Looking for something to do on New Year's Eve?  First Night Pittsburgh is a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration focused on the arts. Held in more than 200 cities worldwide, the festival is a wonderful way to bring in the New Year.  First Night Pittsburgh has something for everyone, from children's activities and performances by nationally-known musicians, to installations by local artists and a spectacular fireworks finale.  Check out the list of events. 12/30/2008

The “Administrative Fee” (aka Brokerage Fee, Technology Fee, ABC Fee) is a flat dollar fee that real estate brokers charge to buyers and sellers above and beyond the real estate commission. The charge ranges from $100 to $395. This fee has been implemented only during the last several years but already, consumers and real estate sales associates have become complacent with it. If consumers refuse to pay it, many brokers collect the fee from the sales associate. Many brokers instruct their agents to explain why this fee is charged. Here's one explanation: "The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission has increased the time period for which brokers must store their files. We, therefore, must pass this increased cost along to the consumer." This explanation is false. The Pennsylvania Real Estat... 12/29/2008

This site is designed to be a reference for people interested in real estate in greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My name is Lawton Stokes and I am a real estate attorney working in Wexford, Pennsylvania, which is a suburb 20 miles North of downtown Pittsburgh. My wife Kristen Stokes and I own a real estate brokerage called Achieve Realty and a title insurance agency called Allegheny Settlement Company. We are also partners in the law firm Antol & Stokes, P.C. I welcome any questions or concerns you may have about real estate transactions in greater Pittsburgh. Thanks for visiting this site! 12/29/2008

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it!  Have a safe and happy Holiday! 12/25/2008

Merry Christmas! As 2008 draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a great holiday and health and happiness in the coming year. Despite all of the negative news associated with the housing industry and the economy as a whole, I hope that the past year has been a good one for you and your loved ones and that you're looking forward to 2009. And remember - real estate has always been a great long-term investment, so be sure to keep me in mind when you are ready to take advantage of new opportunities that may present themselves next year. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.  It would be great to hear from you. Best wishes for the coming year! 12/24/2008

Before you begin searching for a new home, know what you're looking for. Create a wish list to help you identify all the things that you absolutely must have, as well as those items that would be nice but that you could live without. Things to consider are: Home Characteristics (square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, style of home, fireplace, etc.) Neighborhood Characteristics (traffic, demographics, snow removal, etc.)  Proximity of Home to Amenities (grocery stores, schools, child care) Of course, your opinions on the type of new home you want may change during the home buying process. But taking the time to complete a home wish list will help keep you focused.  Your home search will be a much more productive experience, and you will ultimately find a great new home that meets your needs. 12/22/2008

As reported by CBS News, in 2005 there was a two-to-three month supply of houses on the market. Now it's nine to 10 months, so it can take much longer to sell your house.  How do you increase your chances?  Beside price, the best way to sell your home in a down market is to: -  Hire an aggressive agent who shows you a plan for selling your house and then make sure they follow through. -  Give your house a facelift with new paint and repairs. -  List it online with such sites as eBay and Craigslist. -  Offer to pay the buyer's closing costs. -  And finally, take any reasonable offer. The full story is available on CBS News. 12/22/2008

The Library restaurant is located at 2302 East Carson Street (near the Birmingham Bridge) in Pittsburgh's historic South Side.  Scott Beveridge, award winning writer and photographer at the Observer-Reporter, had this to say about it on his blog: "The menu is even sandwiched between the pages of books, and its selections have witty names inspired by book titles and authors. Executive Chef Steven Harlow has come up with a dinner named The Fisherman and His Wife that includes pretzel-encrusted salmon. And then there is the Billy Goats Gruff that is a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with goat cheese and drizzled with chipotle sauce. I like the sound of the Slaughter House Four that turns out to be four mini hamburgers. Unlike most libraries that have staffs with personalities as dull as pho... 12/17/2008

