Why Omaha?

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Expand view Topic review: Why Omaha?

Re: Why Omaha?

by Busguy2010 » Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:06 pm

Busguy2010 wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:51 am Even one of the crappiest livable houses I've seen on Zillow has changed hands a few times since 2016 and sold from as little as 25,000 to now on the market for 62,000, all for the cost of a new roof, vinyl siding, HVAC, and paint slapped on the walls. Maybe a $20,000 investment. This is a 984 sf house in the heart of the hood.
ChadJK wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:40 am IMO, you never want to buy a "flip." It's best to check the purchase history and see if anyone only owned it for a month or two. Flippers tend to just slap up the cheapest of everything in the cheapest possible way.
The house I reference was first bought for 25,000 and nothing was done to it but paint on the walls, and it sold for 45,000. Whoever put up the paint made a killing on this place. Then whoever bought it for 45,000 put on the siding, roof, and hvac in, and is listing it for 62,000, only 17,000 on at least a 12,000-15,000 improvement. The person who made the actual improvements (as cheap as they might be) got hosed. This is still just a 45,000 house, at best. Whoever is listing it now will be lucky not to lose all of that investment.

Re: Why Omaha?

by TitosBuritoBarn » Mon Feb 03, 2020 3:34 pm

ChadJK wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:40 am IMO, you never want to buy a "flip." It's best to check the purchase history and see if anyone only owned it for a month or two. Flippers tend to just slap up the cheapest of everything in the cheapest possible way.
I think it depends. We own a flip and it's been a good house. Maybe it was because our realtor is also in the business of developing property, but he was able to tell us what to look for in a quality rehab and what were hack jobs.

This doesn't speak for the flipping community in Omaha, but I have colleagues in St. Louis who own or operate development companies in the business of rehabbing homes. A lot do quality work, but some are hacks.

Re: Why Omaha?

by ChadJK » Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:40 am

IMO, you never want to buy a "flip." It's best to check the purchase history and see if anyone only owned it for a month or two. Flippers tend to just slap up the cheapest of everything in the cheapest possible way.

Re: Why Omaha?

by Busguy2010 » Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:51 am

Even one of the crappiest livable houses I've seen on Zillow has changed hands a few times since 2016 and sold from as little as 25,000 to now on the market for 62,000, all for the cost of a new roof, vinyl siding, HVAC, and paint slapped on the walls. Maybe a $20,000 investment. This is a 984 sf house in the heart of the hood.

Re: Why Omaha?

by buildomaha » Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:39 pm

An interesting article about the cost of housing increase that references Omaha as one of the biggest culprits.

https://apple.news/Ah2bKepZbSwOr7QMd40SiWg

Re: Why Omaha?

by Brad » Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:34 pm

skinzfan23 wrote:Another reason I love Omaha. I just went for a walk through the Old Market and a police officer on a horse was taking the horse for a walk. He realized that there were two little girls starring at the horse. He went out of his way to go over to them and they were so excited. They said it was the first time they had ever been close to a horse. The officer was very polite and talked to them about school and where they were from. In many other cities, the police could care less about the "everyday" person. But in this instance, the officer just made those girls day.
That's awesome.

Re: Why Omaha?

by skinzfan23 » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:05 am

Another reason I love Omaha. I just went for a walk through the Old Market and a police officer on a horse was taking the horse for a walk. He realized that there were two little girls starring at the horse. He went out of his way to go over to them and they were so excited. They said it was the first time they had ever been close to a horse. The officer was very polite and talked to them about school and where they were from. In many other cities, the police could care less about the "everyday" person. But in this instance, the officer just made those girls day.

by cdub » Thu May 10, 2012 8:05 am

People get used to things, theres no doubt about it.  Particularly when you grow up somewhere you develop some affinity for it.  I don't think there are necessarily any more folks who want to get back to Omaha than anywhere else, we just know those stories.  There are just as many likely that are more than happy they left and don't look back.  

Of course, this from someone who is not a native, and will probably move out one day again.  In the meantime, however, its a great place to be and call home.

by skinzfan23 » Wed May 09, 2012 10:36 pm

I recently just moved back to the area after having lived in Dubuque, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA for the past 3 years.  I will first start out by saying that each of these cities have some good things to offer.  Dubuque: the views of the Mississippi River with the bluffs, and all the historic homes and buildings in the downtown area.  Cedar Rapids: a continued redevelopment effort (mostly the result of federal and state funding the city received as a result of the 2008 flood).

