Blog :: Money :: John Hardy | NP Dodge Real Estate

Omaha Moves Here

New Listing: 9103 Hanover Street Omaha, Nebraska

Posted by John Hardy - May 24, 2019, 12:24 PM

Well maintained, a nearly new multi-level with vaulted ceilings, open concept living priced under $200,000.

Keep These Phrases OUT of Your Offer Letter

Posted by Mike Dein - May 21, 2019, 3:19 PM

A personal letter could be the extra push you need to get your offer accepted; it could also sour the deal.

5 Challenges Home Sellers Face in 2019

Posted by Mike Dein - May 17, 2019, 10:44 AM

No matter what the market is doing, home sellers will face various challenges in 2019.

1 in 6 Home Buyers Get Down Payment Assistance from Seller

Posted by Mike Dein - May 14, 2019, 1:03 PM

Saving for a down payment has become increasingly difficult as home prices rise, rents go up, and student loan debt reaches record highs.

5 Questions to Ask that Could Save You Money

Posted by John Hardy - May 8, 2019, 11:52 AM

Sometimes asking a simple question could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Survey: Home Buyers of All Ages Looking for Lawns

Posted by Mike Dein - May 7, 2019, 3:12 PM

Second to a kitchen renovation, buyers of all generations liked a nice, big lawn.

Natural Disasters Have Lasting Impact on Credit Scores

Posted by Mike Dein - Apr 26, 2019, 10:28 AM

The Urban Institute identified zip codes to determine the long-term effects on residents’ credit scores.

60% of Home Shoppers are Willing to Renovate.

Posted by John Hardy - Apr 24, 2019, 11:18 AM

Whether it’s the HGTV effect, or limited homes for sale, buyers are willing to spend on home renovations.

Analysis of Today’s First-Time Home Buyer.

Posted by John Hardy - Apr 22, 2019, 10:05 AM

On average, first-time home buyers make up a little less than half of total home buyers on the market.

Report: Healthy Housing Market this Spring Home Buying Season

Posted by Mike Dein - Apr 11, 2019, 2:04 PM

Spring is in the air in the Omaha housing market.

One Mistake Could Cost You Your Down Payment

Posted by Mike Dein - Apr 8, 2019, 11:09 AM

BEWARE: Wire fraud scams could cost Omaha home buyers.

Trump Calls to End Conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Posted by Mike Dein - Apr 2, 2019, 11:09 AM

President signed a memorandum calling for an “overdue" reform of the housing finance system.

Tax Day 2019 Checklist: Did you get all your home-related deductions?

Posted by Mike Dein - Apr 1, 2019, 1:01 PM

Tax Day, or the last day for tax payers to file their income taxes, is Monday, April 15th. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, it’s time to get started!

Flooding in Midwest Could Have Lasting Impact

Posted by Mike Dein - Mar 25, 2019, 1:06 PM

Heavy rains and rapid snowmelt following last week’s “bomb cyclone” have caused severe flooding throughout the Midwest.

How Schools Influence Home Buying Decision

Posted by John Hardy - Mar 22, 2019, 11:52 AM

Half of all the buyers with children under the age of 18 are influenced by the school districts, individual schools and quality of each.

VA Loan Originations More than Double for First-Time Home Buyers

Posted by Mike Dein - Mar 20, 2019, 1:43 PM

The VA Loan has become the loan of choice for first-time home buyers who have served or are actively serving in the US military.

Caution: Home Inspection Myths You Might Believe

Posted by Mike Dein - Mar 18, 2019, 2:10 PM

Home inspections are one of the most important steps in the home buying process and could reveal costly or dangerous problems you could face down the road.

The Next Big Housing Trend May Be Small

Posted by Mike Dein - Mar 6, 2019, 11:37 AM

The next most popular single-family home may be a townhouse. Over the past year, the "single-family attached" market is up 24%.

Zillow vs. Redfin: Who has the Most Accurate Estimate?

Posted by Mike Dein - Mar 4, 2019, 9:34 AM

While it doesn't sound like much, plus or minus 5% on a $350,000 home is a $35,000 window. Who wants to leave that on the table?

Surprising Home Renovation That Usually Pays for Itself

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 27, 2019, 11:38 AM

Remodeling magazine states that updating garage doors tend to recoup 97.5% in its 2019 Cost vs. Value Report.

2019 Buyers Have the Most Options in 5 Years

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 25, 2019, 12:20 PM

First time the housing market opened the year with more homes than the previous year.

Red Flags the IRS Will Be Watching

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 18, 2019, 2:02 PM

Tax season is upon us and American taxpayers are in the process of filing for returns, receiving refunds, and paying taxes due.

HomeFundIt™ Review: Ryan and Aimee's Story

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 15, 2019, 11:32 AM

HomeFundIt™ crowdfunding could give you the boost you need to purchase a home sooner.

3 Things First-Time Home Buyers May Not Know

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 13, 2019, 11:00 AM

Looking to buy your first home now, or sometime in the future, it’s never too early to do your research.

Builders Cutting Prices to Stay Competitive

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 6, 2019, 1:19 PM

Study finds that 25.1% of newly constructed homes experienced a price drop in Q4 of 2018. Home shoppers in 2019 may be able to get a deal.

