Open Saturday and Sunday 1-3pm

This Saturday and Sunday the Omaha Real Estate Group will be holding an open house at the JLofts condos on 13th and Jackson. From 1-3pm coma and tour the models of this luxurious condo building. The condos range in size, style and price with the buyer able to choose their own finishes. You will love the atmosphere and location. Walking distance from great shops, dining, the downtown farmers market, and everything else the Old Market and Downtown Omaha have to offer. If you cannot make the open house call Steve to schedule your private tour (402)215-7118. For information on all the condos, town homes, and villas for sale in Omaha go to www.condolivingomaha.com.



 

 

 

Preparing your condo for sale

Getting ready to list your condo?

Take a look at our tips.

 

Preparing your condo

Should you paint? My answer is YES. You will get one shot at a potential buyer, so your unit better look like a Pottery Barn advertisement. Old carpet should be replaced or at least shampooed. If you have a nice hardwood floors under that carpet, then trash the carpet and polish the floors. Chances are buyers will like the hardwood floor better than your choice of carpet. And if they don’t like the hardwood floor, they have the option of installing new carpet themselves without having to tear out the old.

Easily fixable items should be repaired. Eliminate buyer objections by spending an afternoon making needed repairs on such items as door handles, loose hinges, dripping faucets, squeaky doors, etc.

I recommend removing about a third of your furniture, clearing off the kitchen counters, and removing magnets from the refrigerator. A less cluttered look helps the buyer realize your unit’s true potential because they can envision of how their furniture will fit into the unit, instead of being overwhelmed with yours. Before showing your unit, remember to look around and think

Pottery Barn -- have freshly folded towels on the towel racks and fresh flowers on the kitchen table. Buyers get a feeling about a place the minute they walk in not only by what they see, but also by what they smell. Aromatherapy can have huge impact on a buyer’s impression. If you don’t think smell has anything to do with a person’s decision, just forget to clean out the cat box for a couple weeks and see how it makes you feel. You can turn the tide of someone’s emotions by adding the scent of freshly baked cookies or by simmering a pot of apple cider and cinnamon.

For the latest information on all the town homes, condos, and villas for sale in Omaha go to www.condolivingomaha.com. Whether you are looking to buy or sell call Steve Torneten today (402)215-7118

 

 

 

Riverfront Tower Condo Available

Just Listed Downtown

444 Riverfront #305

$389,900

Remarkable one bedroom condo available at Riverfront Place! This unit has a balcony unlike any other with 2300 Sq Ft and the best view around. This condo comes with amazing finishes, 2 parking spaces in the attached heated garage, and all the amenities offered by the luxurious Riverfront Condos including concierge services, rooftop deck and workout facilities. For your private tour call Steve Torneten (402)215-7118. For all the available condos, town homes and villas in Omaha go to www.condolivingomaha.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros and Cons of Condo Living

The Pros and Cons of the

Condominium Lifestyle

Ever wonder if the condo life style is right for you? Whether you are interested in condos, town homes, or villas you are probably curious about the lifestyle. Take a look at the pros and cons of condo living to see if this is the right choice for you.

Pros

* High-rise condominiums usually are positioned in more dense urban neighborhoods than townhome condominiums and are more likely to have all of life’s necessities within walking distance.

* No more maintaining the yard, painting, cleaning the gutters, repairing the roof, etc. The association will hire someone to take care of all outside tasks.

* Not everyone can afford amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, concierge services, rooftop decks, etc. By buying into an association for a reasonable fee, you can enjoy the luxuries you may not have been able to afford as a traditional homeowner -- and someone else will do the maintenance.

* Rules and regulations are laid out for all to follow. Knowing what your neighbor will and will not be allowed to do provides a sense of security. These rules and regulations protect you and your investment. The best part is you don’t have to enforce the rules. This is done by the association’s board.

*There is more autonomy living in a townhome condominium or villa compared to a high-rise condominium because you don’t have to be bothered by neighbors as you go from house to car.  Even though townhome condominiums are attached to other units, they still feel more like a house than an apartment.

