Remodeling Magazine in cooperation with the NAR produces a Cost vs. Value Report every year.  This year statistics indicate that nationally home values have fallen 7% while the value of homeowners’ investment in remodeling projects has declines only 3.86%.  This year’s study expanded to 79 local markets of which Omaha was one.  I’ve picked 6 of the top projects with the best return in Omaha.

Omaha’s top projects all fall into the nation’s top projects: decks, siding, windows and kitchens.  Adding a deck, the study shows a resale value of 76.1%.  Improving your home with Fiber Concrete siding gives a 79.9% cost recoup rate.  A minor or major Kitchen remodels show a 73.3 / 72.7% rate.  Replacing windows with new vinyl windows result in a 72.4 recoup cost rate.

It’s important to remember that none of these percentages are guarantees.  NAR recommends you meet with a reputable local contractor to carefully estimate the cost of any job you wish done.  Then contact your real estate Agent to talk about home prices in your neighborhood.  With all the facts you can make an intelligent decision about improving your most valuable asset. 

Please email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com or give me a call at 402-697-4251 to discuss the project you have in mind.  Together we can make certain you achieve your 2009 housing goals.  Happy New Year!!

You can do a lot to protect your home from thieves.  If a burglar is met with preemptive measures he will most likely move on to an easier target.  Your home’s first lines of defense are the doors and windows.  Adding security screen doors on all entries will prevent thieves from having easy access to your locks.  A stout dowel rod cut to fit the sliding track of a sliding door will prevent it opening.  Track locks will accomplish the same end and are inexpensive too.

Don’t leave your windows open.  While this is not a problem this time of year in Nebraska, it is an easy entry into your home.  If you must leave your windows open in warmer weather invest in track locks for your windows.  This allows the window to be open no more than 2” so you can enjoy fresh air but it will deter a burglar from opening it further.

Simple things such as offering to watch your neighbor’s house in return for them watching yours, keeping bushes and shrubbery cut low, and closing drapes and blinds can help a great deal.  Keep all entries well lit and light up dark spots on your property.  If you can afford it, install a security system.  Best of all, get a dog.  They are still a terrific lines of defense. Dogs have lots of other marvelous benefits as well.

For more home security tips please give me a call at 402-697-4251 or email me at Marie.Otis@cbshome.com.  As your full-service real estate agent, I’m eager to talk to you.  You have my best wishes for a happy, safe Holiday Season.

According to Mr. Lieber, first-time homebuyers have a lot of advantages right now.  First, they don’t “have to sell their old place before buying a new one.” Second, housing prices have dropped and third, interest rates are low. 

But before you take the plunge Mr. Lieber suggests you stick to the basics such as making certain that the mortgage payment, taxes and insurance will not exceed 28% of your pre-tax income.  He warns that even if your lender were to pre-approve you for more that you hold yourself to the mark.  You may find it necessary to get your credit rating score as high as possible.  If you find your credit score less than 720 then you need to stop using your credit cards for several months and pay down the balance.  Make certain you make every payment deadline as well.  If your credit score is above 720 you can qualify for best mortgage rates.  Still, to be safe, I would ask your mortgage lender what credit score they require before granting the best rates.

Finally, consider staying in your new home for a considerable length of time - say 10 years – if you wish to make money on the large investment of a home.  Who can say how quickly the economy will recover?  Buying a home is a long-term investment.  If you’re considering venturing out into the housing market, give me a call at 402-697-4251 or email me at Marie.Otis@cbshome.com.  I know the Omaha Metro Real Estate Market so let me be your guide.

Before you sign on the dotted line contact the local police or sheriff departments to get crime statistics for your neighborhood. The correct department and phone number or websites are another thing a good agent will make available to you. 

But general safety is a more subjective matter.  Drive through the neighborhood you are considering.  It is recommended that a potential resident should drive through the neighborhood during the day and again in the evening.  By law, your agent can’t offer an opinion about whether a neighborhood is safe or not.  So this is a task you must tackle on your own.  Believe me when I tell you it is certainly worth the time and effort.

If I can help you with school information or crime statistics be certain to give me a call at 402-967-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com. 

If you and your children are trivia fans then check out www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/index.  This site has it all. Facts and stories about Thanksgiving and celebrations throughout the country. The history of Thanksgiving is important to me so I checked out www.History.com/Thanksgiving.  A surprise site for me was at www.festivals.iloveindia.com/thanks-giving/presidential/after-lincoln/index.html. This site has proclamations by American Presidents starting with President Lincoln.  In these proclamations you can read how celebrations and the meaning of Thanksgiving changed through the generations.

