Real Estate Information

So the time has finally come to start the search for your first home. Your mind starts racing as you begin thinking of the style you like, the finishes you want, and how you will decorate to turn the house into your very own home. What an exciting time! As you begin your search, we wanted to leave you with a few tips and tricks that we hope will prove to be helpful during a time that can seem a little overwhelming. Enjoy! 

-Do your homework: It is very easy for your excitement to take over as you jump into the search for your first home. But it is very important to take the time to do your homework and see what are must haves and what you can live without. This will help you organize your thoughts and stay focused during your search. 

-Start shopping: After you do your homework, you will have a better idea of exactly what you are looking for and can start looking online for house information and listings. 

-Find a good agent: We can’t stress this step enough. Especially for first time home buyers, the process of buying a house can be a little stressful and overwhelming at first. You want to make sure you find an agent that not only takes the time to understand exactly what you want and is experienced, but one that is also going to be by your side and fight for your best interests during the entire process.

-Choose and lender and pick a loan: This is something you will want to also do a lot of homework on and find the right lender and mortgage that is right for you. 

-Go look around: While the World Wide Web is filled with information, nothing can trump actually going to open houses, walking the properties and seeing homes in person. 

-Make an offer: Once you find your dream home, you and your agent will craft an offer that works for you and spells out items such as price, contingencies and closing dates. 

It is officially Spring time in Omaha! And while the weather doesn’t quite feel like Spring, there are still many events happening this weekend all over town for you to enjoy. Check out below for a few of these events and spend a few days outside the house and exploring beautiful Omaha! 

What: Forest Animals Program
When: March 23rd 
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum 

What: American Adventure
When: March 22nd – June 2nd 
Where: Durham Museum 

What: Arctic Wonderland 
When: March 22 – April 8th 
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum 

What: 31st Annual Orchid Show and Sale
When: March 24th – March 25th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

What: Metamorphosis: From Reclaimed Plastics to Works of Art
When: March 22nd – May 13th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

What: Old Market District Walking Food Tour
When: March 24th – June 26th 
Where: Omaha Culinary Tours 

What: Energy Explorers Exhibit
When: March 22nd – April 23rd
Where: Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum 

What: The Art of The Brick Exhibition
When: March 22nd – April 22nd
Where: 222 North 12st St. Omaha, NE 68102

What: World/Play: Prints, Photographs, and Paintings be Ed Ruscha
When: March 22nd – May 6th 
Where: Joslyn Art Museum 

There are so many beautiful golf courses located around Omaha that are ideal for a day outdoors perfecting your swing and enjoying the natural beauty of the city. Omaha has 16 public and semi-public courses with incredible tree lines fairways, tricky sand traps and rolling hills, and each course is filled with challenges and character for every golfer to enjoy and test their skills. We have listed these courses below and hope you find the course that’s right for you to enjoy a day teeing off! 

Benson Park Public Golf Course | 5333 N 72nd St Omaha, NE 68134
*18 holes / Par 72 

Eagle Run Public Golf Course | 3435 N 132nd St Omaha, NE 68164
*9 holes / Par 32

Elkhorn Ridge Public Golf Course | 20033 Elkhorn Ridge Dr Elkhorn, NE 68022
*9 holes / Par 27

Elmwood Park Public Golf Course | 6232 Pacific St Omaha, NE 68106
*18 holes / Par 68

Indian Creek Public Golf Course | 3825 N 202nd Elkhorn, NE 68022
*Three 9 hole courses

Johnny Goodman Public Golf Course | 6111 S 99th St Omaha, NE 68127
*18 holes / Par 72

Knolls Public Golf Course |  11630 Sahler St Omaha, NE 68164
*18 holes / Par 71

Milt’s Golf Center | 6402 Q St Omaha, NE 68117
*9 holes / Par 27

Miracle Hill Golf and Tennis Center | 1401 N 120th St Omaha, NE 68154
*18 holes / Par 70

Pacific Springs Public Golf Course | 16810 Harney St Omaha, NE 68118
*18 holes / Par 70

Pines Country Club (semi-private) | 7516 N 286th St Valley, NE 68064
*18 holes / Par 72

Spring Lake Public Golf Course | 4020 Hoctor Blvd Omaha, NE 68107
*9 holes / Par 35

Steve Hogan Golf Course at Miller Park | 6301 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68111
*9 holes / Par 27

