An Oklahoma Thanksgiving: Things to Do with Family Over the Holidays

Thanksgiving is a time for coming together with loved ones, enjoying a delicious meal and getting started on holiday shopping.

For many, it also means hosting family for an extended weekend. Let us guide you to the best places to take out-of-towners, restaurants that are open for Thanksgiving dinner and where to go for the best deals during the Black Friday shopping rush in Oklahoma.

Places to Go Over Thanksgiving Break

• Anchored by the famous 18-foot “End of the Trail” sculpture by James Earle Fraser, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City is a must-see for its internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts.

• Known as one of the most family-friendly zoos in the country, the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden offers hours of entertainment, from the Sanctuary Asia area to the Great EscApe exhibit.

• Aptly referred to as a mini-Smithsonian, the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa is home to over 250,000 American Indian and Western objects, as well as 10,000 works of art that include 18 of Frederic Remington’s 22 bronze sculptures. Take a stroll through the museum’s 11 themed gardens to enjoy some crisp fall air.

• Home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly art in the world, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art showcases a 55-foot-tall glass tower that makes for a great photo-op with family.

• Visit Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art, a 72 room mansion-turned-museum that houses art from all around the world, including American and European masterpieces, in an Italian villa setting.

• Pay tribute to those who were killed and those who were forever changed by the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

• Journey to the Tulsa Zoo where you can roam among 84 acres of exotic animals. Must-see exhibits include the Giraffe Experience, the Chimpanzee Connection, the Penguin Exhibit and the Helmerich Sea Lion Cove.

• Take a journey through the universe at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum’s Planetarium. In addition to the 50-foot dome, you’ll also learn about Tulsa’s rich aerospace history and see locally built planes.

• Other must-see attractions across Oklahoma include the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid and the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.

Thanksgiving Eats in Oklahoma

• Thanksgiving doesn’t exactly bring to mind Italian food, but Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano is out to change that. Their Thanksgiving buffet, which runs from 10:30am to 3pm, features prime rib, turkey, ham, lasagna, potatoes and tons of sides. This special is available in their south Tulsa location only, so call and get your reservations ahead of time.

Elevate your Thanksgiving meal with gourmet, chef-prepared fare and unbeatable atmosphere at the Tellers Thanksgiving Feast. Make your reservations early to enjoy a 3-course prix-fixe meal featuring wood-fired heritage turkey with sausage-chestnut stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry mostarda. While you enjoy the food, be sure to notice the details of this renovated Great Banking Hall within the renovated National Hotel in Oklahoma City. Guests will spot former banking teller windows, hand painted murals and a soaring ceiling with domed skylight.

• For just two weeks prior to Thanksgiving, head to The Mule in Oklahoma City for the amazing Tryptophantastic. It’s a mouthful to say and to eat, as it combines all of your Thanksgiving favorites - turkey, cranberry sauce and even dressing – piled high on a sandwich.

• For a festive Thanksgiving feast that you don’t have to lift a finger to prepare, pre-order your Thanksgiving meal from Oklahoma City’s Rococo’s Restaurant & Wine Bar. Available as a family meal or in a single serving size, this traditional fest will include roasted turkey, glazed ham, and classic side dishes like green bean casserole and mac and cheese.

Black Friday Shopping in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is home to three major shopping malls: OKC Outlets, Penn Square Mall and Quail Springs Mall. Enjoy upscale retail stores coupled with reduced prices at OKC Outlets, anchored by stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nike, J Crew and Tommy Hilfiger. Head to Quail Springs for three levels of name-brand stores and a 24-screen movie theater, or Penn Square for shops like Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma, See’s Candy and Oklahoma City’s only Apple store.

In Tulsa, Black Friday shoppers can head to Woodland Hills Mall, Promenade Mall and Utica Square for great deals. Save big at Promenade Mall, conveniently located only two miles south of the Tulsa fairgrounds, or head over to Woodland Hills Mall for over one million square feet of popular stores from Banana Republic to Brighton. Utica Square offers upscale retail and exceptional restaurants all within an elegant outdoor village setting, making it the perfect location for a more relaxed shopping experience.

