Archive for July, 2008
Foreclosure Vandalism
July 31st, 2008 categories: Buyers, Investors, Sellers
You’ve seen or heard stories of angry homeowners who, when dealing with foreclosure, trash their house before leaving. Some spray paint the walls or siding. Others break every window with a baseball bat. Sometimes homeowners turn on all the water faucets and plug up the drains before departing.
These homeowners, angry at the bank for foreclosing, think it’s somehow permissible to turn the home into a total nightmare. They don’t stop to think about the consequences for the next set of first-time home buyers who have pinched, saved and worked hard to qualify to buy a bank-owned home priced at the bottom of the market, in “as-is” condition.
Desperate homeowners also strip assets from their house. These fixtures are not personal property, which mean they should stay with the house. The following items should not be removed from a home that is in foreclosure:
-
Cabinets and counter tops
-
Appliances such as stoves, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, etc.
-
Furnaces and air conditioning units
-
Plumbing and copper pipes
-
Romex or other electrical wiring
-
Light fixtures and ceiling fans
-
Doors and hardware
-
Flooring, ceilings and walls
-
Windows and vents
-
Medicine cabinets, sinks, tubs, toilets and showers
-
Sink drains and faucets
-
Built-in shelving / bookcases
-
Landscaping, fencing, built-in pools and spas
People who vandalize a home they are losing through foreclosure are not harming the bank by their illegal actions. They are harming innocent home buyers who, just like they once were, are hoping to achieve the dream of home ownership.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Mantini’s South Side Restaurant: “Expansive and Urbane”
July 30th, 2008 categories: South Side
The Pittsburgh City Paper recently reviewed Mantini’s Woodfired restaurant on the South Side:
Unlike the old Mantini’s, which consisted of an orange-walled dining room beyond an old-fashioned bar, the new Mantini’s feels expansive and urbane, like a loft at ground level. The bar floats like an island near the tall plate-glass storefront, which invites natural light into the deep dining room beyond. The seating area is large and unfussy, dominated by exposed brick walls, a hardwood floor and black-painted ceiling. Instead of flame-colored walls, a couple of gas fireplaces warm things up. In the back is an open kitchen, and by open, we mean wide-open: A counter runs around the perimeter, with barstools for those who consider cooking a spectator sport. Count us in.
Read the rest of the City Paper’s review.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Staging Secrets for Selling Your House
July 29th, 2008 categories: Sellers
Who knew that getting rid of family photos and clearing off countertops could help you snag top dollar for your house? According to This Old House, these are just two secrets from Debra Gould, founder of Staging Diva. Gould, a professional home stager, has helped scores of homeowners clean up, rearrange, and style their homes to command top price. That can mean anything from putting extra books in storage to getting rid of moldy caulk in bathrooms to renting furniture to fill up too-bare spaces. The goal is to make your home clean, organized, and welcoming so potential buyers can picture living there. “Most owners aren’t seeing bidding wars the way they were a few years ago,” Gould says. “But with the right staging, you can get close to your asking price.”
For more tips, take a look at the entire article on This Old House.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Enjoy “A Taste of Dormont” on August 9th
July 24th, 2008 categories: Dormont
“A Taste of Dormont,” a wine and food tasting event, will be hosted by the Dormont Community Development Corporation on Saturday, August 9, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Dormont’s Main Street Program for Business District Revitalization.
Enjoy yourself by bidding on gifts in the silent auction and sampling delicious food from local Dormont restaurants:
- Cain’s Saloon
- Dormont Dogs
- Giovanni’s
- Jamie’s Restaurant & Lounge
- Mekong Restaurant
- Potomac Bakery
A $20 donation per person includes food, drink and a souvenir glass. This event has been a sellout in the past, so purchase your ticket early! Tickets are available at Jamie’s Restaurant, 3220 West Liberty Avenue. For more details, contact Dormont Main Street.
| Discussion: No Comments »
If You Can’t Move, Consider Remodeling
July 23rd, 2008 categories: Around the House
An article from CNN reports that, with credit markets tight, many families are deciding against shopping for new houses and, instead, are remodeling their current homes. But there can be financial pitfalls in remodeling, especially for those taking on major tasks such as room additions or full kitchen makeovers.
