Muddin'

Two days ago, my brother decided to work with our yearling calves now that the weather is finally cooperating a bit.  I didn't mind heading out to the farm for a little fresh air on what was a very nice day in town.  I figured it would be a pretty muddy, so I threw on my boots, loaded up the kids, and headed down the highway.  Muddy was an understatement. Thanks to the recent rains and the winter thaw, the cattle yards are giant soup holes.  The yearlings are rambunctious too, considering we haven't had much nice weather to speak of.  Couple this with the fact that Penguin the giant farm mutt decided to follow us down to the lower place and you can about imagine how our project started out.  Seeing the dog and a few extra warm bodies in places where they usually don't belong set the calves in a dead sprint around the yard.  Imagine the sound of thousands of suction cups taking hold and letting go as each pounding hoof bogged down into the the heavy Nebraska clay.  Now, imagine a human walking through that mud and muck with nothing more than a thin rubber boot between you and imminent disaster.  Within the first five minutes, everybody had expressed their feelings toward the land and the livestock as well as each other.  My sister-in-law was the unlucky winner of the mud lottery by being the first to lose her boot in the yard.  It was evident that man and beast were getting a run for our money that day. 

We were finally able to get the herd up in the processing pen after one bovine genius decided to wriggle its way behind the gate versus going through the gate hole.  That trick cost everybody a third trip through the yard to round up the stragglers who managed to escape. No level of training or athletic ability can prepare you for mud season on the farm.  Walking through a mile of mud is better than any workout you can get at the gym.  It might not show, but it takes a high level of aerobic and calisthenic mastery to dodge anxious 800 pound calves and keep a steady marching pace so you don't get stuck in place at a critical time.  My brother asked if we wanted to invest in a concrete plant when we got done so we could at least have a solid surface to do this kind of work.  I'm thinking he might be on to something.

Nevertheless, we prevailed, and all the calves got treated.  Nobody was physically injured, and, despite our pride, we are all well aware that any words shared under such circumstances are not to be taken personally.  The work that farmers do, particularly livestock producers, is not for the faint of heart.  It is stressful for both man and beast, it is dirty, it can be scary, and it is often thankless.  In that work lies an expectation that everyone knows their part, and they will pull their weight to make sure everything gets done.  The unpredictability of each and every situation involving livestock is what wears on a person.  It makes you lie awake at night, it makes you think quickly on your feet, and it instills a sense of danger that you don't really understand or appreciate until you have something to lose, be it your fencing, your equipment, or, heaven forbid, a life.  In spite of it all, you have to keep muddin' through to make sure you do the job for which you signed up.  I sure do enjoy my days at the farm, but it sure does make me appreciate the comforts of a nice clean real estate office after getting home from a project like that.  No matter what happens in the world of real estate, odds are, the decisions that have to be made are not life and death for man or beast.  No matter what happens, I know that I won't be in a position where I am going to lose my boot in a muddy yard.  And, no matter what happens, we usually have a little more time to figure out a solution than in the time it takes the whole herd to turn tail and bolt out of the yard because we got stuck in the mud and couldn't make it to the gate fast enough to shut it.  It's not all real estate and roses around here, but somedays you just have to keep muddin' through.  Welcome Home.

The Great Toothpaste Confrontation of 2019 (1,000 Days of Winter)

I learned last week that my husband takes toothpaste, or the lack thereof, very seriously.  On Tuesday of last week, I witnessed the unfortunate circumstances of running out of "adult" toothpaste.  Bear in mind, we still had plenty of bubblegum Sparkle Crest on hand.  Apparently, that just doesn't do the same job as cool mint gel.  Nevertheless, this led to a 10 p.m. argument about not having any toothpaste.  Luckily, I was able to scavenge for a travelers pack of toothpaste to meet my husband's needs.  Fast forward to Friday.  Still no toothpaste in the house and the traveler's pack is empty.  At this point, the confrontation is boiling down to a battle of wits to decide once and for all who can hold out the longest and exhibit the utmost stubbornness of the two of us.  Turns out my husband won this no-contest, knock-down, drag-out fight by one fall.  I broke down and threw some Crest in the shopping cart while I was out buying groceries in the blizzard to avoid all of the other pre-blizzard shoppers.  He owes me big time, but guess what, he is too stubborn to admit it.

How has your 1,000 days of winter been going?  I would accept false spring at this point even though it will take us into third winter.  Clearly, we all need some fresh air, new perspective, and some Crest toothpaste to fill the void this gloomy, cold, artic tundra has left in our hearts.  By golly, at least the real estate market hasn't been frozen in its tracks by this weather.  I wasn't sure if I was coming or going last week, but I did tell our office manager every time I left that if I didn't see her again by 5 p.m., I would see her the next day.  This is good news for all of you who are anxiously waiting for new listings to arrive on the market.  As our 1,000 days of winter edges ever closer to an end, we will see new listings.  If you would like to be notified of what is coming available, send a text to (402) 518-0675 so I can include you in my early communications!

