October 2025 - Newsletter
- Stacy Fernandez
- Oct 31
- 13 min read
Happy Halloween 🎃 👻
This blog is filled with lots of treats no tricks!
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📸 Lincoln NE Area Market Snapshot
We are seeing a lot more of what we are feeling in the market with these stats. More listings, less sales, lower prices, and longer days on market. If you are a seller these are not what you want to see sadly. If you are a buyer this is a great sign that you might be able to get a better deal than before! Historically this is the time of year that it slows down anyway but myself and other agents in the office are definitely feeling the market cooling.
The average days on market for Lincoln in 22 days and I would expect that to increase to even higher next month. Now I don't think we will be in the it takes 6 months to sell a house situation 🤞 but I would expect at least 1 month and potentially more if your house isn't in HGTV condition. Don't be surprised if to get things moving you need to do some significant price cuts, we are seeing those all over the market right now.
If you are a buyer that has been on the sidelines now is time to start prepping to take action. Sellers are very used to quick moving markets and they are getting nervous when there are very few showings, and no offers. They would love to see some sort of an offer (even if it isn't the best) because it gives them something to negotiate on. As a buyer you can likely get away with asking for decent credits to reduce closing costs or lower interest rates which make it more affordable for you. That could be on top of already reduced prices. Aka this is much more of a buyers market and that means you the buyer have the power.
👫 Realtor Matchmaking
You know that friend that is Single and looking to Mingle and you think wow if only I could hook them up with the perfect person?
That's what I do, but for Real Estate!
Let's say your at a wedding and someone at the table mentions they got a promotion and will be moving. What do you do?
Tell them congratulations and keep the small talk going.
What if you could be the person that adds some value in their life!? Wouldn't that feel more invigorating than just asking more bland questions?
Well guess what, you can be!
Let the friend know you are going to set them up with a Realtor Matchmaker!
Someone who can help find them the right person for the job.
Someone who will be there with them along the way as a sounding board.
Someone who will celebrate with them!
Then put me in a group text with them or send me their number and I can take it from there.
It's really easy plus you will have been a helpful resource and added value to someone's life!
That is pretty cool! I'll be sure to send you a nice thank you as well 😊
Or you can fill out this info on this link here:
Click to be Matched or Refer Someone Else!
📝 A Note from Your Favorite Realtor
Our favorite holiday is today and we are so excited to celebrate with our tradition of Halloween Spaghetti!
Ezrael is excited to be a 🎃, a happy pumpkin to be exact 🥰. Eliezer is going to be a scarecrow, I will be the farmer growing pumpkins and we will have an extra little hairy pumpkin with Gizmo sporting his own pumpkin costume. When we asked Ezrael what he wanted to be the only thing he said this year was a pumpkin. We thought maybe a fireman was on the roster since he is obsessed with Blippi's Fire Truck Song, but it didn't make the cut.
The whole month of October has been an pretty enjoyable one! We went camping with family and friends, visited pumpkin patches 4 different times, celebrated 2 weddings one in Arkansas, moved Ezrael up into his big boy room, Ezrael went to his first Husker game , and we finished off the camping season with a little Halloween camping.
Real estate side of life has been a little different, things have really slowed down a lot on the listing side. Houses are sitting, buyers are backing out and are hesitant to even put in offers. We have had a few more buyer consultations but most are browsing and not in a hurry.
I've been having some fun with ChatGPT and got creative making a video for one of our listings. Just trying to do something a little different to draw some interest. Check it out here and be sure to share it so you can get entered into a drawing for a Friendsgiving Game!
Also please enjoy these AI Bloopers. It is crazy what AI can do but sometimes it just can't get it quite right (that or I suck at prompting it correctly)... It seems when you mention one idea for a certain photo it tries to incorporate it into every photo. Also see if you can peek the hybrid dogs and weird faces. Oh and spelling is hard!
My personal favorite was asking it to make a photo of ours fall themed (see the before and afters) and how it completely changed our faces, then trying again and it ads kids playing cards. 🤣
With Friendsgiving and the holiday season approaching very quickly it will be here and gone before we know it! Which also means we will be adding another Fernandez to the world 🤰🏼Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant and will be holding a tiny human in a mere matter of months. Are we ready...? Are you ever? It will definitely be a transition but I think Ezrael is excited to be a big brother!
