Why Omaha Isn't Building Starter Homes Anymore
Omaha Market · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 A buyer with $280,000 to spend cannot buy a new house in Omaha. Not a small one, not a plain one, not out on the edge where the land is cheapest. I've gone looking. In 1960, a buyer in this same metro could get a brand-new two-bedroom house fo
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Omaha: The Deal I Walked Away From
Working With an Agent · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 Most advice about how to choose a real estate agent in Omaha reads like it was written by someone who has never sat at a closing table. Ask how many homes they've sold. Check their reviews. Make sure they're responsive. It's not wrong
Omaha vs. Council Bluffs: What You'd Actually Pay
Buying · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 Nebraska has a reputation. Ask around the Omaha metro and you'll hear that the property taxes here are brutal — and honestly, that reputation isn't unearned. So plenty of buyers I work with start eyeing Council Bluffs, figuring they'll dodge the tax
Is It Worth Hiring a Real Estate Agent in Omaha? (2026)
Buyers & Sellers · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 If you've ever Googled "is it worth paying for a real estate agent," you're in good company. Between Zillow, Redfin, and a year of headlines about lawsuits and commission changes, it's fair to wonder whether hiring an agent still makes sen
Is Council Bluffs a Good Place to Invest in Real Estate?
Investing · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 Most Omaha-area investors never seriously consider crossing the river. Council Bluffs gets written off based on reputation — or just habit — and that's exactly why it might be worth a closer look. Home prices are lower on the Iowa side, rents are
Moving from Omaha to Council Bluffs: What Actually Changes
Relocation · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 If you've been shopping for a home in the Omaha metro and someone suggested looking in Council Bluffs, you've probably already had a few thoughts — maybe some hesitation. Crossing into Iowa feels like a bigger deal than it actually is for most b
Iowa Property Taxes: A Complete 2026 Guide for Council Bluffs & SW Iowa Buyers
Iowa Real Estate · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 If you're buying a home in Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Treynor, or anywhere else in Southwest Iowa, one of the first questions you'll want answered is: what am I actually going to pay in property taxes? Iowa's system works differently than N
Wet Basement in an Omaha Home? 2026 Repair Costs & Negotiation Strategy
Home Buying · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 You found a house you love in Omaha. The inspection comes back and there it is: "evidence of moisture in basement." Maybe you saw it yourself — a white chalky residue on the block walls, a faint damp smell, or a dark stain tracing the base of t
When an Omaha Appraisal Comes In Low: The Buyer & Seller Playbook
Buyers & Sellers · Chris Jamison, Nebraska Realty · 2026 A low appraisal hits at the worst possible time. By the time you get the news, both sides are already emotionally — and financially — committed. The sellers have mentally moved out. The buyers have given notice on their apartment. And sudd