On the flip side, Sellers be warned!  Your sweet spot for listing properties is not actually the summer months as has long been the industry belief.  The best opportunity for you to command top dollar for your property happens when you list between February 15th and March 15th.  We are almost halfway through this short window, so contact me today if you are toying with the idea of listing.  I can provide initial consultations on preparing your house for sale (including how to use toothpaste for spackle, if needed).  And, don't forget, we have our second Lunch and Learn of the season coming up at Noon on March 13th with everything you need to know about preparing your home for sale, working with an agent for the best results, and surviving the process while trying to make a move.

If you're still not convinced that now is a good time to break up the 1,000 days of winter by listing your home, check out these pending sales that only lasted 24 hours on the market:

315 West 8th Street

1020 Poplar Street

Both of these sellers considered waiting to list their homes until warmer weather.  Nonetheless, getting their homes listed early in the year was a smart move.  Let me help cure some of that Seasonal Affective Disorder by kicking your spring cleaning into high gear and helping you market your home to an anxious pool of buyers. 

Despite recent sales, 1st Realty has a nice selection of homes still on the market!  Right now, we have something for everyone including ranch-style, 2-story, a townhouse, and investment properties to expand your portfolio.  Our team can help find a home that fits your needs!

118 S. Blaine Street

419 West 8th Street

1403 Linden Street

902 Nebraska Street

314 East 4th Street

So, don't let the winter blues get you down!  Go buy yourself a fresh new tube of toothpaste, keep the peace in your current home, and give me a call to help you with your next home sale or purchase.  After all, toothpaste is less expensive than roses, and I love to talk about real estate!  Welcome Home.

A, B, C, D, E-I-E-I-O!

Since the first of the year, I have been spending a portion of each night trying to inspire my Kindergartener to write letters, numbers, and sight words.  He is my son who takes everything very literally.  He requires all things to have order and make sense.  He sees the world in a very black and white sort of way, which is completely mind-blowing to me most days.  Quite frankly, I can no longer look at the English language in the same way I once did just a few short months ago.  After all, 'A' sounds like 'H,' so why are they different letters?  How can 'two' sound the same as 'to' or 'too'?  The letter 'O' doesn't even make an 'oooo' sound at this stage in the game!  Rather than just learning the very basic concept, his mind wants to know all the reasons behind why we talk, count, and spell the way we do. With all of his newly obtained knowledge, he has lost confidence in his ability to learn the English language, particularly reading and writing.  He requires reinforcement at every level, which requires a lot of time on both our parts.  On the other hand, my 2-year old can sing you his ABC's with a little bridge to Old MacDonald in the middle.  He has been working hard on a quality medley of Baa Baa Black Sheep which leads into Twinkle Twinkle Little Star followed up by Jingle Bells.  He oozes confidence when he sings and dances. Chest out, shoulders back, hips swaying, loud and proud!  Makes me laugh every time!  I just want to bottle up this time with both my boys and save it forever!

These differing stages of learning are very similar to those of home buyers and sellers.  We all start out pretty green by mixing our ABCs of real estate with the E-I-E-I-Os of good credit history, financing options, and downpayment funds. Nonetheless, as first-time buyers, we are confident in our ability to make homeownership a reality, so we approach it head-on, loud and proud, telling all of our friends and family via social media that we are in the market to buy a home.  We are especially good at telling everybody when we are interested in a property on social media.  In doing so, we encourage competition from other buyers and limit our negotiating ability.  This is why you need a good teacher a/k/a real estate agent to take you through what I essentially label as real estate preschool.  I encourage you to attend the Lunch & Learn Homebuyer Workshop on February 13th from Noon to 1 p.m. on the back meeting room of 1st Realty.  F&M Bank is our lunch sponsor this month, and they will not let you go back to work hungry!

Eventually, you learn the ABCs and find it is time to sell that home you purchased.  Maybe you have outgrown the space.  Perhaps you have changed employment, or life circumstances may be taking you on a new adventure.  Whatever the reason, you are introduced to a whole new perspective of real estate.  Like learning the letters, numbers, sounds, and symbols of a whole new language, you have to figure out the why's and how's of selling a home. You have graduated to real estate Kindergarten. Again, this is where a trusted real estate professional can help you master this new language and reinforce your ability to sell the property successfully. (1st Realty's Lunch & Learn Seller Workshop would be a good opportunity for you to learn about what it takes to sell a home in today's competitive environment.  Join us on March 13th for this informative seminar). 

