Real Estate Information

Now that spring is getting closer, it's time to ramp up the fun in Omaha! This weekend offers an old-fashioned St Patrick's Parade, a car show, a film festival, and much more. Check out some of the highlights below.

St Patrick's Parade

Sat, Mar 11, 9 – 11 AM
The Old Market, Omaha, NE

144th Annual St Patrick Parade. Sponsored by the Omaha Fr Flanagan Ancient Order of Hibernians. The parade will start at 10AM on 16th and Harney St, travel East on Harney to 11th Street, head South to Howard and travel West to 13th and Howard.

World of Wheels

Fri, Mar 10, 3 – 8 PM
CHI Health Center
455 N 10th St, Omaha, NE

The 68th annual Omaha World of Wheels at the CHI Health Center, showcasing America's Finest Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles. Mar. 10 - 12.

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures

Sat, Mar 11, 3 – 7 PM
CHI Health Center
455 N 10th St, Omaha, NE

Buy Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures in Omaha tickets for the 03/11/2023 performance at CHI Health Center Omaha.

Omaha Film Festival

Tue, Mar 7, 8 AM – Sun, Mar 12, 10 PM
Aksarben Cinema
2110 S 67th St, Omaha, NE

This year's incredible slate of films will be screened during the 18th Annual Omaha Film Festival, featuring short films, documentaries, and feature films.

Sing Omaha Loves the 90's

Sun, Mar 12, 6:00 – 6:30 PM
Stocks n Bonds
8528 Park Dr, Omaha, NE

Join Sing Omaha's adult choirs for an evening of 90's hits! Sing and dance along as we throw it back with songs you know and love, accompanied by a live band!

10th Annual Kegs & Eggs Fun Run

Sat, Mar 11, 8 AM
Keg Creek Brewing Company
22381 221st S, Glenwood, IA

It is with great excitement that we invite you to participate in the 10th Annual Kegs & Eggs celebration! The St. Patrick's Day themed event will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Keg Creek Brewing Company, 22381 221st St, Glenwood, IA 51534. Runners check-in at 8am, 8:15am start! The Mills County Chamber of Commerce has the pleasure of hosting Kegs & Eggs each year, which benefits chamber special projects & our local partner, the Glenwood Eagles Club #3784. We hope you join us for this year's event, which will include a 5K fun run, 1K fun run, breakfast catered by Tobey Jack's Mineola Steakhouse, cash bar, silent auction, and live band!

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

Are you ready to buy your first home in Omaha?

The returns on investments in real estate can be daunting at first, but everyone appreciates their investments once they see them. Rather than giving all your money to a landlord, when you buy a home, you're saving for a better future.

Do you want to become a first-time home buyer in Omaha but aren't sure where to start? You can find your perfect home by following these five helpful tips.

1. Large Down Payments Aren't Always Necessary

We've all heard that an aspiring homebuyer needs to save 20% of their dream home's value for a down payment. Down payments are important as they reduce interest payments over the course of time, but huge savings aren't a requirement.

Many lenders will be willing to work with you on adjusting your down payment, depending on your credit score. Even if your credit score isn’t perfect, you can usually still make a lower down payment if needed.

2. Your Monthly Payment Isn't Just Your Mortgage

Once you become a homeowner, you have to do a lot of math to figure out how much your bills will change. There are other costs that you cannot overlook in addition to your mortgage.

In addition to taxes and repairs, insurance can also take a bite out of your paycheck. Make sure you can afford your entire home rather than your mortgage.

3. You Should Shop for Mortgage Loan Officers

You aren't stuck with a mortgage from your bank once you're ready to start shopping for houses. You should shop for mortgage providers before house hunting so you can secure the greatest deal.

Not only should your mortgage be large enough to allow you to purchase your favorite home, but it should also come with a low-interest rate that won't bury you in debt over the years.

4. Your Home Search Should Include Surrounding Areas

If you're a homebody, then the home itself will be a major factor when it comes to your sale. However, you should also pay attention to the surrounding area as well.

Does the neighborhood feel safe? Will you have plenty of nice stores and activities nearby when you feel like getting out of the house?

