August 2026 - Newsletter
- Stacy Fernandez
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
School has started and now the best season of the year is near - FALL!!!
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📸 Lincoln NE Area Market Snapshot
Lincoln’s market is continuing to move toward balance. Buyers have more options than they’ve had in recent years—but homes are still moving quickly.
The big takeaway? Buyers can be more selective, but they can’t necessarily be slow. Sellers can still sell quickly, but pricing and presentation matter more.
🏡 Buyers
More inventory = more choices
Less pressure to jump on every home
Good homes are still moving quickly
Be pre-approved and ready when the right one hits
🏠 Sellers
Homes are still selling
Buyers have more options to compare
Accurate pricing is increasingly important
Condition + presentation can help you stand out
👫 Realtor Matchmaking
1 plane ride - 3 connections: A story without layovers!
Recently I went to Nashville for a Bachelorette party and I'm wondering now if I should consider it a write off 🤔
On the flight there I got to sit next to an awesome school teacher who was telling me about her visit to her daughter. Throughout our conversation I learned that she would likely be relocating to be near her, her mother-in-law wouldn't be far behind, and her daughter would likely be looking for a house soon too!
These are some of my favorite conversations because it touches on big life changes, exciting moves and dreams coming true, the potential business is just a bonus!
As we were talking she was telling me about her contractor husband who is going to be sad to move because he manages a bowling alley and loves it. Also how he wasn't excited to start a new contractor business in a new area. Her job as an elementary PE teacher was going to be easy there were already 4 openings in the area that would hire her now if she needed.
During our conversation my mind starts reeling on how I can help make that dream a reality. I got her contact info, spit balled some ideas for her husbands dilemma (my suggestion was start a handyman business doing repair checklists after inspections - easy business to build because Realtors are everywhere) and after vacation I started doing my digging and working on getting the connections going.
I'm currently in process of getting her connected with an agent in SC where her daughter lives that has some exposure to Commercial (bowling alley leads) and Residential (Houses for her, her daughter and mother-in-law). As well as getting her connected with a Realtor in her home town in IA (to help sell her home & mother-in-laws home).
This is what Realtor Match Making is!
It's having a conversation and connecting people with agents that best fit their situation!
Guess what it cost her?!
Nothing!
(unless you consider conversations on a plane to be a burden, then well she had to sit through a quick flight with a chatty lady 😂)
Now you may be wondering, Stacy if this doesn't cost money how do you expect to make a living doing it?
Well, great question! If this lovely lady ends up using the agents I suggest I will get what is known as a referral fee. Essentially I get a small cut of what the agents that help her get for getting them connected.
Which is one reason why I want to make sure the agent I connect you with is the right one!
If you end up reaching out to a random agent online that I didn't connect you with:
You are hoping and praying they are qualified
My matchmaking efforts get rewarded $0
(My goal is to get you to your future home, content and excited, if I don't get the referral I will still be here to celebrate - no matter what! A girl can't lie though, referral income is nice and I am in the real estate business to make money as well as help people.)
Anyway moral of the story and my ask of you is: If you have a conversation with someone and real estate gets mentioned - Please think of me! They don't have to be in Lincoln, Nebraska or even the United States. I would love to help connect them wherever!
Click to be Matched or Refer Someone Else!
📝 A Note from Your Favorite Realtor
Well this note is going to be much shorter than in past and much less cute...
Sorry probably a terrible way to start this but hey it's the truth. Eliezer and I have decided for the time being to reduce the exposure of our kids on the internet. Sadly there are people out there that use children's photos for unsavory means. We personally think our children are adorable and could be targets for that activity. In turn I apologize the cute photos of what the kiddos have been up to will be excluded from the blog going forward - If you want a personal update I'm happy to show them off to people individually (shoot me a text and i'll send the cutest ones).
With that out of the way this is probably going to get a lot less personal but i'm sure i'll still find a few fun updates to share and you may just get more Stacy & Eliezer photos... (my viewership is going way down - I can already feel it 😂)
So August was another fun month filled with a variety of activities! We did a little camping - highly recommend the Double Nickel Campground they have a pool, arcade, playgrounds, dog parks and lots of fun activities for every age!
