Real Estate Information Archive

As we say farewell to February, we welcome March with open arms and all the madness that it has in store! Below we have listed all the can’t-miss events and adventures happening in and around our beautiful city over the next two weeks. You will find everything from First Friday events and theater plays, to castle tours, music concerts, comedy shows, trivia nights and more!

What: Wonders Under Glass at Lauritzen Gardens
When: February 23rd - May 8th
Where: Lauritzen Gardens | 100 Bancroft Street Omaha, NE

What: Outside Mullingar
When: February 24th - March 13th
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse | 6915 Cass Street Omaha, NE

What: Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
When: February 25th - 27th
Where: Orpheum Theater | 409 S 16th Street Omaha, NE

What: Saturday Family Time at KANEKO
When: February 26th - May 28th
Where: KANEKO | 1111 Jones Street Omaha, NE

What: Mudpies at Fontenelle Forest
When: March 1st - 31st
Where: Fontenelle Forest | 1111 N Bellevue Blvd. 

What: Joslyn Castle Public Tours
When: February 27th - May 29th
Where: Joslyn Castle | 3902 Davenport Street Omaha, NE

What: First Friday’s in the Old Market
When: March 4th
Where: Old Market | Harney to Jackson Streets & 10th to 13th Streets Omaha, NE

What: Benson First Friday
When: March 4th
Where: Military Ave & 60th Street Omaha, NE

What: The Color Purple
When: March 4th - 27th
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse | 6915 Cass Street Hawks Mainstage Theatre

What: Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition
When: March 5th - July 3rd
Where: 801 S 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: Mean Girls
When: March 8th - 13th
Where: Orpheum Theater | 409 S 16th Street Omaha, NE

What: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
When: March 5th & 6th
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE

What: #IMomSoHard: The Getaway Tour
When: March 5th
Where: Orpheum Theater | 409 S 16th Street Omaha, NE

What: Black History Month Story Times at Omaha’s Children Museum
When: February 23rd - 27th
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum | 500 S 20th Street Omaha, NE

What: Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill
When: February 23rd - 27th
Where: 801 S 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: Forever Forest
When: February 23rd - April 16th
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum | 500 S 20th Street Omaha, NE 

What: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Orchestra World Tour
When: February 25th
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE

What: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
When: February 26th
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE

What: Mac & Cheese Binge
When: February 26th
Where: 220 South 31st Avenue Omaha, NE

What: Jitterbugs’ Night Out
When: February 25th
Where: 201 S 24th Street Omaha, NE

What: The ARENA at The Backline
When: February 25th
Where: The Backline Comedy Theatre | 1618 Harney Street Omaha, NE

What: High Tea at The Cottonwood Hotel
When: February 26th - May 1st
Where: Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel | 302 S 26th Street Omaha, NE

What: Seniors Understanding Nature: A Journey Along the Platte River
When: March 8th
Where: Fontenelle Forest | 1111 N Bellevue Blvd. 

What: Darci Lynne: My Lips are Sealed (Except When They’re Not)
When: March 6th
Where: Orpheum Theater | 409 S 16th Street Omaha, NE

What: Mallory Celani at The Broken Magic Comedy hour
When: March 5th 
Where: The Backline Comedy Theatre | 1618 Harney Street Omaha, NE

What: Broken Magic Comedy at Tiny House February
When: February 24th
Where: Tiny House Bar | 1411 S 13th Street Omaha, NE

What: Disney Trivia and Dinner at Lula B’s
When: February 23rd
Where: 902 Dodge Street Omaha, NE

Choosing the best home and neighborhood for your needs is of utmost importance to our team.  Please contact us with any questions you may have and check back to view our blog weekly for great home buying and selling tips!

Even for the seasoned buyer the home buying process can prove to not only be stressful, but filled with questions and many moments of uncertainty. The best thing you can do as a buyer is to arm yourself with information prior to beginning your search so you can walk in as prepared as possible. 

Below we dive into 5 frequently asked questions that many home buyers have and provide information on each topic. Let’s jump in:

What is the first step in the home buying process?

Mortgage pre-approval. 

The first step in the home buying process is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Getting pre-approved for a loan will allow the buyer to understand exactly how much home they can afford and search for houses within their set budget. Buyers will need to provide proof of income, proof of assets, employment verification, good credit and other documentation when applying. 

What can I expect my real estate agent to do during the home buying process? 

A lot. 

When it comes time to buy a home, your real estate agent will become your new best friend and biggest advocate. They are the most valuable asset you have as their knowledge and expertise will help you navigate each aspect of the home buying process. Throughout the entire transaction your realtor will not only represent you, but they will be there to educate you on all of your options and answer any questions you have (because there will probably be lots of them!). 

How long does the closing normally take?

It depends. 

Typically you can expect the closing process to take around 30-45 days if you have a conventional mortgage, but every situation is different and timelines can vary. While there are some delays that unfortunately are unavoidable (and frustrating) there are a few things you can do to help ensure things run smoothly including depositing the down payment on time, making sure the loan application is complete and fulfilling all unpaid debts. 

Is it necessary to get a home inspection?

Yes.

Any time you are purchasing a home you should always get an inspection, even if it’s a new construction. Inspections are relatively inexpensive and will provide you with useful knowledge such as structural issues, safety problems, any unwanted pests and/or insects, and overall peace of mind and protection on your largest investment. 

How much should I be saving for a down payment?

Aim for 20% of purchase price.

The magic number many experts say to aim for when it comes to a down payment is at least 20% of the purchase price as it lowers the buyers lending risk. This will allow you to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and added interest to your mortgage payment. As an example, if your dream home is $350,000 you should plan to save around $70,000 for a down payment.