5. You Can Always Tweak to Create Your Dream Home

You can't be too nitpicky when you're browsing homes. You'll never find a home you adore unless you build one from scratch.

Learn to be lenient and focus on homes that have great potential rather than turning away good homes that need small improvements.

Being a first home buyer comes with all kinds of emotions. After absorbing these tips, you can get ready to face any worries you may have and find a stunning new property to call home in Omaha.

If you're ready to start your first-time home buying journey, contact us today.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

It's long been argued that pizza is the perfect food. And when you live in a city like Omaha that's filled with amazing pizza restaurants, that point is easy to prove. So, no matter how you like your pies, there's something for the whole family at these top pizza places in Omaha.

Zio's Pizzeria

7834 DODGE ST, OMAHA, NE 68114
1109 HOWARD ST, OMAHA, NE 68102
12997 W CENTER RD, OMAHA, NE 68144
18110 WRIGHT ST. OMAHA, NE 68130

Down-to-earth parlor featuring hand-stretched dough for pizzas, plus hoagies, pastas & calzones. Serving the Omaha area for over 30 years. Now with 4 locations.

Piezon's Pizzeria

15605 W Center Rd, Omaha, NE 68130

Piezon's Pizzeria is a locally owned and operated carryout restaurant serving Omaha's finest pizza, pasta, calzones and fresh salad. Partnered with Rotella's Italian Bakery to provide customers with the best Gluten Free option on the market.

Tasty Pizza

1418 S 60th St, Omaha, NE 68106

Tasty Pizza is an independently-owned, local pizza restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska. Customers order at the counter and seat themselves. Reservations are not accepted. They serve traditional and unique pizzas such as bacon gouda, uding fresh ingredients to make pizzas from scratch.

Brick Oven Pizzeria

624 S 72nd St, Omaha, NE 68114

Brick Oven Pizzeria is an Eat-In/Carry-Out/Delivery Pizzeria located in Mid-Town Omaha. Whether you are looking for a traditional Pizza Dinner or Late Night Snack (Delivery until 2 a.m.) or a Catered Event (Call for Catering Details) Brick Oven Pizzeria will consistently meet your needs.

Mama's Pizza

715 Saddle Creek Rd, Omaha, NE 68132

Long-running local chain serving pizza, pasta, sandwiches & American entrees in a casual setting. Mama’s Pizza strives to be a favorite gathering spot for pizza in Omaha and La Vista for families, teams, birthday celebrations, work related gatherings, holidays and re-unions.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

There's a lot of work involved in keeping a home looking clean and tidy, whether or not your house is on the Omaha market and you're preparing for showings. Particularly when you have a family, keeping your home clean can seem like a full-time job.

If you’ve ever been to someone’s house and felt like it’s always clean and you’ve wondered their secret, they probably have a few, including the following.

Stop the Marathon Cleaning Sessions

Many of us put off household chores and try to do everything at once, which makes us feel like we'll never be able to keep up. You may pile up clutter all week and then tackle it on Saturday.

That’s fine, but you could develop a negative relationship with cleaning because it’s always frustrating to tackle such a big project.

If you can make goals to clean your house a little at a time, it changes your habits and becomes a natural part of your routine rather than a once-in-a-while dreaded task.

Try focusing on things you can do right now that will make a difference over time, even if they are small. As a result, you won't feel overwhelmed. By gradually adding these small tasks to your daily routine, you'll stop thinking of them as cleaning. You'll just accept them as part of your daily routine.

Try the 20/10 Rule

The 20/10 rule is an approach that can help you stop being a marathon cleaner.

By using a timer, you train yourself to clean briefly throughout the week. For example, you can set a timer for 20 minutes. You focus on cleaning something during those 20 minutes. Then, you give yourself a 10-minute break to do whatever you want, and once that ends, return to cleaning.

Make the Beds Everyday

One of the best things you can do for yourself to feel mentally more in control of your home and your day is to make your bed every day. Make it even on the weekends or when you don’t feel like it.

Making your bed has an immediate impact. You can feel calmer knowing that at least one thing in your home is tidy, no matter what.

