Continue reading to see just how much better the Pittsburgh real estate market is doing compared to other market and why now is a great time to be a Pittsburgh home seller.

Homes for Sale in Allegheny County

Here’s an overview of the current state of the national housing market:

• From October 2010 to 2011, home values fell by 5.1 percent, to $147,900.
• Since the national housing market’s peak in May 2007, home values have fallen by 23.7 percent on average.
• Some real estate experts are predicting that home values will continue to fall by another 2 to 4 percent before the end of 2012.
• In October, homes nationally were foreclosed on at a rate of 8.1 per 10,000, which represents a decrease from the year before when the rate was 10.7
• Also during the month of October, the share of foreclosure resales in the market was 19.4 percent.
• According to Zillolw, 61 of 156 metropolitan areas saw a decrease in home values on a monthly basis.
• About 39 metropolitan areas saw an increase in home values on a monthly basis.
• And about 22 areas saw no change at all in their home values.
•  Only 10 metropolitan areas saw home values increase on an annual basis.
• Of the 25 largest metro areas, Pittsburgh was the only market that saw year-over-year home value increases.
• And of the 25 largest metro areas, Pittsburgh and three other areas were the only ones to see monthly appreciation.

Here are some housing market statistics specific to Pittsburgh:

• Home value in October 2011: $106,500
• Month to month change: 0.1 percent increase
• Year-over-year change: 0.4 percent increase
• Homes foreclosed: 2.7 of every 10,000 homes
• Foreclosure resales: 8.5 percent

Listing Your Pittsburgh PA Home

Given the recent market data, the Pittsburgh PA real estate market isn’t in nearly as bad of shape as other major markets in the country.

That should be comforting words for those home sellers who may be feeling a little discouraged about national housing market news lately.

For expert advice on how to effectively market your home on the Pittsburgh real estate market in this economic climate, contact me, Jim Dolanch.

I’ll also provide you with a number of tools to help you get the best price on your home in as little time as possible.  These include:

• Before You List
• 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• Free home evaluation

Until next time,

Jim

That’s because most prospective buyers are too busy juggling holiday planning, work and family life to even think about finding their dream home.

That’s not to say, however, that it’s impossible to sell your Pittsburgh home during this time of year.

In fact, your chances of selling your home might actually increase at the end of the year if you know how to correctly market you Pittsburgh home.

Pittsburgh Home for Sales

You see, what many people don’t know is that Pittsburgh home buyers navigating the market in the winter are usually very serious about finding a home.

After all, why else would they add the stress of looking for a Pittsburgh home amid holiday planning and other commitments unless they were ready to find their next home?

Thus, as a home seller, it’s critical that you make the best impression possible on these home buyers when they come to tour your home.

Here are a few simple things you can do to enhance your chances of selling your home before the New Year:

•  Stage Your Home So That Buyers Can See Themselves Living There.   When a home buyer is touring your house, you don’t want them to imagine your family living there.  You want them to visualize their family making new memories in the home.  Thus, create a warm and comfortable ambience for them with a few selectively placed accents throughout.  Perhaps that entails setting the dining room table or hanging a holiday wreath on the door.
• But don’t go overboard on the holiday decorations.  Imagine how claustrophobic you feel when you enter a house with every single holiday decoration that was ever created proudly on display. That kind of sensory overload will most likely be overwhelming for the home buyer and will distract them from seeing all of the fine architectural features on your home that make it special.
• Be as accommodating to the buyer’s schedule as possible.  Home buyers are already dealing with juggling a lot of holiday season commitments while they try to squeeze in house showings.  Thus, make their life a little bit easier by trying to be as flexible as possible when it comes to scheduling a showing.  You never know which prospective home buyer will be the one to end up closing on your house down the road!
• Let there be light.  Winter is dreary enough with the shorter days and lack of sunlight.  The last thing you want is for the home buyer to connect that dreary mindset with your Pittsburgh home.  Thus, consider turning on the porch lights during showings and opening up as many curtains as possible.  The added light will help accentuate what makes your home such a great find on the Pittsburgh real estate market.
• Store your seasonal candles and the like during showing.  What may smell heavenly to you may be off-putting to prospective home buyers.  So store your holiday candles and other aromas during showings.  Otherwise, you may literally lose an offer because a bad smelling candle left a negative impression on a home buyer.