If you’re looking for some Oklahoma souvenirs to send home with your guests, these are a few places that can’t be beat.

• In Tulsa, Made: The Indie Emporium offers an assortment of handcrafted, Oklahoma-themed apparel, jewelry, stickers, coasters, throw pillows, mugs and glasses.

• Stock up on Oklahoma-shaped chocolates at the Bedre Chocolate Factory in Davis.

• The Ida Red Boutique in Tulsa’s Brookside District will get you outfitted with Tulsa t-shirts and postcards.

• In Stillwater, stop in for world-famous Eskimo Joe’s gear and collectible t-shirts at the Eskimo Joe’s Clothes World Headquarters.

• If college football’s your game, swing by Blush in Norman for OU gear, or head over to For Pete’s Sake in Stillwater to load up on OSU memorabilia.

• The Gourmet Gallery in Edmond specializes in Made-in-Oklahoma food items such as gourmet salsas, Oklahoma cheeses and artisan chocolates.

Learn more at TravelOK.com

Related Links

• Life-Changing Events That Move the Housing Market

• Repurposing Unused Rooms Into Office Space

• How More First-Time Homebuyers Are Successfully Navigating This Challenging Housing Market

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Search homes in Minnesota

Oklahoma Among States with Most Affordable Housing

Median home sale prices in the United States nearly have doubled in the past decade to $422,000 in July 2023.

That’s up from $220,000 in July 2013. Although prices are trending higher nationwide, affordability is significantly different by state.

An analysis of recent data provided by Redfin, a national real estate brokerage firm, shows the Midwest and South have the lowest median house prices in the United States, making these regions the most affordable relative to income.

Because of rising real estate prices, housing on the West and East coasts is the least affordable, along with certain Rocky Mountain states and Hawaii. However, many states across the Midwest and South have housing prices below $350,000, with some counties seeing prices below $150,000.

Housing prices increasing

Homes everywhere are increasingly unaffordable relative to income because median sale prices climbed quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the national median home price was $304,000, and it continued to escalate because of low rates, demand and availability.

Before the lockdown, low mortgage rates made new and used homes more affordable for many people in America. A $500,000 house with a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 4% has a monthly cost of $2,005. The same home bought with a 7% rate has a $2,794 monthly payment – a $789 difference.

Because rates were below 4% from early 2019 to mid-2022, Americans invested in real estate, causing prices to rise.

At the same time, housing inventory declined. After peaking in 2006, home construction was below average for many years, causing demand to outstrip supply, putting upward pressure on house prices.

Oklahoma among lowest-cost states

The Midwest and South contain the top five low-housing-cost states, which lead the country in affordability.

• Iowa has the lowest median sale price of $239,000 in 2022. The state is primarily rural but has smaller cities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Additionally, the population is relatively small and growing at only 0.3% annually, keeping demand and, thus, housing prices low. According to the Federal Reserve, the state’s median income was $76,320, making housing relatively cheap for families.

• Ohio is the second most affordable state, with a median sale price of $249,000. The state is more industrialized than Iowa but still has a significant agricultural industry. In addition, Ohio has three large cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. Based on the state’s median income of $67,520, housing is less affordable than in other Midwestern states. Also, Ohio’s population is declining, suggesting home prices will gain little.

• Oklahoma has the third-lowest median sale price of $256,000. The state is largely rural, with two main cities: Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Oklahoma’s median household income is below Iowa’s and Ohio’s at $63,440. As a result, its residents pay a higher percentage of their income for housing costs. Oklahoma’s population is gaining 1.5% annually, so real estate prices should continue to rise.

On the other end of the scale, California was unsurprisingly the most expensive state to buy a home. In fact, the most expensive states are concentrated on the West Coast, Northeast and a few Rocky Mountain states, attracting people from other parts of the United States, like Utah and Colorado. The three least affordable states are California, Hawaii and Massachusetts.

