Real Estate Information Archive

When it comes time to sell your home, very clean and updated kitchens and baths are very important and can go a long way.  But what about the outside?  People see the outside before they come in and see your kitchens and bathrooms, so adding curb appeal to your home is essential for those first impressions.   Here are five things you can do to improve your curb appeal from Realtor.org.

Landscaping goes a long way. In the spring plant colorful flowers or think about planting small shrubs or trees.  Speak with the gardening department at your local home improvement store to see what your options are for the Omaha/Council Bluffs climate.

Power washing and window cleaning. If the paint on your house looks poor consider getting it re-painted.  If the paint is good, but it hasn't been power washed in over five years, a good power washing will improve the looks and brighten up the exterior of your home. The same goes for your windows! If you are especially handy, you may be able to complete the job yourself with the right equipment.

Replace shutters and/or the front door. The return on investment of replacing your front door is one of the highest when it comes to remodeling projects. A dated front door makes a house look cheap, and a worn front door makes a house uncared for or old. You can replace the shutters or front door of your house as a DIY project, greatly reducing your costs.

Resurface your driveway. When you sell your home, a paved driveway will appeal to buyers.  A cracked up driveway can also potentially affect their ability to get certain financing.  Smooth out your blacktop or asphalt so it looks polished for future showings.

Clean or sand the deck. Prospective buyers will remember the expansive feel that a wide deck provides." Keep your deck clean and in tip-top shape. If it looks rough, it could ratchet down the interest of a prospective homebuyer.  They will see it as a big project they'll have to tackle instead of something they could enjoy right away.

With any remodeling project, and especially if you are remodeling in the interest of selling your home, you need to weigh the investment against the predicted range of return on your investment. If your home hasn't had a face-lift in years or is particularly dated or old, these little projects can go a long way toward the sale of your home.

Have you tackled any of these before yourself?  Let us know below!

Council Bluffs and Omaha area stores are stocking up their shelves in preparation for back to school sales. Here is a list of the elementary school supply lists to see what you need to pack into your children's back pack this year. Click a school below to grab the list you need.

Bloomer Elementary
Carter Lake Elementary
College View Elementary
Crescent Elementary
Edison Elementary
Franklin Elementary
Hoover Elementary
Lewis & Clark Elementary
Longfellow Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary
Rue Elementary

Where are your go-to places to shop for your school supplies in Council Bluffs or Omaha?

WestFair is happening now in Council Bluffs across the river from Omaha!  It started this week on Wednesday and goes until Monday, July 27. The best news is the front gate admission is FREE!

Here are some things you can expect to see there.

Arena Schedule:

Thursday (7-23) - ATV Races 7pm
Friday (7-24) – Figure 8 Races 7pm
Saturday (7-25) – Motocross on the Bluff 2pm (Prelim) / 7pm (final)
Sunday (7-26) – Demolition Derby 7pm

Arena Event Admission:

FREE with your Westfair Membership

At the Arena Gate:

Adults - $10
Children (6-12) - $5 
Children 5 and under - FREE

Have you ever been to WestFair? Share your stories below.

Morse Real Estate's
Current Listings for July 2015

Residential Properties
in Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska

3 Park Circle, Council Bluffs, IA


20 - 22 E Main Street, Treynor, IA


108 N Hazel Street, Glenwood, IA


507 S 23rd Street, Council Bluffs, IA


705 6th Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA


1109 Center Street, Omaha, NE


1215 S. 3rd Street, Council Bluffs, IA


2606 S. 7th Street, Council Bluffs, IA


3406 Prairie S. Circle, Logan, IA


3559 7th Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA
 

Commercial Properties
in Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska


1318 Avenue K, Council Bluffs, IA


1326 Avenue K, Council Bluffs, IA


1603 Avenue G, Council Bluffs, IA


2327 S 24th Street, Council Bluffs, IA


20595 McPherson Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA


57150 190th Street, Pacific Junction


22000 Eastern Hills Drive, Council Bluffs, IA

Morse Real Estate is the premiere real estate agency in the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas.  We are proud to represent the best the area has to offer, in doing so, help countless families, businesses and entrepreneurs find the perfect property. We have an outstanding group of professional agents at your service.

These are active listings as of the date of this blog. 
Any inquiries of the status of listings may be made with a Morse Real Estate Realtor.

Ever thought about investing in rental properties? Think you have what it takes could be a good landlord? There is certainly potential to make money owning and leasing rental property. Investing in real estate is one of the best investments you can make but you are dealing with the public so it can be a very difficult at times. Before you jump in, take some time and answer these 10 questions and see what you come up with.

10 Questions to ask BEFORE renting your home

1. How will you respond if your tenant says they can’t afford to pay the rent this month because of more pressing obligations? (This happens most often during holiday season and back-to-school time when families with children have extra expenses).
2. Because of the economy, many homeowners cannot make their mortgage payment? What percentage of tenants do you think cannot afford to pay their rent?
3. Have you interviewed experienced eviction attorneys in case a challenge does arise?
4. Have you talked to your insurance company about a possible increase in premiums as liability is greater in a non-owner occupied home?
5. Will you allow pets? Cats? Dogs? How big a dog?
6. How will you actually collect the rent? By mail? In person?
7. Repairs are part of being a landlord. Who will take tenant calls when necessary repairs come up?
8. Do you have a list of crafts people readily available to handle these repairs?
9. How often will you do a physical inspection of the property?
10. Will you alert your current neighbors that you are renting the house?

