Gene Ward

Gene Ward, Woods Bros Realty team leader and managing broker of the Lincolnshire Square office, has announced his retirement from Woods Bros management. Ward will continue to work as a licensed Realtor with his daughter and grandson out the Woods Bros Lincolnshire Square office.

Ward, a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), has been a licensed REALTOR since 1969, a licensed broker since 1981 and a managing broker since 1986. He has managed the Lincolnshire Square office for the last 12 years.

“Gene has worked hard all of his career and has earned the opportunity to enjoy more time with his family,” said Woods Bros Realty CEO Gene Brake. “We greatly appreciate all the years of leadership and service Gene has provided.”

Ward has been active in the local, state and national REALTORS associations, having served on the Board of Directors for both the National Association of REALTORS and Nebraska REALTORS Association. He is a past president and REALTOR of the Year recipient for both the Nebraska REALTORS Association and the REALTORS Association of Lincoln. He was 1998 Member of the Year for the Women’s Council of REALTORS and served as president of the Midlands Multiple Listing Service (MLS) twice.

Gene and his wife, Pat, have been married more than 50 years and have four children, 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Pat retired from real estate sales earlier this year. Ward is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and enjoys traveling and fishing in his free time. He also works closely with victims of drug addiction and alcoholism.

Woods Bros Realty, an affiliate of HomeServices of America, is a full-service company offering over 120 years of expertise in real estate as well as experience in mortgage, title, closing, and insurance services. Providing an easier way to buy and sell, nearly 300 sales associates work with clients in Lincoln, Seward, Beatrice, York, Wahoo, Grand Island and surrounding areas. For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

From KCM Blog:

One thing many real estate agents have learned is the importance of having a team of professionals to facilitate a smooth transaction. Having a lending expert on the team, can make available the following services to you…all for FREE:

• They stand ready to screen all potential buyers. Today’s lending landscape is a rapidly changing environment. Programs and requirements are changing regularly. A good loan officer should have a reputation for being on top of current guidelines and finding the best solutions for prospective clients. You need to know that when you accept an offer, the buyer can actually close.
• Financing is an important component to getting a home sold. Whether it’s marketing flyers, carrying costs, unique mortgage strategies (such as buy-downs and Sales Concessions) or even loan programs to differentiate your home (ex. loans that can incorporate monies for the purchase and renovation of a home), the best loan officers take pride in their ability to help increase the number of people for whom your home could be a fit. More prospects equals higher sales prices.
• In so far as a professional loan officer is seen as an educator, they would want to offer you the chance to tune into some of their online seminars (called webinars) and videos. As an example, some lenders have webinars with topics ranging from “How Lenders Look At A Mortgage Application” to “Renovation Lending” to “Getting Your Optimal Credit Score”, as well as videos that can fully explain your Good Faith Estimate. They are constantly striving to be a resource for everyone they come in contact with.
• Lastly, your loan officer knows that most home sellers become home buyers. Not only will they run your credit and analyze your income and assets, but they will also pre-approve you for your next mortgage, typically free of charge.

Both your agent and the loan officer on their team are committed to the highest level of advice and integrity. Reach out to them for any questions you may have.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Business is still going strong for this time of year. Here are the November numbers from all Woods Bros offices, including Lincoln, Seward, York, Beatrice and Grand Island:

• $38,523,472 Total Volume Closed (Up 57% from Nov. 2010)
• 252,5 Total Sides Closed (Up 62% from Nov. 2010)
• 224 Sides Placed Under Contract (Up 4% from Nov. 2010)
• 371,269 Page Views on WoodsBros.com
• 41,383 User Sessions on WoodsBros.com
• 5,040 Users Sessions from Mobile Devices
• 57 New Saved Searches on WoodsBros.com
• 875 New Saved Properties on WoodsBros.com
• 135 New Customers/Clients on WoodsBros.com
• 1,520 Daily Active Users on Facebook.com/WoodsBros
• 111 Text Inquiries to WOODS at 59559
• 2,909 Guided Tour Views at WoodsBros.com
• 562 Views on MyWoodsBrosTV.com

View our monthly Market Snapshot here.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Members of Woods Bros Realty’s Foundation for Giving committee met last month to allocate funds raised throughout the year to local charity organizations.

The Woods Bros Realty Foundation for Giving was established in 1987 by Pace Woods, Sr. to support those less fortunate in the communities we serve. Every time a Woods Bros Realty sales professional closes one side of a transaction the agent makes a contribution to the Foundation, and the contribution is then matched by the company.

In the fall, a committee of agents, selected by their offices to serve four-year terms, reviews all the requests and determines funding. A Woods Bros Realtor or employee must sponsor each request accepted by the Foundation.

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to have the privilege of working with all the agents and the different agencies our agents are affiliated with,” said Arla Meyer, Foundation for Giving chairperson. “There is nothing better than being able to give back to our local communities, based off of the team effort of all Woods agents and the company. Together we are able to make this happen, and we believe that is what helps set Woods Bros Realty apart from all other companies.”

This year, the transaction donation total was $11,350, with a last-minute plea from the committee’s agents that raised an additional $4,200. Since the inception of the Woods Bros Realty Foundation for Giving, over $275,000 has been donated.

Some companies who were helped by the Foundation for Giving in 2011 include Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Friends of Opera, St. Monica’s, Young Life, Orphan Grain Train (Grand Island), Voices of Hope, Habitat for Humanity (Grand Island), Child Advocacy Center, Lincoln Community Playhouse, Cedars Youth Services, Prairie Playground (Beatrice), Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Food Bank of Lincoln/Backpack Program, Blue Valley Behavioral Health (Beatrice), Bright Lights, Clinic with a Heart, TeamMates, Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries, Youth Leadership Lincoln, Lincoln Children’s Museum, Easter Seals of Nebraska, Friendship Home, Mourning Hope and CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates (York).

Foundation for Giving committee members were (left to right): Nickie Casburn, Arla Meyer, Pat Schmidt, Jeanne Cuda, Shelly Nitz, Linda McCall, David Kaseman, Brenda Mesloh, Doug Vandervort and Deb Wagner.

Foundation for Giving committee members were (left to right): Nickie Casburn, Arla Meyer, Pat Schmidt, Jeanne Cuda, Shelly Nitz, Linda McCall, David Kaseman, Brenda Mesloh, Doug Vandervort and Deb Wagner.

Woods Bros Realty, an affiliate of HomeServices of America, is a full-service company offering over 120 years of expertise in real estate as well as experience in mortgage, title, closing, and insurance services. Providing an easier way to buy and sell, nearly 300 sales associates work with clients in Lincoln, Seward, Beatrice, York, Wahoo, Grand Island and surrounding areas. For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty