Real Estate Information Archive

Soon it will be time for your overnight guests to arrive. The decorations have been hung, the deep cleaning is done and you’re ready to celebrate with beloved family and friends. Now it’s time to check off the items to ensure your guests feel comfortable when they stay in your home.  After all, making your guests feel comfortable and at ease is the true essence of etiquette.

Let’s take it from the Guest Room to Bathroom and Kitchen.

Guest Room

• Have the WIFI password written down and provide a phone charger on the nightstand along with fresh holiday flowers and bottled water, of course.
• Prepare the bed with fresh, soft linens. Included an extra blanket and pillows too.
• Clear out the closet space so your guests have a place to put their belongings.

Bathroom

• Add extra towels and washcloths that are easily accessible. Or add a personal grouping to the guest bedroom.
• Provide a basket of extra toothbrushes, skin care products, and basic medications. Don’t forget easy access to the essentials of toilet paper, shower & hair care products, blow dryer, and shaving needs.
• Add a calming candle and soft subtle holiday décor to set the mood.

Kitchen

• Check with your guests ahead of time to learn of any food allergies you’ll need to be made aware of in preparing your holiday food
• Schedule your grocery shopping or pick them up the day before their arrival.
• Skip the paper products and utilize your fancy dishes! What better time than when surrounded by the ones you love?
• Prepare or purchase snacks and drinks that are easy for everyone to grab when they are hungry. You want your guests to feel welcome to eat/drink at any time.
• Prep as much as possible for your holiday menus before your guests arrive so you can enjoy your time with them, and not be stuck in the kitchen.

Overall, you want your home festive, comfortable, and welcoming. Add a few cozy blankets, easy access to games, and lots of non-cluttered spaces for everyone to gather and enjoy their time together.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!

It’s the most wonderful time of year and the magic of the season is on full display at so many venues and homes around the Omaha area. Along with great lighting displays are festive decorations and family-friendly events. So, join in the fun and get the holiday season started in grand style!

 Gene Leahy Mall at the Riverfront- Holly Days

View the beautiful traditional white lights and oversized ornaments and join in the Holly Days celebration. From 2:00 to 7:00 you’ll be treated to holiday treats & warm beverages, photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer, holiday stories by the firepits, free train rides, holiday cookie decorating and coloring book kits, a holiday light walk and culminating in a Festive Light Show at the Performance Pavilion.

Old Market Lighting Display

Talk about bright, festive, and holiday spirit! The beauty and joy of the season is alive and well at Old Market. The display runs from 10^th to 13^th streets and Farnam to Jackson streets. Truly breathtaking as it illuminates the brick streets of Old Market and the surrounding area. Perfect for an evening stroll.

North Omaha Lighting Display

Showcased along a 6-block area around 24^th and Lake Street, the season comes alive with beautiful lights and holiday décor.

South Omaha Lighting Display

Trees dressed in white lights crisscrossing the sidewalks and gorgeous decorations throughout the area are what you’ll find showcased along 24^th Street between L and Q Streets.

This is just the beginning of a month of holiday festivities and fun! Be sure to check out our blog and Facebook page frequently for more area updates.

Do you have an event or suggestion you’d like us to explore and post about? You can send your suggestions to [email protected].

“For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,

For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,

For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,

For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home-

Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,

For the cunning and strength of the workingman’s hand,

For the good that our artists and poets have taught,

For the friendship that hope and affection have brought-

Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,

For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,

For our country extending from sea unto sea;

The land that is known as the “Land of the Free”-

Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. May we all count the many blessings in our lives and live our lives with gratitude each and every day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The big day of Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Oh, we can already smell the turkey roasting in the oven, the freshly baked pies, and all those yummy sides. As adults, we tend to focus on the wonderful meal we’ll serve and the table upon which we’ll serve, but we also need to think about what we can do to keep the kids entertained throughout the day.

Here are 5 ideas that are fun and easy and will keep them engaged and entertained with the rest of the family.

Thanksgiving Bingo

So much fun and easy to create (or download a set). You’ll need 9 x 12 pieces of construction paper and ink stamps- Thanksgiving-themed. Simply create a bingo board with the stamps. Then create a set of cards with the stamps to be used to call out the spaces (just like the bingo numbers). Use pumpkin candy as the bingo pieces and an older child or adult call out the stamp cards. To make it more fun, purchase a few small gifts ahead of time to give as prizes.

