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March 18, 2013

10 Tips to selling your home in the Spring

 

                                               

Look out your window right now, what do you see? The snow is melting and sunny days are here. If you are thinking about selling a home and taking advantage of the seasonal uptick in the market you better act fast!
With the change in season there is an increase in selling opportunities. Combine that with buyers looking to take advantage of low interest rates and you have a recipe for high demand. Here are several things you can do to set your house apart from the rest. Tops and bottoms of markets can be hard to pick but when you remove market anomalies such as homebuyer tax credits or recessions there is an absolute pattern to when people are buying a home. Here are some basic tips help you sell your home fast! 
1. Feels like the first time.
Look at your home like you are seeing for the first time. Is the yard groomed and mowed, are the windows washed, is the driveway clean?  There is no such thing as a second chance when it comes to making a first impression. Walk around the property and make a list of things that need to be cleaned up, painted and taken to the dump and get started,
 
2. Remove the evidence.
People do not associate your keepsakes and interesting knick-knacks with comforting memories. As harsh as this may sound you want the potential buyer to picture themselves living there, not to be distracted by the pictures of your family trip to Disneyland.  Look at your home like you are a covert agent on the run, leave no trace that you were ever there.
3. Let there be light
Open the shades, cupboards, and the closets. Are the windows clean, are the cupboards organized, are the closets coordinated? Opening up the windows will let in natural light and make your home more appealing, organizing the cupboards and closets will showcase all of the space your home has to offer. When asked about amenities that are a deciding factor in purchasing ahome, storage space is ranked at the top.
4. Clean is king
If you hadn’t noticed the reoccurring theme lets be clear, CLEAN! Every nook and cranny, cleaning is one of the single most important things you can do to keep buyers interested.  Pack up everything but the essentials; the goal here is to give the impression of space and for your home to smell new and fell better then the day you bought it.  Showing pride in your home translates to value, that can help keep your listing price firm.
 
5. Words of wisdom from a cereal box
In the words of the wise sage Toucan Sam “Follow your nose, it always knows!” If you smoke or have pets most likely you have become immune to the aroma of Rex or your favorite feline.  Don’t try to mask the smell with scented candles or Lysol that can actually make things worse. Go to the source and do some scrubbing. Clean the air vents and filters. On the weekends open the doors and let mother nature clear out the smell for you.
6. The Beautiful People
What’s on the walls? Is your teen a Marilyn Manson fan? Do they collect rare and exotic animals?  Just remember that home buying is as much an emotional decision as it is a financial one. Having controversial or offensive material lying around can turn off a buyer very quickly.  
7. Use a little magic
Look into your crystal ball; think about the things you love about where you live. What helped you decide to buy your home?  Are you currently looking for a home, what are you looking for? Chances are people looking at your home will find those things attractive. Let your Realtor know why you decided to live in this area. Was it the school district, the proximity to a dog park, or maybe there is amazing dining nearby? Any information will give your Realtor additional tools that may assist them in a fact sale.

8. Who let the dogs (or cats) out. 
Not everyone loves your pets the way you do. You don't want your potential buyers pulling hair off there clothing when they leave, or walking into the laundry room and smelling the cat box. All of these things make your home less appealing and make it seem dirty. If your realtor is showing the house or hosting a open house take them for a walk send them of to dogie day-care for the day.

9. Let your Realtor be your guide.
Our agents are experts, they understand local market trends, pricing strategies, and how to get you the highest price in shortest amount of time. 
10. Let your Realtor be your guide.
Yep its that important! This is what we do 24hrs a day 7 days a week for 100's of clients every year, let us go to work for you. The professionals at The MRG Team know the Spokane local Real-Estate market and have become experts at serving the Spokane community. Give us your your criteria and we will find a home for you. For more information contact us at (402)680-7000, or visit us on the web 

Want to do a little searching on your own first? Let us help, use our custom search bar for information about Real Estate in the local Omaha Area, simply type in any criteria you desire and get immediate relevant results.
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March 18, 2013

The Best Definition of Success Is the One You Never Use

By Jeff Haden

 

Forget kaleidoscopes, forget people are like snowflakes, forget we're all individuals (bonus points if you got the last reference without following the link.)

