As reported by USA Today, "New homes, after doubling in size since 1960, are shrinking. Last year, for the first time in at least 10 years, the average square footage of single-family homes under construction fell dramatically, from 2,629 in the second quarter to 2,343 in the fourth quarter. Nine of 10 builders surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders this year say they're building or planning smaller, lower-priced homes than in the past." The economy has forced people to rethink McMansions and focus instead on what they need. Read the entire article. Related Post:  Bigger Homes Are No Longer Viewed As Better 04/07/2009

With conservation on the minds of many, a new study put the spotlight on wasteful behavior in our cities. "The Nalgene Least Wasteful City Study" ranked 23 waste-focused habits, from recycling, to using public transportation, to shutting off the lights when leaving the room. Pittsburgh came in at #14, ranking highest for using reusable containers instead of disposable food storage containers (4th), using reusable grocery bags (6th), and shopping at markets that carry locally grown food (6th). Related Posts: Pittsburgh Is the Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers Pittsburgh Ranks as a Top City for Hiring Pittsburgh Recognized as a Real Estate Safe Haven Pittsburgh Named Best City in the State to Raise Your Kids Pittsburgh Makes List of Best Cities for Riding Out a Recession Pittsburgh Rank... 04/07/2009

With a tough economy and concerns about global warming and health on the rise, April is the perfect time to kick off some new habits that address these issues. By focusing on your yard and neighborhood, the National Gardening Association says there are a number of simple things you can do to green up your lifestyle and the planet: 1. Grow Vegetables  2. Garden In Containers  3. Join a Community Garden  4. Create an Edible Landscape  5. Plant a Native Tree  6. Start Composting  7. Mulch  8. Build a Rain Garden  9. Plant a Median Garden  10. Garden with a Friend or Neighbor  Read the entire article.  And visit NGA's Web site for more great ideas on how to participate in National Garden Month this April. 04/01/2009

Thinking of selling your Fox Chapel Luxury home, Condo or Town Home, Contact Coldwell Banker, Realtor Liz Caplan Pittsburgh PA Fox Chapel and O'hara Realtor, Luxury Home and Condo Specialist   Are you looking to buy or sell a Fox Chapel or O'Hara PA town home, luxury home, condo or commercial property?  Contact Realtor Liz Caplan to assist with selling or buying in Fox Chapel, O'Hara Township and any areas of Pittsburgh.   As a top Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh Realtor and Fox Chapel real estate expert, I specialize in selling, buying and marketing homes, condos and luxury properties in the Fox Chapel area, contact The Caplan Group to discuss selling your town home, luxury home or condo. The homes that encompass Fox Chapel properties are single-family homes and townhomes featuring the kin... 03/31/2009

Evaluating a neighborhood and its schools is an important aspect of your real esate search, especially if you have children. According to HomeFinder.com, here are the key things to look for: Schools.  Make an appointment to tour the local school and meet the principal. Speak with local parents to learn firsthand about the school's strengths and weaknesses. Also ask about transportation options and before- and after-school programs. Crime.  Visit the local police station or search online for crime statistics. Neighborhood watch groups are a good indictor of local involvement in keeping a neighborhood as safe as possible. Good operating street lighting is a must have to prevent crime. Public records.  The county courthouse is a good tool to search for foreclosure actions, eviction proceed... 03/31/2009

Previously, the government was giving first-time home buyers a $7500 tax credit if they purchased a home.  Now, it's offering up to $8000 (10% of the home's purchase price) and it doesn't have to be repaid.  Being a first-time home buyer means that you've either never owned a home before, or you haven't owned a primary residence for the last 3 years. The Home Buyer Tax Credit is available for homes purchased between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.  If you still have questions, check out this FAQ page. 03/25/2009

According to the EPA, home construction and demolition projects annually produce 58 million tons of waste, 90 percent of which could be reused.  Reducing and recycling these materials conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials, and can reduce a project's overall expenses through avoided purchase and disposal costs. If you're looking to renovate, consider donating your discarded materials - from doors and sinks to light fixtures and tile - to a reuse center like Construction Junction, a non-profit building material reuse retailer located in the Point Breeze area of Pittsburgh. To find a reuse center in other cities, visit the Reuse Development Corporation. 03/24/2009

