Tulsa Real Estate Podcast with The Wolek Group

Speaking to Josh of Josh's Sno Shack about his wonderful business in Tulsa. Today Jennie is in Brookside to speak with Josh of Josh's Sno Shack. They sell snow cones and serve up summer happiness! Jennie: So who are you, and what do you guys do here? Josh: I started this business in 2005, and it was meant to get me through college. However, I finished college and kept growing the business. We've sort of become the Tulsa staple for snow cones. If you like summer and snow cones, then you have to visit one of our locations in Tulsa or Stillwater. I've seen your shacks all over town. How many locations do you have now? As of just the other day, we have seven locations open, another is opening in a few days, and two more should be open for the summer. We also have a couple of snow cone trucks that drive around to events, and we do about 100 events every month during the summer. We're going all out right now. We love promoting our local business owners, and you're giving back to the community by employing young kids who are still learning and growing. What's been the greatest joy as a boss and a growing leader or our youth? “If you like summer and snow cones, then you have to visit one of our locations.” This is the 17th summer we've been open for business, and I always tell people that I don't wake up saying, “I love snow cones!” What I love most is the opportunity to invest in young folks, get to know them, hear their stories, and hopefully teach them a little about life and business. This is a first job for a lot of people, so we teach them jobs skills such as how to communicate with customers and each other, which I think are great tools for them to learn by the time they graduate from high school. Those are needed skills that they may not be learning in the classroom. What are some of your most interesting flavors that people should try? We have crowd favorites, but the most interesting flavor we have is called the Lotus, which has hibiscus in it. I enjoy that one a lot; it's a light, sort of floral taste, so it's unique. Any of the flavors on the “Only at Josh's” list are more unique than you'd find at competitors' stands. Another fun flavor is Butterbeer; if you're a Harry Potter fan, it tastes like the butterbeer drink you can get at Universal's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. Also, the Josh's Mix is our secret house special that we're known for; you can't go wrong with any of these flavors. Then starting in June, we have a flavor of the week that we launch with a special topping. We usually try to make those flavors based on something culturally relevant. Summer is your busy season, your main season. You're mostly a summer business, so as a business owner, how does that work? It's honestly pretty incredible. Sometimes in business, we get caught up in the grind of it and don't have time to truly think about things. We hit the ground running around January 15 by hiring and making sure our contracts are in order. Then we're open through about mid-October and have November to decompress everything. I use November and December to be a thinker and spend plenty of time with my family. I have an amazing life where I have time to think up ideas, explore new concepts, and see if they work or not. It's crazy right now though! We're so grateful that Josh's Sno Shack is here and a Tulsa staple. People can find one of your shacks on most of the popular corners of town. If you Google us, we're probably only a few miles from you. To learn more about Josh's Sno Shack or book them for your next event, visit their website. If you ever have any real estate questions or needs, visit The Wolek Group's website. We would love to help you!

Take a look around our historic city with the amazing Tours of Tulsa. Tulsa looks awesome on Tours of Tulsa! I'm excited to talk with Kelly and learn all about the amazing things they do down here, and I mean down here, in an underground tunnel. Recently, our team did a little tour, and we had the best time in downtown Tulsa. We wanted to talk to Kelly so that she could share what they do here. How'd you start this business? Tell us all about it. My name is Kelly Gibson, and I've been touring in town now for 15 years. I have not always had the pleasure of owning my business, but it was in 2013 that I was fortunate enough to buy the tour company. Then I hired and trained six tour guides that work for me. We're doing all types of tours on a daily basis. This city is so rich in history; we have beautiful history in Tulsa. We also have history that's not beautiful, but it's our responsibility to tell all of it because our history is who we are in Tulsa. What are some of the most popular, or your favorite, buildings or things to feature on the tours? Our most popular, most requested tour happens to be a walking historical art deco tunnel tour. A lot of people think we're just going to be walking through the bowels of downtown Tulsa, but that tour is rich with history and many stories. We love that tour, and it lasts for an hour. However, if you'd like an hour and a half or even two hours, we can walk for that long. “Our history is who we are in Tulsa.” I sure hope that so many other people can experience your tours. What's the best way that people can find out more? You can email us at kelly.gibson@toursoftulsa.com, give us a call at (918) 625-4909, and we have a website as well. All of our tours are private, so you can choose your best day and time and let us know how long you'd like to go. Typically, the way that we charge for our tours is $80 per hour, but that's not per person. That rate is good for one to 10 people on walking tours. If you have more than 10 people, we have additional guides so we can have multiple groups going at the same time. Everyone can start and end at the same time, just in smaller groups. I love it so much; I know we'll be looking to set up another tour here soon. Thanks to Kelly for sharing her stories! It's so fun to learn. Their biggest goal at the end of each tour is that people will have a brand-new appreciation of the city of Tulsa. Don't forget to book your tours, and let us know if you need anything. Just call or email us. We'd be happy to help!

Here is how Revitalize T-Town helps low-income Tulsa homeowners. Today we're talking with Jennifer Barcus-Schafer, the CEO of Revitalize T-Town. She's done a ton to help this community, and they have an upcoming event on April 28 that sounds like a ton of fun. This organization is truly something special, so let's get right into our conversation.  Can you tell us a little bit about what you guys do here in Tulsa and how you give back to your community?  Revitalize T-Town is a local nonprofit, and our goal is to make homes safe and healthy for low-income homeowners in Tulsa. We serve those in need of roofs, energy efficiency, repairs, and anything that can make their homes a healthier place to live long term. We want people to age in place and raise their families in our community.  We know you do so much good for our families here in Tulsa, so what is the greatest need you see? Where do people need the most help?  I would say roofs since they're the biggest expense for a home. If you've never had to replace a roof, you don't know how much of a financial burden it is. At that point, you're hoping for a hail storm so that insurance covers the costs! Without a solid roof, everything else in the home is jeopardized, and with our severe weather, it's especially important.  As an organization, I know you guys work hard to garner donations and help, so is that the best way people can support you? How many families do you help, and how much does that cost?  “Our goal is simply to keep people in their homes. ” Last year, we served 120 families in Tulsa, which equaled about 226 people. For every house we work on, the average cost is around $9,900. Some are more; some are less. It sounds crass, but our biggest need is money because that's what ultimately gets the repairs done. With inflation and supply chain issues, we can have as many willing folks as possible, but without money, we can't do much.  Our business is helping people with their homeownership, and your purpose is the same; you just go about it in a different way. What is your ultimate goal?  Our goal is simply to keep people in their homes. Just like with most people, these families' biggest assets are their houses. Many of them inherited their places, so they might not know everything that goes into maintaining their property. If we can help them get started and educate them, we can keep them in their homes and improve their neighborhoods.  So if people want to help you help our community, where can they find you and donate?  We have a website with a donate button at www.revitalizettown.org, and you can also visit our Facebook page. We have an event called Raise the Roof coming up on April 28, at The Vista at 21. There will be music, food, drinks, and a beautiful view of downtown Tulsa. Also, if you or someone you know needs help, our website is a great resource to get in contact with us.  We'd like to thank Jennifer for speaking with us once again. As always, if you have questions about anything real estate-related, please call or email us. We're always willing to help! 

