Woods Bros Realty is excited to announce that real estate agent David Carden has joined our Lincoln, NE Lincolnshire office. Life is always changing and after 30 years in the Financial Services industry, Carden took his life-long passion for Real Estate and is excited to join Woods Bros Realty.
David Carden, Woods Bros Realty
When not out looking for homes for his Buyers and Sellers, David loves to spend time golfing, gardening and spending time with his adult children and their families. As David says…. “Have a great ‘Buy and Sell’ day!”
David is excited to help you either sell your home or help you find the perfect new home for you, your family and your friends. He can be reached at david.carden@woodsbros.com or 402-937-4799.
Woods Bros Realty announces the appointment of Matt Hardesty to sales manager of the Lincolnshire office.
He has been acting as assistant manager and more recently interim manager of the Lincolnshire office. Hardesty recently participated in the HomeServices Leadership Academy and values ongoing education, holding several real estate designations.
“We are thrilled for Matt to take this next step in management,” said CEO Gene Brake. “Matt is a natural fit to lead one of our largest offices, and we are confident in his ability to foster a culture that helps the agents and the office grow.”
Hardesty was born in Southern California, grew up in Lincoln, and graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School. After returning to California and spending several years as a construction project manager, Hardesty and his wife, Whitney, moved back to Lincoln to begin their family. He is also the first grandson of the late Gene Ward, recent Woods Bros Realty Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Woods Bros manager.
For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.
The amazing profusion that is Spring is a time of renewal laced with melancholy for many. Our senses are filled with sights, sounds and smells that are reawakened, reminding us that Winter’s challenges have past and the gifts of this new cycle of Nature are upon us….at last!
The array of color born in the multitude of blossoms is amazing throughout our Midwestern landscape. We’re dazzled by the sometimes snow-laden gold of the forsythia, the lavender beauty of the redbuds, as well as countless varieties of flowering pear and crabapple trees.
Of the Spring beauties that occupy a very special place in my celebration of Spring, the Lilacs are my favorite. Regardless of their purple, lavender or white variety, the sturdy Lilac reflects, I think, the strength and character of our proud Nebraska heritage. How so?
Lilacs exhibit an ability to withstand years of challenge when rain is limited. Yet, their perfumed beauty is an essence that is the Lilac’s alone. Like the people who celebrate its unique offerings, Lilacs reappear each Spring, bringing optimism for the seasons ahead.
My mother’s yard was home to several Lilac bushes that originated on the homestead of our family from the 1880’s near Adams, NE. Lilacs were dear to her as they are to me. Each Spring, I celebrate her life with the reappearance of this hallowed plant, especially at the time of her late April passing in 2004, in the time of Lilacs.
We have so much to celebrate with the commencement of this grand scheme of color that is Spring, starring a plethora of blossoms including the faithful Lilac. Enjoy!
Woods Bros Realty celebrated its top sales professionals with an Awards Banquet Feb. 9 at the Country Club of Lincoln.
Vladimir Oulianov
Vladimir Oulianov of the Country Club office was named the Salesperson of the Year, in addition to the Most Transactions Closed, Most Listings and Sales Closed, and Highest Volume of Closed Listings and Sales. Oulianov also received the Century Award for closing more than 100 transactions in the calendar year.
Bruce Hahn
Bruce Hahn of the Country Club office was honored with the Woods Bros Realtor of the Year award for 2016 for his contributions to the company, the community, and his fellow agents.
The A Team
The Sales Team of the Year was The A Team of the Lincolnshire office. Joanne McCoy of the Country Club office won the Excellence in Outgoing Referrals Sold award for helping people relocate in other communities. The year’s Rising Star for most success within the start of her career was Victoria Keck of the Wilderness Hills office. Keck broke a company record for highest volume in an agent’s first year in real estate.