The point I'm driving at here is that we don't send our children out into this world to master the English language without a solid team to reinforce their abilities.  We push them through 15+ years of education and spend countless hours at home teaching them to read, write, and solve problems without even a question as to why we would do so.  By the time you have bought and sold one home, you really have only graduated from real estate Kindergarten.  There is an entirely different realm beyond just buying and selling. It takes a qualified team of professionals to close any real estate transaction.  I'm not just talking about real estate agents.  You need lending professionals, title insurance professionals, escrow professionals, inspection professionals, repair professionals, homeowners insurance professionals, income tax and accounting professionals, and staging and decorating professionals to simply process one single transaction.  Real estate has a language and problems all its own.  It is not something you can learn overnight.  It is time consuming, it is hands on, it is anxiety riddled, and it is complicated. I'm still learning new things and encountering new situations after 15 years in the business.  There should be no question about using a trusted real estate professional to handle the purchase or sale of your next home.  In a world where very few real estate transactions turn out all real estate and roses, the team at 1st Realty can help make it a whole lot easier.  Welcome Home.

On the Next Episode of "Hoarders"...

The first step to self-improvement is admitting you have a problem.  Here goes: "My name is Trisha Peters, and I am a hoarder."  I literally keep everything until it is no longer useful (i.e. past the point of repairing).  I have dishclothes with the edges so shredded in my kitchen drawer that they wind up in a huge ball in the washing machine because the strings knot up.  I have my adjustable plastic locker shelf that was last used in 1999 because I think my 2 year old might use it in his locker someday (like that's cool, Mom.  By the time he is in school, all his books will be stored in 'the cloud').  I have mix tapes of music taped off the radio in the 1980s because every product of the 80s needs a homemade Casey's Top 40 mix tape.  (Ironically, I do not have a tape player!)  You get the picture.  It's a problem.  One that has been lurking in the darkness of my basement, and that has only recently come out to play as I try to regain control of my life.  Combine this trait with a husband who shares the same characteristic, and we are one chromosome away from being a TV reality show.  For crying out loud, he literally saved the boxes for all the toy tractors that he has displayed in a glass case.  Every time I look under the basement stairway, I want to pour gasoline on them and burn them in the backyard. But, that would get me arrested. And, jail would not be favorable to me.

Why in the world can't we throw anything away??  I blame it on my Grandma.  She used to wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them (guilty as charged).  When something can't be effectively reduced, reused, or recycled in our family, we just store it until it's dead or someone else renders it useless and throws it out for us.  Because, you know what, the second I throw those mix tapes out, I'm going to need them.  Happens. Every. Time.

Case in point, digging through a box last Saturday, I found my old Alphie II robot computer and Smart Start calculator.  I carefully replaced the 16 size C batteries each one required back in 1987 and waited anxiously to show them to the boys when they returned home from the farm with their dad.  By this time, I am well on my way to winning Mom of the Year.  Man, did their eyes light up when they saw that little plastic robot sitting on the kitchen counter.  I was tickled pink! Then, the highly unanticipated Scenario B played out. A huge fight ensued as I introduced the iPad of my day to the boys.  Little brother was ready to rumble for possession of that little robot even though he had no clue how to read the cards or answer the questions.  The oldest one deemed Alphie as "not working" because you have to push the buttons just right to get it to register the answer.  Seriously?  I played with that thing for like an hour Saturday afternoon and had no troubles!  Why do you think I didn't get any vacuuming done?  C'mon man!  This thing is retro...a classic!  As it turns out, my nostalgia is not the same nostalgia my children share.  Who knew?  Since then, I've managed to stub my toe on the dang thing seven times in the middle of the night because the only thing the kids think its good for is to have his face light up in the dark as they are laying in bed.  If anything can be said about 1980s plastic toys, it is that they were built to break a toe or at least roll an ankle! iPad, shmy-pad. Whatever, Bill Gates.

I guess the moral of the story is that if you are storing stuff in boxes that you haven't used since the 1980s, pour gasoline on it and burn it in the backyard.  Just don't let the cops catch you.  Jail isn't all real estate and roses. Welcome Home.

(Disclaimer: Blog author, Trisha Peters, does not encourage you or any others to perform dangerous activities. Pouring gasoline on anything and burning it is not recommended.  Advice is given strictly for comedic effect and is not meant to be practiced in real life.) 