Placeholders for your guests- Turkey Treats

A little crafty project to have the kids feel included in the table setting is making placeholders for your guests. Make some Turkey Treats. You’ll need the following:

• 9” round tulle circles (the dollar store is great)
• M & M’s or Reece’s Pieces in Fall colors
• Pipe Cleaners (yellow, orange, brown, or red)
• Google eyes
• Quick grip glue
• Small, clear hair elastics

Get the full tutorial here.

Kids Tablecloth

Instead of purchasing a tablecloth this year, roll out a large piece of craft paper to cover your table. Create white spaces for the kids to write ‘thankful’ words, then give them crayons and markers (age dependent of course) and allow them to create the Thanksgiving tablecloth. The pride you’ll see when they see their creation front and center on the table is something to behold.

Create a Gratitude Turkey

Teaching gratitude is something we can never start too early. This easy and simple DIY project is fun and shares with our children a fundamental value that will carry on through their lives. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Small paper plate
• Small dixie cup
• Empty toilet paper tube
• Paint- orange, black and brown
• Glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes
• Assorted colors of construction paper
• Black markers

The complete tutorial is here.

Pumpkin Toss Game

Who is the most competitive in your family? This game is easy to make (Mom & Dad you’ll be making the game) and so much fun to play! Here’s what you’ll need for supplies.

• 3 DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints- orange colors of your choice
• Foam brush
• 3D Poster Board
• X-Acto knife
• Pencil
• Ping-Pong Balls

How to complete- Tutorial here.

How do you keep the kids entertained on Thanksgiving Day? What traditions do they love to participate in? We’d love for you to share on our Facebook page. 

After a red-hot real estate market during the pandemic & subsequent months, rising interest rates have cooled the chaos. But does that necessarily mean bad news for buyers? Maybe not, here’s why.

When the housing market skyrocketed, many would-be homeowners found themselves in a position of being unable to buy due to tons of cash offers and bidding wars that went sky-high, most-often thousands of dollars above asking price and almost always all contingencies waived. With interest rates rising, home prices are now edging down. 

In a recent Bloomberg article (October 2022) by Teresa Ghilarducci titled “Looking to Buy a House? It’s Not the Worst Time to Buy” she states “Buying an asset when the price is falling is generally a good thing. Buying a home now when mortgage rates are high and housing prices are falling means as mortgage rates stabilize or even drop, your house value will more likely inflate than if prices were rapidly increasing and mortgage rates were increasing. Rising mortgage interest rates and a potential recession may seem like bad news, but these trends could benefit would-be home buyers by cooling demand and dropping prices further, especially if the buyers are confident, they won’t lose their jobs and income.”  She further explained “Of course, a would-be home buyer must consider other important criteria besides housing prices before buying a house. Other important decision factors include having at least 20% for a down payment; whether you will live in the property for more than five years; and whether your monthly payment will be lower than 30% of your gross income.”

Although some may feel that buying a home while inflation & interest rates are higher is less than ideal, it may be a perfect time if you can afford it. You will avoid the bidding wars that kept so many buyers out of the market previously and you can refinance when the FED lowers interest rates, which some experts predict will start happening in 2023. 

If you’re considering a home purchase, or have questions about buying in this new market, please reach out and schedule a time with us to discuss your needs, options, and homes available to you.

Nancy Heim-Berg and The Heim-Berg Team
402-677-9024

Today more than ever we are all looking for ways to save money and one of our largest expenditures is our mortgage. While monthly budgets can get tight, utilizing a little extra money to pay down our largest expenditures can pay off BIG in the end. Here we’re going to look at ‘principal only’ mortgage payments and the effect they can have on your finances.

When you purchase a home and secure a mortgage through a lender, you are paying several components of that mortgage.

1. The principal- the amount of the loan needed to purchase the home.
2. Interest on that loan- a monthly interest payment calculated on the interest rate accessed to the loan.
3. If you put down less than 20% you are also paying PMI (private mortgage insurance)
4. Property taxes
5. You may also have your Homeowners Insurance tied into the loan as well and pay a monthly premium for that.

These 5 components make up your monthly mortgage payment. However, the principal component of the mortgage represents the amount of equity you accrue each month and essentially ‘buy-back’ from your mortgage lender.

If you currently have a 30-year mortgage, and never make any additional payments, it will take you 30 years to pay off the mortgage in full and pay the full amount of interest associated with the mortgage. For example, a $350,000 loan with a 5% interest rate would be $17,500 a year paid in interest alone!!!