Stone Creek Public Golf Course | 6220 N 160th Ave Omaha, NE 68116
*27 holes / Par 72

Tiburon Golf (semi-private) | 10302 S 168th St Omaha, NE 68136
*27 holes / Par 36

Warren Swigart Public Golf Course | 3865 Parkview Dr Omaha, NE 68134
*9 holes / Par 27

Westwood Heights Public Golf Course | 12929 W Center Rd Omaha, NE 68144
*9 holes / Par 27

It’s that time of year again! St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and there is plenty to do to celebrate around Omaha thus Saturday. Young and old alike will have their pick of activities and adventures to dive into (and even some green beer for those folks 21+). So grab your green attire and get ready to have some St. Patrick's Day fun around Omaha! 

 

The Killigans St. Patrick’s Day Kick Off
Where: Maloney’s Irish Pub
When: 8pm
*Cover charge of $5

St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
Where: Lauritzen Gardens
When: 10am – 2pm
*$10 for adults, $5 for children 

World of Wheels
Where: CentryLink Center 
When: 10am – 6pm

St. Patrick’s Day at O’Connor’s Irish Pub
Where: O’Connor’s Irish Pub
When: All day
*Free entry 

The General John O’Neill Wreath Laying Ceremony
Where: The Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 
When: 9:30am
*Free entry 

Shamrocked, Feature String Theory 
Where: Bar 415
When: 10pm
*Free entry 

St. Patrick’s Trolley Crawl
Where: Scorz Sports Center
When: 3 – 9pm

St. Patrick’s Day at Omaha Children’s Museum
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum
When: 9am – 5pm

St. Patrick’s Day Fun!
Where: Sump Memorial Library 
When: 10:30 – 11:30am

As you start your home buying journey, as exciting as the process is, we understand the confusion and stress that can arise from certain situations and steps that need to be done along the way. You may have new words and phrases thrown at you that you may want to skip over and not pay too much attention to, but at the end of the day it is so important to equip yourself with all the knowledge you possibly can. Two terms you may run across on your home buying journey are pre-qualified and pre-approved. And while the two terms sound similar, there are some pretty significant differences that we believe are crucial for you to understand and for us to touch on in today’s blog post.   

One of the first steps that home buyers will go through in the mortgage process is to get pre-qualified, which can typically be done over the phone or online. This step essentially is when you provide your lender with an overview of your financial picture, including things such as incomes, debts and assets. After evaluating all the information, the lender will then provide an estimate of the mortgage that you may qualify for. We want you to note that the pre-qualification process will not incorporate your credit report and is not a complete look at your ability to purchase the home you may have your eye on. It is simply a process that can give you an idea of potentially what you may be approved for.

On the other hand, the pre-approval process is a little more in depth and and can be much more of an involved process. Instead of just a financial overview as in the pre-qualification process, the pre-approval process will require the home buyer to complete an official mortgage application, as well as provide things such as bank statements and credit reports. After a thorough assessment is made, the lender will be able to give an exact mortgage amount that the buyer is approved for. It is important to note here that being pre-approved will give the seller more confidence in you as a suitable buyer because you will be able to attain financing in order to purchase the home, therefore making the buying process a little smoother – and lets face it, that is always a good thing!

 

As promised, we are continuing last week’s blog post with items outside the home to keep in mind during the selling process. Everything from the garage, backyard and exterior of the home should be organized and tidy to ensure buyers see the full potential of the home. We have listed a few items below in each category that we hope aid you in your selling process. Enjoy! 

Garage:
-Pack any items away that you don’t use on a daily/weekly basis
-Repaint any areas that are dirty or has chipping
-Clean out and sweep garage so it looks nice and neat

Exterior:
-Clean, repaint or replace the front door if needed 
-Repaint the trim and exterior if necessary
-Sweep all patios, walkways, decks and porches
-Clean any stained or dirty concrete with a pressure washer
-If you have a deck with wood, re-staining it can make it look new and fresh
-Stage outdoor furniture to show how the space can be utilized
-Wash the windows inside and outside 
-Replace any rotten wood that is on the exterior of the home

Yard:
-Cut down any plants or shrubs that block windows 
-Remove dead plants from the yard
-Freshly mow, edge and fertilize the lawn on a regular basis
-It is never a bad idea to incorporate fresh flowers for a little splash of color

Other items throughout the home to keep an eye on and replace/clean as needed include light switch covers, blinds, carpets, light bulbs, doors and door knobs, exterior and interior paint and AC/heater vents.  

