May 6, 2013 – CBSHOME Real Estate (CBSHOME) and david day | associates (dda) received a platinum award of merit from the Omaha chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) for millennial market research and subsequent workshops for CBSHOME agents.

“We wanted to develop an effective marketing strategy, targeting the Millennial generation,” said CBSHOME President and CEO Joe Valenti. “We looked to dda to help us conduct research, and communicate insights and tactics with our agents.”

dda’s cross-analysis of local and national market research yielded specific strategic recommendations, and equipped CBSHOME’s Realtors with a clear understanding of the audience segment and unique language to engage Millennial customers effectively. Agents reported putting the tools into practice immediately.

dda and CBSHOME were recognized in the Market Research: Large Business category by the panel of Kansas City AMA chapter judges, who evaluated local marketing collateral and campaign materials on the basis of Objective, Execution and, most importantly, Results.

“We helped CBSHOME refresh its brand a few years ago, and love the continued opportunity to help it thrive,” said David Day, dda founder, president and creative director. “Agents indicated that their understanding and ability to effectively engage with Millennials increased by 150 percent based on our workshops. Winning an award from the AMA for our research just sweetens the results.”

About david day | associates

dda is a strategic, creative partner that uses a proven process of discovery, clarification and activation to get to the heart of a brand, and help it connect with the people who matter. Our Omaha-based company collaborates with brands to shape identity from the inside out through research, design, development and management of communication channels, including online, interactive, print, personal, environmental and ambient media. Learn more about who we are, what we do and why we do it at dday.com.

About CBSHOME Real Estate

CBSHOME Real Estate is a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc. It is the region’s leader in residential real estate with six sales offices throughout the Omaha Metro area. HomeServices of America, Inc. is the second largest full-service residential real estate brokerage firm and the largest settlement services provider in the United States. For more information, visit www.cbshome.com.

Tagged Under : Buying Houses, Community News, omaha, Omaha Events, Omaha Market Update, Real Estate

We all feel like it has been a long Winter, but Spring weather is just around the corner! Warmer temperatures this week and this weekend mean it’s time start thinking about Spring and prepping your garden.

We found this great blog post on RISMedia.com about Prepping your Garden for Spring.

Tips include things such as:

• Knowing your soil and soil needs
• Keeping weeds at bay
• … and letting Mother Nature do some of the work for you!

Make sure to read the entire article Prepping your Garden for Spring.  It has great tips for spring planting!

Tagged Under : Gardening, home tips, omaha, spring

Available Now. Our new App.

CBSHOME’s Mobile App.  A new mobile app that will change the home search experience.

CBSHOME Real Estate is the Omaha Metro areas BEST real estate resource.  Now you can use our cutting edge technology on your iPad, iPhone, or Android device.

The CBSHOME Omaha Real Estate Search app provides you instant access to all listings in the Omaha and Council Bluffs MLS areas.
Quickly locate homes using our exclusive Home Scan feature; a tool that uses augmented reality to overlay property information right onto the device’s live camera feed.  You will love the ability to point your device towards a home or down a street and have instant property information.

Additional search tools include a map search, address search, open house search and nearby properties for sale.  Find a home you love? Save it to your personal CBSHOME page, making it easy to view that property from the app or CBSHOME.com.

Tagged Under : Buying Houses, Community News, mobile app, Omaha Events, Omaha Market Update, omaha real estate

On Saturday, December 8th, CBSHOME Real Estate and Habitat for Humanity handed over the keys to a new home to a very deserving family.

The actual Habitat build started in August and finished up just last week.  CBSHOME would like to thank the countless volunteers (agents, employees and preferred vendors) who donated their time, money, and in some cases the roof and heating systems to this project.  Everyone’s hard work and efforts were realized on Saturday with the excitement in the faces of the home’s new owners.

Congratulations and thank you to all who participated!

To view the entire album from Saturday’s event, go to our CBSHOME Facebook Page.

Tagged Under : agents, Community News, Habitat for Humanity

CBSHOME Real Estate would like to congratulate Mark Leaders, Sales Manager of the Northwest Office, on his recent recognition as the Nebraska CRS of the Year.  The CRS (Council of Residential Specialists) designation is the highest credential awarded to REALTORS that only 3%  of agents attain.  It is the mark of expertise and professionalism in residential real estate sales and marketing.

Leaders received his real estate broker’s license in 1986. He has served as District Vice President of the Nebraska CRS Chapter.  He is currently serving as an OABR Director and a Nebraska REALTORS Association Director.