For one thing, some families may have as much trouble getting a loan or a line of credit to upgrade a home as they would getting a new mortgage. And as home prices have dropped in many regions, it can be harder for a family to recoup the money it puts into a remodeling project.
As a result, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University expects home improvement activity to slow this year, possibly by as much as 5 percent, before picking up again in 2009.
Still, for some families, remodeling can be a good strategy. To learn more, read the entire CNN article.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Home Sales on Pittsburgh’s South Side for June
July 22nd, 2008 categories: Sold Property Statistics, South Side
There were 17 South Side homes that sold in June:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 908 Bingham Street | 319,900 | 297,000 |
| 2415 Jane Street | 280,000 | 266,000 |
| 52 S. 22nd Street | 259,000 | 259,000 |
| 2125 Wrights Way | 269,900 | 250,950 |
| 1926 Sidney Street | 250,000 | 240,000 |
| 2305 Wellington Street | 188,900 | 185,000 |
| 1915 Jane Street | 174,500 | 172,500 |
| 513 Cabot Way | 164,300 | 164,900 |
| 128-130 Pius Street | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| 154 S. 16th Street | 144,700 | 140,000 |
| 2829 Larkins Way | 110,000 | 100,000 |
| 2612 Patterson Street | 97,500 | 95,000 |
| 2532 Leticoe Street | 94,900 | 90,000 |
| 12 Uxor Way | 99,900 | 85,000 |
| 2609 Stella Street | 69,999 | 56,000 |
| 1326 Sterling Street | 59,900 | 47,500 |
| 3128 Mary Street | 24,000 | 18,000 |
| Discussion: No Comments »
Pittsburgh: A Best City for Young Professionals
July 17th, 2008 categories: Buyers
There are many reasons why Pittsburgh is one of the best places to live for young professionals (or anyone, if you ask me). It has low crime rates, affordable housing options, and look at all of the great activities the city has to offer. But don’t just take my word for it…
Earlier this month, Forbes ranked the country’s 40 biggest metros on economic opportunity for up-and-coming young professionals to gauge which cities are attracting the next generation of top business talent. Pittsburgh came in at #13!
Strong performing companies like Allegheny Technologies, Ansoft and Consol Energy have helped lift Pittsburgh’s post-industrial economy and gave the city a No. 2 ranking in its concentration of top firms from our 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies lists.
Take a look at the Forbes article for an explanation of its methodology and the complete list of city rankings.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Dormont’s Historic Pool Makes a Splash
July 16th, 2008 categories: Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Scott Township, South Side, Upper St. Clair
This 160-foot by 420-foot gem in Dormont – slightly smaller than the state of Delaware, it’s the largest public pool in Pennsylvania and the only one designated a landmark — is the core of the town, a place where mothers and fathers and grandparents congregate to chat, catch-up, compare tans, socialize and, of course, swim. It’s just a bit after noon, the pool has just opened, and the towels and chairs are already being placed on the concrete “beach.”
Amy Torcaso, the pool’s manager for the past 23 years, says that on a really good (read: hot) day, about 1,500 people visit the pool; that number hit 2,500 one July 4 weekend in early 2000.
Read the entire Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.
