The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is urging first-time home buyers who want to build a new home and also take advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit to act immediately.

“We have received many inquiries from potential home buyers asking if a sales contract on a new home by the November 30 deadline will be sufficient to receive the first-time home buyer tax credit,” said Joe Robson, chairman of the NAHB and a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “They have been surprised to find out that they must move into the new home before they are qualified.”

Home buyers may qualify for the tax credit if they purchase the home on or after Jan. 1 but before Dec. 1, 2009.  In the case of new construction, the date the home buyer takes occupancy of the house is considered the purchase date, not when the sales contract is signed.

For the full story, please visit the NAHB web site.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

My grandfather, Mark Woods, and my father, Pace Woods Sr., as a young boy, used to take a horse and buggy from their home at S. 26th and N Streets and drive out to the area of S.27th and what is now Woodsdale Blvd. to hunt ducks. In the early 1900s that area was a series of ponds west to S. 17th filled with water fowl.

In the 1920s after my grandfather developed the Woodscrest Addition between S. 27th and S. 24th Streets, he had some concern about bringing new home owners over the hill at Van Dorn Street and into the area of the ponds. He needed an attraction that would encourage people to live in the area.

In 1917 the members of the Country Club of Lincoln were thinking about moving the Club from its location near Gooch’s Mill. Mark Woods offered to purchase the old Club building and land, which allowed the members to make the move it its present location on S. 24th Street.

This move opened up the development of Capitol Hill between Sheridan Blvd. and Calvert, Woodsdale Blvd. between S. 27th & 20th, Woodsshire between 20th & 17th, and Indian Village from 20th to 14th St.

The Woodsdale ponds remained for many years until the 1930s. During the drought, they all dried up except for the pond at Lake Street and S. 17th. This remaining pond is still used for ice skating, as all of them were earlier.

• Authored By: F. Pace Woods II, Chairman Emeritus

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Many first-time homebuyers seem to be taking advantage of a new federal tax credit that’s intended to help stimulate the housing market. Industry officials expect it to bring 300,000 additional first-time buyers into the market this year. One family in Nebraska found the timing to be just right.

Sarah McCammon reports for NET Radio. Listen to the full story here on NPR.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty is kicking off the new construction season with its annual Spring Jubilee of Homes starting this weekend. Over 50 brand-new homes will be open to the public from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday April 18-19 and 25-26.

All areas of Lincoln are represented in addition Beatrice, Bennet, Hickman, Seward, Roca and Waverly. Home prices range from the low $130s to nearly $700,000 and include both townhomes and single-family homes.

Visitors can register at each home to win one of four $50 Visa gift cards. The more homes you visit, the better your chances of winning!

For more information on the Spring Jubilee of Homes, please visit www.WoodsBros.com/Jubilee.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

New home in York

It’s time the secret is out! York, Neb., is right in the middle of the United States. It is the crossing of Interstate 80 East and West and Highway 81 North and South from Canada to Mexico, making it a great spot for commerce. Prices for homes and business opportunities are reasonable. Transportation opportunites are a major plus!

A new housing addition is started–the streets are in and the Woods Bros Realty York office and Prairie Homes is offering the very first new construction home in this location with a cul-de-sac and a round-a-bout! This subdivision will include over 70 homes and is within walking distance (2-3 blocks) of schools and the $1 million water park. The completion date for this lovely home is scheduled for July 2009, just in time for buyers to get settled before school starts.

York Elementary

York Aquatic Center

The prices in this subdivision will be in the range of $175,000 and up. Anyone wanting to explore this or existing homes for midwest living at its finest should visit us at York.WoodsBros.com for more information.

• Authored By: Woods Bros Realty York Office

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Usually, when someone finds out that I work as a real estate agent, the first question they ask is: “How’s business these days?”

My quick answer is always, “Great!” (whether I’m busy or not, it’s a good answer to give because I enjoy being a Realtor).  However, when I’m asked that question these days,  I answer “Great” because home sales are picking up again. 

After a slow fall and long winter, things are coming to life at real estate offices and open houses across Lincoln. Much of that activity has to do with record low mortgage interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit being offered first-time homebuyers as part of the Obama administration’s economic stimulus plan. 

According to figures from the Midlands Multiple Listing Service (MLS), 196 single family homes priced below $200,000 sold in Lancaster County last month (March, 2009). That’s compared to 144 sales of similarly-priced homes in February, 2009, or an increase of 27 percent. So far, April looks to bring even better numbers.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Authored By: Joanne McCoy

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

The White Line

Up until the end of World War II, street cars were the life blood of transportation in most cities in the United States. Some cities such as New Orleans and San Francisco still have a few street cars running in the downtown and a few residential areas.

Mark W. Woods founded the White Line for the purpose of serving the many residential areas created for homes by Woods Bros Realty.

The line started as did all street car lines by a loop in the 10th and P Streets area and then ran south down 17th Street to South Street, then east to Sheridan Blvd. Both of these streets were paved with bricks at that time with the tracks in the middle of the street. The White Line then ended where Sheridan intersects Calvert Street.

I am told that The White Line was not allowed to extend into College View as the Mayor purportedly owned the street car line running down Normal Blvd to 48th St and then into College View.

The price to ride the streetcar was 10 cents. When it reached the bridge over the Rock Island Railroad tracks, passengers could continue to the end of the line at Calvert St for 1 cent.

During World War II both the White Line and the Randolph St. Line were compelled to continue their operations due to the lack of gasoline and rubber tires used by the military. After V-J Day all of the streetcar lines were merged into the Lincoln Traction Co. and the rails were torn up.

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This article is the first in our “Keeping the Pace” series–stories from F. Pace Woods II, Woods Bros Realty Chairman Emeritus. Stay tuned for more stories from Woods Bros’ history.

• Authored By: F. Pace Woods II, Chairman Emeritus

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Amy Moran and her daughter Kiara, Habitat volunteers.

Of course, angels can walk through walls. It’s a well-known fact, but most of us don’t expect to ever have the privilege of seeing the phenomenon first-hand. Yet that is exactly what happened to me last Saturday! I had the opportunity to attend my first Habitat for Humanity “wall raising” and it lived up to all my expectations.

The site had been prepared and the pre-built framed walls had arrived. It was a crisp, sunny early spring morning. Following a dedication and brief devotion the building supervisor gave the proclamation “line up!” And one by one the outside walls were raised by many hands and bolted to the foundation.

Then the inside walls began to go into place, each carefully numbered and the entire process coordinated by the “master blue print.” By the time half those walls were secured, moving “around” them with so many volunteers present had become an impossibility and that was when I saw it. I looked up and there they were, angels walking through walls. I had to pause in the task I was doing and just take in the sight. Angels, many carrying hammers, some nails, glue guns and even ladders! It was one of those rare moments in time when the real meaning of life and of love stand out clearly against the backdrop of daily life.

The next time I visit that home, I expect the angels walking through walls will no longer be visible to any human eye, but they will be there!

Habitat for Humanity—building affordable homes made with donations of material, money, the “sweat equity” of the families who will live there, and “angels” walking through walls!

If you would like a chance to see (or be) an angel walking through walls, call Habitat for Humanity at (402 )477-9184 for the schedule of building times and sites. 

• Authored By: Marcia Murray

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty