The home improvement industry, much like the broader housing market, experienced a severe downturn, but a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University finds that prospects for growth are already developing. "As the housing market stabilizes and the broader economy begins to recover, remodeling activity will return to a more normal pace of growth. As credit conditions thaw, owners will find it easier to finance their home improvement projects. As home prices edge back up, owners will again see the wealth-building benefits of investing in their homes. And as sales pick up, recent buyers will want to make improvements as they settle into their new homes. Of the sources of demand that are most likely to boost improvement spending, three stand out: the increasing need... 05/19/2009

Real estate sales in Upper St. Clair were up slightly in April compared to March (17 vs. 14) and matched last April's total of 16 homes sold. Here's the list of 17 homes that sold this April: Address                          List Price   Sold Price 1789 Hastings Mill Road 695,000 616,000 1464 Paragon Place 529,900 500,000 1236 Oak Park Court 469,000 462,500 2355 Berkshire Drive 325,000 316,000 1741 Partridge Run Road 319,900 306,000 417 Manordale Road 314,900 287,000 295 High Sierra Circle 275,000 265,000 2415 Willowbrook Road 279,900 260,000 1549 Allison Drive 279,900 245,000 3531 Myrna Drive 239,900 229,000 441 Manordale Drive 218,900 225,000 2388 Mill Grove Road 240,000 212,000 2523 Willowbrook Road 250,000 201,000 3534 Myrna Drive 174,900 166,000 2593 Old Washington Road 159,900 155... 05/18/2009

If you're getting ready to sell your house or just want to do some spring cleaning, holding a garage or yard sale can be a great way to clear out clutter and earn some extra cash.  Here are some tips, provided by Bottom Line: The best time to hold your sale is on a weekend when a local church or civic group is staging a large rummage sale. Many of those shoppers will visit nearby garage sales as well. Start your sale 30 minutes earlier than other sales. Avoid scheduling your sale for a holiday weekend when people are away from home. If it rains on sale day, take down your signs and postpone your sale. Before holding your sale, visit a few garage sales in your area to determine appropriate prices. Place all of your merchandise on tables; many shoppers won't bend down to examine goods on ... 05/13/2009

As temperatures continue to rise, so will electricity consumption driven by the use of fans and air conditioners.  What can you do to stay cool and save money?  Thanks to Green Home for passing along these tips: Close your drapes and blinds during the day. Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78 or higher when at home. Turn it to 85 degrees or off, when you leave. (Air conditioners make up as much as 60% of summer energy bills.) Clean or replace air conditioning filters. Use fans to circulate air (they can allow you to set the thermostat at least 4 degrees higher.) Turn off lights when not needed; three fourths of the electricity used by the average light bulb becomes wasted heat. Use heat-producing appliances such as ovens, dishwashers and clothes dryers in the morning. The Departmen... 05/12/2009

Good news for those of you selling a home in Mt. Lebanon:  April home sales in your community were almost double compared to March (29 vs. 15).  And this is close to last April's total of 33. With the first-time home buyer tax credit and mortgage rates under 5%, let's hope this upward buying trend continues!  Here's the list of 29 Mt. Lebanon homes that sold in April: Address                     List Price   Sold Price 115 Parkridge Lane 639,900 585,000 427 Arden Road 479,900 464,000 1177 Lakemont Drive 397,900 354,249 636 Beverly Road 339,900 339,900 247 Shadowlawn Avenue 299,000 290,000 165 Longuevue Drive 325,000 285,000 1124 Folkstone Drive 279,900 270,000 123 Seminole Drive 275,000 264,000 123 Woodhaven Drive 249,900 236,500 123 Cedar Boulevard 247,500 225,000 290 Parkway Drive 230... 05/12/2009

Organizers of this year's home tour on Saturday, May 16, have assembled twelve of South Side's most unique residences and buildings. "From distinctly repurposed lofts and brand new condominiums to beautifully restored homes, each is a reflection of the owner's own style and tastes. These homes tell a story not just through their unique architectural features but also the personal collections of art, family heirlooms, memorabilia, and travel treasures housed within." Advance tickets cost $12, or you can combine the tour with a full brunch buffet at Gypsy Cafe for $40.  Tickets on the day of the tour can be purchased for $15 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the South Side Carnegie Library or City Theatre. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, call 412-481-0651. You can also buy ti... 05/06/2009

Before you buy your first home, you should be asking yourself that very question.  According to the Baltimore HUD Homes Blog, here are six indicators you can use to find out if now really is the best time to be buying your first home: 1. You Have Stable EmploymentBefore jumping into the purchase of a home, your cash flow should be stable and you should have a solid employment history that shows at least two years of steady income. 2. Your Savings are In OrderMost lenders want to see that you have at least three to five months of savings. By having a reserve fund, you'll be able to weather the rough patches without going into debt. 3. Your Debt Is LimitedBefore you buy your first house, make sure your debt is under control. Ideally, your monthly debt payments - including your mortgage - ... 05/05/2009

Are you looking for Pittsburgh PA Homes for Sale? Well, you came to the right place! I work with the top investors and real estate professionals to bring the best deals on Pittsburgh PA Homes for Sale. Here is a list of our current Pittsburgh PA homes for sale: Pittsburgh PA homes for sale (1) GREAT DEAL IN BUTLER! 110 St. Mary’s Street Butler, PA 16001 $36,400 4 Bedrooms PLUS room for others! 1 bath PLUS to add an extra half bath on first floor! This a huge house with lots of potential located in Butler. This house is located by Butler Catholic School, between E Brady Street and E. Locust Street. This home has 4 bedrooms with a potential of 6 bedrooms with the 2 extra rooms on the 3rd floor. The family who has owned it for many years currently lives in the house. As a rental, it does n... 05/04/2009

According to Pittsburgh Magazine, "Living right in the heart of the city - downtown and the nearby Strip District - is a growing trend in Pittsburgh. It's hot, and it shows no signs of stopping. The number of people living in the Golden Triangle area is expected to increase by 20 percent in 2009. To compare, in 1990, 1,569 people lived in the area. In 2000, 1,645 people called the Golden Triangle home, and by 2008, the number was up to 2,148." Read the entire article. 04/29/2009

From wikiFido, here are eight mistakes that pet owners frequently make when they try to sell their homes.  By avoiding these common errors you can increase interest in your home and the possibility that you'll receive the highest selling price in your market. 1. Having your pet home at open houses.2. Not cleaning daily.3. Leaving droppings in the backyard.4. Assuming your home has no pet odor.5. Leaving evidence that a pet lives in the home.6. Not marketing your home to other pet lovers.7. Adding "dog is friendly" to the MLS.8. Being home during property showings. Read the entire article. 04/28/2009

According to UrbanSpoon and votes from local patrons, the best restaurants in Mt. Lebanon are: Sesame Inn Il Pizzaiolo Little Tokyo Little Nipper's Pizza Bistro 19 What do you think?  Pass along your comments on whether any of these shouldn't be in the top 5 and which restaurant in Mt. Lebanon is your favorite. 04/28/2009

This is Ray Higdon and I am the founder of the Forever Wealth Club. I am proud to announce the Pittsburgh Forever Wealth Club kickoff and honored to be the inaugural speaker! The Pittsburgh Forever Wealth Club will be run by some great friends of mine that are awesome so I encourage you to attend! Wednesday, April 29th, Pittsburgh Forever Wealth Club Kickoff!Are you systematically making money or capturing leads from your web site? Are you sick and tired of hearing "Just get your name out there?" Then come to this one night only, FREE event on how to easily enable your web presence to be 2500% better with no fancy tools or experience. Ray Higdon is a master marketer and will teach you his step by step system on maximized traffic and massive lead conversions for FREE! Place: Best Western... 04/27/2009

Many great products for people and the planet have emerged over the past 10 years.  Natural Home magazine picked the following 20 categories as their favorites in innovation.  You may want to consider putting some of these into your own home. Natural LinoleumNatural CleanersLED LightsNatural MattressesFront-Loading WashersClay PlasterFSC-Certified WoodRecycled Paper SurfacesLow- and No-VOC Paints, Stains & FinishesLow-E WindowsHemp FabricStructural Insulated PanelsRecycled Cotton & Cellulose InsulationProgrammable "Smart" ThermostatsRecycled Glass Terrazzo & TilesFiberboardsDual-Flush ToiletsTankless & Solar Water HeatersLow-Flow Showerheads & FaucetsTubular Skylights Read the entire article. 04/22/2009