'Til the Cows Come Home

The first week in January means that it is time to start the migration of the Hansen cow herd towards the home place from their winter feeding grounds.  This three mile trek over pasture and county roads requires a minimum of five off-road trail vehicles, a lead tractor and hayrack, and two grandmas (one to watch the littlest cowkids and another to stop traffic when we get the herd out on the road).  It's quite a production, and one that I haven't missed in many years. Here's why:

"Phase One of Annual Herd Migration complete: Three mile drive thru rough terrain. Mud made it inside the vehicle. Touch and go for a few seconds there. Maxed out cool points with the kids again. Tiny cowboys and cowgirl yelling between steel horses giggling about the anatomical differences between bulls and cows. Herd will get used to their nonstop banter just as humans have. In all the commotion, three whitetails stumbled into the action. What a sight! Herd secure. City Slickers home from the ranch."

Working our way across the section

Make sure the window is up before you go mud running!

Three whitetail deer decided to see what all of the fuss was about. It was fortunate I got to share this quiet moment with my oldest son as we waited for the rest of the gang to get the herd moved to our position.

Billy Crystal should be jealous of this yearly undertaking.  Unfortunately, in all these years, we still haven't found Curly's Gold (that's a '90s movie reference for those of you who don't remember)!  We do get the Karsky Family out of town for extra assistance, and with all the littles around these days, we adults have to keep our sweet talk for the bosses rated PG.  The weather was nice the Saturday we moved the herd, and we had some trouble getting the cows rounded up and through the first gate to start our journey.  Believe it or not, livestock actually moves more willingly when the weather is poor.  They felt good, but once they figured out where they were going, they didn't cause any problems. 

This is a therapeutic undertaking for me.  The farm has always been my sanctuary. A necessary haven  to restore the balance of my introverted personality with the demands of a sales career.  Coming down from the rush of the holidays and an extraordinarily busy December market, it was a chance to spend a morning doing something a little out of the ordinary.  There is something to be revered about a Nebraska sunrise, fog in the valleys, and frost on the fence posts.  Just me and my family, a few close friends, the smell of burnt clutch and scorched exhaust, and the cows. Each doing a little part while working as one cohesive unit, doing what we have always done, 'til the cows come home.

Onto new feeding grounds for a few weeks.

I'll admit, I don't get much time anymore to really spend with the herd.  I used to know every cow...her demeanor, her tag number, her given name.  Some of that has gotten away from me as the pressures of a full-time career and family have taken precedence.  My herd has shifted to one made of people.  I don't regret that shift, but I do love a chance to look over the cow herd once in a while. Like people, each head of livestock has its own personality.  Over time, you learn to look for those wild-eyed heifers who like to keep their head up in the air.  They will be the first to spoil a good day.  These spirited cows aren't loyal, and they can ruin your taste for the whole business if you let them.  Eventually, you find that the best way to deal with a cow like this is to haul her to market, but not before she breaks down some of your fences.  While mending fences, you learn how to look for the signs next time and protect yourself before another one jumps over your brand new shiny gate and makes an oversized U-joint out of it.

Those wild-eyed heifer types give you new respect for those cows who have paid their dues and methodically plod at the back of the main herd as they make the trek home.  Those are the stubborn bosses who are upwards of 20 years old and might have even been a part of the study group for your Neihardt Honors Colloquium at Wayne State College. There is a lot to learn from the wherewithal of those old cows.  They have endured because they produce good calves, give good milk, and weather the storms successfully.  Once the heart of the herd, they are the bloodlines to all the younger stock.  Those old girls have a hard time keeping up, but they have played a vital role in the overall success of the herd.

Knowing where the two extremes lie makes it easier to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the rest of the herd.  It is safe to say that if they do their part, I will do mine, and all will be rewarded with greener pastures in the end.  There are many correlations that can be made between that cow herd and my human herd so long as you don't get all sensitive on me and take offense to the comparison.  Farm life taught me how to take care of my human herd.  If you put your trust in me, I'll do my very best for you right up 'til the cows come home.  After all, what fun would life be if it was all just real estate and roses?  Welcome Home.

Baby Steps

As we roll into the summer buying and selling season, anxieties are running high.  Severe storms have threatened the area, homes need to get sold so others can be purchased, and a new batch of professionals are moving into town seeking quality rental housing that is in short supply.  As the area battened down the hatches on Tuesday in anticipation of powerful thunderstorms, two home sellers were biting their nails in other parts of the country as the storms raced towards Wayne.  Time moved in slow motion for those sellers.  They were waiting for word that the closings on their homes had officially happened before any storm damage occurred.  On the flip side, two very nervous buyers were accepting the keys to properties that were now their sole responsibility just hours and minutes before the storm hit.  Every other property owner in town was holding his/her breath and hoping the reports of golf ball sized hail were mere exaggerations.  Luckily, Wayne was spared the brunt of the damage.  Our homes, businesses, and personal property are all intact and we are thankful.  Baby steps.