1907 is a fun shop in Broken Arrow that has a little bit of everything. Tulsa looks so good on 1907! Located at 115 E. Fort Worth St. Broken Arrow, we're excited to be with Bree at 1907. Bree was kind enough to answer a few questions about her business for us below: What is 1907, and what makes it unique? “1907 is a celebration of Oklahoma, and our store is called that because 1907 is the year we became a state. Everything in the store is made locally, and we make a lot of it. We have a little bit of everything including super-soft shirts, tumblers, koozies, earrings, soaps, salsas, jams, and more.” It looks like there's something for everyone in all different sizes and shapes. What are some of the most popular items? “It depends on if you're an Okie or a transplant. We have Okie girl stuff, but you have to identify as one to want those items.” People can also make custom items here. Besides that, what are some special features of 1907?  “We've been here since 2013, which feels like forever ago. We started out with a little store and just made jewelry and bought everything else. I've always loved doodling, and in art school, everything I drew looked like doodles, and that's turned into a business.  One time I drew the Osage shield with a dreamcatcher in the background, and taking that to get printed was the coolest feeling; I took an idea, turned it into something, then turned it into items people can buy. I'm not selling expensive paintings—it's everyday art all people can appreciate. Then I just did another and another, and my favorite part of this business is making something people can take home. If you like a design, you can get it on a t-shirt, cuff, or coaster. I love seeing the way people light up when they see something they like.” How can people find you? “Come by the store; we have way more here than you'll see on our website because the in-person stuff is our specialty. However, our website is great, and you can also find us on our Instagram and Facebook page. We're located at 115 E. Fort Worth St. Broken Arrow, OK 74012; we're a big red barn, you can't miss it. Bigfoot is outside, so you can take a selfie!” We appreciate Bree sharing all of her passion and her very cute store with us. If you ever have any real estate questions, call or visit The Wolek Group website. We would love to help you.

Here is the latest Tulsa market report and what it means for you. Hey there! I just wanted to share with you all of the great things that are happening in the Tulsa real estate market. We want to be your local real estate economist of choice; we are here, we are knowledgeable, and we are in the market every day. Today I have a market report that's fresh off the presses from our local multiple listing service. As a team, we are always monitoring and checking this report to see what is happening in the Tulsa market. This is an amazingly detailed report, and you can find the whole document on this site. We typically like to focus on the year-over-year stats. They are going to be a snapshot of how 2021 compared to 2020. We saw huge increases in a lot of areas and huge decreases in some other areas.  Real estate is always about supply and demand. When we have a low supply of homes for sale, the demand goes up, which also means the values go up. That is definitely what we have seen here over the last year.  The top categories are the number of closed sales, pending sales, and new listings on the market. We had an increase in sales and pendings, but the active new listings are down over the whole year.  A seller can price their home for whatever they like; it just may not sell for that, so we want to see what the reality is of you getting what you priced your home for. The number that tracks that is the average percent of listing price to selling price. It is now at 99.26%, so you can see that people who priced their homes at market value got that price.  The average sales price over these last two years has continued to increase. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 15.9% increase, so while you were sitting in your property, it has appreciated almost 16% by doing nothing. Isn't that pretty cool? “There is a huge need for active properties!” The other determining factor we like to look at is how long it takes to sell a home. With low supply and high demand, you can imagine that homes not only sell for more money but in a shorter amount of time. In the past, the average was at 33 days on the market, and now it is at 23 days. That is down 27%! The months' supply of inventory, or absorption rate, is also really important to note. This compares how long a new home would take to sell with a snapshot of everything available right now. That number is at 1.63 months, so in almost two months, everything that is currently active would sell. That again tells us that there is a huge need for active properties. With that being said, we're in a crunch; we need help selling homes to our buyers! We have active buyers looking for properties, but we've scoured the market, and all of them are either sold or not on the market yet. Maybe you have a home that you're thinking about selling, or you might just be curious about your home's value. We want to be here for you when you have these questions, thoughts, or even an inkling of curiosity. That's what we're here for! Another cool thing about being in contact with us is that we have many agents working with buyers and sellers every day. I shared with you that active inventory is low, but we've already met with future sellers who are finishing up some painting or repairs and getting their homes ready for the market. We have an active pipeline of properties coming up, so if you're interested in getting a report whenever those properties hit the market, we'd be happy to send you those. Just email or message us to get on our hot properties alert list. Call or email us if you have questions, concerns, ideas, or any real estate needs. We'd love to speak with you!

The Demand Project's vitally important work of fighting human trafficking. What the Demand Project does for the Tulsa area community is just so amazing. We recently sat down with Kristin so that she could share what the organization is all about and why her work is so invaluable. The Demand Project was founded due to a story Kristin heard in 2004 of a horrible incident that was recorded and shared online for others to watch. It was so awful that Kristin felt that she had to do something about it. The organization was formed to cover the gaps in the system, help prevent sexual exploitation from happening, protect those who need it, and help victims recover when awful things do happen. The Demand Project can hold presentations just about anywhere to help people better understand the extent and nature of the problem of human trafficking. They host an Aware Workshop that works with parents and teaches them how to keep kids safe online and out on the streets. There, you can learn how to identify and fight sexual exploitation—if you see something, then having the resources and knowledge to say something can make all the difference. Kristin also recommends that anyone who is serious about learning how to combat these issues check out other, similar organizations like Shared Hope, the Polaris Project, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “Having the resources and knowledge to say something can make all the difference.” If you'd like to get involved, the Demand Project could use the extra time, money, and resources to keep up the good fight. They're always looking for house guardians for their campus, respite care, office assistance, and much more. Visit www.TheDemandProject.org to learn more about who they are, what they do, and all the ways that you can lend a hand to keep our children safe. And if you have any questions or would like to hear more about how you can become more active in the community to help keep the Tulsa area wonderful, don't hesitate to give us a call at the Wolek Group. We'd love to have a conversation with you!

Here's what Keri from SALT Yoga had to say about her fantastic business. Today we're chatting with Keri from SALT Yoga about her awesome business. We're huge fans of SALT, so we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did! What would you say to someone who hasn't started their yoga journey yet? What are some of the benefits? To just start! There are a lot of questions and mysteries around what yoga is, but my main piece of advice is don't be intimidated. The benefits are truly endless, so there's no reason too big or too small to walk through the doors of SALT Yoga.  If I had to break down the main goal of yoga, it's to reconnect with yourself. We get so caught up in our busy lives, so we want people to leave their stress behind when they come into our studio so that they can get quiet and get in touch with their bodies no matter what shape they're in.  One thing we really enjoy about SALT, besides the stretching and exercises, is the breathing. It's so important for us in this busy world to do that, especially given the last couple of years. What are some things that you love about SALT specifically that other yoga studios might not do? Since we're a hot studio, we provide a detox experience for our clients that typical studios can't provide. We want people to feel strong, clean, and open when they're done, and sweating helps us accomplish this. Also, while we have restorative meditation classes for beginners, our courses can be pretty challenging. Everyone leads busy lives, so we try to get as much as we can out of the hour you have with us. “The main goal of yoga is to reconnect with yourself. ” In our experience, all are welcome at SALT as well. It's not intimidating or scary at all!  Exactly; one of our biggest priorities at SALT is to cultivate a welcoming environment. I remember the first time I walked into a yoga studio I thought, “What is this mysterious place? Who are these people?” We know it can be intimidating, but we don't want that here.  I'd like to thank you once again for talking with us, Keri. Does SALT have anything going on that people should know about? Yes! We always have our 10 for 10 deal for new clients. If you live in Oklahoma and you've never done yoga before, you can do 10 consecutive days of unlimited classes. You can get a feel for the instructors, check out meditation, and get a feel for if yoga is right for you.  If you are interested in SALT Yoga, shoot them an email at hello@saltyogatulsa.com or visit their website at www.saltyogatulsa.com. You can also stop by 1708 Utica Square, Tulsa, OK 74114, and see what they have to offer. Finally, don't forget you can always ask us questions about real estate, local businesses, or any other topic by calling 918-706-9845. We look forward to hearing from you!

