You will find a new look when you surf by www.npdodge.com as of today. We have made some significant changes to our website that will allow our end users to get dialed in on a specific search right from our home page which saves time and effort! We could go on and on about the changes and enhancements but think it better just to tell you that it has been enhanced and let you experience it for yourself. Please take the new www.npdodge.com for a spin and let us know what you think!
Feel free to try the site out in Spanish, Russian, French...OK, that is really all we are going to say. Please try it out and let us know what you think!
As we reach the deadline for the housing tax credits this week (Friday, April 30th!!!) we thought it would be wise to highlight a special group of folks that receive an extra year to take advantage of the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credit programs. All the other rules apply except the deadline to obtain an accepted offer is extended to April 30th, 2011 and the deadline to close is June 30th, 2011! We urge you to consult with the IRS and/or your tax consultant for details to see if you qualify. Below we took some info directly from the IRS website and also provided a link directly to the section of their website that has the details.
Big thanks to all our service members from NP Dodge and the entire Omaha Community and don't forget to look us up when you return home!!
There are new benefits for members of the military and certain other federal employees:
Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual's spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.
In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer's principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual's spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer's principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.
The sand in the hour glass is running out! The two home buyer tax credit programs are due to expire shortly. Those wanting to take advantage for either of the available credit need to be under contract on the purchase before this month ends. These credits have been a great economic shot in the arm and there is still time left. Those that are under contract prior to the deadline with have two additional months to close.
Make sure you contact your NP Dodge agent today...There is still time until you see all zero's above!!
NP Dodge Blog Author ~ Robert Wiebusch
NP Dodge Real Estate is pleased to provide a special resource for bargain hunting consumers. The bank owned homes you’ll find in our search include all bank owned homes from the multiple listing services and not just those listed by NP Dodge. While these listings may represent reduced priced homes or discounted homes in Omaha and Council Bluffs areas, they should not be regarded as "cheap homes".
These homes are owned by various financial institutions and are considered to be Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. They are not necessarily owned by these financial institutions as a result of a foreclosure proceeding nor are they currently part of a foreclosure proceeding. When there is a reference to foreclosures in Omaha and Council Bluffs, it is only one of the many terms being used to describe part of the processes. We hope you find this information useful and don't hesitate to contact NP Dodge today to help you purchase your next home!
At the annual NP Dodge Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, February 24, Embassy Suites-La Vista, Mary Rosenthal was honored with the Phil Dodge Award. Each year one special agent is chosen for this coveted award for his/her commitment to customer service, professional ethics, community involvement, and as Phil Dodge himself once said, "Service over self." This is the sixth year that the Phil Dodge Award has been given to a worthy recipient.
Nate Dodge was on hand to speak about Mary's accomplishments and to personally present to her an engraved plaque featuring a bronze likeness of his late grandfather, Phil Dodge. In his speech, Nate said, "Not many people know she was a finalist for the National Association Realtor Good Neighbor Award. Starting in 2002 she took her daughters and chaperoned a group of teens on a mission trip every year to Group Work Camps. With her daughters, she worked on homes of low income, elderly or disabled people. In 2007, she and a friend, decided to bring the event to Omaha and formed Mission Omaha believing there was just as much need here as the other places they have been. She, herself, has volunteered over 1,900 hours with over 100 hours in one week while still negotiating real estate transactions for NP Dodge. So far 32 of Omaha's low income, elderly, and/or disabled residents have benefited."
The NP Dodge Awards Celebration each year recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of their agents. The event showcases the top agent teams, partners and individuals for production and closed units.
NP Dodge is the oldest family owned real estate company in the United States. The company currently maintains 15 offices in Nebraska and Iowa and has over 500 sales associates. For instant access to homes available in your area or to find out more about one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Nebraska and Iowa visit the premier real estate website in the region: npdodge.com, and when on the go: mobile.npdodge.com.