I say baby steps because everything we go through in life, whether it's a storm, buying or selling a home or, quite literally, having a baby, needs a little perspective some days.  In an age of instant answers, we expect fast and accurate results in everything we do, see, and hear.  We expect the weatherman to predict the storm pattern.  We expect to be able to move in to a home or move on from it within our planned timeline. And, we expect past results to predict future performance.  The thing of it is that sometimes the things that don't go as expected are destined to help us experience something else we would have otherwise missed.  Baby steps.

Baby steps.  Had it not been for the storm, I would have missed my son's first steps.  My husband would have missed them, too.  And those would have been some big steps to miss.  The storm brought my husband and me home quite a bit earlier than usual on Tuesday.  We ate supper earlier than usual, and we were glued to the television watching storm coverage at a time of the evening when we are both usually still working on a project.  And then it happened...baby steps.  Right there between storm coverage and an evening treat of caramel popcorn.  Right there between the recliner where dad was sitting and the couch where mom was sitting.  Baby steps.  The storm that brought grumbles from both of us for bringing unexpected changes to our typically well planned day had also given us this wonderful opportunity.  Baby steps.

That very important moment in our lives opened my eyes to how and why things happen the way they do.  Just like the other events in our lives, home buying and selling is a step by step process that is often carefully planned and calculated just like two tiny feet plodding a three foot distance between living room furniture.  Some homes sell quickly, others take months and even years to sell.  Often times, there is little or no explanation as to why a perfectly sound home takes so long to sell with the exception that the right buyer has not seen the potential that home holds.  And maybe the reason is that the time just isn't right yet for it to happen.  Perhaps you might miss out on something else wonderful that would have otherwise been missed if it had sold immediately.  The baby steps we take to buy or sell a home are for a reason.  We don't always know it at the time, but eventually the reason becomes clear. 

If you feel like you are taking baby steps at this time, don't be alarmed and don't get too anxious.  The spring and summer months are an exceptional time to buy or sell a home, and if you move too quickly, you might just miss out on something wonderful.  Welcome Home.

Inspection vs. Appraisal

If you are in the market to buy a home, you are probably being bombarded with words like "inspection," "appraisal," "prequalification," "assessed value," or "contingency."  But what do they all mean?  People keep spouting them off at you like you buy a home every other day, so just keep nodding your head like you understand what's going on, right?  Buying a home can be very confusing!  Today, I want to focus on two terms that often get misunderstood by buyers when purchasing a home:  home inspection and appraisal.

I have heard the terms "inspection" and "appraisal" used synonymously on numerous occasions.  These two items are very different things.  As discussed in my last post entitled Home Inspections, an inspection is designed to find major defects associated with a home.  A certified home inspector or trusted contractor will perform this task (no license required).  An inspection is also a voluntary part of a home purchase.  Contrary to popular belief, home inspections are not mandatory in the State of Nebraska.  If a buyer elects to purchase a home "as is" (in its current condition) without an inspection, that decision is perfectly acceptable.

In contrast, an appraisal is performed by a licensed appraiser for purposes of securing a loan.  The appraiser is hired by your lender to review the property and determine a fair market value.  The purpose of the appraisal is to support or reject the sales price of the property to guarantee that your lender is making a safe investment in lending you money.  The appraised value is a reliable tool for determining the true market value of your property.  An appraisal is typically a mandatory part of a home purchase, especially if the buyer is securing a loan through a bank or similar financial institution.  Although an appraiser will visually examine the property, he/she is typically not qualified to make a determination about the structural soundness of the property.  An appraiser may comment on specific items of concern in the appraisal report because of the influence they have on the value of the property.  However, he/she will also note that a qualified inspection should be performed for items in question.

One important characteristic that a home inspector and an appraiser should have in common is that neither one should be affiliated with the property or the sale of the real estate in any way.  Appraisers and inspectors should always provide you with an independent, unbiased opinion of the real estate condition or value.

The main differences between inspections and appraisals are as follows:

Inspections...
1.  Do not require a licensed inspector
2.  Are a voluntary part of the transaction
3.  Determine the structural or mechanical soundness of components in the home
4.  Are ordered or arranged for by the home buyer

Appraisals...
1.  Require a State licensed appraiser
2.  Are typically mandatory for all transactions requiring a loan
3.  Determine the fair market value of real estate
4.  Are ordered or arranged for by the lending institution

For additional information on inspections, appraisals, and everything else in between, contact me, Trisha Peters, at tpeters@1strealtysales.com or (402) 375-1477.  I can help you find the answers and the home you have been seeking!  Welcome Home.

