January 2025 - Newsletter
- Stacy Fernandez
- Jan 20
- 8 min read
Hello friends,
If you are reading this THANK YOU!
This year it is my goal to take all of the amazing information I am exposed to and actually share it. No point in gatekeeping it or trying some extravagant way to disperse it. With that in mind please note this is a work in progress, will not be perfect and is not all inclusive, so as long as our expectations are aligned this should be fun!
My plan is to put out a Monthly Newsletter so that you can keep your finger on the pulse of a few different things. It won't always be the same and it won't always be only business - I am a human too and have other interests (though a lot of them involve real estate...).
Consistent items to expect from this are:
Quick Lincoln NE Area Market Snapshot
Realtor Matchmaking (what that means and how I can help)
A personal Note from Your Favorite Realtor
Free Resources
Goal Tracking
Other things that you may gain from this Newsletter depending how motivated I am that month could include but are not limited to:
Money Tips & Tricks
Giving Back
What's Happening Locally
Things I Love (or think you should know about)
Gizmo's World (a wiener dogs perspective on life)
Ezrael's Corner (my son's exclusive feature - tbd what that actually means)
Recipes
Book Recommendations or Reviews
Featured Listings
Real Estate Requests
Whatever my little heart desires to write to you about!
Well thank you for getting through that! I'd love feedback throughout this process so if there is something you would like touched on I will do my best, or if you absolutely hate it, i'd like to know that too.
Without Further Adieu please enjoy my first 2025 Newsletter!
Lincoln NE Area Market Snapshot
Realtor Matchmaking
What is Realtor Matchmaking?!
Being matched with a Realtor that fits your specific situation.
Who needs a Realtor Matchmaker?
Everyone considering buying or selling real estate.
What if i'm not local?
That's fantastic! I can help you find a qualified agent anywhere in the USA (& World)! Who better to vet someone than a person that does the business.
What does it cost?
Nothing! When I match you with an agent once you close I get a referral fee (a portion of the agent's commission).
How does it work?
We get on a discovery call. During our call we go over your situation, goals, and needs. After I have that information I find you an agent that is best suited to achieve your goals. Once I have vetted the potential agent I get you guys connected and you are off to the races!
I'm not buying/selling but a friend is, what should I do?
Send them my way! Shoot me a text, email or call with their information and I'll get in touch. Make sure I have your address so I can send you a thank you too!
Learn more and hear a case study on a successful match made on this podcast episode interviewing Eliezer (my husband and business partner) and myself!
A Note from Your Favorite Realtor
Just want to express my gratitude for all those who have supported my business! 2024 was an exciting year of helping all kinds of people. I'm pretty terrible at tracking my sales and comparing them to years past but I think it went well. However what made the biggest impact was the people.
In 2024 we helped 20 people buy/sell/invest. It was really exciting and I learned a lot because we had all kinds of stories. Our stories included families relocating back to Nebraska from out of state to be closer to family. Families moving states because they were moved bases. We experienced some of D's of real estate Death, Divorce and Downsizing. We also got to help a few first time home buyers start their journey to creating lasting wealth and memories. We really hit it all this year!
Our industry as a whole had a lot of turmoil with lawsuits and practice changes. Many of which was a hot topic in the real estate world but has helped us to adapt our business practices, encouraging agents to make things more clear and I believe will weed out some bad apples.
It was a year of trying new things some that have already been touched on in this email (Realtor Matchmaking), tried some affiliate marketing (#WannabeInfluencer #Failing), continued regular real estate business, got to be creative in the video marketing process and what not. All this while navigating life as a new mom with an increasingly active toddler (aka showing assistant).
I think it is worth mentioning here how I'm looking to change my business and expand what we offer. I have total imposter syndrome about this so it makes me nervous but why not lay it on the line (it's pretty unlikely you are still reading at this point anyway). I would like to make my real estate career less location dependent. I love what I do getting to help people but I really love spending time with my Son and teaching him all about this beautiful world. He still comes along to many appointments and will one day Love or Hate real estate because of it.
Don't worry I will still be working locally for a long time, but I would like to transition most of my business to helping match people with Realtors wherever they are! In addition to that educating people on how to buy or sell a house. With this ever changing market I feel there is a need for these things. Most people don't strategically pick a Realtor. They either found them from calling the sign or online listing or if they are lucky were referred to them by someone they know. Having been in the industry since 2018 I have seen first hand when someone would be better off with another agent educated in their specific situation/location. It's also much easier for me to vet another agent because I understand the business and know when someone is blowing smoke up someone else's ____ (you fill in the blank).
Anyway if I haven't bored you to death be on the lookout for more information about this. If you want to support the cause and help me become less location dependent send me your friends/family/coworkers/strangers that are going to be needing an agent. I'd like to Matchmake them!
