Real Estate Information Archive

Ever thought about investing in rental properties? Think you have what it takes could be a good landlord? There is certainly potential to make money owning and leasing rental property. Investing in real estate is one of the best investments you can make but you are dealing with the public so it can be a very difficult at times. Before you jump in, take some time and answer these 10 questions and see what you come up with.

10 Questions to ask BEFORE renting your home

1. How will you respond if your tenant says they can’t afford to pay the rent this month because of more pressing obligations? (This happens most often during holiday season and back-to-school time when families with children have extra expenses).
2. Because of the economy, many homeowners cannot make their mortgage payment? What percentage of tenants do you think cannot afford to pay their rent?
3. Have you interviewed experienced eviction attorneys in case a challenge does arise?
4. Have you talked to your insurance company about a possible increase in premiums as liability is greater in a non-owner occupied home?
5. Will you allow pets? Cats? Dogs? How big a dog?
6. How will you actually collect the rent? By mail? In person?
7. Repairs are part of being a landlord. Who will take tenant calls when necessary repairs come up?
8. Do you have a list of crafts people readily available to handle these repairs?
9. How often will you do a physical inspection of the property?
10. Will you alert your current neighbors that you are renting the house?

It is important to stay-up-to date on federal, state and city guidelines for rental properties and tenant rights. If you have questions about Council Bluffs or Omaha guidelines, give one of our Realtors a call. Find more about our agents here.

Do you have any awful slumlord stories to share?  Let us know below! 

If you are looking for an activity for date night or to do with the entire family but have exhausted the normal options, here is a great list for you today! Its time to hit the astro turf and track your score while playing miniature golf. This sport is known by other names such as putt putt golf or mini golf but it usually consists of small putting irons, colored balls, plastic grass, tiny holes and obstacles and odds stacked up against you.

Playing can become quite competitive and fun which makes it perfect for group outings. Here are several local places that offer miniature golf fun to check out this summer:

FUN-PLEX - 7003 Q Street, Omaha, NE 68117
www.fun-plex.com

 

Most locals in the Omaha metro area have visited or at least driven past this big time summer business. Mostly known for water slides, a lazy river, wave pool and go carts, this bustling place also offers 18 holes of miniature golf. Gameplay is included in the cost of admission which is $16.95-$24.95 per person depending on your age. Normal hours are 11am-8pm. That price grants you access to all of the attractions of the park. Or if you visit between 4pm-8pm you will only pay $12.95-$16.95 per person. Fun Plex's rides season will end August 14th, 2015.

PUTTING PLUS - 9216 Maple Street, Omaha, NE 68134
www.puttingplus.com

Another option for testing your talents is Putting Plus. The business specializes in one thing and they have been in business since 1967. They are open from 10am-11pm on most days of the week and have 3 different courses with 18 holes each. Prices range from $6.50-$3 per person depending on your age but they do run daily specials on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Their putting season ends on October 15, 2015.

PAPIO GREENS GOLF CENTER - 11050 S 66th St, Papillion, NE 68133
www.papiogreens.com/

Finally, Papio Greens Golf Center offers two challenging 18 hole courses. Avoid obstacles to your heart's content with their unlimited golf rate of $7 for adults or $5 per child.

Council Bluffs is lucky to be so close to Omaha's great entertainment offerings.

What are your favorite summer activities?

Our real estate office and agents receive the newest statistics at the beginning of each month which we use for our market analysis. 

The chart above represents the 199 properties that were sold during the month of June. Over 40% of the transactions were completed with conventional financing with cash and FHA transactions representing over 26% of the sales each. This shows that most people are not paying cash for area homes and are signing up for low interest mortgages.

The chart above shows homes are selling quicker this year than in previous years. There are more buyers on the market in 2015 than there were in 2013 or 2014 and this means we have happier sellers in the Council Bluffs and Omaha area (and busier real estate agents).

The statistics are from the Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors and covers data from the following cities and more: 

Carter Lake
Council Bluffs
Crescent
Glenwood
Logan
Missouri Valley
Neola
Oakland
Oakland
Underwood

Staying up-to-date on market analysis is an important part of making any real estate transaction smooth and successful. Our agents love to stay current to provide the best service possible to clients. To find out more about our Morse Real Estate Realtors®, click here.

