May 5, at 9:30am. That is just two blocks north and one block west of the I-244 and Utica Avenue intersection.
Tom and Bev Herring – Your real estate resource for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
Tulsa, OK’s Top April Events
Since the weather will be beautiful this month, we have put together a list of Tulsa’s top events that are great for the whole family. So, get out, enjoy the spring weather and some of the top events.
DREAM EXHIBIT – April 6th come see original artwork created in watercolor, oil, digital, modeling clay and more. For the Across the Generations initiative. Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. Visit tulsahistory.org for more info. Thru 2012. Ongoing. Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria, Tulsa (Midtown), 918-712-9484, tulsahistory.org.
GRETA MEGNUSSON GROSSMAN EXHIBIT – April 6th come see Grossman’s mid-century modernist work develop from her early days of training in Sweden to the last years of creation in Los Angeles, from the 1930s to the late ‘60s in A Car and Some Shorts. Price Tower Arts Center, 510 Dewey Ave., Bartlesville. Visit pricetower. org for more info. Thru May 6 Through May 6. Price Tower Arts Center, 510 Dewey Ave., Bartlesville (North), 918-336-4949.
THE OKLAHOMA SERIES – April 6th the Native Oklahoman Andrew Polk shares his love for his home state with this exhibit of mostly abstract art. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 1-5pm and Thursday, Friday, 1-9pm. Ongoing. www.livingarts.org.
ADOPT A ZOO ANIMAL – April 7th – No, you can’t take those little monkeys in the rainforest exhibit home. How cool would that be? But you can ADOPT (Animals Depend On People Too) a zoo animal or plant and contribute to the development of their habitat. Ongoing. Packages start at $30, www.tulsazoo.org. Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, 6421 E. 36th St. N., (North), 918-669-6600.
LEGENDS AT DUSK – April 7th the Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 Keeler Dr. Park Hill, is bringing back the old days, with a tour of the famous Cherokee Ancient Village, and sharing ancient Cherokee. For more info visit cherokeeheritage.org Ongoing. Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 Keeler,, Park Hill (East), 918-456-6007, cherokeeheritage.org.
TULSA FLEA MARKET – Every Saturday the Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St., opens its doors for Tulsa vendors and guests. Visit exposquare.com for more info. Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St., Tulsa (Midtown), 918-744-1113, exposquare.com.
DOG NIGHT AT THE CANEBRAKE – Every Thursday (weather permitting). Bring your pup and a leash. Offering a specially designed pet menu. People treats also available. The Canebrake Kitchen, 33241 E. 732nd Rd. Call 485-1810 or visit thecanebrake.com for more info. Thursdays. The Canebrake Kitchen, 33241 E. 732nd Rd., Wagoner (East), 918-485-1807.
Tom and Bev Herring – Your real estate source for Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
Excellent Lake View Home for Sale – 2577 W Skyview Lane
Come to the City of Cleveland, OK and enjoy the beautiful Keystone Lake, wonderful parks, rolling hills, nature trails, unique downtown shopping, fine eateries, and excellent real estate options.
Living is Cleveland lets you experience the year-round splendor of “Oklahoma’s Friendliest City”. Cleveland is also the catfish capital of Oklahoma.
Here is one of our recent listings that will give you a taste of what Cleveland, OK has to offer.
Excellent Lake View Home for Sale – 2577 W Skyview Lane, Cleveland, OK
3 bedroom, 3.5 bath – Excellent lakeview from most rooms. Commercial kitchen, granite countertops, Italian marble baths. Four Seasons-style sun room, fireplace and convection wood stove. Hardwoods and ceramic tile flooring, decking and party deck. Pool and hot tub. On 3.5 acres. MLS #1208249
Tom & Bev – Your source for real estate in Tulsa, OK and surrounding communities.
Tax Deductions for Homeowners
Now that you’ve taken the big step toward the American dream of becoming a homeowner, you need to know what tax deductions for homeowners are out there. The good news is there are 
plenty of home related expenses you can deduct, whether you live in a single-family, town house, condo or mobile home. The bad news is, if you want to take complete advantage of your homes deductions, it can get more completed and you may need the help of a professional.
However, many homeowners believe the effort that goes into itemizing is worth the time. So, if you believe that itemizing is right for your tax situation, we have some homeowner tips for what you can deduct, things you can’t and how to get the most from your taxes.
Mortgage Interest
Mortgage interest will be your largest tax break. For most homeowners, the bulk of your monthly mortgage payment goes toward interest. So, it’s all deductible, unless your loan is more than $1million. Loans over $1million are limited on tax deductions.
If you refinanced your home or got an equity line of credit for less than $100,000, it is fully deductible. And, if you own multiple properties, your mortgage interest is also fully deductible.
Mortgage Points
If you paid points to get a better rate on your home loan, you will qualify for a tax break. You can deduct the points you paid in the year you paid them if your loan was to maintain a home or build a home. Furthermore, if you paid points to refinance your home loan, you are eligible for a tax break. This will also apply to home equity lines of credit.
Other Big Deductions
Property taxes are another big deduction you can use. In many cases, your property taxes are paid to an escrow account and paid out annually. You should see this amount in your yearly tax statement from your mortgage company. So, as long as you own your home, you can use these taxes as an annual deduction.
If you are still thinking about becoming a homeowner and like the deductions you see here, contact Tom & Bev Herring. Your dream home is only a call away.