There is only one real way to define success.

Just one.

Granted success in business and in life means different things to different people, and shouldmean different things to different people. Whether or not you feel successful depends on how you define success -- and on the tradeoffs you are willing to not just accept but embrace as you pursue your individual definition of success.

Still. Determining whether you are successful is based on answering one question: How happy am I?

Your level of success is based solely on your answer to that question.

How Happy Are You?

Extremely successful people -- at least in terms of how "success" is typically measured -- tend to work impossibly long hours as they focus almost exclusively on building their careers or businesses. In many cases (some would argue most cases) their personal and family lives are to some degree a casualty of that focus.

Is that a fair tradeoff?

Fair or unfair is beside the point, because tradeoffs are unavoidable.

If you're making serious money but are unhappy on a personal level, you haven't embraced the fact that incredible business success often takes a heavy toll on relationships. Other things are clearly important to you besides just making money.

If on the other hand you leave every day at 4 you can pursue a rich and varied personal life yet you're unhappy on a material level, you haven't embraced the fact -- and it is a fact -- that the profession you’ve chosen and the way you've chosen to pursue it will not make you wealthy. Personal satisfaction is nice, but for you it's not enough.

That's because your profession, your family and friends, your personal pursuits... no aspect of your life can (or should) ever be separated from the others. Each is a permanent part of a whole. Putting more focus on one area automatically reduces the focus on another area

Want to make more money? You can, but something else has to give.

Want more time with family? Want to help others? Want to pursue a hobby? You can, but something else has to give.

Think about what motivates you. What do you want to achieve for yourself and your family? What do you value most, spiritually, emotionally, and materially? Those are the things that will make you happy, and if you aren't doing them you won't be happy.

Sounds simplistic... but think of all the people you know who complain about the results of a path they purposely chose to follow. For example, a friend of mine constantly complains about his salary. He feels his pay doesn't reflect his education and experience and in no way recognizes his true value to society.

While I agree, there's a problem: He's a teacher. You know what teachers make. He knows what teachers make. He knew before he went to college what the average teacher makes. Fair or unfair, his income is almost exactly what he knew it would be.

Still, it drives him crazy and he spends a ton of emotional energy on the subject. So occasionally I say, "If feeling underpaid bothers you this much, I think you owe it to yourself to do something different."

"But I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love teaching!” he always replies.

"Yeah, but not enough,” I always think. If he truly loved teaching he could better accept the inevitable -- and it is inevitable -- financial trade-off.

So, Are You Happy?

Defining success is important, but taking a clear-eyed look at the impact of your definition matters even more. As in most things your intent is important but the results provide the real answers.

If helping others through social work is your definition of success, you may make a decent living but you won't get rich... and you must embrace that fact. If you're happy, you have.

If building a $100 million company is your definition of success, you can have a family but it will be almost impossible to have a rich, engaged family life... and you must embrace that fact. If you're happy, you have.

So forget traditional definitions of success. Forget what other people think. Ask yourself if you feel happy -- not just at work, not just at home, not just in those fleeting moments when you do something just for yourself, but overall.

If you are, you're successful. The happier you are the more successful you are.

If you aren't happy it's time to rethink how you define success, and start making changes to your professional and personal life that align with that definition, because what you're doing now isn't working for you.

And life is way too short for that.

More from my Inc. columns:

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March 8, 2013

February’s U.S. Home Prices Signal Solid Start to Spring Buying Season

 

 

                                                              

Clear Capital recently released its Home Data Index(TM) (HDI) Market Report with data through February 2013. Using a broad array of public and proprietary data sources, the HDI Market Report publishes the most granular home data and analysis earlier than nearly any other index provider in the industry.

