I love and enjoy my town; that is why I live here and chose to work by selling Pittsburgh real estate. While most people probably conjure images of a large, mostly industrial, city, Pittsburgh has evolved into a thriving, beautiful and vibrant metropolitan area with entertainment to rival New York City and night life to rival Miami Beach.

But you know what Pittsburgh has that you can’t get in those other super fast and super crowded cities? A huge focus on family life.

Pittsburgh Area Information

In Pittsburgh, everywhere you turn, you will find family activities, children’s entertainment and  fun parent events. Pittsburgh schools are among the best in the state, and when you browse Pittsburgh homes for sale, you will find that most communities offer locations convenient to playgrounds or activity fields.

Family Events in Pittsburgh, PA

These are only a few of the events that will be taking place during March at the National Aviary. You and your family are sure to enjoy them-and after a day of fun wearing out the kids, the downtown Pittsburgh area is perfect for some date night fun for mom and dad.

Hoots in the Night
March 13, 11 am – 2 pm
You can celebrate spring with the National Aviary as you and your children learn about birds that wake up as the sun goes down. Meet nocturnal feathered friends and learn about the unique adaptations that help them thrive in the night.

St. Patrick’s Day – Green Bird Scavenger Hunt
March 17, 10 am – 5 pm
Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the admissions desk and embark on a search for the green birds in the Aviary flock. You will get to explore the exhibits and keep track of the birds that you spot. Children under 12 who participate receive a takeaway treat.

Meet the Easter Bunny
March 27 and April 3, 11 am – 1 pm
Bring your camera and meet the Easter Bunny at the National Aviary. Children will also receive a takeaway treat

Relocate to Pittsburgh Real Estate

When you are ready to learn more about Pittsburgh real estate, or would like to request my Pittsburgh Relocation Guide, feel free to contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh REALTOR. I am here to serve you, so if there are any questions you have or anything you need to know about Pittsburgh, I am here to help.

Until next time,
Jim

Are you selling Pittsburgh real estate? Has your home been on the market for awhile? Don’t feel despair, instead, take the opportunity to really showcase your home this spring. To begin with, get your yard in order.

Pittsburgh Homes For Sale

Increase your curb appeal. What is the first thing a Pittsburgh area home buyer will see? The outside of your house.

Power wash the siding and driveway, put fresh paint if needed, wash the windows, and get rid of all the cobwebs or fall debris that might still be hanging around. The best way to showcase a yard is to plant flowers and bushes to show off the yard’s best assets. Have a nice sunny patch? Get some bright flowers to draw attention to it. Have a large shady area? Get some great shade loving ferns and plants-show potential home buyers that the shade is a good thing, and show them what can be done.

Getting your Pittsburgh Home Ready To Sell

If you don’t have a green thumb, or don’t know the first thing about plants that will work in your yard, you are in luck. The 29th Annual Home and Garden Show starts today at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, and there are over 9 acres of everything and anything you ever wanted to learn about gardening.

You will also find great ideas for showcasing the inside of you home to its best advantage. If you take care of getting a great yard going and spruce up the inside with some quick cleaning and lighting tricks, you are sure to finally get an offer.

Relocating to Pittsburgh

If you are ready to move, but don’t know much about the Pittsburgh area, be sure to request my Pittsburgh Relocation Guide and my Pittsburgh Home Buying Guide, both are full of the important information that will make your real estate journey smooth and easy. Any other questions? Feel free to contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent-I am here to serve you.

Until next time,
Jim

When you start the journey to Pittsburgh, PA home ownership, you have many options and choices to make-and sometimes it can be hard to tell which decisions are the best for you, your finances and your situation.

Pittsburgh Homes For Sale

First off, when you start browsing the Pittsburgh MLS home search through www.jimdolanch.com, you have the choice of also browsing Pittsburgh real estate for sale by area or zip code, so if there are certain community or area amenities and aspects you would like to enjoy, be sure to learn more about Pittsburgh area communities. By spending a little bit of time researching the areas, you can narrow down your home search by seeing homes that are only in the communities that interest you.