Put Things Away As Soon As You’re Done Using Them

Take a moment to consider how many things you use throughout the day without putting them back. Every day, we do it unconsciously. You might leave something on the countertop for now instead of putting it back in the drawer.

Clothes are another example. Instead of hanging them up, you start throwing them on the floor or your bed, so try to change that habit.

These things add up.

If you consciously promise yourself you’ll put everything back after you’re done using it, you’ll notice a difference in your home.

Do One Room At a Time

When you do clean, focus on one room at a time. It gets overwhelming to tell yourself you have to clean the entire house.

You can stay motivated and encouraged when you focus on one room at a time.

Have a Schedule

Having a schedule can help people maintain a clean home consistently. It is up to you to come up with something that works for you, but one way to do it is to separate tasks by day and do them on the same day every week.

You might dust and do laundry on Monday, and vacuum and clean bathrooms on Tuesday. You can go from there, but as you’re doing more frequent cleaning, things have less of a chance to become big messes.

Finally, aim to do a load of laundry a day. That means washing it, folding it, and putting it away. Laundry can create piles and messes all over your home if it gets out of hand, so taking control of those before they become problematic will keep floors and other areas tidier.

Maybe you come up with a routine for the load you do every day. For example, you could put a load in in the morning before leaving for the day. You put it in the dryer as soon as you get home, and you put it away before bed.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

Valentine's day is just around the corner and it's not too late to reserve the perfect evening for you and your SO. If you're still looking for the perfect way to spend Valentine's Day, then check out these top romantic restaurants in Omaha.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

140 Regency Pkwy, Omaha, NE 68114

High-end steakhouse chain with aged prime beef & classics such as lobster tails. Omaha Fleming’s is located on Regency Parkway just a half-mile south of Dodge. Fleming's in Omaha is an outstanding choice to enjoy an exceptional Prime steak, glass of wine or handcrafted cocktail. Valentines' Day Dinner consists of Tomahawk Ribeye, Lobster tail, and shrimp.

Dolce

12317 W Maple Rd, Omaha, NE 68164

Contemporary choice crafting upmarket New American fare & tasting menus amid a warm, relaxed vibe. Choose from market fish uniquely prepared daily, scallops, lamb rack, duck breast, and other culinary delights.

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse

13665 California St, Omaha, NE 68154

Prime Steak. Fine Wine. Premier Service. Conveniently located just north of West Dodge Street between North 144th Street and North 132nd Street, provides an intimate and classic fine dining atmosphere.

801 Chophouse at the Paxton

1403 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68102

Prime cuts of beef, seafood & a large wine selection offered in an elegant, clubby setting. 801 Chophouse is located in the heart of Omaha’s Old Market, nestled inside The Paxton. Enjoy a comfortable but upscale dining atmosphere with romantic lighting, dramatic finishes, and signature leather booths modeled after authentic New York steakhouses of the 1920s. 

Le Voltaire French Restaurant

569 N 155th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154

Chef-owned restaurant serving traditional French dishes along with an extensive wine selection. Creole gratin de fruit de Mer, Assiette de Charcuterie, Escargots de Bourgogne, and Saumon Fumé et Ses Condiments are just some of the featured menu options to complete your romantic setting.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

Are you moving to Omaha in 2023? If you have school-aged children, then you'll probably be interested in finding the best schools in the area. Omaha boasts many top-rated schools for kids of all grade levels. Niche.com has compiled their list of best schools in Omaha for 2023. Here are the top 3 schools they rated for your review.

Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School
400 N HAPPY HOLLOW BLVD
OMAHA, NE 68132

#1 Best High Schools for STEM in Nebraska
#1 Best Private High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Nebraska

Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School is a top rated, private school located in OMAHA, NE. It has 441 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. Tuition is $19,950 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.

A happy parent comments: "Brownell Talbot's Points of Pride make up a comprehensive approach to moral development. Consisting of six components present throughout our school community, they promote core ethical values as the basis of good character."