We finally got some heat here in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Heat means summer and summer means fairs! Whether you go for the rides or the wacky food choices it's always fun attending these local events. Here are the schedules for our state and local county fairs. Somewhere to go almost every weekend. Get out there and have some fun!

Iowa and Nebraska State Fair Schedules

Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, IA
Aug 13 through Aug 23
http://www.iowastatefair.org/

Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, NE
Aug 28 through Sept 7
http://www.statefair.org/

County Fair Schedules

Mills County Fair in Malvern, IA
July 10 through July 15
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mills-County-Fairgrounds-Malvern-IA/395760550470981     

Pottawattamie County Fair in Avoca, IA
July 16 through July 20
http://www.pottawattamiecountyfair.org/

River Fest in Bellevue, NE
July 18 and July 19
https://bellevuenebraska.com/event/riverfest/

Harrison County Fair in Missouri Valley, IA
July 20 through July 25
              http://www.harrisoncofair.com/             

Westfair in Council Bluffs, IA
July 22 through July 26
http://www.westfairevents.com/

Washington County Fair in Arlington, NE
July 24 through July 29
http://www.wcffair.com/

Saunders County Fair in Wahoo, NE
July 26 through August 2
http://www.saunderscountyfair.com/ 

Sarpy County Fair in Springfield, NE
July 29 through August 2
http://www.sarpyfair.com/

Cass County Fair in Weeping Water, NE
August 5 through Aug 8
http://www.cassfair.com/

Douglas County Fair in Omaha, NE
Sept 24 through Sept 27
http://www.aksarbenrodeo.com/

What are your favorite fair memories? Share with us below.

Each of us take hot water heaters for granted everyday. We turn the knob and just expect our baths and showers to be warm and inviting every time. Water heaters, whether they are gas or electric, do need to be checked and maintained on a regular basis to work at their optimum level and keep that soothing warm water coming for years to come. In fact, many of our Realtors have been in Omaha and Council Bluffs homes where water heaters have been doing their job for over 30 years!

Don't let this happen to you!

The most important tip for maintaining your water heater is to simply drain some water out of the bottom periodically (every quarter) to battle hard water sediment build up which could be reducing its efficiency. 

Found a great site for more hot water heater maintenance information, click here to visit.

How long have you had your water heater and what types of maintenance do you use?

In real estate, radon is a major topic of discussion especially here in Iowa. Outside of the industry it doesn't really get mentioned that is why I was so inspired to write a blog today after seeing it on the FRONT PAGE of the local newspaper. It's appearance there is due to January being hailed as "National Radon Action Month."

For those that do not know, radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can seep into the home from the ground. It is produced by the natural decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. It is also a form of ionizing radiation and a proven carcinogen. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon related. For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking.

That sounds intimating but what most people don't realize is that radon is found in outdoor air! The concern is when it flows from the ground into buildings of all kinds and is not dissipated. Testing has proven that lower floors of structures, such as basements, have a much higher level of radon than other floors and that the gas fluctuates naturally.
 
Iowa is listed as an area with high levels of radon. So, the question is how do you find out if the home you are buying contains high levels of radon? A licensed mitigation measurement specialist can come into the home and set up a testing unit for 48 hours. Once complete, you would receive a summary report. EPA recommends homes have mitigation if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more. If you choose to have mitigation, most installations are $800-1500 depending on the size of the home. 
 
If you are interested in testing the home you currently live in, you may purchase home testing kits at the Council Bluffs Public Health Department on Pearl Street for about $6. For more information the Iowa Department of Public Health has put together a Fact Sheet with more information and you may download it here.

Real estate salespeople help their clients buy and sell properties everyday and have the experience to handle all of the steps and issues that arise in a transaction. Every transaction is unique and complicated. Here is an infographic about the challenges of selling your home without a real estate salesperson. 

Five to seven times a day, the air in your home circulates through the air ducts of your HVAC heating and cooling system, carrying with it the dust and debris of everyday living.

Your furnace filter catches much of the stuff, but neglect, remodeling projects, or shoddy duct installation can lead to a buildup of gunk inside your ductwork that threatens the efficient functioning of your system.

Are Dirty Ducts Hazardous to Your Health?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asserts no studies have proven that duct cleaning prevents health problems. Also, there isn’t proof that dirty ductwork increases dust levels inside homes.

