This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the First Lego League (FLL) Lincoln Regional Tournament that was held in Lincoln, Nebraska at the UNL East Campus. In this tournament there were several teams all competing for the chance to make it to the State Tournament.
So what is Lego Robotics? That's a great question! I don't claim to be an expert by any means but here is a quick rundown.
Teams of Middle School kids have to build a Lego robot and program it to complete certain tasks in a certain amount of time. And each year teams have a different overall theme for their project and tasks that need to be completed. (i.e. this year's theme was food safety). This is a very simplistic overview of the league and what the kids need to do for their project because there is so much more involved.
Regardless, the event was a lot of fun to attend and the kids looked to be learning how to work together as a team and more importantly, they were most definitely having a great time doing it!
Check out the video below.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market Snapshot (12/12/11)
As of today the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market currently has 1,272 residential homes listed for sale (in our MLS). In the past 6 months there have been 1,557 residential homes which have sold in Lincoln.
So what does that mean?
1. We are at an inventory low. As is typical during the holidays. So right now if you list your home, you are seeing far less competition.
2. With only 1,272 homes for sale and an avg of 260 homes selling per month over the last 6 months, we are looking at under a 5 month supply of homes on the market. I can tell you from experience that many listing consultations I have gone on that number has been 6-8 months supply of homes.
In other words, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market is doing quite well. There are many other communities around the nation that wish they could say the same thing!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
So what does that mean?
1. We are at an inventory low. As is typical during the holidays. So right now if you list your home, you are seeing far less competition.
2. With only 1,272 homes for sale and an avg of 260 homes selling per month over the last 6 months, we are looking at under a 5 month supply of homes on the market. I can tell you from experience that many listing consultations I have gone on that number has been 6-8 months supply of homes.
In other words, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market is doing quite well. There are many other communities around the nation that wish they could say the same thing!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Friday, December 9, 2011
I'm Back!
Well if you have been coming to this blog in recent months and have been disappointed about the lack of updates, I want to apologize. I tried another blog site www.JasonKornRealEstate.posterous.com but, it is clear to me that in terms of SEO, nothing can beat blogspot. So I am back. Please continue to check back here for fresh content on all things real estate and all things Lincoln, Nebraska whether it be homes for sale or just things to do around the city.
Glad to be back!
Glad to be back!
Monday, August 8, 2011
How Will The S&P Downgrade Affect Mortgage Rates?
By now I am sure you've heard about he recent credit rating downgrade of the U.S. Government by S&P. The question for us in the real estate industries is, as well as those who are planning to purchase a home, is how will that affect mortgage rates?
While it is unclear exactly how this will affect mortgage interest rates in the near future, it is widely believed, and rightfully so, by many experts that rates will rise. Many experts do not expect an immediate raise in rates due to the poor economy. Many do believe however, that over the next 3-5 years as the economy improves, the mortgage rates will likely raise significantly. With the downgrade in credit rating the government's rates on borrowing are rising, which will cause the consumer's rates to rise.
Here in Lincoln, Nebraska the home prices continue to stay flat and interest rates dipped as low as 3.65%, still making this a great time to buy a home.
While it is unclear exactly how this will affect mortgage interest rates in the near future, it is widely believed, and rightfully so, by many experts that rates will rise. Many experts do not expect an immediate raise in rates due to the poor economy. Many do believe however, that over the next 3-5 years as the economy improves, the mortgage rates will likely raise significantly. With the downgrade in credit rating the government's rates on borrowing are rising, which will cause the consumer's rates to rise.
Here in Lincoln, Nebraska the home prices continue to stay flat and interest rates dipped as low as 3.65%, still making this a great time to buy a home.
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market WEEK IN REVIEW
WEEK IN REVIEW July 31-Aug 6:
For this past Lincoln saw:
100 New listings hit the market
53 homes received & accepted an offer
46 homes went to the closing table & officially SOLD.
40 homes had their listing agreement expire & did not sell.
Home loan rates dropped to around the 4% range at the beginning of the week & stayed pretty steady throughout the week.
For this past Lincoln saw:
100 New listings hit the market
53 homes received & accepted an offer
46 homes went to the closing table & officially SOLD.
40 homes had their listing agreement expire & did not sell.