Pittsburgh, PA Real Estate Experts

I hope you found my home-staging tips helpful as a Pittsburgh home seller.

For more tips on how to sell your home in as little time as possible for the best price possible, contact me, Jim Dolanch, today.

As your Pittsburgh REALTOR, I’ll explain the comprehensive marketing plan I offer to all home sellers who I work with.

And feel free to get the home selling process started today by checking out some of my home selling tools:

• Before You List
• 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• What we do for you
• MOVA Assessment
• And more!

Until next time,

Jim

And if you’re a Pittsburgh home seller busy navigating the Pittsburgh real estate market, the year has probably gone by exceptionally fast for you!

To help you slow down and really enjoy the holiday season with your family, I recommend you check out some of the fun Pittsburgh area community events going on this month.

They’ll help you take some much-needed time for you and your family – which will leave you refreshed and ready to tackle the Pittsburgh real estate market once again.

Enjoy these Family-Friendly Activities in Pittsburgh, PA This Month

Here’s a brief overview of just some of the Pittsburgh community events going on this month that you and your family will enjoy:

Celtic Performance: This show-stopping performance by Celtic Thunder will have your family on the edge of their seats!  This group has received critical acclaim from a number of media.  For instance, The Virginian-Pilot said, “no matter what they tackle they do it with ‘beaucoup’ energy” and The New York Times described the group as “a Fab Five peddling Celtic stylings.”

• When: 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4
• Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, PA
• Admission: Prices Vary
• More Information: Call 412-456-6666

Light Show: Come enjoy a dazzling presentation of Pretty Lights, which is a musical vision by a Colorado-based producer who is accompanied live by a drummer.  This awe-inspring light show and eclectic musical performance is something you won’t want to miss!

• When: 8 p.m. on Oct. 4
• Where:  Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA
• Admission : $25.00 Advance / $27.00 Day of Show
• More Info: Visit www.pittsburghlive.com

Quidam by Curque Du Soleil: Everyone should see a Cirque Du Soleil performance at least once in their lives!  This perfomrance follows a young Zoe, who is bored with her life.  Seeking to fill the emptiness she feels, she slides into an imaginary world—the world of Quidam — where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul. The incredible performance that follows will certainly impress every member of your family!

• When: 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12
• Where: Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh
• Admission: Prices range from $35 to $90
• More Info: Visit www.cirquedusoleil.com

Pittsburgh Real Estate Experts

I hope you and your family get a chance to check out one or all of these Pittsburgh area community events going on this month.

If you do – please let me know what you thought of the event!

In the meantime, if you’d like help navigating the Pittsburgh real estate market as a Pittsburgh home seller, I’d be happy to help!

Contact me, Jim Dolanch, today to learn more about how I help life easier for Pittsburgh home sellers like you every day by providing such tools as:

• FREE home evaluation
• MOVA assessment
• FREE Moving kit

Until next time,

Evidently, Pittsburgh residents may be the first to learn the results of Allegheny County’s recent property assessment.

Continue reading to learn more about this developing story – and what it means for Pittsburgh home sellers.

Pittsburgh, PA Properties

According to recent negotiations, Allegheny County is expected to release the results of the recent property revaluation to Pittsburgh and Mount Oliver residents first.

Meanwhile, the county will continue working on finalizing revaluations for other communities in Allegheny County, including:

• Clairton real estate
• Duquesne real estate
• McKeesport real estate
• Bethel Park real estate
• Monroeville real estate
• Mt. Lebanon real estate
• Penn Hills real estate
• And others

Evidently, the county is way behind on its property revaluations.  Although the county was expected to have all revaluations complete by Jan 1, 2012, officials are now saying it may be as late as April 2012.

Thus, the county is considering releasing new property valuation numbers first to Pittsburgh, which is the county’s largest taxing body.

Once property revaluations are sent out, residents can  challenge their new assessments at informal hearings during February and March in Allegheny County.

Pittsburgh, PA Real Estate

Knowing the new property valuations is important to public officials because it guides them on setting property tax rates. Setting the property tax rates in turn helps them plan their budget.

However, the property revaluations will also have a significant impact on Pittsburgh area home sellers as well.

After all, Pittsburgh area home buyers factor in a Pittsburgh home’s property assessment when deciding how much they’re willing to pay for the home.