Pittsburgh Real Estate Financing

Second off, you must think about what kind of financing you will be using. If you are an “empty nester” you may be coming to the home buying table with a full cash offer, or if you are a first time home buyer, you may have 10% down. If you are a Pittsburgh first time home buyer, you may not have much credit history on your side; however, if what you have is in fantastic order, you can still get a great rate. As a second or third (or fourth) time home buyer, you do come to the bale with a boost up on the credit, as you have already proven yourself as a responsible home owner, capable of making reliable Pittsburgh real estate mortgage payments.

All of these aspects change the way your lender or bank will set up or mortgage, what interest rate you have, and  how much you can borrow.However, if your credit is questionable, now is the time to get it in order. A good year (or more!) of solid, reliable credit can do wonders to your home buying power, approval with lenders, and your mortgage rates. The longer you have a positive credit score, the more power you have to pick and choose your mortgage, your lender, and your rates.For even more guidance, you can request my Pittsburgh Home Buying Guide or contact me.

Selling Pittsburgh Real Estate

Lastly, For most home buyers, selling Pittsburgh property is the very first step that must be done before getting serious about buying a new home. How do you work out this process? What if a home you love comes on the market, but you  haven’t gotten an offer on yours yet, or the offer isn’t settled yet? With the help of an expert Pittsburgh real estate agent, you can easily make and offer that is contingent on the selling of your current home.

Pittsburgh Real Estate Questions and Answers

Do you have other Pittsburgh real estate questions? Feel free to contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh Realtor, to learn everything and anything about the Pittsburgh area.

Until next time,

Jim

These snowy, cold months can wreak havoc on the energy of young children. Somehow, being stuck inside for a few days seems to drastically increase their energy levels by 152.5%. Yes that is a fact.

If you recently bought Pittsburgh real estate for sale, or will be soon relocating to Pittsburgh from a not so northern area, you may find yourself wondering how you will keep your family entertained.

Pittsburgh though, is an area that never fails to entertain. Not only are we used to the cold and snow (and thus have clearing the roads and mastering safe winter driving down to a science) we also know that not everyone enjoys skiing every day. So the Pittsburgh real estate area is filled with things to do for every interest, hobby, and occasion.

Right now, the Carnegie Science Center is hosting RoboWorld, where you can discover how robots sense, thing and act in the world’s largest robot exhibition! You can also enjoy the IMAX dome theater, the Digital Planetarium, Cold War submarine history, and experience a world renowned miniature railroad and village display.

For those with children, the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum is always an excellent choice for letting out energy. Families will also enjoy the National Aviary, with birds from all over the world and for the outdoor adventure types, Kayak Pittsburgh is the tour for you. On Kayak Pittsburgh you get to-you guessed it-kayak around the city. It is definitely a view of the city you can only get from the water!

Pittsburgh Real Estate Information

Buying a Pittsburgh home? Ready to search the Pittsburgh MLS? Want to learn more about Pittsburgh, PA? Simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent. I am here to help you with every aspect of your relocation, home buying and home selling journeys, as well as answer any and all questions about Pittsburgh.

Come experience Pittsburgh, it’s the place to be!

Until next time,
Jim

This past Tuesday a team of medical personnel, our gov. Ed Rendell and our U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire all headed to the rescue  orphans from a collapsed orphanage in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Many of the orphans in Haiti are stuck in limbo because their paperwork, identification cards, and adoption process information was completely destroyed or lost during last weeks earthquake.

The rescue mission was in response to messages last week from orphanage caregivers pleading for help to get the orphans out, as there weren’t nearly enough caregivers or supplies to now care for the children, aged 1-6 years at the BRES orphanage in Port-Au-Prince.  Of the 143,  90 have been sent to places in Denmark and France and 53 have now been brought to our beautiful Pittsburgh area.

The mission, food, clothing and medical aid for the children once they reached their new Pittsburgh homes were all funded by  an anonymous donor and Catholic Charities has made arrangements for the orphans’ care until they can be adopted. Many organizations are coming forward to volunteer in helping the orphans settle into their Pittsburgh relocation.