By making a principal-only payment, in addition to your monthly mortgage payment, you are paying down the principal amount of your mortgage faster. If you were to pay a $100 principal-only payment today at the 5% interest rate, you’ll save $332 over 30 years. Now imagine doing that every month, or more if you can. It will put equity in your pocket much quicker, pay off the principal and loan faster and save you thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan.

Please don’t confuse making additional mortgage payments with a principal-only payment, as they are very different. If you choose to start making principal-only payments- in addition to your regular monthly mortgage loan payment, we suggest you call your lender and have them walk you through the process, so it is done correctly, and the monies are applied appropriately. Remember, a principal-only payment NEVER takes the place of your regular monthly loan payment. That must always be made monthly and on time. This would be an additional payment to help pay down the principal amount of your loan. Any questions regarding your loan should ALWAYS be directed to your lender.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Are you looking for a home in the Omaha area right now? Our team is ready to be our local experience knowledge and expertise to work for you!  If you’re ready to begin the exciting home-buying journey, reach out!  The Heim-Berg Team- 402-677-9024

Halloween is fast approaching, and the kids are ready to have some fun! To have a safe and exciting Halloween for all, we’ve put together a list of some fantastic Trick or Treating activities around Omaha the whole family will enjoy.

Spooktacular Storytime

Saddlebrook Branch Library & Community Center have joined together to bring you a spooktacular event! October 25^th, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. they will host a trick or treat followed by a story walk, crafts, and more. Come in your costumed best!

The Durham Museum presents…The Great HALL-oween Haunt!

October 25^th, from 5:00- 8:00 p.m, walk through spooky displays throughout the museum and trick or treat with historical characters! Play some ghostly games, ride a spooky train and make some creepy crafts! You’ll have a ghoulishly good time…just not scary. Learn more and get pricing at the link above.

Trunk or Treat in Farnam Hill

Trick or Treat with area non-profits! There will be games, face painting, bounce houses, great local food, shopping, and more. October 29^th, from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Trick or Treat at Rockbrook Village

Are you ready to meet Chase from Paw Patrol & Woody from Toy Story?? Then you’ll want to check out Trick or Treating at Rockbrook Village participating stores on October 29^th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Junk in the Trunk- Family Fun Day

The Schenzel Community Center is hosting Junk in the Trunk. Go out for a day of fun family activities, games, candy, and prizes. The event is scheduled to be inside and out, in case of colder weather. October 30^th, 10:00 to Noon.

Halloween Safe Night

Put on your costumes and get ready to trick or treat! You’ll get a free hot dog inside the community center and can even hop on a hayrack ride outside! Head over to the La Vista Community Center, on October 31^st from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

_______________________________________________________________________

Safety reminders:

1. Costumes should be flame-retardant & reflective.
2. Opt for hats and makeup vs face masks
3. Always wear comfortable shoes in the appropriate size.
4. Parents should inspect ALL candy before children eat any of it.
5. All children should be always accompanied by an adult when trick or treating or at an event.
6. If older children attend an event, ensure you have the address and names of parents and hosts in advance.

WISHING YOU ALL A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Did you know that Fall is a great time to de-clutter your home? As we begin to approach the holidays and the extra guests they bring, it is the best time to rid your home of all those unused, unwanted, and extra items. However, too often many of us fall prey to these mistakes before we even begin the task! Let’s check them out to ensure we maximize our efforts and really make the de-cluttering task worthwhile.

1. Work at your own pace. Stop looking at the clock. This cannot be stressed enough. Too many times we put unreasonable expectations on ourselves when we set out to de-clutter our homes. If we really want to get rid of unnecessary or unused items, we must take our time to do it right. That means taking off the watch and pacing ourselves.
2. Make a plan. What are you trying to achieve? If you don’t know, it's going to be hard to stay motivated to keep going! Are you striving for a more orderly home? Easier ways to keep your home clean and organized? Or really want to get rid of the unused and unneeded items in your home…maybe to downsize? Whatever your reason is, define it first.
3. Storing de-cluttered items. This is a biggie! How often have you “de-cluttered” a room, only to move those items to another room, closet, or storage box? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. If you think about it, this really defeats the whole idea of de-cluttering because you’re just moving the objects from one location to another.  Instead, what you need to do is divide these items into 3 different categories: selling, donating, or going into the trash. Once you’ve done this, the task becomes much simpler. Go room by room and divide into one of each category, then get those items out of your home as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you’ll start going through them again and want to put them into storage boxes or closets and start the whole cluttering process again.
4. Engaging others in the process. While family members are obviously part of the process in a home, don’t go outside that circle in soliciting advice on what to keep and not. Everyone will have differing opinions and it's only your opinion that counts. You will end up keeping many more unwanted, needed, or unused items when soliciting outside advice.
5. Lastly, stop buying things you really don’t need! That may sound obvious, but how many times do we shop and impulse buy? That tends to give us many items we may use a few times and then find ourselves looking for places to store them. Also, try tracking spending and see where your dollars are going and what you really need.  It’s also a dynamite way to save money!