But from the moment I moved away, I couldn't help but think how great it would be to move back to Omaha.  I am extremely excited to have recently gotten a job in the Old Market and get to experience that on a daily basis.  There is definitely a "buzz" in Omaha that I feel when discussing the past history, present development and the potential future growth that the city could have.  I did not get this feeling in the other cities.  

The only thing I need further is my finance to get a teaching job and be able to move here as well, regardless we are looking at finding a place in the Omaha metro this summer.  I can't wait to get to be a part of the community again.  The city has come a long way in the past 10-15 years and I look forward to continue to see it grow and develop into a great family friendly urban environment.

I would like to thank everyone on this forum for posting updates and photos that kept me in touch with the metro and its happenings while I was away and unable to experience them firsthand.  I definitely feel that it has contributed to me realizing what I moved away from and how great it is going to be to move back for our October wedding, and eventually raising a family in Omaha.

by Bosco55David » Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:30 pm

Axel wrote:We can convert her to Omahaism.
That's not completely out of the realm of possibility. She doesn't really want to go back to a cold climate (she is from PA) but I think she could be persuaded. She is only half the equation though because as I mentioned in the helicopter thread, the dream I am chasing now won't be putting me in Omaha.

We'll see what happens though.

by Garrett » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:51 am

We can convert her to Omahaism.

by Big E » Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:00 pm

"her"

by ricko » Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:21 pm

Bosco55David wrote:
Stargazer wrote:For crying out loud Bosco, when are you going to finally move back here??
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that will happen now as there are other considerations in my life.


OK, what's her name?

by omaproud » Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:03 pm

Do tell, Bosco.

by Bosco55David » Wed Feb 22, 2012 2:38 pm

Stargazer wrote:For crying out loud Bosco, when are you going to finally move back here??
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that will happen now as there are other considerations in my life.

by Seth » Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:33 pm

samizdat wrote:I think that west Omaha is a mythical forest where a fairy gives you a $5 Red Mango gift card upon entrance. I'm not sure, because I've never tried going there - I don't like frozen yogurt.
Haha, while my wife and I are solid midtowners, but she loves Red Mango! Of course, she usually goes to the one in North Downtown.

I think you are being generous calling West O a forest, though; the trees aren't that big yet!

by samizdat » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:35 pm

Cranky Redneck wrote:My family has been in the area a decade before there was an Omaha.  I miss some of the...seedy edginess of the old (pre90s) Omaha and I rarely venture west of 42nd St.  Everything west of 84th St is all bland and unknown Linoma to me. Downtown outside of the old market didn't used to be such a ghost town though and while I can appreciate the attempts at downtown redevelopment it sure seems like the working class are getting the short end of the stick in favor of cappucino swilling hipsters and gentrifying yuppies. Yes, I lamented the loss of the Aero Rooms the same way I did when they tore down the Delmar, the Irwin, Jobber's Canyon, and a lot of other things that used to make Omaha Omaha.  Without the Antiquarium I rarely go to the old market anymore but at least the bohunk and 11-worth cafes are still around. I guess that's something. A shame the 11-Worth ain't open all night anymore though.
Cranky Redneck, I have never agreed with a post more... on any forum. My natural habitat is South Omaha, but I have migrated to Midtown. Antiquarium is probably the only reason I have to go to the Old Market, except for the possibility of Jackson Street Books. I still lament the loss of the original Antiquarium and Drastic Plastic turning into an ironic T-shirt shop. I think that west Omaha is a mythical forest where a fairy gives you a $5 Red Mango gift card upon entrance. I'm not sure, because I've never tried going there - I don't like frozen yogurt.

by Stargazer » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:48 am

For crying out loud Bosco, when are you going to finally move back here??

by StreetsOfOmaha » Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:26 pm

Yes. Anyone can be afflicted.  :;):

by Bosco55David » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:24 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:There should be a medical name for the syndrome that afflicts a native Omahan who moves away and then comes to realize how special a place Omaha really is.
Does this syndrome also apply to people who as, 15 year old kids, were dragged away to the hellish state of Florida by their parents and never really wanted to leave to begin with?  :mrgreen:

by erik2 » Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:04 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:There should be a medical name for the syndrome that afflicts a native Omahan who moves away and then comes to realize how special a place Omaha really is.
How about |expletive|-slapped by reality?  I heard some friends talk about how much they hate the cold and decided to take them outside when it was 28 degrees. I made the statement that it wasn't very cold and they agreed.  they admitted they climate-bash Omaha cause that is the common thing to do.