For fun crafts, recipes, thanksgiving activities and video guides, check out www.FamilyFun.com/thanksgiving.  This site has information and lots of fun things to try.  We are living in the computer age and these sites can certainly enhance the experience for you and your family.  And everyone just might learn and thing or two.

Have a joyous Thanksgiving.

As I’ve said before, if you can afford to buy now then do it.  You are going to get your best bargains now before the end of the year.  If you already have a home and would like to “move up” then consider this: you may take a small hit on your current home if you sell it now but, most likely, it will be off set by the gains you’ll realize when you buy your next home. 

You’re going to get a lot of home for your money in this housing market.  Certainly you need a clear head and a strong hand to guide you through this market.  It can be done and you can come out a winner.

I’m always ready to be your guide in this process.  Feel free to give me a call at 402-967-4251 or email me at Marie.Otis@cbshome.com.  I look forward to visiting with you.

I also learned of ways to teach my children about Veterans Day.  A couple of my favorite ways was to encourage your children to interview the Veterans in their own families or among your friends.  This way, children can learn first hand what these family members did to serve their country.  The second idea was to have your children make thank you cards for the Veterans they know.  What a wonderful idea – fun, personal and so meaningful.

Our Veterans deserve our thanks and our honor of their personal sacrifices.  Take the time to tell them how much you appreciate them.  If you have a way you celebrate Veterans Day and the Veterans you know, please take the time to use the comments feature to let me know.  You’re also welcome to call me at 402-697-4851 or email me at Marie.Otis@cbshome.com.

First, get your furnace inspected by a HVAC professional.  It’s definitely worth of the money to ensure you family’s comfort.  Also make certain you stock up on furnace filters and change them every month.  You might consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.  Every penny saved will be important during these difficult economic times.

Check out that fireplace.  Perhaps you should arrange to have it cleaned of soot and creosote build-up.  We’ve all read the dangers of carbon-monoxide.  Also, check the mortar between bricks.  It may have to be repaired or replaced.  While you’re at it makes certain the damper works properly.

Caulk all windows and install weather-stripping on outside doors.  You need to keep out cold drafts to keep down the heating bills.  Make certain your gutters and downspouts are clean and free-flowing.  If your able, check out the roof to see if any shingles or tiles need to be replaced.

Check your foundation for cracks and holes.  Get them filled up.  Be certain that dirt is  piled up against the foundation and all nearby edible vegetation is removed.  You don’t want to encourage pests.  Speaking of pests, it’s a good time to check for termite damage and dry rot as well.

Finally, service your equipment.  Drain the gas from your lawnmower.  Get your show blower tuned up.  Make certain your snow shovel is in good shape and stock up on some bags of ice-melt. 

If you need the names and numbers of any reputable vendors to help you with any of these tasks, please contact me at 402-97-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com.  The sun is shining so get out there and batten down the hatches!

Head on over to the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center for their Halloween with the Wild Things.  Embark on a journey with your friends and family in search of the elusive Great Pumpkin. Along the way, magical creatures will guide and entertain your family. Children ages 3-10 years are sure to enjoy this delightful celebration. To reserve a spot, contact Stacey Schmid at 731-3140, ext. 257. Payment is due prior to event ($5 @ for members and $8 @ for non-members). Plan to attend this Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. - rain or shine.

If you’re looking for something a bit tamer, then stop in at the Lauritzen Gardens for the Fall Chrysanthemum Show.  This gorgeous floral display continues through November 23. The show, “articulates the beauty of autumn with brightly colored, unique chrysanthemums, Japanese maples, several Japanese water features and the textures and rich colors of trees and shrubs.”

If your family likes scary movies, check out these.  Field Streams is showing two really spooky ones: Evil Dead by Director Sam Rami and Eyes Without a Face by Director George Franju.  The movies will be shown at the Ruth Sokoloff Theatre located at 1340 Webster Street.  Check the Field Stream’s website for movie times.

Whatever you do this week, I hope you and your little goblins have a terrific Halloween.

I’m also an exercise freak as well.  I’m home from the gym before my family wakes up in the morning so I can help them get ready and drive them to school.  But my evening I’m ready to collapse so it’s difficult to gather the energy to go out with my husband and friends for dinner and a concert.