Housing in California is costly. Prices continue to rise because of demand, insufficient construction, and labor costs. In 2022, the median house price was $799,000 – more than three times the price of Iowa. Median household incomes are higher at $85,300, but are generally not enough to account for the sale price differences. After years of growth, California’s population has declined in the past couple of years, but not enough to affect affordability.

Hawaii is next on the list, with a median home price of $713,000. The state has strict permitting requirements, and as a result, construction cannot meet demand. Therefore, housing prices have risen. Besides expensive housing, Hawaii also has the highest cost of living, making it challenging to make a simple 50/30/20 budget strategy work and purchase a home, too. Household incomes are high, too, at $91,010, but the extraordinary cost of living expenses reduces buying power. One advantage, though, is the state has the lowest property tax rate in the country.

Massachusetts is third, with a median house price of $640,000. The state is building more luxury, high-end residences and not enough affordable housing. Demand is also high because the population grows in most years, drawn by high-paying jobs in health care, information technology, and education. In fact, the median household income of $93,550 is among the highest in the country. The combination of forces driving prices higher is unlikely to subside.

The bottom line about affordability

Real estate prices have risen faster than incomes. Consequently, already expensive markets are now pricier than ever. Based on median home prices, the Midwest and South lead the country in affordability, especially after considering household incomes.

That said, rising mortgage rates mean it may be prudent to wait until they change direction. High mortgage rates hinder selling and buying.

Arnie Nicola of Pregnancy and Motherhood says, “We had planned to buy a house and the high interest rates pushed up monthly payments and brought down our home value below our expected selling price, so ultimately we decided to just hold.”

Learn more at Journalrecord.com

Related Links

• 10 Things Most Homebuyers Get Wrong About Getting a Mortgage Today

• 3 Major Changes You Need To Make Before Putting Your Home on the Market

• Growing Your Net Worth with Homeownership

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Search homes in Minnesota

Here's how a city in Oklahoma is luring Denver tech workers away

At least 65 Denverites have already left Colorado for the less expensive city in Oklahoma, ac

Tulsa, Oklahoma, is luring remote-working tech professionals away from Denver with perks including a yearlong $10,000 grant, free desk space in a communal office and a network of like-minded peers.

Tulsa Remote, founded in 2018, has lured over 1,600 remote workers to the second-largest city in Oklahoma. According to program organizers, 92 transplants have come from Colorado, with 65 of those from Denver specifically.

One of their taglines reads “Everyone thinks their city is special. Tulsans just know it.”

Some of the workers who left Colorado for Tulsa said the Covid-19 pandemic changed their minds about the state.

“During the pandemic, it's like OK, everything we love about Colorado, we're not able to do,” said Chantel Nguyen, an alum of Tulsa Remote. “I miss how pretty it is.”

Nguyen and her husband, Brandon Minor, lived in Colorado for six years prior to their pivot to Tulsa. While living in Boulder, they heard of Tulsa Remote from an acquaintance in San Francisco. Minor, a remote-work veteran who runs his own autonomous vehicle tech company, Tangram Robotics, was accepted into the program separately from his wife, giving them a $20,000 incentive to live in Tulsa for a year.

Program managers say 93% of Tulsa Remote workers stay beyond the one-year program, with Colorado movers making up 5.4% (or fourth most) of all program members. The average income of a Tulsa Remote program worker as of mid-2021 was slightly over $104,000.

These workers are realizing a very high quality of life is within reach of budgets, said Justin Harlan, Tulsa Remote’s managing director.

“[There's] definitely a much stronger sense of community and the ties to the city here,” Nguyen said. 

In what started as a 100% philanthropic business model, Tulsa Remote now reaps the benefits of recent Oklahoma state legislation, House Bill 2860, that is incentivizing remote-working organizations based on their workers' performance, basically reimbursing employee tax dollars back to the organization.

Tulsa Remote estimates a $13.77 return in new labor income per dollar spent on the remote workers' incentive, with $62 million in 2021 income for Tulsa County coming from the organization’s remote workers.

