Being a home buyer on the Pittsburgh real estate market can be a stressful experience, especially if it’s your first time purchasing a home.

After all, not only is there all this pressure to find the perfect home for you and your family, but there’s also the financial stress of saving up for your next home’s down payment.

Luckily, I’m here to help!

Today, I’m going to tell you about some various strategies you can employ to save up for your down payment in no time!

Pittsburgh Real Estate for Sale

Here are some ways you can have your down payment money saved up in no time!

Save That Tax Refund! Tax day was only a month ago. What did you do with your tax refund? If you haven’t blown it yet on a major shopping spree, consider putting it in savings. It’s a great jumpstart on saving up for your down payment.

Ask Your Parents for Help. For many families, it’s common for the parents to help with the down payment on their child’s first home. See if your parents may be willing to help.

Set an Amount that You Want to Save Each Paycheck. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. In that same vein, if you save $50 every paycheck, you’ll have enough money for your down payment in no time!

Sell Unwanted Items. In this day and age – what with websites like Craig’s List and eBay – it’s easier than ever to cash in on those items that you no longer use, want or need. Go through your attic, basement and storage units and see what items you can convert into cash.

Request that the Seller Pay for Your Down Payment. The market may be improving but it still very much favors the home buyer. Thus, make use of the current housing climate by asking the seller to pay for your down payment. Depending on how long they’ve been trying to sell their property, they may be willing to cover the cost if it means they’ll sell their home.

See If The Government Can Help. The government has plenty of assistance programs for various types of home buyers. For instance, the VA loan is open to veterans through the Veterans Administration. The government also offers a number of down payment assistance programs to qualified first-time buyers.

Acquire a Second Job. Even if it’s temporary, this will help you save up money faster. You’ll be placing the welcome mat in front of your new home in no time!

Ask for a Raise. If it’s been more than a year, you may be due for a raise. It never hurts to ask. The worst they can say is “No,” right?

Access Your Retirement Fund Early. There are certain retirement accounts that will actually allow you to borrow money for the purpose of purchasing a home. Check with your accountant to learn about current regulations and to see if there are any stipulations.

Investing in a Pittsburgh Home

I hope you found the above information insightful. For more help on navigating the Pittsburgh real estate market as a home buyer, please contact me, Jim Dolanch, now!

When you do, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as offer you such helpful tools as:

• Buying guide
• Successful home buying
• Frequent buyer questions

Until next time,

Jim

Pittsburgh home owners may see a drop in their property taxes soon, according to a recent article I read.

The Tribune-Review reported that about 14,000 Pittsburgh home owners would enjoy property tax cuts as early as 2015 if a key piece of legislation passes.

Report: Pittsburgh Home Taxes May Change

Evidently, a Pittsburgh city council member recently introduced a measure that would cut property taxes and use money from a county sales tax to offset the tax cut.

City officials recommended using $7.5 million from the Allegheny County Regional Asset District sales tax to offset the cut.

Right now, those $7.5 million are being used to pay off $60 million in bonds that the Urban Redevelopment Authority borrowed for projects dealing with economic development.

One city council member suggested rolling back taxes to 2012 levels for those city residents whose tax bills increased after the most recent Allegheny County reassessment.

The only residents who would be eligible to receive the tax cuts would be those who have lived in their home for at least 10 years.

In addition, residents who have only lived in their home for 5 years would be eligible as well if they also receive government assistance to purchase the home.

Under those conditions, about 14,300 residents would be affected and would see their city real estate taxes decrease by $215. In all, that would cost the city about $3.1 million in 2015.

It’s unclear whether other council members agree with the proposal. But they’re expected to make a decision on it soon. I’ll keep you posted!

Listing Your Pittsburgh, PA Home

Hopefully you found the above information helpful as a Pittsburgh area home owner. It certainly is exciting to think that your property tax may decrease by more than $200, no?

If you’re a current resident who is thinking about listing your Pittsburgh home anytime soon, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Jim Dolanch.

I’m your dedicated Pittsburgh REALTOR® and I will be more than happy to assist you by offering you practical advice, a free home evaluation and other useful home-selling tools like:

• MOVA Assessment
• Moving Kit
• Before you list

Until next time,

Jim

Prospective home buyers thinking about entering the Pittsburgh housing market anytime soon have plenty to look forward to.

According to recent data released by the real estate website Trulia.com, home prices are down as are listing prices – meaning that home buyers have a great opportunity to get a fabulous deal on a Pittsburgh home!

