Summer Events in Omaha, NE

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Omaha, Nebraska is a summer gem hidden in the Heartland of America.  Activities abound for those living in the metro area or looking for a weekend get-away.  Great food, outdoor activities, baseball, and culture are just some of the options open to those who wish to soak up the summer sun and dive into “The Big O.” 

The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the most heralded zoos in the country and Omaha’s premier family destination. Offering state of the art exhibits and an array of animals from around the globe, a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo is a memory that is sure to stay with any visitor, young or old. 

The Omaha Farmer’s Market occurs throughout the summer on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Customers stroll among the outdoor stands and are able to peruse and choose from the freshest fruit and vegetables from America’s Breadbasket. The annual Taste of Omaha showcases the best food in the area right on the scenic Missouri River waterfront.

Every June, college baseball teams and their fans travel from coast to coast to witness collegiate athletics in its highest form for the NCAA College World Series.  Known as “The Greatest Show on Dirt,” the CWS was played annually at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium for 60 years.  Last year, the tournament moved to a new 21st century facility named TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha’s North Downtown, or NoDo, region.  Children will enjoy the excitement on and off the field as well as an ice cream cone from the world famous Zesto’s. For adults looking to enjoy a night on the town, there is no bigger week than the CWS.  The bars right around the baseball park, in the Old Market, or on Leavenworth Street are always packed with enthusiastic locals and tourists having a great time and making new friends. 

This year, Omaha will host the 2012 Olympic Swim Trials.  Some of the most famous American Olympians will be coming to Omaha to start their quest for the gold. The 8 day event will be showcased live on primetime television, bringing Omaha into the nation’s spotlight before the London Games.  

The Cox Classic at Champions Golf Course brings in some of the brightest up and coming stars in the PGA-Nationwide Tour.  Before the exciting weekend conclusion to the tournament, lessons and camps are offered to youngsters looking to get on the links and improve their budding golf game.   

The Omaha-metro area offers any outdoor lover numerous opportunities to get out and enjoy the sun.  Boating and jet-skiing are available at Carter Lake, Lake Manawa, and the Missouri River for the aquatic enthusiast. Mahoney State Park,DeSoto Wildlife Refuge and Fontenelle Forest offer miles of hiking trails for those looking to get off the beaten path.  Dozens of events geared toward the runner and cycler are taking place all summer in the metro area at places like the Wabash Trail and Big Papio Trail. The Joslyn Art Museum, Durham Western Heritage Museum and the Omaha Children’s Museum offer fun and educational exhibits to all.  Shakespeare on the Green performs the playwright’s great works in the comfortable night air. TheOrpheum Theatre brings in some of the hottest acts from Broadway such as Wicked and Jersey Boys. 

From critically acclaimed local bands to the biggest tours on earth, Omaha will not disappoint the music lover.  In addition to concerts at Omaha’s best indoor venues such as The Waiting Room Lounge, The Slowdown and the CenturyLink Center arena, Omaha has added two music festivals to its arsenal of shows (The Maha Music Festival and The Red Sky Music Festival) in addition to the already popularJazz on the Green and Playing with Fire concert series.

Beat Your Competition – Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Today

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Most people have probably already figured out that in real estate, market conditions are as good as anybody’s guess but there is something to be said for watching trends. And the trends lately have been pointing to a slowly (but steadily) recovering market in many areas across the nation.

When just a year ago it seemed next to impossible to sell a home, fast forward to the current marketplace and the tables have turned almost completely. In many cities there just are not enough homes for buyers to browse. Buyers are scrambling to see homes on display in open houses before the properties are even listed, in the hopes of getting in on one of the “good” homes still available.

Record-Setting Interest Rates Have Buyers Hopeful

Just when they started getting used to calling all the shots in the vast majority of buyer-controlled markets across America, buyers are not dealing with the shock of dealing not enough properties to choose from. Interest rates that are at levels rivaling those from 60 years ago are driving buyers’ desires to sign on the dotted line to become homeowners now. But what is to be said when there are not enough properties to go around?

Inventory Levels Pre-Dating 2007 Numbers Has Put Sellers In Control

For the first time in over five years, the number of available homes is dwindling down to levels that we were used to seeing prior to the big housing market crash of 2007. According to the National Association of Realtors the last time we saw such a low number of active property listings was in April of 2006.

Multiple Offer Situations Causing Bidding Wars to Erupt

What do you get when there are a lot of buyers that want a choice few properties that seem perfect?  You get lots of people vying for the same property and inundating the sellers with multiple offers. For the first time in years in a lot of areas, sellers can expect to get at or near asking sales price. In fact, when bidding wars start to take place, the sales price often jumps higher than the list price.

Savvy Buyers Preempting Property Rush By Obtaining Pre-Approvals

In an effort to thwart the swarm of buyers already on the prowl, many savvy hopeful homeowners are rushing to lenders and obtaining pre-approvals for added leverage. Once they find the right home – priced well and located in a good locale – they are ready to go and can often get a head start on other buyers that have not obtained pre-approvals. A letter from a prospective lender does more than just serve as added leverage for buyers while shopping for their dream homes. It also provides a realistic benchmark of what they can afford while shaving off valuable time once an offer is made on the property.
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No one can predict where the market will be one month from now but for the countless buyers that are out there trying to lock in phenomenal rates and low home prices – the time is now to get pre-approved and start making successful offers!

One More Chance To Lock In the Lowest Rates in Mortgage History!

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Does it sound like you have heard this story before? “Buy now, interest rates have never been lower” or “Refinance to get today’s low, low rates” are words many of us in the mortgage industry have been preaching for months now. In fact, the first time I mentioned this to my clients and audience was back in 2010.

Well the news has changed and it’s changed for the better. Rates are even lower. For the countless happy homeowners that are now living in their dream homes enjoying a monthly payment so low that it almost seems impossible, it was the deal of a lifetime. And for the countless others that ignored the signs our market was showing and neglected to get a refi on their home or buy up – they are now saying “I coulda, shoulda, woulda”.

It’s not too late.

Today, interest rates are even lower than they were in 2010 when I first told you about the three ways you can get a loan. So whether you are interested in a No Cost, Low Cost or Full Closing Cost loan – the stakes have changed and the scales are tipping in your direction! Don’t waste time and end up wishing you locked in great rates while you still could. Do it today. Qualified buyers could be getting rates as low as 4% on a 30-year fixed or even an amazing 3% on a 15-year. Now that you know you want to take advantage of this unbelievable time to buy up or refinance in America – call me today so I can analyize your profile and give you the personal advice you need to move forward. In the meantime, here’s some advice I’ve been doling out for some time now:

1. No Closing Cost Refinance

Like the title says, it means you the borrower do not pay closing costs. The next question is who is paying them? Indirectly you are. By taking an interest rate slightly higher than the market rate, the broker can use the "Premium" in the interest rate to pay all your costs. For the purposes of this example, let's take a look at how this “no cost refinance” works.

For this example only, let’s use 4.875% as lowest rate 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan available today and 5.125% as lowest 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan offered with no closing costs and a loan amount of $400,000. The lower rate will include $2,400 in closing costs. The higher rate will allow me, the broker, to pay all your closing costs of approximately $2,400 in addition to leaving enough gross revenue to cover office expenses and overhead.

2. Low Closing Cost

This is a combination of the “No Closing Cost” and “Full Closing Cost” options. By taking an interest rate slightly higher than the market rate, the lender or broker can use the "Premium" in the interest rate to pay a “portion” of your closing costs.

For this example only, lets use 4.875% as lowest 30 Year Fixed Rate Loan available today and 5.0% 30 Year Fixed Rate offered with low closing costs of $1,000 and a loan amount of $400,000. The lower rate will include $2,400 in closing costs. The higher rate will allow me the lender, to pay a “portion” of your closing costs of approximately $1,400 in addition to leaving enough gross revenue to cover office expenses and overhead.

3. Full Closing Costs

Like the title says, it means you, the borrower, pay closing costs of approximately $2,400. For this example only, let’s use 4.875% as lowest 30 Year Fixed Rate loan available today and you the borrower will pay the $2,400 in closing costs.

Now look at the monthly payments:
$400,000 Loan Amount * payments exclude taxes and insurance
30 year fixed rate loan program (same criteria works for 15 and 20 year fixed rate programs)

4.875% = $2,117 monthly P&I

5.0% = $2,147 monthly P&I

5.125% = $2,178 monthly P&I

Compare: 4.875% v 5.125% (No Closing Costs)
Monthly savings: - $2,117 – 2,178 = $61 lower payment by selecting the 4.875% rate.

Now look at the total costs divided by the savings: $2,400/$61 = 39.3 months or 3.28 years to break even. That means after 3.28 years, the lower rate and paying the closing cost would have paid off.

Compare: 4.875% v 5.0% (Low Closing Costs)
Monthly savings: $2,117 – $2,147 = $30 lower payment by selecting the 4.875% rate.

Now look at the total costs divided by the savings: $1,400/$30 = 46.7 months or 3.88 years to break even. That means after 3.88 years, the lower rate and paying a “portion” of the closing cost would have paid off.

Another factor to take into consideration is the loan to value ratio of the new loan to your home's value. If for example, adding closing costs to your loan puts you into a higher loan to value bracket, you may opt to go with the lower closing cost or no cost option. Or if you have to pay private mortgage insurance by adding in closings cost, you may opt to go with the low or no closing cost option.

After all is said and done, you don’t want to walk away from a closing and regret your decision, or fear that it will negatively impact your pocketbook in the long run. Therefore, precautions and future planning must be executed to ensure you receive the best deal possible.

Not everyone grasps the “closing costs” concept very well, and there are lots of other elements of your home financing that can add up quickly, but I am here to help. If you have any questions about your home or are looking to purchase in the near future, contact me at 402.301.4500 or email me anytime at terry@terrywilliams.com.