The national picture is not very pretty when it comes to housing, but how about here in the metro?

Todd Menard's building company has been thriving, despite the slow real estate market. “We're a smaller builder, we build between 10-15 homes a year and this is going to be one of our best years yet,” says Gloria Osborn of Todd Menard Builders.

As a smaller builder, they only build a few models in a price range that is already oversaturated, the $200-$350,000 range.

"You've got a lot of potential buyers in that price range,” says Prudential president Vince Liesey. “We have seen that price range get beat up a little bit worse than other price ranges.”

Vince says this price range took a major hit when Benchmark Homes filed for bankruptcy two years ago. "Clearly, the Benchmark home struck home and localized what was going on on a national basis. It caused some downward pressures in that $200-$350 price range which was primarily where Benchmark had listed."

Vince's company was in charge of selling more than 100 of those homes. It took two years, but now only one remains on the market. Vince says in Omaha, homes in two price ranges are selling quickly: Those under $150,000 and homes over $500,000.

If you have a home between $200-$300,000 sitting on the market, "The two most critical things is price it right, but even more important, make sure it's updated, that it's uncluttered and that it's staged."

Real estate agents say it all still comes down to location. The hottest selling properties/neighborhoods are off the elevated West Dodge Expressway. Agents say supply and demand is balancing out and you won't see as many spec homes sitting empty.

Leisey also tells us he has not seen a big increase in foreclosures in the Omaha area, but banks are tightening down on lending both to buyers and builders.