I was recently reading an article at a website called Realty Times that spoke about buying now before the spring rush. Many of these tips will apply to Omaha home buyers but the most important tip is don't wait. With low interest rates, many homes for sale and the $8000 Tax Credit for first time homebuyers, the time to act is now. To learn more about other home buying tips in this article visit http://budurl.com/qaef.
I know I speak for many when I say, "I just can't take any more bad news". I've even stopped reading the paper and stopped watching the news. I have asked my husband (a news junkie) to let me know if there is something newsworthy that I should know about.
To listen to the news media, one would think that homeowners are in big trouble and the majority of them are headed toward foreclosure. And now, the rest of the story... I am a member of the Buffini and Company coaching program and Brian Buffini shared some statistics with us on a conference call this month that you won't hear on the news. There are 52 million households with a mortgage in the United States. 97.2% of those homeowners are NOT in foreclosure and 93.8% are current on their mortgage. Another interesting stat is 40% of all foreclosures are non-owner occupied.
I understand that real estate is local and I am blessed to be in a market area that hasn't been hit as hard as some other areas of the country. As my manager has said "We were not invited to the party, so we don't have the hangover". In Omaha, NE our market in 2008 was down just 16% in the number of closed units and down 19% in closed volume. Our average sales price dropped just 4%.
I believe the more a REALTOR knows about their local statistics, the better he/she can inform their clients, showing them that you are their trusted adviser when it comes to the local real estate market. There has never been a better time to buy since I became a REALTOR in 2002 and I believe with my whole being that 2009 will be a great year for real estate!
It's a gorgeous fall weekend here in Omaha and many of us are out working to make certain our homes are winterized. It's so important to protect what may be our greatest asset so I thought I'd give you a short checklist of items need to get set for winter blasts.
First, get your furnace inspected by a HVAC professional. It's definitely worth of the money to ensure you family's comfort. Also make certain you stock up on furnace filters and change them every month. You might consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat. Every penny saved will be important during these difficult economic times.
Check out that fireplace. Perhaps you should arrange to have it cleaned of soot and creosote build-up. We've all read the dangers of carbon-monoxide. Also, check the mortar between bricks. It may have to be repaired or replaced. While you're at it makes certain the damper works properly.
Caulk all windows and install weather-stripping on outside doors. You need to keep out cold drafts to keep down the heating bills. Make certain your gutters and downspouts are clean and free-flowing. If your able, check out the roof to see if any shingles or tiles need to be replaced.
Check your foundation for cracks and holes. Get them filled up. Be certain that dirt is piled up against the foundation and all nearby edible vegetation is removed. You don't want to encourage pests. Speaking of pests, it's a good time to check for termite damage and dry rot as well.
Finally, service your equipment. Drain the gas from your lawnmower. Get your show blower tuned up. Make certain your snow shovel is in good shape and stock up on some bags of ice-melt.
If you need the names and numbers of any reputable vendors to help you with any of these tasks, please contact me at 402-97-4251 or email me at marie.otis@cbshome.com. Please visit my website www.MarieOtis.com The sun is shining so get out there and batten down the hatches!
Marie knows the Omaha Metro Area real estate market & she works with the best. She's known for the highest professional & ethical standards. Her goal is to have clients for life & she is succeeding.
The Marie Otis Team
Your home helps define who you are. To some the ideal is a lovely, peaceful garden. For others the hot, pulsating rhythms of downtown urban life is what they seek. Still others find the broad lawns and big back yards of suburbia are where they want to call home. Real Estate is the Art of matching people and places. Yet most people want something more when doing business with an Agent.
Marie is on a first name business with many lenders and title company personnel. Shhe knows several reliable inspection companies to recommend. Marie works with vendors who provide every service your home could require. So whether you need home repairs, home insurance, home warranty, mortgage services, title services or security services, she can provide you with reliable professional resources.
You can count on Marie to guide you through the complex transaction process of selling or purchasing a home. She will handle the details and complete the paperwork. She is aggressive marketer and uses every resource available. Marie follow-up on every detail so you can get to the closing table with relative ease.