Properties for Sale in Pittsburgh

Here’s an overview of recent activity on the Pittsburgh real estate market:

• Currently there are 2,748 homes for sale on the market, including 1,852 in some stage of the foreclosure process.
• Between January and March, the average price per square foot for Pittsburgh homes was $90, up 1.1 percent from the same period a year ago.
• Also during that time, the median sales price for homes was $122,000 based on 840 home sales.
• Compared to the same period last year, the median home sales price has decreased by 4.4 percent, or about $5,580.
• Meanwhile, the total number of home sales has decreased 20.8 percent.
• Broken down even further, during the week ending on April 10, the median sales price for a 1-bedroom Pittsburgh home was $82,750
• The median sales price for a 2-bedroom home was $90,000
• The median sales price for a 3-bedroom home was $122,000
• And the median sales price for a 4-bedroom home was $184,900
• Here’s how nearby communities did when it came to median sales price:
  • Penn Hills, PA: $95,000
  • Mount Lebanon, PA: $281,000
  • Wexford, PA: $273,262
  • Sewickley, PA: $314,000
  • Shadyside, PA: $295,000
• During the week ending on April 10, the average listing price for Pittsburgh homes was $229,264, down 0.5 percent from the week before.
• During that previous week, the average listing price was $230,400.
• Here’s a look at how other communities performed in terms of average listing price:
  • Penn Hills, PA: $97,865
  • Mount Lebanon, PA: $319,030
  • Wexford, PA: $448,891
  • Sewickley, PA: $561,790
  • Shadyside, PA: $422,864

Investing in a Pittsburgh Home for Sale

As you can see, there are great deals to be had on the Pittsburgh, PA housing market.

If you’re ready to enter the market yourself as a home buyer, please contact me, Jim Dolanch, for expert help and guidance.

While you’re at it, make sure to take a few moments to browse some of these useful home buying resources online, such as:

• Help me find a home
• Relocation package
• School information

Until next time,

Jim

It has been well documented that a staged home for sale will fetch more money on the local housing market than an unstaged home.

When you think about it – it makes sense.

After all, a staged home makes it easier for home buyers to envision their family living there.

What’s more, staging a home make it appear larger, cleaner and more inviting.

But how exactly can you ensure that you’re effectively staging your home? Today, I’m going to share tips with you on just that!

Pittsburgh, PA Real Estate

You don’t have to pay a dime to get your house looking like it was professionally staged!

Here are some of the common tricks that professional home stagers use that you can replicate in your own home:

• Create vignettes in your home using sparse pieces of furniture and grouping them accordingly.
• Liberally use such sensually-appealing fabrics as silk and satin
• Display knickknacks in odd-groupings, such as 1, 3 or 5.
• Add stand-out pieces to your shelves, bookcases and fireplace mantels to leave a lasting impression
• Make use of greenery – real or fake – to make your home feel more inviting.

Professional home stagers will also often go through and de-personalize your home. That means, removing personal pictures and other items that are entirely unique to you and your family.

The ideal here is to make your home appealing to the masses – not just your family.

In place of those particularly personal items, professional stagers will bring in items that have both neutrality and universal appeal and arrange them accordingly in the home. These items may include:

• Mirrors
• Silk Flowers
• Floor Lamps,
• Area Rugs
• Small Love Seats
• Ottomans
• Baskets

There are other tricks they might employ too – such as arranging a bowl of fake fruit in the kitchen to make your home feel warm and inviting.

Selling Your Pittsburgh Home

I hope you found the above tips helpful as a prospective home seller.

The best part is that with these tips, your home can look professionally home staged without you ever having to spend a dime!

For more tips on how to prepare your home for showings on the Pittsburgh housing market, make sure to contact me, Jim Dolanch.

While you’re at it, I recommend you take a few moments to browse some of the resources I provide online, like:

• Home evaluation
• MOVA assessment
• Moving kit

Until next time,

Jim

As I mentioned in my last blog, more and more people are relocating to the Pittsburgh, PA area lately.

And now, some recent data about home sales in the area seems to back that up!

According to the recent article I read, homes in the area are selling faster than they have in the last five years – a sign that the market is picking up!

Real Estate for Sale in Pittsburgh

Local real estate analysts credit the fact that Pittsburgh homes are selling fast to two things:

• First, interest rates continue be low, attracting more first-time home buyers to the market than ever before.
• Second, there is a relatively low inventory of homes on the market, meaning that the homes that are still available are in high demand!