Home loan rates dropped to around the 4% range at the beginning of the week & stayed pretty steady throughout the week.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
NEW LISTING! 4732 N 71 St, Lincoln, Nebraska $89,000
4732 N 71
Check out our great new listing in Northeast Lincoln, NE. Quick and easy access to I-80 for those who commute. This 4bd, 1.75ba home is updated & ready for it's new owner!
Check out www.JasonKorn.remax.com for more information or call me at 402.310.0409 to set up a private showing!
Check out www.JasonKorn.remax.com for more information or call me at 402.310.0409 to set up a private showing!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Don't Believe Everything You Read
Just about 10 minutes ago I had a for sale by owner tell me that the reason they are selling their home on their own is, "We realize it is a buyer's market and the home prices are so depreciated."
The following is my honest & sincere reply to this statement:
Don't believe quite everything you read about the market. At least not how it relates to Lincoln. While we are seeing home prices at about the same level they were in the mid 2000's, it does not mean that home prices are depreciated. Home prices are actually starting to get to the point that they SHOULD be for market sustainability. The fact of the matter is that home prices were artificially inflated during the boom years of real estate here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Much like they were in most markets.
Right now the number of housing inventory is WAY down in comparison to the height of our real estate market. So rates are good & prices are staying flat but, the amount of competition is much much less than it was during the boom ('03, '04, '05) here in Lincoln. So in my opinion, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market is not as much in favor of buyers as the national market may be.
If your home is priced at the current market value & marketed aggressively, you'll get it sold in the first 30 days for near if not at asking price. (Stats for Lincoln say homes sold in first 30 days so far in 2011 are selling for over 98% of their list price. Homes sold after that are in the mid-low 90's% range.)
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
The following is my honest & sincere reply to this statement:
Don't believe quite everything you read about the market. At least not how it relates to Lincoln. While we are seeing home prices at about the same level they were in the mid 2000's, it does not mean that home prices are depreciated. Home prices are actually starting to get to the point that they SHOULD be for market sustainability. The fact of the matter is that home prices were artificially inflated during the boom years of real estate here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Much like they were in most markets.
Right now the number of housing inventory is WAY down in comparison to the height of our real estate market. So rates are good & prices are staying flat but, the amount of competition is much much less than it was during the boom ('03, '04, '05) here in Lincoln. So in my opinion, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market is not as much in favor of buyers as the national market may be.
If your home is priced at the current market value & marketed aggressively, you'll get it sold in the first 30 days for near if not at asking price. (Stats for Lincoln say homes sold in first 30 days so far in 2011 are selling for over 98% of their list price. Homes sold after that are in the mid-low 90's% range.)
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
Thursday, June 16, 2011
How To Buy A Home - Part 2
Well we already told you that the first step to buying a home is to get pre-approved by a local mortgage loan professional. The next step is inteviewing real estate agents to work with. This is an important step in order to stay on top of our ever changing market. Which, will help you grab those "good deals" before anyone else does.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
Friday, June 10, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market Update May 2011
Although we've seen a small increase in number of listings on the market in Lincoln, Nebraska, our inventory continues to be near the lowest it has been in the past decade. Our market continues to be an active market with no signs that it will not continue. We truly are blessed in Lincoln in comparison to many parts of the country.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
Friday, May 6, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market Update - Aprill 2011
It's SPRING TIME!!! The number of current listings is up and if your home is priced "IN" the market rather than just "ON" the market, the stats show that you will end up with more money in your pocket!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
Friday, April 29, 2011
Homebuyer Tip - What You MUST Do First BEFORE Looking For a Home
The home buying process can seem like an intimidating & daunting task. However, it doesn't have to be! With the right help and information, you can have a relaxed & easy home buying experience. We'll walk you through the home buying process one step at a time.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.twitter.com/Jason_Korn
www.youtube.com/JasonKornRealEstate
www.facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Launching Some New Seller Programs & Peformance Guarantees
Really excited about the new programs we will be launching soon for all of our seller clients! We are going to be offering things that NO ONE in the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market is offering. Our programs will ensure that your home gets sold! We'll have options for every seller depending on their situation. Like I said, there is nothing like this currently in our market & I'm excited to be bringing it to Lincoln!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
Friday, April 22, 2011
Real Estate Solutions - Lincoln, Nebraska
We recently got a phone call from a frantic person letting us know that he needed to get his home sold as quickly as possible because he was 5 months behind on his payment & due to a medical issue he has been left without the ability to work for the foreseeable future. Of course we can help! We come across people in similar positions all the time. In fact, its important for anyone in that situation to know that you have choices & we can help you analyze those choices.