According to the report, February’s home prices are up 6.1 percent over the year, and quarterly price trends at the national and regional levels show moderate improvement over the typically slow winter season. Additionally, 11 (of 15) of the lowest performing major metro markets saw quarterly price trends in February give way to minor losses.

“While February’s yearly growth of 6.1 percent is encouraging, let’s remember this rate of growth is measured against the market’s bottom, which we reported in our March 2012 Market Report,” says Dr. Alex Villacorta, director of research and analytics at Clear Capital.” Consumer confidence continues to be vital to a broader housing recovery and national quarterly home prices expanding 1.0 percent in the midst of winter is confirmation the recovery has legs. While 1.0 percent is weaker in comparison to more recent rates of quarterly growth, the positive trend continues to support homebuyer confidence and is on par with the new normal.

Recent updates on the regulatory front could also build momentum in the housing revival. The Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule gives lenders more definition on extending credit to homebuyers, who continue to be encouraged by positive economic signs. The real question now is how many of those sidelined borrowers will qualify for a loan under the new rules. All told, February’s home data shows the housing recovery on track.”

For more information, visit www.clearcapital.com [1].

Article printed from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com

URL to article: http://rismedia.com/2013-03-06/februarys-u-s-home-prices-signal-solid-start-to-spring-buying-season/

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[1] www.clearcapital.com: http://www.clearcapital.com

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March 7, 2013

-Home Prices Expected to Rise at least 3.3 Percent Annually through 2017-

                                              home_prices_rising 

[1]The housing recovery is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent through the third quarter of this year, then gain momentum and prices are projected to grow 3.7 percent between the third quarters of 2013 and 2014 until settling down to 3.3 percent annual increases over the next three years according to Fiserv, a financial services technology provider using data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Both home prices and home sales volumes increased steadily last year, making 2012 the first positive year for both prices and sales since the housing market crash, excluding gains induced by the home buyer tax credits in 2009 and 2010.

“Although some recent real estate activity has been speculative, it seems as if buyers have more realistic expectations about housing market returns after having lived through the largest housing market crash in U.S. history,” says David Stiff, chief economist, Fiserv.

“2012 was the first year since 1997 that the housing market has resembled something recognizable as normal. For the past 15 years, home price changes and sales volumes have either been boosted by a bubble mentality or crushed by crash psychology,” continues Stiff.

“Back in 1997, housing prices grew 3 percent, just below the 5 percent long-term average rate of appreciation. From 1998 to 2006, prices appreciated at levels above 5 percent, with double-digit price increases in many of those years. Then, after 2006, the market collapsed as euphoria turned to panic. It took until the end of 2011 before housing markets finally started to stabilize. The latest Case-Shiller results show a return to a historically normal pace of price appreciation in the last year.”

The recovery in home prices has been solid and broad-based. At the end of the 2012 third quarter, prices were rising in approximately 62 percent of all U.S. metro areas, compared to 12.5 percent in the same period a year ago. Average U.S. home prices increased 3.6 percent from the third quarter of 2011 to the comparable period of 2012. Many of the metro areas that suffered the most severe declines during the housing market crash enjoyed the highest price increases in that period.

Fiserv Case-Shiller projects that by the end of 2013, home prices will be rising in nearly every metro area in the U.S. Some markets may experience short-term double-digit price jumps that could be partially reversed by price declines as large tranches of bank-owned inventory (REO) are liquidated. In other markets, price appreciation will slowly return to normal rates as home buyers regain confidence that the market has found its footing.

Stiff cautions that the parallels to previous years should not be overstated. Unlike in 1997, there are millions of homes with delinquent mortgages, in the foreclosure process, or in REO inventories listed for sale or waiting to be sold. But many trends are positive. With both prices and mortgage payments at historic lows relative to income, Fiserv Case-Shiller expects stronger demand for housing, and the sector once again having a positive impact on the economy.

“The number of new housing units being built per household is near a record low. As momentum in the housing market builds, we will see the residential real estate sector once again make large contributions to the economic recovery. If residential investment – which encompasses all direct spending on residential real estate construction and activity – returns to its 1997 level over the next two years, then housing will boost overall economic growth by 0.5 percentage points in 2013 and 2014,” Stiff continues.

“In all of the bubble-crash markets, foreclosures will have a persistent but diminishing drag on price appreciation. Since the timing of the disposition of foreclosed properties can be highly uncertain, we will witness choppy price movements as individual metro markets stabilize. For example, in late 2011, prices in Atlanta dropped sharply because of a substantial jump in REO sales, and it is possible that we will see similar, temporary price declines in other markets as subsiding waves of foreclosed properties buffet these markets. In other markets, investor demand is quickly absorbing listed REO properties, and as a result, foreclosures are no longer pulling home prices downward,” Stiff says.

The Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes, which include data covering thousands of zip codes, counties, metro areas and state markets, are owned and generated by Fiserv. The historical and forecast home price trend information in this report is calculated with the Fiserv proprietary Case-Shiller indexes, supplemented with data from the FHFA. The historical home price trends highlighted in this release are for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2012. One-year forecasts are for the 12 months ending on September 30, 2013. The Fiserv Case-Shiller home price forecasts are produced by Fiserv and Moody’s Analytics.

For more information, visit www.realestateeconomywatch.com [2].

Article printed from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com

URL to article: http://rismedia.com/2013-03-06/home-prices-expected-to-rise-at-least-3-3-percent-annually-through-2017/

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[1] Image: http://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/home_prices_rising.jpg

[2] www.realestateeconomywatch.com: http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/

 

 

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March 6, 2013

-Three Must Have Ingredients for Success and Happiness from my Mentor Floyd Wickman-

The Inside Scoop on What's Worked For Floyd Wickman

 

You know, I am at the point in my life where I am both humbled and blessed to think of all that I have achieved, and overcome. There's a little of both in every life-right? The victories and the obstacles? I think for those folks who have found a level of both success AND happiness share some common denominators and I'd like to share them with you.

    
1. WORK HARD. Nothing will ever replace hard work as a major force in taking one toward the goal. Asking yourself "What can I accomplish during my workday?" rather than "What can I get out of doing during my workday?" is one noticeable difference between an achiever and a wanna-be. Remember, if you wish toleave your footprints on the sands of time... wear work-shoes!

2. STRONG CORE VALUES. Those traits that best describe a person and his or her ethics, guidelines or promises can often predict the outcome of ones efforts toward achieving the goal can be reduced to concise and clear core values. A person needs only to look back upon a successful period of his life to discover his core values. What traits obviously contributed to the successful outcome? How would others describe the 'work ethics' or conspicuous characteristics he demonstrated? To help the reader understand what I mean by Core     Values, I give you mine. To Always...

  • Live by the Get-by-Giving Philosophy.
  • Make my clients number one goal, my number one goal.
  • Live up to my standards despite temptations to lower them.
  • Be willing to work toward a common good.
  • Do what I say I will do. Sometimes more, just never less.

Each person should ask themselves this question. "Are my core values such that, if I adhere to them, I have the best chance to achieve my goal?

3. HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE. This is a term my 'big brother' Zig reminded me often of throughout the years. Simply put, he said we cannot succeed to our full potential without the people in our life rooting for us. Encouraging us to be our best. Whether its our spouses, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers or just our closest friends, our odds of success soar when they are cheering us on and giving us our space to grow. How do you get this? You get by giving. By encouraging the people closest to us; giving to our families the love and attention they want and need; and, putting their needs high on our 'to do' lists, we dramatically increase our odds of having that 'home court advantage".

Linda and I have been married for a very long time and I can tell you, beyond the shadow of a doubt, without her encouragement, belief and support, I could never have achieved the success I have. No one does it alone. In my bookLetters to Linda we share the 15 principles that has given each of us the 'Home Court Advantage'.

As we head into a new month, take a good look at the ingredients in YOUR life and career and determine for yourself what's working and what's not so you can better position yourself for BOTH success and happiness. And remember this - if you need us - just call (800.910.5351) - or visit us online at ourFacebook page and let us know how you're doing. We care!

 
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March 5, 2013

-Exterior Replacement Projects Provide Biggest Return on Investment for Homeowners!-

 

-Exterior Replacement Projects Provide Biggest Return on Investment for Homeowners!-

                                            

 

Homeowners looking for the most return on their investment when it comes to remodeling should consider exterior replacement projects. According to the 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects.

"REALTORS know that curb appeal projects offer great bang for your buck, because a home's exterior is the first thing potential buyers see," says National Association of REALTORS President Gary Thomas. "Projects such as siding, window and door replacements can recoup more than 70 percent of their cost at resale. REALTORS know what home features are important to buyers in your area and can provide helpful insights when considering remodeling projects."

Results of the report are summarized on NAR's consumer website HouseLogic.com, which provides information on dozens of remodeling projects, from kitchens and baths to siding replacements, including the recouped value of the project based on a national average. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS judged a steel entry door replacement as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 85.6 percent of costs recouped upon resale. The steel entry door replacement is the least expensive project in the report, costing little more than $1,100 on average. A majority of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects; all of these are estimated to recoup more than 71 percent of costs.

Three different siding replacement projects landed in the top 10, including fiber cement siding, expected to return 79.3 percent of costs, vinyl siding, expected to return 72.9 percent of costs, and foam-backed vinyl, expected to return 71.8 percent of costs. Two additional door replacements were also among the top exterior replacement projects. The midrange and upscale garage door replacement were both expected to return more than 75 percent of costs.

According to the report, two interior remodeling projects in particular can recoup substantial value at resale. A minor kitchen remodel is ranked fifth and is expected to return 75.4 percent of costs. Nationally, the average cost for the project is just under $19,000.

The second interior remodeling project in the top 10 is the attic bedroom, which landed at number eight and tied with the vinyl siding replacement with 72.9 percent of costs recouped. With an average national cost of just under $48,000, the attic project adds a bedroom and bathroom within a home's existing footprint. The improvement project projected to return the least is the home office remodel, estimated to recoup less than 44 percent.

The 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 81 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 15th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with NAR.

REALTORS provided their insights into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets. The 2013 national average cost-to-value ratio rose to 60.6 percent, ending a six-year decline. The ratio represents nearly a three-point improvement over 2011-2012. Lower construction costs are the principal factor in the upturn, especially when measured against stabilizing house values. In addition, the cost-to-value ratio improved nationally for every project in this year's report and is higher than it was two years ago for both remodeling and replacement projects.

"A REALTOR is the best resource for helping homeowners decide what improvement projects will provide the most upon resale in their market," says Thomas. "Each neighborhood is different, and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies depending on where you live. When making a home remodeling decision, resale value is just one factor that homeowners should take into consideration. Consult a REALTOR to make sure you are making the best decision."

Most regions followed the national trends; however, the Pacific region-consisting of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington-once again led the nation with an average cost-value ratio of 71.2 percent, due mainly to strong resale values. The next best performing regions were West South Central, South Atlantic and East South Central. These regions attribute their high ranking to construction costs that were lowest in the country. While still remaining below the national average, most remaining regions showed strong improvement over last year. These are Mountain, New England, East North Central, Middle Atlantic and West North Central.

To read the full project descriptions and access national and regional project data, visitwww.costvsvalue.com. "Cost vs. Value" is a registered trademark of Hanley Wood, LLC.

For more information, visitwww.realtor.org.

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March 4, 2013

Low Inventory: The Big Real Estate Story Of 2013?

         Low Inventory: The Big Real Estate Story Of 2013?

