We Focus on Families Moving to Pittsburgh

If you’ve ever visited my Pittsburgh real estate website, it’s easy to see I enjoy helping families buy and sell homes in the Washington County area. I even asked our real estate marketing partner Dakno Marketing to design a family-friendly Pittsburgh online resource that included easy to use MLS property search tools, articles and even added an adorable character named “RELO” so kids moving with mom and dad could ask questions about buying and selling Pittsburgh real estate. It’s all about providing families the meaningful resources to make their move to Pittsburgh much easier.

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Here is a snapshot of the recent newspaper headlines on the state of the Pittsburgh real estate market. Do you recognize a pattern here?

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It still might be to soon to tell but at some point the supply of homes for sale in Pittsburgh is bound decrease (hit bottom). If what I learned from my economics 101 class remains true, it is at that point that Pittsburgh home prices should begin to inch up (the law of supply and demand). This should cause Pittsburgh home buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines to wake up and take action!

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Talk about a weird scenario, for the month of April, Pittsburgh real estate sales continued to decline by 13.2% compared to last April while the median value of homes for sale in the 5-county region actually rose by 3.7% (annualized appreciation since 2000). Pittsburgh real estate data supplied by RealSTATs, a South-side based real estate information company.

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Past Experiences Can Color Your View

For many area home buyers, the Pittsburgh real estate market conjures many emotions. They range from dreaded fear to pure exhilaration. Having helped many, many families buy their first Pittsburgh home and more experienced buyers purchase “move-up” properties, I can honestly say the way buyers approach their purchase is often “colored” by previous financial experiences. If you have been juggling your 401K lately and your account has been “smacked” by less than favorable fund buying decisions, you might be inclined to have a more pessimistic view of the prospect of buying a home. Those with more positive past experiences often see the current Pittsburgh real estate market “glass” as half full with opportunity to get a great deal on a home! Either way, don’t let your emotions keep you paralyzed.

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How to Compete with Copycat Pittsburgh Homes

If you live in one those Pittsburgh neighborhoods where all the homes seem to look alike, it really is important your Washington County home stand out in the crowd. Especially now that there are so many for sale signs sprouting up in our springtime Pittsburgh real estate market. So what are the secrets to making your home grab the attention of Pittsburgh home buyers with so many look-alike homes on the market?

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Do You Know How Smart Pittsburgh Buyers Find Your Home?

It goes without saying, your Washington County home must be “white glove inspection” clean and possess immaculate curb appeal. It is now longer an option. For a fuller explanation of what todays’ Pittsburgh home buyer expects to see in a Pittsburgh home for sale, be sure to read this earlier Pittsburgh Real Estate post. Once you have finished reading that article, it’s time you started thinking like a Pittsburgh home buyer and even put to good use the same buyer tools they use to find a home.

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Everyone knows Pittsburgh residents are rabid sports fans. It seems we get started at an early age with our love affair with Pittsburgh sports. Even elementary school kids aren’t immune to the seducing power of competitive sports in Pittsburgh. As a Pittsburgh real estate agent, I believe those who are moving to Pittsburgh and greater Washington County need to know about all the entertainment options a family can enjoy from the performing arts to the beautiful public parks and outstanding sports venues Pittsburgh has to offer.

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Know the Right Questions to Ask Your Pittsburgh Home Builder

Are you thinking about buying a newly constructed Pittsburgh home? If so, there is the right way to go about building your new Pittsburgh home and obviously - a wrong way. Why not have your project get off to the right start by setting your expectations upfront. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be more comfortable with your Pittsburgh custom new home builder. With some forethought and a preplanned budget, here are some basic questions to ask your prospective Pittsburgh new home builder. Better yet, print this list and and we can use it when we sit down with your builder prospects.

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Stop the Car - I Want to See this Home!

Pittsburgh, PA home buyers are expecting to see an immaculate property the moment they drive up. The property should offer a jaw-dropping first impression that will make any home buyer scream STOP THE CAR - I WANT TO SEE THAT HOUSE! If the lawn has been ignored, the flowerbeds are brimming with weeds, the shrubs are untrimmed and the grease-stained driveway is cluttered with toys, experience has taught me buyers will ask we keep driving. To the buyer, it’s apparent these sellers are not serious about selling their Pittsburgh home anytime soon. If the yard is in this state, one can only imagine the condition of the interior of the home.

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