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No Sour Grapes Here

2008-10-12T21:17:00-06:00

The results for this year's Parade of Homes awards are out. I'm not sure that a $300,000 home, let alone a $200,000 home, should ever be pitted against a $400,000 home and be expected to compete toe-kick to toe-kick.

Moving Right Along…

2008-10-06T19:58:01-06:00

The outcome is often interesting, never as expected, and rarely easy when you allow yourself to be influenced for the right reasons by the right people with the right motives.

The past 30 days have left little time for my MLR efforts thanks to being vulnerable to that influence, which resulted in interesting opportunities that called for quick action, leading to a move to a new place, all during the most hectic time of the year for a builder, let alone at a time when the sky seems to be hanging by a thread.

Back in action soon...

Showtime

2008-09-13T09:39:00-06:00

The 2008 COHBA Parade Of Homes is a go today, and runs through Sept. 21, with over 160 homes open daily from 1-7pm throughout the entire Oklahoma City Metro.

Parade magazines are available at all metro area Lowe's locations, and you'll want to make time to stop by our two feature homes. The South Feature Home was built by Josh Simmons of Gemini Builders, and the North Feature Home by Tim Egan of Suburban Homes. My entry from Jeff Click Homes is one of the few modern styled homes in the Parade (a complete photo tour, as well as a VR tour is available at my company site.)

I'll be appearing on KTOK 1000 this morning at 8 with Becky Ivins to share more. President Jim McWhirter appeared yesterday on News 9.

Schuff On The Parade

2008-09-11T16:05:00-06:00

Parade Of Homes Chairman, Jason Schuff, in today's Q&A in the Business section of The Oklahoman:

At this point in the process, builders are putting their final touches on the homes, anything from paint touchups to landscaping. The homes are expected to be complete and ready to show.

Unfortunately, we always have those builders who don't finish on-time, which is the number one source of negative feedback we get from the public every year. It doesn't help the stereotype of builders, either. With the exception of last year, when we delayed the Parade by a month due to the extensive rain we had when most Parade homes were mid-construction, there is simply very little excuse not to have a Parade entry complete.

When I was Parade Chairman for 2 years, I often made this point in reporting on the Parade of Homes to members:

"The Parade of Homes is not all that unlike Christmas. It comes at the same time every year. Be ready, and put on a good show.

Parade magazines will be available at all metro area Lowe's locations beginning Friday after noon. You can also access all Parade entries online at www.ParadeOfHomesOK.com.

All Points Jim

2008-09-10T10:37:00-06:00

Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association President, Jim McWhirter fires on all cylinders (except perhaps the one that is usually loaded with a great slapstick one-liner) in his interview with Linda Cavanaugh on Tuesday's NewsChannel4 newscast at 4:30. The topic: the 2008 Parade Of Homes, which kicks off this weekend.

You'll need to jump to the 4:00 mark. And just who was he talking about with the "remote control for everything" reference?

Update: There's something creepily inappropriate about the keyframe of this video being a house on fire. My spin? This year's Parade of Homes is gonna' be HOT, baby!

iPad

2008-09-09T12:42:00-06:00

The idea is to show off the technology by not having really much to "show" at all.

The great room, where the 42" LG Plasma is served (along with the 4 other flaat-screens in the house) from components stored elsewhere in a tech closet.

Cold Showers (Due To Coolness)

2008-09-08T20:01:00-06:00

Thanks to Cristina Rubinetterie, I just became an even bigger fan of LED technology as the lighting choice of the future. With one of these (I'm talking about the shower head. I already have one of the other), I'd probably off-set any savings on electricity with a huge increase in water consumption.

Where Credit Is Due

2008-09-08T09:50:00-06:00

The Journal Record on the two main factors keeping Oklahoma's economy afloat, quoting OSU Economist Mark Snead:

What I would suggest is that at the state level, we have pulled back off of the high, in terms of volume,” he said. “But this would be a perfectly normal housing market, given the state of the economy and the income growth we’ve seen the past few years.

Mize & Many Mull Modern

2008-09-06T17:06:00-06:00

Last night, I hosted a private preview party for Jeff Click Homes' entry in the 2008 COHBA Parade of Homes, which runs Sept. 13-21. The home was featured in the Oklahoman's Saturday Real Estate Magazine this weekend, which does a superb job capturing both the technological vision behind the home and the modern visual design elements, which were depicted in 7 full-color photos.

Even Mr. Mize himself made an appearance. He and his wife, Dolores, found a comfortable spot in the outdoor living room...I'm guessing it was because of the orange cushions, as Richard is still feeling residual soreness over the Mike Means quote he ran last week.

Oklahoman Real Estate Editor, Richard Mize, with his wife, Dr. Dolores Mize (together in the middle), chatting with me (the bald one who appears to be mid-bite) and Realtor & OK Real Estate Commissioner Mike Cassidy.

We had a great turnout, which included numerous Realtors, mortgage lenders & bankers, along with friends and past and future clients of Jeff Click Homes. A few more pics from the event...

The Camera Adds 5%

2008-09-05T05:23:00-06:00

I don't know what it is about Channel 5's video, but it certainly isn't flattering of me, as demonstrated in their package aired last night on Oklahoma City home values.

My wife assures me I still look sexy, but I think it's her version of the "Of course it doesn't make you look fat, honey!" line.

I don't know that anyone can exactly "look sexy" talking about home values being up nearly 5%, but hey, Mike Means is looking good in his supposed new gig with the State Homeowners Association. (He's the Executive Vice President of the OK State Home Builders Association.)