The Best Realtors Keep It All Together
For a real estate professional, the journey of life is about the period between contract and closing, which leads them to a destination known as escrow. In this day and time escrow is a minefield of crazy mortgages, below market home values, and buyer/seller’s remorse and renegotiation. So, in times like these it’s the best Realtors® who can keep it all together for homebuyers.
Last June the National Association of Realtors® did poll that shows one is six agents said they have had a deal fall apart in escrow. And, a report on AOL Real Estate showed that 32% of buyers either canceled, or had to delay or negotiate a lower price because of the appraisal. The true test for a real estate professional is to keep the deal together to the end in escrow. Therefore, we will show some tactics that a Realtor® will use before and after the contract is signed so you will know you have the best Realtor® for the job.
Communication: A great real estate professional will keep in close contact with all parties to a transaction. This will help avoid any surprises and to keep little issues from turning in to big issues.
Contract management: Being a proactive and detail oriented contract manager is foremost in closing deals today. Tom and Bev Herring are a team of experienced Realtors® who will work with attorneys and title companies to keep transactions moving toward the finish line and make sure earnest money is collected.
Appraisal supervision: Conservative appraisals are the norm these days. Therefore, a good agent will make sure the appraiser is using valid comparisons to support the contracted selling price.
Pre-listing Inspection: Inspections aren’t just for the buyer they also for the seller. Getting an inspection before putting a home on the market will allow a seller to identify and correct issues that could void the deal in the end.
Good salesmanship is a must in today’s real estate market. However, when it comes to dealing with obstacles and reaching your real estate destination, you need to be able to depend on the ability of a great Realtor®.
Finding the Perfect Neighborhood for You in Tulsa, OK
Searching for the best place to call home in Tulsa can be made easier with the right real estate professional. After you’ve been pre-qualified for a loan, you can begin searching the Tulsa area at full speed. The area in which you live will dictate your whole way of life, like walking to a nearby park with your children, knowing the other children your kids will attend school with and being close to restaurants and shopping for convenience. These are all pluses to knowing you will appreciate your new home and neighborhood at a healthy rate.
One way to help find the perfect neighborhood is to get in the car and explore it, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. A good Realtor® will be able to tell you about the strong points and the weaknesses of specific neighborhoods you may be looking at.
Some questions to ask your Realtor® when looking for the perfect neighborhood are:
√What are the crime statistics? No one wants to live in a neighborhood when homes are broken into often. There are websites that provide you with information on such problems. Or, you can visit the local police department, which is the best way to get the most information.
√What is the school district like? Even if you don’t have school age children this will be important in the future when you want to sell your home.
√Are the schools in walking distance?
√Do you want to be close to shopping areas?
√Do you want to be in an area with public transportation?
√Do you want to be in close range of restaurants and parks?
Remember a home is not just an investment when you have a family. You’ll have to consider how many bedrooms you’ll need, if an attached garage is needed and you’ll want to consider the community first.
All of these are important things to consider when you have a family and you’re looking for the perfect neighborhood.
Tulsa’s Central Library Made a Trendsetter by Its Architecture
Tulsa’s Central Library set trends for library’s across the nation with its innovative architecture design. And now it’s up for another renovation. The library opened in downtown Tulsa as a symbol of education and literacy with a vision that would pave the way for how we use public libraries today. Charles Ward, the man who designed the Central Library in 1965 was not happy with the functionality of libraries back then. You’d have to go through a card catalog to find your book and then the librarian would have to retrieve it from a stack of books that ran from floor to ceiling. Therefore, he designed the Central Library so everyone could retrieve their own books and for use as a gathering space to inspire ideas or public discussions. Back in the 60’s it was a unique design. People were not used to walking through and taking books for themselves. However, the low stacks allowed people to browse for on their own.
Mr. Ward visited the library to retell how he conceived the idea for the unique design. Now, on the second floor you will find a two story quote wall, and a plaque with the names of the people responsible for constructing the original library can be seen next to it in bronze 
words. The plaque hides a time capsule that includes newspapers and photo’s that will be opened in the future.
Tulsan’s are now face with the job of how to improve the half century old building. They rejected a bond proposal to build a new building in a different location in 2004 and decided to stay downtown. Local Tulsa resident’s have voted to use $12 million from the reserve for a major renovation. Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle out of Minneapolis was hired to lead the renovation and construction will begin next fall with the reopening in the fall of 2013.
The future back then – The original design for the library in the mid 60s included open floor plans, low book stacks, kiosks for displays and carpeting to cut down on noise. They added a fountain in the atrium to fill a large space, which was a unique design for a library. The basement has a working space and storage room and the foundation was constructed to support two extra floors. Who knew they were actually thinking that far ahead.
People liked the children’s section with its small furniture and reading room. There was also an electronic media room created to hold collections since electronic media was just beginning to be part of the normal everyday life. Once upon a time, Tulsa’s Central Library even boasted about their 16mm films, long playing records, projectors and microfilm that was available to its visitors.
We’ve come a long way in such a short amount of time. So, we’ll see how much talk the new renovations will get.
Customize Your Search
Contact Information
Tom & Bev Herring Bev, GRI, CRS
Tom, Broker Associate, ePro
Tulsa, OK 74133
Business: (918) 712-4405
Fax: (918) 712-4333