Because of these two factors, home sellers appear to increasingly have the upper hand on the local housing market.

For instance, according to West Penn Multi-List Inc., closings increased 10 percent in southwestern Pennsylvania last year.

Meanwhile, the average sales price increased by 6 percent.

And in Allegheny County, the average home price increased by nearly 14 percent.

This is great news for residents interested in selling their home quickly and for a great price. But for home buyers, it means increased competition for the home of their dreams.

Your Expert Pittsburgh REALTOR®

To capitalize on the recent market activity as a home seller, please contact me, Jim Dolanch.

As your dedicated Pittsburgh area real estate expert, I’ve helped scores of residents successfully sell their homes in the following markets:

• Bethel Park
• Mt. Lebanon
• Nottingham Township

And I’ll be happy to assist you in the same way by providing you with expert advice and such helpful home-selling tools as:

• MOVA Assessment
• Moving kit
• Home evaluation

Until next time,

Jim

Today I’d like to continue my occasional series spotlighting various Pittsburgh area communities by telling you about three more: Nottingham Township, Peters Township and Scott Township.

These communities vary widely in terms of population, local amenities and neighborhoods.

But one thing that is the same is that they both provide an excellent quality of life for residents!

More on These Pittsburgh Area Communities

First, let me start off by telling you about Nottingham Township. Located in Washington County, this tight-knit community had just 2,522 residents as of the 2010 Census.

That’s not very many people when you consider that the community is just 20.3 square miles!

Despite its size, however, Nottingham Township attracts plenty of visitors each year – perhaps because it is home to such attractions as The Ebenezer Covered Bridge and the Henry Covered Bridge – too locations that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

This community also hosts a number of events each year that draw healthy crowds, including:

• Nottingham Township Roadside Clean-up Day in April
• Nottingham Township Car Show in June
• Nottingham Township Annual Bonfire Event in September

And giving its location within Washington County, this suburb of Pittsburgh is also close to such recreational amenities as:

• Nottingham Township Community Park
• Mingo Creek County Park

Think Nottingham Township may be the right fit for you and your family? If so, then take the next step by learning a little bit more about its residential communities, which include Nottingham Forest and Walnut Ridge!

Not too far away, Peters Township sits with a population of more than 21,210 residents as of the 2010 Census!

And consider this: even though this Washington County community has more people than Nottingham Township – it actually has a smaller total area of 19.8 square miles!

First incorporated in 1781 as one of the 13 original Washington County townships, this community was named after William “Indian” Peters, who traded with Indians in the area.

Today, this community is renowned for its numerous employment opportunities as well as its excellent school system.

The Peters Township School District has 2 elementary schools (Bower Hill Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School), a secondary elementary school (McMurray Elementary School) a middle school (Peters Township Middle School) and a high school (Peters Township High School).

Interested in residing in Peters Township? Then you may want to start by checking out these residential communities:

• Breezewood Estates
• Briarcliff
• Brookwood Manor
• And others!

Finally, Scott Township in Allegheny County is somewhere in the middle with a population of 17,024 residents as of the 2010 Census.

The 4.0 square mile boasts a 1 percent earned income tax – which is one of the lowest rates in the surrounding area. By comparison, Pittsburgh has a 3 percent tax and Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair have 1.3 percent taxes.

School-age residents living here are served by the Chartiers Valley School District.

Invest in Pittsburgh, PA Area Real Estate Now!

If any of these communities have piqued your interest as a home buyer, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Jim Dolanch, today!

As your Pittsburgh REALTOR® I’ll be happy to assist you with all of your home-buying needs by providing you with insightful information, practical advice and useful resources like:

• Buying guide
• Frequent buyer questions
• Moving kit

Until next time,

Jim

Springtime is in full-swing here in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area!

Pretty soon school will be letting out for area students and families will be making plans for summer vacation.

You don’t have to wait, however, for summer vacation to enjoy some quality time with the family. In fact, there are plenty of fun, family-friendly activities to enjoy right here in our beautiful city.

Today, I’m going to tell you about some of them!