Search Homes for Sale Near Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School

Mount Michael Benedictine High School
22520 MOUNT MICHAEL RD
ELKHORN, NE 68022

#1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Catholic High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Boarding High Schools in Nebraska

Mount Michael Benedictine School is a Catholic college preparatory residential/day high school rooted in Benedictine values for young men committed to excellence. Students develop spiritually, intellectually, and socially through the comprehensive curriculum and communal experience to become future leaders.

One student remarks: "Absolutely love the small student population. Really got to know all of my fellow students super well and the boarding aspect only helped in that. Amazing teachers who love their job, and I truly enjoyed going to school everyday!"

Search Homes for Sale in the Elkhorn School District

Millard North High School
1010 S 144TH ST
OMAHA, NE 68154

#1 Best Public High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best College Prep Public High Schools in Nebraska
#4 Best High Schools for STEM in Nebraska

Millard North High School is a top rated, public school located in OMAHA, NE. It has 2,592 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 71% of students are at least proficient in math and 75% in reading.

A Senior had this to say: "I love how diverse Millard North is. You are introduced to people of diverse backgrounds, thoughts, and experiences. Also, there are many ways to get involved and make an impact at our school. You can join many different clubs and activities to explore your passions. You can also customize your academic experience at Millard North. There are college level, honors, or standard courses here."

Search all Homes for Sale in the Millard School District

No doubt you’ve most likely received solicited and unsolicited advice from family and friends about selling your home this year. But are they really in a position to offer advice in this area? With a challenging market, economic uncertainty, and relevant local market conditions, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos of it all. Add to that high inflation and interest rates and it can make your head swirl. But what it really means is that in this market, as in any competitive market, you NEED the knowledge and resources of an excellent real estate team to help you win!

Working with a Top Real Estate Team is the single greatest decision you’ll make when selling your home. Experienced agents have been through challenging markets before so they are better equipped to advise you through every step of the process, from getting your home ready for the market- upgrades & repairs, showings, negotiating contracts, and more. Today’s home buyers are more discriminating, the market is NOT what it was 6 months ago. Deferred maintenance on homes is not going to be acceptable, showings have to be readily available, and contingencies are not going to be waived. Your real estate agent is worth every penny you will pay them and more. The resources they have available to them, and you can be the difference between a sale or no sale, and possibly thousands of dollars on the sale itself. Did you know that most homeowners who opted to sell on their own netted 16% less on the home sale? (National Association of Realtors)

Clean & Repair- This is the first step in preparing your home. Go through the house room by room. Deep clean every square inch- after you’ve purged items you no longer need or want and packed away unnecessary items to make each room and closet look larger.  Once you’ve accomplished that goal, make a list of all repairs needed in each room and complete them one by one. You’ll want each room move-in ready without defects or repairs needed.

Depersonalize each room- You want the house to look uncluttered, clean, and organized and presented as a ‘clean slate’ for potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in the home. In order to achieve this it is important to remove personal items, collections, and photos from walls and shelves.

Give dull rooms a coat of paint- Refresh dull-looking rooms with a fresh coat of paint. Nothing perks up a room better than a fresh coat of paint. Just remember to keep things neutral so your new buyers can decorate the home to suit their needs.

Boost your Curb Appeal- You have one chance to make a great first impression, and for some home buyers, that is going to be driving past your home. Make sure the outside of your home is well-kept and welcoming. In wintertime, it’s important to ensure sidewalks and driveways are cleared of snow and ice and that your front door/porch area is well-lit. Make it more welcoming by adding a wreath or chair and mat.

Your chosen agent will assist you in staging your home for its entrance to the market and all home showings. They will also work diligently to price your home appropriately for the market today and then negotiate all offers and guide you hand-in-hand through the process.

If you’re considering selling and have questions, please reach out to our team. We’re happy to sit down with you and review the process, and our enhanced marketing plan and get you on your way to a SOLD sign in your yard.

Nancy & The Heim- Berg Team

402-677-9024

www.OmahaAreaLiving.com

We may be in colder weather, but that doesn’t mean outdoor fun and hiking must come to a halt! Omaha has such an awesome natural landscape and incredible trails that offer year-round walking and hiking fun. All you need is to layer up, grab a great pair of boots, gloves, a hat, and some water and provisions and you’re ready to go. Here are some of the trails we recommend.