It is important to stay-up-to date on federal, state and city guidelines for rental properties and tenant rights. If you have questions about Council Bluffs or Omaha guidelines, give one of our Realtors a call. Find more about our agents here.

Do you have any awful slumlord stories to share?  Let us know below! 

If you are looking for an activity for date night or to do with the entire family but have exhausted the normal options, here is a great list for you today! Its time to hit the astro turf and track your score while playing miniature golf. This sport is known by other names such as putt putt golf or mini golf but it usually consists of small putting irons, colored balls, plastic grass, tiny holes and obstacles and odds stacked up against you.

Playing can become quite competitive and fun which makes it perfect for group outings. Here are several local places that offer miniature golf fun to check out this summer:

FUN-PLEX - 7003 Q Street, Omaha, NE 68117
www.fun-plex.com

 

Most locals in the Omaha metro area have visited or at least driven past this big time summer business. Mostly known for water slides, a lazy river, wave pool and go carts, this bustling place also offers 18 holes of miniature golf. Gameplay is included in the cost of admission which is $16.95-$24.95 per person depending on your age. Normal hours are 11am-8pm. That price grants you access to all of the attractions of the park. Or if you visit between 4pm-8pm you will only pay $12.95-$16.95 per person. Fun Plex's rides season will end August 14th, 2015.

PUTTING PLUS - 9216 Maple Street, Omaha, NE 68134
www.puttingplus.com

Another option for testing your talents is Putting Plus. The business specializes in one thing and they have been in business since 1967. They are open from 10am-11pm on most days of the week and have 3 different courses with 18 holes each. Prices range from $6.50-$3 per person depending on your age but they do run daily specials on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Their putting season ends on October 15, 2015.

PAPIO GREENS GOLF CENTER - 11050 S 66th St, Papillion, NE 68133
www.papiogreens.com/

Finally, Papio Greens Golf Center offers two challenging 18 hole courses. Avoid obstacles to your heart's content with their unlimited golf rate of $7 for adults or $5 per child.

Council Bluffs is lucky to be so close to Omaha's great entertainment offerings.

What are your favorite summer activities?

Our real estate office and agents receive the newest statistics at the beginning of each month which we use for our market analysis. 

The chart above represents the 199 properties that were sold during the month of June. Over 40% of the transactions were completed with conventional financing with cash and FHA transactions representing over 26% of the sales each. This shows that most people are not paying cash for area homes and are signing up for low interest mortgages.

The chart above shows homes are selling quicker this year than in previous years. There are more buyers on the market in 2015 than there were in 2013 or 2014 and this means we have happier sellers in the Council Bluffs and Omaha area (and busier real estate agents).

The statistics are from the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors and covers data from the following cities and more: 

Carter Lake
Council Bluffs
Crescent
Glenwood
Logan
Missouri Valley
Neola
Oakland
Oakland
Underwood

Staying up-to-date on market analysis is an important part of making any real estate transaction smooth and successful. Our agents love to stay current to provide the best service possible to clients. To find out more about our Morse Real Estate Realtors®, click here.

We finally got some heat here in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Heat means summer and summer means fairs! Whether you go for the rides or the wacky food choices it's always fun attending these local events. Here are the schedules for our state and local county fairs. Somewhere to go almost every weekend. Get out there and have some fun!

Iowa and Nebraska State Fair Schedules

Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, IA
Aug 13 through Aug 23
http://www.iowastatefair.org/

Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, NE
Aug 28 through Sept 7
http://www.statefair.org/

County Fair Schedules

Mills County Fair in Malvern, IA
July 10 through July 15
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mills-County-Fairgrounds-Malvern-IA/395760550470981     

Pottawattamie County Fair in Avoca, IA
July 16 through July 20
http://www.pottawattamiecountyfair.org/

River Fest in Bellevue, NE
July 18 and July 19
https://bellevuenebraska.com/event/riverfest/

Harrison County Fair in Missouri Valley, IA
July 20 through July 25
              http://www.harrisoncofair.com/             

Westfair in Council Bluffs, IA
July 22 through July 26
http://www.westfairevents.com/

Washington County Fair in Arlington, NE
July 24 through July 29
http://www.wcffair.com/

Saunders County Fair in Wahoo, NE
July 26 through August 2
http://www.saunderscountyfair.com/ 

Sarpy County Fair in Springfield, NE
July 29 through August 2
http://www.sarpyfair.com/

Cass County Fair in Weeping Water, NE
August 5 through Aug 8
http://www.cassfair.com/

Douglas County Fair in Omaha, NE
Sept 24 through Sept 27
http://www.aksarbenrodeo.com/

What are your favorite fair memories? Share with us below.

Each of us take hot water heaters for granted everyday. We turn the knob and just expect our baths and showers to be warm and inviting every time. Water heaters, whether they are gas or electric, do need to be checked and maintained on a regular basis to work at their optimum level and keep that soothing warm water coming for years to come. In fact, many of our Realtors have been in Omaha and Council Bluffs homes where water heaters have been doing their job for over 30 years!

Don't let this happen to you!

The most important tip for maintaining your water heater is to simply drain some water out of the bottom periodically (every quarter) to battle hard water sediment build up which could be reducing its efficiency. 

Found a great site for more hot water heater maintenance information, click here to visit.

How long have you had your water heater and what types of maintenance do you use?