Over the Bar (OTB) Bicycle Cafe on Pittsburgh's South Side opened in January, and it was featured in Pop City: "The first-of-its-kind in western Pennsylvania, the family-friendly café features colorful ceiling murals by Ashley Hodder and ‘art bikes' constructed by THICK Bikes owner Chris Beech. Red Star Ironworks artist Grace Catranis used recycled bike parts to create OTB's wall sconces. With seating for 60, Kotyk hopes to draw lunch crowds from nearby South Side Works, American Eagle and UPMC. OTB's creative menu features appetizers, burgers  and entrees named for bike terms, trails and organizations, such as the Dirt Rag Delight (burger with pickles and peanut butter), Tangled Spokes (baked soft pretzels) and Bicycle Advocate, a culinary nod to Bike Pgh. Its full bar serves craft bee... 03/24/2009

Have everyone in your household take part in Earth Hour, and turn off all lights from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.  Earth Hour was the largest voluntary power down ever in 2008, with more than 50 million participants.  Landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square were dark for an hour. The number of cities and towns who have signed up to switch their lights off this year has already exceeded the target of 1,000 set by Earth Hour organizers. Over 1,190 cities and towns across 80 countries have committed. To find out more about this event, visit the Earth Hour website. 03/18/2009

The sale of 11 Upper St. Clair homes in February sounds low, but it's better than the 5 real estate sales for the previous month.  And it's on par compared to last February (13 houses sold).  Here's the February 2009 list: Address                        List Price Sold Price 173 Warwick Drive 385,000 375,000 1797 Tilton Drive 297,000 280,000 1594 Pinetree Drive 240,000 240,000 1722 Grey Mill Drive 199,900 190,000 394 Southridge Drive 185,000 185,000 1457 Old Meadow Road 199,900 183,000 2280 Cremona Drive 189,900 180,500 2478 Corteland Drive 174,900 174,900 2226 Country Club Drive 169,900 163,000 125 De Arment Parkway 140,000 136,000 1711 McMillan Road 115,000 112,500  Related Posts:  January Sales of Upper St. Clair Homes Show a Slow Start Upper St. Clair Home Sales Match Previous Year'... 03/17/2009

This Old House offer 9 tips for those who want to buy a foreclosed property: 1. Budget carefully.  Do you have the money for the extensive repairs these houses often need? 2. See the house for yourself.  Don't buy a foreclosed property sight unseen. 3. Look at the neighborhood.  Study the neighborhood's appeal at all hours, including at night. 4. How long has the house been empty?  The longer the vacancy the more damage there is, in most cases. 5. Was it winterized?  Don't turn on the utilities until you know the condition of the pipes. 6. Look at the landscaping.  If the house has been neglected, untrimmed trees, vines and bushes contribute to the deterioration of the house. 7. Contract for a private inspection.  Even if you're paying completely out of pocket for an ultra-cheap find, i... 03/17/2009

If you're thinking about finishing the basement in your house, take a look at these dos & don'ts from CNN Money: DO: Add Lots of Outlets. Appliances, exercise equipment and televisions will all need a source of electricity. DON'T: Chop Up the Floor.  If you need power in the middle of the room, it's more attractive and cost-effective to put the outlets on a column. DO: Go Bright Overhead.  But add fixtures and dimmers when necessary to fine-tune the effect. DON'T: Keep All the Light Above.  The under-side of upper cabinets, for example, can provide a great place for hidden lights over countertops. DO: Use Real Wood.  Columns made of natural wood cost $200 more than the painted-on version but will look good for a decade. DON'T: Overdecorate Crowded Rooms.  Patterned wall coverings or flo... 03/10/2009

Real estate sales in Mt. Lebanon remained consistent compared to the previous month's sales (18) and last February's sales (16).  Here's the list of 17 homes that sold in Mt. Lebanon this February: Address                     List Price   Sold Price 824 Osage Road 1,075,000 930,000 310 Orchard Drive 399,900 382,500 140 Vernon Drive 398,500 370,000 264 Parker Drive 385,000 355,000 401 Beverly Road 319,900 306,000 148 Seneca Drive 269,900 264,000 215 Parker Drive 249,900 235,000 818 Eisenhower Drive 239,900 226,000 404 Duquesne Drive 184,900 186,000 169 Seneca Drive 175,000 175,000 535 Westover Road 194,900 174,200 615 Vallevista Avenue 175,000 174,000 1124 Lindendale Drive 154,900 166,066 431 Meridian Drive 159,900 156,500 716 Vallevista Avenue 134,900 135,900 1174 Pinewood Drive 116,900... 03/10/2009