Thus, depending on the results of the Allegheny County revaluation, you may either be raising or lowering your list price.

To learn more about how the upcoming county-wide revaluation will affect your Pittsburgh area home for sale, contact me, Jim Dolanch.

As your Pittsburgh real estate expert, I’ll work hard to get the best price for your Pittsburgh home for sale in as little time as possible.

In the meantime, please feel free to browse my Pittsburgh home selling tools, including:

• Before You List
• 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• What we do for you
• MOVA Assessment
• And more!

Until next time,

Jim

Evidently, the median sales price for Pittsburgh homes for sale has increased while the number of home sales has decreased.

Continue reading to learn more about the current state of the Pittsburgh, PA real estate market- and what it means for interested Pittsburgh home sellers.

Pittsburgh Real Estate News

Here’s the latest information on the Pittsburgh real estate market based on data from Trulia.com and Realtor.com:

• For the week ending on August 24, the average price per square foot for a Pittsburgh PA home for sale was $96, which represents an 80.2% decrease when compared to the same time last year.
• For the week ending on August 24, the average listing price for Pittsburgh PA homes for sale was $214,087, which is a 2.1 percent increase when compared to the prior week.
• Between May and July 2011, the median sales price for Pittsburgh PA homes for sale was $138,750, which is an 8.4 percent increase when compared to the same period last year.
• Between May and July 2011, the median sales price for Pittsburgh homes for sale was $128,000.
• Between May and July 2011, the number of Pittsburgh home sales decreased by 0.9% when compared year-over-year.
• Currently, there are 3,361 resale and new homes on the Pittsburgh real estate market, according to Trulia. In addition, there are 1,053 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process.

Listing Your Pittsburgh PA Property for Sale

The increase in average sales price for Pittsburgh PA homes for sale is good news for Pittsburgh home sellers looking to get a good price on their Pittsburgh PA home.

If you’ve been thinking about entering the Pittsburgh real estate market as a Pittsburgh home seller, then contact me, Jim Dolanch, your Pittsburgh real estate expert, today.

I’ll answer any questions you might have as well as provide you with a number of helpful Pittsburgh home selling resources.

These include:

• FREE home evaluation
• MOVA Assessment
• FREE moving kit
• And more!

Until next time,

According to a recent housing market data, the Pittsburgh real estate market is bucking national trends by seeing the average home price increase.

Continue reading to discover just how well the Pittsburgh housing market is doing right now and to see what that means for Pittsburgh area home sellers.

Pittsburgh Homes for Sale

Pittsburgh housing prices increased about 3.8 percent during the first quarter of 2011, according to recent real estate market data.

In comparison, the Case-Shiller home price index, which measures home prices all over the country, said that nationwide home prices decreased by 4.2 percent during the same period.

Here’s what else recent Pittsburgh real estate market data reveals:

• In Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties, the average and median home prices increased.
• 19 of  20 metropolitan areas in the country saw year-over-year home price drops  in March.
• The average home price rose from $143,859 last year to $148,859 in the Pittsburgh, PA area.
• The median home price rose from $110,000 during the first quarter of last year to $113,200 this year, which is about a 2 percent increase.

All of this is great news for Pittsburgh area home sellers thinking about listing their Pittsburgh home.

Over the last few years, Pittsburgh home sellers have had to cut their list prices in order to attract interested Pittsburgh home buyers. Given that Pittsburgh area home prices are rising, however, there might be a shift toward a seller’s market soon.

Selling Your Pittsburgh, PA Home for Sale

Have you been thinking about selling your Pittsburgh area home? I can help!

As your Pittsburgh area real estate expert, I’ll provide you with a number of helpful Pittsburgh area home selling resources, including:

• Free home evaluation
• MOVA assessment
• Before Your List
• Free Moving Kit
• 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• And more!

Until Next time,

Jim

The publication ranked the largest Pittsburgh residential real estate firms by 2010 sales volume.

With a total sales volume of $126,000,000 in 2010, our team of Pittsburgh real estate experts at Century 21 Frontier Realty came in at number 6!

Providing Pittsburgh Home Sellers the Very Best in Service

One of the factors that we believe contributed to our recent appearance on the Pittsburgh Business Times’ list of top residential real estate firms in the Pittsburgh area is our commitment to our clients.

When we work with Pittsburgh area home sellers, we make sure we provide them with all the resources they need to ensure a successful outcome on the Pittsburgh real estate market.