Home Inspections

As we approach the busy spring buying and selling season, it is necessary to touch on an important topic. Most of us have heard or found out first hand that the purchase of a home will be the most expensive purchase we make in our entire lifetime.  According to the National Association of Home Builders (2014), the average buyer will stay in a home for 13 years.  With so much at stake, why do we tend to leave so much to chance?  Many buyers are now opting for a standard home inspection as part of their purchase to ensure that the home they are purchasing is structurally and mechanically sound.  The average home inspector will look for a variety of issues ranging from water leaks and burned out light bulbs to foundation cracks and other structural issues.

There are certain things to look for when selecting a home inspector.  As with any profession, an inspector with years of experience is a plus.  You might want to ask for a resume highlighting his/her experience level, education, training, and references from past customers to determine the inspector's qualifications.  Many states do not require home inspectors to be licensed.  This means that they are not governed by any laws or regulations in regard to the performance of their duties, and they have little or no training in their field.  And, you're going to let this person look at the biggest investment of your life?  Scary, right?

Here's what you can do to ensure your inspector is qualified:

1.  Locate an inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI).  Members of those organizations are subject to a code of ethics for certified home inspectors.  ASHI's guidelines have been established as the industry standard and include the following areas of inspection:  structure, extriors, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, interiors, ventilation, and fireplaces (you can visit www.ashi.org or www.nachi.org for additional details or to locate a certified home inspector).

2.  Sometimes a certified home inspector is hard to come by in a small community or maybe you are only looking for certain areas of the home to be inspected (i.e. plumbing or HVAC).  If you're options are limited, try contacting local contractors with a reputation for being fair and honest about repairs that need to be done.  Friends and family can often point you in the direction of a reliable contractor who can provide feedback on the integrity of a structure and its components.

3.  Ask your real estate agent for a list of local experts in the area.  He/she can recommend a variety of inspectors or contractors to get you started.  You should always take the time to contact the people on the list to make sure you are comfortable with them and their level of experience before hiring them to do an inspection.  

4.  Make sure your inspector is bonded and insured.  An inspector who has taken these measures has already taken steps to ensure the buyer and seller are better protected.

Homebuyers are typically encouraged to accompany their inspectors during an inspection so you can ask questions and ensure the inspector is taking the time to look over the components of the home carefully.  Try not to be distracting to the home inspector as he/she may miss items if you try to engage in friendly banter throughout the inspection.  However, don't be afraid to question certain comments or items that are brought to your attention.  Be aware that home inspectors are simply required to "observe" certain items according to the accepted industry standards.  This might mean that your inspector "observes" the roof on the home you are buying from the ground.  Without climbing on the roof, they might not be able to see certain areas of damage that an up close inspection would uncover (Scherzer & Andrews, 2014). 

Although home inspections are designed to find most of the major defects associated with a home purchase, they are often delivered with a disclaimer that the property is inspected to the best of the inspector's ability under the conditions of the inspection.  Keep in mind that purchasing a home in the winter might not allow for a thorough exterior inspection since snow and ice can prevent inspectors from seeing certain defects.  Likewise, if large amounts of personal property are blocking an inspector's view of certain components of a home, the inspector may note that items were blocking his/her view, therefore it was impossible to inspect that portion of the home.  There are certain remedies to help you achieve better results, however, every circumstance is different. 

Inspections are most often performed once a home is under a purchase agreement.  So, what happens if the inspector finds serious defects with a home and you have already agreed to a price?  Most generally, the contract is contingent on a "satisfactory" home inspection.  This means that the contract can be amended to accommodate for repairs or improvements as deemed necessary by the home inspector.  Often times, a buyer and seller might also seek a second opinion on items of specific concern.  The results of every inspection are handled on a case by case basis once the inspection is received.

As you can see, a home inspection can be a very involved process.  It can be difficult to dive into these issues on your own, so trust the advice of a real estate professional to help guide you through the process.  Feel free to contact me at (402) 375-1477 with any questions you might have regarding a home inspection for your next home purchase.  Welcome Home.

 Sources

Emrath, P.  March 4, 2014.  "Latest Calculations Show Average Buyer Expected to Stay in a Home 13 Years."  National Association of Home Builders.  
https://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=734&genericContentID=194717&channelID=311

March 4, 2014.  American Society of Home Inspectors.  https://www.ashi.org

March 4, 2014.  International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.  https://www.nachi.org

Scherzer, L. & Andrews, M.  March 4, 2014. "Ten Things Home Inspectors Won't Say." http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24197463

Attitude Adjustment

Raise your hand if you've been in a winter funk.  We are well into the long stretch of winter that remains before a sustained spring thaw, and all I can say is thank goodness for the warmer temps this week!  A day like today can really work wonders one's attitude and outlook.  I was getting to a point where I didn't know how much more subzero weather I could tolerate. It's depressing.  However, I am thankful that we haven't been getting the snow and ice our counterparts in the eastern part of the country are experiencing. Things could be worse.