Coldwell Banker Realtor Liz Caplan, Squirrel Hill Pittsburgh PA Real Estate Experts- We Never Stop MovingLocation: Pittsburgh, PASquirrel Hill Pittsburgh PA is located in the East End of the City of Pittsburgh and offers many types of housing options. If you're looking to sell or buy a home or condo in Sq. Hill, start here! Let our team show you the newest homes for sale in Sq. Hill. and assist with selling your home. Pittsburgh is one of most stable real estate markets in the country and it's a great time to buy or sell a home in Sq. Hill. The Caplan Group is a full service boutique that offers a wide variety of resources to assist with every aspect of your real estate transaction. Visit my website, www.pittsburghhomesite.com for more information Pittsburgh real estate, our areas of ex... 03/08/2009

Thanks to the mental_floss blog for featuring Pittsburgh in one of its posts last month.  As it pointed out, Pittsburgh has been a city where things happen before they take place anywhere else.  Here are the firsts that made their list: 1. The First Polio Vaccine - In 1947, Jonas Salk arrived at the University of Pittsburgh. By 1955, Salk knew his polio vaccine was effective and he announced it to the world.  2. The First Big Mac - More than 50 years ago, a Pittsburgh businessman opened the first McDonald's franchise in the region. In 1967, he created the Big Attraction. A year later, McDonald's released the burger nationwide. 3. The First Emoticon - In the early 1980s, Carnegie Mellon University computer scientists communicated using b-boards, a precursor to chat rooms. But their onlin... 03/04/2009

Spring is almost here, but Realty Times advises not to wait any longer to begin your house hunt: "Spring showers typically bring spring buyers. But if you wait for the seasonal thaw you'll join what could be a throng of market savvy buyers who have already scoped the lay of the land and are elbowing for position. It's a better idea to prepare now, become a savvy buyer and beat the spring rush." Read the entire article.  And if you're ready to buy or sell real estate before Spring arrives, give me a call today! 03/04/2009

Looking for a good restaurant in Upper St. Clair?  Pittsburgh Magazine had this to say about Wild Rosemary Bistro on Bower Hill Road:   "Wild Rosemary is a small but promising bistro in the South Hills opened by a trio of friends. Recast as a quaint little Euro-bistro, as darling as it is cozy, it's a place where I see lots of long conversations and people falling in love. With only eight tables and in spite of the foul economic weather, the place has become so busy that the team of friends currently has stopped serving lunch in an effort to take back their lives; however, they are extending dinner hours from 8 to 10 p.m. Desserts - usually a cake, something with fruit, something with chocolate - will blow your mind."   The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also had good things to say about this ... 03/04/2009

I just finished purchasing some domain names and got a website up and running... check it out and let me know what you think! www.dustinnulf.com 03/02/2009

COLDWELL BANKER PITTSBURGH PA REAL ESTATE AGENT- Pittsburgh New Homes, Downtown Pittsburgh, Mt. Washington, South Side, ShadySide Lofts, Condos, Contact Realtor Liz Caplan Location: Downtown, Central Business District THINKING OF BUYING, SELLING OR RELOCATING TO PITTSBURGH PA- START HERE! MT. WASHINGTON, SOUTH SIDE, SHADYSIDE, SQ. HILL, POINT BREEZE AND OTHER CITY OF PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOODS. CONTACT REALTOR LIZ CAPLAN FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION TO DOWNTOWN LIVING, PITTSBURGH CONDOS, LOFTS AND TOWN HOMES, PITTSBURGH LUXURY HOMES AND OUR OTHER UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS! OUR COLDWELL BANKER TEAM OF SPECIALISTS CAN ASSIST WITH ALL YOUR PITTSBURGH REAL ESTATE AND FINANCING NEEDS.VISIT WWW.PITTSBURGHHOMESITE.COM FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE AND FINANCING NEEDS!CONTACT LIZ CAPLAN,412-302-2645, liz.capla... 03/01/2009

Realtor Liz Caplan and her Coldwell Banker real estate team specializes in Pittsburgh Pa Condos and Homes and condos in The City of Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods.  South Side is one of the most desirable areas to live in the city.  Blending modern dynamism with old-fashioned charm and a diverse ethnic history, the South Side epitomizes Pittsburgh's transformation from the Smoky City to one of the best places to live in the United States.  The community balances sustainable growth with preservation, which makes investing in South Side Pittsburgh real estate a smart choice. If you are looking for a top Pittsburgh Realtor to assist with all of your real estate needs give Liz Caplan a call today to discuss your needs, 412-302-2645.  Our team is available 7 days a week and we look... 02/28/2009