The home of the Corn Huskers, Nebraska is considered one of the bread baskets of the U.S., producing multiple farm crops by the millions of tons. With the capitol of the state in Lincoln, the state also has major urban centers in Omaha, Kearney, Bellevue, North Platte, and Grand Island. The state is home to the great Wall Street wizard of investment, Warren Buffett, and is also famous for Scotts Bluff National Monument. A large portion of the state falls under federal park management or federal forest service control. The state population is fairly sparse across the territory, with a dotting of towns and more concentration towards the eastern side. Major industries in the state include agriculture, energy production, and tourism. The state also has a good selection of universities, a few of which appear in major college sporting events regularly.
The Cornhusker State is home to 1.8 million Americans, making it the 37th most populous state. By area, it is 16th largest, giving Nebraska one of the ten lowest population densities in the United States. The NE economy produces about $90 billion annually, giving residents a per capita income of around $32,000. The production of corn, beef, and pork are major drivers of this economy.
As of this writing, the average home in NE is valued at $130,000, a nearly 9% improvement over last year. Based on median home sales across the state, home values are clustered very tightly around this median; there are neither extremely expensive nor extremely inexpensive cities in NE, though that may not hold at a neighborhood level. Papillion has the highest median sales price at nearly $300,000, while Scottsbluff and Bellevue have the lowest at around $150,000.
Population: 454,714
Omaha is famous as the home of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, and it has recently been in the news for NFL quarterback Peyton Manning using the city's name in his play calling. Omaha is one of the 50 biggest US states and, with a population of nearly 900,000, it is one of the 60 largest metropolitan areas. Omaha's economy is very diverse, with many jobs available in insurance, telecom, construction, and more.
Population: 254,008
Lincoln, NE's capital, is also the state's second largest city. The top local employers are the state, the public school system, the University of Nebraska, and the US federal government. In 2013, Forbes ranked Lincoln as one of the best places in the United States for business and you career.
Population: 49,704
Bellevue, founded in the 1830's, is a historic city; in fact, its motto is "Nebraska's oldest city". Bellevue has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. In the 1990's alone, it grew by about 50%.
No matter where you live, finding the right financial institution is a very important decision to get right. Residents of Nebraska will find a large number of trusted local banks ready to serve, a number of large credit unions, and branches of well-known banks like Wells Fargo. Below, you'll find a sampling of each, along with links to our reviews where applicable.
Which bank is right for you? The answer to that question will depend on a combination of what you're looking for - relationships or great technology, for example - geographical convenience, and, of course, the best rates.
Community banks & local lenders:
Biggest NE credit unions:
The national banks:
Different banks have different specialities, and you'll want to shop around to get the best interest rate on your financial products. You can use RateZip.com's free financial search engine to compare CD's, savings accounts, checking accounts and more, all at the click of your mouse.
For Nebraska transplants, RateZip.com can help in securing better mortgage rates. By filling out a few simple details like where you live and how much you're looking to borrow, you will receive quotes from multiple lenders. From there, you can see how rates and fees stack up and make an informed decision. For current residents of the Cornhusker State, RateZip makes refinancing simple.
The most popular home loans in Nebraska are fixed rate mortgages. These are popular because they offer payment security - your monthly payment will not change for the entire life of the mortgage loan. At the other end of the spectrum is the adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). These have fallen out of popularity recently with today's historically low rates, but as rates rise they will make a comeback. ARMs offer a low initial payment which then adjusts according to market interest rates once per year.
Other options to be aware of are USDA home loans, FHA mortgages, and VA loans. These are all government sponsored programs to help first time home buyers, individuals with lower incomes or less than perfect credit, veterans, and other groups who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage.
