We Specialize In These Omaha Area Communities

Bennington - Benson - Belleview - Elkhorn - Gretna - La Vista  
Millard - Omaha - Papillion - Ralston - West Omaha

Have a Question? Ask & We'll Answer It With A Video

 

Sept. 14, 2021

Omaha Keystone History

Keystone remains one of Omaha's most unique areas

Check out a city map to visualize what turned into Omaha’s Keystone neighborhood.

See the route between Marian High School and Adams Elementary School, mostly along Keystone Drive and 79th Street?

It was the tree-lined, winding driveway to the Keystone Stock Farm, which the Paxton family turned into Keystone Park as one of Omaha’s first acreage subdivisions.

072521-owh-liv-pospisil-p3

Adams School, 1954 photo

See the rough oval formed by 81st and 82nd Streets, Evans and Emmet Streets, west of Adams School? Those streets were laid out on what had been the training track for the Paxton stable of harness-racing horses.

What the map can’t show anymore, since the city annexed much of Keystone in 1964, are the avenue names that matched the trees that lined them — Elm (now 78th and 79th Streets), Sycamore (80th Street), Poplar (83rd Street turning into Keystone Drive), Linden (Keystone Drive) and Maple (Boyd Street).

Keystone has become the name applied to the five-sided area bounded by 72nd and 90th Streets, Maple Street, Military Avenue and Fort Street. Those boundaries have expanded since Keystone Park was platted in 1907.

 

Perhaps Omaha business tycoon William A. Paxton saw the land 50 years earlier as he was the foreman for the crew that built the bridges on the Military Road — using timber from the area that became Hanscom Park — across the North Omaha, Saddle, Cole and Papillion Creeks and the Elkhorn River in Douglas County.

Paxton assembled his land parcels southwest of the Military Road in 1883 and deeded them to his only son, Billy, in 1884. Soon, the younger Paxton was operating the Keystone Stock Farm to develop sulky horses. Harness racing hall of fame driver Henry Thomas grew up on the farm while his father was managing the stable.

A 1970-vintage history of Keystone, by Carol Peters, said Billy Paxton had a large two-story home on the south side of the 79th and Evans Streets intersection. The center of the track had a spring-fed lake that also retained water from the surrounding hills.

The Paxtons had their 553 acres, which were between 78th and 90th Streets north of Maple Street, platted in 1907 for Keystone Park. The 90 lots were between two and 20 acres.

A promotional advertisement touted that Keystone Park included “five miles of fine boulevards and two rows of trees along the roads that wind over the high ground. For automobiles, driving or speeding there is nothing in Douglas County equal to it.”

“Our aim is to make this the finest suburban residence tract ever laid out around Omaha, as it has the possibilities.”

Keystone Park wasn’t intended for mansions, like Fairacres that followed it in 1908. Among those owning homes in 1910, according to the U.S. census, were farmers, landscape gardeners, a repairman, a print shop compositor, a railroad machinist and a carpenter. The first buyer was Henry Thomas’ father. A.L. Thomas naturally went for the tract that included the 12-room Paxton house and the track to continue as a trotting horse trainer and breeder.                                                                   

Marie Boisseree, her daughter Betty Dascher and her grandchildren had one of the first homes, built-in 1908 at 78th Street and Keystone Drive. She celebrated her 100th birthday at her home in 1952.

The Paxton house lasted until the early 1950s when the Omaha Public Schools bought it for use by Adams School (it opened as a four-room country school in 1925) as kindergarten classrooms until a new wing was built. The land is now part of the school playground.

Why was Adams not named for the area? At the time, the Omaha school board policy was to name all new schools after a U.S. president.

One of the first non-agricultural businesses in the district was dubbed Keystone City. The World-Herald in 1930 wrote that on the northwest corner of 83rd and Maple Streets were “one residence, one filling station, one garage, one auto valet services, one barbershop, one dance hall and one soda foundation, confectionary and sandwich shop combined” with William Darland “the mayor.”

Another distinctive personality was James Espey Foster. His showplace home at 7841 Keystone Drive became the first park in Keystone.

Foster, president of the National American Fire Insurance Co., was a horseman and pigeon fancier. He had a stable and a quarter-mile track for his show horses. He died in 1951. His widow stayed in the home until her death in 1967 at age 90. The house fell into disrepair and the newly formed Keystone Community Task Force asked the city in 1969 to buy the property for a park. It was completed in 1974.

Keystone Park spawned Benson Acres to the northeast and Richland Acres and Hargleroads Military Addition to the northwest. Some of the acreages were subdivided, notably for Keystone Meadows in the early 1960s. Boyd School opened in 1961 to ease overcrowding at Adams.

While Keystone’s oldest areas have fewer trees than a couple of weeks ago, because of the July 10 2021 windstorm, its rustic nature is intact and it remains one of Omaha’s most unique neighborhoods.

Nov. 14, 2016

Nov. 2016 "Market Snap Shot" by School District

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So this is the first time that we have segmented the areas of the market by school district. The main reasoning behind this was that most of our clients that we work with typically want to live in a specific school district. So we broke the market up into 7 specific areas.

The 3 main numbers that Linda and I concentrate on in regards to the real estate market are

Days On Market / Average Sale Price / and Months Of Inventory. When we look at the Months of Inventory that will typically tell us weather or not we are in a sellers market or buyers market. So if the Months of Inventory are 0 to 3 months we are in a sellers market… If the Months of Inventory are 3+ we are in a buyers market. If we are in a sellers market typically homes are selling quickly. Buyers market you tend to see longer market times. So lets get started.

Each area is a little different and sometimes each subdivision is different. So if you ever would like to know what your specific area is doing just let us know and we would be happy to pull that info for you.

 

Also since we pretty much work our business by referral only we would love. And We mean love anyone you might know who is thinking about selling anytime now or in the near future. Thanks again for watching.

Below are the market stats of each school district.

BELLEVUE

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

25
27
- 7.4 

Average. Sale Price

191k
185k
+3.2

Months of Inv.

1.5
1.9
- 20.8
Bellevue is in a Sellers Market
BENNINGTON

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

19
39
- 51

Average. Sale Price

275k
218k
+ 26

Months of Inv.

4.6
3.6
+ 21
Bennington is in a Buyers Market
ELKHORN

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

28
31
- 9.7

Average. Sale Price

296k
276k
+ 7.2

Months of Inv.

3.1
2.9
+ 6.8
Elkhorn is in a Buyers Market
GRETNA

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

41
44
- 6.8

Average. Sale Price

297k
296k
+ .03

Months of Inv.

3.7
3.3
+ 1.2
Gretna is in a Buyers Market

MILLARD

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

20
24
- 16.7

Average. Sale Price

224k
242k
- 7.4

Months of Inv.

1.6
1.9
- 15.6
Millard is in a Sellers Market
PAPILLION

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

24
28
- 14.3

Average. Sale Price

228k
225k
+ 1.3

Months of Inv.

1.7
2.2
- 23.1
Papillion is in a Sellers Market
WEST OMAHA

7/16 to 10/16

7/15 to 10/15

% Up or Down

Days On Market

16
23
- 30.4

Average. Sale Price

191k
174k
+ 6.7

Months of Inv.

1.5
1.6
- 6.3
West Omaha is in a Sellers Market

 

Sept. 7, 2015

MRG Realty Group: Everything You Need To Know About an Appraisal With Gregg Mitchell

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There's a lot of things that affect value in an appraisal, location being a primary determinate. It's location, not only within the city, but location within the neighborhood. You have site factors that will affect value. 

 

 

[FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW]

 
 
Gary:  
            
Hello, my name is Gary Carpenter, with the MRG Realty Group at CBS home real estate, and I'd like to thank you today for coming and watching our video. We're here today with Greg Mitchell, with Mitchell and Associates, to talk about appraisals. 
 
Greg:     
          
Hi, I'm Greg Mitchell. I'm the president of Mitchell and Associates. We're an multi-disciplined real estate appraisal firm covering eastern Nebraska and the western part of Iowa. We specialize in valuation and consulting for residential, commercial, and industrial properties, and have been in existence since 1947. 
 
:43 WHAT EFFECTS HOME VALUES IN AN APPRAISAL?
 
There's a lot of things that affect value in an appraisal, location being a primary determinate. It's location, not only within the city, but location within the neighborhood. You have site factors that will affect value. Negative things might be traffic, perhaps proximity to commercial or industrial entities. Positive things certainly are, proximity to parks, or other amenities. Well landscaped streets certainly have a positive effect on value. Other aspects that affect value, certainly fall into the home's quality, the home's design, the age of the home, the amount of updating, particularly with kitchens and bathrooms, size, number of bathrooms, basements, basement finishes, garages and amenities. Within certain neighborhoods there are going to be certain expectations within a neighborhood, and clearly as a buyer or seller, one wants to be aware of what those market expectations are. 
 