What type of community and home are you searching for? Put our years of local experience and real estate knowledge to work for you. Give us a call or start your customized home search today right here.

We are almost halfway through February and the fun around Omaha is still going strong! Below we have listed events happening in and around our beautiful city over the next two weeks. You will find everything from Valentine’s Day celebrations and events at the children’s museum, to castle tours, music concerts, plays, comedy shows, trivia nights and more! 

What: Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill
When: February 9th - 27th
Where: 801 S 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: Black History Month Story Times at Omaha Children’s Museum
When: February 9th - 27th
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum | 500 S 20th Street Omaha, NE

What: Block Party
When: February 1st - May 1st
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum | 500 S 20th Street Omaha, NE

What: Confluence Exhibit at Gallery 1516
Where: February 9th - 27th
Where: Gallery 1516 | 1516 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE

What: Bright Star
When: February 9th - 13th
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse | 6915 Cass Street Hawks Mainstage Theatre

What: Forever Forest
When: February 9th - April 16th
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum | 500 S 20th Street Omaha, NE

What: Fiddler on the Roof
When: February 9th - 13th
Where: Orpheum Theater | 409 S 16th Street Omaha, NE

What: 56th Annual Omaha Home & Garden Expo/Omaha Lawn, Flower & Patio Show
When: February 10th - 13th
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha | 455 N 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: FORM: Monumental Works
When: February 10th - March 20th
Where: KANEKO | 1111 Jones Street Omaha, NE

What: Wonders Under Glass at Lauritzen Gardens
When: February 9th - May 8th
Where: Lauritzen Gardens | 100 Bancroft Street Omaha, NE

What: Bob Mathews: Portrait and Figures
When: February 11th - 13th
Where: Split Gallery | 2561 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE

What: Valentine Candle Making Workshop
When: February 11th
Where: Nomad Wax Company | 9001 Arbor Street Suite 110 Omaha, NE

What: High Tea at The Cottonwood Hotel
When: February 12th - May 1st
Where: Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel | 302 S 36th Street Omaha, NE

What: The ARENA at The Backline
When: February 11th
Where: The Backline Comedy Theatre | 1618 Harney Street Omaha, NE

What: Joslyn Castle Public Tours
When: February 13th - May 29th
Where: Joslyn Castle | 3902 Davenport Street Omaha, NE

What: Valentines Pop-Up
When: February 11th
Where: 11432 Davenport Street Omaha, NE

What: m-pact
When: February 11th
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE

What: Eric Church: The Gather Again Tour
When: February 11th
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha | 455 N 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: Cupid’s Market at The Empire Room
When: February 12th
Where: 220 S 31st Avenue Suite 4107 Omaha, NE

What: Art Baby
When: February 12th
Where: 144 S 39th Street LL1 Omaha, NE

What: Cupcakes with Cupid at Bella Terre Vineyard
When: February 13th
Where: Bella Terre Vineyard | 23375 Barrus Road Glenwood, IA

What: Yoga at the Zoo: Turtley in Love (Partner Flow)
When: February 12th
Where: 3701 South 10th Street Omaha, NE

What: The Secret Life of Bears
When: February 15th
Where: Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE

What: Fontenelle Forest Kids Tech Day
When: February 19th
Where: 1111 Bellevue Blvd.

What: Disney Trivia and Dinner at Lula B’s
When: February 23rd
Where: 902 Dodge Street Omaha, NE

Be sure to check back each week for more real estate and Omaha, NE community information! Also, are you following us on Facebook? If not, be sure to check us out here! 

If you are looking to sell your Omaha home, chances are you have made a list (either on paper or in your head) of all the projects and improvements you would like to complete before the listing goes live. This can be a stressful time for homeowners and many of the tasks you've outlined may seem daunting from a time perspective as well as a budget. 

Don’t let that discourage you. Here are five areas to focus your efforts to get a great start:

1. While decluttering your home, be ruthless in what you purge. Whether you are selling, donating, or throwing things away, you want to ensure any items that are left in your home are intentional. Potential buyers want to be able to see themselves living in the space, so an uncluttered, neutral space allows them a clean slate to envision their lives in your home. 
2. Details matter! Walk through each room of your home with a discerning eye. Check light switches, baseboards, light fixtures, door handles & hinges, flooring, and walls. Make a list of any and all damage that needs to be fixed. Small items like patches in a wall or replacement of switches or hinges are fairly easy. However, if you find you need faucet replacements or larger items, you may want to hire a handyman to take the stress off of you and knock out chunks of your list at once. 
3. A fresh coat of paint is a great way to refresh almost every room of your home. Not only will it look brighter, it also gives the room and home a "new home" feel. As a side note- remember to choose a neutral palette in your color choices. This allows your potential home buyers to decorate according to their personal style. 
4. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Knowing this, give your front porch and yard a little extra TLC. Look into low-cost projects that offer big-impact curb appeal such as porch lights, new house numbers, a fresh mailbox, welcoming doormat, planters and/or a wreath for the front door. 
5. Finally, we can’t overstate just how important it is to give your home a thorough, deep clean before potential buyers start to tour the space. If you don’t have the time to do this yourself, look into hiring a cleaning service to make sure each surface is shiny-clean and your home is able to put its best foot forward. This includes cabinets, closets, the basement, and the garage. 

If you are looking to sell your Omaha, NE house, be sure to contact our team for more information. Our dedicated, knowledgeable agents are here to provide you with the expert services you need.