Buying a Home in Omaha – August 2021

The housing market is currently all in favor of sellers but proving difficult to many buyers. As a buyer, it can be a scary yet exciting commitment to purchase a home, and thankfully, Omaha has many professionals that are here to help you through the process and comfort you during this new milestone.

More than a Realtor

In a market as crazy as the current one we are in, it is especially important to have a realtor by your side and helping you through the process. Realtors are often more than just your realtor, too; they can open up to you an entire new network, just by building a relationship with them. We spoke to Sarina McNeel, REALTOR® with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate – The Good Life Group (bhgre.com/Better-Homes-and-Gardens-Real-Estate-The-Good-Life-Group-6941c/Sarina-McNeel-7558225a), about the role your realtor plays in the home buying process.

“In this crazy market, it is very important to have somebody who has up-to-the minute information on property listings to make sure that they are getting in on those listings in a timely manner,” McNeel explained. “Some have different deadlines on offers, or could be outdated on search engines. And going into multiple offer situations, it’s really beneficial to have someone who has creative ideas on how to craft their offer in order to make it more enticing to the seller and make it stand out from the other people who are offering similar things. In the way the market is right now, with people waiving inspections and offering over the list price, just having someone who is an expert in what market conditions are and what property listings should be is extremely helpful.”

While many thought that the market would slow down when the pandemic hit, it really did the opposite. McNeel said that COVID-19 hasn’t really slowed down anything in the housing market, but has actually made people realize things about their current homes that they didn’t notice before.

“It was an interesting dynamic in the market, because even though a lot of people came to be out of work, there was still a lot of cash flowing in the market, and there were a lot of people who found out that their current home doesn’t suit their needs when they are spending a majority of their time there,” McNeel explained. “That’s the biggest effect that COVID-19 has had on pushing people into the market sooner than they thought they would be. The pace seems to be a little less frantic than the previous six months have been, but it is still highly competitive and market time is still short. Interest rates certainly help people qualify better, but the amount of liquid cash available in the market is an interesting turn, considering so many people were out of the market and furloughed.”

With the amount of people who began working from home and discovered they needed a new house, it’s no surprise that the housing shortage was intense. McNeel said that prior to the current trends, in an average market, it would take three to four months to run through all the housing inventory that was available. Now, there are only two weeks worth of houses. Despite the shortage, people are still looking for specific features for their home, and the most popular have been large office spaces and spacious backyards. With many employees needing to work from home and have their own work space among the family, the need for office space is no surprise. In addition, staying at home encouraged families to spend more time outside in their yards, and now these families are looking for homes where there is space to build decks, add fire pits, play outdoor activities, and more. Another growing trend that McNeel says is not as obvious is the increasing client population who are in the “empty-nest” stage of their life. These people are looking for a home that has an in-law suite for the family to share, especially for their aging parents, rather than opting for a senior living situation.

McNeel says her brokerage is a great environment for both the agents and the clients. Everyone is very collaborative and uses their working relationships to put deals together for their clients.

McNeel also says that, in addition to selling already existing homes, if you are looking to start from the ground up, they are available to work with any builder in Omaha. She knows the entire process can be intimidating, but she believes that with her and her team, HomeLife Realty Group, you can find the house you’ve been looking for.

“Don’t be scared off by all of the news of the shortage of houses and how crazy the prices are!” McNeel said. “Just because that’s the trend doesn’t mean we can’t get you a house. A lot of people have a misconception that realtors just sell homes, but the most important thing is that we are really your first step in the process. We partner with lenders, will do a full evaluation of your goals, and go through a whole process to make sure you are ready before you go to the lender. We will make sure you understand the process and terminology and what you are committing to before you hit the ground running and start shopping for a home.”

Finally, McNeel wants to remind home buyers that realtors are much more than just your realtors. They have a huge network that they want to share with you, whether you are looking for maintenance work or a new Scentsy representative.

“Realtors are people with strong relationships and I think one of the key components in my business is I like to develop long-term relationships with my clients,” McNeel said. “My goal is not to sell you a house, but to have a long-term relationship and help you down the road with anything you need – plumber, inspector, electrician, whatever it is. Scentsy or Pampered Chef? Anything! I try to have a full network of all kinds of relationships that I utilize myself and trust.”

Personalize Your Home

It’s popular for many new homeowners to want to remodel and design their new house to include their own personal touch and exhibit their taste. While your realtor is likely familiar with the redesigning wants and dreams of homebuyers, not all are experienced with the actual remodeling process itself. We spoke to co-owner of G. Lee Homes (omahasbuilder.com) and real estate agent Katie Frazell, who can offer the full scope when it comes to getting your dream home.

“As an agent, almost every home I have sold involved a conversation about what changes or upgrades were possible and/or necessary, both short term and long term,” Frazell explained. “Adding an addition requires consideration of the topography of the lot, lot setbacks, and neighborhood covenants, so it’s important to have a real estate agent who understands those things and where to find that information.”

Frazell believes her team at G. Lee Homes has unique experience that sets them apart from other remodeling/building businesses in the Omaha area.
“Our staff all worked as a vendor or subcontractor in some capacity and brought their unique and specialized experiences when they joined our team at G. Lee Homes,” Frazell said. “The collaboration is invaluable.”

