Get downtown tonight for the Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District. From 5:30 until 9:00 you can visit the galleries, watch dance performances, participate in the cell phone disco (you'll just have to go to find out what that is), sample fare by Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, see fire dancers and listen to the music. If you have not had a chance to attend before it's a great event for all ages. (The photo is from First Night on New Year's Eve, another great event in the Cultural District!) Get the complete schedule here>> Planning to buy or sell a home in Pittsburgh, PA? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 01/28/2011

Today I thought I would post a few of the great Pittsburgh things that you might want to check out. Whether you are a native, looking to move to the city or just interested in the city that will soon be home to 7 Super Bowl Championships ;-) here are some great insights into our city: Walking in Pittsburgh - (Walking in Memphis parody) - Tim Ruff He's got a great voice and the video and song is so well done. It really makes me smile, hopefully you to! You can go to his website if you want to know more about someone who I think has a bright future in the music business. http://timruff.com/   It's Pittsburgh & Alot Of Other Stuff - Pittsburgh know-it-all and Celebrity Rick Sebak from WQED Everyone is Pittsburgh knows Rick's voice and has seen his shows about the city. This week he aired a... 01/27/2011

I just love posting good news about Pittsburgh and our real estate market. This time it's about our commercial market. According to Moody's Investors Service Pittsburgh is the nation's top commercial real estate market, for the second straight year. Pittsburgh was judged on multi-family housing, Downtown office vacancies, and full and limited service hotels' occupancy rates. That's not the only good news, Kiplinger.com recently named Pittsburgh one of its six Safe Havens in Real Estate. Read the entire story in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. And if you are looking for a great commercial investment I have several properties available:   A Historic Redevelopment Opportunity in Allegheny West. 836 W. North Avenue Pittsburgh, PA $325,000 More Information    Live, Work, Invest. Commercial Sp... 01/25/2011

The deadline to file for an Act 1 Homestead exemption for your home is coming up on March 1. This reduction is funded by the tax on gaming revenue in Pennsylvania. It is available to all homeowners for their primary residence. Allegheny County residents can find out if their home is registered for the exemption by calling the Allegheny County Assessments Office at 412-350-4600 or check the county's online real estate website. Your property should show "YES" in the Homestead line on the left side of the Web page if your application is on file. According to the city's website the the 2011 reduction in your home value is $19,430. The 2011 School District of Pittsburgh Real Estate Tax Savings is $270.47. Westmoreland County residents can contact the county tax assessment office at 724-830-3... 01/24/2011

You have your home on the market, have had a few showings and generally gotten the same feedback each time. What now? First, you have to decide, can you fix the issue and if you do will it give you a return on your investment that is at least what you put into it? If the answer is Yes, then do it. If the answer is No, then you have a decision to make: Wait until a buyer comes along that doesn't feel the issue is a problem for them (who knows how long that will be) OR Lower your price to make your home such a value that a potential buyer will either overlook the issue or feel like at the price you are asking they can make the change themselves in the future. Believe it or not this isn't one of the more complicated real estate issues, but it is usually such an emotional one that sellers a... 01/23/2011

As we start 2011 I have been taking the time to look at how our area did over the past year. Here are some of the results. Number of Home Sales in Allegheny County in 2010:10,974 By Price Range: $0-$100,000                3,988 $100,000 - $200,000    4,334 $200,000 - $300,000    1,457 $300,000 - $400,000    601 $400,000 - $500,000    240 $500,000 - $600,000    135 $600,000 - $700,000    46 $700,000 +                 133 Average Sale Price of Homes in Allegheny County in 2010: $158,585 By # of Bedrooms: 2 Bedroom: $97,226 3 Bedroom: $128,396 4 Bedroom: $236,124 Condo: $136,000 Average Days on Market of Homes Sold in Allegheny County in 2010: 88 Number of Home Sales in Allegheny County in 2009: 11,858 Change in Number of Home Sales in Allegheny County 2009 vs 2010: -5.3% Average Sale Pric... 01/20/2011