On a side note I have really been contemplating hosting some sort of event at my house that gets people together potluck style and doing something fun. My goal from it would be to connect people from different parts of our sphere that would benefit from knowing each other. My mind has gone through a lot of ideas from crafting parties, soup exchanges, good ole fashioned dinner parties, book reviews, puzzle exchanges, game nights and even crazy ideas like matchmaking single friends. Kids included and excluded. I really want it to be a variety of people so we can reconnect with people we don't see often. If any of those interest you please let me know and if I get around to actually doing it I'll make sure you are on the list! Just be prepared to meet some new people and give me grace if my hosting skills are rusty.
Well thanks for tuning into another edition of what's going on in the Fernandez Family. Hope you are excited and getting geared up for a relaxing holiday season! Would love to know what everyone is up to do feel free to give us an update anytime.
Again Happy Halloween and look forward to a season of Gratitude, good food, friends and family!
🔦 Local Business Spotlight
Pita and Naan
🗓️Mark your Calendars for Thursday, November 6th. We'll be dining at Pita and Naan because they will be matching and doubling all meals sold and making a donation to the Matt Talbot Kitchen!
I want to highlight this amazing restaurant in Downtown Lincoln. Not only do they have delicious food and are run and owned by an awesome family - they help out their community!
They just announced on Facebook that they will be doing more community outreach by matching the meals made on certain days and donating to different local organizations like The Food Bank of Lincoln & Matt Talbot Kitchen, that feed our hungry. In addition to that they work with another local non-profit To The Brim Communities to donate leftovers.
In the past they have been volunteers for the Realtors Association of Lincoln (see if you can find me on the webpage 😉) YPN Where to Wednesday featured restaurants, where they volunteered to donate a portion of their profits to The Food Bank of Lincoln. They really are great advocates for the community and if you have the means to support them you absolutely should! Plus their food is DELICIOUS!
What local businesses do you like that support our community!?
💰 Money Saving Tip
With the holidays fast approaching I'm combining a money saving tip and recipes! You will likely have some plans coming up that involve Thanksgiving foods whether that is a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving with family.
Don't be shy on taking left overs this year because we are going to use them to meal prep for the next week and save you from buying another weeks worth of groceries (maybe more if you bring your own storage containers to take home with you!).
So check it out:
Here’s a Thanksgiving Leftover Meal Prep Plan that turns all your holiday extras into delicious, ready-to-go meals for the week — so you save money and time. I’ll include 5 days of recipes (using typical leftovers like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and veggies) plus a prep plan and storage tips.
🦃 Thanksgiving Leftover Meal Prep Plan
🗓️ Overview
Prep time: 1–2 hours on Friday
Storage: Meals last up to 4 days refrigerated or 2 months frozen
Focus: Easy, budget-friendly, and reuses common leftovers creatively
Day 1 – Turkey Cranberry Wraps
Use up: Turkey, cranberry sauce, greens, cheese
Ingredients:
Whole wheat wraps or tortillas
Sliced leftover turkey
2 tbsp cranberry sauce
Handful of spinach or arugula
1–2 tbsp cream cheese or brie
Directions: Spread cream cheese on a wrap, add turkey, cranberry sauce, and greens. Roll tightly and slice in half.
Storage: 2–3 days in fridge
Day 2 – Mashed Potato Pancakes
Use up: Mashed potatoes, cheese, green onions
Ingredients:
2 cups mashed potatoes
1 egg
¼ cup flour (or breadcrumbs)
½ cup shredded cheese
2 tbsp chopped green onions
Salt, pepper to taste
Directions: Mix everything together. Form into small patties and pan-fry in oil until golden, 3–4 minutes per side.