Big Papio Trail- A city trail meandering through neighborhood parks, residential & industrial spaces and stretching from Hefflinger Park to Seymour Smith Park.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park- Our gorgeous state park not only offers great hiking & walking trails, but also has cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, and ice fishing available. Bring the entire family and make a day of it in the great outdoors.

Fontenelle Forest- It’s hard to believe that this amazing natural wonderland is just minutes from Omaha! Featuring a mile-long boardwalk along the Mississippi River that is just breathtaking. You can also choose to take a dirt trail deeper into the woods for a more adventurous hike.  

The Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge- Connected to more than 150 miles of nature trails, the 3,000-foot-long walkway crosses the Mississippi river and offers astounding views of the city of Omaha. Great trail for a quick hike, or if you want to be adventurous and connect to the many miles of nature trails for a day-long hike.

Enjoy the scenery and beauty of the winter season while doing some cardio in the brisk cooler air. More blogs to come about winter activities to enjoy all season long in Omaha, so check back frequently.

The holidays bring so much joy and fun to our homes and families, but when they are finished, the clean-up begins. And let’s be honest, this clean up isn’t the ordinary ‘after a weekday meal’ clean up. It’s time to do some heavy-duty cleaning to get your home ready and running efficiently to take on the new year. Let’s look at the 5 most important areas to focus on for the ‘deep clean’ after the holidays.

1. Dishwasher- If your home is anything like ours your dishwasher has probably been running non-stop. Especially if you’ve hosted overnight guests as well. Think of all the food residue from your holiday dishes that your dishwasher has scrubbed through?! Remember, all that gunk can build up on the inside walls, racks, and bottom of the dishwasher itself as well. However, there’s good news! It’s easy to clean and get rid of that and have your dishwasher looking and running like it's brand new again. You’ll want to start by handwashing all removable filters.  Then put together 1 scoop of dishwasher-approved cleaning solution into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run on your dishwasher’s hottest setting. Voilà - that’s it!  When finished it’ll be good as new and ready to tackle anything you toss in it.
2. Refrigerator- First and foremost, start by tossing out all the old & expired foods and any bottles or containers that are empty or nearly there. Then set aside all remaining items in your refrigerator so that you can clean inside.  Start with a cleaning solution and hot water.  Wipe down all shelves and bins. Remove any pieces possible to scrub thoroughly. Once everything has been scrubbed inside, organize and replace foods and condiments back in. Place a baking soda deodorizer inside to eliminate any future odors. Not done yet. If you haven’t already done so, pull out the refrigerator and vacuum off the vents in the back. They tend to get very dusty and gunky which makes it more difficult for your refrigerator to run efficiently.
3. Oven- Not my favorite, but has to be done, especially if you’ve had spills cooking or baking those delicious treats for the season. Whether you choose to use an oven cleaner or opt for a natural solution, make sure you have a pair of rubber gloves handy. Remove racks before starting. If you’re interested in a natural solution, here’s some to try:  Oven Cleaner- ½ C Baking Soda, 3 Tablespoons water. Mix in a small bowl then use scrub brush and sponge. For Degreasing your Oven try 1 C White Vinegar, baking soda, and water. First put water in the spray bottle and spray your oven. Sprinkle baking soda onto the wet areas and let stand for about an hour. Empty the water from the spray bottle and put in the vinegar. Spritz the vinegar onto the baking soda and it will begin to bubble. Use a sponge to wipe away all residue.
4. Stove Hood- This is one area that captures a lot of greases, so it needs a great cleaning after the holidays. Use your cleaning solution and hot water to submerge the filter for 20 minutes. Then scrub clean and replace back into the hood.
5. Bathrooms- Whether you’ve just entertained for an evening or two or had overnight guests for days at a time, your bathrooms are in desperate need of a deep clean and sanitizing. Again, mix your favorite cleaning solution with hot water, grab some clean towels and wipe down counters, drawers, handles, toilet surfaces, and tub & shower. Once finished, spray on a sanitizing solution and let dry. Next using a sanitizing cleaner, scrub toilets until they sparkle.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!