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05/25/2011

Calvary United Methodist Church in Allegheny West, Pittsburgh PA The photo above is of a church located in the Allegheny West neighborhood on Pittsburgh's Northside, in truth; this photo doesn't even begin to show just how amazing this building is. Terrifying gargoyles, spires that reach to the sky, St. Andrews Crosses and faces carved into the structure of this building are truly amazing to behold. Inside the gleaming oak ceilings and plasterwork are illuminated by Tiffany stained glass windows. Nestled on Beech Avenue among majestic trees the building is a true masterpiece. Interestingly, it is just one of hundreds of architectural masterpieces that are common in the city of Pittsburgh. Some, like Calvary, have been restored to grandeur and others dilapidated and in danger of disappea... 05/10/2011

If you are looking for a good way to spend Mother's Day weekend in the city, check out the Lawrencville Blossom Tour held on May 7th and 8th, celebrating all things local and spring. You can walk down Butler Street and check out the local artisans, crafters and vendors, and collect a seed packet at each stop on the Blossom Tour. You can find more information here. On the 8th, head over to the Butler Street entrance of the Allegheny Cemetery where the Penn-Del Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) will host the Western Tree Climbing Championship. Beginning at 8am, twenty-five of the region's best male and female arborists will compete for a chance at the state title. Plus the kids can join in with the opportunity to put on a harness and do their own tree climbing. ... 05/04/2011

Official announcement to be held at the Paramount Pictures Film Exchange on May 6th. Pittsburgh, PA, May 4, 2011 – The Young Preservationists Association (YPA) of Pittsburgh has named the Stables Building, in the Allegheny West Neighborhood, as one of 2011’s Top Ten Best Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. Built in 1895, the Stables Building was once home to Allegheny City’s team of working horses. Now it is the only public building remaining attributed to Allegheny City, and a prime development opportunity in a prime location on the Northside. The YPA’s list is released annually and includes endangered historic sites in the Pittsburgh area that are good candidates for preservation and reuse. Since YPA released its first Top Ten List in 2003, more than $80 million has bee... 05/04/2011

I've recently been working with several buyers who are purchasing homes in Pittsburgh with an FHA loan, which has resulted in some interesting challenges. An FHA insured loan is a Federal Housing Administration backed mortgage which is provided by FHA-approved lenders. FHA backed loans have the benefit of allowing for lower down payments and have historically allowed lower income Americans to borrow money for the purchase of a home that they may not otherwise be able to afford. With the tightening of the mortgage market over the last two years FHA backed loans have become very popular, with close 38 percent of all home purchase mortgages, including 60 percent of all African-American and Hispanic home purchases being made using this type of loan in 2010. (Source: www.thetruthaboutmortgag... 04/21/2011

Knowing what the real estate market is like in Pittsburgh is vital when it comes to making the decision of whether or not to develop in one area. Consider several important factors, the value and opportunity to make money varies from one area of Pittsburgh to another. Some places may seem very appealing, but when the area is examined more closely and effectively, the potential income is just not there to be made. How is the real estate market in your area?Unlike some areas of the country, Pittsburgh has a stable real estate market that allows for a safer investment environment with modest returns. If you are planning to develop a property, you will want to properly research the area and gather all the information you may need. Finding a Pittsburgh real estate market that is in the initi... 04/20/2011

7 Steps to a Stress-free Home Closing By doing homework in advance, you’ll understand what you’re asked to sign when you close the sale of your home. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 04/19/2011

New living arrangements offer artists, professionals and entrepreneurs the opportunity to own a space that can serve as both a home and workspace. With so many people working at home these days it is not surprising that the idea of a live/work property is sparking growing interest. Perhaps because of the high-cost of commuting, a desire to live closer to the action of the city or the search for cost-effective solutions for small businesses, finding a home that can do double duty is an idea whose time has come. The USA Today recently reported that “in more than two-thirds of the nation's 51 largest cities, the young, college-educated population in the past decade grew twice as fast within 3 miles of the urban center as in the rest of the metropolitan area” It’s not surprising that the sa... 04/11/2011

The Northside Chronicle 2011 Homebuyer and Home Improvement Guide was released this week. If you are interested in moving to any of the great communities on the Northside or just looking for more information on Home buying it's worth a read. And be sure to check out the "Ask the REALTOR" section featuring yours truly. Learn more about the Northside on my community page. Looking to buy or sell a home on Pittsburgh's Northside? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 04/08/2011

Want to know why Pittsburgh is such a great place for families? (4th best place to raise a baby by Parent's Magazine, Forbes 4th best for working mothers and Forbes 7th best place for family's) Check out the new website, www.pittsburghiskidsburgh.com, for news about all the great family places in our city and a look at the future of Pittsburgh! Pittsburgh is a great city! Relocating your family to Allegheny, Butler or Westmoreland Counties? I can help! Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 03/23/2011