by Cranky Redneck » Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:22 am

My family has been in the area a decade before there was an Omaha.  I miss some of the...seedy edginess of the old (pre90s) Omaha and I rarely venture west of 42nd St.  Everything west of 84th St is all bland and unknown Linoma to me. Downtown outside of the old market didn't used to be such a ghost town though and while I can appreciate the attempts at downtown redevelopment it sure seems like the working class are getting the short end of the stick in favor of cappucino swilling hipsters and gentrifying yuppies. Yes, I lamented the loss of the Aero Rooms the same way I did when they tore down the Delmar, the Irwin, Jobber's Canyon, and a lot of other things that used to make Omaha Omaha.  Without the Antiquarium I rarely go to the old market anymore but at least the bohunk and 11-worth cafes are still around. I guess that's something. A shame the 11-Worth ain't open all night anymore though.

by StreetsOfOmaha » Fri Dec 09, 2011 8:46 pm

There should be a medical name for the syndrome that afflicts a native Omahan who moves away and then comes to realize how special a place Omaha really is.

by skinzfan23 » Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:36 pm

ad2330 wrote:Grew up in Omaha, attended UNL and since relocated to DFW.  I currently live in Fort Worth, TX about a mile from TCU, and have for the past 2 1/2 years.  Fort Worth is a great city, especially the downtown, but I'm longing to get back to Omaha and will have the opportunity to do so in the spring.  Moving away has given me the greatest appreciation for what Omaha has to offer.  Such a great size and EASY going life.  People think big cities are so amazing but I'm telling you, it's just controlled chaos (not always controlled).  Don't even get me going on TRAFFIC.  If Omaha could pick up a professional team, whether it be NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, MLB or whatever, I think we'd considerably raise the bar as a city.  It would provide such great entertainment and camaraderie among our city.  Every time I come home I see something new that has popped up and from my college days, Lincoln downtown has absolutely taken off!  Anyways, Omaha is great and once I move back I don't plan on ever leaving again.  What a great place to call home!
I totally agree...I have gained such a great appreciation for what the Omaha metro has to offer.  I moved to Dubuque, IA and currently Cedar Rapids, IA, and although I like the mix of cities in eastern Iowa, they pale in comparison to Omaha.  I am also looking forward to moving back to Omaha this winter/spring, once I get a job.  I realize that I took many things for granted when I lived in Omaha previously.  It is just all the little things of having different restaurants to eat at, concerts and games at the CenturyLink Center, Vala's pumpkin patch to visit, the zoo, Holiday Lighting Festival and fireworks and so much more.  Another thing that I have noticed is the lack of public art in the other cities.  Sometimes I know that I didn't appreciate the public art in Omaha, but Cedar Rapids for one has a lack of any public art.  Omaha does have a lot more traffic than either of these cities but the roads are designed much better (interstates to get around instead of highways and regular city streets).  I didn't realize how much of a difference the interstate makes for getting around town until I moved.  The stop and go traffic on city streets just to get to work gets to be a pain.  Overall I am very anxious to move back to what I and many others feel is a great hidden gem of a city in Omaha.  I am very excited for the direction that Omaha has headed over the past decade and anxious to be a part of an excellent community with great future growth.

by ad2330 » Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:13 am

Grew up in Omaha, attended UNL and since relocated to DFW.  I currently live in Fort Worth, TX about a mile from TCU, and have for the past 2 1/2 years.  Fort Worth is a great city, especially the downtown, but I'm longing to get back to Omaha and will have the opportunity to do so in the spring.  Moving away has given me the greatest appreciation for what Omaha has to offer.  Such a great size and EASY going life.  People think big cities are so amazing but I'm telling you, it's just controlled chaos (not always controlled).  Don't even get me going on TRAFFIC.  If Omaha could pick up a professional team, whether it be NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, MLB or whatever, I think we'd considerably raise the bar as a city.  It would provide such great entertainment and camaraderie among our city.  Every time I come home I see something new that has popped up and from my college days, Lincoln downtown has absolutely taken off!  Anyways, Omaha is great and once I move back I don't plan on ever leaving again.  What a great place to call home!

by cdub » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:42 am

Got a job here in 2005 and moved the fam in 06.  I'll definitely be here for a while, but probably not permanently.  Of course the longer you stay and older you get the harder it is to leave.  I'd still go back to Des Moines (where we were before Omaha) and would also love to get out to Colorado.  Once the daughter graduates we can look around more.  We do like it here though and are happy to raise our family here for a while at least.

