Omaha Builder Guide

As many of you watching the housing market in Omaha and the rest of the United States know, the last few years in the homebuilding market have been hard ones. Times are a bit lean for the crowded Omaha home building market and Omaha home builders who, in the past, didn’t look ahead and prepare for today’s downturn were courting disaster.

Just recently, in February of 2008, Gateway Homes filed for bankrupcy, leaving over 140 creditors holding the bag and wondering how exactly they were going to get paid for work they did for that homebuilder. While that case is working its way through the legal system, both people who paid for a new Gateway home and people who actually contracted with Gateway Homes are now realizing the folly in not researching the financial details and background of the Omaha home builder that you’re dealing with.

While new home sales numbers in the Omaha area aren’t terrible, Regency Homes owner Dennis Van Moorleghem, who has a good sense of old-time PR but hasn’t taken advantage of the advantages that the Internet has to offer, has stated that Regency Homes has taken steps to get through the lean times.

By doing what most other smart home builders in the Omaha area are doing, and reducing the amount of spec homes they put on a slow market, Regency Homes is definitely on the right track to staying in business.

According to Dennis Van Moorleghem:

Normally, we’d run 50 to 60 houses – specs. We’re down to about 18.

If you look at the past market upswings and downturns, you’ll notice that after every slowdown a new “buyer” comes forward to bring a new focus to what homebuilders build. According to Van Moorleghem:

It’s going to be a whole new buyer and everybody in the country is trying to figure it out.

Regency Homes is betting that in 2009 – when the market is expected to rise again – the new home buyer in Omaha will want a smaller, more energy-efficient home that sells for less than $250,000 but doesn’t skimp on the extra features that new home buyers expect.

They want granite. They want stone. They want fireplaces.

With today’s low interest rates and ample inventory available to choose from in the Omaha market, buyers are in the driver’s seat. Despite that, local builders have gone on record saying that they expect the market to bottom out in fall of 2008 and that 2009 will be the turnaround year.

From the “about us” page on the Ken Oster Homes website:

Ken Oster, President of Oster Construction, has learned the building process from the ground up, celebrating over 35 years as a home builder. He has established a strong reputation in the community with his sub-contractors, realtors, lenders and his customers. Ken has carefully dedicated himself to the finest in home building, with an exceptional commitment to detail and design. Homes built by Ken Oster are recognized as some of the most beautiful homes in Omaha.

Ken Oster Homes has lots available and can build a home for you in the following neighborhoods: Linden Estates, Bay Wood, The Ridges, Iron Horse, Deer Creek, Newport Landing, West Shores, Legacy, Elk Ridge, Silverleaf and Five Fountains.

On the job for over 10 years, Ken Oster’s son Kenny can be found, not only following in his father’s footsteps, but following through with all the details and on the job site management. Since receiving her real estate license in 1984, Diane Oster has seen the trends and knows the classics. A partnership with her husband Ken, keeps Diane informed of the latest in quality craftsmanship and product.

With energy costs rising through the roof, it makes good financial sense to take a look at reducing energy costs by sitting down with your Omaha home builder and discussing how to put passive solar design elements into your new home. Here are some ways you and your Omaha home builder can make your home more passively energy-efficient.

• Remember that masonry materials like tile, stone or brick floors will absorb heat from the sun during the day and slowly release it as the night creeps by. Thermal mass will store excess heat gain, prevent your interior spaces from overheating and help reduce cooling costs by moderating heat delivery to your home.
• While it may be impossible if you’re building a home in a subdivision with pre-determined lots, try to orient your home on an east/west axis with south facing glazing. This allows sun to enter the building from around 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon during the season heating costs are highest.
• Look at ways to shade windows that are exposed to the sun. Shade windows with overhangs, porches and landscaping elements such as vines, trees and bushes. Features that provide shade can help cool your new Omaha home naturally and help reduce unwanted solar heat gain.
• When designing your home, take window placement into consideration. Also, choose windows with higher R-values and low-emissivity coatings. During the heating season, a well-designed direct gain system can capture and use 60 to 75 percent of the heat that strikes the windows.
• Windows that open and provide airflow throughout the home can not only help maximize ventilation and reduce space-cooling demands, but also help with improving the quality of the air in your new Omaha home. If a room is designed with only windows along one wall, it is better to have two widely spaced windows instead of just one large window.

With a little care before your builder breaks ground, you can dramatically affect what your energy costs will be after you move in – and that can add up to a lot of savings in the long run.

From the “about us” page on the Sherwood Homes website:

Sherwood Homes has been a reputable and solid presence in Omaha’s home building industry for over 40 years! Glen Palmer founded the company in the 1960’s, and Jerry Standerford became associated with Sherwood Homes in 1973 as a trim contractor. Jerry later moved into a construction management position in 1985 at Sherwood Homes, and in 1989, Glen and Jerry partnered together to form Lane Building Corporation.

Lane Building Corp is not only a home building company, but also a land developer. This means we are able to purchase tracts of land in many areas through out the metro area. Home buyers will be delighted to learn that homesites in these neighborhoods are less expensive because fees paid to third-party developers for the lots are eliminated, and the savings is passed directly on to the buyers! With Sherwood Homes, the selection of homesites is limited only by availability of lots in the neighborhood you want to build in.

With a natural partnership and shared vision for quality home building, Lane Building Corp and Sherwood Homes Inc. continue to build their reputation for customer satisfaction and quality custom homes at competitive prices. The team at Lane&Sherwood understands that your home is an extension of your unique lifestyle. They take great pride in the details of your home’s design and construction. You can trust that your home is in good hands and know that it will be built carefully, efficiently and to the precise specifications of your vision. Why settle for less?

Today Lane Building Corp and Sherwood Homes offers the expertise of not only Glen Palmer and Jerry Standerford, but also home builders Wayne Wattier and Brian Crossan, along with Selections Coordinator Nancy Turner, our exclusive listing agents, and the entire Lane/Sherwood team.

From the “about us” page on the website of Strandberg Homes:

Strandberg Homes was created by Jerry Strandberg and originated in a small town in Iowa known as Storm Lake. In 1977 Strandberg Construction was created and a new era of home building was developed. Since this time, Strandberg Homes has developed in areas throughout Iowa and Nebraska and has also been seen in states such as Arkansas and California.

Strandberg Homes specializes in all types of construction. These types are, but are not limited to: new homes, remodeling, siding, roofing, window replacement, door replacement, commercial framing and commercial trimming.

For the last 30 years Strandberg Homes has developed a relationship with many individuals who continue to be satisfied with their work ethics and integrity.

As our company motto states, we put the pieces together; just like a puzzle we put ideas together to make the perfect dream home. With that said, we hope to hear from you soon and look forward to discussing your dream home with you.