You would probably agree that Christmas is the most wasteful holiday (wrapping paper, food, decorations, etc.).  So here are ten tips from 5 Minutes for Going Green to "green up" your holiday: 1.  Buy a quality fake Christmas tree and use it forever, or buy a live tree to plant every year. 2.  Send digital Christmas party invitations and cards, or buy ones that are made from recycled paper. 3.  Make your own Christmas tree ornaments using natural and/or edible materials like gingerbread cookies, popcorn, and candy canes. 4.  Instead of purchasing the usual lights for decoration, think about using LED lights. They don't emit any heat, and they don't use much energy. 5.  Use green cleaners such as baking soda, lemons, olive oil, castile soap, and vinegar to clean your home for any parties... 12/16/2008

There were 13 homes sold in Upper St. Clair during the month of November, down from 16 in October:  AddressList PriceSold Price 1616 Trolist Drive 389,000 380,000 1694 Swanson Lane 379,900 355,000 104 Lamar Road 549,900 350,000 2446 Southvue Drive 272,500 268,750 2660 Thorntree Drive 259,000 240,000 301 Hays Road 244,900 237,500 2254 Morrow Road 229,000 219,000 2382 Cramden Road 216,900 216,900 1194 Rolling Meadow Road 192,500 188,140 1372 Deepwood Drive 200,000 188,000 504 Long Drive 139,900 135,000 202 Melrose Place 124,900 125,000 2324 Mill Grove Road 138,900 120,000  Related Posts:  Upper St. Clair Sees Dip in October Real Estate Sales  Upper St. Clair Home Sales Remain Steady in September Upper St. Clair Home Sales Slide Again in August Upper St. Clair Real Estate Sales Decrease in... 12/16/2008

Just a couple of days ago, I shared some tips for saving energy during the holidays.  Well, this post goes completely against that theme - but I couldn't pass up the chance to mention a national story with a local connection. A CNN article featured home holiday decorations in several states, including a Pittsburgh house located on Beryl Drive in the South Hills: "With an outdoor display of 150,000 Christmas lights, Bob and Raquel Cox saw their electric bill increase $400 last December. This year, the couple expects to pay an even larger bill: They strung 210,000 lights outside their Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home. The couple started hanging outdoor Christmas lights in 2004. The following year, they had ‘more lights than your average home,' Bob Cox said. Now, their light display is grabb... 12/12/2008

According to the US Department of Energy's Energy Savers Blog, you don't have to let your energy-saving efforts fall by the wayside amid all of the holiday festivities. Its tips below will help you save energy and money even as you celebrate: Use LED Holiday Lights - LED holiday lights are much more efficient than traditional incandescent lights. LED light strings also last longer and are safer to use than traditional incandescent light strings. Entertain Efficiently - Check out these tips from another post in September on energy-efficient cooking for great ways to save in the kitchen. And when your guests arrive, be sure to turn down the thermostat-the combination of the stove, the hot food, and the warm bodies should keep the house plenty comfortable. Purchase Energy-Efficient Gifts -... 12/10/2008

Here's the list of 17 homes that sold in Mt. Lebanon during November (down from 20 in October): AddressList PriceSold Price 820 Ridgefield Avenue 395,000 365,000 771 Colony Circle 329,900 320,000 271 Mabrick Avenue 250,000 250,000 1057 Lindendale Lane 245,000 237,750 852 Eisenhower Drive 239,900 230,000 335 Parkside Avenue 199,900 191,500 567 Sandrae Drive 189,900 184,900 229 Sleepy Hollow Road 189,900 181,000 107 Mohawk Drive 184,000 175,000 200 Bird Park Drive 189,900 170,000 27 Allendale Place 179,900 170,000 1255 Cedar Boulevard 161,500 153,000 228 Cochran Road 150,000 153,000 714 Vallevista Avenue 149,900 150,000 1010 Lindendale Drive 160,000 135,000 950 Corace Drive 134,900 131,000 1505 Vallimont Drive 99,900 96,000  Related Posts: Mt. Lebanon Real Estate Sales Decline Again in Oc... 12/10/2008

