Educating people - both buyers and sellers - is extremely important in today’s real estate market.  So many people do not understand broker relationships, the real estate contract, lending option or the closing process.  We at Lakeshore Realty know the importance of helping to educate our customers and clients.  Therefore, we have started a monthly FREE educational/informational seminar for the general public on real estate related subjects.

We will begin tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 12th at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Eufaula Lakeshore Realty office (4 miles east of Eufaula on Highway 9).  Our guest speaker will be Gayla Major, Mortgage Loan Officer for Arvest Bank in McAlester.  Gayla will be talking about HUD Section 184 which is an Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program specifically for Native Americans.  With Section 184 financing you can get into a home with a low down payment and no mortgage insurance.  If you are American Indian and a member of a Federally recognized tribe, this program may be just the thing you are looking for.

During the seminar Gayla will answer questions including:  1) Why a loan program specific to Native Americans exists; 2) How Section 184 works and 3) Who is eligible for a Section 184 loan.

All interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend.  You can call the Eufaula Lakeshore Realty office for more information at:  918-452-3184

For those of you who live around Lake Eufaula and for those of you who want to come visit - join us Saturday, October 25th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park on Lakeshore Dr., Eufaula.  Eufaula Lakeshore Realty will be there and will be competing in the corporate chili cook off.  Our chef is Charlie Everett and he will be accompanied by the Chili Pepper Queens!  You won’t want to miss this See you at the cook off

Property in the neighborhood and next door can help or hinder the sale of your home.  Trying to encourage neighbors and friends to keep their yards mowed and trash picked up can be a touchy subject.  However, if you ban together and make it a positive and motivating project/experience, good results can happen.  Most neighborhoods have some sort of Home Owner’s Association with rules about yard maintenance.  Becoming involved with your local HOA and creating projects such as “yard beautiful” of the month can motivate people to keep their places a bit more attractive.  The state I live in, Oklahoma, also has a “Keep Oklahoma Beautiful” program.  A group of us have banned together to encourage local law enforcement officials to enforce the local and state litter laws.  It is amazing the change a small group of people can make when they work together.  Pride in our neighborhoods and communities should be a priority.  Educating people and increasing awareness can go a long way.  I suggest people encourage responsible behavior and work to motivate people to this end.  And, if your neighbor still does not mow his/her yard or leaves it trashy - a group of you can offer to mow it or clean it up.  You don’t know the reasons the neighbor has for not keeping his/her property neat and clean.  Perhaps they are ill, injured or overwhelmed with other priorities.  Before you react negatively - offer to lend a neighborly hand.  Working together can make a difference.