3 Outdated Financial Tips You Might Still Believe

Posted by Mike Dein - Feb 4, 2019, 1:54 PM

What made sense for your parents years ago may not be relevant to today’s economy.

Why Mortgage Points are Getting Popular Again

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 29, 2019, 2:43 PM

Whether or not points will benefit you financially depends on how long you plan on staying in your home, and your loan. Read more to determine.

Single Female Homeowners Outnumber Single Male Homeowners

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 27, 2019, 7:12 AM

According to a new LendingTree study, single women are outpacing single men in becoming homeowners.

CFPB Reverses Course: Seeks Compliance Authority on Military Lending

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 25, 2019, 1:40 PM

Decision made to stop supervising lending to active duty service members. MCFPB to wait for complaints from service members to instigate investigations.

Why Rental Data Matters – Especially for Home Buyers

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 23, 2019, 10:09 AM

Rental prices fluctuate more rapidly than sales prices and can be a good indicator of housing market health.

Getting to Know a New Neighborhood

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 17, 2019, 1:04 PM

You can change a house, but not the location. Shopping for a new home? Don’t forget to look around the neighborhood before getting emotionally attached.

Can you get a mortgage with a credit freeze?

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 14, 2019, 10:21 AM

While it protects you in cases of stolen identity, it also prevents legitimate lenders from accessing your credit.

Don’t Make this Home Renovation Mistake

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 7, 2019, 2:27 PM

In 2017, 1 in 3 homeowners paid for some of their renovation project with a credit card, this is a dangerous debt to take on.

How the New Tax Law Impacts Your Vacation Home

Posted by Mike Dein - Jan 4, 2019, 2:59 PM

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) implemented early last year, was the most sweeping tax reform passed in decades.

AirBNB Enters Home Building Business

Posted by John Hardy - Jan 2, 2019, 2:34 PM

AirBNB, a popular service for home sharing and vacation rentals announced its plan to enter the home building business to build homes designed for sharing.

Real Estate Predictions for 2019

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 31, 2018, 10:13 AM

After several years of a red-hot housing market, activity is expected to slow, and that’s good news for home buyers.

How Builders Can Plan Ahead for Deconstruction

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 19, 2018, 9:41 AM

Builders are building structures that once deconstructed can be repurposed or recycled.

Trend: Millennials Buying First Homes in Cities Over Suburbs

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 17, 2018, 10:17 AM

Millennials are 21% more likely to buy their first home in an urban area compared to Generation X counterparts.

Mortgage Debt Reaches 10-Year High

Posted by John Hardy - Dec 7, 2018, 12:32 PM

The Federal Reserve announced outstanding mortgage debt totaled $10.2 trillion in the second quarter of 2018, up 2.7%

Can you afford to buy a home? How much to spend on housing?

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 5, 2018, 1:39 PM

For most Americans, both renters and homeowners, housing is their largest expense. But how much is too much to spend on housing costs?

Market Forecast December 2018

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 3, 2018, 11:22 AM

Heading into the end of the year, mortgage rates have leveled out after rising following September’s interest rate hike.

Tips For Safe Online Holiday Shopping

Posted by John Hardy - Dec 1, 2018, 11:18 AM

Don’t let cyber criminals Grinch you this holiday season.

3 Common Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

Posted by Mike Dein - Dec 1, 2018, 10:12 AM

Common Renovation Mistakes To Avoid. HGTV hosts of the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott compiled a list.

When a "Bargain" Really is a Bargain

Posted by Mike Dein - Nov 28, 2018, 10:02 AM

When Is A Bargain Really A Bargain? Finding a “bargain” could be good news for savvy shoppers but the description could be misleading.

Community First Focus Helps Rehabilitate Homeless

Posted by Mike Dein - Nov 26, 2018, 5:38 PM

This model of addressing homelessness emphasizes stable housing before unemployment and substance abuse.

Saving for a Down Payment Might Take up to 7 Years or More

Posted by John Hardy - Nov 10, 2018, 9:34 AM

Getting creative could cut saving process down to months with one of our partners.

Soccer in the Streets Converts Unused Public Space into a Place to Play

Posted by Mike Dein - Nov 8, 2018, 10:05 AM

Since the flagship fields in Atlanta were established, other American cities are showing interest.

How the Rust Belt is Attracting Millennial Home Buyers

Posted by Mike Dein - Nov 7, 2018, 11:06 AM

Midwestern states including Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, sometimes known as the Rust Belt, are experiencing a revival as Millennials put down new roots.

Generation Z Home Buyers Entering the Market with Help from Family

Posted by Mike Dein - Oct 23, 2018, 1:55 PM

According to Zillow, 3% of last year’s home buyers were born after 1995, meaning over 100,000 homeowners across the country are 23 and younger.

How many houses should buyers see in a day?

Posted by Mike Dein - Oct 22, 2018, 1:57 PM

Overdoing it with home tours may cause you to forget details about specific houses and mix properties up.

How to Be a Landlord When You Retire

Posted by Mike Dein - Oct 18, 2018, 11:09 AM

A new trend is emerging among retirees who choose to downsize in retirement, converting their former home into rental properties.

What Judge Kavanaugh Confirmation Means for the Future of the CFPB

Posted by Mike Dein - Oct 17, 2018, 1:40 PM

The Senate's vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has Washington questioning what will happen to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.