If you are thinking about buying a home in 2021, there are a few things you should be doing right now.
In Omaha, we have a crazy seller's market so it's important to be prepared and have all your ducks in a row before you start touring homes.
In summary...
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Results are out! The Omaha area real estate market is starting off strong, with healthy buyer demand and strong market fundamentals. That is according to new data released by the Great Plains Regional MLS for January 2021.
A robust increase in housing starts in December points to an active year for new construction, but higher material costs, especially lumber, and a limited supply of buildable lots will temper the number of new units.
Let’s take a look at some of the numbers from January 2021:
Average Sold Price: $266,303 (Up 14.7% from January 2020)
Homes Sold: 775 (Up 5.7% from January 2020)
New Listings: 1,026 (Down 23.2% from January 2020)
Pending Listings: 958 (Down 5.3%…
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A key component of selling a home, even in the current seller’s market, is proper staging. To learn the ins and outs of this service, we tapped local business woman Lisa Conover with Rearranged for Change. Conover focuses on superior home staging, which is the art of making your house aesthetically pleasing to attract potential buyers.
Rearranged For Change has been staging homes in Omaha and the surrounding areas for 15 years. “We were one of the first staging companies in Omaha, like we had to explain what it was to homeowners and agents. It was about that time that HGTV had introduced some shows about home staging and it was from that we (my business partner Liz Cooley and I) gained our inspiration”, shared the staging aficionado. Both Cooley and…
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Living in Nebraska has its own perks, specifically perks related to taxes and homeownership. Homestead exemptions this year for many Nebraskans are particularly generous, with a few new requirements, of course. There are actually different tiers for different homeowners in this state, and each tier has its own requirements. However, most people qualify as long as they are homeowners from Jan. 1st, 2020 through Aug. 31st, 2020. Here's a little extra breakdown of those tiers.
People Over 65
Retirees often have a difficult time keeping their homes because property taxes tax their tight incomes. The Homestead exemption program reduces property taxes if you are age 65 and older. If you or your parents qualify based on homeownership, income, and age,…
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Radon gas is a topic that almost always comes up when buying or selling a home. Most people don’t know much about it, but know that they have to deal with it when they sell their home.
While dealing with a radon problem is necessary when selling, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General urge all American s to protect their health by testing their homes, schools and other buildings for radon even if they aren’t selling. In honor of the EPA’s “National Radon Action Month” I thought I would give you some of the facts about radon.
You can't see, smell or taste radon, but it could present a dangerous level in your home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about…
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Omaha continues to be a seller's market, but there is one small change in the data to pay attention to.
If you are a homeowner, you are seeing a lot of appreciation in your home. For 2020, home prices appreciated 8.3%. In 2019, home prices went up 5% compared to 2018.
One interesting change in the data is the 9.5% increase in new listings compared to December of last year. Omaha has an inventory problem so if more homes hit the market, that's a good thing.
Average Sold Price: $267,219 (Up 8.3% from December 2019)
Homes Sold: 1,191 (Up 13.1% from December 2019)
New Listings: 930 (Up 9.5% from December 2019)
Pending Listings: 842 (Up 17.1% from December 2019)
Days on the Market: 16 Days (Down…
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In the cold of a Midwest winter, it’s easy to hibernate at home. But this year, skip the Netflix and instead, use your downtime in a productive way - by making your house more energy efficient. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also can lower your monthly electricity bill. Saving the planet AND saving money? We call that a win-win. To best tackle a home energy makeover, we spoke to a sustainability engineer about the top tips to lower your energy consumption. Read on for her expert suggestions to make your home more energy efficient!
Photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash
Set your thermostat conservatively. In winter, 68 degrees is the recommended temperature, while summertime calls for 74 degrees for maximum savings. Each…
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According to new data released by the Great Plains Regional MLS for November 2020, the Omaha area real estate market is still very strong.
Home values continue to rise while selling quickly (on average in just 15 days).
Inventory is very low so it looks like homes will continue to sell very quickly as prices continue to rise. It remains a seller's market in Omaha.
Average Sold Price: $271,189 (Up 8.4% from November 2019)
Homes Sold: 1,207 (Up 7.8% from November 2019)
New Listings: 1,061 (Down 8.5% from November 2019)
Pending Listings: 958 (Down 0.6% from November 2019)
Days on the Market: 15 Days (Down 31.8% from November 2019)
All data from Great Plains Regional MLS. Report © 2020…
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A handmade wreath tied with ribbon and bells. A festive snowman stationed in your yard. Twinkling lights that adorn your home. All of these can signal that the holiday season has arrived, but only one of these can cause intense frustration year after year. Putting up outdoor lighting is always a chore, but in some years due to weather, it can actually be quite dangerous. For homeowners who’ve considered outsourcing this tedious task, we’ve done the legwork for you!
Courtesy of Brite Ideas
To learn all about outdoor holiday lighting and more, we chatted with Josh Scearcy, the Vice President of Business Development at Brite Ideas Decorating. Brite Ideas is actually a longtime Omaha landmark; the company was founded in Omaha by Travis…
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The time has come to make your list and check in twice...and that means shopping for holiday gifts for all your loved ones. Luckily for all of us who call Omaha our “homaha”, there are tons of independent small businesses that make unique gifting a breeze. Read on for ten of our team’s favorite small shops in Omaha and beyond.
Courtesy of Chocolat Abeille
This Old Market chocolate shop offers almost too pretty to eat morsels along with locally-sourced honey and other specialties. Their top seller lately? The internet famous hot cocoa bombs, which can be picked up locally or shipped nationwide. Stop into Chocolat Abeille for all of your elevated sweets needs!
Courtesy of Made in Omaha
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