* Townhome condominiums and villas usually have more than one level, private garages and larger private decks as opposed to the balconies or small terraces found in many high-rise condominiums.

* Townhome condominiums are usually less expensive per square foot than high-rise condominiums (unless they are located in a downtown area).

* Best of all, you get all this and still build equity.

 Cons

* You must obey the outlined rules and regulations and you will be held accountable by the association. In a sense, you lose some control by having an association determine what’s acceptable, but most associations function very well and mirror rules and regulations regarding quiet enjoyment that city laws have already addressed.

* You may end up paying for luxuries you will never use, such as the pools, concierge, etc. That’s not all bad because having those luxuries also brings value to your unit if you decide to resale at a later time.

* Depending on how well your common wall is insulated, you may find your neighbors’ noise quite bothersome. This is less of a problem in newer buildings, which have to adhere to new building codes pertaining to joining walls (sometimes called party walls). Some of the older condominiums have added insulation to these walls to work out the problems, but it’s always worth investigating.

 

902 Dodge

 

1101 Jackson

 

1208 Howard

Bebee Runyan

The Rows at Soma

The Towns of Little Italy

Giovanna

 

 

 

 

 

Types of Condominiums

What Exactly is a Condominium?

     A condominium is legally considered a form of real estate ownership. The three most common forms of real estate ownership are fee simple (owning land and home), condominium (owning a unit within a building), and cooperative (buying shares of a property).

     In modern property law, a condominium is the individual ownership of one dwelling unit and the legally described airspace within that unit, with an undivided ownership interest in the land and other components of the building shared in common with other owners of dwelling units in the building.

What is a High-Rise Condominium?

      When you say “condominium,” what comes to mind most often is a high-rise condominium. If you own a high-rise condominium, you own a unit within a multi-story building and share an undivided interest in common areas such as hallways, pools and rooftop decks. High-rise condominiums can be newly constructed or renovated older buildings. Unit sizes range from smaller lofts to 4,000+ square foot spaces.      This style of condominium is often popular for the added luxurious amenities, such as on-site tennis courts and concierge services. While high-rises are synonymous with downtown areas, some high-rise condominium developments can be found in other areas of the city.

 

 

 

What is a Hotel Condominium?

Typically found in larger cities, this newly added innovation to the condominium market is an investment for people who wish to purchase real estate as an investment for income and appreciation, rather than a residence.

 

What are Townhome Condominiums and Villas?

  Townhome condominiums are clusters of private houses that are attached by a common wall. They tend to be larger than high-rise condominiums and have attached garages. The sizes are more comparable to a regular home and come in ranch, 1.5-story and 2-story, can have fenced-in yards, and most likely will have common areas that are managed by an association.

     The fees usually include yard maintenance, snow removal, exterior and roof maintenance, and other amenities like tennis courts, swimming pools, and club houses. Again, the association documents determine who is responsible for what.

Villas differ the most from high-rise and townhome condominiums because they are simply private stand-alone houses with association dues that cover mainly lawn and snow removal. Association fees are usually cheaper than condominium fees due to the fact that there is very little common area. A common area may include a neighborhood playground. This will be spelled out in the association’s documents.

 

For more infomation on Omaha's condo market or to schedule a tour of condos, town homes, or villas call Steve Torneten (402)215-7118 or go www.condolivingomaha.com

The Condominium Lifestyle Thrives in Omaha

The Condominium Lifestyle

Thrives in Omaha

Maybe you’ve admired the upscale condominiums being built in Omaha’s historic downtown. Perhaps you know someone who lives in a townhome and envy the carefree lifestyle. Could be, you just want to simplify your life. Whatever your motivation, you’ll find attractive options in Omaha. In fact, there’s no better time to consider condominium living.

Urban Omaha

For a long time, downtown Omaha was known mainly for its Old Market. Today the area is increasingly promoted not only for office and government use, but also for retail stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, lodging, and more recently, residential development.

This surge in interest comes on the tail of successful growth and development of the Old Market, Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, River Front Trail, and pedestrian bridge, along with numerous residential properties that have boosted the popularity and viability of living in downtown Omaha.