                       Low Inventory: The Big Real Estate Story Of 2013?

We’ve heard it on the street, we’ve seen in on Facebook and Twitter, and we’ve seen it in our own neighborhoods: low inventory is a major story in the real estate market right now. While it is not a universal condition, a low inventory of homes on the market seems to be prevalent in many desirable areas. Inventory levels, the amount of time it would take to sell all existing homes on the market without any new homes being added, are dropping below normal (it varies by market but six months is often considered a good indicator).  The low inventory situation exists both major cities and in some suburban areas. Let’s take a look at a few recent stories:

Denver, Colorado

From the Denver Post: The number of showings per listing has risen as the housing inventory has fallen. During a stable market a typical inventory level would be around five to seven months, Boulder County’s inventory is 3.4 months.

Portland, Oregon

From Oregon Live: In the Portland area December closed with fewer than 6,400 homes listed for sale. At that month’s sales rate it would only take 3.6 months to work through that supply. Average inventory level for the area is generally six months.

Seattle, Washington

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Sales of houses and condos In King County last year rose 19.9 percent, while the number of homes on the market fell by 36.9 percent. The inventory level fell from 6.7 to 3.4 months.

Los Angeles, California

From the Los Angeles Daily News: Warren Snyder, who co-owns Carriage Realty & American Broker Loans in Rolling Hills Estates was quoted as saying: “The short inventory count is causing people to pay more for the house. It’s supply and demand.”

Lubbock, Texas

From the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: For the first time in several years, the Lubbock market’s existing months of inventory for December dropped below 1,300 homes or 4.5 months and officially transitioned from a buyer’s to a seller’s market, carrying last year’s strong recovery trend into 2013. Last year during this period the inventory level was around 6.5 percent.

West Palm Beach, Florida

From the Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County Realtors have said one of their biggest challenges in recent months is a low inventory. T 4.7 in November, a 54 percent decrease from the same time in 2011. Condominium supply was at 4.8 months, down 47 percent from November 2011.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

From the Triangle Business Journal: The Triangle MLS in  North Carolina which covers an area including Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill areas, reported in December that the inventory of homes and properties listed on MLS in the region hit a new low with 11,802 homes listed for sale in December, which is about a 5.9-month supply level.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire:

From Fosters.com: The single family homes available for sale in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire at its lowest level since at least 2010, according to the Seacoast Board of REALTORS monthly survey of the 13-sample Seacoast towns.

New York, New York:

From NY1.com: The prediction for New York City is that inventory will remain low in 2013, especially because many sellers cannot afford to trade up or qualify for financing, so they are opting to stay put.

So what is a potential homebuyer to do? In our recent post on smart moves to make in 2013, Realtors® gave advice on backup offers and other strategies. If there is a home you like, be ready to take action because, from what we are seeing out there, it looks like it may not be on the market long.

How is the inventory in your market? Let us know in the comments below. We may include your information in a follow-up story, as inventory changes throughout the year.

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March 3, 2013

Creighton Men's Basketball Earns No. 1 Seed in MVC Tournament

Creighton Men's Basketball Earns No. 1 Seed in MVC Tournament

                      
ST. LOUIS -- National Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott had 41 points to lead Creighton to its first outright Missouri Valley Conference title since 2001 in a 91-79 win over Wichita State earlier today. That Creighton-Wichita State game was the second in three years in which a “winner-take-all” game occurred in the MVC on the final day of the regular season.

With the win, Creighton takes the No. 1 seed into the MVC Men’s Basketball Tournament, which begins Thursday, March 7, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Creighton (24-7, 13-5 MVC) clinched its eighth outright MVC regular-season title and its 15th overall -- tied for the most in league history. The Bluejays last earned the top seed for the MVC Tournament in 2001. That year, the Bluejays lost to eventual tournament champ Indiana State in the semifinals. Creighton has also been the MVC Tournament No. 1 seed in 1978, 1989, and in 1991, and the Bluejays won the tournament in each of those three seasons.