Remote work remains popular among employees, particularly in tech, even as lower Covid-19 case numbers are prompting employers to invite workers back to the office. But some experts say the ability to work from anywhere is encouraging movement away from more-expensive metro areas.

One of the reasons Denver is experiencing an exodus of professional workers is due to the rising cost of living.

The west south-central area of the U.S., which includes Tulsa as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, isn't getting cheaper, either. All urban consumers in the area saw a Consumer Price Index increase of 9.5%, with food specifically jumping 9.3% compared to Denver’s 9.1% in the year ending March 2022, according to the BLS.

But the price of living is lower. A study from Zumper found Tulsa’s median one-bedroom rent was $950 compared to Denver’s $1,760 in May. The median sale price for Tulsa homes was $225,000 compared to Denver’s $632,788 in April, Redfin found.

Nguyen's and Minor’s first incentivized year in Tulsa renting a three-bedroom house for $900 a month went so well that they decided to stay when the one-year program grants expired. They bought a 1,600-square-foot house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms for $214,000 in August 2021.  

High costs are hardly chasing everyone away. In 2020, Colorado ranked No. 3 for high-tech employment concentration after being within the top four since 2000, according to the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.

Colorado also seeks to support remote workers through certificate programs sponsored by the state's Colorado Remote Work Initiative. Denver was ranked the No. 6 best U.S. city for remote work by Business Insider.

“Colorado is perfectly fine for remote work,” Minor said. “I think the infrastructure is certainly there for Colorado.” 

Tulsa isn’t the only city trying to attract Denver’s tech talent. Arkansas has its own advertising efforts planted in Denver through an initiative called "Finding NWA," which offers similar benefits and assistance to Tulsa's.

Subscribe to the Denver Business Journal.

---

Related Links

• 6 Swanky Condo or HOA Amenities Buyers Swoon for but Rarely (or Never) Use

• 7 Home Remodeling Projects with the Best Return on Your Investment

• How To Prepare Your Basement To Become a Downstairs Apartment

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Everything you need to know about Pet Insurance

So, you’ve become a pet parent. Congratulations!

We know how much love + snuggles (and did we mention hair?) your new furry friend can bring… And if the pandemic taught us anything, it’s just how precious our animal companions really are. They kept us company, and they are members of our family. And as such, we spare no expense to keep them happy and healthy. There’s just one problem with that — veterinary care (especially of the emergency variety) can be insanely expensive — so expensive that it can wreck even the most thoughtful of household budgets.
Enter pet insurance.

You’ve probably heard of it before. Maybe your vet even gave you a “free month” when you first took your pet in for their initial shots. But if that’s expired, it’s time to investigate a policy that can offer you the peace of mind you need, should something major go wrong.

Depending on the type of policy you choose, pet insurance coverage can include accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, dental disease, and behavioral issues.

And the younger you get your pet enrolled, the better. Why? Because pre-existing conditions won’t be covered, and the younger your pup or kitten is when you sign them up, the less likely it is for those to derail your plans. At HerMoney this week, writer Rebecca Jones breaks down the best ways to get your pet covered, ASAP.

And if you’re curious just how much you can expect to spend every year, we’ve got a complete breakdown here, including upfront and long-term costs. (And if lately it’s seemed like everyone on your street is bringing home a new fluffy baby — it’s not your imagination.

According to the North American Pet Insurance Association nearly 1 in 3 Americans adopted a pet during the pandemic, and 67% of US households currently own a pet. Now that’s a whole lot of love.)

---

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Independence Day Fireworks + Celebrations

Visit OKC's Guide to 4th of July in OKC includes a list of fireworks displays, festivals, parades and other family-friendly celebrations taking place across the Oklahoma City metro and beyond.

Local Events

June 26

FREE Mustang Firefighters Freedom Celebration at Wildhorse Park (1201 N Mustang Rd, Mustang) features food, live music, games, fireworks and more. There will be a variety of food trucks and the fire department will serve free watermelon and drinks. 6:30-10 p.m.