The November issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine published a story about a toy store that has opened in Scott Township - just in time for you to visit for your holiday shopping: "Meredyth and Ron Glass this month opened E2 Toys2Try in Scott Towne Center, next to Little Snips. Named for their children, Ethan and Elyana, the store stocks a wide variety of developmental and environmentally friendly toys for newborns to kids age 9 but it also features a playground with a ship to climb on, a jumping zone, a rope tree and a faux road through the playground so kids can try to pedal cars. Parents can enjoy comfortable seating, free coffee, tea and Wi-Fi access." Read the entire mtl article.  It has also been mentioned on the Post-Gazette's PittsburghMom.com website. 12/09/2008

Ed Lampl, a home inspector serving the Pittsburgh area, sent me the following e-mail that may be helpful to many of you.  If you have questions, give Ed a call. "Consider a home inspection prior to purchasing a home, condominium or commercial property. This can bring peace of mind when you sign the sales contract. Knowing what to expect both inside and out will help you make an informed decision about the value of the building and the future upkeep. An ASHI home inspection accomplishes two important goals. First, it gives you a chance to determine the condition of the house, its structural soundness, and the condition of its mechanical systems. Second, it brings any problems to the seller's attention at a time when they can be resolved before closing a sale. If you sign a contract befor... 12/02/2008

Pittsburgh has been named one of the top 5 "safe havens" in real estate by Kiplinger, a publisher of personal finance and business information.  The article says: "These cities' local economies have kept unemployment and foreclosure rates below average. Plus, their affordability index - a measure of home prices versus family income - is low."   Pittsburgh "properties have retained their value. This ‘Pittsburgh paradox,' as it's called by locals, is attributed to the city's steady population growth and the construction of new, high-value homes."   Read the entire article on Yahoo. Related Posts: 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 Bes... 12/02/2008

It's Thanksgiving!  I love Thanksgiving!  I love enjoying my family on Thanksgiving day.  I love catching up with friends this weekend!  I love the football.  I love the turkey.  I love the mashed potatoes.  I love the corn.  I LOVE the Pumpkin Pie! What I am thankful for this year: Family Wife My son His hugs His enthusiasm for life His thirst for knowledge His trust Mom Brother Dad My other brothers Friends Old friends New friends Seeing the light My work My health God My dog - Rufus A lawn to cut, leaves to rake, and gutters to clean - I love my home! Technology The great outdoors An awesome sunset Bright stars in a BLACK sky Cold mountains Steelhead fishing in Erie, PA Charlie Brown A Christmas Story Patience Opportunities Michael Scott - from The Office Passion Rain Snowy Steeler g... 11/26/2008

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's a great holiday. At some point while you're eating too much, watching football, and enjoying this special day with your friends and family, don't forget to stop for a minute and think about everything we have to be thankful for. We live in a great country and, although times may seem tough, remember that there are others facing more difficult challenges. Enjoy your holiday! 11/26/2008

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently wrote about StonePepper's Grill located at 1614 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair: "The casual, 140-seat restaurant, featuring wood-fired brick oven pizza, gourmet burgers, pasta bar and salads, is located on the former Chi-Chi's site at a confluence of Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. Among its amenities is The Pittsburgher, [a] creation of sauteed onions, provolone cheese and sauce on an Angus burger, served with fries. For sports fans, the restaurant offers 13 flat-screen, high-definition televisions to show Big Ten Network games on Saturdays, and NFL games on Sundays." By now many of you may have eaten there, so leave a comment below telling us what you think of it! 11/25/2008

According to CNN Money, here are 5 home renovation fads that we should try to forget: The Great Room Craze - The Great-Room Craze of the 1980s was all about openness: Why should the kitchen be so removed? Why should there be any distinction between one room and another? The result is usually a great big mess. Instead: A better option is to properly arrange a group of normal size rooms (with normal-size ceilings). Using french and sliding doors, rooms can be closed off when needed and opened up when you want a more spacious feel. Stadium Kitchens - The "bigger is better" mentality helped put the kitchen on steroids. While it's true that many post-WWII suburban kitchens were cramped and drab, the response has been wildly disproportionate. Instead: The perfect kitchen feels spacious but ke... 11/24/2008