Feb 28, 2018
2017 was a good year for new home sales according to this article from the National Association of Home Builders. Consumers planning on building new homes is trending upwards according to the article. Due in part to low inventory of available homes and an improving market. You can read the full article below.
If you’ve been thinking about building a new home, now is a good time to do start planning your dream home. Interest rates are still low, though they will probably rise if the economy continues to do well. If you’re thinking about building a new home, give us a call, we’ll guide you through the process.
New Home Sales Rise 8.3 Percent Overall in 2017
Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 9.3 percent in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 625,000 units, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite this monthly decline, new home sales rose 8.3 percent overall in 2017 to 608,000 units.
“The number of consumers planning to buy a new home in the near future is trending upward,” said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel, a custom home builder from LaPlace, La. “Inventory remains low, but its growth in 2017 is an encouraging sign. Our members are also telling us that market conditions continue to improve.”
“Some moderation in sales was expected this month after a strong November reading,” said NAHB Senior Economist Michael Neal. “With ongoing job creation and rising home equity, we should see housing demand continue to grow in the months ahead.”
The inventory of new home sales for sale was 295,000 in December, which is a 5.7-month supply at the current sales pace. The median sales price of new houses sold was $335,400.
Regionally, new home sales decreased 2.4 percent in the Northeast, 9.5 percent in the West, 9.8 percent in the South and 10 percent in the Midwest.
Feb 21, 2018
In today’s tech heavy world it’s never been easier to start planning your dream home, even if you aren’t planning on building it right away. Thanks to the internet, you can start designing your dream home long before you ever get to build it.
Now is a great time to build a new home. If you’ve never worked with a builder to build your new home, it’s not as difficult, overwhelming or expensive as you may think. In fact, it may be less expensive than buying a used home. Of course it all depends on what you build, but new homes are more efficient, they come with a warranty and you know everything is going to work when you move in. You can’t say that about a used home.
Building a new home is an exciting experience, though not without the occassional headache. You can prevent many of the headaches by doing your research. Meeting with a builder is the first step – they’ll guide you through the process and help you navigate the pitfalls. It’s up to you to set and stay on budget.
That’s where technology comes in. The internet and online tools like Houzz and Pinterest are not only great for getting ideas for your dream home, but they also provide the tools to organize your thoughts, ideas and dreams.
Pinterest, for those who don’t know, is a place where you can “pin” all of your ideas. You create boards that are categories for your project. You might have a board for light fixtures. When you see a light fixture online you can simply pin the image to that board which saves it for when you’re choosing the light fixtures.
Houzz is a website dedicated to helping you design your home. Whether you’re building new or simply want to revamp your current home, Houzz lets you explore what others are doing and lets you communicate with the professionals who provide the services. Houzz also has a vast knowledge base of actual people building actual homes. If you have a question you can pose it to the community and discuss your project. It’s a great way to navigate home building no matter if you’ve done it several times or this is your first time.
If you’re ready to learn more about planning your dream home, give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.
Feb 14, 2018
Love is in the air today, so why not show your home some love this Valentine’s Day. Spring is around the corner, now is a great time to get a jump-start on spring cleaning and organization. Get a head start on your spring cleaning by working on the indoor jobs now so when the weather warms up you can be outside. You’ll enjoy the warm weather and have the satisfaction of knowing the inside is all taken care of.
Show Your Home Some Love this Valentine’s Day
HVAC – Your furnace is still working hard to keep your home warm during these last several weeks of the heating season. Don’t forget to change the air filter on your furnace. This should be done every month. Now is a great time to call your HVAC company and have them come out and do a maintenance check on your air conditioner. When the warm weather hits you’ll know your unit can keep up with the heat.
Smoke Detectors – Sure, you change the batteries in your smoke detectors every time you set the clocks ahead or fall back, but do you check to make sure the unit can still detect smoke? You can easily check this by blowing a candle out close to the smoke detector. If it doesn’t set of the alarm, it’s time to get a new detector.
CO2 Detectors – While you’re at it, it might be time to swap out the old CO2 detector with a new one since there’s really no way to test it.