G. Lee Homes offers services that include exterior and interior remodeling, as well as building custom homes from the ground up. They strive to create an intimate building experience when you are their client, as they want to learn about how you and your family live so that they can create the perfect home that works for you. Furthermore, even if you are already working with an architect, they are happy to review your completed plans and offer their expert insight at no cost or obligation. G. Lee Homes can advise you on which direction to go for the look of your house if you are unsure, and they are well educated on what is popular in the remodeling industry.

“Remodeling kitchens and master bathrooms remains popular and a necessity to retain home value,” Frazell said. “As far as trends go, we are seeing clients get really bold with green and blue cabinets and bold tile selections. Gold and brass fixtures have made their way back, with a modern twist.”

Frazell also offered her advice to potential home buyers in the Omaha area. She believes that having someone with experience and knowledge are key factors when entering the market.

“My best advice right now for someone buying a home with the intentions of remodeling in the future is to be sure you have an agent with experience in construction, or access to an experienced contractor, on your side,” Frazell recommended. “The inventory is still low so before you start house hunting, be sure you have financing ready to go. A great lender is invaluable in this fast paced market!”

If you are very new to the home buying process and see remodeling in your future, Frazell can help you with all of your questions and needs. Don’t let the idea intimidate you – with Frazell’s experience and her team’s knowledge, you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable and easy time house shopping and redesigning your new home.

You love the structure and design of your new home, but maybe not some of the colors or features. It’s time to add your own personal touch and truly make it feel like your own. A great place to start is in your bathroom with Bath Fitter, a one day installation, no demolition, and no mess company. Bath Fitter (bathfitter.com/us-en/location/omaha) offers solutions for your bathtub, shower, walls and wainscoting, and accessories. When you use Bath Fitter, they come to your home and take measurements to help them design and build your new tub.

“One of the unique aspects of Bath Fitter is that rather than tile installations, we offer custom made bathroom walls, which are uniquely one-piece and installed over your existing bathroom wall in just one day,” said Brandon Delaney, branch manager. “These seamless walls eliminate grout and wipe clean easily, making for a beautiful, unified look.”

If you are unsure about which route to go in your bathroom remodel, Bath Fitter’s experts are available to share their knowledge and answer your questions. They also offer a lifetime warranty, proving they are confident that you are going to enjoy your bathroom for years to come. Everyone spends time in their bathroom daily, so make sure that you enjoy yours!

With remodeling television shows becoming more popular each year, it’s no surprise that home remodels are becoming equally as common. We spoke to Tim Silknitter, owner of Gitt Construction (gittdbr.com), about the trend of home remodeling and the benefits that can come from the investment.

“It’s very common for new homeowners to upgrade their homes when it’s the right location and the right services, and you just need to redesign your space,” said Silknitter. “30 to 40% of our clients are looking to design the home for their family that just bought in the last year.”

Silknitter says that while kitchens have been a popular room to upgrade in the past and present, the master bathroom has often been neglected – until recently. It is the most popular room remodel inquiry that Gitt Construction receives as of late, with screened-in porches and basement finishes not far behind. Silknitter says his in-house designers are an asset to the company and present uniqueness in the remodeling industry.

“We have in-house designers that look at your needs and current space, and specifically design a unique space to fit those needs of your family,” Silknitter explained. “Not only does this add value to the home, but it adds value to the family’s lifestyle.”

Finally, Silknitter says that when remodeling a home, use discretion if you aren’t planning on being in your home forever. Some home remodels can actually be difficult to sell in the future.

“Whenever you do decide to remodel, keep selling in mind. What might be ideal for your family could be difficult to sell to another family,” Silknitter advised.
Gitt Construction’s services include kitchen and bathroom remodels, basement finishes, decks, and additions. The possibilities are endless with Gitt Construction, who will make you fall even more in love with your home than you did when you signed the papers.

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

Title and escrow companies work hard to ensure that your property has a clean title before buying, manage the movement of funds, and prepare the closing documents. They are a key factor in the home buying process, so it is important that you choose someone who is reliable and experienced in the local market – and who better to call than our own Val Kircher with Consumer Title & Escrow (consumertitlelincoln.com). An incredibly successful business that expanded from Lincoln into Omaha after only two years, Consumer Title & Escrow works hard as a team to give you the best and easiest home buying experience. Kircher says that with her team, they will do the detective work for you, and examine records that would reveal issues affecting the title of a house.

“What we do is verify that the seller is the owner of the house and has the ability to sell the property,” Kircher explained. “We verify that nothing is outstanding on their title and that it is marketable. If there is a problem on the title, then we will work to clear it up.”

With Kircher and her team’s years of experience, the closing process is made to be enjoyable rather than stressful. Consumer Title & Escrow knows how exciting it is to buy a home, and they want to be able to celebrate with you the entire way. In addition to this, Kircher, as well as her closer, are licensed real estate professionals, giving them the unique perspective of understanding all sides of the transaction. Finally, Kircher recommends that for someone who is looking to buy a home, examine all of your options.

“For anyone buying a home, shop around,” Kircher suggests. “Whether it’s the cheapest or the most expensive house on the market doesn’t mean that’s what you’re getting. Make sure you talk to a realtor and get help. Call around for yourself, too, and get to know people. Building those relationships will help you out.”

The process can be a lot – especially after finding a realtor, selecting a house, and taking out a loan – but Consumer Title & Escrow make it easy with their efficient, helpful, and highly experienced team.

Buying a home is an exciting milestone that can be done smoothly with the right help. Take some stress off your shoulders by utilizing your local business professionals and experts. They can easily help you find the right house, take out a loan, and remodel and refurbish your new home.