The 2011 copy of EcoCents: Pittsburgh's Green Guide is out with small suggestions and big ideas to green your everyday life. In the pages of EcoCents, you’ll find everything from the bus you’ll catch to get to your yoga class to the bike lanes you’ll take to pick up some arugula at the farmers market. Your fellow Pittsburghers offer tips on how to cloth diaper your baby, use local produce to create delicious meals, make an eco-fabulous cocktail — and more! Plus EcoCents features neighborhood maps, business listings and hundreds of dollars in coupons to local, eco-friendly businesses. For your home there are coupon discounts for green renovation consultation, green roof consultation, 15% off rain barrel purchase and I'm offering two free e-books for new buyers. Order your copy online or ... 01/18/2011

This is a question I got recently from a first-time home buyer that was in the process of getting his pre-approval. He really wanted the house so he was interested in knowing how to "hold" a house. The answer is that you really can't, but once you put the offer in you still have flexibility, which I don't think many first-timers understand completely. The first step to buying your house should always be to get your pre-approval, that way when you find the perfect house you won't have to wait for one to be done to submit your offer. Once you have that pre-approval then you can get your offer ready, but there are several aspects of the contract that allow you to review at a few more things before you are completely locked in. These are the contingencies and the two most popular are the Mo... 01/17/2011

Did you know that a program called the Pittsburgh Promise helps students graduating from the Pittsburgh Public Schools to pursue further their education after high school by guaranteeing qualified students $5,000 a year for college. That number is expected to increase to $10,000 a year in 2012. In order to qualify students must graduate from Pittsburgh Public Schools or one of its charter high schools, be a student in the district and a resident of Pittsburgh continuously since at least the 9th grade, earn a minimum of 2.5 GPA, maintain a minimum of 90% attendance record and earn admission to any public or private post-secondary school that is covered by The Pittsburgh Promise. Those schools include all Pennsylvania state-funded schools, community colleges and private schools that offer... 01/16/2011

I am reading an interesting book this week called "The Option of Urbanism" by Christopher B. Leinbeger that is a fascinating perspective on how we got to our current structure of housing in the country, what the positives and negatives are and what's next. I suspect that I will be making it a regular feature of my blogs in the coming days since there is so much to talk about and comment on. One section of the book focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of the suburban environment that has become a mainstay in our culture. He pulled from a 2006 study from the Rand Corporation that found that when comparing the health of people in more and less sprawling locations that the spread-out places has about 100 more health problems per 1,000 people than areas that were less sprawling. An amazing ... 01/15/2011

With all the white stuff on the ground summer may seem like a long way off but the Carnegie Science Center is offering a special admission price on June 21st, the Summer Solstice, if you show up with a snowball. The special event will benefit the Science Center’s youth programs in the “STEM” areas: science, technology, engineering and math. When you bring your snowball you will be able to name your own price of admission with all proceeds going towards the program. So go out and scoop up some of that fluffy stuff in your yard and save it for summer. Buying or Selling a home in the Pittsburgh area? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 01/13/2011

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency or PHFA provides the capital for decent, safe, and affordable homes and apartments for older adults, persons of modest means, and those with special housing needs. Their website at www.PHFA.org is a wealth of information for Home buyers and Homeowners. For home buyers, the program offers low interest home loans for qualified buyers, credit counseling, home buyer education and downpayment and closing cost assistance for qualified buyers. For homeowners, there are programs to help you avoid foreclosure and loan programs for renovations and for energy-efficiency renovations. Buying or Selling a home in the Pittsburgh area? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.b... 01/10/2011

The URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) here in Pittsburgh just recently published a great Green Development Resource Guide that is packed full of good information on incentives, financing, grants and tax credits for developers and homeowners that want to build or renovate green in the city. Pittsburgh is recognized as a leader in the construction of green buildings and the URA is supporting that as part of their mission in the city. You can download a copy of the guide here. Or go to their website to find out more about URA projects all over town. Looking to buy or sell a green home in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com. 01/07/2011