Marie knows the Omaha Metropolitan Area real estate market and she works with the best. You can expect Marie to give you personal service. She works together and she works hard. Marie is known for the highest professional and ethical standards. Her goal is to have clients for life and she are succeeding.
Marie believes in the adage that knowledge is power and she takes pride in educating her clients on the home buying process as well as real estate's latest trends. Her buyers and sellers make educated decisions. She believes in leaving decisions up to you but she make certain you have the information you need then stepping back and letting you make the decision.
Let Marie put her skills to work for you.
Marie Otis CRS, GRI, ABR, e-Pro, CMRS, ASR
Marie Otis is a consummate real estate professional who not only understands the art of deal-making but also the art of relationships. She handles every transaction as though she will be her clients' Real Esate Consultant for Life. Orginally from Noth Dakota, Marie know what it's like to dig up roots and transplant to another state. Marie is a 12 year resident of Omaha and it's where she and her husband, Jim, decided to raise their two elementary age children and put down new roots. "I'd be the first to admit that moving isn't easy," declares Marie, "but the opportunities for growth and the lifelong friendships I've experiened more than make up for any little hassles." Whether you're moving across the country or just across town, this sensitivity to the emotinal side of moving and relocating is one reason Marie is the right Realtor choice.
Marie's first focus is her family. The Otis family is active in their church. Marie has taught Sunday School, served as a member of the Church Board and her children sing in the children's choir. Marie's family takes full advantage of such area attractions as the Omaha Zoo, the Old Market, the Omaha Childrens Museum and super events as the College World Series and the tree lighting ceremony every year at the Gene Leahy Central Park Mall. Marie has an enormous appreciation for the Omaha Metro Area including its lively, rich history and its many diverse communities.
If you're looking for a top professional then you've found the right person in Marie. She makes the process of buying and selling a home an uplifting experience. Her knowledge of the Metro area's real estate market and market trends is second to none. Her CRS designation places her among only 4% of realtors nationwide to earn Real Estate's most pretigious designation: the Certified Residential Specialist award. And this is just one of the six designations Marie has earned since becoming a real estate professional in 2002. Marie was honored as Rookie of the Year for CBSHOME Real Estate in 2002 and has been a top producer every year since.
In June of 2006, Marie was awarded the American Business Women Association's highest honor, Woman of the Year. The award honored Marie for her professional and educational success as well as her commitment to her family and the community. Recently, Marie was awarded the 2006 Sales Award by the Realty Alliance "in recognition of her exeptional performance as one of the leading residential real estate sale professionals in North America." Marie graduated from North Dakota State Univeristy with two (2) Bachelor's Degrees in Microbiology and Medical Technology. She has also completed all her classwork on her Masters of Science degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
You will feel at ease with Marie's personable and professioanl working style. Marie consistently exceeds her clients' expectations and receives continuous referrals from satisfied clients. Whether they are buying or selling, Marie knows how to represent her clients. You can place your confience in her. She commits the time and effort to every detail of the transaction ensuring that you are protected through every aspect. Integrity is Marie's hallmark and her core competence is the art of cultivating relationships.
You can contact Marie by calling her office at 402.697.4251
Marie specializes in the Omaha Metropolitan Area which includes Omaha, Elkhorn, Bennington, Papillion, LaVista, Ralston, Bellevue and Gretna.
Marie's expertise is in Relocatation - Marketing homes to local, national and global buyers, across all major media channels and through her extensive, personal network of contacts.
Marie's expertise is in New Construction - Whether condos, townhomes or single-family homes, Marie understands the in and outs of working with builders and getting her clients what they want and need. Marie works as a Developer/Builder's Rep and handles staffing, scheduling and sales promotion with consummate skill.
Marie's expertise is in Residential Sales - Marie's extensive marketing plan is just what is needed to get homes sold in the Metro Area.
