Cindy Gotta

Cindy Gotta joins the Seward office. She grew up in Lincoln and attended Northeast high school. She moved to Colorado where she married her husband Alan and started a family. She  returned to Nebraska in 1998. Her hobbies include reading, photography, hiking, camping and spending time with family. Cindy can be reached at 402-314-6526 or Cindy.Gotta@woodsbros.com.

CEO Gene Brake presents Matt Garner with the Shining Star award.

His nomination read:

“Matt, while listening to KLIN talk radio, found a chance to get some good exposure for the Country Club office when Jack Mitchell of their morning show lost a bet. Jack was going to walk from North Star high school to Lincoln Southwest High School, in a route that was going right by the office. Matt rallied up the agents to raise more than $300 for the Lincoln Community Foundation for Jack to pull manager Thane Jensen in a wagon for one mile in front of their office. This was great exposure for the company and for the office, and I’m just thrilled that Matt took the initiative to pull this off.”

Shining Stars are HomeServices of Nebraska associates, including managers, employees and agents, who help make our company a better place for our customers, clients and for each other. Nominees must exemplify the following:

1. The person went out of their way to exceed the HomeServices of Nebraska Standards and best practices.
2. The gesture or service was above and beyond normal job requirements or expectations.
3. The employee, manager or agent went beyond the call of duty to ensure the needs of a customer, fellow employee or agent.

Anyone is invited to nominate employees, agents or managers who have displayed The Shining Star Spirit. For someone to be recognized, a Shining Star Nomination Form must be submitted by the 15th of every month. *A participant is eligible to win one (1) time per year.

Shining Star Values

Positive Attitude – A positive attitude is focusing on what is useful, beneficial and worthwhile in each and every situation. Your attitude is displayed through your words, actions and facial expressions with your customers and those around you.

Accountable - Accountable is being responsible for your actions and behaviors as they impact customers and those around you.

Responsive – Being responsive is being open to the situation as it occurs and responding in a sensitive manner to meet needs and expectations.

Teamwork – Teamwork is helping each other win and taking pride in each other’s victories. No one person or department alone can provide for the comprehensive needs of our customers. We achieve our goals when working together as a team.

No Excuses – A culture of no excuses acknowledges when mistakes or perceived shortcomings are made and seeks to correct or make right rather than rationalize or justify the problem.

Exemplary - To serve as a model or example of positive action; strive for high performance standards and deliver results. Demonstrate technical competence. Set high standards for self, demonstrating integrity and superior customer service skills.

Responsibility – Responsibility is acting with initiative and understanding that our organization and our customers are depending on us.

Service - Service is everything we do to exceed the needs and expectations of our customers at all times.

Safety – Demonstrate the importance of safety and how it may influence our daily lives.

In July of 2012 Congress passed the Biggert Waters Act to address the ongoing financial issues imbedded in the NFIP. The result is significant change in the program. Highlights include:

1. Effective October 1, 2013, there is a new 5% Reserve Assessment Fee for all flood policies except Preferred Risk Policies (PRP) and any Group Flood Insurance Policies (since those are based on the total policy premium). In addition, October 1, 2013, will also bring on an average 10% rate increase for all policies, although the percentage will vary depending on what flood zone the property is in (from 1% to 17% variance).

2. If your flood insurance was subsidized (1 in 5 policies ARE, according to FEMA) – it probably won’t be after July 6, 2012. Anyone purchasing a house in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on or after July 6, 2012, when the structure is one built either before 12/31/1974 OR before the initial Flood Insurance Rate Map for the area was put in place (known as a “Pre-FIRM” Property) will pay the unsubsidized, market rate for the insurance – the full risk rating, using the current map information. It does appear that this increase may be implemented by 20% per year (capped) increases for 5 years, to get to that market rate (25% for non-primary residences and businesses).

a. NOTE:  FEMA estimates that only 20% of all NFIP insured properties are subsidized, so this requirement will impact 1 in 5 NFIP insured properties.

b. For any new policy issued after October 1, 2013, a “Full Risk Rating” is applicable – meaning the property will require an elevation certificate in conjunction with the most recent flood map, to determine what the correct cost of coverage will be.  Many properties that were placed into the flood plain after they were built (called “PRE FIRM, or pre-existing Flood Insurance Rate Map properties) do not have an existing elevation certificate and will need to obtain one to get a flood insurance quote.