Re: Why Omaha?

by DeWalt » Sun Aug 29, 2010 11:31 pm

Anonymous wrote:
DeWalt wrote:
ShawJ wrote:I thought it might be interesting to hear everyone's stories on why you're in Omaha. Why did you come here, how long have you been here, do you plan on staying, why haven't you left if you were born here, etc. Some of you know each other quite well, so I'm sure this won't be as interesting to some.

I was born in Omaha and have lived here my whole life. However, I'm starting to get itchy feet as I wrap up college. Omaha has been wonderful, but I hope to see what else is out there once I graduate. Of course, I might not have enough money to move right after college, but eventually I plan to live in other parts of the country.

What's your story?
Job brought me here.

Loving the city and area has kept me here.  

I hope to live the rest of my life here.
When did you first move / where are you originally from, DeWalt?
Came down from Minnesota - going on 5 years now.

by DeWalt » Sun Aug 29, 2010 11:20 pm

lisanstan wrote:Moved to Omaha in 2005 for hubby's job. He bugged me for 18 months to get me to agree. We were living outside Dallas and I had never been to the Midwest. I love it here except the taxes. Taxes will prevent us from staying here after retirement.  People who think the cost of living here is low have obviously never lived in Texas!  I grew up in Los Angeles but have lived all over the country and world since 1984. Omaha is definitely on my list of favorite cities to live in. I love the weather (no, really!) and love my neighborhood (Dundee). I like having the needed amenities without the headaches of a big city. I can live without Ikea, Crate & Barrel, etc.
Hey neighbor.

by lisanstan » Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:56 pm

Moved to Omaha in 2005 for hubby's job. He bugged me for 18 months to get me to agree. We were living outside Dallas and I had never been to the Midwest. I love it here except the taxes. Taxes will prevent us from staying here after retirement.  People who think the cost of living here is low have obviously never lived in Texas!  I grew up in Los Angeles but have lived all over the country and world since 1984. Omaha is definitely on my list of favorite cities to live in. I love the weather (no, really!) and love my neighborhood (Dundee). I like having the needed amenities without the headaches of a big city. I can live without Ikea, Crate & Barrel, etc.

by DTO Luv » Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:56 am

Logistics.

by ShawJ » Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:45 am

^^me

Re: Why Omaha?

by Guest » Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:32 am

DeWalt wrote:
ShawJ wrote:I thought it might be interesting to hear everyone's stories on why you're in Omaha. Why did you come here, how long have you been here, do you plan on staying, why haven't you left if you were born here, etc. Some of you know each other quite well, so I'm sure this won't be as interesting to some.

I was born in Omaha and have lived here my whole life. However, I'm starting to get itchy feet as I wrap up college. Omaha has been wonderful, but I hope to see what else is out there once I graduate. Of course, I might not have enough money to move right after college, but eventually I plan to live in other parts of the country.

What's your story?
Job brought me here.

Loving the city and area has kept me here.  

I hope to live the rest of my life here.
When did you first move / where are you originally from, DeWalt?
DTO Luv wrote:Because I'l have to put off my escape for another year. :(
How come?

by DTO Luv » Sun Aug 01, 2010 2:37 am

Because I'l have to put off my escape for another year. :(

Re: Why Omaha?

by DeWalt » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:08 pm

ShawJ wrote:I thought it might be interesting to hear everyone's stories on why you're in Omaha. Why did you come here, how long have you been here, do you plan on staying, why haven't you left if you were born here, etc. Some of you know each other quite well, so I'm sure this won't be as interesting to some.

I was born in Omaha and have lived here my whole life. However, I'm starting to get itchy feet as I wrap up college. Omaha has been wonderful, but I hope to see what else is out there once I graduate. Of course, I might not have enough money to move right after college, but eventually I plan to live in other parts of the country.

What's your story?
Job brought me here.

Loving the city and area has kept me here.  

I hope to live the rest of my life here.