Here's What Marie's Sellers Are Saying About Her:
"Marie was responsive, thorough, organized and informative. She stayed on top of critical items and always had answers to our questions. Everything was handled with professioanlism throughout the process. We were very happy with the services Marie provided, and would definitely refer her to our friends that may be looking for an agent." Jeff Lake
"I recently moved to Kansas, following the sale of my Omaha home. Marie represented me in the highest quality and most prfitable manner. My home sold in little over a week after entering the market. Marie is honest, efficient and knowledgeable regarding the essential servies needed for a positive real estate deal." Wilberta Yager
"Marie provided us with all the information we needed to get top dollar for our home. Not only did she provide us with information of comparable sales in our area, she also had the experience of being in other homes to help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of our home. She was able to answer all our questions. She was especially helpful in provding us with both sides of an issue before we needed to make a decision. With Marie's help, we were able to accept an offer the first weekend our house was on the market. We call that getting the job done!" Ann & James Timmerman
"After seeing 'For Sale By Owner' homes in our neighborhood sit on then market for over 45 days, we knew when the time came to sell ours we would want professional help. We made the right decision when we asked Marie to sell our home. She had it sold in just 9 days! These results speak for themselves and it is easy to see how all of Marie's hard work and dedication really paid off." Gary & Julie Goergen
"My husband and I were so impressed and satisfied with our experience in purchasing a home through Marie three years ago that we knew we wanted her enthusiasm and professionalism to sell our home! From the beginning we felt that Marie had every detail covered and that she was going to do everything to show our house well and get us the best possible offer she could. Marie used so many avenues to make sure our house was seen - virtual tours, realtor tour, pictures for the fliers out front! Our house sold in eleven days and we received nearly 100% of our asking price! We contribute it to being priced correctly and advertised well. There is no doubt that we have and will continue to recommend Marie!" Joe & Amy Anderson
"It has been such a pleasure working with you. Thank you for your good work in getting our home sold at a difficult time of year and under unusual circumstances. I've bought and sold houses through agents before, but have never received the kind of service I did when working with you. Your responsiveness, professionalism and kindness made a stressful experience easy. I know that you worked very hard behind the scenes to assure that all of our time contraints were met. However, you never passed any of that stress or pressure on to me. I know that when I called you, you would respond accurately and professionally. I knew that I only had to find someone with your professional abilities. I have already passed your name to three people and will gladly and confidently refer you to all of my friends." Sharmyn Mitchell
"Marie, I do want to thank you for all your help on this. You were very professional, insightful and a joy to work with and always offered great advice, always kept us informed, were very upfront and honest and always laid out options for us, yet letting my Uncle and our family drive the decision based on your solid advice to maximize our return on this sale. You were the perfect person to work with and we could not have asked for anything more, so thanks again for all your efforts." David Don
Here's What Marie's Buyers Are Saying About Her:
"Working with Maire was a great experience! Just moving to Omaha, I was not familiar with any here, but Marie made me feel welcome from the first day I met her. Marie listened to my needs and wants and was able to find plenty of listings for me to look through before another visit to Omaha to find the house. Marie was so organized and within one day, we were able to tour many different homes in various parts of town and finally making an offer on one of them. Marie was a great support through the entire process, from the day I met her to tour Omaha to the day of closing. I will defiantly use Marie again and have already referred her to a friend who recently moved to Omaha." Lisa Blaylock
"We would like to thank Marie for all of the help that she provided to us during the purchase of our new home. Her professionalism and kindness were greatly appreciated. She made us feel as if we were her top priority and we could tell that she really cared. We will highly recommend her to all of our friends and family and will gladly use her again if the need arises." Scott & Jamie Smith
"Marie was very accessible, easy to get a hold of and answered all of our questions - that was a big plus!" Robert & Tara Richards
"Marie was wonderful - She has gone above and beyond to make our transition to Omaha a smooth one." Joe & Amy Anderson
"Marie is a professional that pays attention to every detail. We enjoy working with her. She's a credit to CBSHOME." Bud & Paulette Tice
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