Connie Watts - Omaha Homes for Sale / Offutt AFB Homes, 402-880-9027

I found this article on Twitter (thank you @memberconnect) and it is a MUST READ for everyone who owns real estate or in the business.

For example, did you know that Hope for Homeowners is a VOLUNTARY PROGRAM OR LENDERS? As a result, the program has only helped 25 people since Oct 08.

Check it out and be sure to pass it on to everyone you know.

What a way to end a week of 60 degree weather! I was just getting my hopes up that it was going to be a mild winter. I'm hearing conflicting reports of when the storm is going to hit. Some are saying tonight while others are saying mid morning tomorrow.

Just be prepared and be safe if you have to go out. Here are a few resources to keep you prepared.

Check on street conditions & snow removal issues.

Check on Highway Conditions on-line or call 511 for Travel Info - or 800-906-9069.

Nebraska Highway Cameras.

Nebraska Web Cams

Detour & Construction Route

Winter Driving Tips

UPDATE: Friday 10:15am My husband called, Bellevue already has 2 inches of snow and his employer is closing up for the day.

UPDATE: Friday 12:30 pm - Here's the Creighton University Webcam

UPDATE: Friday 12:40 pm - Here the University of Nebraska at Lincoln Webcam This oneis pretty cool because you don't have to wait for it to refresh automatically every couple of second.

Does your household earn less than $50,000 a year? Need help with your tax returns? The Earned Income Coalition is available in nine convenient locations. Call 2-1-1 for more information.

If you don't qualify for assistance above, there is still assistance available. Here are a few more tax resources available.

· Locations for free tax help

· Low-income tax clinics

· IRS Taxpayer Advocate

· Tips to avoid common mistakes

· Tips to avoid rebate recovery confusion

· Top 2009 errors

Search the Omaha MLS

Search the Council Bluffs MLS

Flickr Image Credit: Paul Keleher

As a listing agent, our seller's expect us to help keep their home secure by tracking home showings. The most common ways of doing this in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa real estate market is:

My local area has about a ten months inventory of homes on the market. If the agent doesn't call back timely to tell you can see it anytime, you've prevented your seller from a potential sale!

Many times a buyer will ask to see the vacant home down the street, one not on the original showing list. If the seller's agent isn't accessible and there is a coded lock box, you've again, prevented your seller from a potential sale!

Do you really want your VACANT HOME showings restricted like this? I've also noticed a trend listing an obviously vacant home as Owner Occupied. I understand wanting to secure access to the home, but there are much better ways of doing this! This is why you hire a Technology Savvy Realtor!

Would you believe the same thing can happen with an electronic lock box? Just because your agent is using an electronic lock box doesn't mean they know how to use it. Did you know they don't just allow access at anytime? They can be programmed to:

Allow access between certain times
Allow access only with a code
Provide additional marketing information
Provide a marketing flyer
Request showing feedback

One of the advantages of hiring a Technology Savvy Real Estate Agent, is we are notified immediately when the home is shown. We can provide an electronic paper trail of everyone who has accessed the home. No more searching for the paper that we wrote that agent's name on.

Here's the showing feedback I received less than an hour ago when David Matney, from Alliance Real Estate, (Hey David, here's some google juice for you!) showed my listing at 14451 Erskine Street. Thanks for showing my listing, David. Right now it's 2:21 PM and I've already received property feedback from him! How cool is that?

So when you are ready to sell your home, who are you going to call?
That's right, a Technology SAVVY Realtor!

Valley View Vet Clinic will be administering low cost vaccinations at the Council Bluffs Animal Shelter on 2/11/2012. The cost is:

Rabies (cats & dogs) $10

DHPP (dogs) $15

FVRCP & FeLuk (cats) $25

Microchips $25

The shelter has quite a few cats and kittens so while you are there, stop by and see if you or someone you know might be able to provide a good loving home for them.

Click HERE to view the available pets online!