We also camped the weekend we went to the 2026 Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show at Offutt Air Force Base. The show got rained out but we did get to see some neat flippy do-dahs and fly bys!
One thing that got our blood pumping was we went home to nap after the rain out and woke up to what sounded like bombs... My mom brain went into protection mode and thought, oh my goodness Offut is being attacked we gotta get out of here! Well they have a performance called Tora Tora Tora that is a reenactment of Pearl Harbor - turns out they can't just take those down, once they are set they have to light them off. Thank goodness we figured that out quickly because my mind was a reeling!!!
During August we finished up our Summer Sand Volleyball season which I'm happy to get my Monday nights back but I will miss getting the blood pumping! I finally felt like I was getting my groove back after being out for a few seasons due to, well - pregnancy!
One of the biggest highlights was celebrating some bride's to be! I got to attend a bridal shower of my friend Amanda who will be getting married near Nashville TN later this year. Also got to attend a Bachelorette Party in Nashville for my sister-in-law to be! My boots are getting worn in this year that's for sure!!!
I got to bring a little friend home from the Bridal shower with the build your own bouquet bar too - he was cute and fuzzy but I sure didn't want to piss him off, he is known to sting!
The Bachelorette party was a blast and if you read my matchmaking section a potential write off (I don't think my accountant would agree)! We did lot's of fun things everything from bar hopping, boat tours, bull riding, boot scooting, and riding in our first Waymo (ai self driving car...). It was also the first time I've dined anywhere with a bed in the restaurant at Dolly Parton's (RIP) White Limozeen! It was a hoot but I sure did miss my babies back home 😭
We ended August with an experience of a lifetime with some of Eliezer's childhood friends - Full details under the local spotlight section but teaser:
The Portico Experience is Fantastic, Highly Recommended and something I wish I could do every month (I would need to sell A LOT more houses to make that dream come true).
Anyway hopefully this still gives you a nice update (and gives me an outlet other than Facebook still)! Hope your August treated you well and would love to hear about fun things you did, or something you are looking forward to ☺️
📻 Radio Show
Read for a chance to win more FREE TACOS!
Check out this weeks episode featuring Tom Bilyeu from Thrasher Foundation Systems!
You can hear the recording right here!
Also be sure to listen to how you can win a Gift Card to Taqueria El Rey!
All shows will be on KFOR 101.5 FM or 1240 AM at 9:30am on Saturdays
Next show airs this coming Saturday - TBD what we will be giving away so stay tuned!!!
🔦 Local Spotlight
Okay are you looking for a unique experience that exists literally in someone's Lincoln Backyard?!
You need to try The Portico Experience hosted by Chef Kevin Shinn!
It all started during Covid but continues to thrive because of the intimate setting, beautiful stories, delicious food, and curated drinks!
You have to book your spot well in advance and to even get the chance you have to get the invite code!
To request your code check out the site here or email: foodwordsmusic@gmail.com to receive the current password.
We have been patiently waiting for our reservation date and were so excited to experience everything. Our guilty pleasure show was The Bear on Hulu all about fine dining and it really sparked our interest in food! This experience blew all expectations out of the water and we are excited to continue to look for curated food experiences.
The night started with a walk around the garden. Then we enjoyed some socializing and drinks. We were served some delicious appetizers during the cocktail hour. Once we made our way to the table we had a lovely few courses and finished off with dessert and a digestif!
The food was beyond exceptional, the company amazing, and the whole atmosphere just completely on point and we were free to enjoy however we wished! To say I can't wait to do this again is an understatement!
Be sure to watch my reel about our experience too!
Do you know any local experiences we should know about and try out!?!
🌟 Featured Listing
This one is still available! Help us get it sold - It is everything people ask for Brick Ranch 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 stall garage, fenced yard - ALL FOR UNDER $300K!!!
Be sure to share with your friends looking in Lincoln!
Our biggest objection has been the location since it is on N 14th. Honestly though it hasn't been an issue as the road has a turn lane and the driveway is shared with the neighbor so 3 point turns to leave are easy peasy!
