Omaha's Elite Real Estate Group: 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

October 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

There are many great Omaha area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 402-957-1116 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Hello, and welcome back to another addition of Omaha's Elite Group's Market Snapshot! Here are the numbers for October:

Average days on market: 45
Closed units: 913
Inventory: 4.1 months
List-to-sale: 98%
Interest rates: 4%-4.25%

What does all of this mean? Well, 45 days on market is a great number - it's only 7 days more than we saw in September. This means that if you were to list your home today, you could expect a contract within 45 days. We took a look at all the listings we sold this year and over half of our homes actually sold quicker; if your home is in good condition and priced properly, you can expect a contract in only two or three weeks.

The number of closed units is down about 10% since September, but that's to be expected as the colder weather sets in and the holidays approach. Despite the four months of inventory, we're still in a neutral market; buyers can still find great deals out there and sellers can still sell close to listing price. The list-to-sale ratio has stayed pretty steady at 98%, so you can expect to sell for 2% under the list price. Finally, interest rates are still incredibly low at 4%-4.25%. If you're investing, you're probably going to get rates over 5%, whereas FHA loans are going for a little under that 4% mark.

We want to thank everyone who has visited our blog throughout the year, we've been getting a great response. If there is anything specific you would like us to cover in these market updates, don't hesitate to reply. We would love to touch base on any topics surrounding the real estate market.

We appreciate the support, and have a great day!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Omaha Real Estate Market Update for October 2014

We are very excited to share with you today another market snapshot for the Omaha real estate market. We have a lot of great numbers to show you, so let’s get started:

The average days on market for a home is at 38 days, down from 43 days in August.
There were 1,043 closed units in September.
Our inventory is steady, right at 3.6 months. There are still a lot of good homes out there for purchase if you are looking for one this Fall.
The list-to-sale ratio is at 97%. Sellers can expect to sell their home for 97% of asking price, while buyers can expect to have the seller pay almost all closing costs. This is a great atmosphere for both buyer and seller.
Interest rates have stayed low all year, hovering around 4%.

Anytime you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Omaha, we are here for you. We would love to come by and give you an in-home market evaluation of your property, even if you don't plan on selling quite yet. If you are a buyer, we'd love to talk to you about your needs and what you are looking for in your next home.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Omaha Real Estate Market Snapshot for Fall 2014

Today we have another market snapshot for you, so you know exactly what's going on in real estate. We have some intriguing statistics we'd like to share with you. Let's get started:

The average days on market in Omaha is currently at 43 days.

Homes are taking about 7 days longer to sell than they did last month, but 43 days is still a great figure for this time of year.

1,171 homes closed in August.

Our inventory is at 3.2 months, with 3,754 homes currently on the market.

The average list-to-sale price is at 98%.

You can expect to get your home sold quickly and for a lot of money. We are also very close to a seller's market. Buyers are benefiting, too. Interest rates are still around 4.25-4.5%. These rates won't be around forever, and locking one in at this low rate could save you thousands in the long run.

If you have any questions about the Omaha market, or about anything else real estate related, let us know. We are always looking for new video topics, so keep them coming via phone or email.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Market Snapshot for July 2014

A quick update on the Omaha real estate market for you. We have a pretty balanced market as we reach the end of summer, meaning it's still a good time to buy or sell a home in the metro area.

Here are the numbers from July:
Average days on market: 36 days, down about 7 days since June.

Closed Homes: 1,196.
Inventory: 3.2 months, at 3,788 units.
List-to-sale ratio: 98%
Interest rates: 4.125%-4.5%

As you can see, the market in Omaha is looking pretty good. Sellers are getting just about everything they're asking for, and buyers can expect to have their closing costs covered if the deal is negotiated properly.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in this great market, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We'd love to be your Omaha real estate resource!

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Around Omaha: Jazz on the Green

In this week's "Around Omaha" segment, we visit the beautiful Turner Park at Midtown Crossing for some fantastic entertainment for people of all ages. Jazz on the Green has been a staple of the city for almost 30 years since starting at the Joslyn Art Museum in 1985 - and is going strong to this day.

Jazz on the Green features a variety of acts - from big band and swing to Latin rhythms and funk melodies. The free concert series is perfectly situated at Midtown Crossing, where great food, drink, and shopping are in no short supply. There are also street vendors, stuff for the kids, and a movie theater across the street.

Outdoor entertainment doesn't get much better than this. Bring your pets, some lawn chairs, and a picnic basket for a night of great tunes and wonderful people. Jazz on the Green is on Thursdays at 7:30 pm at Turner Park. The last concert is on August 14, so come on down next week and join in the fun. You don't want to miss it!

We look forward to seeing you here next week!

Monday, July 21, 2014

June 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

Today I will be updating you on the market trends we saw in the month of June. We want to ensure you know what's happening in the Omaha area so you can make sound real estate decisions. Things are looking pretty good:

The average days on market has decreased by 5 days.
The total amount of closed units was 1,273.
Right now, if no homes get listed on the market, we have 2.9 months of inventory. This makes it a seller's market, which we haven't seen in Omaha for 10 years! This is great news for both sellers and buyers.
The list-to-sale price is holding strong at 98% - which means a buyer can expect to pay about 2% under the listing price and have the seller cover all closing costs if negotiated properly.
Finally, we're still seeing strong interest rates, which are between 4.25%-4.5% if you have good credit.

