Bryan Muellner/ Realtor

10/26/2026

Ever notice how long people remember what their neighbor’s house sold for? 😂

I was looking through September’s Omaha-area housing numbers, and something caught my attention.

The median sale price for existing homes reached $305,000, up 1.7% from a year ago.

That’s encouraging news for homeowners.

But here’s another number I found interesting.

There were 755 accepted offers on existing homes in September, compared with 897 during the same month last year. That’s a decline of nearly 16%.

Now, that doesn’t mean buyers have disappeared. New listings were down, too.

But it does raise an interesting question for anyone thinking about selling.

Are you paying attention to what homes SOLD for, or are you also paying attention to what buyers are doing RIGHT NOW?

There’s a difference.

A home that sold in June tells us something about the market earlier this year.

A similar home that went under contract last week gives us a more recent indication of buyer activity.

We won’t know its final sale price until it closes, but we can see whether buyers are making decisions and how quickly those decisions are happening.

And that matters.

Maybe your neighbor sold their house for $375,000 last spring.

Naturally, you might be thinking yours should be worth about the same, especially if you’ve made some improvements.

But what if three similar homes in your neighborhood have been sitting on the market for 60 days?

Or what if homes in your price range are still going under contract within a couple of weeks?

Those are two very different situations.

And neither one is something you’d discover simply by looking at what your neighbor sold for.

I think that’s one of the more useful things homeowners can understand about real estate.

The market isn’t standing still while we’re making plans.

Whether you’re thinking about selling this fall, next spring, or even a year from now, it helps to understand what’s happening with homes similar to yours today.

Not just what happened six months ago.

And certainly not just what somebody down the street thinks their house is worth. 😂

Source: Great Plains Regional MLS, September 2026 Omaha Area Region housing statistics.

10/25/2026

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10/23/2026

Who Will You Be When the Life You’ve Always Known Begins to Change?

I’ve been thinking about something lately, especially when it comes to people entering a new chapter of life.

We spend so much time thinking about WHAT we’re going to do next.

Where are we going to live? Are we going to retire? Should we sell the house? Move closer to family? Maybe finally do some of those things we’ve talked about doing for years.

But there’s another question I think deserves just as much attention.

Who do I want to BE in this next chapter?

Think about it.

For 30 or 40 years, much of our identity has been wrapped up in what we do. Our careers, raising our families, our responsibilities, the communities we’ve been part of.

We’re known for something. We’re needed somewhere. Our days have structure and purpose.

And then life begins to change.

The kids grow up. Careers wind down. The house that once seemed too small suddenly feels too big.

And for some people, there’s this uncomfortable feeling of wondering, “Now what?”

But here’s what I find interesting.

What if this next chapter isn’t about losing who you’ve been? What if it’s an opportunity to discover more of who you can become?

Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to learn. Somewhere you’ve wanted to go. People you’ve wanted to help. Something you’ve wanted to build.

Maybe there’s a part of you that’s been sitting on the sidelines for years because life kept getting in the way.

Well, maybe it’s time to bring that part of you back into the game.

And by the way, you don’t have to move across the country, retire, or make some dramatic life change to begin.

You can start right where you are.

I think sometimes we get so accustomed to the life we’ve built that we forget we’re still allowed to imagine something different.

At 55, 65, 75, or beyond, there are still things to experience, relationships to build, contributions to make, and possibilities worth exploring.

Your past has helped shape who you are.

But it doesn’t have to define everything you can still become.

So here’s something I’d love for you to think about this weekend.

If you weren’t so focused on what you’re leaving behind, what might you get excited about moving toward?

I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

10/22/2026

Does your home really need to look brand-new to attract buyers?

I was reviewing September’s Omaha-area housing numbers, and something caught my attention.

Existing homes spent an average of 18 days on the market before receiving an accepted offer.

New construction? 55 days.

Now, there are plenty of reasons for that difference, including price, location and the types of homes available.

But I think there’s something worth considering, especially if you’ve lived in your home for 15, 20 or even 30 years.

Sometimes homeowners look around their house and start seeing everything that isn’t new anymore.

The kitchen cabinets are dated. The bathroom could use some updating. Maybe the flooring isn’t what you’d choose if you were building today.

And before you know it, you’re wondering whether you need to spend $30,000 or $40,000 just to get the house ready to sell.

Maybe you do need to make some improvements.

But maybe you don’t need nearly as many as you think.

There’s a difference between a home that’s outdated and one that hasn’t been maintained.

A house can have an older kitchen and still be a wonderful home. It can have original hardwood floors, mature trees, an established neighborhood and years of thoughtful maintenance.

Those things matter, too.

Now, I’m certainly not suggesting buyers will overlook everything. Condition matters. Price matters. And every neighborhood has its own market.

But before you start tearing things apart or writing checks for major renovations, wouldn’t it make sense to understand what buyers in your particular area are actually looking for?

You might discover that a few improvements would make a meaningful difference.

Or you might discover that your home has more going for it than you’ve been giving it credit for. 😊

Your home doesn’t have to be new to have value.

And sometimes the smartest improvement you can make is understanding which improvements are actually necessary.