 My work coach insists I put aside one day a week to not work but play.  So far, this is not working for me.  It’s easier to just try to schedule family activities into my everyday routine than to set aside a particular day.  As I said earlier, I’m still trying to work all this out.  I love spending fun time with my family.  I love my work.  I’m so lucky.  I’m just need to find that balance…

What about you, my friends?  How do you balance out the demands of your life?  Use the comment form below to share your balance secrets with me.  I’d love to hear from you.  You can also call me at 402-697-4857 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com.

I see Omahans shopping for all kinds of good and services.  Best of all I see children caught up in school activities.  Families picnicking in area parks, enjoying the gorgeous fall weather and watching teams of youngsters playing soccer and football are everyday sights around town.  Thankfully, Nebraska isn’t plagued with a huge State deficit and the building blocks of growth and prosperity are still in place.  I believe we will weather the economic fallout but recovery won’t come too soon for most of us. 

All of the pundits are claiming this is the time to buy real estate.  They’re right.  If you are looking to invest, then housing is ripe for the picking.  The old adage, “Buy low and sell high,” is still the way to win the race for riches. 

For most of us this is the time to count our blessings and gather our families and friends around us.  Hang in there, my friends.  Remember, I’m here to help you whether you’re buying or selling.  Call me at 402-697-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com.

It’s true that the news is not positive but neither are we experiencing the desperate situation other areas of the nation are facing.  According to the Omaha MLS statistics, for the month of August, 2008 the number of “solds” (transactions that have actually closed) was down over 34% from the same time last year.  In August, 2007 the average days on the market for a listing was 61 days as compared to 67 days in August 2008.

Another interesting indicator we look at when analyzing the market is the Average Listing Price Compared to the Average Sold Price.  In August 2007, the Average List Price was $222,000 and the Average Sold Price was $178,000.  This August the Average List Price was $230,000 compared to the Average Sold Price of $166,000. 

There’s no doubt about it, we are seeing a decline.  However, the truth is, if you can qualify for financing there are some really good deals out there.  If you would like to know more about the local housing market or if you would like to take advantage of the Buyer’s Market, please give me a call at 402-697-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com.  Together we can work to get you into a home.

If you don’t know, Applejack is a brandy made from apple cider.  In the USA the brandy must age at least 2 years in a wooden cask.  Since this was the 40^th Anniversary of the Festival it can be said it has aged to perfection. 

There are so many activities available during the 2 day event we could not possibly get to them all.  We spent most of our time at the beautiful Arbor Lodge, the museum which was once the home of J Sterling Morton.  The Lodge was the scene of a fine arts display but it was on the extensive grounds of the Lodge where the festival was in full swing.  We happily went from stall to stall looking at all the treasures and eating the lovely apple treats.

As we drove home and everyone was remembering their favorite part of the festival I reflected on how fortunate we are to live in beautiful, lively Eastern Nebraska.  I hope you we were able to attend the festival as well.  If so, let me know of your experiences. Email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com or just call at 402-697-4251.

“Celebrating 61 years, the Ak-Sar-Ben Rodeo has had a

long-standing tradition for being the largest indoor rodeo

in Nebraska. Tracing its roots back to 1947, the rodeo has

attracted many of the world’s best rodeo cowboys and entertainers.” 

There’s the rodeo, a fabulous parade in downtown Omaha, a Barbeque Contest, and even a Homebrew Contest.  The upper level of the Qwest Center will host the all kinds of activities for children ages 2 year to 10.  Children can learn all about the different aspects of agriculture and agribusiness and have a great time doing it.  There are wonderful shows like the AG Magic Show, the Garbagena Show and the String Beans.  Visit Giddy Up Gulch and feel what it’s like to enter a town right out the Old West.

To learn more about all the available activities and show times visit the official River City Round-Up website at www.rivercityroundup.org.  This is just a rip-snorting event and loads of fun.  So get out there and join me and my family in celebrating OMAHA.

Mold can be hard on those persons with asthma or other sensitivities and it is not something you want hanging around.  You don’t want it hurting your family but there are some basic facts about mold you should know.  First, mold is everywhere and has been on this earth living side-by-side with us forever.  It thrives in humidity and the way to prevent it is with sunlight and ventilation.