1:58 WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN I MAKE TO MY HOUSE TO GIVE ME THE GREATEST RETURN?
 
Maintaining the property, making sure the property's in always good condition, that the short-wide components that are wearing out are replaced on a schedule. Secondly, interior finishes are done tastefully and in a manner that is consistent with what market expectations are. You hear a lot today about Pottery Barn colors, but, again, markets are dynamic, and those things will change. Kitchens and bathrooms seem to be the two key things that buyers tend to focus on, and with that, those are areas that one would certainly want to look at if they're trying to enhance value or marketability. One of the more cost-effective means of enhancing value, always has been, and should continue to be basement finish.     
2:54 IS LANDSCAPING A GOOD INVESTMENT? 
                       
Landscaping as a direct return on investment, is really not measurable. Landscaping becomes a factor that enhances appeal and marketability. So, from that aspect, you always want to have a good first impression, and landscaping certainly helps that. Additionally, if landscaping along your street ... If people are taking very good care of their properties, if they are keeping their landscape up to date all along the street, it elevates the value of all the properties down there. In terms of saying, "Putting ten thousand dollars worth of landscape will return ten thousand dollars," or some other number in terms of value directly, there's never been a way to measure that, but at the same time, it certainly enhances appeal and marketability. Again, if it's done all along the street, particularly, and through the neighborhood, as a matter of fact, then it's the old thing, "Rising tide raises all ships."   
 
4:07 GREGG GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT ON THE OMAHA MARKET
 
Markets are always changing, markets are always dynamic.  We went through a period where we had a buyer's market for many years, from 2008, really until the middle of 2011. We went through transitional markets from '11 to '13, and since '13 we've been in a seller's market where inventories are short. So, we saw values drop during that down period, stabilize during the transitional period, and now we're seeing values rise in many markets. Never consistent, because different neighborhoods, different market segments always behave differently. So, as you're looking at property, really rely on your buyer agent to provide good solid advice in terms of what they're seeing in that particular market, and as they provide counsel to you, in terms of making that offer on that particular house.  
 
Gary:  
             
Thanks again for coming and watching our video blog. Again, if you're thinking of buying or selling real estate any time now, or in the future, please call us at 402-680-7000, or email us at info@MRGomaha.com.   
Posted in Training
Sept. 1, 2015

Things To Do In Omaha In The Month of September


  

 

Fall not only brings HUSKER FOOTBALL, but a wealth of events and shows.  Check out what Omaha has to offer for the month of September!


9/3:
Comedy in Omaha at the Backline | The Backline  Comedy Theatre | Every Friday | 
9/4: First Friday in The Old Market | 6:00PM-9:00PM | Various Locations | Free
9/5–10/17: Omaha Farmers Market: Old Market | Harney to Jackson St | 8:00AM – 12:30PM | Free
9/6–10/3: Omaha Farmers Market: Aksarben Village | 67th & Center | 9:00AM – 1:00PM | Free
9/6-10/4: Gardens Gone Wild | Lauritzen Gardens | 9:00AM – 5:00PM | Prices Vary
9/6: LEGO: Travel Adventure | Omaha Children’s Museum | Prices & Times Vary
9/12: 24th Annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow | 1:00PM-7:30PM | MCC: Fort Omaha Campus | Free
9/18–10/31: Vala’s Pumpkin Patch | Vala’s Pumpkin Patch | 9:00AM 10:00PM | Prices Vary
9/18–9/19: Oktober Fest | German-American Society | Times & Prices Vary
9/24-9/27: Aksarben Stock Show & Rodeo | CenturyLink Center | Free(excludes rodeo) | Times Vary
Aug. 18, 2015

MRG Realty Group: Michelle Wurtz Testimonial

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Looking to buy a Omaha Area Home? Search all homes for sale
 
 
I am Michelle Wurtz. I met Linda Carpenter through ... She was recommended to me by my uncles. They knew her through social gatherings. I reached out and asked if anybody knew any realtors that would work with first-time home buyers, and she was the first name that popped up, and so I reached out to her, and she responded to me right away.    
 
 
[FULL TRANSCRIPT] Below   
               
:25 DID YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS AS A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER?
 