For more information on beating the heat at a local pool:
- Allegheny County Wave Pools
- Dormont Pool
- Canonsburg Town Park Pool
- Mt. Lebanon Pool
- Pittsburgh Pools
- Scott Township Pool
- South Side - Ormsby Pool
- Upper St. Clair Pool (under construction)
| Discussion: No Comments »
Upper St. Clair Homes that Sold in June
July 15th, 2008 categories: Sold Property Statistics, Upper St. Clair
Here’s the list of 43 homes that sold in Upper St. Clair last month:
| Address | List Price | Sold Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1476 2 Dominion Heights | 719,900 | 660,000 |
| 1360 High Oak Court | 585,000 | 560,000 |
| 2312 Southampton Drive | 565,000 | 540,000 |
| 1632 Williamsburg Circle | 449,500 | 439,000 |
| 222 Trotwood Drive | 444,900 | 428,675 |
| 2315 Old Washington Road | 437,500 | 412,000 |
| 1824 Kent Road | 425,000 | 405,000 |
| 311 Oaklawn Drive | 399,900 | 375,000 |
| 1770 Robson Drive | 375,000 | 375,000 |
| 2333 Lesnett Road | 445,000 | 365,000 |
| 1860 Tilton Drive | 345,000 | 355,000 |
| 1750 Hempstead Lane | 355,000 | 335,000 |
| 1713 Hathaway Lane | 338,500 | 326,500 |
| 341 Oaklawn Drive | 319,900 | 312,500 |
| 2242 Clairmont Drive | 329,900 | 305,000 |
| 2181 Clairmont Drive | 295,000 | 289,700 |
| 1804 Tragone Drive | 289,900 | 284,900 |
| 1771 Robson Drive | 274,900 | 275,000 |
| 1331 Moon Ridge Drive | 259,900 | 260,000 |
| 1120 Sky Ridge Drive | 242,500 | 242,500 |
| 1264 Rolling Meadow Road | 250,000 | 240,000 |
| 2583 Giant Oaks Drive | 249,900 | 237,000 |
| 2257 Glendale Drive | 239,900 | 230,000 |
| 2297 Weston Drive | 239,900 | 230,000 |
| 3313 Ponoka Road | 239,900 | 229,000 |
| 2537 Shenandoah Drive | 229,000 | 229,000 |
| 1252 Sky Ridge Drive | 224,900 | 222,000 |
| 2272 Cremona Drive | 224,900 | 214,000 |
| 2309 Sidgefield Lane | 209,900 | 200,000 |
| 1753 Grey Mill Drive | 198,900 | 191,500 |
| 1342 Sun Ridge Drive | 184,900 | 186,900 |
| 2242 Morrow Road | 225,000 | 186,000 |
| 1189 Satellite Circle | 184,900 | 186,000 |
| 1307 Manor Drive | 189,900 | 185,950 |
| 1265 Sun Ridge Drive | 189,900 | 185,000 |
| 1204 Old Meadow Road | 189,900 | 180,000 |
| 93 Lambeth Drive | 178,900 | 175,000 |
| 2714 Locust Drive | 169,900 | 169,900 |
| 291 High Sierra Circle | 184,900 | 164,900 |
| 496 Diablo Drive | 159,900 | 159,900 |
| 116 Highview Drive | 159,900 | 159,000 |
| 1383 Sky Ridge Drive | 154,900 | 144,000 |
| 17 Patton Drive | 145,000 | 138,500 |
Related Posts:
| Discussion: No Comments »
FSBO Is Tempting, But Beware of Pitfalls
July 14th, 2008 categories: Sellers
“For Sale by Owner” signs often pop up in front of houses only to be replaced by a Realtor’s sign in a few weeks. It’s tempting for homeowners to try the do-it-yourself approach, but beware of pitfalls in doing so. Most people have no idea what they’re getting into when trying to sell their homes. That’s why the for sale signs change quickly.
Many sellers think they’ll save money by not using a Realtor, but using an experienced real estate agent for selling or buying will save money. Realtors have access to the latest market information for determining your property’s value and can find buyer matches through the multi-list service. They also can provide information on schools and community amenities to potential buyers.
Consider these things before trying to sell your home:
- Showing your home at all hours of the day involves a lot of time.
- Advertising can be expensive.
- Open houses are time consuming and people must be carefully watched.
- A contract is a legal document that must be exact.
- Realtors have access to more potential buyers through the multi-list service.
- Realtors can pre-screen and pre-qualify buyers.
- Realtors also have access to more market information.
More than anything, most people don’t have the time and knowledge to sell real estate. It’s not as simple as it sounds; it’s a very time-consuming and complicated process. By using a professional, sellers and buyers get worthwhile expertise and protection.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