Remember, mold can be corrected by cleaning.  If you find mold on a non-porous surface it can be cleaned with a solution of 1 part bleach to 16 parts of water.  Be certain to have the windows opened and wear household safety glasses and non-porous gloves.  If you have a large portion to clean then it is best to consult an EPA pamphlet titled, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.  It’s FREE.  Just call the EPA Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318.

When buying a new home it’s important to have the home inspected by a professional, certified home inspector.  If the inspector reports mold THEN is the time to get a mold test.  If you have questions about mold please do not hesitate to give me a call at (402) 967-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com.  I’d love to hear from you.

Then times are hard for so many people.  Some can’t even make their mortgage payments.  It is during such times that more and more houses are on the market and fewer and fewer people are willing to spend the money to buy.  Obviously appreciation slows down. 

Although it may go against the instinct to hunker down, if you are lucky enough to buy a home during such times you will undoubtedly prosper in the coming years.  The market is sure to come around.  We all know that economies rise, fall and rise again. 

I have been fortunate to get Buyers into homes they might not have been able to afford just 2 years ago.  With good money management, luck and an economy that begins to prosper again, these Buyers will come to recognize the tremendous bargain they made.  If you are a first time homebuyer you have a very good chance of receiving financing right now.  Just make certain you work with a local, reputable mortgage company. 

There is still another benefit you can cash in on but only for another month.  If you purchase a house in September this year and obtain an FHA mortgage, then your minimum downpayment is still only 3%.  Most industry watchers believe it will take HUD only until October 1, 2008 to raise it to 3.5%.  So, if you are in the market for a home, it will pay to get FHA financing and get it all locked in before the end of September.  Remember, this means that if you purchasing a home for $200,000 your FHA minimum investment will be only $6,000 as opposed to $7,000 after this month.

When you are buying your first home every penny saved is important.  So if you in the market the time to act is NOW!   If you need the advice and assistance of an experienced real estate agent then please don’t hesitate to contact me today.  Email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com or call at 402-697-4251.  I want to help you make wise home buying decisions.

There are things you can do to cure your home of the odor blues. After cleaning the house thoroughly, the simplest thing is to open the house at night after it cools off.  Set up 2 large fans; one to blow stale air out and the other to blow fresh air indoors.  Deep cleaning and/or replacing soft, odor absorbing material may be your only hope for really persistent smells.  Replace insulation in the attic.  Toss any mattresses, cushions, pillows or carpets that still smell after several unsuccessful attempts at cleaning.  I’ve read that it is best to change the air filter on your furnace or air conditioner every day until the smells are gone. 

Leave home and come back after a while.  When you walk into the house it should smell fresh.  That’s what you want the Buyer to smell when they walk through your front door - FRESH.

Do you have any Fresh Air Tips?  If you do, email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com or call me at 402.697-4251.

However, we also learned that Omaha is 27^th in the nation of metro areas with a rise in foreclosure rates.  According to RealtyTrac.com which tracks such information, the overall U.S. foreclosure activity rose 55% in July; a 184% increase over last year.  Omaha is at a 51% increase in July foreclosure activity which is an increase of 165% over last year. 

Hopefully, the housing bill past recently will help some distressed homeowners.  In the meantime, there are plenty of wonderful homes on the market here.  So, if you’re in the market for a new home then give me a call (402-697-4251) and we will get out there and find your dream home.

In the meantime, the President signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 into law.  The law basically tries to accomplish three things. The first is to help currently struggling homeowners to hold on to their homes.  Second, is to boost consumer confidence in the sluggish housing market.  Third, is to give a tax credit of up to $7,500 to first time homebuyers. 

It’s this third item I want to discuss with you.  The term “first time homebuyer” is defined as someone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years.  The home must close between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009.  The money is not a credit but an “interest-free loan” AND must be paid back to the government at tax time every year at the rate of $500.  If you sell the home before it is paid off then the remaining amount of the loan will be taken out of the profit upon the resale of the property.

And remember, not every one will qualify for the full $7,500.  The maximum tax credit is 10% of the sale price.  The Buyers must be U.S. citizens filing tax returns and meet the income requirements as well.  For an individual the maximum income requirement is $75,000.  For married couples, the combined income cannot exceed $150,000.

It’s best to discuss this with your Realtor or Mortgage Officer.  You can also give me a call at 402-697-4251 or email me at Marie.Otis@cbshome.com.