Like me, most of you are probably getting spring fever.  It's that itch to hop in the car and go somewhere or at least to get outside and breathe the fresh air.  If showing houses doesn't give me an excuse for getting out of the office on days like today, I make my own.  You might see me at Dollar General with both arms full of office supplies because I've been procrastinating a trip to the west edge of town since they moved the store from its convenient location across the street.  Maybe I'll to run into you at the post office, or you just might catch me at the car wash polishing my wheels.  Anything for a few brief moments outside!  So, I'm begging you. Let's go look at some houses before the frigid cold settles in again!

We do have quite a few homes to see right now.  All kinds, shapes, colors and sizes are currently available from cozy ranches to 2-story cottages and low-maintenance townhouses.  If you can't find something that fits your needs today, just wait as we enter into March and April when listings typically sprout up overnight.  Remember, we are still in the throes of winter for another month or so (and I'm counting down the days until spring!)  In the meantime, check out these recent listings to see if there is something on the market that might tickle your fancy during this February thaw:

311 East 9th Street - Beautiful hardwood floors, remodeled bath, main level laundry

302 East 7th Street - 3-stories of living space, remodeled in 2000

1011 Sunnyview Drive - Cute home, 3-bedrooms, appliances included

212 East 8th Street - beautiful archways, sunroom, and remodeled kitchen

1226 5th Road, Wisner - private acreage with house, grove, and many outbuildings

819 Lincoln Street - Adorable cottage-style home, 3-bedrooms, Bressler Park view!

If you are buying or selling, contact me at 1st Realty to for help with your housing needs this spring.  Or, if you see me out and about playing hooky on these nice days, don't hesitate to stop and visit about the local housing market.  Getting into a new home or out of your existing one can do as much good for your attitude as the weather!  Welcome Home!

tpeters@1strealtysales.com                     
Office:  (402) 375-1477                     
Cell:  (402) 518-0675     

Remodeling...Again.

It's official. My husband and I have not celebrated a New Year yet without having some sort of major home remodeling project in the works.  We ended 2013 with the joy of replacing our 13 month old water heater which unexpectedly started leaking right after Christmas.  If you remember, in November of 2012, we switched out the old-as-the-house-gas-hog for a more efficient electric model.  Guess they just don't make 'em like they used to!  We rang in the New Year in style by prepping for new windows and doors which were installed last week.  No more draft coming in under the front door (and judging by the amount of dust coating our living room furnishings, the saws-all must have let that door know who's boss), no more frozen midnight toilet seat from the draft in the bathroom, and no more curtains blowing in the south wind.  At least we didn't end up replacing windows on the coldest day of the year thus far!  Our new energy efficient, argon filled, double paned windows were certainly put to the test this week.  So far so good.  This year's resolution is to not have any more projects in the works by 2015 (yeah, right)!

Many of you have also probably made some resolutions of your own.  I'm hoping a few of you have set a goal to buy or sell a home this year.  Even though it is cold outside, now is a great time to buy and/or sell.  Sellers are  motivated to get their homes sold this time of year.  As mentioned in a previous post, fewer buyers are in the market for homes during the long winter stretch from January to March.  This motivates sellers to strongly consider any and all offers.  However, you have probably noticed that housing inventory is low as we start out the new year.  This means that those of you on the fence about listing your home until the weather warms up also have less competition right now.  This increases your odds of selling in a shorter period of time and commanding a higher price for your home.  We have buyers waiting anxiously for new listings, and now is the time to get your house in front of them while those resolutions are still fresh in their minds.

Let me help you keep your New Year's resolution to buy or sell a home in 2014.  Contact me at 1st Realty by calling (402) 375-1477 or e-mailing tpeters@1strealtysales.com to get the inside track to our new listings.  Cheers to a wonderful year ahead!  Welcome Home.

December is a Great Time to Buy!

Let me give you something to consider today:  December is GREAT time to buy a home!  Don't call me crazy until you hear me out.

1.  Only a serious seller will contend with selling their home during the holiday season.  You don't have to mess around with sellers who are just "testing the waters."

2.  Sellers tend to be more negotiable on prices during the month of December.  Consider it a direct result of being in the holiday spirit.

3.  Viewing homes with Christmas trees and other Christmas decor up gives you an idea of how big a space really is because those items typically do not occupy a room at various other times of the year.

4.  Historically (and with the exception of the past week), temperatures average between 20-30 degrees and snow fall amounts are fairly light for our area until after Christmas.  This helps to make moving a little easier when compared to January and February when snow falls are typically larger and temperatures colder.

5.  Fewer buyers are in the market for homes which motivates sellers to strongly consider any and all offers.  Your odds of buying a house improve as the market shifts in the direction of a buyer's market during winter months.