Here's the list of 9 homes that sold in Pittsburgh's South Side during the first quarter.  This is lower than the 14 homes that sold during the same period in 2008.  Address                    List Price  Sold Price 1814 Sidney Street 349,900 342,000 1826 Wharton Street 330,000 310,000 2330 Sidney Street 159,000 155,000 1812 Jane Street 92,000 92,000 113 S. 12th Street 124,000 90,000 2310 Sarah Street 85,500 87,500 38 Magdalena Street 74,900 78,150 2123 Wrights Way 79,899 72,500 3141 Josephine Street 35,000 20,000  Related Posts:  South Side Real Estate Sales Were Low in January Pittsburgh's South Side: Real Estate Sales Didn't Change Much from Previous Year 04/21/2009

HGTV compiled this list of "10 Things That Make Buyers Bite": 1.  A Nice Entryway - Impress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance. 2.  Hardwood Floors - Realtors agree that most buyers are hunting for hardwood. 3.  Fab Fixtures - Fixtures are the jewelry of the house. 4.  Beautiful Baths - Marble counters, whirlpool baths and steam showers up the attractiveness of any bathroom. 5.  Countertop  Considerations - Buyers don't want to see grout lines on their counters. 6.  Stainless Steel - A kitchen with stainless appliances looks like a commercial kitchen. 7.  Pre-Organized Closets - Don't underestimate the importance of this easy addition. 8.  Light Up - Lighting is probably the most overlooked, but most important aspect of interior decoration. 9.  Built-Ins - Many buyers vi... 04/21/2009

Environmental Store Open Weekof Earth Day The reSOLUTION shop at Fifth Avenue Place was such a success during last year's Earth Day celebration, they are opening it again this year from April 20 - 24. Last year, the store collected more than 900 items in over 4 days and this year, they hope to increase drive total by 20 percent. The environmental store will collect denim, athletic shoes, cell phones, used CDs and DVDs, old art supplies, eyeglasses and more. The collected items will be donated or recycled. Consumers are encouraged to drop-off their items from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.fifthavenueplacepa.com. 04/19/2009

If you don't know this... (and you probably do) the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Philadelphia Flyes in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.  The action starts at 7:00 Wednesday night and will be televised on FSN.  However, some great family fun can be had by going to Mellon Arena and catching the game at Gate 3 on a 12 Foot by 16 Foot Screen.  It's free for fans thanks to Consol Energy and Trib Total Media.  You can get the official press release here Big Screen.  As of this writing the Friday game can also be watched at Gate 3 also.  It's a great atmosphere, so if you get the chance, check it out! 04/14/2009

The Energy Savers Blog wrote about energy tax incentives available in 2009, which were amended to provide even more incentives for you to make your home energy efficient: The credits for items such as windows and doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, and water heaters (non-solar) are now available for improvements made in 2009 and 2010 (previously they were only available for 2009). The credits have been raised from 10% to 30% of the cost. Those items that had a specific dollar amount have been changed to a 30% credit. The maximum credit over two years has been increased to $1,500 (up from $500). Improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar electric systems, small wind systems, and fuel cells are not subject to the $1,500 maximum and are still available through 2016 ... 04/14/2009

According to the Los Angeles Times, "Forget great rooms, walk-in closets and spa-like bathrooms. The home office has become the new staple of the American home." But the home office is not always a perfect world.  Here are some tips from New Dreamhomes Magazine for making the most of your home work area: DO ensure your workspace has: Good lighting Ventilation A comfortable chair, but not too comfortable A desk large enough to spread out your materials Computer, pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever other office supplies you might need  DON'T have these in your workspace: A distracting view of other activities that you want to be involved in A telephone (with the exception of an office phone) A loud stereo A television A roommate/friend/family member who wants to talk ... 04/14/2009

Home sales in Mt. Lebanon for the first two months of the year matched last year's numbers exactly.  That all changed with March:  there were 15 homes sold last month (see below), compared to 36 for the previous March.   Address                                                     List Price   Sold Price 36 Standish Boulevard 625,000 600,000 Lot 1313 Robb Hollow Road (New Construction) 597,000 570,000 475 Morrison Drive 389,900 335,000 100 Lebanon Hills Drive 319,900 300,000 231 Jefferson Drive 295,000 290,000 104 Oak Park Place 289,000 285,000 852 Ridgefield Avenue 299,900 277,000 347 Morrison Drive 289,900 268,350 176 Sunridge Drive 234,900 234,900 129 Piper Drive 219,900 217,000 575 Crystal Drive 214,900 205,000 220 Ashland Avenue 169,000 160,000 210 Whitmore Street 141,900 136,900 41... 04/08/2009