The holidays are just around the corner, so getting our homes deep cleaned and super organized now will be a game changer as the days arrive. Not to mention to peace and calm it brings into our homes. Happy de-cluttering!!

For more homeowner tips, real estate updates, and more, be sure to follow us on Facebook. 

It’s a great weekend to have some family-friendly fun in Omaha with some ‘not-so-scary’ Halloween events that the entire family can enjoy. While we all enjoy the scarier aspects of Halloween, it’s always nice to be able to take the whole family for some adventures to enjoy the season, and these events are perfect for those occasions.

Cobweb Castle at the Omaha Children’s Museum

A wonderful hands-on event where the kids can scale the castle walls, meander their way through the spooky maze and dress up as a sorcerer with makeup and hats. A great afternoon of fun for sure. For ticket information and dates, click here.

Ghouls & Glow at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

This illuminated and delightful spectacle is great for all ages! With many great family-friendly activities around the zoo, including trick or treating, magic shows and 400 larger-than-life lanterns. You can also purchase s’mores kits and mini pumpkins to decorate & take home.  Parents are treated to two bars on Friday & Saturday nights with seasonal alcoholic drinks as well. Get more information & ticket prices for non-members here.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at BLUEBARN Theater

Watch Washington Irving’s masterpiece come to life! Omaha’s own Ben Beck & Jill Anderson incorporate dance, music, and even puppetry in this incredible theatrical invention. The headless horseman does ride again! Get more details and ticket information here.

Jack-O-Lantern World

Take a whimsical ¾-mile walk through 17 immersive worlds of thousands of amazing jack-o-lanterns hand-carved & designed by 50 artisans! Local food trucks will provide food and beverages along the way. Great for an evening stroll to enjoy the season! More information is found here.

Happy October and the start of the spooky month of Halloween.

Follow our Facebook page for more exciting Halloween and Fall events.

________________________________________________________________________________

Fall is a great time to sell your Omaha home. The supply of homes for sale is still far below what the demand is seeking. While interest rates have definitely gone higher, serious buyers are still looking for their perfect home and with the supply level home, many are not finding what they want.

If you're still thinking of selling, please reach out. Let's discuss a personalized SOLD plan for your home. 402-677-9024. 

What is the best way to welcome the beauty and change of the new season you ask? By updating your home interior of course! While many of us love the gorgeous bold hues of gold, red, and orange, this year the designers have chosen more natural tones and textures to take center stage! These subdued hues still add coziness with their organic feel, luxurious textures and by incorporating many interesting shapes and sizes. Here’s what the designers are looking at for the season:

Warm neutral colors in earthy tones are where it's at! Think cinnamon, terra cotta, copper, oatmeal, sand, and muted greens. These muted tones work well in any room and are making a splash throughout the home.

Textured fabrics and textiles, from nubby fabrics to linen, and velvet, add dimension and character to a room. Use the fabulous, muted Fall color schemes in your throws and pillows, bedding, and rugs to create a dynamic grouping or showstopping centerpiece in any room. Great for a wall-hanging as well.

Natural woods, which never go out of style, are back in the focal point. Choose to incorporate a new furnishing for Fall or strategically place natural wood elements throughout a room with items such as trays, picture frames, statues, cutting boards, and more. Wood elements give a calming and grounding effect to a room.

Natural fibers and woven elements, like rattan or wicker, lend their own brand of softness and hominess to a room and are super easy to add. Whether it’s a basket to hold warm blankets or treasured items, or swapping out a lamp shade for Fall, it’s a quick and easy way to give your room a Fall boost.

Lastly, mix it up a bit! Add some vintage picks mixed with modern options and have some fun. Let your personality show and make it your own. Your décor style is always a reflection of your own personality, despite what any designer has put forward.

For more home decorating tips, make sure to follow our Facebook page. 

Reference: Jane at Home Blog