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Can You Sell a Rental Property in Iowa or Nebraska While Tenants Are Still Living There?Yes — you can sell a rental property in Council Bluffs or Omaha with tenants still living in it, as long as you honor the lease and give proper notice before anyone shows the home.…
Jamie Leaders
# Well & Septic Inspections for Iowa & Nebraska Acreage Buyers## What Well and Septic Inspections Do You Need to Buy Acreage?It depends on your loan type. Conventional loans usually don't require a well or septic inspection unless there's a visible problem or a…
Jamie Leaders
# 1031 Exchange Basics for Iowa and Nebraska Investors## What Is a 1031 Exchange and How Does It Work?A 1031 exchange lets you sell an investment property and roll the proceeds into another "like-kind" investment property without paying capital gains tax on the sale right…
Jamie Leaders
# Selling an Inherited House in Iowa or Nebraska## Do You Have to Go Through Probate to Sell an Inherited House in Iowa or Nebraska?Not always, and not the way most people assume. In Iowa, a house can transfer through a simplified small estate administration if the estate…
Jamie Leaders
Why Is Carter Lake, Iowa Located on the Nebraska Side of the Missouri River?In March 1877, a flood suddenly shifted the Missouri River's channel about 1.25 miles to the southeast, cutting off a bend of the old riverbed and leaving what's now Carter Lake, Iowa stranded on…
Jamie Leaders
What Does Iowa's 2026 Property Tax Reform Mean for Homeowners?Iowa passed a major property tax reform bill (SF 2472) in its 2026 legislative session that caps how fast local government levies can grow, replaces the old homestead tax credit with a new homestead exemption,…
Jamie Leaders
Should You Make Repairs Before Selling Your Home, or List It As-Is?There's no universal right answer — it depends on what's broken, what it costs to fix versus what it costs you in price if you don't, and how much time and cash you've got before you need to list. Cosmetic…
Jamie Leaders
Is It Better to Build a New Home or Buy an Existing One Near Council Bluffs?Buying existing gets you into a home faster and usually costs less upfront, while building new means waiting several months to a year but gets you a home built exactly to your specs with fewer…
Jamie Leaders
Should You Sell Your Current Home Before You Buy the Next One?There's no universal right answer — selling first gives you a firm budget and keeps you from carrying two mortgages, but it can mean temporary housing or a rent-back agreement while you look for your next…
Jamie Leaders
Is Buying a Rental Property in Council Bluffs Still a Good Investment?A rental property in Council Bluffs can still make sense in 2026, but it depends entirely on the deal, not on what you read in a headline. With financing costs elevated compared to a few years ago, the…
Jamie Leaders
Why did mortgage rates go up this week?
Mortgage rates climbed to their highest level in about a year in early September 2026, pushing toward 6.9%, after a Middle East energy shock sent oil prices and Treasury yields higher, and the Fed is now weighing a rate hike instead…
Jamie Leaders
Iowa's FirstHome program covers up to 5% of your down payment, and Nebraska's NIFA program adds up to $10,000. Here's how each works and who qualifies.
Jamie Leaders