At Board & Brush, you can create the wooden masterpiece of your dreams. Tulsa looks good on you, and it looks great on Stacy with Board & Brush Creative Studio. I'm feeling the energy and excitement here, and I'm so delighted to talk to her about all the fun things about her business today! Board & Brush is a DIY paint-sip studio. They serve wine, beer, and other beverages to go along with their unique wooden art projects. Nobody has to do the same project at their workshop, unlike other sip and paint studios. Everybody gets to decide on what they want to make.  “ The possibilities are endless.” Not only is it a fantastic place for holiday and team events, they also offer public workshops as well as private events for anniversaries, birthdays, showers, and more! When you walk into the studio, you feel inspired by all the amazing pieces lining the walls.  At Board & Brush, you can customize exactly what you want to make on your board. You'll choose a design ahead of time, then start with raw wood. Then their instructors will walk you through how to sand, stain, stencil, paint, and finish the project. There are different stains, techniques, and over 80 colors to choose from; the possibilities are endless.  Even if you aren't the most artistic person, there's something for everyone here at Board & Brush. If your creation doesn't turn out how you like, they will help you fix it or fix it for you to your liking. To learn more about Board & Brush, you can head on over to their Facebook page, give them a call at (918) 615-0722, or visit their website. If you have any other questions for me or suggestions for a future video, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here's why Tulsa looks great on The Succulent Shop in Broken Arrow. Tulsa looks good on you, and it also looks good on The Succulent Shop in the Rose District of downtown Broken Arrow. I can't wait to take you on a tour of this amazing shop today. I'm so excited to be joined by Andrew Meredith to talk about his amazing space and how it came to be. He has a landscaping background, but it was Andrew's wife Cassidy who actually came up with the idea after returning from her bachelorette party. You can read the full storyhere. Their vision resulted in The Succulent Shop. It's a fun, unique space where people can learn more about plants, how to care for them, and create customized treasures by building their own succulent masterpieces. Andrew is excited to be a tool for them. They teach new plant owners how to take care of their plants and bring in fantastic options for experienced plant people as well. “Whatever your preference, The Succulent Shop has it.” They're all about DIY and cultivating a family atmosphere. There is a bar, but there are no TVs. They want families to spend time together away from the screens, come in, get their hands dirty, learn, and have a good time while doing it. In my short period of time here, I can attest to how wonderful this place is. There are plants of all shapes and sizes. Whatever your preference, The Succulent Shop has it. Their greatest joy so far has been bringing something brand-new to the community and seeing people respond to it. The people of Broken Arrow and surrounding areas have been fantastic, and they're so excited to serve them. To learn more about The Succulent Shop, visit them on Facebook, Instagram, their website, or head on down to 319 S Main St. in Broken Arrow to have a drink and find your perfect plant. If you have any real estate questions for me, don't forget that I'm always here to answer them. Just reach out via phone or email today.

Teresa Brockwell of Farmers Insurance talks insurance and helping her clients. Today, we're excited to share our conversation with a fantastic local business leader: Teresa Brockwell from Farmers Insurance! She offers so much value to her clients, but her biggest strength is maintaining strong relationships. She'll share what she does, how she helps her clients, and much more. So we think you'll really love this conversation if you're interested in how insurance works.  Teresa has been an insurance agent for over 23 years and she is a valued partner of the Wolek Group. According to her, one of the biggest trends in the industry right now is the amount of options people have with their policies. Back when she started, you only had one or two options, and if you didn't like something, that was it. Now, there are upwards of 10 policies to choose from. This is great for consumers, but it can also lead to issues. If you don't talk to a professional like Teresa, you could rush into a policy with some unforeseen gaps.  If you rushed into a policy, or if you haven't reviewed your coverage in a while, Teresa's team will do an audit of your insurance policies free of charge. Of course, if you want a quote, she'll give you one, and her rates are pretty great right now. There's a good chance she can save you money, so we encourage you to reach out and see what she can do for you. You can listen to our full conversation in the video above, or skip to each topic using the timestamps provided below: 0:00 — Introducing Teresa 0:53 — Teresa's background and experience 1:59 — What are the biggest insurance trends right now? 3:27 — Why Farmers Insurance focuses on building relationships 5:25 — Farmers will do an audit of your insurance free of charge 6:47 — How you can reach Teresa 7:45 — Wrapping up If you have any questions about today's topic, please reach out to us via phone or email. You can also reach Teresa at (918) 496-1800 or tbrockwell@farmersagents.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

I'm sharing what Balloon Therapy is and how it can make your gathering great! Tulsa looks good on you! Tulsa also looks super great on Chelsea Trinidad from Balloon Therapy. I'm excited to meet with her today and learn all about her business. She's here to share who she is, what she does, and how she got into the business of creating beautiful balloon displays. Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video: 0:15 — Introduction to today's topic 1:15 — How Chelsea got involved with Balloon Therapy 2:40 — The clientele Balloon Therapy works with and the main projects they work on 3:15 — The unique projects with which Balloon Therapy has made a name for themselves 4:10 — Why do they use regular oxygen instead of helium? 5:40 — Showcasing the Balloon Therapy studio 7:05 — How to learn more and get in touch with Balloon Therapy 7:30 — Wrapping up Feel free to get in touch with Balloon Therapy if you need a classy, fun balloon display or have questions for them. If you ever have any questions or real estate needs, please call us or visit our website. We would love to help you.