Add to this list of successes new hotel facilities, the Qwest Center arena and convention center, Holland Performing Arts Center, the First National Bank building, Gallup University, and other corporate building projects, as well as the proposed streetcar system and baseball stadium. This popularity has made downtown a very attractive place to live, work, and visit.

Such dramatic changes in downtown Omaha have fostered the development of prime residential neighborhoods in previously underused or abandoned property. These old buildings were built to last and bring with them historical architecture and strong character. Some buildings are being replaced with newly built condominiums that blend well and complement the existing urban environment.

The success of the condominium market downtown obviously is due to some mental reconditioning. Suburbanites for years have been trained to avoid downtown because it was considered scary, dirty, and a bad place.

Thanks to new developments and the already Manhattan like feel of the Old Market, “urban energy” is catching on here in Omaha. Add a Midwestern down-to-earth personality to this thriving and growing urban haven, and you have one heck of a fun and exciting place.

Currently there are more than 25 condominium projects in the downtown area with units ranging from $35,000 to over $1,000,000 and sizes ranging from 550 to 4,000+ sq ft. These range from river views to city views, heated parking to street parking, and new construction to old conversions.

Omaha’s downtown, once fully introduced to the nation, will become a model for urban America. It’s hard to imagine little old Omaha being a model of urban progress, especially due to its location, but nonetheless it is getting tremendous attention – all of it well deserved.

You can get more information on all the downtown projects at www.CondoLivingOmaha.com for more details.

 

 Ford Lofts

 

SoMa

 

1101 Jackson

 

Beebe Runyan

 

 

Dunsany Flats

Kimball Lofts



 

 

1600 Farnam

 

 

902 Dodge

 

Riverfront Tower I         Riverfront Tower II

 

420 Building

 



 

 

 Developers hope to model Playland Park

 site in Bluffs after Omaha's

Aksarben Village

By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Playland Park plan aims to foster growth on each side of the Missouri

The lead developer of midtown Omaha's Aksarben Village wants to help replicate that mix of residential, office and entertainment space in the Playland Park area of Council Bluffs.

Noddle Development Cos., along with Waitt Real Estate LLC, is interested in leading an effort to redevelop the 25-acre site on the Iowa side of the Missouri River. Omaha-based HDR also would be involved, as well as other Bluffs entities, said Jay Noddle of Noddle Development.

The Council Bluffs City Council on Monday night gave its formal go-ahead to Mayor Tom Hanafan to begin laying out responsibilities and details with Noddle and Waitt for the estimated $60 million venture.

Approval from various city government departments still lies ahead.

The settings and sizes are different, but Noddle said the Playland Park property near 41st Street and Interstate 480 would be modeled after the thriving and growing Aksarben Village.

“We think the Playland site is spectacular,” Noddle told the council during its Monday afternoon study session. “We'll push to dream big.”

The 70-acre Aksarben Village, built on a former horse-racing track, has shops, restaurants, offices, a park, hotels and residential areas.

Documents submitted to the Bluffs City Council said the planning process also would look at how to position the Playland area so further development can occur in the I-480 and West Broadway vicinity.

Ideally, Noddle said, the redeveloped Playland Park would create momentum to bring more jobs and business opportunities to the West Broadway corridor.

Hanafan has called the redevelopment of the riverfront and Playland Park area a top priority for the city, saying he wants it to be a site that residents are proud of.

Noddle said he hopes other developers will participate in the planning because his firm focuses on commercial and retail projects, not residential. The redevelopment could take six to nine months, Noddle said.

“This is the first step in taking a new look at Playland Park,” council member Sharon White said.

The Noddle-Waitt involvement comes after officials announced last year that bids were being sought for the redevelopment of the city-owned Playland property. A previously adopted master plan for the area would be used as a guide, city planners said, but re-examined and likely modified.

Playland Park is just east of the $7 million River's Edge Park that recently was developed at the Bluffs landing of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Missouri River.

WHNS staff writer Tim Rohrer contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1224, cindy.gonzalez@owh.com