If you've been holding your cards close to your chest, you might want to consider taking a look at some homes to see what kind of deals might be available this month.  Wonderful opportunities await you in the local market to bring you home for the holidays!

Also, don't forget to participate in the1st Realty Elf's Christmas Tour of Homes promotion taking place from now through December 24th!  It is a great opportunity to preview our listings and win yourself some holiday cash courtesy of 1st Realty Sales & Management.  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/591259154277665/.   Happy holidays from all of us here at 1st Realty!  Welcome Home!

Ten Financial Tidbits for Buying a Home

Buying a home is a huge step in any person's financial life cycle.  One of the biggest decisions homebuyers have to make is who to choose for their home mortgage lending needs.  This can often require a lot of research and time checking into the different loan programs and interest rates that various lenders have to offer.  Quite a few people lean on their real estate agent to give them suggestions about loan providers who have a good reputation in the marketplace.  Here are a few of the tips that I offer to my clients and customers when they inquire about home mortgage services:


1.  Where do you bank now?  Start there.  Odds are that you have already developed a good rapport with your current lender, and he/she is very familiar with your spending and payment habits.  Continuing a relationship with someone you are already comfortable with can make the process go much more smoothly than starting from scratch.

2.  Have any of your close friends or family members recently purchased a home?  If so, speak with them about their experience and see who they recommend using for a lender.  Often times, your friends and family will gladly steer you in the right direction.

3.  What type of loan are you looking for?  Certain institutions might not offer FHA or USDA-Rural Development financing for qualified buyers.  If you are a first-time buyer or income qualified buyer, you might want to ask up front about these programs during an initial visit with a lending institution.  

4.  Have you had credit issues in the past which might make it difficult to buy a home?  If so, you might need to research options with a credit counselor prior to speaking with a lender.  Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Norfolk is designed to help people get out of debt and improve their credit scores.  Consider giving them a call at (402) 371-4656.

5. Have you checked into special housing programs offered in your community?  Talk to your real estate agent or lender about down payment assistance programs or home rehabilitation programs which might be available for first-time or income eligible buyers.  The Wayne Community Housing Development Corporation is designed to help income eligible buyers in the immediate area purchase homes by providing such assistance (acreages not included).  The program offers 20% downpayment assistance (up to $20,000 maximum) for the average home as well as home rehabilitation services.  The home must have a minimum of $1,000 worth of improvements that need to be made in order to qualify for the program.  You can call Kari Wren, WCHDC's Executive Director, at (402) 375-5266 for more information, or stop in to visit her in the Wayne Area Economic Development office located at 108 West 3rd Street, Wayne.

6.  Do you have money available for a down payment or closing costs?  Many home buyers have excellent credit, but are "cash poor" when it comes to putting money down on a home.  If you are struggling with finding the cash to cover closing costs, inquire to your lender about the availability of Federal Home Loan Bank funds.  These funds are earmarked for qualified buyers in need of financial assistance for upfront costs and are generally forgiven on a prorated basis over the course of several years.  FHLB grants are typically only available at certain times in the year, for a very limited time, and availability is never guaranteed.  To enhance your odds of getting assistance, be sure to bring this up to your lender early in the mortgage process. 

7.  Check into loan options prior to starting your home search.  Once you make the decision to purchase a home, it can be hard to resist the urge to look at several before even speaking to a lender.  Many buyers start looking for homes with high expectations of what they can truly afford.  To eliminate the disappointment of falling in love with a home that is priced above your means, talk to a lender first.  Having a solid idea of what you can afford will allow you to comfortably look at homes in your price range.  It will save both you and your real estate agent time in the long run.

8.  Take a homebuyer's education class.  Many people wait until they have already written a purchase agreement on a home before taking a class about what to do when buying a home.  Prepare yourself ahead of time by signing up for a class before you get to the purchase stage.  Most classes cover the basics of buying a home from loans, to purchase agreements, inspections, and insurance.  Wayne Community Housing Development Corporation offers various classes throughout the year in conjunction with their program.  (The next one is being offered in February here in Wayne with a fee of $25--a minimal cost for such a large investment!)

9. Shop around.  If an initial consultation does not go well with a lender or if the mortgage rate seems higher than other banks, feel free to do some additional homework.  Sometimes personalities clash or the relationship just doesn't feel right.  Be sure you feel comfortable enough to ask your mortgage lender anything and everything you want to know about financing a home purchase.  Remember, this is a big step in your financial life, and you will most likely be doing business with this bank for several years into the future.


10.  If you have any further questions about decisions relating to home financing decisions, feel free to contact me at (402) 375-1477 or tpeters@1strealtysales.com.  Welcome Home.