VA Loan options when buying a home.

When choosing a lender for your new home, don't be fooled by the "VA" label in a name.

In America, some words create associations in our minds that lead to trust. For those who have served in the military and other patriots, one of those words is "veteran." Another is the label "VA."

Sadly, not everyone using those words is deserving of our trust.

Several national lenders are trading on "Veterans" or "VA" to gain trust with veterans and their families, while charging them more than the going rate for their loans. They're also tacking on fees that other lenders don't charge.

Some are also violating the terms of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) by failing to provide a good faith estimate…

Summer Camp – In Omaha it's not what it used to be, it's better!

Omaha parents and children don't need to worry about summer boredom, nor about a lack of learning experiences, because here in Omaha, summer camp is just not what it used to be.

Whether a day-camp or a stay away from home, summer camp is no longer all about singing songs and doing arts and crafts. Of course some do offer that, but they offer so much more. Here's a sampling:

For animal lovers…

Kids who love animals can attend "Camp Kindness," a weeklong summer camp offered by the Nebraska Humane Society. Here the campers learn about animals from therapy lambs to wounded birds of prey – and of course about dogs and cats.

Because so many of the campers are repeat visitors,…

Moving to Omaha with children?
Consider the Papillion-La Vista School District

The Papillion-La Vista School District (PLSD) has as its motto: "Excellence…One Student at a Time."

Their dedication to this end is backed by District Accreditation from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission – placing the Papillion-La Vista School District into an elite group. Only 793 school districts nationwide hold this accreditation.

While individual schools in our district have been accredited for over 20 years, the district accreditation is new. Now parents can rest assured that no matter which school in the District their child attends, it will provide him or her with the safest, most enriching learning environment possible.

Of course, this comes as no…

Omaha: The "Best Value City" in the U.S.

While the U.S. national news is filled with stories of boom and bust real estate, markets taken over by foreclosures, skyrocketing unemployment, and other gloom and doom, Omaha has been quietly chugging along, doing just fine.

Yes, we do have some foreclosures and short sales. But a check on Trulia for November 2 statistics shows that foreclosures make up just 15% of our homes for sale and sold, while the percentage in San Diego is at 27%, and in Las Vegas 46%.

Home prices are slightly down, but since we didn't experience the dramatic increases that hit the coastal and "sun belt" cities, we haven't experienced the dramatic decline. Trulia reported the median home sales price in Omaha for the months of…

Good News for Real Estate - More Cities on the Upswing

What constitutes an improving real estate market? According to the NAHB / First American's Improving Market's Index, an area is on the upswing when it shows an increase in housing permits, housing prices, and employment for at least 6 months.

The good news is that since October, the number of metropolitan areas deemed to be "Improving" has risen by about 30% - from 23 to 30. This is the third consecutive month that the number of improving markets has risen.

For the most part, it's smaller cities that are showing improvement.  The only major metropolitan areas represented on the list are New Orleans and Pittsburgh.

What industries are leading the improvement? Energy and agriculture. That's…

That new immigration bill that Senators Charles Schumer and Mike Lee introduced on October 20 has some people worried.

As you probably remember, an automatic visitor's visa would be given to any foreign citizen willing to spend $500,000 in cash buying U.S. real estate. At least half that amount would have to be for his or her personal residence.

As we reported a few days ago, some object to "selling America to foreigners" while others worry that this infusion of foreign cash will serve to keep prices out of the reach of ordinary citizens.

However, as more details of the bill are revealed, it's beginning to look like there's not much to worry about, even if the bill passes.

Why? Because it's not such a great deal for the foreign buyers. For one…

Commercial Real Estate Land Purchase

Six years ago, developer Jason Townsend won the right to develop a square block at 14th and Dodge Streets – just 6 blocks from the new TD Ameritrade Park and directly off a major Interstate 480 off-ramp into downtown Omaha.

Townsend was chosen over another developer when his plans for a 32-story WallStreet Tower were chosen by then-mayor Mike Fahey. He then purchased the land from the City for $1 and assumed the multi-million dollar cost of demolishing the old Union Pacific building, which occupied the site.

Demolition went forward as planned, but development has stalled. The WallStreet Tower project was estimated to cost $122 million, and in this sagging economy, the developer simply has…

Omaha Short Sale

Thinking of buying an Omaha short sale? Get your checklist out. Here is what you need when thinking of buying a short sale in Omaha.

1. Patience

2. Patience

3. Patience

There are so many variables when dealing with a short sale home that you have to have patience and a take it or leave it attitude. You see once you write an offer and the seller accepts it you really do not have an offer that is enforceable until the bank approves the short

sale. Many times you have two banks to deal with which is called a first and a second. The first bank probably is going to deal with the situation pretty quick but if there is a second lender they have no protection in a foreclosure situation so if the second lender isn't getting any of the…

District 66 Homes For Sale

Don't you just love tree lined streets, large lots to enjoy playing and cooking out. District 66 homes has it all. Large home sites, treed lots and close to everything Omaha has to offer. Check out all District 66 homes for sale here.