As you can see, now is an exciting time to buy or sell in the Omaha area. For any questions you may have on conditions specific to your area of town, don't hesitate to contact my team. If you have any issues or concerns, I'd be happy to help you out personally.

Give me a call at 402-957-1116 or shoot me an email at Info@OmahasElite.com. And don't forget to keep an eye out for the return of our "Around Omaha" series, in which we'll be exploring Jazz on the Green at Turner Park!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Around Omaha: College World Series Edition

In this week's "Around Omaha" segment, we are here at the opening day of the 2014 NCAA Men's College World Series. This is a great time in the city of Omaha and if you haven't checked it out yet, you need to. There is a wide variety of different foods, entertainment, and games that make this a fun environment for all ages, regardless if you are a baseball fan or not. We thought it would be a good idea to ask some visitors what they thought of both the CWS and Omaha.

Two young baseball players from Iowa remarked about how much they love the games. There are numerous stores, vendors, and activities for people of all ages, including the FanFest area where you can try your luck in the batting cages.

We talked to a couple from Dallas, Texas who are here to see The Longhorns play. They told us how much they love the city, especially the farmer's market. They said the weather was beautiful and the culture, like the people, was great.

Finally, we caught up with a few of America's finest, one from Arizona, and one from Georgia, who pointed out the great steakhouses and the Henry Doorly Zoo as additional bonuses to complement the great atmosphere of Omaha.

Thanks for joining us at the 2014 NCAA Men's College World Series. We look forward to talking with you soon!

Monday, June 16, 2014

May 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

Omaha Real Estate Snapshot for May 2014
Today I will be giving you a sneak peak into what happened in our metro real estate market this May. Hopefully this data can help you to make more informed decisions and maximize your opportunities when you're buying or selling in Omaha.

Average days on market was 48 days, which is down 4 days from April.
In total, 1,195 units were closed in May, which is a healthy increase over last month.
Our inventory is at 3.1 months (or roughly 3,677 properties left on the market).

We are still in a neutral market, but we're heading towards a seller's market according to these numbers. Once we drop below 3 months of inventory, you may want to consider putting your home up for sale. A lot of homes are selling in less than 2 months, and some are even selling in 2-3 weeks.

Average List to Sale price ratio is at 98% which is consistent with numbers from previous months. This means that we're seeing sellers get a little bit more money for their homes.
Interest rates are sitting right at 4.25-4.5% for people that have the best credit. However, these rates are expected to rise in the coming months. This means that if you're considering taking out a mortgage loan, don't wait!

If you have any other questions about the real estate market here in Omaha, then please don't hesitate to contact us via phone or email. We can give you more detailed breakdowns of what is happening in each neighborhood in our city.

I would be more than happy to address any of your issues or concerns. Call me at 402-957-1116 or email me at info@OmahasElite.com.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

April 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

Today I will be updating you on what happened in our metro real estate market in the month of April. Hopefully this data can help you make more informed decisions and maximize your opportunities when you are looking to buy or sell a home.

Average days on market was 52 days, which is down 2 days from March.

In total, 943 units were closed for the month of April. This is a significant increase from March (841 closed properties).

Our inventory is still at 3.6 months (or roughly 3,440 properties left on the market).

Average List to Sale price ratio is at 97% which is consistent with previous months. One could expect, if they negotiate the right way, that a seller would pay a majority of their closing costs and they would get the home for around 3% below the listing price.

Lastly, we have the interest rates, which are sitting at 4.25-4.5% for people that have the best credit. However, these rates are expected to rise by 1% by the end of 2015.

This means that if you are thinking about buying, now would be the time to do so. You can buy a home much more affordably right now than you would be able to in just a year's time.

If you are curious about your credit or have any other questions about real estate in the Omaha area, then please do not hesitate to contact my team.

I would be more than happy to address any of your issues or concerns. Call me at 402-957-1116 or email me at Info@OmahasElite.com.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Around Omaha: Henry Doorly Zoo Announces African Grasslands Exhibit, the Largest in its History

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo has just announced a new African Grasslands exhibit that will feature open spaces for unobstructed views of zebras, rhinos, lions, and much more wildlife. Above is an artist's depiction of how the new exhibit will be displayed.

The $70 million dollar project will be the largest in the history of the zoo, and will encompass 28 acres of full-immersion outdoor habitat featuring breathtaking panoramic views.

Beginning this summer, construction will start on Phase I of the project. This includes major exhibits for elephants, giraffes, white rhinoceros, cheetahs, impalas, zebras and more. It will also feature mixed species habitats, pools for animals and interactive demonstration areas such as a petting zoo and a giraffe feeding platform. There will also be a large African Lodge at the center of the exhibit where private functions can be hosted.