Pastor Tim talks about the amazing work they do at the Tulsa Dream Center. Tulsa looks good on you, and Tulsa also looks so good on Pastor Tim. I am so excited to speak with him today. He just gave us an amazing tour of his facility and talked about all of the great stuff he does for our community, so I wanted him to share with everyone who he is and what he does here: “It's so great to be here and be a part of this. I'm Pastor Tim, and I'm the executive director of the Tulsa Dream Center. The Tulsa Dream Center is really simple; we're about giving hope and changing lives. We do it through five things: food, clothing, medical, education and recreation, and character development. We're right out here on 46th and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and our goal is to be able to serve our community all over the city, not just North Tulsa but all of Tulsa. I'd love to invite you to come out and be a part of it. We have Super Saturday every second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. We rally at 9:15 a.m. Come out and serve our community! Whether we're going out and doing adopt-a-block where we clean up in the neighborhood, making food boxes in the back, folding clothes, or whatever task we may have at the Tulsa Dream Center, we need your help.” It's been so fun getting to know Pastor Tim and this amazing organization. We talk to a lot of local nonprofits. I love our community that loves to give back. Pastor Tim helps not just our youth but also all the people in the community. He mentioned that they serve meals, and there's basketball, other sports, and so much engagement in classrooms. I feel his energy and love; what is the stuff that fires him up and gets him pumped every day? “Our goal is to be able to serve our community all over the city, not just North Tulsa but all of Tulsa.” “The people are what gets me going, but honestly, it's what we're able to do with our young people. With our after-school programs, we serve over 400 boys and girls every single day in three locations, whether it's here at the Dream Center or in our remote locations. We're also doing something new; when I was a kid, my baseball coach was an LAPD police officer, and he made a great impact on my life. We've started this new program called Badges where we bring our boys and girls and the police force together in a mentorship relationship. Kind of like Big Brother Big Sister but police edition—police Dream Center edition. So it's exciting to be able to facilitate the coming together of those two communities, especially when as those kids get older, historically there has been a wedge drawn between them and the police. So if we can bring them together by creating great relationships now, when they get older, that won't be able to be severed.” “We'd love for you to come on over to 200 West 46th Street N. You can also reach out to us on our website, TulsaDreamCenter.org. We're also on social media; follow us on Instagram. We always post videos on Instagram and Facebook, and you can see all of the different things going on at the Tulsa Dream Center.” We appreciate all they're doing for our community. Let me know if you have questions about the Tulsa Dream Center or anything else related to real estate. I'd love to hear from you.

Chris Padley from Gateway Mortgage is here to talk all about mortgages. I'm so excited to be here today with my friend Chris Padley with Gateway Mortgage. I wanted to feature Chris and share all the great things he does to help our clients get to the closing table with less stress and a happier experience. Chris has been in the Tulsa mortgage business for almost 20 years, so I wanted to chat about what's going on in the mortgage world. Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video: 0:05 — Introduction to today's topic 1:00 — Chris uses his years of experience to ensure everyone knows what's going on throughout the process 2:35 — We're more likely to see an interest rate increase than a home price reduction 5:35 — The best time to take advantage of the market is when it slows down 6:20 — Interest rates vary depending on the type of loan you're getting, but they're all great 7:10 — It's always a good time to invest in real estate 7:50 — Wrapping up today's topic If you have any questions about mortgages or want to start the process, visit Chris’s website to contact him. If you have any real estate questions or needs, call or email us at The Wolek Group. We would love to be your real estate resource.

My conversation with Morgan, the owner of Modern Cottage. Today I want to bring you the inspiring story of a local entrepreneur. Morgan, the owner of Modern College on Cherry Street, has a surprising backstory, so I'm glad I have the opportunity to share it with you: “I come from a great family of business owners. My great, great grandfather opened a hardware store in Collinsville back in 1887. In those days, hardware stores had a much wider range of products and services, so he had his hands full. He was even elected mayor of Collinsville! Then the hardware store was passed down throughout the generations. Eventually, the hardware store was passed down to my grandparents. However, when Walmart came to town in the 80s, they were driven out of business. The hardware store had been open for 95 years, and my mother had grown up in it as a child. When the store closed, she never let go of the dream of owning her own business. “I always tell people that if they have an entrepreneurial dream, they can make it happen.” When my mother retired, she achieved her dream by opening a vintage store in Owasso. I worked there as a teenager, and I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a business owner. I held onto this dream long enough to open Modern Cottage in 2017 with my father as co-owner. I was inspired to open this business because I've always been interested in home goods. My mother was an interior designer when I was a child, and I always wanted input on my room. Opening Modern Cottage just seemed like a natural fit. I decided to open on Cherry Street because it's such a beautiful place. It's surrounded by a lovely community and historic buildings that add a ton of charm to the area. I always tell people that if they have an entrepreneurial dream, they can make it happen. All you have to do is put in the work and never lose hope. If you want to visit our store, you can find us on Cherry Street in the Colonial Building, 1325 E 15th St #106, Tulsa, OK 74120. You can always shop on our website as well at ShopModernCottage.com.” What a great story! I appreciated speaking with Morgan today, and I loved her beautiful store. If you have any questions about today's blog post or concerning real estate, please give me a call or shoot me an email. I am always willing to help!

Join us for our Summer Snow Cone Social on Sunday, August 1! Before We Gear Up for Back to School, Join Us for Our Summer Snow Cone Social! The Wolek Group is excited for you to come by Josh's Sno Shack at Brookside Collective Park on Sunday, August 1 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.   Reserve Your Free Snowcone!   We love our clients and we love Tulsa! To give back, we're collecting school supplies for The Pencil Box. Learn more about how this organization gives back to Tulsa Public Schools on their website. See below for full details and The Pencil Box's Wish List! We will donate $500 to The Pencil Box by way of The Wolek Group's non-profit Keys to the City, which is funded by allowing us to help so many families! Thank you for your continued support!

Here's how our current market compares to that of 2020. It's a fun time in the real estate market, both locally and around the country. Today I'll update you on what's going on specifically here in the Tulsa area and show you how it compares to last year. As you can see on the chart at 1:30 in the video above, closed listings are up 21%, pending listings are up 7%, and new listings are up 4%. The main problem, and why we're feeling like there is a shortage of inventory, is more properties are leaving the market than are coming on the market. The average sales price has gone up 22.72% in the last year, which is an advantage for sellers, who didn't even have to do anything to their homes to enjoy this increase in value. Now imagine if you had some equity in your home even before 2020—you have almost 23% more! This could be a great time for you to take advantage of the inventory shortage by selling your home. Both buyers and sellers are noticing that homes are selling faster. The average number of days a home spends on the market here in Tulsa is 24 days, which is eight days faster than at this same time last year. Additionally, the list-to-sales price ratio is currently 99%, meaning that properties are selling faster and for more money. All this feeds into the absorption rate (or month's supply of inventory), which is currently at 1.87. That means if no new homes came on the market, we'd sell all of what is currently available in almost two months. The lower the month's supply is, the more the market favors sellers, which we're definitely seeing today. “Properties are selling faster and for more money.” However, low interest rates are keeping many buyers in the market. Lower rates mean increased affordability, so it could make sense for you to buy a home right now. If that's a goal you have, we're here to help you figure out the best way to win. If you're thinking about selling your home, we created a Seller Rescue Plan that will help you work through the hassles of buying and selling a home at the same time. Whatever your goals are, we can help you take advantage of this rare opportunity. We don't know how long the market is going to remain like this, but for now, we're just helping our clients through it. If you're curious about the value of your home, we have a great free website called tulsahomevalue.com and you can get an overview of what's going on in the market! Whether you're buying or selling, if you have any questions or need advice, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to help you.