These Pittsburgh home buying tools including:

• Free Home Evaluation
• Free Moving Kit
• MOVA Assessment
• Information on 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• Information on what to do before you list
• And more!

We also use only the latest and greatest marketing tools to ensure that your Pittsburgh home sells as quickly as possible and for the best price possible.

List Your Pittsburgh Home on the Pittsburgh Real Estate Market Today!

Contact me, Jim Dolanch, and I’ll tell you even more about what Century 21 Frontier Realty can do for you as a Pittsburgh home seller.

As your Pittsburgh real estate expert, I’ll make sure that the Pittsburgh real estate transaction process is as easy and worry-free for you and your family as possible.

Until next time,

Jim

Interested Pittsburgh home buyers today are not only concerned about whether the Pittsburgh home will fit their family’s needs, they’re also interested in the local school system, recreational amenities and more!

Pittsburgh Retail: Yet Another Reason to Invest in Pittsburgh Real Estate

With that said, we are pleased to announce that Pittsburgh recently ranked as the nation’s 10th healthiest market for retail, according to a  study by ChainLinks Retail Advisors, a commercial real estate organization that focuses on retail.

ChainLinks measured possible contenders on a range of criteria, including:

• Existing shopping center vacancy
• New construction
• Rental rate trends
• Amount of retail demand

Other economic factors, such as unemployment and income growth were also measured.

The list also included such national giants as New York City, making it all the more impressive that our city was included on the list!

Interested in Selling Your Pittsburgh Home for Sale?

I can help you do that!  As your Pittsburgh REALTOR, I’ll keep you in-the-know about recent sales in your neighborhood as well as any other trends on the Pittsburgh real estate market.

I will also provide you with a number of Pittsburgh home seller resources, including:

• FREE Moving Kit
• Information on 10 Common Seller Mistakes
• FREE home evaluation
• MOVA assessment
• And so much more!

Contact me, Jim Dolanch, today, and I’ll help make your Pittsburgh real estate transaction easy and stress-free.

Until next time,

Jim

Here’s a look at some of these developments and what they mean for Pittsburgh PA residents, as well as those thinking about relocating to the area.

Recent Developments in the Pittsburgh Real Estate Market

In early February, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership reviewed some of its short- and long-term goals at its annual meeting.   These included:

• Creating and implementing a  five-year master plan that would cover development that incurs between 2012 to 2016.
• Keep track of the progress of Pittsburgh’s development as part of a study titled “The State of Downtown.”
• Continue to support downtown businesses by offering grants for business facade improvements, as well as maintaining a clean and crime-free downtown.
• Improve parking and transportation in downtown Pittsburgh.

About the same time, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on several other developments happening around the Pittsburgh area, including:

• A 12-lot subdivision in Pine that Sierra Pine Associates is developing.  Known as Silver Pines, the 43-acre community will feature three and four acre lots with prices starting from $285,000.
• A longtime vacant building in the Strip District will now hold a restaurant with regular musical performances. Known as the Savoy Restaurant and Lounge, and located at 2623-25 Penn Ave., the new business was renovated for $2.1 million and will feature regional as well as national jazz and R&B bands

Investing in a Piece of Pittsburgh, PA Property

Given all of the recent developments in the city during a reportedly sluggish time in the nation’s real estate market, it’s clear that developers consider Pittsburgh a city that’s worth the investment.

For Pittsburgh home owners, these new developments spell a higher quality of living because of all the new amenities that are now available to them.

For those considering purchasing a Pittsburgh home, this gives you one more reason to do so.  The city of Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities obviously care about providing its residents with world-class amenities and improving their quality of life.  You can’t beat that.

If you’re interested in buying or selling your Pittsburgh home, then contact me, Jim Dolanch.  I’ll tell you everything you need to know – from what it’s like to live in Pittsburgh area communities to what the current Pittsburgh housing market trends are.

Until next time,

Jim

RealStats, which is an independent company based in Pittsburgh, tracks residential real estate trends in the Pittsburgh area.  In its five-county coverage zone in Southwester Pennsylvania, only Washington County was shown to see a decline in foreclosure rates.

Butler County saw the smallest rise in foreclosures at 1.8 percent while Westmoreland County saw a whopping 9.8 percent jump in foreclosures.