Real Estate Information Archive

5 Important Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Omaha

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

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!

These Top Pizza Places in Omaha Serve the Perfect Pies

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

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!

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How to Keep Your Omaha Home Clean All the Time

Monday, February 13, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

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!

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Enjoy Valentine's Day at These Top Romantic Restaurants in Omaha

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

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!

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