I hope you had a wonderful summer, for real estate in Pittsburgh it was a bit of a mixed message. Like most of the country prices have continued to climb, but with inventory so low, buyer's are struggling to find homes that they want. Since last August we have seen a 4.7% increase in the median sale price, but a 24.8% decrease in the number of sales. As always, good homes, that are priced right, get snapped up quickly, some are even getting multiple offers, which explains the rise in prices. On the flip side, it has become increasingly common for buyer's to get discouraged and put off a purchase altogether. What's the take away? If you have been thinking of selling, now is a good time to be in the market, particularly if your home is around the median home price in our area, where the... 09/25/2014

If you live in Allegheny County and are thinking about making energy improvements to your home this year then take a look at the Healthy Homes Incentive Program (HHIP). Owners who make energy efficiency investments of $5,000 or more, can get up to an additional $2,500 for even deeper improvements.The HHIP program will help with identifying financing options, select an energy auditor and home energy contractor and ensure the work is completed to the highest standards. You can get more information on the website at www.healthyhomespgh.org. 09/22/2014

  Keller Williams Realty the number #2 real estate broker in the country opens new office in City Pittsburgh. Keller Williams Realty opened a new real estate brokerage in the City of Pittsburgh to complement established offices in the suburbs.  KW expanded pressence in Pittsburgh with the opening of the new office in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood located 5425 Baum Blvd.  Phase one of the office is completed and phase two of construction which will add new offices for is underway.   I joined the KW office in July of 2012 after learning about how KW could help me grow my business and better meet the needs of my clients and I have enjoyed seeing our office slowly grow.      About Keller Williams Realty | Best Real Estate Business Model   Keller Williams Realty was founded in 1983 and... 08/20/2014

Relocating to Pittsburgh, PA? Moving, retiring, relocating or looking for investment property or real estate in Pittsburgh or Downtown Pittsburgh?  We can help with all of your Pittsburgh relocation and Pittsburgh real estate needs.  Contact The Caplan Group to send you a relocation packet with detailed information about relocating to Pittsburgh, liz@pittsburghhomesite.com, 412-302-2645. Not sure which Pittsburgh neighborhood is right for you?  Deciding between living in the CIty of Pittsburgh or one of the convenient suburbs.  Do you need information about local Pittsburgh schools, Pittsburgh employers, Pittsburgh local taxes, and financing?  Whether you're relocating to Pittsburgh, PA for a new job, to further your education, retire or invest in real estate we can help make your move ... 08/20/2014

One of the documents you will be given as a seller is the Seller's Disclosure. This is a 6 page (in PA) document where you will be asked to fill out listing everything you know about your home.   For many sellers, their inclination is to only present their home in the best light, and while this can be tempting, the seller disclosure should not be looked at as a sales tool, because in reality is is a liability reduction tool. By revealing up-front everything you know about the home, honestly and to the best of your knowledge, you are preventing the six most dreaded words... "I was never told about that".   These are six words usually uttered by the buyer after their inspection or worse, after their closing, when something has gone wrong in the home. The fact is, homes break, even well b... 08/06/2014

Tomorrow night in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville Neighborhood a group of local agents will be throwing open their doors and inviting everyone in to come take a look at what the neighborhood has to offer. If you are interested in moving to the neighborhood this is the night to have a look. Homes will be open from 5-7pm, Thursday, May 22nd. Maps will be available at all the locations. Come on down and find your dream home! 05/21/2014

Did you know that the average age of Pittsburgh housing is 55 years old, that is compared to just 37 years old for the country as a whole. Even more outstanding is the fact that 22 of the 90 neighborhoods in the city have an average home age of over 100 years old. If you own an older homes, the coming cold weather may mean higher utility bills and a chilly home. But there is help! ReEnergize Pgh is focused on helping homeowners find cost effective ways to make their homes more comfortable to live in and less expensive to operate. We recently created a new homeowner brochure that identifies the various programs, including utility rebate programs, reduced price home energy audits, income based grants and loan programs that can help you pay for improvements. Download a copy of the brochure... 02/27/2014

Thinking about buying this year? My friends over at the Mon Valley Initiative are hosting a Homebuyer Education Workshop on Saturday, February 15th from 9am-1pm. I'll be there to talk about the ins and outs of finding a home, Citizen's Bank will be on hand to talk about getting financing and Jonathan Weaver from MVI will be covering everything from repairing your credit to taking care of your home after you buy. They are even serving lunch. To sign up call Jonathan Weaver at 412-464-4000 ext 4008. 02/06/2014

In Ross township, Allegheny County places an assessed value on all real estate. So you may be asking yourself, what does this value mean to me, and how can I use that value when I go to sell my home? With all of the talk recently about assessed values that have gone up (particularly 27% on average in Ross Township) many homeowners are left wondering what that means to their actual market value of the home, or what your home could actually sell for.  For starters, since your assessed value is the value that your taxes are calculated by then naturally you want that value to be as low as possible. Some Ross township homeowners are successful at keeping these values low, through appeals and other methods. If you feel that your assessed value is higher than what you can actually sell your ho... 01/20/2014