Re: ..

by erik2 » Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:45 pm

delinea design wrote:
erik2 wrote:I love my city that I grew up in.  I want to be there as a pillar (big or small) to help it in a positive way.  I love this place and I will continue to be vocal, an advocate and a proud citizen of the most underrated city in the United States.
Hear, hear!  Many of the reasons why I'm sticking around and wanting to grow my business here... but I guess your web-firm will be my competition in the future. ;)
Not necessarily.  I think competition should work more together than against.  Kinda creates a syngery that way.

Re: ..

by delinea design » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:02 am

erik2 wrote:I love my city that I grew up in.  I want to be there as a pillar (big or small) to help it in a positive way.  I love this place and I will continue to be vocal, an advocate and a proud citizen of the most underrated city in the United States.
Hear, hear!  Many of the reasons why I'm sticking around and wanting to grow my business here... but I guess your web-firm will be my competition in the future. ;)

by Bosco55David » Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:03 am

Good zinger' guys lol.

..

by erik2 » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:00 pm

Born and raised here..

Lived in Vegas, but with the exception of random-luck it didn't offer much economically.

I may move temporarily for a short time in the future, but I love the place and will die here.  I enjoy watching this city grow up and have been incredibly enamored by the place.  As I got older, I have learned that the O! is a better place all the time.  I guess I have got wrapped up with all the surprises of how well we measure up to any place.

I have seen this city wake up from a 20 year slumber to a relatively fast growing city and will get to watch it even more as time passes by.  I will get to watch more scrapers under construction, I will get to see the streetcar system be implemented, North Downtown become a major attraction and even a UFL product eventually turn into an NFL product (either directly or replaced by it)..

In a few years, I will get to see the usual underestimates be revised upward in the official count to over 900,000 with the addition of Dodge County (blah!) to the metro.  I will get to see the 24 miles of fields between Omaha and Lincoln continue to shrink increasingly in speed, as each city keeps growing faster.  In 2023 (outside chance in 2013) I will get to see Omaha and Lincoln merge into a single metropolitan area.  By that year both Omaha and Lincoln's downtowns will be unrecognizable with all the new infrastructure in place.  I will get to see Omaha surpass 1,000,000 without Lincoln by 2018 and 1,400,000 with Lincoln during the same year.  By 2030 (when I am 50) I will see the Omaha-Lincoln (official for sure) metropolitan area inching towards 2,000,000 or more people.  As we do so, i will still here people reference us as farmers and listen to arrogant southerners/coasters/chicagoans stick their nose in the air above me.  But I am okay with that, because this city is built from people like myself.  We like to build, we do run to a place that is already built only to become part of the rot.

Omaha/Lincoln will have several great academic institutions: Creighton, St Mary's, Bellevue University (I know, but for online it is highly respected), UNL will be long a Big-10 school, our Medical Research school will also see a boon from Big-10 affiliation let alone on it's own merits.  A community college that continues to have national recognition.

If the UFL doesn't survive, we will have shown the world that we are a football city and state.  The NFL will either taken in the UFL as a new division like the AFL in the 1960s, or we are a finalist for expansion.  We will have another pro team in the next 15 years that is either NBA or Hockey.  Major League Soccer is going to come either way.  Nebraska football will continue as it always has, but with nearly 100,000 per game attendance (sitting at 87,000 now with many more begging to go).

I will get to see the small space between downtown and midtown close up with exciting new developments from either a car, streetcar, bus or shuttle.  Old Mill-Regency becomes a new core for the city as a second major business concentration outside of downtown.  The second high-rise is already under construction there and I will see at least a few more in the next 10-20 years.

I will be living in a condo in dowtown with my own website business soon as I am finishing up with a four year degree and a large library of reference books.  I will get to read the papers and news on eomaha, growomaha, accessomaha and other sites about large new employer expansions and more incredible top-rankings that we seem to consistantly meet.

I will get to live many more winters, where I put on a few more articles of clothing to go walk to a movie or a resteraunt as I enjoy my night.  I will continue to hear the complaints of our winters here, but I chuckle inside because I know as well as they do that it isn't that bad.  We have the longest stretch of temperate temperatures from late February to early December.  Our summers qualify has Spring for many areas around the country.


I love my city that I grew up in.  I want to be there as a pillar (big or small) to help it in a positive way.  I love this place and I will continue to be vocal, an advocate and a proud citizen of the most underrated city in the United States.

by S33 » Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:15 pm

Thought for sure it was Big E. Like I said, it had is stank to it.  :)

by Stargazer » Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:13 pm

Who else would it have been?  (ordinarily, I'd think my 'dot, dot, dot' usage would clue one in every time).

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