So after sitting down to to assess his situation, we go to work on completing an in-depth market analysis to determine how much his home could sell for in the current Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market. In this particular person's situation, we needed to price the home to sell within the next 30 days. He couldn't afford not to. After determining the price that we needed to list his home at we got to work on getting all of our marketing in place before we listed the home so that we could hit the real estate market with full force.
The result?
We had 10 showings in the first weekend. We had an offer within the first 24hrs & received multiple offers over the weekend. So if you or someone you know are in a similar situation, please don't feel like you are alone or have no options because YOU DO! Give us a call so that we can sit down with you to help you determine the best solution to your problem.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
So after sitting down to to assess his situation, we go to work on completing an in-depth market analysis to determine how much his home could sell for in the current Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market. In this particular person's situation, we needed to price the home to sell within the next 30 days. He couldn't afford not to. After determining the price that we needed to list his home at we got to work on getting all of our marketing in place before we listed the home so that we could hit the real estate market with full force.
The result?
We had 10 showings in the first weekend. We had an offer within the first 24hrs & received multiple offers over the weekend. So if you or someone you know are in a similar situation, please don't feel like you are alone or have no options because YOU DO! Give us a call so that we can sit down with you to help you determine the best solution to your problem.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.310.0409
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
3 Questions to Ask In Order to Get Your Home Priced Right
Right now in the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market we are seeing an increase in buyer activity & rightfully so since it is spring time & this is usually when real estate market starts to pick up. The thing to keep in mind as a seller is that this is also the time when there is an increase in the number of homes for sale. Competition is at its highest. When that is the case sellers must remember that pricing & condition REALLY matter. Here are 3 strategies to ensure that you price your home correctly in order to get it sold in the quickest amount of time for the most amount of money possible.
- How Much Did Comparables Sell For? - A good real estate agent should be able to provide you with a detailed list of comparable homes that have sold within the last 6 months. This will give you an idea of what similar homes are selling for in your area. Obviously no two homes are exactly alike but a qualified agent should be able to give you a detailed analysis that takes into account the differences in your home to the similar sold homes & assign a value to those differences if need be. This analysis should give you a price range that your home should sell in. Great! We know where to price your home that's it... WAIT A MINUTE!
- What Are Comparables Currently Priced At? - This is an important step that agents sometimes miss. Just because your market analysis says the home should be priced at $150,000 doesn't mean that is what it will sell for in the CURRENT real estate market. That is why it is key to take your market analysis price & see how it fits into the current market of similar homes. If by pricing your home at $150,000 puts you as the most expensive homes in the neighborhood, its probably not the right price to list at. So pricing the home IN the market rather than just ON the market will make a big difference in getting your home sold quickly & for the most amount of money possible.
- What Kind of Condition Is The House In? - This may sound like an obvious key to getting your home sold quickly & for top dollar but in our current real estate market this question can simply not be ignored. Buyers are more "picky" than ever. I call it the HGTV syndrome. Most buyers wants to purchase a home that is move-in ready & up-to-date. In this time of year especially, when the number of competitors is high, buyers are more likely to write an offer on the home down the street even if it is priced slightly higher, simply because it is in better condition & is move-in ready.
If you're thinking about selling your home or if you're just curious what the current market value of your home is, give us a call at The Korn Team. As always, we provide a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION listing consultation. We'll tell you everything you need to know in order to make the best decision for you and your family.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
402.310.0409
Friday, April 15, 2011
3 Ways to Ensure You Get A Good Deal on Your Next Home Purchase
We all want to get a "Good Deal" on something we're purchasing right? Well real estate is no different! So here are 3 things that you can do in order to make sure you get you dream home at a great price with the least amount of hassles.
- Get pre-approved. First of all, no seller is going to even take a look at an offer from you until they know that you have been pre-approved for a home loan. Plus, your mortgage lender will tell you what your price ceiling is. Nothings worse than falling in love with a home only to find out that you cannot afford it
- Hire a Realtor. Working with a local real estate expert is the key to finding all of those "good deals" out there. Your Realtor should conduct a needs analysis to help you determine what your needs & wants are of your dream home. Your Realtor should help you recognize those "good deals" as soon as they hit the market so that you don't miss out. As always, the best homes at the best prices go fast!