Please share to help us get this one sold!
👶🏼👧 Ezrael & Evany Exclusive
I'm referring to this as my kiddos exclusive because the person i'm going to highlight was a major help in birthing these two humans!!!
I just want to highlight our Doula who helped us when we were pregnant with Evelia, was there for Ezrael's birth and continued to be an advocate during Evany's birth.
Our Doula was Mandi Campbell with Beautiful Beginnings Birth Services is doing something really neat! She started offering a new service called, "Call the Doula" it's a chance to get your questions answered without a full doula service commitment.
Have questions about birth, want to explore a natural birth, need guidance but too afraid to ask a friend and get their "terribly dramatic" story - this is your solution!
Speaking from first hand Mandi will support your decisions but also give you information to help you make an informed decision. No question is off the table and she won't make you feel bad for asking anything.
Anyway here is some more info, please don't hesitate to share with your friends trying to get pregnant, are expecting or post partum friends that might just need another perspective!
What services have you found helpful that people need to know about!?
💰 Money Tip
This is an extension of the fight your medical bills and never pay the first bill!
If you read back a few months ago I talked about how I saved over $1,100 on medical bills! Well that has since moved up to over $3,000!!!
Now I'm not excited that I even had to fight the additional $2,300 bill they sent, but i'm happy to say I did not have to pay it!
If you remember from my last time talking about this I negotiated 20% off my final bill. I paid the amount in full and saved about $1,100! Well I had asked for a paid in full statement and that was what I was expecting to see in my mailbox...
Well SURPRISE I got another BILL! 😡
Not at all what we had agreed upon. So my negotiating process began again but this time I was not so polite.
When I received the bill I immediately called billing and asked what in the heck this was for.
They went on to tell me that they sent me a bill for something else and that they also made a mistake and discounted a service they were not supposed to. I firmly but still gently told them, that I was sorry to hear that they messed up but I was promised my bill was paid in full and I was not responsible for the new $2,300 bill.
That started a whole slew of phone calls. I think I spoke with 3 or 4 "supervisors" who always had to ask higher ups what was going on. During one of the calls a supervisor stated they did know about the bill that was sent later ($2,300) when were negotiating previously.
Well, well, well, don't try to pull the wool over my eyes! I held firm and always ended the calls letting them know I am not responsible for the bill and that I thought it was criminal what they were trying to do. You can't promise someone paid in full, tell them to expect that statement in the mail (because they don't email...), and then send them an additional $2,300 bill.
I wasn't having it, and thankfully I held firm because I finally got a call stating my bill balance is at $0! Actually I got two calls stating that the balance was a $0 one for me, and one for Evany. Which don't let me get too on my soap box but on the first call I asked is that EVERYTHING!? To which they said yes, then call me two days later to say the same thing about a different account (so was that really everything?).
Anyway wanted to update everyone and continue to fight the good fight that you should be defending yourself against these predatory systems! I do acknowledge my schedule is quite flexible and does give me the privilege to fight this. My hope though is that other people make this such a pain in the ass for them that they start rethinking their practices so that people who may not have the time resource to fight these can also benefit.
It just makes me very angry that people are being so willfully taken advantage of. Also that most people won't ever question the bills and in turn pay way more than they need to, often being put into tenuous medical debt. The whole system is flawed but I hope this can empower at least one more person to fight back!
Well I'll hop off my soap box but if you ever need someone to help you in your fight, i'm in your corner!
What bills have you had to fight, any tips/tricks?
💸 Free Resources
All of these Free Resources can also be found on our Realtor Matchmaking Site:
You can also find Lincoln Nebraska Local Resources here:
Wanting something else specific? Let me know, i'd love to offer more value!
🎯 Goal Tracking
Accountability 101 - Goal tracking update.
This month wasn't a huge mover on the goals list but we did check another off! Lot's of in the hopper but not in a hurry so we will see how it goes for the rest of the year. Definitely a quieter year than I have seen throughout my career but still have had a solid few closings.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to think of me as their Realtor!
🥂 Cheers
Wishing you all the best!
-Stacy & Eliezer Fernandez
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