WELCOME TO RIO DE BELLA  In Oklahoma City, OK  Do you want to get a taste of living in style? Rio de Bella neighborhood offers just that - country living with an urban twist. This neighborhood is tucked in between Council and Rockwell off of SW 104th Street on the South side of the Oklahoma City Metro in Cleveland County. Rio de Bella offers country living with an urban twist - traditional architecture with modern amenities. It is quiet and peaceful here. Lots of walkways with common green areas for enjoyment of the residents. Traditional architecture with lots of stone elevations add a classical touch to this community. Reaching any place in OKC Metro is a breeze - a short distance to I-240 and I-40 makes makes it very convenient. Rio de Bella offers country living with an urban twist... 08/02/2013

Putnam City Home-Renovated with Big Yard for Sale in OKC Metro OverviewMapsPhotosDescription $171,900 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms3 BathroomsInterior: 2,449 sqft Location 11501 N Ann Arbor AveOklahoma City, OK 73162USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Bo Kociuba and The B&B Real Estate Team Paradigm AdvantEdge Realty(405) 812-1572Bo@WelcomeHomeOKC.comhttp://www.WelcomeHomeOKC.com       Listed by: Paradigm AdvantEdge Realty Our recent listings Putnam City Home-Renovated with Big Yard for Sale in OKC MetroNew Home in River Mesa w/Granite & FireplaceNEW HOME W/GRANITE & OFFICELakefront Luxury Estate on 30+ Acres in OKC MetroRARE FIND! CORNER 80AC in OKC Metro - COUNTYR ESTATE? Subscribe to our listing feed Ne... 07/19/2013

FHA 184 loan for American Indians There are lots of loans program out there that can be used by anyone not just American Indians but there is one renovation loan product that is just what the doctor ordered. How about 2.5% down payment Renovation like a 203k loan is okay FHA product Build a brand new home on virgin land In most respects otherwise like an FHA 203k loan regarding health and safety, and "of necesity"  Follows the FHA MPS guidelines for livability What better way to do a renovation loan than to build one from scratch all brand spankin' new? It is all about the casinos being built all over CA and large amounts of sudden income coming to a people long overdue their day in the sun. My wife is a product of the Choctaw Nation making me more interested in this program than most. ... 05/16/2013

COOL HAPPENINGS IN OKC PHOTOREALISM EXIBIT in OKC Museum of Art Our lives are a sumtotal of our experiences. Some of them are pleasant and fun and quite a few of them end up being challenging. They are always real ... But is it possible that sometimes we could be duped? Confused? That we start to question what we are seeing? I bet you are not a stranger to this feeling ... Most of us like the excitement of a little disbelief and trickery. A little magic .. Well, you are in for a treat! Hope you don't mind me calling it a visual chicanery! Find some time and visit the Photorealism Exibit in OKC Museum of Art.  What fun! At first you are convinced that what you are seeing are photographs. But ... in your mind something is not clicking. You find yourself getting closer, and closer, strain... 01/25/2013

Every home buying experience is different. Each has its own twists and turns. But there are general guidelines as to how the home buying process works. Keep these in mind before you buy a home. Deciding to Be a Homeowner Owning a home at some point in your life is a good decision. Mortgage payments help to increase the equity in your house, as opposed to rent checks. Plus, rent usually increases with inflation, while mortgage payments are generally more stable. But owning a home is also a long term decision, so there are several things you have to carefully consider in deciding whether you’re prepared to take the plunge. Costs There are lots of costs associated with buying a home. One of the first considerations to keep in mind is the physical aspects of the house you aspire to own. May... 12/04/2012

April 19th, 1995. It's one of those days that sticks in your soul forever; especially for those of us who have called Oklahoma City home for at least a couple of decades. We all remember vividly where we were and what we were doing when it happened. Most of us felt the concussion, no matter where we were in the metro. I was in the Village (9 miles away), doing some paint & preparation work on the first house I ever bought, getting it ready to move myself and my kids in. It also happened to be my daughter's first birthday. I hadn't moved anything in yet, so there was no TV or radio. I had just finished rolling a coat of paint in the kitchen and was leaning against the countertop, drinking a glass of water, and admiring my masterfully-painted (yeah right) walls when, all of a sudden, they... 04/19/2012

According to ProBasketballTalk, a Thunder employee just got fired for publishing this video:Here at ShowMeOKC, we're HUGE fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and while this video may not be the most remarkable production we've seen, we can certainly appreciate the passion these guys showed in putting it together. So, why would the one guy get fired? Was it because they found it offensive? If so, someone's overly-sensitive. I'd assume it's simply because the Thunder organization is protecting their licensing rights, but can an employee not also be a die-hard fan? If this person wasn't employed by the Thunder, and hadn't signed a contract with the organization, is there anything they could've done to him? And even if the organization has the right to fire him, was it the right move?I tell ... 04/07/2012

I have been MIA from Active rain recently and I thought this was the perfect day to come back, me being the fool not you. I have been busy fighting malware attacks on my WordPress sites, more on that in another post, and I have taken on the new duty of President-Elect of the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®, since I must be a natural volunteer. I want to put out some food for thought not based on absolute truth which is usually more ego than truth, and foster multiple conversations about conflicts I see springing up around the country. So here are a few topics with the headline being "April Foolish:. Zillow, Trulia, and IDX are the enemies of REALTORS®: The real enemy of REALTORS® are REALTORS®. Years ago we refused to give up control of our data wanting to do as my mother said not to ... 04/01/2012