- Be prepared. When you purchase a home there are certain documents that you may need to provide for you loan officer. Find out in your pre-approval meeting what you will need to provide so that you can be sure the underwriting process goes as smooth as possible. Also, be sure you have set aside enough money for your earnest deposit, appraisal, inspections, down payment, closing costs, & moving expenses. Being prepared ahead of time can shorten the amount of time it takes for you to be able to close on the sale of your new home. Being able to close quickly can be a favorable negotiating tool.
One last thing to remember is to have a good time throughout the home buying process. Enjoy the experience. It is a major step is most people's lives & a great investment to boot. Yes, it may seem like an intimidating experience but with the right professionals in your corner, the purchase of your home can be very enjoyable!
At the Korn Team we provide all potential buyers with a no cost, no obligation buyer consultation. We'll explain how the process will go & what is expected of you. Contact us any time! 402.310.0409.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Real Estate Market Update for Lincoln, Nebraska - March 2011
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www.twitter.com/Jason_Korn
www.facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
My Real Estate Philosophy
If there is one important lesson that I've learned in my real estate career, it's that if your goals & expectations do not match your client's goals & expectations, it will NEVER work. You'll both just end up wasting each other's time. And in real estate we know that time = money... for both parties.
My initial consultation with a potential client is just that... a consultation. Yes, the client is interviewing me to see if I am the person they'd like to work with but, I am also doing the same thing. In my initial consultation I am honest from the beginning. I tell the person I am meeting with that at the end of our meeting, one of three things will happen:
My initial consultation with a potential client is just that... a consultation. Yes, the client is interviewing me to see if I am the person they'd like to work with but, I am also doing the same thing. In my initial consultation I am honest from the beginning. I tell the person I am meeting with that at the end of our meeting, one of three things will happen:
- You'll decide to hire me to represent you.
- You'll decide not to hire me to represent you.
- I'll decide not to work with you.
You see, if I feel that I cannot help them reach their goals & expectations, I have no problem telling them that I am not the Real Estate Professional for them. (This took me a few years to be able to say too)
Why?
Because if I cannot help them reach their goals then their experience with me will not be a fond experience. We all know what happens when clients/customers have a bad experience with a business. They tell all of their friends, family, & co-workers. And in today's age of social media, that negative word of mouth can be very detrimental to one's business. I personally would rather part friends at the beginning of their journey than to be seen as the bad guy at the end.
There are two things that I can guarantee to all my clients:
- They will get my best service at all times
- They will get my honest opinion at all times
So BEWARE: I will NEVER sugar coat my professional opinion. If you ask me to meet with you for a consultation, you will learn everything you NEED to know. It may not always be what you WANT to hear!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska Real Estate Market
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Friday, April 1, 2011
I'm Not Going to Sink Money in this House to Sell It!
"I'm not going to sink money into this house just to sell it."
That is exactly what I heard the other day while talking to a person on the phone about listing their home and here are my thoughts on that:
In today's real estate market, I've said it over and over, people are hyper price sensitive & hyper condition sensitive. I call it the HGTV effect. So if you are not willing to put in the time & money for improvements in order to bring your home up-to-date, then you must be willing to accept a lower selling price & possibly accept the fact that you may be on the market for much longer than your updated competition. Even if your price is better.
If you can't afford to make the improvements needed then the next thing you need to ask yourself is, "Can I really afford to move?"
FINAL THOUGHT: Think of it this way, if you were going to sell your car, wouldn't you get a tune up, wash it, wax it, vacuum it, & make it look sharp? Selling your home is no different. If you don't, your competition will.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, NE Real Estate Market
That is exactly what I heard the other day while talking to a person on the phone about listing their home and here are my thoughts on that:
In today's real estate market, I've said it over and over, people are hyper price sensitive & hyper condition sensitive. I call it the HGTV effect. So if you are not willing to put in the time & money for improvements in order to bring your home up-to-date, then you must be willing to accept a lower selling price & possibly accept the fact that you may be on the market for much longer than your updated competition. Even if your price is better.
If you can't afford to make the improvements needed then the next thing you need to ask yourself is, "Can I really afford to move?"
FINAL THOUGHT: Think of it this way, if you were going to sell your car, wouldn't you get a tune up, wash it, wax it, vacuum it, & make it look sharp? Selling your home is no different. If you don't, your competition will.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, NE Real Estate Market
Friday, March 25, 2011
For Sale By Owner Tips (part 1)
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
www.twitter.com/Jason_Korn
www.facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
www.youtube.com/JasonKornRealEstate
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Open Houses Are Great! Or Are They?