My biggest concern is everything that I didn't know about buying a house. I had kind of done my own research, but I knew there was a ton out there that I didn't know. I was also nervous in finding a realtor that would put time into helping me find a house because I knew I wasn't going to spend an atrocious amount of money, so finding someone who cared enough about what I needed and what I wanted was a big concern for me.
 
:54 WHAT FEARS DID YOU HAVE AS A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER?
 
My fears were I wouldn't be able to find what I was looking for. I would feel pressured into buying a house that I didn't want or that I would have to settle on something that wasn't perfect for me.
 
1:09 HOW DID LINDA HELP YOU WITH YOUR FEARS AND CONCERNS? 
                      
Linda was great. She was very responsive to me. I would tell her what I wanted, and we would go through a house, and she'd say, "This isn't what you want." We would spend five minutes in there and move on to the next. She was very realistic. We'd walk into a house, and she'd say, "You can't live with this," and that was ... I felt relieved that I didn't have to talk myself into anything. She would help me make that decision and be like, "No. I need ... This house won't ..."
 
1:38 MICHELLE HOW WAS THE BUYING PROCESS WITH LINDA? 
                     
I did find a house that I really liked, and I sat down with Linda. She sat down and walked through the whole offer with me, and I felt really comfortable. She explained everything to me since it was very complicated and my first time. Then she set up an inspection. She met with me and the inspector, and we went over there and sat down for almost two hours to go over this horrible inspection report. It was just a nightmare, and I wasn't sure what to do. I was concerned, and my parents were concerned. There was things we could have done, but Linda, I talked to her and she kind of told me, she said, "I think you should walk away. I'm totally comfortable with that." That just made me feel better that she wasn't ... She didn't want me to make that decision and regret it, so she was totally on board with kind of starting from scratch the next day and keep looking for houses. Then, when I did find the house that I liked, it was kind of a rush because there was already an offer on the house, and so she stayed up late working with me, deciding at 10:00 that we wanted to make an offer and put it together and was very realistic about what needed to be in the offer for us to get the house. When I got the call the next day, it was pretty exciting that it all worked out.
 
2:52 MICHELLE, ANYTHING ELSE YOU LIKE TO ADD?  
                 
I'm really grateful for having Linda. It was her attention to detail, her responsiveness to me. I asked to see a house, and we would literally see it the next day, or we would see it two minutes later. I really, really appreciated that. There was so much attention to detail. She would walk through everything with me, and she took care of all the little details. She called my inspector, got that set up for me. She talked to my mortgage broker. She took care of all those little things that took the stress off of me and kind of took that stress off ...  
 
3:28 WOULD YOU REFER LINDA?  
                     
Yes, 100%, I would recommend Linda to any of my friends or family who are looking to buy a house. The amount of time she spent with me, a first-time home buyer who wasn't spending a lot of money, I can only imagine how great she would be with just about anybody trying to find a house.
 
Posted in Testimonials
July 31, 2015

MRG Realty Group: Kinney Testimonial

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We knew of Linda. Our kids go to school together and the same church. If things maybe didn't go the way we wanted it, would that effect relationship down the road? Linda was great. She's very confident and it worked out fine.
 
 
 
 
 
MRG Realty Group Client with: Linda Carpenter
 
[Full Transcript below]
 
MRG Realty Group: What were your fears in selling your home?
Becky:               Fears, I think, were like ... Our home was for sale a few years ago and we only had like 2 showings in 4 months, so we had that same fear that we wouldn't get any showings again this time around.
 
MRG Realty Group: What concerns did you have in hiring a friend?
 
Jeff:                   We knew of Linda. Our kids go to school together. Church, same church. If things maybe didn't go the way we wanted it, would that effect relationship down the road? Linda was great. She's very confident and it worked out fine.
 
MRG Realty Group: How was it working with Linda?
 
Becky:               She came by. We sat down one afternoon. She went through a step-by-step process. Gave us a list of like 99 things of what to do to get our home ready to put on the market. She did a walk through through the house, told us things we should touch up on, home improvements we should do prior to listing our home and then she just kept us very informed through out the process. Very easy to talk to.
 
MRG Realty Group: Offer to Close (Step by Step Process)
 
Becky:               Once we got our offer, Linda told us to take it step-by-step because the offer came through and then there was some contingencies upon there, so she just kind of walked us through the process one step at a time. Our negotiating process, it seemed like it took forever. When they kept us in the loop of what was going on, kept us updated throughout the weeks, months to get things to where we were able to accept the offer and close the deal.
 