Lastly a little personal life update we just returned from Panama (the country) and got to introduce Ezrael to his Great Grandma or Bisabuela and some other Tio/Tias (Aunts and Uncles)! It was a great time basking in the sun, eating some yummy food and spending quality time with family we don't get to see much! Here are a few sneak peak pictures too!
The trip was a nice getaway from work and cold weather. We enjoyed checking out Panama City, playing on the black sand beaches, breathing in the fresh mountain air, picking and roasting our own coffee and watching a huge ship pass through the Panama Canal. It wouldn't be a Fernandez Family Vacation without some sort of headache... We had a surprisingly okay time being stranded on the side of the road for a few hours - travel tip: don't expect Panamanian Police to stop and help! The main reason we went on the trip was to meet Eliezer's grandmother. It did not disappoint! For years I have been told of the blessings you can receive from a prayer from Grandma Gustinez. She gave us a very loving and kind prayer and I feel honored to have gotten that experience!
Back to reality and this blog, let's make this blog an open communication! I'd love to hear more about your life updates, goals, or anything else you've been wanting to share but no one has asked about!
Free Resources
All of these Free Resources can also be found on our Realtor Matchmaking Site:
Wanting something else specific? Let me know, i'd love to offer more value!
Goal Tracking
To help hold myself accountable I'm going to be publicly tracking my goals this year...
How fun and scary!
As I help people achieve their real estate goals i'm going to mark them off by changing the back circle to my signature yellow! As you can see there are 30 houses on my goal list. That means I would like to help 30 people (can be repeat) buy, sell or invest in real estate.
My half-baked idea is that at the end of the year (possibly fiscal year or start of 2026, since the end of the year is so filled with Holidays), is to have a big party and celebrate those who helped me along the way. Obviously I have to hit my goal to make it happen but just know, if you help me achieve it you are on the invite list!
Would love your input, what do you think would be a fun event or party? A few ideas that have popped into my head are: Dueling Pianos, Murder Mystery Dinner, Drinks and Dancing. Let me know what you would love to attend and let's make this happen together!
Money Saving Tip
If you buy gas or eat at restaurants this could save you some extra cash!
There is an app called Upside (formerly Get Upside) that gives you cash back for gas, restaurants and convenience purchases. I've been using it for a couple of years and have been stockpiling my cash back.
As you can see there are a lot of places (this screen shot is Lincoln, NE) that offer cash back! I actually learned about this app on a radio ad when we were in Arizona for vacation. This app is Nationwide, so you can use it on road trips or even refer your friends and family to get your own referral bonus!
I referred my husband and Dad so I get some referral rewards from them using it too! My brother-in-law (who went through Eliezer's referral link) uses it a lot for restaurants in Omaha and I know he has racked up some serious cash back!
You cash out to your bank account, or get all kinds of digital giftcards.
If you want to try it out by using MY referral link you will get an extra 15 cents/gallon on your first time using the app.
Use promo code 8JVY3 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase. https://upside.app.link/8JVY3
What money saving apps do you use and love?
Giving Back
Every year the Realtors Association of Lincoln does an annual Sock Drive for the Lincoln People's City Mission.
We accept used (yes including holey, mismatched or singles) socks, new or even just a donation. Don't worry the holey, used ones get recycled, a huge fundraiser for the People's City Mission.
If you are cleaning out your sock drawers because Santa got the memo you needed some new ones, please don't throw them out, I'll take them! Just let me know and I can schedule a time to pick them, or if you are in my neck of the woods you can drop them off whenever.
Want to learn more about the impact and the fundraiser check out the video about the event (you might even get to see some shots of Stacy circa Covid era):
Featured Listing
Calling all of you dreaming of a homestead of your own but not committing because you aren't sure where to start and don't want to overcommit!
Sort of kidding!
Well if you really have dreamed about having a small acreage I have the perfect listing for you! Located just 20ish minutes SW of Lincoln our listing at 14133 Raegan Lane, Crete NE 68333 is a fantastic home to check out.
It is a New Build 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 3 stall garage, open concept living area with a massive pantry and beautiful views of your 3.09 acres. It is still in the construction phase with a goal finish date of April 2025. There is still a little bit of time to pick finishes if you act fast (flooring, tile, and paint). Listed at $579,000 in the New Butterfly Acres development!
For more details here is the link:
Another one of our goals that has not been mentioned is to give back more! When this property sells we are going to be doing just that in honor of our daughter Evelia Jean Fernandez who we lost at 22 weeks in 2022.
Cheers
Well thank you for reading this and wishing you a successful January 2025, and Happy New Year from the Fernandez Family!
I’m so proud of our daughter and son in law. They have a lot of drive and ambition, all while the consideration of others needs and wishes. I truly wish there were more people like them in this world!