Only 1-2% of all homes sell at an open house. However 75-80% of all homes sell from agent-to-agent (networking). Find out what WE do to sell your home quickly without kicking you out of your home for 2 hours each Sunday.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.twitter.com/Jason_Korn
www.youtube.com/JasonKornRealEstate
www.facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
jason@kornteam.com
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.twitter.com/Jason_Korn
www.youtube.com/JasonKornRealEstate
www.facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
jason@kornteam.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Homebuyer Tip - Why Waiting Can Cost You Money
The Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market continues to be strong. With rates still being so good, it is a great time to purchase a home... BUT, don't wait too long because it can (and most likely will) cost you money.
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
http://facebook.com/LincolnRealEstateExperts
http://twitter.com/Jason_Korn
http://yelp.JasonKorn.com
Monday, January 3, 2011
A Look Back at 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well we're in that time of the new year that we like to take a glimpse back at the previous year & figure out what really happened (good or bad). So let's do that for the 2010 Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market.
In 2010, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market saw record low mortgage rates. Yet we also saw an end to the federal government's home buyer tax credit. So how did all of this affect the market? Let's take a look at the 2010 year ending residential real estate numbers for Lincoln, Nebraska as compared to the 2009 year end numbers.
2009 # of sold properties: 3,387
2010 # of sold properties: 2,810
2009 avg sale price: $149,418
2010 avg sale price: $153,144
2009 avg days on market: 67
2010 avg days on market: 77
2009 homes sold for an avg of 96.6% of their list price
2010 homes sold for an avg of 92.4% of their list price
As you can see, the number of homes sold in 2010 were much fewer than in 2009. Homes sat on the market for longer & in turn sold for much less percentage of their list price. The good news is that the avg sale price increased slightly. I think that much of this is due to the tax credit or in correlation, the expiration of the tax credit.
In 2011 the rates are expected to stay low at least for the time being. The number of homes currently on the market as of today, is the lowest I have seen since I have been in the business with only 1,243 current listings. So is it a buyer's market or a sellers market? In my opinion, much of that will depend on consumers' confidence. We shall see what 2011 has in store for us!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
http://www.weselllincoln.com/
www.twitter.com/JasonKorn
jason@kornteam.com
P.S. The Korn Team is going to take it to the next level this year. If you or someone you know is planning a move, be sure to contact us for a FREE consultation! You won't regret it!
*All stats via the Midlands MLS. Pulled on 1/3/11 for residential properties only in Lincoln, Ne.
Well we're in that time of the new year that we like to take a glimpse back at the previous year & figure out what really happened (good or bad). So let's do that for the 2010 Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market.
In 2010, the Lincoln, Nebraska real estate market saw record low mortgage rates. Yet we also saw an end to the federal government's home buyer tax credit. So how did all of this affect the market? Let's take a look at the 2010 year ending residential real estate numbers for Lincoln, Nebraska as compared to the 2009 year end numbers.
2009 # of sold properties: 3,387
2010 # of sold properties: 2,810
2009 avg sale price: $149,418
2010 avg sale price: $153,144
2009 avg days on market: 67
2010 avg days on market: 77
2009 homes sold for an avg of 96.6% of their list price
2010 homes sold for an avg of 92.4% of their list price
As you can see, the number of homes sold in 2010 were much fewer than in 2009. Homes sat on the market for longer & in turn sold for much less percentage of their list price. The good news is that the avg sale price increased slightly. I think that much of this is due to the tax credit or in correlation, the expiration of the tax credit.
In 2011 the rates are expected to stay low at least for the time being. The number of homes currently on the market as of today, is the lowest I have seen since I have been in the business with only 1,243 current listings. So is it a buyer's market or a sellers market? In my opinion, much of that will depend on consumers' confidence. We shall see what 2011 has in store for us!
Jason Korn
The Korn Team
RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts
http://www.weselllincoln.com/
www.twitter.com/JasonKorn
jason@kornteam.com
P.S. The Korn Team is going to take it to the next level this year. If you or someone you know is planning a move, be sure to contact us for a FREE consultation! You won't regret it!
*All stats via the Midlands MLS. Pulled on 1/3/11 for residential properties only in Lincoln, Ne.
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