Oh, the benefits of being boring! Actually that's not really true, Pittsburgh is a very exciting city but when it comes to housing we are stable, low risk, maybe even downright dull. And while Kennywood (our local amusement park for you out-of-towners) may be the roller-coaster capital, our housing market has weathered the housing storm with rolls more common on the kiddie rides. I guess that is why MSN real estate called Pittsburgh the #2 lowest-risk housing market in America. According to MSN, while the coasts were booming, cities like Pittsburgh were seeing much more moderate appreciation in value which benefited us greatly when prices started to drop. And while prices could still go down, Pittsburgh only has about a 12% chance of seeing further depreciation in prices. Matter of fact... 01/06/2011

Selling a home in December, January or February in frigid climates can be a tough task with a slowdown in market activity and chilly weather. Typically, buyers searching in the winter months are more serious. And sellers who are motivated to close quickly can make it happen with your help this winter. Here are a few tips from RE/MAX associates that can help you get your home ready to sell this winter: 1. Let those lights shine. "Turn on all interior lights for a showing – even in closets and utility/mechanical rooms – and make sure all the bulbs are working. Stock up on all the right bulbs for your lamps and fixtures so you can replace burned out bulbs immediately. Also, it's a great idea to keep front exterior lights on even if no showings are scheduled. Open drapes and blinds to let ... 12/29/2010

Wishing everyone a great holiday and a happy new year! A little video I whipped up and sent out as a video e-card!   Buying or Selling a home in the Pittsburgh area? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 12/26/2010

Take a look at this great property I have listed. It's perfect for a live/work situation or an investment property. The street level office is already rented and ready for you to start collecting rent. The upstairs is completely rented and it has an awesome roof-top deck with 360 degree view of the city! See more at www.1105ECarson.com. Buying or Selling a home on the Southside? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 12/22/2010

Huffy Bikes will make a $10,000 donation to Toys for Tots if 10,000 people "Like" their Facebook page. As of today they only need 833 more. Since biking is near and dear to my heart I am asking everyone to follow the link below and get this donation for the kids. Here is the link... http://www.facebook.com/HuffyBicycles?v=app_157123204322826&ref=mf Have a great holiday! Buying or Selling a home in the Pittsburgh area? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.bestpittsburghhomes.com. 12/16/2010

1100 Galveston Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Building, Cafe and 2 Bedroom Apartment For Sale Home Photo Gallery Virtual Tour Property Map Payment Info Request Showing Contact Me Christa Ross Office:724-933-6300 x214 Mobile:724-309-1758 Website:Visit Website Price : $120,000 Bedrooms : 2 Bathrooms : 1 Square Foot : 2,200 Lot Size : 18 County : Allegheny Property Type : Income MLS Number : 850511 click for more information and pictures Property Description Perfect for an aspiring restaurateur. Run your own place, and live above it, or collect rental income, in this highly-walkable, redeveloping neighborhood district. Restaurant, previously known as Hoi Polloi Coffeehouse and Vegetarian Cafe, is currently closed but could be reopened easily. Commercial kitchen equipment, coolers, point-of-s... 11/24/2010

I've seen quite a number of vanilla homes lately, you may know what I am talking about. White walls, white molding, beige carpet, beige countertops, beige tile. Some of these homes are priced pretty high, but they leave so little impression on a buyer that they are easily forgotten. While I agree that you should not personalize your home so much that it won't appeal to most buyers I think it's equally important to give your home some personality. Your goal is to create an inviting, warm homey space that anyone can imagine themselves living in and yet so many (especially new) homes forget to add anything to make their property stand out among the others. When preparing you home to sell, try to add a few things that catch a buyers attention. It could be new, interesting door pulls in the ... 11/23/2010