Joanne McCoy
Victoria Keck
Ashley Person of the Country Club office earned the overall Outstanding Achievement award for his increase in sales from 2015 to 2016. Office Outstanding Achievement Awards also went to: Ben Bleicher, Lincolnshire; Kelly Shandera, Wilderness Hills; Linda McCall, Beatrice; Melanie Bachman, Grand Island; Kelby Nitz, Seward; and Gayle Coffin, York.
Ashley Person
Ben Bleicher
Kelly Shandera
Linda McCall
Melanie Bachman
Kelby Nitz
Gayle Coffin
Top Sales Associates by office were: Oulianov, Country Club; Bleicher, Lincolnshire; Lois Kohmetscher, Wilderness Hills; Carol Schulz, Beatrice; Shelly Nitz, Seward; Chuck Winkler, Grand Island; and Gayle Coffin, York.
Vladimir Oulianov
Ben Bleicher
Lois Kohmetscher
Shelly Nitz
Chuck Winkler
Gayle Coffin
The late Gene and Pat Ward were inducted into the Woods Bros Realty Hall of Fame for their lifelong dedication to the company and real estate profession.
If you live in Lancaster County (Nebraska) you should be on the lookout for a yellow postcard coming in the mail. The news is: house values are going up. The county assessor is required by law to keep residential and commercial properties assessed between 92 percent to 100 percent of market value. And thanks to sales prices having increased so much in the past year, the county assessor moved up their regularly scheduled re-assessments a year early.
I did a quick study of 15 homes (including mine). These were properties that I helped people buy or sell this past year. They ranged in price from $77,000 – $331,000. Of those 15, all but one increased in value. The highest increase was 18 percent. The average increase was 9 percent. Based on the current tax rate, my monthly real estate tax bill will increase by $48 (from about $400 to about $448).
If you want more information, go to: lancaster.ne.gov (keyword/search: assessorvalue).
You do have an opportunity to appeal your new value, but you need to request a hearing time no later than Feb. 1, 2017. To schedule an informal hearing date and time, go to lancaster.ne.gov and click on “appeal” or call 402-441-7463.
You may also call your real estate agent for more information or to help you prepare a market analysis.
Whether you’re a football fan or not, it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in the Big Red hype. From the red balloon release at home games, to tailgating and belting “There is No Place Like Nebraska” at the top of your lungs—there’s something for everyone to love. We’ve all followed this football season with pride, now let’s take a look at some at some fun Husker facts that will delight your guests at your next watch party.
Do you remember Jesse Kosch from the golden era of 1995? Kosch set the NCAA record for fewest punt returns in a season. Five of his punts were returned, with the opposing team gaining 12 yards total.
Of course, no list of Husker facts if complete without mentioning Tommie Frazier. Did you know that he had more touchdowns through the air than on the ground? 43 touchdowns were thrown, while 36 were run.
We’ve got to give respect the 1890 Husker team. It was the Huskers’ inaugural season, though back then, they were simply known as “Lincoln.” They were undefeated, 2-0, but they also didn’t allow even one point scored.
Even though the Huskers officially began in 1890, they didn’t have a coach to lead them until three years later in 1893. The salary? Between $300-$500. Luckily that salary also included room and board.
Long before the civil rights movement began, Nebraska was already ahead of the game. George Flippin was Nebraska’s first African America athlete.
Bugeaters, Antelopes, Tree-planters, Rattlesnake Boys—do you recognize any of these names? They were some of the first team nicknames before (thankfully) the Huskers stuck.
Today we know Nick Saban as the face and coach of Alabama, but back in 1995 he coached Michigan State. Nebraska gave Saban his biggest career loss with a final score of 50-10. That may have been the year he started scowling.
From 1961 to 2010 the Nebraska Cornhuskers won 77 percent of their games. So the next time you get a little too hung-up on loss, just think of the bigger picture. That’s quite a history of wins!
Lastly, there’s plenty we could say about former coach Tom Osborne, but let’s end with this: Osborne’s winning percentage from his Husker career was .836. Chatsports.com says this percentage is “the best mark for any coach in NCAA history over such a span.”