The second annual Geek Art / Green Innovation Festival or GA/GI Festival 2 is coming on April 1st and 2nd. The event showcases the best of eco, technology and the arts here in Pittsburgh. Friday night's "Unblurred" event takes place between 4900-5740 Penn Avenue in Friendship and has over 150 artists, galleries and businesses participating with art, eco and technology displays. Saturday features family activities, artist markets and fashion at the Union Project, Pittsburgh Glass Center and Glass Lofts (which incidentally are cool industrial condos for sale with some big incentives). You can find out more on the GA/GI Festival at their website, http://gagifest11.blogspot.com/ Interested in living green in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (offi... 03/14/2011

Are you a first-time homebuyer in Pittsburgh who is planning to buy a house in the Western Pennsylvania area this spring? Want to share your story and be on HGTV? Here is your chance... MY FIRST PLACE, HGTV’s hit series, is coming back for a tenth season and we’re looking for first-time homebuyers (and their agents!) in the Pittsburgh area RIGHT NOW! We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the home buying process for their first place and would like to share their story with HGTV! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying your first place. Taping takes place this spring. Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic buyers with a unique story to tell and a desire to share their experiences! Singles, couples and families... 03/08/2011

It is important to understand the language used in real estate and what different terms mean, whether you are thinking of buying or selling a Pittsburgh property. The terms used in real estate are relatively easy for the most part, but there a few words you may not have heard before. Below are some commonly used terms and their definitions to help you better understand what your real estate agent is talking about. Multiple Listing Services ® This is a database that is shared amongst real estate agents that lists different properties that are up for sale. This data can only be accessed by the member agents, who are then able to show it to the general public. Title Insurance Policy A title insurance policy is set in place by the borrower to protect the lender and you from any future claim... 03/07/2011

The thought of relocating to Pittsburgh is a big and exciting adventure. You are probably anxiously waiting for the day when you will finally settle into your new home. Only one nightmare separates you from your dream home, and that is moving. Moving is not an easy task and a lot of planning is required to make the relocation to Pittsburgh easy and stress-free. You also want to protect your property from damage during the move and wrap up any loose ends with your old house. Here are some tips that will help make moving and settling down into your new home much easier.  Pack up: Pack all your belonging in protective moving boxes. Weigh and label each box to keep track of moving charges that are calculated using weight. Check for insurance: Find out if the moving company or the insurance ... 03/03/2011

A much lamented statistic that has plagued Pittsburgh for many years may be finally turning around in our favor. The migration out of the city by young adults in their mid-20s has for the first time in many years turned in our favor with Pittsburgh actually seeing a .30 increase in retention for the 2007-2009 period as reported in a recent study from the Brookings Institution by researcher William Frey. That's up from a .83 decrease in the years of 2005-2007. Since young adults are most likely to move, this statistic is especially important because "brain drain" sets a city up for problems in the future while positive inflow leads to people who may eventually stay, build companies, buy houses, have families and and contribute to growth their communities. A number of theories for this ch... 02/09/2011

Okay, I have been a Steelers fan my whole life, and here we are!  2 1/2 hours away from Super Bowl XLV.  I remember the 1st time I was a serious football fan and they won the Super Bowl against Seatle.  Boy was that ever an exciting moment.  Now, here we are at the Super Bowl for the 2nd time since that win.  I feel very lucky to LOVE the Steelers because it seems that they go every other year.  Oh wait, they do!  At least for the last 6 years.      So what is going to be the key to win this Super Bowl?  I believe that it is going to be defence.  I think that Troy Polamalu is going to be key to a victory against Aaron Rodgers and his offence.  We've all seen some highlights of Polamalu and his unpredictable goal line shut outs!  But in this game he's really going to have to think fast. ... 02/06/2011

  Lee & I lived in Pittsburgh during the “Steel Curtain”...  The Steeler defense that is, mean Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood style.  Back when Lynne Swann and John Stallworth were the best receivers in Steeler history.  What a ride it was for us while we lived in Pittsburgh, and continued for the Steelers winning Super Bowl Championships; 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 2006, and 2009.  (Their only Super Bowl loss so far is to the Dallas Cowboys in 1995 at Super Bowl XXIX.)Now there is one Super Bowl Sunday that really sticks out predominately in my memory: Super bowl XIV - January 20th, 1980.  Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams to win their fourth Super Bowl in team history.As Terry Bradshaw was preparing for his moves on the field, I was having a baby.  In Pittsburgh at Magee ... 02/06/2011

This information got sent to me by a friend and I wanted to pass it on... Fighting cancer is difficult enough, but living with it is even tougher - and that's where the Cleaning for A Reason Foundation steps in. This nonprofit offers free professional housecleaning, and maid services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer. If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and curr... 01/29/2011

Get downtown tonight for the Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District. From 5:30 until 9:00 you can visit the galleries, watch dance performances, participate in the cell phone disco (you'll just have to go to find out what that is), sample fare by Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, see fire dancers and listen to the music. If you have not had a chance to attend before it's a great event for all ages. (The photo is from First Night on New Year's Eve, another great event in the Cultural District!) Get the complete schedule here>> Planning to buy or sell a home in Pittsburgh, PA? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 01/28/2011