Clean Carpets – Spring is a busy time for professional carpet cleaners. While you may want to wait until the sloppy muddy season is over, now is a great time to schedule to have your carpets cleaned.
Dust Bunnies – Now is the time to chase the dust bunnies out from under the sofa, beds and all the other places they hide. Do a thorough vacuuming in all the places you avoid vacuuming. Use the attachments on your vacuum to get rid of spider webs and dust in high places.
Service Appliances – If you’ve got older appliances it might be worthwhile to have a repairman or handyman come out and service all of them – checking to make sure they are running in tip-top shape and to clean them out. This is an especially good time to clean the dryer lint from the window vent. You can do a lot of this yourself, but a professional can do it more efficiently and will be able to identify any problems.
Feb 7, 2018
It might be cold outside but there are plenty of Events in Omaha this February that are indoors. From the Japanese Doll Show to Haunticon, there’s something for everyone in Omaha this month. And, if you want to go outside in the cold there are plenty of events taking place outdoors too.
Events in Omaha this February
Arctic Wonderland
When: Now through April 8th, 2018
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum
500 S. 20th, Street
Omaha, NE
Visit Omaha Children’s Museum small exhibits space for an interactive experience teaching children about Arctic inhabitants and the science behind some of the Museum’s favorite snowy activities.
Holiday Lights Festival
When: Now through February 14th, 2018
Where: NRG Energy Ice Rink
10th and Capitol Avenue
Omaha, NE
Located in the new Capitol District development, the NRG Energy Ice Rink is an impressive 60×120 ft. and artificially chilled in order to keep it frozen even on the most pleasant of winter days.
A portion of the proceeds from the rink is donated to Food Bank for the Heartland as part of the “Shine the Light on Hunger” campaign, a significant component of the Holiday Lights Festival. Conagra Brands Foundation will match ice rink admission up to $100,000 for the campaign. For every $1 donated, Food Bank for the Heartland can distribute three meals to those in need. Look for Shine the Light collection bins at the ice rink. Your non-perishable food item donations will be distributed to families in need by Food Bank for the Heartland. For information on other ways you can help “Shine the Light on Hunger,” click here.
Snowshoeing in the Forest
When: Now through March 31st, 2018
Where: Fontenelle Forest
1111 N Bellevue Blvd
Omaha, NE
Trek your way through the forest in this truly unique experience. Snowshoes for adults and children are available; outside snowshoes are welcome. Snowshoeing permitted in at least 2 inches of snow. Please call (402) 731-3140 to check availability.
Women in Omaha
When: Now through July 29th, 2018
Where: Durham Museum
801 S. 10th Street
Omaha, NE
The Durham Museum is partnering with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s History Department and Service Learning Academy to produce an immersive, interdisciplinary experience focused on Nebraska women and their experience in the Midwest.
Omaha Beer Week
When: February 16th – 25th, 2018
Where: Various Omaha Locations
This annual event brings together breweries, craft beer bars, restaurants, and retailers from the Omaha metro area to celebrate the city’s current – and historical – love of all things beer. With dozens of participating locations and more than a week’s worth of events, including tap takeovers, special releases, and a city-wide bus tour, there is something for everybody during Omaha Beer Week.
Haunticon
When: February 17th, 2018
Where: 4734 S 27th Street
Omaha, NE
Come experience this one of a kind convention coming to Omaha this February!
We will have representatives from some of the most haunted locations in the Midwest, paranormal investigators, horror film makers, authors, numerologists, tarot card readers, an Escape Room, local shops that dabble in the paranormal and supernatural and SO much more!
We will have a full day of key-note speakers, covering topics such as: the paranormal, Sasquatch, and Extraterrestrials!
Check back, as we are currently developing the schedule of speakers, panel discussions, Q&A, and mini- classes!
Hinamatsuri: Japanese Doll Exhibit
When: February 20th – March 4th, 2018
Where: Lauritzen Gardens
100 Bancroft Street
Omaha, NE
In honor of the Japanese celebration of Hinamatsuri, also called Doll’s Day or Girls’ Day, discover a vast set of ornamental Imperial dolls, or hina-ningyo, representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period (A.D. 794 – 1185) on display.
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