The first phase of this project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2016. Phase II will feature the top predators of Africa and their prey, and that project is expected to begin in 2017. New restrooms and concession stands are also being carefully planned to accommodate this new exhibit, which will be located where the existing zebra and rhino exhibits are.

This is very exciting news for Omaha and all of the surrounding areas. For a zoo that is already ranked as one of the top destinations in the world, this is fantastic news.

Thanks for tuning in to my blog. I just wanted to update you about what's going on in the city of Omaha. As always, contact me if you need help finding real estate to buy or sell.

Friday, April 18, 2014

March 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

What did we see in Omaha real estate for March 2014?

Average days on market was 54 days. This figure has gone down by 10 days, indicating increased market activity. We're really excited about this because Omaha's Elite Real Estate Group had an average days on market of less than 30 days in the last three months.
In total, 841 properties were closed for the month of March, which is a significant increase from February when we closed around 600 properties.
Our inventory is currently at 3.9 months (or roughly 3,249 properties left on the market). We expect this number to continue to steadily decrease as homes continue to sell rapidly now that we're in warmer Spring weather.

We're still sitting in a neutral market, but we expect the increased activity in real estate to cause inventory to fall below a 3 month supply, which will situate us in a seller's market.

Average List to Sale price ratio is still at 98%. As we get closer to a seller's market, we believe this number could approach 100%.

Also, a buyer in Omaha can expect a seller to pay all of the closing costs right now, which will be about 3% of the total sales price. As we approach a seller's market these home sellers will not be as willing to pay all the costs associated with closing a property.

When I look at these numbers, I think it would be appropriate to say that it's a good time to buy and that it's also a good time to sell. One thing that is for sure is that the real estate market in Omaha will be picking up its pace as we head into the summer months.

You can also take Advantage of our Reverse Prospecting Software

Today I also wanted to take the time to tell you about an exclusive offer that we've never done before. This is aimed towards the followers of our video blog, and we have an amazing tool on our website that we refer to as reverse prospecting. What you can do if you're interested is reply to this email with your current Omaha address. I will then enter your address into our marketing tool and we can generate leads into our current buyer database.

This will give us an idea of how many active, interested buyers there are for your property with just the click of a button. It will do a search based on what our active buyers are looking at in terms of price, location, and style of home. This is free of charge and I will send you an email within 24 hours that will show you how many active buyers there are for your property in Omaha.

If you're thinking about listing your home anytime in the near future, we think this would be great a opportunity for you. We can also run a free market analysis on your home to give you an idea of what your home would be worth in our Omaha marketplace.

If you have any questions or comments for me, please contact me. I would love to address any of your issues or concerns. Call me at 402-957-1116 or email me at info@OmahasElite.com.

Monday, March 17, 2014

February 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

After a great response to our video blog last month, I'm here again to update you with some numbers from the Omaha real estate market. I also want to let you know that we can offer you market snapshots for your respective subdivisions and neighborhoods. Just respond to this video with what you want to know about your neighborhood and we will promptly get back to you with up to date statistics.

What did we see in Omaha real estate for February 2014?

Average days on market was 64 days.
In total, 629 properties were closed for the month of February.
Our inventory is still at 5 months (or roughly 3,196 properties left on the market). Looking at this data, I can say that we are experiencing a neutral market right now.
Average List to Sale price ratio is at 98%. (This is up 1% from last month)

These numbers tell me that it's still a great time to buy and sell in Omaha, and interest rates are still holding steady at about 4.5%.

If you have any questions or comments for me, please contact me. I would love to address any of your Omaha real estate inquiries. Call me at 402-957-1116 or email me at Info@OmahasElite.com.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

January 2014: Omaha Real Estate Snapshot

There are many great Omaha area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (402) 957-1116 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today I have a real estate market snapshot for the Omaha metro area. You can expect these short and informative market updates each and every month. The goal here is to educate you about the real estate market so that you can be successful in all of your endeavors.

To start, I'd like to say that 2013 was a banner year for this city, with over 12,400 unit sales in total. I believe this massive success will carry over to 2014.

What Happened with Omaha real estate in January 2014:

Average days on market was right at 60 days.
627 properties closed in January alone, meaning that someone purchased and took new ownership of these homes.
Our inventory was at 5 months (or roughly 3,136 properties left on the market). This number helps to tell us whether we're in a buyer's market, a seller's market, or a neutral market. If you have 3-7 months of inventory, then you're considered to be in a neutral market, which is right where we're finding ourselves.
Average List to Sale price ratio was 97%. Homes are right now are selling at about 97% of the seller's asking prices. However, what we don't see is that sellers often pay an additional 2-3% in buyer's closing costs.

Overall this is a great market whether you're looking to sell or buy in Omaha.

On a side note, don't forget to check out our free home valuation tool: www.OmahasEliteRealEstateGroup.com/Home-Valuation. Any of our agents are glad to help interpret these results and we can even do a custom market analysis for your home.

If you need any assistance don't hesitate to call us at (402) 957-1116 or reach us via email at: Info@OmahasElite.com.