Community Events This Month in Pittsburgh

Here are some of the upcoming events that I recommend you and your family check out this month:

Culinary Arts Show: During Cooking with Chef Rick, families can enjoy a lively cooking demonstration by Chef Rick Bruckner, all the while sampling tasty delicacies and learning a thing or two about cooking. Here are some of the classes that residents can choose to attend: La Cucina Bella Fresh Pasta & Sauces, French Quarter Creole and Cajune, Patisseries (Pastries and Desserts).

• When: May 8 through June 26
• Where: South Broadway Manor, 700 South Broadway in Scottdale, PA
• Admission: Prices vary
• More Info: Call 724-887-8870

Medieval Persian Ceramics Exhibit: Bring your family along to learn about the diverse array of ceramics that were made in ancient Persia (which is now present-day Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan). From bowls to bottles, these items were used among both the upper and middle-class populations.

• When: May 6 to June 16
• Where: The Frick Art & Historical Center, 7227 Reynolds Street in Pittsburgh
• Admission: FREE
• More Info: Call (412) 371-0600

Nationality Days Festival: For the last 48 years, this event has been the celebration of ethnic pride in the Pittsburgh area. This three-day festival includes local foods, live entertainment, crafts and children’s games.

• When: May 17 to May 19
• Where: Ambridge in Beaver County
• Admission: FREE
• More Info: Visit http://www.beavercountypa.gov/

Art Museum Day: Enjoy free admission to The Warhol on Art Museum Day 2013. Make sure to check out this venue’s special exhibit Regarding Warhol: Sixty Artists, Fifty Years. You may also want to check out The Lively, a hands-on studio project.

• When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14
• Where: Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky Street in Pittsburgh
• Admission: FREE
• More Info: Call (412) 237-8300

Purchase a Pittsburgh, PA Home for Sale

I hope you and your family get a chance to check out at least one of these Pittsburgh area events going on this month. If you do, make sure to let me know what you think of it!

And if you’re interested in making Pittsburgh your permanent home, please contact me, Jim Dolanch, today!

When you do, I’ll tell you about available listings, answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with such helpful resources as:

• Help me find a home
• Instant MLS email alerts
• Buying guide

Until next time,

Jim

For my latest installment of Pittsburgh area communities that you ought to check out, I’m going to tell you about the Allegheny County communities of South Fayette and South Park as well as the Washington County community of South Strabane.

If you’re in the market for investing in a Pittsburgh area home, one of these may be just the right fit for you and your family!

Properties for Sale in Allegheny and Washington Counties

To start things off, I’m going to tell you about the Allegheny County community of South Fayette.

As of the 2010 Census, this 20.4-square-mile community had a population of 14,416 residents. Served by the South Fayette School District, this community is well-known for its high-achieving public schools. It is also home to such private schools as::

• Community Day School
• Glen Montessori School
• North Catholic High School

There are also a number of recreational amenities within South Fayette that attract people from all over the county, including the South Fayette Library and Boyce Mayview Park.

Popular residential neighborhoods within South Fayette include Hunting Ridge and Hickory Heights.

South Park is another lovely community located within Allegheny County. With a population of 13,416 as of the 2010 Census, this is surely a close-knit community.

The community’s biggest claim to fame is its county park by the same name, which includes such recreational amenities as: Ice skating rinks

• Tennis courts
• Roller hockey rink
• Golf course
• Picnic areas
• Shelters
• Playgrounds
• Ballfields
• Swimming pool
• Dog park

There truly is something for everybody at the county’s South Park.

Residents living here generally identify six neighborhoods within South Park:

• Curry
• Broughton
• South Park Heights
• Snowden
• Piney Fork
• Library
• South Park

The final Pittsburgh suburb I’m going to tell you about today is South Strabane, which is located in Washington County.

As of the 2010 Census, this community had a population of 9,346 residents. It’s also home ot a number of historic landmarks, such as Frank L. Ross Farm, Doak-Little House, Martin Farmstead and the Thomas Munce House.

South Strabane also has a number of clubs and groups that residents and their children can get involved with, such as:

• Trinity Sports & Clubs
• Washington Youth Baseball
• TWIST Softball

Your Pittsburgh, PA Area Real Estate Expert

If you’re interested in learning any more about the above mentioned Pittsburgh area suburbs, please contact me, Jim Dolanch, today. I’ll be happy to assist you throughout the home-buying process!

For now, be sure to check out some of my online home-buying resources, which include:

• Help me find a home
• Moving kit
• Mortgage information

Until next time,

Jim

South Fayette, Pennsylvania recently took a stand in favor of preservation, according to a recent article I read.