Jeff:                  It seemed like a long process, but Linda's very confident and never wavered. I never felt like this wasn't going to happen. Linda knows what she's doing. She knows the market and it worked out.
 
MRG Realty Group: Would you refer Linda?
 
Becky:             We would most definitely recommend Linda.
 
                          We would Like to thank the Kinney family for entrusting us to help them sell there home of 15 years and buy there dream home. You guys where so much fun to work with!!
Posted in Testimonials
July 27, 2015

MRG Realty Group: What To Expect When Selling My Home?

 

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You've done all the work to get your house on the market and you're ready to go. What next? Well, I have 5 steps that should be coming next.





                                    1. Negotiating That Offer: You want to read that offer completely with your agent and ask any questions if you don't understand. This is a legal document you're signing and it is binding. Some things to look for, purchase price offer, any closing costs, the amount of the earnest deposit, radon test, home inspection, financing type, close date, and maybe any other contingencies they might have on it.

                                    2. Negotiating The Home Inspection: Once you get through that negotiated offer, the buyer is going to perform a home inspection. Once they meet with the home inspector, the buyer actually has 3 choices. They can walk away, they can take the house
                                    as is, or they can ask you to repair a few items that were flagged by the home inspector. Hang on for the ride you guys, this is another set of negotiations, but sometimes it is about compromise.

                                   3. The Appraisal: If your buyer is using financing to purchase the home, that lender is going to order an appraisal to make sure the house appraises at least at that purchase price offer. Again, if they're going to do VA or FHA loan, that appraiser might ask for some additional repairs to be completed as well.
                                   4. Title Search: The chosen title company is actually going to do a search on your property to make sure that that title is clear, transferable, and insurable. If there are any clouds or liens, the title company is going to work with you, the seller, to make sure those are released. 
                                 
                                  5. Closing Day: That glorious day. You want to make sure you are completely moved out by closing day and you leave the house in good repair just as you would expect it for your self.



                                                Thanks again for tuning in today. If you are considering buying a house or selling a property, our group would love the opportunity to help you. Never hesitate to reach out to the agent that has shared this video with you or feel free to email us at Info@MRGOmaha.com or call us at 402-680-7032 and one of our professional sales associates will be happy to assist. Make it a fantastic day! 

            

July 23, 2015

MRG Realty Group: New Country Club Listing 2510 N 51 St.

  

If you would like more detailed information on this listing please click on the link

2510 N 51 Street


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July 15, 2015

MRG Realty Group:News You Can Use July 2015

Newsletter v3.0 HTML only

MRG Realty Group
Gary_Linda

Gary & Linda Carpenter
MRG Realty Group

15950 Dodge Road
Omaha NE 68118

402-680-7000 Office

Info@MRGOmaha.com

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Want to Sell Your Home Fast? Get My Free Guide

Preparing your home for sale can make the difference between getting the price you want - or ending up disappointed.

Discover some easy things you can do by requesting our free guide, "The 90 Things You Can't Afford To Neglect When Selling Your Home!"

Just reply to this email and I'll send it right out to you.
Quick Quiz

Each month I'll give you a new question.

Just reply to this email for the answer.

What is Bugs Bunny's catch phrase?
Why Not Pass Me to a Friend?

If you've enjoyed this newsletter and found its information useful, please forward it to a neighbor, friend or co-worker by clicking this link
Recipe: Chia Seed Pudding with Chocolate and Berries

This dessert is delicious and healthy.

Serves 4
  • 1/4 cup raw chia seeds
  • 2 cups vanilla almond milk (or any other kind of milk)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup assorted fresh berries
  • Quality dark chocolate for shaving
Place chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk together.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate. After half an hour, unwrap and stir the mixture well to ensure there are no clumps of gelatinized chia seeds.

Cover and return to refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Stir again before serving. To serve, pour into dessert dishes and top with berries.

Use a vegetable peeler to shave the dark chocolate, and sprinkle shavings over berries.
Ask the Agent: This Month's Question

How do I find out about the area to which I'm relocating?

Looking for a new home in a new city can be a daunting experience, but it needn't be.