At the annual NP Dodge Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, February 24, Embassy Suites-La Vista, Mary Rosenthal was honored with the Phil Dodge Award. Each year one special agent is chosen for this coveted award for his/her commitment to customer service, professional ethics, community involvement, and as Phil Dodge himself once said, "Service over self." This is the sixth year that the Phil Dodge Award has been given to a worthy recipient.
Nate Dodge was on hand to speak about Mary's accomplishments and to personally present to her an engraved plaque featuring a bronze likeness of his late grandfather, Phil Dodge. In his speech, Nate said, "Not many people know she was a finalist for the National Association Realtor Good Neighbor Award. Starting in 2002 she took her daughters and chaperoned a group of teens on a mission trip every year to Group Work Camps. With her daughters, she worked on homes of low income, elderly or disabled people. In 2007, she and a friend, decided to bring the event to Omaha and formed Mission Omaha believing there was just as much need here as the other places they have been. She, herself, has volunteered over 1,900 hours with over 100 hours in one week while still negotiating real estate transactions for NP Dodge. So far 32 of Omaha's low income, elderly, and/or disabled residents have benefited."
The NP Dodge Awards Celebration each year recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of their agents. The event showcases the top agent teams, partners and individuals for production and closed units.
NP Dodge is the oldest family owned real estate company in the United States. The company currently maintains 15 offices in Nebraska and Iowa and has over 500 sales associates. For instant access to homes available in your area or to find out more about one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Nebraska and Iowa visit the premier real estate website in the region: npdodge.com, and when on the go: mobile.npdodge.com.
Here is a thought that may blow your mind: You borrow $200,000 to buy a home today with a 5% rate on a 30 year fixed loan and the principle and interest payment would be $1,074. Take a look at the picture below and let's say you borrowed $200,000 in 1981 with the rate at that time of 16.63%, 30 year term and your principle and interest payment would be $2,791!! Still think it isn't a great time to buy a home?
If you wanted a principle and interest payment of $1,074 in 1981 with an interest rate of 16.63%, 30 year term; you could borrow only $76,952!
The Greater Omaha real estate market continues to be a bright spot when compared to the national picture. We have experienced seasonal dips and jumps but have continued to hold true to our conservative roots. In this 'address' we hope to get you up to speed on what is happening right now in the over all Greater Omaha Area real estate market so that you can make informed decisions. As always, we welcome your feedback and urge you to contact us when considering buying or selling a home.
We could sum this 'address' up with one word: WEATHER! We predicted in early November of last year that the market would explode just after the first of the year with the extension and expansion of the tax credits which are due to expire in the first half of this year. That booming start was hammered on by Mother Nature and continues to have a negative impact on home buying and selling activity. We did however experience higher than normal traffic through our open houses this past weekend which leads us to believe that the pent up demand is breaking loose. Another indicator that we track religiously is our web traffic which has been off the charts when compared to previous months and years. The NP Dodge web traffic (Unique Visitors) is up over 41% when compared to the previous quarter.
The Omaha market currently has 4,644 homes for sale today which has held steady over the past few months. We haven't experience a great deal of movement in relation to new inventory coming on the market or inventories in any segment of the market being greatly absorbed. This we believe is attributed to the season and the impact of the harsher than normal weather.The first timer price range of $75,000 to $200,000 continues to be in a neutral market given the higher than normal demand. Having a neutral market in this price range continues to feed the trickle up effect in to the higher price ranges. New construction inventories are down nearly 17% and pending sale are up nearly 29% when compared to this time last year which is music to the ears of local builders. The condo market has followed suit with the new construction market in that inventories are down considerably and pending sales are rising.
All that aside, we predict the next couple of months to be unseasonable busy with the opportunity of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer and $6,500 repeat buyer tax-credits, low interest rates and great selection of homes available. For information on the real estate market, tax credits and of course all the area homes for sale, please utilize npdodge.com.
We put together a 'state of the market address' for Metro Omaha Builders Association last week and thought we should share this with those who might be interested in the new construction market here in Omaha, Nebraska. Let us know what you think and if you have any questions!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
At the annual NP Dodge Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, February 24, Embassy Suites-La Vista, 
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