This is how our Seller Rescue Plan ensures you don’t end up houseless. You’ve heard the news (how could you miss it?): The real estate market is red-hot right now! Home values are up around 20% over last year, which could net you $50,000 more today than last year. That means now is an amazing time to sell your home and take advantage of the historic low inventory and increasing home values. There’s just one problem—where would you go? Let’s face it; it’s a hassle to deal with making a move and figuring out all the details. That’s where The Wolek Group’s Seller Rescue Plan comes in. “These scenarios may include moving twice to make more money today than you would have in the past.” We’ve created a list of the three options you have as a seller, as well as some discounts from local service providers: 1. Buy first, sell later. Finding a home is more of a challenge than selling a home in today’s market. We can get you set up on a home search to see what’s out there and so we can discuss your financing options. With a loan modification, if you can qualify for both properties and have a minimum down payment, you can purchase now without a contingency and sell after your purchase is secure. If there are no homes available that fit your criteria, we have a plan in place to help promote your wants and needs to uncover off-market properties. 2. Sell now, stay put for now. With today’s listing demand, many buyers are willing to allow sellers to rent back the property after closing or set an extended closing date, which would allow you time to find your next home. This allows you to be a non-contingent buyer and have more money in the bank from the equity of your home sale to put down. That way, you’ll be a much stronger buyer in this market. 3. Sell now, move now. Now might be the time to relocate or bunk with your friends or family in order to capitalize on the increase in equity, or you could possibly move into a short-term rental. We’re continually compiling a list of options to help with this arrangement. As you can see, these scenarios may include moving twice in order to make more money today than you would have in the past. We know that moving is hard work (especially twice), so we’ve found some available options and resources for you: T-Town Storage: Discount at local storage facilities to store your belongings. Get your first two months at half-price. Great Day Moving: Discount with a local moving company to offset some costs. Get half off your service fee of $150. ForRent.com: List of local short-term options, including some available in-office rentals. A list of utility and moving information to help expedite the process. A staging and design expert to help consult on furniture and belongings. Discounts on a home inspection and appraisal prior to listing. If you have any questions about today’s topic or the resource list provided, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to chat with you.

These are a few of my favorite things about the springtime in Tulsa. Spring has sprung in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. These refreshing and sunny days have made me begin to think about all the things I love about this season.  First of all, I love that we get to enjoy all the different seasons here (though most of us don’t particularly enjoy the tornadoes or ice storms). The other things I love about our spring season include: 1. Flowers. Spring means that plantlife is blooming, and you can see beautiful flowers in front yards, fields, and anywhere else you look in the city. There’s so much beauty here. On top of this, Woodward Park and the botanical gardens are now open to the public, and they have tons of gorgeous flowers and blooming trees to enjoy.  2. Shopping. I love to shop, especially at our outdoor malls. We have Utica Square, which is full of both local and big-brand stores that provide everything you could ever want. The Farm Shopping Center has also had some big updates and fun new things to check out. We also have Cherry Street and Brookside for all of your dining and boutique shopping needs. “These refreshing and sunny days have made me begin to think about all the things I love about this season.” 3. Eating outdoors. Many of our restaurants have wonderful outdoor dining areas; with the pandemic, many restaurants had no other choice but to expand their patio seating. Now, this means we have even more places to choose from. 4. Exercising outside. Maybe your fitness goals fell by the wayside this year, but Tulsa’s beautiful spring weather provides the perfect opportunity to get outside and start working out. If you’re looking for ideas, the riverside is a great area to walk or jog while enjoying the beautiful scenery. 5. Enjoying the front porch. I just love to sit on the front patio and watch everything the city does throughout the day. It gives me time to get outside and breathe, have a happy hour, and just smile at the beautiful weather. What do you enjoy most about our Tulsa springtime? Or are you living outside of our area and hoping to become a resident in the near future? Either way, I’d love to hear from you. And as always, I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about buying, selling, or real estate in general. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Consider selling your home to a qualified buyer in this unique market. Would you be willing to sell your home to one of our qualified buyers? You may have noticed that houses are selling extremely quickly in your area. That’s because we have record-breaking low inventory levels combined with historically low interest rates. Therefore, it’s a wonderful time to sell your property. You can capitalize on your home’s increased value over the last year, and if you’re buying a new home, you may be able to buy more house for the money. It’s a win-win. We have many motivated, qualified buyers ready to buy a house but there just aren’t any properties to choose from on the market. Whether you’ve considered selling or not, this is the time to think about the huge opportunities for you and your family in the real estate market. “We have record-breaking low inventory levels combined with historically low interest rates.” We have plenty of ways to help you find your dream home such as negotiating a rent-back or renting a house for a while while you search for the right home. We won’t leave you hanging or wondering what to do next. We want to help you. If you would like to have a confidential conversation about the value of your house and how you can take advantage of the current market, just give us a call or send an email. Reach out to us if you have any questions in the meantime. We would love to speak with you. 

Our team is relentless in many different ways. 2020 was a tough year for so many. We are blessed that we were able to safely help so many families with their real estate needs, even in a historic pandemic. Typically, our team would be together in person, celebrating our previous year’s production with each other and our Keller Williams family. Instead, we’re still mostly operating through Zoom. I still wanted to acknowledge our amazing team’s hard work and our gratitude for all of the families who trusted us with their 2020 move. As a team, we helped over 170 families last year, which was around $43 million in volume. We also were able to donate $20,000 to the Tulsa-area community, which we could not have done without your support and referrals. “Our team is relentless in many different ways.” We’re grateful for last year’s business, and you know that we are already focused on helping even more families in 2021! The real estate market is still hot. The way home values are increasing, your home may be worth more than you think. Interest rates are still low, so buyers are getting more home for their money. We work daily to help our buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. We focus on listening to all their wants and needs and strive to assist them seamlessly through the sometimes bumpy process. We are also focused on following through on our 2021 word of the year, which is Relentless. We are Relentless in: Delivering an amazing experience for our clients Learning and growing Bettering ourselves daily Connecting and communicating as a team Purposefully achieving our goals Giving back to our community Being flexible, caring, and kind to all Having fun while doing what we love Thank you for trusting us and allowing us to do what we love! If you have any questions for us or real estate needs we can assist with, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon. 

You’re invited to our upcoming workshop and to apply for a scholarship. We are QL for Young Adults instructors and we would like to invite you or your young adult to attend our upcoming Maximize Your Potential workshop: An At-Home Guide to Mega Growth While Social Distancing. This class is designed for young adults from the ages of 18 to 28 and will be presented through Zoom. You will learn how to gain clarity on what matters most to you and how to #TakeAction​ on having a big life today. After taking this class, young adults in the Tulsa area will be qualified to apply for a $500 scholarship from Keys to the City, which can be used toward any educational training, books, or supplies. If you have any questions about the workshop, the scholarship opportunity, or anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email today. We would love to hear from you. Register Here!

