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        <title>Omaha Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/selling-omaha-real-estate/</link>
        <description>Visit the Hopkins Home Team Blog for news on the Omaha housing market, to learn about local neighborhoods, new construction, upcoming events, and popular attractions.</description>
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            <guid>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/ghost-towns-for-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/ghost-towns-for-sale.html</link>
            <author>sminino@npdodge.com (Steve Minino)</author>
            <title>Ghost Towns for Sale</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
It may seem kind of creepy, but there are ghost towns for sale across the country. And there are interested buyers as well.


Some people looking to buy ghost towns are attracted to a dream of  "owning" a piece of history and the stories that come with it - of becoming part of that history and part of the stories that are told about the area. Owning a town and being the only resident means you can be the mayor, the judge, and the jury all at once.


Other people have goals of recreating an old fashioned town complete with post office, jail, and court house.


Still others simply want the isolation and tranquilty of living where noone else does.



For some, the dream grows and becomes a reality as groups of people come together and try to preserve and recreate the Wild West. For others, the loneliness becomes too much. The howling wind and the creaks and groans of the landscape force them to finally sell, leaving their dreams behind for the next ghost town hunter.


This is what happened for a family in Utah who is now trying to sell Woodside, a 706-acre ghost town, three hours southeast of Salt Lake City, for $3.9 million. Read their about their ghost town for sale here and here.




If you just want to visit a ghost town (but not buy it), scroll down to find out where ghost towns in Nebraska are and where the coolest ghost towns in the United States are.


If you are interested in buying a home that is not in a ghost town, contact us!




Coolest Ghost Towns in America


According to Travel + Leisure, the Coolest Ghost Towns are:




Bodie, CA


Terlingua, TX


Thurmond, WV


Santa Claus, AZ


Flagstaff, ME


Calico, CA


Virginia City, MT


Cahawba, AL


Dogtown, MA


Rhyolite, NV


Glenrio, TX and NM


Goldfield, AZ


Gleeson, Courtland, and Pearce, AZ




Ghost Towns Around Omaha, Nebraska


Scroll down to view a list of the most interesting ghost towns around Omaha or to read more about Nebraska ghost towns.




Ambroy


Arborville


Buffalo


Elk City


Fontenelle


Herman


Portal


Rock Creek


Stockham


Strang


Union Center


Wayland




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            <pubDate>Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:33:22 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/hard-to-sell-homes.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/hard-to-sell-homes.html</link>
            <author>sminino@npdodge.com (Steve Minino)</author>
            <title>Hard-to-Sell Homes</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
No home owner wants to hear that their home is considered a hard-to-sell home; fewer still, will be be the first to admit that their home might fall into this category. The good news is that no home is really "unsalable" - it is just a matter of presenting the right offer at the right asking price.


What Is a Hard-to-Sell Home?


Hard-to-sell homes are generally homes with a feature, or combination of features, that most people find disagreeable. Usually these features that are unlikeable would cost a great deal to fix, require a lot of work, or are unfixable. Sometimes it is not a matter of what your home has, but rather what your home lacks.



Homes that are difficult to sell, may have old kitchens with out-of-date plumbing, fixtures, and appliances. Homes with small, oddly shaped rooms that result in a lot of wasted space are generally a deterrant to home buyers who are looking for open floor plans and large rooms. The house and/or the lot may be much larger or much smaller than most others in the same neighborhood.


Homes that are generally in poor condition because they have not been maintained can be hard homes to sell. Buyers quickly become discouraged if everywhere they look, they see more work to be done and things that need fixed.


What You Can Do if You Have a Hard-To-Sell Home


There are three key things that you should discuss with a realtor if your home is proving to be hard to sell.


Reduce the Price


Almost any house will eventually sell, if the price is reduced enough.


Offer Incentives


Incentives such as "seller-financing," "seller will pay closing costs," or "seller will assist with the downpayment," will often increase buyer interest.


Make Fixes &amp; Upgrade


Installing new kitchen appliances and fixing obvious problems a house has will usually help a home sell faster. However, before spending money on fixes or upgrades, contact a realtor to make sure you are spending your money in the best way possible.

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            <pubDate>Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:32:38 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/top-five-most-popular-omaha-neighborhoods.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/top-five-most-popular-omaha-neighborhoods.html</link>
            <author>sminino@npdodge.com (Steve Minino)</author>
            <title>Top Five Most Popular Omaha Neighborhoods</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Both the public and the private schools in Omaha's most popular neighborhoods receive excellent ratings from parents.


Benson


Benson is a historic neighborhood in North Omaha. Students attend Benson West Elementary School, Monroe Middle School, and Benson High School.


Throughout Benson, there are numerous live music venues and a main street with businesses, a post office, and a library. Gallagher Park is located within Benson at 2936n North 52nd Street.


Additional popular attractions include eclectic stores, excellent restaurants and cafes, a Farmers Market on Saturdays, and a Community Center that is used for events, activities, and classes. These attractions are all within walking distance of available parking. View Benson homes for sale.




