The booming U.S. housing market has spilled over to the rental market, which has seen demand for apartment and single-family rentals skyrocket this year, as high sales prices and an inadequate supply of available housing have forced many prospective buyers to rent for the foreseeable future. Increased demand for housing, along with an improving economy, has competition for rental units soaring, and landlords are taking note, with the national median rent increasing 11.4% in 2021 so far, according to Apartment List.

In new construction, home builders continue to struggle to meet buyer demand, as housing starts nationwide dropped 7% last month, according to the Commerce Department. Single-family home construction declined 4.5%, and multi-family home

Can't find the listing that ticks all the boxes in your must-have list? Why not build your dream home instead?

In this post we take a look at who builds the most homes per year in the Omaha area (Douglas and Sarpy County). This list is based purely on the number of homes built. 

#1 - Celebrity Homes

If you already live in Omaha, you'll be familiar with Celebrity Homes. And to many of you, it will be no surprise that Celebrity Homes is the biggest home builder in the area.

In 2020, they built 646 homes in the Douglas and Sarpy County area.

Pricing starts at $250,000+

Building homes in Nebraska since 1977. They build single-family homes as well as villas and townhomes.

Celebrity Homes combines innovation and practicality with

Tour seven Luxury Homes in the most anticipated and premier home tour event in the region!

Presented by Metro Omaha Builders Association and First National Bank of Omaha.

Seven fully furnished luxury homes priced from $825,000 to $1.4 Million will be available for you to tour. The event runs from September 11 to 26 at Flatwater Lake (N 288th St and West Valley St) in Valley, NE.

You may purchase your tickets HERE.

Current CDC guidelines will be followed throughout the event.

Schedule of Activities:

INDUSTRY NIGHT
Friday, September 10th | 6 - 8:30PM

Be a part of the 2021 Street of Dreams kick off party. Enjoy food, drinks, and live music while touring the seven luxury homes. The builders ribbon cutting will be at 6:30PM.

The White House recently announced additional measures to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure as they exit forbearance, including loan modifications and payment reductions. Borrowers with federally backed mortgages can lock in lower interest rates and extend the length of their mortgages. For borrowers who can’t resume their monthly mortgage, HUD will offer lenders the ability to provide all eligible borrowers with a 25% principal and interest reduction.

The National Association of REALTORS® reported inventory of homes for sale nationwide rose slightly in June as more sellers list their homes, hoping to take advantage of record-high sales prices across the country. Even with renewed home seller interest, inventory overall remains 18.8% lower

Whether there's a pandemic or not, these luxurious homes continue to sell.

Here are the 5 most expensive homes sold and listed in the MLS in 2020.

#5

Sales Price: $2,300,000

22814 Hascall Street
Omaha, NE 68022

5 Bedrooms
7 Bathrooms
8,914 Square Feet

Located in The Sanctuary

Description: Modern luxury meets timeless style. Resortlike amenities & magnificent views make this an Omaha showpiece. Anchored in The Sanctuary, & nestled among rolling hills, this home is more than luxury. Nearly 9,000 sqft of high-end living space w/soaring ceilings, windowed walls & an open & spacious gourmet kitchen w/marble backdrop & marble countertops. 3 story grand winding staircase. On 2 large lots w/5 bedrms, 7 baths, & 5 car heated garage.

Here's a look at how much luxury homes are selling for in the past 6 months.

These are the 5 most expensive homes sold and listed in the MLS from January to June of 2021.

#5

Sales Price: $1,450,000

164 S 243 Street
Waterloo, NE 68069

5 Bedrooms
6 Bathrooms
5,091 Square Feet

Located in West Shores

This is lakeside living at its finest!

Listed by Julie Dunbar

#4

Sales Price: $1,560,000

9867 Old Post Lane
Omaha, NE 68142

4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
3,420 Square Feet

UNICORN ACREAGE LISTING – WASHINGTON COUNTY – HIGHWAY FRONTAGE – FANTASTIC LOCATION – 75 TOTAL ACRES. Seller prefers to sell the entire 75 acres m/l. However there are two parcels within the 75 acres that are plotted out at 5 acres and another

Kids love splash pads. And as a father of a two-year-old, I've become familiar with several of the splash pads in the area.

Most splash pads (also known as spray pools or spraygrounds) are found in public parks. About 10 years ago, I'm not sure if there was a single public splash pad in the area, but times have changed.

Splash pads have little or no standing water so that helps eliminate the need for lifeguards or other supervision. Water spray grounds have distinct advantages over swimming pools in that they are cost-effective and low maintenance, and water-play activities extend well beyond normal pool season.

Here's a list of spray grounds available in the City of Omaha

Benson Park (7002 Military Ave.)
A padded area that is decorated with

As we ease into new routines and look forward to a post-pandemic future, one thing remains certain: America desperately needs more homes. That is according to the June 2021 data released by the Great Plains Regional MLS.

School’s out, and as vaccination rates rise and America enters a new normal, the U.S. housing market continues along at a frenzied pace, with low interest rates and limited inventory fueling record high sales prices. Eager buyers are making multiple offers, some for well over asking price, while others are making offers on homes sight unseen.

The Bottom line:

The increase in sales prices comes with a slight decline in existing home sales nationwide, as homebuyers struggle with declining affordability amid a lack of inventory,

Buying a home without an inspection is becoming more and more common in this hot seller's market. It's great if you are a seller, but it's a gamble if you are a buyer.

In this video, I explain the risks associated with buying a home without a home inspection. But, I also address some of the ways you can limit that risk.

And if you are willing to skip a home inspection, there are a few scenarios where it can work in your favor.

If you are looking to hold an estate sale (or if you want to attend one), we've compiled a list of several estate sale companies in Omaha.

Please let us know if we missed one.

If you are looking for a calendar of upcoming sales, I've found EstateSales.net to be a great resource.