But some people are more sensitive to airborne dust and pet dander than others. If your nose is getting itchy just thinking about what might lurk in your ducts, the $300 to $600 it costs to clean a 2,000-sq.-ft. home is a worthwhile investment. But before you reach for the phone, take a good look to see if your ducts are dirty.

Get the Picture

Wouldn’t it be handy if you could take an incredible journey through your ductwork to see if cleaning is needed? Using a pocket digital camera equipped with a flash, you can come close. Simply remove a floor register, reach as far as you can into the duct (don’t drop your camera!), and take a couple of shots.

If there’s gunk within a few feet of the register, take heart. It’s easy to snake a vacuum cleaner hose into the duct and remove the stuff. However, if you see a long trail of junk and a thick coat of dust beyond what your vacuum can reach, your house may be a candidate for professional cleaning.

Look for These Symptoms

• Clogs of dust, cobwebs, and debris, or noticeable particles blowing out of supply registers.

• Visible mold on the inside surfaces of ducts.

• Rodent droppings and dead insects inside ducts.

In addition, recent construction inevitably creates dust you don’t want in circulation.

Good Reasons for Duct Cleaning

• Cleaning removes accumulated dust so it won’t shed into the household.

• Removing debris and cobwebs eases airflow and increases the efficiency of the system, in extreme cases as much as 40%.

• If you have fiberglass ducting, fiberglass gathers more dust than sheet metal.

Reasons to Skip Duct Cleaning

• Cost.

• Health benefits are not proven.

• Dust and debris caught on the interior of ducts isn’t circulating and therefore may not be a problem.

• Changing furnace filters regularly often does the job, especially when combined with annual furnace cleaning.

How Ducts are Cleaned

Dislodging and removing dust and debris is done with one or more of the following methods:

• Hand-held vacuuming: Workers use a brush attached to a large portable vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. However, the hand-held method isn’t completely reliable and may leave pockets of dust.

• Mechanical brush: A rotating brush is fed into the ductwork. A truck-mounted vacuum sucks away debris. The rotary brush may damage older or poorly installed systems.

• Air sweep: A truck-mounted vacuum system carries away dust and debris dislodged by a compressed-air hose fed into the ducts. Of the three, the air sweep method usually does the most effective job.

Note: Some duct cleaning companies advocate spraying the inside of your ducts with chemical biocides. However, the EPA cautions that the spray may be more hazardous than helpful, aggravating respiratory ailments and introducing moisture that encourages mold growth.

Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service

It is all too easy to set up as a duct cleaner; some fly-by-nighters do more harm than good. Ask a reputable heating contractor for recommendations, or go to National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to locate a certified contractor.

Be wary of unsubstantiated health claims. Resist pressure to clean annually; even cleaning every other year is overkill. Most homes needn’t be cleaned more than once every five years. Also, make sure your furnace will be cleaned as part of the HVAC maintenance service that includes checking the plenum, evaporator coil, and heat exchanger.

Source

Make the most of your energy dollar. Just follow these simple guidelines and enjoy lower gas bills this season.

1. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. For each degree you raise your thermostat setting, your fuel bill climbs 3 percent. Dress accordingly and consider slipping into a sweater before you crank up the temperature.

2. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. A simple task like this could improve your systems' energy efficiency by 10 percent.

3. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

4. Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.

5. Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.

6. Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely; in just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job and try to keep the humidity level between 30 percent and 60 percent.

7. During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.

8. Close an unoccupied room that is isolated from the rest of the house, such as in a corner, and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heating for that room or zone. Some programmable thermostats now come with temperature zoning options However, do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system. For example, if you heat your house with a heat pump, do not close the vents. Closing the vents could harm the heat pump.

9. Consider installing double-pane windows with protective coating that reflects heat back into your home during winter. If such a retrofit is not in your budget, cover your windows with clear plastic film. At a typical cost of $4 to $6 per window, the film creates an insulating air pocket between the plastic and the window, reducing heat loss through windows by between 25 percent and 50 percent.

10. Caulk and weather strip around exterior seams, cracks and openings. Pay extra attention around windows and at points where various exterior materials like wood, brick and vinyl siding meet. And on the inside, caulking and weather-stripping around windows and door frames will cut down on drafts.

These simple tips can save you a lot of money this winter season and help create a cozy home all winter long.