You know the old saying, location, location, location. Some neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh area, despite seemingly rampant crime, high taxes and little in the way of community services are homes to those that call their town "the best." My question to the AR community is what makes the location? Is it only the school district, taxes and crime rate, or is it something less measurable? Can we truly call a place "home" if our heart isn't there, even if all the lawns are manicured and the school is within walking distance? My experience, at least in the Pittsburgh area, is that some people are not motivated to move out of areas they've called home, no matter what. As a real estate investor, I hope to give communities back some of their dignity by fixing eyesores that plague the town they c... 01/20/2009

This is a great article by my business partner, Mary Smith, about a local real estate investor in the Pittsburgh area...Enjoy! Mary B. Smith - Pittsburgh, PA -January 19, 2009 In today's unstable economic climate, it is more important than ever to take hold of one's own future. With unemployment rates rising and investment in the stock market producing less than favorable results, real estate continues to be a sound investment for the future. It opens opportunities for financial success to anyone with the right knowledge and a small amount of determination.   Jim Toner knows this fact well, going from rags to riches while building his own success through real estate investments. Twenty years ago, Toner lived in a one-room apartment furnished with plastic lawn furniture. Today, he reside... 01/20/2009

Everyone loves free food, right? How about if you got great real estate investing advice to boot? :)This is the copy for an event happening on Saturday the 31st. I've been to one of these seminars and it is definitely worth the time invested. Here are the details... Wealth Builders is sponsoring a free seminar, complete with free beverages and appetizers. The Wealth Builders team is made up of local investors that assist and support local investors as they launch their own real estate investment business. The seminar will cover all the basics of "flip" investing, rental real estate and more. This event will be held at Dave & Buster's Restaurant at the Waterfront in Homestead, PA on Saturday, January 31 at 12 noon. To register for this free event, call 412-673-9800 or go to the website, ... 01/19/2009

I'm about to watch the Steeler game... the Cardinals just beat Philly.  What do you all think about the Steelers vs. the Cardinals?  Sounds good to me! 01/18/2009

At the age of 25 I came to the conclusion that it would be more beneficial for me to buy my own home and be paying myself rather than dumping my money into the pockets of a landlord who was annoyed by me asking him to turn the heat up in my apartment since it was only 58 degrees in my bedroom.  So I went down to my bank and talked with a mortgage representative who ended up pre-approving me for up to $65,000.  I had about 2 grand saved up and decided that it was time to start looking for a home, so I called the local office of a large real estate company in my area. The agent that I talked to seemed very friendly and I told her about what I was interested in (a home in the area between the prices of 40k and 65k).  She then sounded very disinterested and sent me an email containing a num... 01/14/2009

Upper St. Clair finished 2008 with total real estate sales at the same level as the previous year (239 homes sold compared to 241 for 2007).  Here's the list of Upper St. Clair homes that sold during December:  Address                         List Price Sold Price 1900 Highgate Road 975,000 797,250 1818 Tyburn Drive 499,900 475,000 1708 Hathaway Lane 375,000 337,000 2340 Norton Road 275,000 264,000 1734 Grey Mill Drive 249,900 240,000 1532 Jenkins Drive 229,000 219,000 1233 Montclair Drive 215,000 206,000 314 Howard Drive 125,000 128,000 1322 Lesnett Road 125,000 125,000 3347 Bethel Church Road 89,900 83,000 2274 Washington Road 80,000 81,500  Related Posts:  Upper St. Clair Real Estate Sales for November Upper St. Clair Sees Dip in October Real Estate Sales  Upper St. Clair Home Sales ... 01/14/2009

Just a late Happy New Year wish from me.  I have a good feeling about this year and I hope you do too! 01/13/2009

Please join us for a tour of The Caryle Condos. Pittsburgh PA Homes, Condos and lofts for sale. There's never been a better time to purchase Pittsburgh real estate, a new home or a new condo in downtown Pittsburgh.  Open House: January 21 5pm-7pm, please RSVP, Liz Caplan liz@pittsburghhomesite.com, 412-302-2645. New construction projects like The Carlyle Condos offer you an opportunity to customize your new home and take advantage of limited pre-construction pricing values. Visit www.pittsburghhomesite.com and Find out what all the buzz is about! The Carlyle, custom new luxury condos downtown. The Caplan Group, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Service, proudly offer new luxury custom condos downtown!Now is the time to take advantage of pre-construction pricing and best selection, Over 60% AL... 01/13/2009