Tagged Under : career in real estate, Community News, Real Estate

Thanksgiving is almost here!  It’s time to gather with family and friends and celebrate with your own traditions.  Here are a few tips to help with your Thanksgiving Day meal preparation!

Tagged Under : Community News, thanksgiving

The National Association of REALTORS ® provided great information regarding what you need to know about the 3.8% tax.  Here is a summary of the main points.

1. When you add up all of your income and the total is less than $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint tax return), you WILL NOT be subject to this tax.
2. The 3.8% tax will never be collected as a transfer tax on real estate of any type, so you’ll never pay this tax at the time you purchase a home.
3. You’ll never pay this tax at settlement when you sell your home.  Any capital gain you realize at settlement is just one component of that year’s gross income.
4. If you sell your principal residence, you will still receive the full benefit of the $250,000 (single tax return)/$500,000 (married, filing jointly tax return) exclusion on the sale of that home.  If your capital gain is greater than these amounts, then you will include any gain above these amounts as income on your Form 1040 tax return.  Even then, if your total income (including taxable portion of gain on your residence) is less than the $200,000/$250,000 amounts, you will NOT pay this tax.  If your total income is more than these amounts, a formula will protect some portion of your investment.
5. The tax applies to other types of investment income, not just real estate.  If your income is more than $200,000/$250,000 amount, then the tax formula will be applied to capital gains, interest income, dividend income and net rents (i.e., rents after expenses).
6. The tax goes into effect in 2013. If you have investment income in 2013, you won’t pay the 3.8% tax until you file your 2013 Form 1040 tax return in 2014. The 3.8% tax for any later year will be paid in the following calendar year when the tax returns are filed.
7. In any particular year, if you have no income from capital gains, rents, interest or dividends, you’ll never pay this tax, even if you have millions of dollars of other types of income.
8. The formula that determines the amount of 3.8% tax due will always protect $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint return) of your income from any burden of the 3.8% tax. For example, if you are single and have a total of $201,000 income, the 3.8% tax would never be imposed on more than $1,000.00.
9. It’s true that investment income from rents on an investment property could be subject to the 3.8% tax. But the only rental income that would be included in your gross income and therefore possibly subject to the tax is net rental income: gross rents minus expenses like depreciation, interest, property tax, maintenance and utilities.
10. The tax was enacted along with the health care legislation in 2010. It was added to the package just hours before the final vote and without review. NAR strongly opposed the tax at the time, and remains hopeful that it will not go into effect. The tax will no doubt be debated during the upcoming tax reform debates in 2013.

If you would like to view this article written by NAR, visit “The Top Ten Things You Need to Know about the 3.8% Tax.”

Tagged Under : 3.8% Tax, Government, NAR

CBSHOME Real Estate is pleased to announce its Veterans to REALTORS® Program, which will help Veterans become real estate agents by removing 100% of the start-up costs associated with becoming a REALTOR®.

The Veterans to REALTORS® Program will assist Veterans trying to reenter the workforce by covering the costs of licensing classes, REALTOR® dues and other costs for getting established in the business.   CBSHOME will also include a series of training sessions that will help Veterans learn additional skills to be a successful in the real estate business.  The cost covered by this program can approach $3000.00.

“We feel that Veterans are highly disciplined, hard working people which have great skills for real estate.  We are excited about this program and the possibilities it provides Veterans in our area,” said Joe Valenti, CEO of CBSHOME Real Estate.

For more information about the Veterans to REALTORS® Program visit http://cbshome.com/vets or contact Monica Humpal, Director of Career Opportunities, at 402.964.4601.

Tagged Under : Careers, Choosing an agent, omaha, veterans

Looking for something to do this weekend?  The second largest rodeo in the world comes to Omaha this weekend!  The Ak-Sar-Ben River City Rodeo & Stock Show started in 1982 and offers lots of options for entertainment and family fun!  The event runs September 27th through September 30th at Omaha’s Century Link Center.

The weekend’s events include:

• Concerts:  Including country music stars Jake Owen and Diamond Rio.
• Justin Boots Championship Rodeo:  This event showcases ninety-six cowboys who compete over a seven-month period to earn their trip to Omaha.
• BBQ Contest
• Displays and Events:  Several different interactive events for people of all ages.
• Family Fun:  Omaha Now and Then display, AgVentureland and 4H Events!

For more information about the River City Rodeo you can visit there website – there is also a complete schedule of events available there.  We hope you enjoy this great Omaha tradition!

Tagged Under : Community News, omaha, Omaha Events