April 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 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.

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.