Check out our Certified Pre-Owned Home program for sellers. Have you heard about our Certified Pre-Owned Home program? Just like how cars can be sold as a certified pre-owned car, we can do the same for our home-selling clients. We know that deals can fall through due to certain factors that give buyers pause. That’s why, under our program, we’ll help you get a pre-inspection and pre-appraisal done to make sure your home is priced correctly in our current market and in the proper condition to sell for the most money possible. We’ll also provide a home warranty to your buyers so they can be confident your listing is ready to go and will be protected even beyond closing. If you’d like to learn more about our Certified Pre-Owned Home program and how we at The Wolek Group ensure our sellers end up with more money in their pockets at closing, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be so happy to share this program with you.

Let's look back at the 2020 market and ahead to what you can expect in 2021. Happy New Year! As we begin 2021, I want to congratulate you on making it through 2020. I also want to make sure you’re aware of what’s going on in the local market, so I’m sharing the most recent data with you today. This data is from November, and the report itself was produced on December 11. It doesn’t cover the full year, but it does give us a great idea of what happened in 2020 as a whole. Although COVID made things crazy for everyone, low interest rates drove demand and we were able to help 172 families as a result. One interesting thing to note is that although sales were down just a fraction, inventory was down by a lot more. We operate based on supply and demand, and this year, the supply was very low, and demand was very high. This clearly puts us in a seller’s market, but the low interest rates gave homebuyers more buying power than they would have had otherwise. It was a rare win-win type year for buyers and sellers alike. “Our team was able to operate and stay connected via Zoom and other technology.” Our low inventory drove more than just demand. The average listing price was pushed up this year, which made the average sale price go up by 20%! By not doing anything, homeowners who waited to sell from a year ago are going to put tens of thousands more into their pockets. That’s some great motivation if you’ve been on the fence about selling your home this year. Buyers are frustrated with a lack of options, and there might be multiple buyers out there just waiting for a home like yours to hit the market. With just 2.85 months of inventory, things have tilted even more in favor of sellers. As for the Wolek Group as a whole, we doubled our team from five to 10 members. We mostly operated and stayed connected via Zoom and other technology, and we were blessed to be able to help so many families through a time of transition and great stress. Additionally, our team’s list-to-sale price average was 99% with an average days on market of just 33. That’s more money and a shorter time on the market for our clients than the industry average. If you have any questions about the current market or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you all for your support this year. We’d like to return the favor. 2020 is almost over, and what a wild and wonky year it has been! Our business increased this year, and we are so grateful for all the families and friends who trusted us to help them with their real estate needs. We know it wasn’t easy for everyone. “The Tulsa community has come together to help each other get through these tough times.” Now, though, we can say that we’ve been through a pandemic together. We’ve learned a lot this year; perhaps we’ve spent way more time at home than we thought we would, and we’ve certainly become a lot more comfortable with wearing a cloth mask over our faces! This year has hurt many people, but I’m so glad that the Tulsa community has come together to help each other get through these tough times while staying positive and productive. We at the Wolek Group have done our level best to stay true to our mission, which is to deliver an amazing client experience while giving back to our community, supporting local businesses, giving to local nonprofits, and empowering our youth and agent community through training and coaching. Since times are tough for some, we want to be a resource for you. If you’re facing challenges finding employment or staying caught up on your mortgage payments, we are always available to have a confidential conversation with you. All you have to do is reach out to us! Thank you all so much for allowing us to do what we love, and we look forward to giving some real hugs very soon.

This is how you can get signed up for our virtual seller workshop. Have you been grappling with the decision to sell your home during the pandemic? Lots of families are dealing with similar frustration, but I’m here to tell you it’s more than possible. We just created a quick, 20-minute virtual seller workshop that you can absolutely download and view right now. All you need to do is fill out this form. Inside this workshop, we cover all the recent market statistics, our listing presentation that shows how our team helps clients sell homes, and many home-selling tips, tricks, and ideas (including a virtual staging tool just for you). If you’re curious about what it takes to sell a home in today’s market, simply fill out the above form, and we’ll send you the workshop replay right away. If you have any other questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

The market stats for September are in; here’s everything you need to know! What’s been happening in our Tulsa real estate market lately? Starting at 0:23 in the video above, you can see the data table that we real estate agents are privy to every month when the latest market stats come out. As with every other update, we’ll be comparing the stats from the previous month (September 2020) to the stats from that same month last year. Closed listings are up 12.65%, while pending listings, or the homes for which a buyer and seller have reached an agreement, are up by 41%! However, the pain that all of us are feeling right now in the market can be best expressed in the number of new listings we saw in September: 2,212—only a 4% year-over-year increase. Clearly, way more homes are coming off of the market than coming onto it, and that’s squeezing the market. In turn, that squeezing of the market greatly impacts every other statistic you see. When the inventory is low, the prices go up; the average list price for the month of September rose 27% since last year, while the average sale price jumped up by 28%! That’s the highest year-over-year increase I’ve seen throughout my time in the real estate business here in Tulsa. “If you need to sell right now, you’ll sell fast, but pay attention to your hyperlocal neighborhood market.” The list price-to-sale price ratio for September 2020 was 98.70%, meaning that sellers are fetching almost 99% of the price they list their home for (Remember: You can list your home for any price, but that doesn’t mean the market will agree with it). It’s important for sellers to know that if their home is priced correctly and in good condition, they’ll be able to get near full listing price. Buyers, too, benefit from knowing this stat, as it proves our current market is not one in which they’ll be able to get a ‘good deal’ on a home; there’s simply no room for lowballing. At the moment, the average days on market is 28, meaning that a home will likely spend just under a month on the market before selling. So, if you need to sell right now, you’ll sell fast. That said, sellers still need to take into account what’s happening in their hyperlocal neighborhood markets and properly prepare their homes for sale. Lastly, let’s take a look at the months’ supply of inventory, which tells us the amount of time it would take for all the active properties on the market to sell if no other homes were to come on. Right now, our Tulsa market has a 3.15 months’ supply of inventory, meaning it would take just a little over three months to soak up everything active on the market. Anything under a five months’ supply of inventory is categorized as a seller’s market, so Tulsa sellers certainly have the upper hand today. The numbers matter, and it’s important for your real estate professional to be monitoring the numbers on a daily basis to help you smoothly navigate the market as a buyer or a seller. If you’re a buyer who’s deeply discouraged by September’s stats, know that it’s not all doom and gloom. Interest rates are still under 3%—it’s basically free money to go buy a home! If it’s time for your family to make a move and you find a home that’s priced correctly, don’t hold back just because you’ve heard we’re still in a seller’s market. If you need to sell and buy, we at The Wolek Group have tons of creative ways to help you do so with as little headache and stress as possible. We’ve helped more than 100 families make a move this year, and we’d love to help you reach your real estate goals. Reach out by phone or email if you simply have any questions or are ready to start your home-selling or home-buying journey! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Here are my five tips for buying in a fierce seller’s market like ours. It’s no secret that our market is hot right now and favors sellers. How can you compete as a buyer when homes are selling quickly for top dollar? Keep these five M’s in mind: Meet: Meet with a real estate professional to discuss your plans and truly understand the process of buying a home in today’s market. Pick an agent who isn’t just selling homes today, but who also has a proven track record of helping clients in any kind of market. For example, we at The Wolek Group have been in this industry for 20+ years combined, so we have the systems, tools, and technology in place to ensure a smooth transition for you and your family. Motivation and Mindset: Pinpoint the ‘why’ behind wanting to make a move, and understand that it may not be easy. Buying a home can be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. Be honest with yourself about having a true desire to make a move and know that it may be competitive, depending on your price point or desired location. Money/Mortgage: How are you going to purchase your home? Cash offers are actually very common in tight real estate markets, meaning that sometimes they may win in multiple-offer situations, since there will not be an appraisal or any lender delays. However, most buyers do obtain a mortgage, so you want to be sure to start that process now so you are confident in your ability to purchase and have a letter to prove it to a seller. Move safely through the process: All throughout the real estate transaction, we have implemented a step-by-step guide to assist you: 1. First we’ll meet either via Zoom, FaceTime, or in person—you pick your comfort level. 2. Then we’ll look at houses, which may be through virtual walking tours/open houses, or in person with masks and distancing. 3. We’ll help you write a contract with an electronic signature system. 4. You’ll order inspections, which you may or may not attend; inspectors will be wearing masks, and some will even record a video report for you. 5. Finally, you’ll attend closing. Title companies have created a mostly ‘contact-free’ process for attending closings and signing the paperwork for your new home. “Start your pre-approval process as soon as possible.” Make memories: Welcome HOME! Now it’s time to celebrate and move into your new home! If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you with each of the five M’s, please reach out!