Spring is here and most of us are getting ready for spring clean up. Some of us may want to do a long awaited remodeling project for our house.  Avoiding scams when hiring a contractor. Here are few tips from the National Association Remodeling Industry.    * Check references.  Look at photos of past projects to determine quality of service and products.   * Make sure the contractor has insurance.  Request a copy of the certificate or get the carrier's name and inquire directly yourself.   * Compare estimates.  Make sure they all cover the same scope of job.  Beware of the cheap estimates that fall far below the others. You may not receive the quality results that you're looking for.   Such projects require a certain level of trust as virtual strangers move in to take over a portion of ... 03/19/2012

Just the other day, I posted up a video highlighting the most expensive home in downtown Oklahoma City, but you know there are more affordable options, right?My video guy and I recently (just a few weeks ago) had a discussion about creating an amazing video showing off what it's really like to live in downtown Oklahoma City, but it looks like maybe we missed the boat (at least for now). Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc just released the incredible video you see below, highlighting some of downtown OKC's hotspots, what it's like to live here, and even interviewed residents, giving a real insight from those in the know. They did an outstanding job of really capturing the vibe, so go check it out, and share it with everyone you know who's ever thought about living in Bricktown, Midtown, the Pla... 03/08/2012

Report card time's always a little unnerving isn't it? Will I be at the top, the bottom, or somewhere around average? What grade do you think our great city would earn? Better question; would you be at all surprised to find out that Oklahoma City got an A+ and ranked first out of the Top 100 Metros? I know I'm not surprised, but somehow, some folks still seem to miss just how great we have it here. According to MetroTrends.org, Metropolitan Oklahoma City’s diverse economy – including government, universities, energy, and high-tech firms -- has held up well in the Great Recession. It didn’t fall victim to the housing boom and bust (2000 to 2007), so rents and house prices today are remarkably affordable and few homeowners are facing foreclosure. And the region scores high on lots of “top... 02/01/2012

In Oklahoma, it's generally pretty easy to tell if your home is drafty, but even if you don't feel drafts, you could still be wasting energy.Try this quick test: Close one of your outside doors on a sheet of paper. If the paper pulls out fairly easily and doesn't tear, you're likely losing energy. You can also use the old candle or lighter test. Move a lit candle around your doors and windows (be very careful not to burn yourself) and see if that flame flickers. Either test works, but that's real money leaking out between those gaps, so hurry and do something about it! if you need contractor recommendations, let us know, or if you plan to do the work yourself, here are a few how-to tips:**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, ... 01/23/2012

According to a recent USATODAY.com article, Oklahoma City is the best place for former soldiers to find civilian careers. The article states, "as the Iraq War winds down by year's end, tens of thousands of servicemembers are expected to return home, and many will seek second careers amid a sluggish economy and 9% unemployment." That said, we're proud to see Oklahoma City recognized as the top place for these honored veterans to plant their feet when returning home: Oklahoma City is the best place for military retirees to find work, according to a ranking of 379 metro areas by Military.com and USAA, a financial service provider to military personnel. 01/05/2012

More exciting news for the Oklahoma City economy, as Boeing announces that they'll be moving more well-paid employees here from Wichita Kansas, by late 2013! **Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond. 01/04/2012

It's time for this month's ShowMeOKC W3! Have you been to Oklahoma City's Myriad Botanical Gardens lately? Do you have plans for New Years Eve? Even though it's winter and the greens aren't green right now, if you answered "no" to either of the above, you've gotta check this out (go fullscreen to get the HD vibe):**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond. 12/29/2011

It may seem like a no-brainer, but when it's cold outside, your hot water heater has to work harder to heat your water. It also has to re-heat it more often, but did you know that you may be able to boost your water heater's efficiency by simply wrapping it in a thermal blanket? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding an insulating wrap to your water heater can reduce heat loss by as much as 45 percent and save as much as 10 percent on water heating costs. If you're not sure whether or not your water heater needs a wrap, give your tank the "touch test." Tanks that are warm to the touch are losing too much heat and could benefit from additional insulation. Here's the beauty; Thermal blankets are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Check out thi... 12/27/2011

It's time for this month's ShowMeOKC W3! Have you heard of Block Party OKC? Oklahoma City Educare? How about the Exchange?If you answered "no" to any of the above, you've gotta check this out (go fullscreen to get the HD vibe):**Originally posted on ShowMeOKC.com, where you’ll find out more about Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, and beyond. 12/23/2011

Wow!  What a great video by the Oklahoma City Chamber showcasing how OKC is growing!  It reminded me of all the things I love about this town; the OKC Thunder, Chesapeake Lights, Bricktown... This is worth a look! If you want to learn more about some of the awesome things happening in OKC, just give me a call at the CENTURY 21 Goodyear Green office, 405-359-7400! Talk to you soon!   12/09/2011

One month ago I was interviewed by the Boston Globe and later videotaped by them about my friend from highchool Elizabeth Warren. Elizabeth and i were on the debate team together and for three years we were state champions. The Globe was trying to investigate what she was like growing up in Oklahoma City and so that were close to her were interviewed. Regardless of your politics i will tell you that Elizabeth was the smartest one in the room, unpretentious, and unconcerned about status based on wealth or what cool clothes you wore or how hot your car was. During the interview I was taken back to the early 1960's and while talking about her i relived many lessons I had not forgotten but had ceased to be in the conscious activity of day to day real estate. here is what I learned: Investig... 12/05/2011

Charlene and I have been working on business planning for the last month. new budgets, written core values, the creation of rules that governs the culture of our business are just a few of the things we are doing to insure 2012 will be even better. At the same time I am in the holiday spirit, and as the keeper of all the old family photographs I am categorizing them to get to a digitizer for a more permanent home to distribute to family members. Sometimes looking over the times of your life especially before your 64th birthday causes a few pangs of regret, bur during my search of the attic my attitude changed because of what I found. In my search I found that I had saved boxes of old records, bank statements, and in the pre-online era, the checks them selves dating back to 1998. Knowing... 11/20/2011