Relocating to Pittsburgh

It is wonderful the Haitian orphans were able to get away from all of the chaos to get the medical attention, food, and care they need, as well as, the Pittsburgh real estate space to house them until forever families are found.

To see how you can help, contact the Red Cross at redcross.org or Catholic Charities at catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Buying Pittsburgh Real Estate

Should you be interested in learning more about Pittsburgh homes for sale, browsing the Pittsburgh MLS, or relocating to Pittsburgh, simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent.

Until next time,
Jim

Peters Township is a wonderful area, nestled outside of Pittsburgh. If you enjoy city activities, but want to live in a small community, then Peters Township real estate is perfect for you.

Peters Township Area Information

Peters Township offers real estate prices with great value, a small town feel with the large city conveniences, as well as, family oriented events mingled with perfect for date night activities. When you buy Peters Township real estate, you are buying not just a great home, but a wonderful lifestyle.

Peters Township Communities

There are many neighborhoods and communities to choose from, and you can search the entire Peters Township MLS, search Peters Township homes for sale by school, by Peters Township neighborhood, or search Peters Township featured real estate for sale.

Peters Township Real Estate

Would you like to learn more about Peters Township, PA? Then simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Peters Township real estate agent. Feel free to ask any and all questions-if I don’t know the answer I will find it for you.

If you are getting ready to relocate to Peters Township, be sure to request our Peters Township Relocation Guide-full of the local information, numbers, and addresses you’ll need to make your relocation stress free and smooth. We hope to see you around town!

Until next time,
Jim

Relocation to Pittsburgh

Often, relocating to Pittsburgh is due to a job opportunity or pursuing higher education. Your family may or may not have much choice about the move, especially if the move is for a job. Not having much choice may worry you, but you are, in fact, lucky to be moving to the Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh and Peters Township

Pittsburgh is a fantastic area to raise a family. Not only do we offer many great suburb lifestyles to choose homes in, but we also offer outstanding school systems, with choices ranging from public, private, religious, and home schooling. You can browse the Pittsburgh and Peters Township school system to learn even more.

Pittsburgh Areas

So you know you are going to buy Pittsburgh real estate, but do you know what area you want to be in yet? I personally think the Pittsburgh and Peters Township areas are all fantastic, but each has unique community amenities and events to offer, so you can learn more about the Pittsburgh neighborhoods, search homes by Pittsburgh schools, or find what schools are in the different communities.

Want to learn even more? Simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent, and we will find the perfect home for you in the perfect neighborhood for your family.

Until next time,
Jim

Buying Pittsburgh Real Estate can be a valuable investment.  Unless you are living somewhere for free, you are paying rent-which we all know is just money down the drain-so if you are able to be approved for a mortgage, then the smartest thing you can do is put that money towards home ownership.

Pittsburgh Homes For Sale

If you know you will be moving in 2 years, then an Adjustable Rate Mortgage makes the most sense for you, as you will be able to get a very low introductory interest rate and low payment until you move. If you plan to be staying put for a long time, then you will want a Fixed Rate Mortgage.

Pittsburgh Home Mortgage

What is the point of buying if you’ll be moving in  2 years? For one, you get equity out of the home, and will most often be able to sell it for at least a little more than you bought it for, giving you more to put down on your next home purchase. Also, having been a home owner gives your credit score a huge boost and opens you up to better fixed mortgage rates on your next home.

Search Pittsburgh MLS

Ready to quit renting and start owning? Begin by browsing Pittsburgh area homes for sale, and contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent, for answers to any and all questions you have about Pittsburgh and real estate.

Until next time,
Jim

Moving can always be a little stressful. Whether you have been in a home a long time or a short while, going through all your items and packing can be the least favorite item on your moving list. At the holidays though, the idea of packing up a home can be very overwhelming. If you find yourself in relocation mode right now, I have a few tips to help make your move easier.