Here are five tips that will help you prep your home for the market. Here are five tips to get your home market-ready so that it sells quickly and for top dollar: 1. Remember that first impressions matter. How does your front yard look when someone drives up to your home? Clean up your yard, add some landscaping, and dust off your front porch so it’s clean and inviting. 2. Work on any overdue repairs. This eliminates objections from buyers, and when they see that you’ve taken good care of your home, they’ll feel confident making a good offer for it. 3. Choose neutral paint colors. You may have a bright accent wall that you absolutely love, but all a buyer sees is something that they’ll have to paint over later. Paint your interior a nice, bright, neutral color. 4. Make sure your home passes the sniff test. If buyers walk into a home that stinks, they’ll walk right back out again. I’ve seen it happen! Your home should be clean and smell fresh. 5. Declutter and depersonalize. You’ll be moving anyway, so you might as well pack up your stuff. Our team has an amazing service we use for virtual staging, so if you’re interested in this service, let us know and we’d be happy to send you the link. If you’re ready to start the home selling process or have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

This one quick tip could win you the home of your dreams. Are you considering buying a home in this extremely hot real estate market?  Our team loves thinking outside the box to set our clients up for success. These days we’re frequently seeing multiple offers on houses, and it can be stressful for all involved. One way we have found to help our clients win the home is to write a love letter.  Writing a letter to the seller about why you want to buy their home and what features you love will help your offer stand out amongst the competition. It should be written by the buyer, not the real estate agent. When a seller is comparing a bunch of offers, your letter is something different for them to consider. “Our team loves thinking outside the box to set our clients up for success.” Let us know via phone or email if you’re interested in making a move or have any questions. We would love to share our secrets with you.

Here’s what home sellers should know before they decide to sell. Real estate is hot here in Tulsa, and homes are flying off the market. However, before you make the decision to sell, I want to ask you some questions to understand how to best help you with your real estate needs. My first question: Were you already thinking about making a move this spring or summer? The market has really heated up over the last few weeks, but since we were deemed essential here in Tulsa, we’ve been working our systems virtually to help buyers and sellers this whole time. The reason I know the market is hot is because last weekend, we had two listings go on the market, nab multiple offers, and sell for $10,000 over their list prices. This shows that demand remains very high, especially for desirable homes in desirable price ranges. The next question I’d ask: What’s your timeline? Due to new regulations, some lenders may need extra paperwork and details from borrowers before a loan is approved. The great thing about working with a team selling a lot of homes is that we’re on top of it and have plans to help you through the process. “Demand for homes remains very high in Tulsa.” We’re also watching and monitoring the real estate market every day. As a team, we keep a close eye on homes that come on the market, homes that sell, and homes that come off the market for whatever reason. This really gives us the pulse of the local Tulsa market and helps us serve our clients better and help them achieve their real estate goals. If buying or selling is something you have in mind but you’re still a little nervous about starting the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you buy or sell safely or even virtually. If you have any other questions, contact us via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

We’re taking our business to the virtual world in order to make sure you still get the best possible service as a homebuyer or seller. The health and well-being of our clients and community are very important to us. We are in this together, Tulsa! The Wolek Group is now offering several virtual features to help protect your health while also meeting your real estate needs, if now is the time to buy or sell a home. Please let us know how we may serve you! Virtual Showings Our showings are going online! We are offering virtual house tours of our active listings and premier Open Houses each week! Enjoy our house tours from the comfort of your home, on your phone, tablet, TV, or computer. Follow us on Facebook for all the details. Virtual Consultations Want to chat with one of our Realtors about buying and/or selling a home? We are offering digital consultations that will allow us to get to know you and your real estate needs via phone or video meetings. Helping you feel in control and thoroughly educated during your home purchase or sale is our priority! Contact us today to schedule a time! Preview Homes Online Our Buyer Specialists will preview the homes that you are interested in viewing and then send you a video walkthrough. Want to tour the home with us? We’ll call, text, or video conference you in to answer any questions you have. KW Consumer App Another way to explore all the current homes for sale is through our website or the KW Consumer App! To download the app, click here. To be good stewards of our community and to help keep our clients safe, we are here to help you during these challenging days. We know that you may still need to buy or sell a home, and we are here for you every step of the way!

Are you all doing well? It’s important to all of us at The Wolek Group that we connect with our friends, family, and community to make sure you’re safe and that we’re providing you with all the resources we possibly can. If you need anything at all, please reach out to us. We’ve already sent you helpful resources, but we want to be doubly sure you have everything you need.  We have a Facebook page called Tulsa Looks Good on You, which was created to share all the wonderful things Tulsa has to offer, and during this time we’re being extremely deliberate about adding helpful things to it to assist our community. We look forward to seeing you soon and giving you a real hug or handshake—for now, it’s virtual.  “With interest rates still low, there is plenty of activity.” We do want you to know we’re still doing business. People are still buying and selling homes. We’re watching the numbers every day, and believe it or not, with interest rates still low, there is plenty of activity. For those that need to buy or sell, we’re taking extra steps to be cautious during this health crisis. For example, we’re conducting tons of virtual open houses, home tours, and appointments via Zoom and FaceTime. Still seeing each other sometimes is critical during this distancing period. If you have questions or need anything, please contact us via phone or email. We look forward to seeing and talking with you soon.

