Ultra Modern Reservoir Hill House For Sale

[dbacks fan]

With two fried eggs sunny side up and a pile of hash browns

Sorry, I just had to........

[rdj]

According to Tulsa county land records accessed via their free property search the owner of this house owns multiple homes/lots in the neighborhood.  I'm 99% sure in August they bought a vacant home just down the street from the home they currently occupy.  It is the home I mentioned in this thread --> http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=15547.msg164917#msg164917

I have no idea what their plans are, but as a neighbor a few blocks away I'm very curious to know.

[AngieB]

According to Tulsa county land records accessed via their free property search the owner of this house owns multiple homes/lots in the neighborhood.  I'm 99% sure in August they bought a vacant home just down the street from the home they currently occupy.  It is the home I mentioned in this thread --> http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=15547.msg164917#msg164917

I have no idea what their plans are, but as a neighbor a few blocks away I'm very curious to know.

Are you talking about the owners of the home in the topic of this thread? I don't think so...they are moving off the hill...I don't believe they own any other properties up there.

How do you search the land records?

[rdj]

You can search the property records for free here --> http://www.assessor.tulsacounty.org/assessor-property-search.php

These have been online for some time, however, they were not free until recently.  They became free as a result of a lawsuit.  This has been a point of difference in the current county assessors race.  I'll let you do the investigation on which side feels which way.

I performed a search by the owners name again this evening and saw where they have purchased property just 5 lots down from their current home in August of 2010.  I'm not trying to intrude on their privacy, just curious what they have planned.  As a homeowner in the middle of a remodel less than a block away I'm keenly interested in why they are purchasing vacant homes and empty lots while having a home for sale five blocks away.

[dbacks fan]

You can search the property records for free here --> http://www.assessor.tulsacounty.org/assessor-property-search.php

These have been online for some time, however, they were not free until recently.  They became free as a result of a lawsuit.  This has been a point of difference in the current county assessors race.  I'll let you do the investigation on which side feels which way.

I performed a search by the owners name again this evening and saw where they have purchased property just 5 lots down from their current home in August of 2010.  I'm not trying to intrude on their privacy, just curious what they have planned.  As a homeowner in the middle of a remodel less than a block away I'm keenly interested in why they are purchasing vacant homes and empty lots while having a home for sale five blocks away.

Just from my expierience in Arizona, it is an investor that will build something in an area for less than the valuation, then try and leverage the property that they built since it may be way above the valuation, and use that leverage to buy more property to develop with homes smaller than the original in hopes of selling the additional homes above the investment and making money off of the purchased lots, and leveling the homes that may exist on those lots.

[Hometown]

I have heard that this house is in contract for $550,000.  It is featured in a publication about future historic homes in Tulsa.  It is located on Victoria Street on Reservoir Hill.  That street features a number of important Modern and Contemporary homes including a home built by the architect that designed Lortondale.  I should point out that there is a Ranch style home on Victoria with a large deck that has a fabulous view of downtown Tulsa that is currently listed for $150,000.   I would say the $150,000 home has tremendous investment potential given the values of the other Modern and Contemporary homes on the street.  The $550,000 home being discussed here was built by an important local attorney.  I have heard the name of the architect but it slips my mind now.  He was clearly influenced by that much immitated California builder named Eichler.  In fact it's close to being an Eichler knock off.  Anyway, recently I've run into several folks talking about flipping houses in the Reservoir Hill area.  It's five minutes north of downtown, five minutes to the Tulsa Country Club, ten minutes to Utica Square and it has larger lots that Maple Ridge.  Check out the georgeous old historic revival homes builted by Cass and Aileen Mayo.  One of those Mayo homes is currently listed for $200,000 (a bargain because of some bad remodeling).  The brick cottages in the Reservoir Hill flats are identical to Florence Park and sell for about $50,000 to $60,000.  There is a great deal of upward potential in these parts.  Reservoir Hill is the upper end of "hip" in Tulsa.

[SXSW]

The brick cottages in the Reservoir Hill flats are identical to Florence Park and sell for about $50,000 to $60,000.  There is a great deal of upward potential in these parts.  Reservoir Hill is the upper end of "hip" in Tulsa.

There are some great deals there.  The only problems are most are 1 bathroom houses and there is a crime stigma in that area even though most of the higher crime neighborhoods are further north and east. 

[Hometown]

There are some great deals there.  The only problems are most are 1 bathroom houses and there is a crime stigma in that area even though most of the higher crime neighborhoods are further north and east. 

Black on Black violence is a problem in the flats.  I would like to see a police substation located at Apache and Cincinatti near those crime magnet liquor stores.  I picture community based police with knowledge of the neighborhood.  A "cops on bikes" kind of friendlier policing approach.  We don't need any more harassment than we already have.  I saw a small police substation turn around a neighborhood in Dallas.  Anyway, Like most neighborhoods, it's the rentals that are a problem.  A neighbor and I have been kicking around the idea of buying and renovating rentals and getting owners into them and making a little money in the process.  Tulsans generally seem less demanding about the number of bathrooms but If I were renovating I would think you would want to add at least a half bath to the brick cottages.  How do the one bath homes in Florence Park fair during resale?  I live in one of the old Cass Mayo homes and if you count the bath in the basement I have two full baths and two half baths.  Mayo was looking forward.  Pretty remarkable for a home built in 1927.