Serve with: leftover gravy or sour cream
Storage: 3 days in fridge, reheat in air fryer or skillet
Day 3 – Stuffing Breakfast Muffins
Use up: Stuffing, turkey, cheese, eggs
Ingredients:
2 cups stuffing
½ cup chopped turkey
½ cup shredded cheese
6 eggs, whisked
Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix stuffing, turkey, and cheese. Divide into greased muffin tin. Pour whisked eggs over each cup. Bake 20–25 minutes.
Storage: 4 days in fridge, 2 months frozen
Day 4 – Turkey Veggie Soup
Use up: Turkey, gravy, roasted veggies, broth scraps
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded turkey
1–2 cups leftover veggies (carrots, green beans, corn, etc.)
4 cups broth (or diluted leftover gravy)
1 cup rice, noodles, or potatoes
Herbs: thyme, garlic, parsley
Directions: Simmer all ingredients 20–25 minutes. Season to taste.
Storage: 4 days in fridge or freeze up to 3 months
Day 5 – Cranberry Oat Bars
Use up: Cranberry sauce
Ingredients:
1½ cups rolled oats
1 cup flour (or almond flour)
½ cup butter or coconut oil
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
1 cup cranberry sauce
Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix oats, flour, and butter until crumbly. Press half into greased 8x8 pan, spread cranberry sauce, and top with remaining oat mix. Bake 25–30 minutes.
Storage: 4–5 days in airtight container
🧺 Prep Plan
On Friday, portion out your leftovers.
Make the soup and cranberry bars first — they freeze well.
Prep the wraps and pancakes for weekend lunches.
Bake stuffing muffins for quick breakfasts.
Store all meals in labeled containers for grab-and-go convenience.
Download the PDF for easy printing!
Meal prepping is a big way to save some money! Considering we have been known to spend about 1/3 of our budgets on food we can cut that down by planning and preparing. What are your favorite food budgeting hacks?!
🏘️ House Tip
Not too long ago our tenants dryer was not drying much at all. We were really surprised because when we renovated the property every single appliance was brand new... Now it has been a few years since the renovation but less than 5 years so we were a little dumbfounded to hear it wasn't working.
That is when we discovered the Dryer vent needed a cleaning, bad!
The dryer was a newer unit but the line that exhausted it was not, it was also very long and went through the roof. That brings us to our home tip for you!
🍂 Clean & Inspect Your Dryer Vent — Not Just the Lint Trap
Most people clean the lint trap after each load, but lint also builds up inside the dryer vent hose and exterior vent, which can drastically reduce efficiency and is one of the leading causes of house fires each year.
💡 Why it matters:
A clogged vent makes your dryer work harder, increasing your energy bill by 20–30%.
Lint is highly flammable — over 15,000 dryer fires happen annually in the U.S.
Fall is the perfect time to do this, before winter when heavier clothes and blankets are drying more often.
🧰 How to do it:
Unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall.
Disconnect the vent hose and vacuum it out using a shop vac or dryer vent brush kit.
Go outside and check that the exterior vent flap opens freely and isn’t clogged with lint, leaves, or nests.
If the vent run is long or hard to access, consider a professional cleaning ($75–$150) — worth it for safety and energy savings.
🍁 Bonus tip:
Mark your calendar to do this every fall — it’ll make your dryer last longer and your laundry dry faster.
What annual maintenance hacks do you do that save you money and headaches in the long run?
🤝 Giving Back
In light of everything going on Food Insecurity is a big concern nationally and locally. We wanted to share some resources that are local to us and make a big difference in the community! I think in a world of social media it is really easy to get caught up in all the doom and gloom, our goal by sharing this is to get off the socials and do something to help. It will make us all feel better by taking some action and lending a helping hand 😇
Here are a list of local Food Pantries that are accepting donations, as well as a map of our Little Free Pantries in Lincoln. If you haven't already bought your Halloween Candy i'd suggest buying food staples instead to hand out. Things like applesauce, canned goods, ramen, single serving items like cereals, microwavable rice packets, etc.
🥫 Lincoln, Nebraska – Food Resources Guide
If there’s one thing I love about Lincoln, it’s how this community shows up for each other — especially when it comes to making sure no one goes hungry. Whether you need a little extra help this season or want to give back, here are some incredible local organizations making a difference.