Ease the process by having the right team and as much information as possible before you even set foot in your new hometown. Do preliminary research from the palm of your hand with your smartphone. From crime statistics to the best and worst neighborhoods, the Internet is a great place to start.

Try local city guides and user reviews. Learn from the people who live, work, eat and play there every day. StreetAdvisor and TripAdvisor include useful reviews.

Talking to a local real estate agent is key. Ask your current agent to recommend someone in your new town. Use your social networks on- or off-line.

You want to ensure your new house and your new city, becomes a place you can all call home. Research will make it happen.

 

 
Inside Your Newsletter this Month...
Is Downsizing the Right Option for You?

Health concerns figure prominently-a bitter reality for older boomers who didn't believe they would ever have difficulty climbing stairs or navigating an older home. The result is that many are considering downsizing. But they still plan to age in place in one sense: Most would prefer to stay in their own neighborhoods with all the familiar comforts of home.

And the numbers are mind-boggling: One in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2030 - some 71 million people across the U.S. The impact will affect almost every aspect of society, including healthcare, employment - and, of course, housing.

Especially housing. Across North America, household debt has been growing, particularly in the age group of over 55ers; many seniors may have to-rather than choose to-downsize.

Is downsizing for you?

For those now considering the pros and cons of downsizing, here are some questions you need to ask yourself and your family:

Do I (and/or my spouse) need to downsize for health or financial reasons?

Is it likely that one of us soon won't be able to drive?

Am I hoping to stay near or in my current neighborhood, or move closer to family?

What to do now

You may have difficulty finding what you need in your neighborhood; in most areas, developers have been slow to catch up.

But if downsizing is on your horizon, your first connection should be a good real estate agent who has expertise working with senior buyers. It's also advantageous if your agent has a network of contacts such as lawyers, mortgage professionals, and organizing professionals to help with disposal of your possessions, and staging companies to prepare your home for sale.


Want to Get More ZZZZZZZZs? Log Off

SleepAccording to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 90% of Americans regularly use a computer or other electronic device before going to bed at night.

Yet research suggests that artificial light from electronic devices disrupts brain chemicals that promote sleep. A study conducted at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and published in Applied Ergonomics journal indicated that exposure to artificial light from iPads or PC tablets suppressed production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle.

It seems that light from the blue part of the spectrum is the main culprit in inhibiting melatonin production. Smartphones and tablets, which are often illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs), tend to emit more blue light than incandescent products.

One option for blocking blue light is to wear orange-tinted glasses. Another is to cover the screen with a blue-blocking filter. But researchers caution that so-called "blue blockers" have not been adequately tested for effectiveness; it's still best to limit use of brightly lit electronics at night. Also recommended: Use a small screen, dim the screen, and keep the device as far away from the eyes as possible.


Get Your Zen on with Coloring Books for Non-Kids

Markers We loved them as kids; but now coloring books have a new audience: Adults. Coloring books have become a way for stressed-out adults to get their Zen on through a well-remembered and cherished childhood pastime, reinvented for today.

The trend was triggered by Johanna Basford, a Scottish illustrator whose Secret Garden-inspired coloring book is dominating the Amazon hit list. To date, she's already sold 1.4 million copies worldwide-and she's not the only one. Following Johanna are a flurry of other artists with deeply detailed illustrations to color. The objective: to stimulate imagination and mindfulness.

In a recent article in The Guardian, Basford explains the attraction: "For many people, a blank sheet is very daunting," and adds that with a coloring book the lines are already there, so all you have to add is the color.

The result is an opportunity to take a break from our hectic days. Says Basford, "Now it is socially acceptable...These are books for adults."

Using simple pleasures as a way to make sense of an ever-changing world is a relatively new social movement, visible not just in coloring books but in hot new management books: Seth Godin's V is for Vulnerable is for the 9-to-whatever crowd, but Godin has packaged it as if for a child, complete with cartoons.

Stress-coping strategies don't need to be complicated. Sometimes, the best way to de-stress is to sit down and put crayons to paper. Basford concludes, "I think it is really relaxing, to do something analogue, to unplug..."


Wondering How Much Your Home Is Worth?

How has the price of your home changed in today's market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for?

If you're wondering what's happening to prices in your area, or you're thinking about selling your house, I'll be able to help.

Just give my office a call for a no-fuss, professional evaluation.

I won't try to push you into listing with me or waste your time.

I'll just give you the honest facts about your home and its value.