This year’s tournament is the 37th Missouri Valley Conference post-season tourney and 23rd-straight in St. Louis. The league has been over 50,000 fans in each of the last 10 seasons, and the 2012 tournament total attendance was fourth-best for the tournament in its history (36 events). Last year, 62,283 fans attended during the four-day, nine-game event.

Notably, the top seed of the league men’s basketball championship has won the title six times in St. Louis, including three of the past five years (Drake-2008, UNI-2009, UNI-2010), but before 2008, that hadn’t happened once since 1998. Only twice has a seed worse than No. 3 won the tournament (No. 4 Creighton in 2000 and No. 5 Indiana State in 2001).

The tournament, which features nine games in four days, culminates on Sunday, March 10, and for the second time in league history, all nine games will be televised nationally (in HD). For the eighth-straight year, CBS Sports will carry the title game, while the first eight games will air on the MVC Television Network. Radio partner 101 FM (WXOS) will air tournament games in St. Louis, while Dial Global Sports (formerly Westwood One) will air the title game nationally.

For the second-straight year (and just the second time in MVC Tournament history), the league tournament will begin with two teams that enter the tournament with 24 or more wins as both Creighton and Wichita State sport identical 24-7 overall records (last year Wichita State had 26 victories and Creighton had 25 before the tournament started.)

Notably, since 2003, the league tournament has featured a ranked team five times (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2012). Until 2012, the MVC Tournament had never featured two ranked teams (Creighton and WSU were ranked last year).

With 11 crowns, Creighton owns the most MVC Tournament titles of any Valley school, and the Bluejays will be looking to become the sixth team to repeat. UNI most recently accomplished the feat, winning back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, Missouri State became the first No. 1 MVC Tournament seed and regular-season champ in 18 years not selected for the NCAA Tournament. Notably, only five top-seeded teams in 36 MVC tournaments have failed to reach the NCAAs (Missouri State-2011, Illinois State-1993, Southern Illinois-1992, Southern Illinois-1990, Bradley-1982).

2013 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
Thursday, March 7 -- Session I
Game 1 -- #8 Bradley (16-15, 7-11) vs. #9 Drake (14-16, 7-11), 6 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]
Game 2 -- #7 Missouri State (10-21, 7-11) vs. #10 Southern Illinois (14-16, 6-12), 8:30 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]

Friday, March 8 -- Session II
Game 3 -- #1 Creighton (24-7, 13-5) vs. Winner Game 1, noon [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]
Game 4 -- #4 Evansville (18-13, 10-8) vs. #5 Indiana State (17-13, 9-9), 2:30 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]

Friday, March 8 -- Session III
Game 5 -- #2 Wichita State (24-7, 12-6) vs. Winner of Game 2, 6 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]
Game 6 -- #3 UNI (18-13, 11-7) #6 Illinois State (17-14, 8-10), 8:30 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]

Saturday, March 9 -- Session IV
Game 7 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 1:30 p.m. [MVC TV Network]
Game 8 -- Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 4 p.m. [MVC TV Network] [WXOS Radio]

Sunday, March 10 -- Session V
Championship -- Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 1 p.m. [CBS Sports, Dial Global Sports, Sirius XM Radio] [WXOS Radio] 
Posted in What is GoingOn In Omaha?
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March 2, 2013

Preparing Your Home To Sell!

                                                                               

Your home will stand out of the pack when applying these enhancement methods. Learn the key principles of appealing to buyer emotion through: Major repairs, Maintenance, Clearing out, Cleaning up and Five Sense Appeal. You’ll have an organized plan to enhance the value of your home. FREE Video!!

Posted in Real-Estate-Reports
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Feb. 25, 2013

Omaha Fashion Week in Omaha’s Old Market District

 

Join Omaha Fashion Week in Omaha’s Old Market District on Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 2013 for F/W 2013 Collections.  All shows will take place inside KANEKO on 1111 Jones Street.  Doors open at 6 p.m.  Show at 8 p.m., followed by the Metro Magazine Designer Reception.