Deciding to end a marriage is very difficult. An unfortunate aspect of divorce is the splitting of your combined assets, which includes your home. You should get unbiased information on your options for what to do with your property:  1. Selling the house; splitting the profits.The goal in this situation is to capitalize your home's resale price. Factors that may influence the division of profits include the terms of your settlement, the original source of the down payment, and the property laws in your area. 2. Buying out your spouse.Consider the new income of your household. Are you able to afford the monthly mortgage payment? If the original mortgage was qualified with dual incomes, would you have problems refinancing on your own? 3. Being bought out by your spouse.This a great oppor... 01/13/2009

Pittsburgh has made it on another list!  In Forbes' "10 Cities Where They're Hiring," Pittsburgh is ranked #6 among the best places to look for employment in the new year: Pittsburgh's "biggest bright spot is health care. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the city's largest employer, with 40,000 workers. Banking, technology and education also continue to keep the economy and job market lively." Read the entire Forbes article.     Related Posts: 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 Ranked Third Least Expensive for Homeowners Pittsburgh: A Best City for Young Professionals Pittsburgh Recognized as a Real Estate Best Bargain 01/13/2009

I am constantly on the lookout for good economic news.  The New York Times yesterday had an article on the current economic situation of a rust belt city, Pittsburgh. Given all the bad news about manufacturing, one wouldn't think that they wouldn't have 5.5% unemployment, housing prices  up 2.2% for the year ending September 2008, and foreclosures being fairly uncommon. Why can't the rest of the country be forward thinking enough to position themselves (bite the bullet) and make positive changes in their local economies. My question to you - are these numbers correct? and where are there more positive stories like this one? Many Thanks to Amy Feldman (@amyfeldman) of Businessweek for pointing out this article on Twitter.   01/08/2009

A recent article on CNN.com reinforces that home warranties are still an effective way to entice buyers in an increasingly competitive real estate market. A one-year home warranty "will give the new owner the confidence that any problems will be covered for one year after closing. [H]ome warranties will take care of appliances and mechanical systems that might break down because of normal wear and tear. A basic policy costs somewhere between $300 and $500 a year and covers plumbing, electrical work, HVAC systems, and most major appliances (washers and dryers may be excluded)." And "home warranties aren't just for buyers and sellers. They're great for homeowners as well - especially if they live in older houses." Read the entire CNN article. 01/07/2009

Home sales in Mt. Lebanon remained steady during the last quarter of 2008 (20 sold in October, 17 in November, and 20 in December). Overall, however, Mt. Lebanon real estate sales dropped compared to 2007. For 2008, a total of 371 homes were sold in Mt. Lebanon, which was down from 426 for the previous year.  Here's the list of 20 homes that sold in December:  Address                    List Price   Sold Price 182 Vernon Drive 290,000 280,000 752 Country Club Drive 269,900 270,670 297 Newburn Drive 279,900 265,000 275 Outlook Drive 279,900 262,000 3 Forest Glen Drive 229,900 220,000 834 Academy Place 219,900 219,900 214 Newburn Drive 221,900 215,000 461 Jayson Avenue 224,900 212,000 110 Overlook Drive 199,900 195,000 411 Coolidge Avenue 179,900 174,000 440 Clokey Avenue 174,900 166,000 ... 01/06/2009

1. Curb appeal: If you can't get them in the front door, then the next nine suggestions won't matter much. Edge, mulch, clean and add some color. 2. Light: Nothing improves the interior appeal like light. Make sure all the light bulbs are a higher voltage and working. 3. Clean, Clean, Clean: This is the stuff that will take a little time, i.e. removing anything that would remind a potential customer that someone has lived here. 4. Floor space: One thing buyers like is space, so let them see more of the floor. Start packing things that occupy the floor space. 5. Storage: People love closets and shelving. The best way to increase this element is to get rid of half of the things you have in your closets, on your shelves and in your pantries. 6. Personal Items: Remember buyers are looking a... 01/06/2009