[SXSW]

How do the one bath homes in Florence Park fair during resale? 

They do fine but they are also in midtown and less than a mile from TU and Utica Square...

[Hometown]

They do fine but they are also in midtown and less than a mile from TU and Utica Square...

When I drive around midtown I am reminded of the marvelous boulevard and old mansions on 15th between Utica and Lewis that have been destroyed.  I am reminded of the wonderful old big houses on Denver that ran from downtown to the river that have been largely ruined.  I am reminded of the Old Theatres, the Delman, the Will Rogers and the Brook that were destroyed.  I recall Philbrook before the unfortunate additions.  I also remember when some of the largest and finest old homes of Maple Ridge along 18th through 20th Streets were being abandoned and neglected.  And I remember when young families started buying back into those homes.  Redevelopment of Midtown has come at a heavy price and frankly Midtown isn't what it used to be.  It's not nearly as beautiful as it was in the 50s and 60s.  The northwest quadrant of the city has been overlooked much to its benefit.  Redevelopment has not ruined it.  Midtown depresses me.  Tulsa south of 51st Street is just tacky period.  My part of town excites the part of me that remembers Tulsa when she really was America's most beautiful city.  And I would be bored and embarassed if I lived in an all White neighborhood.  That's not hip, that's hick.

 

[AngieB]

Nostalgia.

"The Greek word for "return" is nostos. Algos means "suffering." So nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return."
— Milan Kundera

[Hometown]

Angie, How many people get to return to their hometown after a 30 year absence?  I got to come back to Tulsa.  When I drive around our old neighborhood on Norfolk up from Tracy Park I turn a corner and see a place where I played as a kid and my senses come alive.  I remember the smell of the air and the brightness of the light and the changing colors on the old bank tower and a city that was the center of my world.  It's a city that still frames my Liberal world view.

When I was a kid my mother wanted to show us a neighborhood she had always loved and she drove us to forbidden North Tulsa and turned up Denver Avenue to Reservoir Hill.  I remember our wide eyes as we went around and up and down the twisting roads and the historic revival beauties of "The Hill."  

How lucky I was to leave Tulsa when I was 21 and how fortunate I was to return when I was 51.  

Hey, here's a little more about the builder I mentioned – Eichler.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Eichler

One of Eichler's main architects was Claude Oakland.  Claude Oakland was also a mentor to one of the most famous artists to come out of Tulsa:  Architect Bruce Goff (Boston Avenue Methodist, Tulsa City Club, Spotlight Theatre, Bavinger House).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Goff

Anyway I also mentioned a couple of homes for sale on Reservoir Hill.  

First, here's the old Mayo built home that's currently listed.  It's at the top on one of the Hill's more desirable blocks and is a bargain at $200,000 (probably because of some bad remodeling that could be undone).  It's a Spanish Revival home with a pool.  I give it a strong buy recommendation but it will take some money to get it in shape.  On a good day, in a better economy, with the house's failings corrected, I would ask $350,000 to $400,000.  You can have it for $200,000.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2225-North-Elwood-Avenue_Tulsa_OK_74106_M71482-32277

Then there's the house listed for $150,000 just a couple of houses down from the Ultra Modern Home in contract for $550,000.  I understand the layout is problematic and needs some work but that otherwise the deck and $1M view of downtown Tulsa is its best feature.  This house screams bargain, value, bargain, value.  I say some young attorney who wants to make a mark in this town should buy this house.  With elbow grease and improvements this house is worth at least $300,000.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2225-North-Elwood-Avenue_Tulsa_OK_74106_M71482-32277

[AngieB]

Oh, I understand. Sorry if you thought my post was critical of your reminiscing. I have never left Tulsa, but I have the same feeling for things not here anymore.

[Conan71]

HT, which house up there was designed by Honn?  Overall, have you heard much about structural issues or water issues in the houses?

[Hometown]

HT, which house up there was designed by Honn?  Overall, have you heard much about structural issues or water issues in the houses?

The Donald Honn house is a house with a name, something like Lion's Crest.  It is very similar to his Lortondale houses and has what is probably the best view of downtown from The Hill with a pool between the house and the view.  Until recently it was owned by an old Gay couple that were quite well known here in town.  Victoria Street in general is a showcase for Modern and Contemporary homes with a few wonderful historic Mayo homes thrown in.  I believe some of the houses up here have had trouble with movement.  I know I have to keep after the leaks in my basement.  The waterproofing I did last summer seems to be working but I'll probably have to it redo at some point.  Of course, you have to keep after the cracks in the stucco and ice in winter is an issue up here.  Then there are the cardinals, peacocks, foxes and rabbits and lady bugs, buterflies and the near constant breeze.  I know of one young family with a bunch of boys that bought a big old Mayo home between the top and the flats and got a tremendous bargain under $100,000.  He's a banker and she does landscaping.  I would say they stand to make a $300,000 profit one of these days.  Of course with Clinton's capital gains exemption for the sale of personal residences ($500,000 for a couple) they will be able to keep every dollar and they will be sitting pretty.