Pittsburgh Relocation Tips

Get moving quotes and make reservations early. This is huge for cutting out stress. Holidays mean short staffs and reduced work time for many movers.  To make sure equipment and drivers are available when you need help moving, place your reservation as early as possible. It may cost more to move on some days than others, so for best prices, discuss holiday peak times with your movers. If you need to receive your shipment before the holidays, ask about guaranteed transit or expedited services. Also spend some time looking for discounts, coupons, or specials your movers might have the in local papers. ,

Consider moving help alternatives. Rather than only looking into truck rentals, consider moving containers with storage options and flexible load and unload schedules, like a Pack Rat. This is convenient when you want to reduce the pressure to load or unload quickly. In fact, if you need a break before unloading the entire shipment, you can start with holiday decorations and necessities and save the rest for later. If your budget allows, you can get more help moving by hiring labor to do all the packing and loading or just some of it. Combining moving labor with a self-move is often a money saving alternative to full service movers. If you are coming across a lot of items in your home you don’t want to move, but need to get rid of, you can save time by hiring a junk removing company, as opposed to taking everything to a charity or dump yourself.

Purchase gifts online and have them shipped directly to your friends and family. With the clutter of moving boxes, it might be tough to add a slew of gifts to the chaos and traveling to relative’s homes  might be out of the question. If so, consider purchasing gifts online and shipping them directly to a relative’s home or your new home – wherever you will be celebrating the holidays. Not only is this more convenient, it also means less moving boxes, which results in a money-saving opportunity. In most cases, the less you move, the less you pay.

Decorate with less. Although it is nice to have all of your decorations out for display, consider paring them down while in the midst of moving. Choose those decorations that hold the most tradition and meaning for your family, and pack the rest in moving boxes ready for the movers to ship to your new home. You could even consider doing “green” decorations, like with all evergreen boughs and wreaths, so that you an still decorate a lot, but none of it will need to be packed up and moved when the big day comes-it can be recycled into mulch by your town’s yard waste pick up.

Pack holiday essentials separately. Have everyone put their holiday “must haves” together in specially labeled boxes. Then load these boxes last. That way the decorations, fuzzy slippers, hot cocoa, cameras, holiday music and other special items are easy to locate right away on arrival. You won’t have to unload everything and dig through moving boxes to find just what you need. Wardrobe boxes are well suited for a small tree with trimming and traditional favorites. You can also have a huge decorating party with your family at your new house as you unpack all your holiday items.

Make it a fun family adventure. Incorporate your favorite traditions in new ways. Spend the day in your pajamas rather than unpacking clothing from the moving boxes. A tree in the corner of an otherwise empty room becomes even more special. Camp out in your new living room rather than moving the furniture in. It can wait until another day. Hang on to your traditions and maybe create some new ones. You may find that “different” can be special and memorable.

Pittsburgh Real Estate

Moving over the holidays may not be the best scenario but it can be an opportunity to embrace change and adventure together as family. Making the most of a potentially stressful situation can make this holiday season your best one yet and if you have questions about moving to Pittsburgh, would like to browse the Pittsburgh MLS or take advantage of the Jim Dolanch Relocation Guide, simply contact me. I am here to help make sure your holiday move is successful.

Until next time,

Jim

The Pittsburgh area is one of the best to live in, and that is especially true in the winter time. Not only does Pittsburgh get the best winter weather for really getting into holiday spirits, but there are also endless entertainment events to enjoy!

Pittsburgh Area Events

From November 12 through December 6 the Radio city Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes will be performing “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” If you have ever seen The Rocketts perform, then you know how amazing the show will be-and if you haven’t seen them yet, well, you should!

On December 11th and 12th, Handle’s Messiah will be preformed, with the Hallelujah Chorus sung by the Medelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.  This truly is an event that should not be missed. The Medelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh is among the best in the nation and their performance is sure to inspire and awe the audience.

Pittsburgh Real Estate

Pittsburgh offers some of the best real estate-from family oriented communities and neighborhoods to the numerous events, entertainment, and dining of the city life, you are sure to find a home that fits your needs and wants. Feel free to browse the Pittsburgh MLS, or simply contact me, Jim Dolanch, your expert Pittsburgh real estate agent, to learn more about Pittsburgh homes for sale.

Until next time,

Jim