The bottom lines are these –

• Sellers should be aware, if they have subsidized coverage, the cost of insurance to a new buyer is going up – significantly. And this increase may impact the desirability or at least pricing of their property for people buying on a budget.
• Sellers should consider getting an elevation certificate request processed, if they don’t have one already, so that an accurate quote for a buyer can be accomplished in a reasonable time – these can take up to 6 weeks by some accounts.
• Buyers should get their flood insurance quotes as soon as possible and should consider making their offers contingent upon receipt of an acceptable quote. Even if a quote does not ruin a borrower’s ratios and trigger a loan denial, it may make the house “over budget” for a particular Buyer.

“Remember, good ethics is good business.”
Shannon R. Harner, General Counsel

Editor’s Note: The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) has also produced a video that helps explain the changes to the NFIP and rate schedules.  NAR President Gary Thomas has created a Presidential Advisory Group to address the issues related to the recent changes to the NFIP.

Link to FEMA FAQ on NFIP

Nate Dennis

Nate Dennis joins the Wilderness Hills office.  Nate grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended East high school and SCC where he studied Business Administration. He is a “Foodie” and is very active in the family business. His hobbies include cooking, movies and travel. Nate can be reached at 402-430-5610 or nate.dennis@woodsbros.com.

It used to be that your mortgage insurance would drop off (you’d probably have to request that it be removed) once you achieved 22% equity in your house. That’s no longer the case, as that mortgage insurance is now in place until you pay off the entire mortgage.

If you were looking at an FHA loan, you might consider a NIFA loan – as of this writing (June 6), the rate is considerably lower than the current FHA rate. There are some income guidelines and a handful of other rules you need to know, but the NIFA loan will make a significant difference in your monthly payment. It’s worth exploring – talk to your lender about it and see if it makes sense for you.

Linda Wagner

Linda Wagner joins the Country Club office. In 2008, after 17 years as a realtor in Lincoln, she and her husband moved to Huston to be with family.  Now Linda is back in Lincoln! She is thrilled to resume her real estate career and affiliation with Woods Bros Realty. Linda can be reached at 402-432-8472 or Linda.Wagner@woodsbros.com.

Sandra Schwab

Sandra Schwab joins the Lincolnshire office. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and spent her early childhood in California. She graduated from Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska with an Education degree. She became an elementary teacher, teaching grades 1-8. She also has a degree in music with emphasis in piano. She earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She received her realtors license in Tennessee, also in Colorado and now in Nebraska. She has 2 grown children. She enjoys traveling, cooking and playing the piano. She recently returned to Nebraska to be close to a new grandchild and family. Sandra can be reached at 970-396-4502 or Sandra.Schwab@woodsbros.com.

What this means is you are seeing bigger patios, fire pits, water features and durable outdoor furniture. This allows people to enjoy their landscaping, expand their home’s usable space and feel like they are getting away from it all without having to leave home.

Patio furniture is reflecting this trend. Traditional patio furniture includes a table with chairs and maybe an umbrella. You are now increasingly seeing a loveseat and several chairs or a sectional surrounding a coffee table or fire pit.

Water features of all kinds are popular – everything from patio fountains to bubbling rocks to waterfalls and ponds. Have you ever just sat and listened to a water feature. It gives you the feeling you are next to a babbling brook at a favorite vacation destination.

You’ll see a trend this summer toward embellishing your outdoor spaces much the same was as you do your indoor spaces. This is accomplished by using indoor/outdoor area rugs, throw pillows and cushions made with weather-suitable fabric. All-weather artwork and accessories like lanterns, candleholders and sculptures also are popular.

Battery-operated candles and umbrella lights will add ambient light after the sun sets and are of less fire risk than traditional candles, firepots or tiki torches.

Indoor/outdoor area rugs add color, texture and pattern to a deck or patio. Remember, though, if they get wet they must be hung out to dry to prevent mold growth underneath them. Outdoor pillows that continually get wet and dried should be made from quick-drying anti-microbial fabric.

The best options for outdoor furniture and accessories are those that mix style with durability to stay in good condition during weather extremes. The options include heavy-duty plastic furniture like Adirondack chairs and tables, all-weather wicker furniture or a number of styles of loungers.

Julia Peterson

Julia Peterson joins the Country Club office. She has lived in Lincoln since 2009. She is married to Tyler (Boomer) Peterson and they have one daughter. Her hobbies include cooking, walking and spending time with family. Julia can be reached at 402-904-0984 or Julia.Peterson@woodsbros.com.