All tickets are delivered via email.  Remember to print your tickets and bring them with you to the event.

Ticket Prices, Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 2013

BuyTypeRowPriceDescription
BUY VIP Row A $65 Premium seating, free parking, Grey-Goose VIP Pre-Party, Metro Magazine Designer Reception
BUY Reserved Row B $50 10-ft from runway, access to Metro Magazine Designer Reception
BUY Reserved Row C $40 14-ft from runway, access to Metro Magazine Designer Reception
BUY Reserved Row D $30 18-ft from runway, access to Metro Magazine Designer Reception
BUY Reserved Row E $20 22-ft from runway, access to Metro Magazine Designer Reception
Posted in What is GoingOn In Omaha?
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4 Reasons Why You Should Hire the MRG Realty Group


You may be wondering what sets the MRG Realty Group apart from the competition here in Omaha and beyond, and we have four specific reasons for you why the MRG Realty Group will provide you with a better Experience.


 1. Knowledge:  We are lifelong resident of the Omaha area, and we have a deep knowledge of the Omaha and surrounding areas. We know the pros and cons of each neighborhood, and we have a firm grip on our local market.                                                                                                                                                        

2. Experience:  As a team we have over 26 years experience a, and we have helped thousands of buyers and sellers. Through the years we've refined our negotiation skills. 

3. Systems: We have  proven and repeatable systems that we use with our seller clients in order to net them more money for their homes while also being on the market for the shortest period possible.

4. Teamwork: Whether you're buying or selling, you need a team of professionals to help you. When you work with us, you get an entire team dedicated to your success, and you pay the same amount as you would for one real estate agent. We work cohesively to make your dreams come true!

If you're interested in buying or selling homes in the Omaha or Surrounding areas, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team would be very happy to assist you!

 Gary & Linda Carpenter                                                                                                                                        402-680-7000                                                                                                                                                        Gary@MRGOmaha.com

What Our Happy Clients Have To Say

"We were first-time home buyers with busy schedules, and inventory was moving into and out of the market quickly. Linda worked with us whenever we were available, sometimes on the fly. We once asked her in between two houses, "Hey, you know, we really liked that one house from last week. Can we arrange to see it again sometime?" And she said, "It's on our way. Let's head over there now. I'll call the agent." We were looking at it again 10 minutes later.

We didn't know exactly what we wanted at first, but she never pressured us to make a decision. When it came time to offer, she provided professional advice and walked us through every step of the process. But it didn't end there. Linda was there with us through closing and after, even helping us with an emergency plumbing problem we encountered shortly after moving in. I'm sure we weren't the biggest clients on her list, but she made us feel like we were."

______________________

"After my father passed away I was asked by my family to sell the home we had all grown up in. I knew it would not be an easy task with so many memories and quite honestly so many repairs and upgrades that would be needed. I met Gary quite by accident but none the less he provided me with suggestions, guidance and honest opinions about what it would take to make the home ready and appealing to the buying public. His knowledge of the area gives him a edge that other relators will not have. His compassion in understanding what selling this home meant to us made me feel comfortable in dealing with him. Before the repairs and upgrades were finished Gary brought a buyer through the home and an offer was presented and accepted before the home could even be listed. I was completely relieved that everything had gone so smoothly and I was able to sell the property at the price we wanted. Gary even personally delivered the final check to my mother! I cannot thank Gary enough and I would recommend his services to anyone!!"

____________________

"Gary and Linda do an amazing job! They were so helpful when I had to buy a new house during a difficult time in my life. Linda showed me several places and eventually found me the perfect spot to call home. I'm grateful for their patience, insight, expertise, and accountability that they display during a long and sometimes challenging process that operates on it's own time schedule! I highly recommend the Carpenters and I send EVERYONE looking for a realtor their way!"

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