And maybe I'll also give you the "inside scoop" on what's happening in the housing market near where you live!

Just give my office a call or reply to this email to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, stop by at the office.


Security Systems: Be Safe and Add Value to Your Home

Here's a home upgrade you may not have thought of: Home security. It's not as aesthetically pleasing as new hardwood flooring or as much fun as an in-ground pool, but it can increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to potential renters and prospective buyers.

Gains in technology have made home security slicker, more innovative, and easier to manage. How slim or robust a system you choose depends on the location of your home, its size, and your personal preference. These days it's easier than ever, as a fully automated system allows you to view your property via computer or smartphone, and even lock doors automatically.

A security system will give you greater peace of mind and put money back in your pocket, as most insurance providers offer a discount for homes with monitored alarm systems. If you're considering purchasing a system, speak with your insurance company first to learn about what is eligible for such a discount.

It may also be an attractive feature for prospective buyers. A modern system that has already been installed is a value-add, both for reasons of personal security and because of the insurance discount (if applicable).

As well, home security can give you a competitive edge when renting out a property in a crowded market. For renters in urban areas-especially tenants who will be living alone-an apartment with an alarm system can be a huge draw; many landlords who offer security systems will likely be able to charge premium rent.
 


 

How To Get Your Home Ready To Sell
 

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Linda Carpenter here with the MRG Team at CBSHome Real Estate in Omaha Ne. The other day I had a friend come to me and ask me to help her sell her Mom's house. Her Mom had lived there for 50 years and had never sold a house before. I thought this might be a good time to explain how we get houses ready for the market. I have 4 tips for you today. Click on the video
Current Omaha Market Stats
 
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As you can see from the above graph, we are still in a strong seller's market with the low inventory and average days on market at 37 days. Usually this time of year the market will start to slow a bit and days on market will start to trend upward. Looking at the above graph, when you start to see the pending homes drop and the inventory climb you will start to see longer market times.  This is an overview of the entire Omaha market, for a more detailed analysis of your specific area please email us at Info@MRGOmaha.com 
This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale....
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Posted in Newsletter
May 21, 2015

MRG Realty Group: What's Happening with Omaha Metro Real Estate

Looking to sell your Omaha Area Home? Get a FREE home value report
Looking to buy a Omaha Area Home? Search all homes for sale


Hi my name is Gary Carpenter with the MRG Realty Group at CBSHOME and I would like to thank you for taking the time to tune into our video blog. First I’d like to draw your attention to two great offers above. If you are thinking about selling or just interested in your home ' s current value click on the “Get your FREE Home Value Report. If you are in the market to purchase a new home or just like browsing the current inventory, click on the “Search All Homes For Sale Link”



So let' s talk about a few key numbers that drive the the Omaha Metro Real Estate Market.

 
 
  1. Inventory Level - The current inventory level in the Omaha metro is 3010 homes or 3
    months worth of  inventory. What that means to you, the consumer, is that if we didn’t list another home it would only  take 3 months to sell the current inventory that we have. We are seeing record low inventory levels in the Omaha Metro area. As a rule of thumb, an inventory level of less than 3 months indicates a strong seller's  market while an inventory level greater than 6 months indicates a buyer's market. 
  2. Days On Market - The DOM is a very telling number of what kind of market we are in, either a SELLER’S MARKET or a BUYER ' S MARKET. To have a seller ' s market the average days on market are 45 days or less,  if we are in a buyers market the DOM is higher than 45 days. Currently we are experiencing a very strong seller' s market since the inventory is low and we are at an average of 31 days on the market. Typically a   seller 's market does not last for very long.
  3. Average Sale Price - The average sale price is typically different for different parts of the metro and even in specific subdivision's  the average sale price could fluctuate. The current average sale price is $172,000.00. 
  4. Interest Rates - The most common types of financing that our clients are working with are Conventional and FHA financing. On a Conventional 30 year loan the current interest rate is 3.875% and on a FHA it is 3.5%. On the MRG Realty Group we defer all financing questions to our Mortgage Partners. There are a lot of factors that go into financing including credit score and downpayment .  
Thanks again for tuning in today. If you are considering buying a house or selling a property, our group would love the opportunity to help you. Never hesitate to reach out to the agent that has shared this video with you or feel free to email us at Info@MRGOmaha.com or call us at 402-680-7000 and one of our professional sales associates will be happy to assist. Make it a fantastic day!