Between April 12 to June 12, 2012 the average listing price of Benson homes was $95,049 and the median sales price was $68,000 a decrease of over 40% from the same time last year.




Armbrust Acres


A lake front community, Armbrust Acres is situated on the north shore of Lake Zorinsky. Dozens of cul-de-sacs throughout the neighborhood ensure the streets are safe and peaceful for residents. Mature trees and landscaping provide shade and beauty along the neighborhood streets and trails lead from the neighborhood to viewing areas, the lake, and a park.


Within Armbrust Acres, seven public schools and seven private schools offer many schooling options for students. Businesses to the west of Armbrust Acres provide residents with countless nearby shopping and dining options. View Armbrust Acres homes for sale.




Between April 12 to June 12, 2012, the average listing price of Armbrust Acres homes was $259,225 and the median sales price was $149,000 a decrease of over 57% from the same time last year.




Morton Meadows


A historic neighborhood located in Downtown Omaha between Center and Leavenworth Streets, Morton Meadows is currently in the application process of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an example of early twentieth-century residential architecture. Tudor Revival, Bungalow, and Colonial are common historic home styles in Morton Meadows.


Morton Meadows also qualifies as an example of garden city planning with the park-like Twin Ridge Boulevard and the curvilinear Morton Avenue. Its central boulevard is so well known, Morton Meadows is sometimes referred to as Twin Ridge.


Noteworthy areas in Morton Meadows include several magnificent churches, the Mercy High School, Beals Elementary School, and the Omaha Fire Department. The University of Nebraska Medical Center is within a mile of Morton Meadows. View Morton Meadows homes for sale.




Between April 12 to June 12, 2012 the average listing price of Morton Meadows homes was $112,423. Home prices in Morton Meadows are increasing due to revitalization efforts in the Midtown Omaha area and close proximity to large employers.




Downtown Omaha


Located on the west side of the Missouri River, between Chicago Street and Leavenworth Street, Downtown Omaha is the most popular location for companies. More than 30 buildings in the area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


Within Downtown Omaha are several distinct areas including the Old Market Historic District where you can find boutique shops, offices and loft residential units and the Burlington Station which consists of residential apartments. Many of the skyscrapers in Downtown Omaha offer fabulous river views.




Between April 12 to June 12, 2012 the average listing price of homes in Downtown Omaha was $445,223.




Northwest Omaha


Northwest Omaha consists of several neighborhoods including Bennington, Irvington, Briggs, and subdivisions along Blair High Road and around Standing Bear Lake. Some of the attractions in Northwest Omaha include Tranquility Park, 20 Grand Movie Theatre, and the new Bennington High School.




Between April 12 to June 12, 2012 the average listing price of homes in Northwest Omaha was $129,172 and the median sales price was $80,000, a decrease of over 30% from the same time last year.



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            <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:32:07 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/choosing-to-rent-out-your-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.hopkinshometeam.com/blog/choosing-to-rent-out-your-home.html</link>
            <author>sminino@npdodge.com (Steve Minino)</author>
            <title>Choosing to Rent Out Your Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
In the current housing market, some people find it difficult to sell their homes. Downsizing to a house payment that is less than the amount that they are currently paying can be the only option for a homeowner whose home simply isn't selling. Rather than taking a significant loss on the value of their home, many sellers opt to rent out their home rather than sell it at a reduced price to buy themselves some time. This scenario isn't all that uncommon across the country. Many homeowners have become unwitting landlords, even if it's only until they can sell their home in a more favorable market.


Know the Local Rental Laws


Most homeowners would rather not become landlords, but if it's the only viable way to avoid taking a huge hit when they sell their home, many end up finding themselves in this situation. This can be a difficult and emotional time. For those who will become landlords for the first time, it is of the utmost importance to familiarize yourself with your local laws, and do some research into home renting in your area. You may want to plan ahead because there are sometimes delays and waiting periods that could end up disrupting your plans.


Choose the Right Rental Price


It can be a challenge to find the appropriate rental price if you aim to at least cover your monthly mortgage payments. At the end of the day, however, you'll have to take into consideration the current rental prices of similar homes in the area that you live. Also, consider that you will end up paying more for insurance if you turn your home into a rental property. It's best to contact your homeowners' insurance company to speak with them about rate increases.


Choose Your Tentants Carefully


It is absolutely necessary to perform due diligence when choosing your tenants. After all, you will have no choice but to put your trust in the people who you decide to rent your home out to. Some of the things that you can do on your own to gather information on your potential tenants include: contacting current employers, asking to view paycheck stubs, and phoning to check references of their previous landlords.


Because there is so much time and effort that can go into performing a thorough background check on renters, many would-be landlords opt to hire a tenant screening company to do the work for them. These companies will perform criminal background checks, eviction and credit checks. In the long-run it may be your best decision to hire a rental management company to look into the history of your potential tenants. It could end up saving you time, money and inevitably peace of mind.

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            <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:00:06 -0500</pubDate>
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