As a Realtor specializing in green and energy efficient homes I work with a group called ReEnergize Pittsburgh that is working to reduce residential energy waste throughout Allegheny County, help create jobs, and improve air quality. One of the goals of the real estate committee is to consider ways to make energy efficient upgrades more valuable in the real estate market, including helping to make sure that when people sell they are getting value for those improvements in their market price and appraisal and making it easier for people who are looking for green homes to find them. A few weeks ago I sat down with one of the other members for an interview about what we are doing and how I am developing my own business around the idea of green homes...http://www.reenergizepgh.org/news/2013... 01/09/2014

Selling your home in Ross Township can seem like a daunting task. Here are 8 steps to ensure a successful sale! Define your needs. Write down all the reasons for selling your home. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to sell and what do I expect to accomplish with the sale?" For example, a growing family may prompt your need for a larger home, or a job opportunity in another city may necessitate a move. For your goals, write down if you'd like to sell your house within a certain time frame or make a particular profit margin. Work with your real estate agent to map out the best path to achieve your objectives and set a realistic time frame for the sale.  Name your price. Your next objective should be to determine the best possible selling price for your house. Setting a fair asking price from t... 12/17/2013

Thinking of selling your Ross Township home during the holidays but are afraid? You’ve heard it from friends and family before. “The Winter season is slow.” Or, “No one is really buying or selling.” And even, “I’ll get started in the New Year, it’s a new start right?” Wrong. The truth is, it’s better to be ahead than behind. The winter months, as a seller can be a very lucrative time to sell your home.  Of course, there are the holidays, and family, and decorating. Why would anyone want to sell during the holidays? So without further adieu, here are 11 reasons why you should list during the Holiday Season. 11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell hig... 11/21/2013

Biking and walking trails are important to me, to the future of our region and our country. More people biking and walking will improve the health of our population, leading to reduced health care costs. Fewer cars on the road will lead to less dependence on foreign oil, less stress on our existing transportation infrastructure and better air quality. More biking and walking also leads buyers to consider homes closer to the city core, where they can choose from several options for short commutes, reducing sprawl.It is amazing that a simple shift from car-dependence to a cycling or walking focus can benefit our communities in so many important ways - but only if we are not so short sighted that we ignore funding them, and only if people have a way to bike and walk safely.Pennsylvania is ... 11/18/2013

Get your home ready for the winter by attending the Energy Faire tomorrow evening, September 25th from 6-8:30pm. The event is being held at 1400 South Braddock Ave. Pittsburgh, Pa and is hosted in partnership with the Sustainability at Penn State' s National Energy Leadership Corp [NELC} and ReEnergize Pgh "We are inviting homeowners to meet local and trusted energy professionals and financiers that can help them make the right decisions for upgrading their homes - Think of it as “speed dating for your home improvement needs”. All professionals were prescreened by ReEnergize partners to ensure quality work. Home improvement upgrades are important because it saves you money, increases your comfort, and contributes to the health and safety of your family. We will have a nationally recogni... 09/24/2013

A tale of two sellers...   Seller #1 Priced their home so that it was obviously the best home available at the price in their market, helped by the fact that inventory was low. Day one they had 10 showings and two offers. Negotiated a full price offer, sold their home and moved a month later.   Seller #2 Priced their home "a little bit high to allow for negotiation" even though there were several other comparable homes that were priced lower. Had a few showings, no offers, 30, then 60 days go by, did a small reduction, a few more showings, no offers, price reduction, a few showings, no offers...still waiting.   Which would you prefer? 09/23/2013

I am passing this upcoming event on to those that are considering solar for their homes or businesses, here is an opportunity to see how it has been done and ask questions of the owners. Penn Future is hosting the 2013 Pittsburgh Solar Tour is October 12, 2013 from 11-4pm. The self guided tour is free or you can sign up for a $10 guided bike tour. Locations are all around our area, both the city and the suburbs. Click here to RSVP for the tour, for more information and to see the included sites. 09/23/2013

5 Bedroom Homes for Sale in Ross Township 5 br MLS house listings   Ross Township Real Estate Listings for 5 Bedroom Properties For Sale Including Single Family Homes, Townhouses and Condominiumsin the "15237" Zip Code. Search featured listings below or do a full Ross Twp MLS homesearch at http://www.pittsburghhomefinder.info/community/area/Ross+Twp/     Ross Township is home to the North Hills School District. 06/13/2013

4 Bedroom Homes for Sale in Ross Township 4 br MLS house listings   Ross Township Real Estate Listings for 4 Bedroom Properties For Sale Including Single Family Homes, Townhouses and Condominiumsin the "15237" Zip Code. Search featured listings below or do a full Ross Twp MLS homesearch at http://www.pittsburghhomefinder.info/community/area/Ross+Twp/     Ross Township is home to the North Hills School District. 06/13/2013

3 Bedroom Homes for Sale in Ross Township 3 br MLS house listings   Ross Township Real Estate Listings for 3 Bedroom Properties For Sale Including Single Family Homes, Townhouses and Condominiumsin the "15237" Zip Code. Search featured listings below or do a full Ross Twp MLS homesearch at http://www.pittsburghhomefinder.info/community/area/Ross+Twp/     Ross Township is home to the North Hills School District. 06/13/2013

2 Bedroom Homes for Sale in Ross Township 2 br MLS house listings   Ross Township Real Estate Listings for 2 Bedroom Properties For Sale Including Single Family Homes, Townhouses and Condominiumsin the "15237" Zip Code. Search featured listings below or do a full Ross Twp MLS homesearch at http://www.pittsburghhomefinder.info/community/area/Ross+Twp/       Ross Township is home to the North Hills School District. 06/13/2013