Selling your home can seem like an overwhelming process, especially when you stop and think about all the little items that need to be completed to make the house ready and appealing to buyers. Knowing this, we wanted to help break some of these tasks down in hopes to ease your mind and make the process a little easier for you and your family. With that said, this week and next weeks’ blog topics are centered around items to keep in mind before the house goes on the market, as well as while the house is being shown. We are going to start this week with a checklist of everything you still need for the indoors. Enjoy!

Kitchen:
-Make sure to organize the pantry so it looks neat and tidy 
-Clear off all items from the countertops 
-Clean the microwave, stove and oven
-Remove any magnets and pictures from the refrigerator doors 
-Put away and organize any cleaning products/mops/brooms
-Clean tile grout and be sure to bleach it if necessary 
-For showings, put away pet food and water dishes
-Make sure the garbage is empty prior to each showing

Living and Family Rooms:
-Make sure tables are clear of clutter
-Remove any furniture in the room that makes it feel small and closed off
-Put away any toys from children/dogs
-Incorporate decorative throws and pillows to make the space soft and inviting 

Bedrooms:
-Clear off any surfaces such as dressers and bedside tables
-Organize closets and keep closet doors closed
-Make beds everyday and invest in new linens if necessary 
-Repair any holes in the walls
-Keep floors clear and be sure to vacuum frequently 

Bathrooms: 
-Make sure to keep out hand soap or a new bar of soap
-Make sure all surfaces are clear and clean
-Replace old hand towels with new decorative ones if necessary 
-If you have a shower curtain, make sure it looks fresh or purchase a new one
-Sanitize countertops and any moldy areas within the bathroom
-Organize countertops so they look neat and clean 
-Always keep toilet lids closed during showings 
-Make sure garbage cans are empty
-Replace caulking if necessary 

Laundry:
-Put away (or organize) any laundry soap and supplies
-Remove all clothing from the room (dirty or clean)
-Make sure floors are clear and clean – vacuum and mop frequently
-Keep all surfaces clear and clean 
-Since many laundry rooms do not have any natural light coming in, it may be a good idea to use high watt light bulbs to make it look brighter in the room

As the first weekend of February came and went, we are left with the excitement and anticipation of Valentine’s Day quickly approaching. There are many fun family events being held throughout Omaha to celebrate this happy and loving time of year. Everything from storytime and craft making, to charity events and swim classes - there is sure to be something for every age and interest. We have listed a few of these events below and hope they are the perfect destination to create beautiful and lasting memories for you and your family!

 

What: Helping Hands for Valentine’s Day
Where: The Wonder Nook
When: February 4th from 2-4pm 
*This is a free event 

What: Valentine’s Family Swim
Where: Mockingbird Hills Community Center
When: February 2nd from 7-9pm
*$1 per person

What: Tween/Teen Valentine’s Program
Where: La Vista Public Library
When: February 3rd from 2-3pm 

What: Movie Day – “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown”
Where: Ralston Public Library
When: February 4th at 2pm

What: Valentine’s Day Storytime
Where: Florence Branch Library
When: February 9th from 10:30-11:30am
*This is a free event

What: Valentine’s Day Storytime 
Where: Washington Branch Library
When: February 10th from 10:30-11am
*This is a free event 

What: Families Love Nature
Where: Hitchcock Nature Center
When: February 10th from 3-5pm
*Free entrance with purchase of a $3 park permit 

What: Valentine’s Day Family Craft
Where: Abrahams Branch Library
When: February 11th from 1:30-2:30pm
*This is a free event 

What: Valentine’s Day Party 
Where: Sorensen Community Center
When: February 14th from 10am-12pm

What: Get Crafty: Valentine’s Day Bird Feeder Craft for Kids
Where: Washington Branch Library
When: February 14th from 4-5pm
*This is a free event

What: Valentine’s Day 
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum
When: February 14th from 10am-4pm

What: Valentine’s Day Bingo 
Where: Ralston Public Library
When: February 14th at 3:30pm 

What: Teen Valentine’s Day Aftermath Party
Where: Abrahams Branch Library
When: February 15th from 6:30-8pm
*This is a free event