FREE Stars & Stripes River Festival in the RIVERSPORT District (725 S Lincoln, OKC) features a 4th of July themed festival with racing, dragon boats, OG&E NightSprints, live music, fireworks and more. Activities begin at 10 a.m.; fireworks, at dark.

June 27

FREE Freedom Fest at Community Church (512 E Seward Rd, Guthrie) features food trucks, entertainment, lawn games and a fireworks show. 5-10 p.m.

FREE Family Freedom Fest at The Bridge Church (1116 W State HWY 152, Mustang) features a community event for the whole family with food trucks, live music, bounce houses, games & more, followed by a fireworks display. 7 p.m.; fireworks, 9:30 p.m.

July 2

FREE Blanchard Independence Celebration (10th & HWY 62, Blanchard) features fireworks, food, live music and special activities for kids including carnival rides and inflatables. 6 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m.

July 3

FREE Bixby Freedom Celebration at the Bentley Park Sports Complex (7673 E 121st St S, Bixby) features food trucks and fireworks. To follow suggested regulations, the festival has been modified and won’t have a kids zone, stage program or firefighter challenge. 7 – 10 p.m.; fireworks, 9:45 p.m.

FREE Norman Independence Day Celebration at Reaves Park (2501 Jenkins Ave, Norman) features inflatables, food vendors, live music, fireworks and more. Activities start at 5 p.m.; fireworks, 9:45 p.m.

July 3 & 4

FREE Freedom Fest at Chisholm Trail Park (500 W Vandament, Yukon) & Yukon City Park (2200 S Holly, Yukon) is a two-day festival honoring veterans while celebrating with the community featuring live music, car show, triathlon, food trucks, fireworks and more. Friday & Saturday, 5:30 – 10 p.m. Car show: Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

FREE Red, White & Boom! Independence Day Concert at State Fair Park (3001 General Pershing Blvd) features a FREE concert followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Bring lawn chairs to enjoy the show. Entry & parking are FREE. Concert begins at 8:30 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m.

FREE Bethany Freedom Festival at Eldon Lyon Park (7400 NW 36th, Bethany) features parade and fireworks. Parade, 10 a.m. food trucks, noon.; fireworks 9:45 p.m.

July 4  

FREE Celebration in the Heartland 4th of July Festival at Buck Thomas Park (1903 NE 12, Moore) features live entertainment, vendors, food, games, music, car show and more. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fireworks at dusk.

FREE Tribute to Liberty at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park (8700 E Reno Ave, Midwest City) features musical concerts, food trucks and a fireworks display. Activities, 6 p.m.; fireworks, 9:45 p.m.

FREE Duck Creek Fireworks (32894 S 4507 Rd, Afton) features a large fireworks display synchronized to patriotic music and a vintage aircraft display and fly-over. 6 – 11 p.m.

FREE Tuttle Independence Day Celebration at Schrock Park (W Main St, Tuttle) features a fireworks display. 9:25 p.m.

FREE Liberty Fireworks Show + Concert Watch the Fireworks and listen on KZUC 99.3 FM UCentral Radio – the fireworks are synchronized to the music on the radio!

FREE Piedmont Freedom Festival on Piedmont Road (713 N Piedmont Rd, Piedmont) features pony rides, a parade, 80s-themed games and more. Activities begin at 5 p.m.; parade, 7 p.m.; fireworks at dusk.

FREE OKC 4th Fest in the Boathouse District (725 S Lincoln Blvd) features fun activities including a full day of whitewater rafting and adventures plus 4th Fest activities kicking off at 4 p.m. including a local DJ, lawn games, food trucks and fireworks. 11 a.m.; fireworks, 9:45 p.m.

FREE Stillwater’s Boomer Blast at Boomer Lake Park (Washington & Lakeview, Stillwater) features inflatables, food trucks and a fireworks show. 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.; fireworks, 9:35 p.m.

Please check Metro Family Magazine + your local news for updates before making plans!