Oklahoma - Real Estate

Move to Oklahoma

Made famous by the musical of the same name, Oklahoma is a melting pot of different heritages and customs. Oklahoma is still closely associated with its historical ties to Native American culture, celebrating this legacy through festivals, museums and a thriving cultural environment. Oklahoma was nicknamed the “Sooner State” for its early settlers who were the first to discover the wide open prairies, signature rich red soil and mild year-round climate. Oklahoma's four main mountain ranges include the Ouachitas, Arbuckles, Wichitas, and the Kiamichis. In addition to several smaller ranges, Oklahoma also notably encompasses a portion of the Ozarks.

Oklahoma’s 3.5 million residents value a favorable cost of living along with enviable housing expenses. The second most affordable state in the country (only Arkansas has a lower cost of living), Oklahoma's overall cost of living is 11% below the national average, with the greatest savings in housing costs at a full 20% below average. Median home price is $63,000.

Oklahoma’s rock-solid workforce is comprised of people with a strong work ethic and commitment to their community. Outstanding academic programs are available from pre-kindergarten to college, offering students the best chance at success through an integrated, partnering network of public school districts, private and parochial schools, the Oklahoma Career and Technology system and its nationally recognized institutions of higher learning. Oklahoma offers 43 colleges and universities, including the University of Oklahoma and Cameron University in Lawton.

Oklahoma City is home to many corporate and regional headquarters including Sonic Drive-In, AT&T, The Hertz Corporation, BancFirst, OGE Energy, Midfirst Bank, and AOL. Tulsa is another primary economic engine of the state, centered on energy, aerospace, telecommunications, and transportation.

Oklahoma has just over 200 man-made lakes. Oklahoma offers outdoor activities from mountain biking to scuba diving, trail riding to rappelling. Both of Oklahoma's major metropolitan areas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, are engaged in tourism initiatives. Tulsa delivers urban amenities like ballet, museums, shopping and nightlife while maintaining a friendly, down-to-earth sense of community. In 2005, Tulsa was selected as one of America’s Most Livable Cities. Other notable cities include Bartlesville, Lawton and Tulsa’s largest suburb, Broken Arrow. Oklahoma City residents enjoy cultural attractions such as a symphony orchestra, museums, theater complex, state library and a zoo.

Oklahoma has short, mild winters and well over 300 days of sunshine per year. While there is some variation in temperature in the state, with the south portion averaging an annual temperature of 62°F, and the panhandle averaging under 54°F, the most notable difference in climate across regions of Oklahoma is precipitation. Oklahoma averages from 40-60 days of thunderstorms throughout the entire state, with the eastern portion of the state averaging 52 in of rain or snow, and the western portion receiving less than 16 in. Snowfall is common in Oklahoma every winter, although it is not extreme, ranging from an average of less than 4 inches in the southern part of the state to just over 20 inches on the Colorado border in the panhandle.

To learn more about specific communities in Oklahoma, request a Free Relocation Packet prepared by a HomeRoute Preferred™ local community expert. This exclusive guide will be customized to your specific home search and help you prepare for your upcoming move to Oklahoma.

Information provided courtesy of HomeRoute.