We love Tulsa, we love food, and we really love new bars in town! We’re so excited to introduce you to Niki and Andrew Layson, the owners of Bar 473 here in Kendall Whittier district.  The bar’s name is an homage to the building it occupies, which was once a nationally registered historic place: Phillips 66 gas station No. 473, one of the early businesses in the first suburban development of Tulsa.  According to Andrew, the location was also unique in that it allowed for more patio space, creating a more organic social atmosphere. Beyond being nestled in a lovely neighborhood, 473 draws in patrons with well-crafted, affordable cocktails. Providing a venue for local acts—comedy, music, poetry, etc.—also means that 473 is truly a community gathering space.  Niki and Andrew were able to accent the neutral colors of the World War II-era building and create a clean, inviting space. The bar’s minimalist approach to decor ensures that the smaller inside area never feels too overcrowded.  “Beyond being nestled in a lovely neighborhood, 473 draws patrons in with well-crafted, affordable cocktails.” Right across the way from American Slayer and Cabin Boys Brewery, 473 is yet another testament to the increasing vibrancy of our Tulsa community! Though the many bars and breweries in this district cooperate more than compete, 473 aims to separate itself from the pack by having a deeper commitment to the city’s blossoming music scene.  As Andrew put it, “We need to pay more attention to those local artists that are creating real, raw music and who are trying to put themselves out there as artists.”  Follow 473 on Instagram (@four.seven.three) and Facebook (@bar473), or visit their website: www.bar473.com. If you have any questions about the wonderful ways in which Tulsa is growing, or you’re interested in buying or selling soon, give us a call. We’d love to talk with you.

Each year, our team has the privilege of helping hundreds of families make their real estate dreams come true. We know buying and selling a home can be stressful, but if you work with us, we make it easy on you. Through these incredible experiences, we create friendships and memories that last a lifetime. With that in mind, I want to share a testimonial from one of our clients that speaks to our mission in this business.  “We know buying and selling a home can be stressful, but if you work with us, we make it easy on you.” We helped the Garman family sell their old home and buy a new one. They interviewed three Realtors before reaching out to us, but once they did, they described it as “a dream come true.” At the time, they already had enough stress they could handle, so they wanted the buying and selling process to be as stress-free as possible. After staging their old home, we managed to sell it in just three days. We also staged their new home after helping them purchase it so they could settle in more comfortably.  Watch the video above in its entirety to see their full testimonial and why they’d recommend the Wolek Group to all of their friends and family.  If you ever have any real estate needs, don’t hesitate to call or email me. My team and I would love to help. 

For our latest video, we have another special guest joining us: Teresa Brockwell, The Wolek Group’s insurance agent extraordinaire! Teresa’s always been a great supporter of our business and a great help to all of our clients, and today we’ll have a quick chat about how she can help you with your insurance needs.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:  1:24—The importance of meeting with your agent and discussing your options  2:31—How Teresa and her team specialize in helping busy professionals  4:19—Why it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion on your policy  6:28—Wrapping things up  If you’d like to get in touch with Teresa and discuss your insurance options, give her a call or text her at (918) 496-1800. As always, if you have questions about any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

Today I sat down for a chat with Nate Araskog, an agent here at The Wolek Group. He’s here to share his experiences as an agent on our team. Before coming to The Wolek Group, Nate Araskog had obtained his real estate license and worked with Daniel Sprik, a Realtor and good friend of his who had encouraged him to get into the industry in the first place.  I helped him to sell a couple of his properties before, so one day Nate and I met for coffee. It was supposed to have been a short introduction, but it ended up becoming a two-and-half-hour meeting. During that conversation, Nate saw my experience and the opportunities that lay in the foundation of my team’s structure and he decided he wanted to be a part of it. For my part, the conversation over coffee had originally been about real estate in general, but toward the end, something clicked within me. I asked him, “Are you asking me all these questions to join Keller Williams or to join my team?” “It’s fun to be on the front end of change within the real estate industry at large.”  With a smile on his face, Nate responded, “I don’t know—maybe both.” With that, I recommended that he and I set up another time to get back together. We did, and the rest is history. We’ve grown so much since then, and his experience with our team and with Keller Williams has been fabulous overall. It’s fun to be on the front end of change within the real estate industry at large. By the time Nate and I met for that fateful coffee meeting, he was already a go-getter who found success as a single agent. What was he missing that helped him see the value of joining a team? For him, the biggest factor was the opportunity to learn from someone who had experience. He knew that our team would provide the ability to help people as a part of an organization, not just a single agent. He knew from the first time we met that the partnership we could create by being in business together was going to be hugely successful for all of us. If you have any questions about starting career in real estate or would like to contact us about joining The Wolek Group yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you and discuss why making the switch to Keller Williams and The Wolek Group would be a great decision for the trajectory of your career.

Deneen Natural Health offers supplemental solutions for health and wellness. Here’s what you should know about their approach. I am so excited to introduce you to Dr. Shana Deneen with Deneen Natural Health. I wanted to talk to her because she does something quite special that I think everyone should know about. At Deneen Natural Health, Shana brings a more natural approach to health, wellness, and disease prevention by practicing naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. People come in for a variety of reasons. Maybe they’re trying to get pregnant, going through side effects of cancer treatment, or simply have some back or neck pain. What makes Deneen Natural Health different is that they offer supplemental solutions to improving the health of their patients. There are a lot of natural ways to promote health through nutrition, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. “Eating legumes can help prevent heart disease.” As far as diet and nutrition go, she’s a big promoter of eating legumes like lentils, split peas, and beans. These foods are really healthy and can help prevent heart disease, promote gut health, and help with the prevention of many different kinds of cancer. For those with cancer undergoing treatments with a lot of side effects, acupuncture is a great way to mitigate those effects and improve their overall quality of life. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Shana and Deneen Natural Health, visit her websiteor give her a call at (918) 884-6005. If you have any additional questions for me about real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have a craving for wood-fired pizza, I have just the place to introduce you to on the latest episode of “Tulsa Foodie.” On the latest episode of “Tulsa Foodie,” I want to introduce you to one of my favorite restaurants: the East Village Bohemian Pizzeria. Joining me for a quick sit-down is Amy McMillin, who co-owns the restaurant with her brother.  Amy and her brother have been involved in the food industry since they were teenagers, and they share a special love of Italian food. Amy got her first taste of wood-fired pizza 15 years ago when she got the chance to visit Naples, and after she did, she decided that she had to recreate the same taste back home.  The secret to their pizza’s amazing taste, according to Amy, is their dedication to cooking everything fresh and authentic, just like they do in Italy.  “I learned the hard way that you need a reservation on most nights if you want to get a table here.” “Every morning,” she says, “we come in and light the fire in our wood-fired oven, which has no gas—we’re stacking the wood and making the fire—and we’re roasting all the fresh vegetables every day. All the meats are getting roasted. We make our dough from scratch. We import our flour from Italy. And we’re doing that fresh every single day.” In addition to the great food, they have a fun, cool vibe inside their restaurant. Their five-year anniversary at their current location in downtown Tulsa is coming up on December 19, and in those five years, they’ve built a wine room and a second kitchen which makes handmade pasta daily. They also have an amazing patio (which I’m a big fan of), where guests are known to wine and dine year-round—even when the temperature is nearly freezing.  I learned the hard way that you need a reservation on most nights if you want to get a table here, and I can’t wait to try my next Bohemian pizza.  If you’d like to know more about the East Village Bohemian Pizzeria, visit their website atwww.eastvillagebohemian.com or check out their Instagram feed @bohemianpizzatulsa. As always, if you have any questions for me or there’s anything I can help you with, give me a call or shoot me an email.