📍 1221 Kingbird Rd, Lincoln, NE 68521
☎️ 402-466-8170
The Food Bank of Lincoln runs mobile food distributions all over the city — you’ll see them set up in parking lots, schools, and community centers. They offer both fresh and shelf-stable foods, and there’s no ID or paperwork required, which makes it super accessible.
👉 I always recommend checking their Food Finder tool on the website for the latest schedule — they cover a ton of neighborhoods!
📍 1135 Eastridge Dr, Lincoln, NE 68510
Located inside Eastridge Presbyterian Church, this pantry helps families in Southeast Lincoln who need emergency groceries.
💡 This one’s great to share with friends or neighbors who live on the east side — it’s more of a neighborhood-based pantry vs. a large citywide distribution, so it’s personal and easy to access.
📍 Multiple Lincoln sites
FoodNet focuses on rescued food — fresh produce, bread, dairy, and other perishable items that might otherwise go to waste. Everything they distribute is free, and they set up at different spots around Lincoln each week.
🍎 I love this one because it’s all about keeping good food out of landfills and getting it onto people’s tables instead. Especially during fall and winter, the fresh fruits and veggies they provide make such a difference.
📍 2625 Potter St, Lincoln, NE 68503
Open Tuesday through Friday from 12–3:30 p.m. (and with produce & bread hours on Tuesday and Friday mornings), this pantry provides steady, reliable service for anyone who needs it.
💬 If you know someone looking for consistent weekly help, this is a dependable option — and The Salvation Army is always welcoming volunteers, too.
📍 2241 O St, Lincoln, NE 68510
The CSS Food Market uses a “Choice Pantry” model, which means families can walk through and choose what they need — meats, dairy, produce, pantry staples — just like grocery shopping.
💛 I really appreciate this setup because it restores a sense of dignity and normalcy for families. It’s not just about food; it’s about choice, independence, and care.
📍 6800 P St, Lincoln, NE 68505
☎️ 402-475-6888
People’s City Mission is one of Lincoln’s most well-known nonprofits, and their Help Center provides groceries, household goods, and clothing to families and individuals in need — no questions asked. They also serve daily meals at the Mission’s shelter downtown.
🍲 I love that they make it so easy to both receive help or give help — you can drop off donations, volunteer, or even host a mini drive with your workplace or neighborhood group. Every little bit counts here.
🧺 How You Can Help
If you’re in a place to give back this fall, these organizations are always in need of:
Non-perishable foods like canned soups, beans, rice, pasta, and shelf-stable proteins
Volunteers to help sort, pack, and distribute food
Monetary donations (every dollar goes further than you think!)
Social shares — seriously, just sharing this list helps connect resources to people who might not know they exist
Let’s keep showing up for each other, Lincoln. 💛
🥫🗺️Free Pantries Map in Lincoln
Are there any other resources I am missing?
💸 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.
We got to help a family sell their home to some family friends recently. It was not my typical transaction as there was no marketing involved. Both sides of the transaction were great, kind and achieved their overall goals! Glad I get to keep in contact with both of them and look forward to seeing how this works out for them in the future. I also got a contact for Tamales - so if you are ever feeling hungry and needing the inside scoop let me know!
Small changes lead to big results... Right? Well my goals tracker is a little slow filling out this year but that is A-OK. I enjoy what I do for a living and I have some business in the pipeline so that is good news! I have a few listings live on the market that I would love to get sold and another coming soon. Eliezer and I have had a few more buyers consultations so at some point they will buy as well.
Do I expect to hit my goals? Heck no, but am I still going to put my best foot forward and try? Darn right!
I'm so thankful for the business I do have and the people that trust me to help them with their real estate needs! Real estate is a lot like life in that crazy things happen all the time, things don't always go to plan and we adjust. In most cases in the long-term it is for the better it is just hard to see it at the time. I just love that I get to help people with big life changes and it is a bonus to be compensated for it too.
As always Referrals are my biggest source of business and I would love to be that helpful resource for your friends and family!
🥂 Cheers
Wishing you a beautiful season of Gratitude filled with Friends, Family and Good Food!
-The Fernandez Family