Apparently, South Fayette recently rejected a proposal for coal mining on the old Mayview State Hospital site.

This is definitely an interesting turn of events as it signals the values of South Fayette public officials – and suggests that the community is more likely to remain largely rural and undisturbed.

Living in South Fayette, PA

The recent project, which was brought before the zoning hearing board on February 27, was originally proposed by Aloe Brothers LLC of Pittsburgh. It would have been a three-year project to remove millions of tons of coal from roughly 37 acres on the Mayview site.

David and Mark Aloe, who own the 153-acre Mayview property, purchased the land from the state in March 2011 for $505,505. Later, they purchased an adjacent eight acres for $29,000.

Once the coal was removed, the brothers were expected to build a business park.

Ultimately the zoning hearing board turned down the project 3-0. Their approval was necessary for the coal mining aspect since the property is in a business district, which doesn’t allow for mineral removal.

More than 50 people attended the hearing, expressing concern about increased traffic and the use of explosives in the area.

Many also said that the development would negatively impact the 474-acre Boyce-Mayview Park nearby in Upper St. Clair, which features a recreation center, a swimming pool, hiking trails and sports fields.

While many residents said they were not in favor of the coal mining, a lot of them did say they supported the proposed business park.

The applicant has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

In another development, South Fayette is apparently negotiating with the Aloe brothers to purchase 68 acres in order to expand Fairview Park.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources even awarded the township a $425,000 grant to help complete the transaction.

Those negotiations are still pending.

Relocating to South Fayette, Pennsylvania

Regardless of what comes out of these recent negotiations, these are undoubtedly exciting times for the old Mayview State Hospital site.

I’ll keep you posted on whether the Aloe Brothers ultimately decide to appeal the zoning hearing board’s decision and whether the township of South Fayette is able to purchase some of that land to create continuous green space in the area!

And if you’ve been thinking about investing in your own piece of South Fayette real estate lately, please contact me, Jim Dolanch.

I’ll let you know about available listings in the various residential neighborhoods around here, including:

• Hickory Heights
• Hunting Ridge

Until next time,

Jim

Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling a property in the Pittsburgh area, it’s important to be in-the-know about current market trends.

Knowing what the current state of the market is will help you make wise decisions as a prospective home buyer or seller in Pittsburgh.

That’s why each month, I provide you with insightful data on such local housing markets as Bethel Park and Cecil Township!

Homes for Sale in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Area

Here’s a look at recent activity in specific Pittsburgh area markets:

Bethel Park

• March 2013 

Homes Listed: 23
Homes Sold: 40
Average List Price: $172,308
Average Sold Price: $164,733
Average Days on Market: 90

• February 2013 

Homes Listed: 26
Homes Sold: 15
Average List Price: $151,920
Average Sold Price: $145,493
Average Days on Market: 144

Cecil Township

• March 2013 

Homes Listed: 11
Homes Sold: 4
Average List Price: $249,272
Average Sold Price: $239,875
Average Days on Market: 40

• February 2013 

Homes Listed: 5
Homes Sold: 11
Average List Price: $300,790
Average Sold Price: $304,333
Average Days on Market: 67

North Strabane

• March 2013 

Homes Listed: 16
Homes Sold: 17
Average List Price: $252,223
Average Sold Price: $245,261
Average Days on Market: 95

• February 2013 

Homes Listed: 8
Homes Sold: 14
Average List Price: $253,119
Average Sold Price: $251,667
Average Days on Market: 86

Peters Township 

• March 2013 

Homes Listed: 17
Homes Sold: 13
Average List Price: $314,900
Average Sold Price: $307,033
Average Days on Market: 90

• February 2013 

Homes Listed: 20
Homes Sold: 13
Average List Price: $409,123
Average Sold Price: $401,853
Average Days on Market: 103

Upper St. Clair

• March 2013 

Homes Listed: 19
Homes Sold: 20
Average List Price: $311,345
Average Sold Price: $303,165
Average Days on Market: 98

• February 2013 

Homes Listed: 19
Homes Sold: 11
Average List Price: $277,390
Average Sold Price: $269,136
Average Days on Market: 83

Buying and Selling Pittsburgh Real Estate

I hope you found the above information helpful as a Pittsburgh area home buyer or seller.

For more insight on what these numbers mean to you and your Pittsburgh real estate endeavors, please contact me, Jim Dolanch!

Until next time,

Jim