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Showing posts with the label Oklahoma Mortgage

Where Tulsa's Growth Is Headed

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  Tulsa's Housing Growth Continues The Tulsa metro area continues to attract homebuyers, builders, and investors, and the latest housing start data shows exactly where that growth is taking shape. According to the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa, the region recorded 877 housing starts through April 2026. While growth is occurring throughout the metro, several communities are emerging as key destinations for new home construction and buyer demand. Where New Construction Is Concentrated Broken Arrow leads the region with 167 housing starts year-to-date, followed by: Tulsa: 117 Coweta: 99 Tulsa County: 97 Rogers County: 84 Bixby: 64 Jenks: 40 These numbers demonstrate a continued shift toward communities that offer more than housing alone. Buyers are increasingly looking for neighborhoods with convenient access to schools, shopping, recreation, and community amenities. What This Means for Homebuyers More housing starts create more opportunities for buye...

Parade Of Homes Tulsa 2026 Begins

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The Parade of Homes season is officially underway, and the kickoff event at the Home Builders Association was a great opportunity to reconnect with many of my favorite realtor partners, builders, and industry professionals. Events like this showcase the strong relationships that help make homeownership possible for buyers throughout our community. Why The Parade Of Homes Matters The Parade of Homes gives buyers a unique opportunity to tour a variety of new construction homes in one event. Visitors can explore different floor plans, neighborhoods, design styles, and builder offerings while gaining valuable insight into today's housing market. For many buyers, seeing homes in person helps bring their future home goals into focus. A Great Resource For Homebuyers Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving into a larger home, downsizing, or considering a custom build, the Parade of Homes offers inspiration and education. Buyers can compare features, learn about new construction...

Tulsa Still Offers Affordable Homes

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  Tulsa Makes National Headlines Again A recent national article highlighted Tulsa as one of the few cities where buyers can still find homes priced under $100,000. While these homes are often fixer-uppers or located in specific neighborhoods, the recognition reinforces something local buyers already know: Tulsa remains one of the most affordable housing markets in America. Why Tulsa Stands Out Across much of the country, entry-level housing has become increasingly difficult to find. In Tulsa, buyers still have access to affordable housing options that simply do not exist in many major metropolitan areas. Current market data shows Tulsa home values remain significantly below the national average, helping preserve affordability for first-time buyers and investors alike. Inventory has also increased in 2026, giving buyers more choices than they have had in several years. Opportunities for Buyers Affordable housing creates several opportunities: First-Time Homebuyers Many buyers who b...

Housing Crash or Market Reset?

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  Is the Housing Market Going to Crash? It's one of the most common questions buyers are asking in today's market. After years of rising home prices, higher mortgage rates, and affordability challenges, many consumers are wondering if a major housing correction is around the corner. According to most housing experts, the answer is no. Why This Market Is Different Than 2008 The comparison to the Great Recession is understandable, but today's housing market operates under very different conditions. Mortgage lending standards are much stricter than they were before the 2008 crash. Homeowners also hold record levels of equity, giving many families a financial cushion that simply did not exist during the housing crisis. In addition, inventory remains limited across much of the country. While the number of homes available for sale has improved, supply still falls short of long-term demand in many markets. Experts Expect Normalization, Not Collapse Most housing forecasts point tow...

Jenks Gains National Attention

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The City of Jenks has once again found itself in the national spotlight after being named a finalist for the National Civic League's 2026 All-America City Award. The recognition honors communities that demonstrate exceptional civic engagement, collaboration, and innovation in addressing local challenges. For homeowners, buyers, and real estate professionals throughout the Tulsa metro, this recognition highlights many of the reasons Jenks continues to be one of the area's most desirable communities. A Community Shaping Its Own Future One of the key projects highlighted during the award process was the planning effort surrounding Jenks Ranch, more than 400 acres of undeveloped land that represents one of the city's most significant development decisions in decades. Rather than making decisions behind closed doors, city leaders invited extensive public participation through surveys, workshops, and open forums. Thousands of residents contributed feedback, with many expressing s...

New REI Limits Released

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  For many Oklahoma homebuyers, the biggest challenge is not qualifying for a mortgage, it's coming up with the cash needed for a down payment and closing costs. That's where the REI Home100 Program can make a significant difference. What Is REI Home100? REI Oklahoma is a nonprofit organization that offers down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible homebuyers throughout Oklahoma. The Home100 program works alongside FHA, VA, USDA, and HUD 184 mortgage programs and is designed to help buyers reduce upfront costs associated with purchasing a home. One of the most attractive features is that borrowers do not have to be first-time homebuyers to participate. New Income Limits Open More Opportunities The newly released 2026-2027 income limits increase eligibility for many Oklahoma families. For example: Tulsa County: Up to $142,500 for 1-2 person households and $166,250 for households with 3 or more people Oklahoma County: Up to $145,950 for 1-2 person households and $170,27...

Bixby Could Be Tulsa’s Next Hotspot

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Bixby has quickly become one of the most popular places to live in the Tulsa metro, and recent development plans are giving homebuyers even more reasons to consider making the move. From major retail expansion to possible future infrastructure improvements, south Bixby continues building momentum as one of the fastest-growing communities in Oklahoma. Major Retail Growth Coming to South Bixby One of the biggest announcements involves the proposed Spartan Creek development near 151st and Memorial. Plans for the project include restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, entertainment, and national retailers across a large mixed-use development. Walmart has also been connected to the discussions. For many residents, this means more convenience closer to home. Instead of driving across Tulsa for shopping and dining, homeowners could soon have more options right in the community. Large developments like this also tend to attract additional investment and residential growth over time. A Poss...

More Approvals, Fewer Roadblocks

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The mortgage industry is entering a new credit scoring era. FHFA announced that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA are moving forward with newer credit score models, including VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T. VantageScore 4.0 is available immediately for approved lenders, while FICO 10T is expected to follow. Why This Matters For years, mortgage lending has relied heavily on Classic FICO. That model is still approved, but newer models create more competition and may give lenders a better way to evaluate creditworthiness. FHFA says these newer models can consider additional data, including rent payment history. That could be especially important for renters who pay consistently but have limited traditional credit depth. What Could Change Over time, this may help expand the borrower pool. Some buyers who did not score well under older models may be viewed differently under newer credit frameworks. It may also create more competition among credit score providers, which could help reduce credi...

VA Loans: What Veterans Don’t Know

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  Many Oklahoma Veterans Are Missing This Opportunity VA home loans are one of the most powerful tools available for homebuyers—but many veterans in Tulsa and across Oklahoma don’t fully understand how they work or if they qualify. A recent survey revealed a major gap in awareness: Over 50% of veterans have at least one misconception about VA loans 30% aren’t even sure if they’re eligible Many still believe VA loans require a down payment or private mortgage insurance (PMI)—which they don’t This lack of clarity is causing many qualified buyers to miss out on homeownership opportunities. What Makes VA Loans So Powerful? VA loans were designed to help military members, veterans, and eligible spouses purchase homes with more favorable terms than traditional financing. Here’s what sets them apart: 100% Financing – No down payment required No PMI – Lower monthly payments compared to conventional loans Competitive Interest Rates – Often better than traditional loa...