Source: Great Plains Regional MLS, Omaha Area Region, September 2026 Monthly Indicators, released October 13, 2026.

10/19/2026

I was looking through some new housing information this morning, and something about Omaha caught my attention.

A national real estate research company, released its latest housing market report today, and Omaha continues to be among the markets that have consistently favored sellers.

In fact, 16 of the 18 markets currently classified as seller’s markets are right here in the Midwest.

Pretty interesting, isn’t it?

And according to September’s Omaha-area MLS numbers, the median home sale price was $325,000, up 2.8% from a year ago.

Now, if you’re a homeowner, that probably sounds encouraging. 😂

But here’s what I started thinking about.

Just because the market might be favorable for selling doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right time for YOU to sell.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about moving closer to your kids or grandkids.

Maybe the house that was perfect when you were raising a family feels a little too big today.

Maybe you’re tired of mowing, shoveling snow or maintaining rooms you hardly ever use.

Or maybe you absolutely love where you live and have no desire to go anywhere.

And that’s perfectly fine, too!

I think sometimes we get so caught up in whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market that we forget there’s another part of the equation.

Your life.

What’s important to you today?

What do you want the next five or ten years to look like?

And does the home you’re living in still support that?

Those are questions a housing market report can’t answer.

Don’t get me wrong. Understanding the market matters, especially when you’re making a decision involving one of your largest financial assets.

But I don’t believe the market should be making that decision for you.

It should be helping you make a more informed one.

Because the best time to sell your house isn’t necessarily when somebody tells you the market is hot.

It’s when the numbers make sense AND the move makes sense for your life.

And sometimes, deciding to stay right where you are is a pretty good decision, too. 😊

Sources: A national real estate research company.”

10/18/2026

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10/16/2026

Sometimes the best business conversations start with a simple cup of coffee. ☕

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Emily Hassenstab of Monster Tote, and what a great conversation!

I originally came across Emily through her appearance on Nebraska Seniors TV, where she discussed moving and downsizing. Naturally, that caught my attention.

As a REALTOR® who focuses on helping adults 55+ and their families navigate life’s transitions, I’ve learned something important:

Selling a home is often just one small piece of a much bigger picture.

There’s the sorting, the packing, the memories, the decisions about what stays and what goes, and sometimes the emotional challenges of leaving a home filled with decades of life.

That’s why I’ve made it a priority to get to know the people and businesses who can help make those transitions easier.

Emily and I talked about everything from the challenges of moving to the importance of trusted relationships, community connections, and finding better ways to serve families.

I also learned more about Monster Tote and how their reusable moving containers offer an alternative to traditional cardboard boxes.

But what I appreciated most was the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore ways we might help one another and the people we serve.

Because the right relationships aren’t just about growing a business. They’re about being better equipped to help someone when they need you.

Emily, thank you again for your time, your insights, and a wonderful conversation. I’m looking forward to staying connected!

10/15/2026

I was looking through some Omaha housing numbers, and here’s something I thought was pretty interesting.

In August, we had 7.5% fewer existing homes sold than we did a year earlier.

Now, if that’s the only number you heard, you might think the housing market was heading in the wrong direction.

But here’s the interesting part.

The median price of the homes that DID sell actually increased 8.2%, reaching $330,000.

Wait a minute. 😂

Fewer homes selling, but the median selling price went UP?

Yep. Both can happen at the same time.

And I think that’s worth understanding, especially if you’re a homeowner considering selling.

When we hear that home sales are slowing, it’s pretty easy to assume home values must be falling, too.

But that’s not necessarily what those numbers are telling us.

The number of transactions tells us how many homes changed hands.

The median sale price tells us the midpoint of what buyers paid for the homes that sold.

And that number can also change depending on the types and price ranges of homes that happened to sell.

Now, does that mean your particular home increased in value by 8.2%?

Of course not.

But it doesn’t mean your home is losing value just because fewer houses are selling, either.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in the headlines that we forget to ask what the numbers actually mean.

And when you’re talking about something as important as your home, that’s a pretty good question to ask.

Because understanding the market is one thing. Understanding what those numbers mean for YOU is another.

Source: Great Plains REALTORS® MLS, August 2026 existing-home sales, reported September 18, 2026.

10/13/2026

When someone tells me they’re thinking about right-sizing, I want to understand more than how many bedrooms they need.

What do they want to make easier? What do they want to keep?

Maybe they’re tired of the stairs or keeping up with the yard. But they still want to be near their friends, their church, their favorite coffee spot or the grandkids. Those things matter. A smaller home might mean less maintenance, but if it takes you away from the people you enjoy, that deserves some thought too.

And then there’s the money. What will the next place actually cost each month? What’s included? How much money do you want to keep available after selling your home?

If you’re considering a senior-living community, availability and timing matter too. Finding a place you love and being able to move into it when you need it can be two different things.

That’s why I’ve been meeting the people behind communities and services here in Omaha and Lincoln. I want to understand the options and know who to call when someone needs help.

You don’t have to be ready to sell to start figuring this out. Give yourself some time to look around, ask questions and see what might fit.

What would you want to make easier in your next chapter, and what would you want to keep?

10/11/2026

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