Summerset at Firck Park is Pittsburgh's newest urban community offering a traditional style neighborhood, low maintance living and a variety of styles of Pittsburgh homes for sale.  Summerset at Frick Park is the first residential development of its scale to be constructed in Pittsburgh in 30 years.  The high-density community is located on the hillside overlooking Nine Mile Run, within ten minutes of downtown and a stone's throw away from Squirrel Hill and the Waterfront.  There will soon be a road connecting Summerset to the WaterfrontThe homes and the neighborhood layout feature a blend of old and traditional styles with cutting-edge technology and a focus on sustainability.  Inspired by the tenets of New Urbanism, Summerset at Frick Park places an emphasis on features that foster a ... 01/05/2009

Please Join us on January 21st  from 5pm-7pm for food, refreshments and a preview of the one of a kind 6,000 SF Penthouse at The Carlyle!   Tour all 6 floor plans avaialble at The Carlyle, Dowontown Pittsburgh newest  luxury condos and meet The Carlyle developer David Bishoff.  If you haven't been down recently for a tour please join us on January 21st  from 5pm-7pm.  RSVP by Jan. 14th, 2009 to Liz Caplan, 412-302-2645, liz@pittsburghhomesite.com . Welcome to The Carlyle, 300 Fourth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh 15222 the newest luxury residences Downtown. Pittsburgh is ranked as America's most livable cities and Downtown living is all the rage in Pittsburgh.  The Carlyle Condos will soon be completed in the Spring of 2009.  We are extremely excited about this long awaited modern renovati... 01/04/2009

The Caplan Group always put our clients' needs first. We are backed by Coldwell Banker, the country's oldest and largest real estate brokerage, and we offer services in all aspects of real estate. Our full complement of services range from helping you find your dream house in downtown Pittsburgh or Greater Pittsburgh, staging your home properly to sell quickly, assisting with financing and doing everything to ensure that your relocation or next real estate transaction is a breeze. Beyond Downtown Pittsburgh living, The Caplan Group can also help you with Mount Washington PA homes for sale, South Side Pittsburgh real estate, Shadyside real estate, Squirrel Hill, Regent Square, and Fox Chapel properties. Headed by Liz Caplan, a seasoned Realtor and longtime Pittsburgh resident, The Caplan... 01/03/2009

Christine Emmick - Pittsburgh, PA -January 5, 2009 Although the economic storm of recent months has many investors holding tight to their stocks praying the DJIA recovers, some are taking this financial tornado and riding it out in the housing market. While real estate investments have taken a dive in other parts of the country, Pittsburgh continues to be an attractive place to purchase real estate. The Pittsburgh Business Times even reported a global interest in the Pittsburgh region with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance hosting a group of international investors touring Pittsburgh looking for investment opportunities. "That kind of investment is very good for our region because it creates business activity and jobs here," says Allegheny Conference CEO Mike Langley. (Ref: http://www.bi... 12/31/2008

If you're planning to buy a house this coming year, here's a list of New Year's resolutions you should consider making. They're provided by Ilyce Glink, nationally-syndicated columnist of "Real Estate Matters" and best-selling book author. As a buyer, you should resolve to: Get your credit and finances in shape. Know how much you can afford to spend before shopping for a home. Know your neighborhood, and be comfortable with it, before you buy a home there. Interview at least three brokers before hiring one. Read and understand all documents before signing them. Take a look at the entire article on New Year's Resolutions for Home Buyers. 12/31/2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently placed the spotlight on Aladdin's Eatery, which has locations in Mt. Lebanon, Squirrel Hill, Ross and Cranberry: "The decadent desserts at Aladdin's Eatery probably draw in as many diners as the fast and tasty Lebanese cuisine, the restaurant's management says. Customer favorites are the Chocolate Bomb cake, with layers of chocolate mousse, chocolate cake and chocolate ganache; and cheesecakes, including seasonal flavors such as eggnog and candy cane. For more healthful snacks, Aladdin's offers plenty of dishes, most of which take between five and 10 minutes to prepare and serve. Popular selections include hummus with pita bread, and tabouli, a mixture of parsley, onions, cracked wheat and tomatoes, with pita bread. Camille Chamoun, who owns the Pi... 12/30/2008