property: Is Today the Best Time to Buy a Pittsburgh Home? - 05/05/09 01:54 AM
Before you buy your first home, you should be asking yourself that very question.  According to the Baltimore HUD Homes Blog, here are six indicators you can use to find out if now really is the best time to be buying your first home:
1. You Have Stable EmploymentBefore jumping into the purchase of a home, your cash flow should be stable and you should have a solid employment history that shows at least two years of steady income.
2. Your Savings are In OrderMost lenders want to see that you have at least three to five months of savings. By having … (0 comments)

property: Avoid 8 Pet Mistakes When Selling Your Home - 04/28/09 04:14 AM
From wikiFido, here are eight mistakes that pet owners frequently make when they try to sell their homes.  By avoiding these common errors you can increase interest in your home and the possibility that you'll receive the highest selling price in your market.
1. Having your pet home at open houses.2. Not cleaning daily.3. Leaving droppings in the backyard.4. Assuming your home has no pet odor.5. Leaving evidence that a pet lives in the home.6. Not marketing your home to other pet lovers.7. Adding "dog is friendly" to the MLS.8. Being home during property showings. Read the entire article.

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property: 10 Ways to Get Buyers Interested in Your House - 04/21/09 04:58 AM
HGTV compiled this list of "10 Things That Make Buyers Bite":
1.  A Nice Entryway - Impress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance.
2.  Hardwood Floors - Realtors agree that most buyers are hunting for hardwood.
3.  Fab Fixtures - Fixtures are the jewelry of the house.
4.  Beautiful Baths - Marble counters, whirlpool baths and steam showers up the attractiveness of any bathroom.
5.  Countertop  Considerations - Buyers don't want to see grout lines on their counters.
6.  Stainless Steel - A kitchen with stainless appliances looks like a commercial kitchen.
7.  Pre-Organized Closets - Don't underestimate the … (0 comments)

property: Don't Wait for Spring to Buy a New Home - 03/04/09 01:10 AM
Spring is almost here, but Realty Times advises not to wait any longer to begin your house hunt:
"Spring showers typically bring spring buyers. But if you wait for the seasonal thaw you'll join what could be a throng of market savvy buyers who have already scoped the lay of the land and are elbowing for position. It's a better idea to prepare now, become a savvy buyer and beat the spring rush."
Read the entire article. 
And if you're ready to buy or sell real estate before Spring arrives, give me a call today!
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property: South Side Real Estate Sales Were Low in January - 02/24/09 01:20 AM
Here's the list of 3 homes that sold in the South Side of Pittsburgh during January.  Not a good start to the year, but only 5 houses sold last January and the monthly average for 2008 was 8 sales. 
There are over 115 South Side homes on the market, so this is a great time to buy. Give me a call today if you want to see what homes are available!
Related Posts: 
Pittsburgh's South Side: Real Estate Sales Didn't Change Much from Previous Year Which Homes Sold on Pittsburgh's South Side in October? Pittsburgh's South Side: Which Homes Sold in August and September?  Which … (0 comments)

property: Avoid These 5 Mistakes of Internet Real Estate Searching - 02/11/09 02:00 AM
No surprise here:  U.S. News & World Report says "the number of Americans using the Internet to find the home of their dreams is poised to keep on climbing. 87 percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes in the past year." 
Here's the publication's look at the top five Internet home-buying blunders you should avoid:
Assuming you can do it all yourself. The Internet allows users to handle many of the tasks that could once only be performed by real estate agents. The Internet can provide heaps of helpful tips and research, but it would be a mistake to assume that it's all you … (0 comments)

property: Before January Ends, Take Radon Action in Your Home - 01/27/09 02:06 AM
Sorry for not pointing this out sooner, but the EPA designated January as National Radon Action Month. Here are some things you can do to take action before the month is over:
Test Your Home for Radon - EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes be tested for radon.  Testing is easy and inexpensive. Learn more about testing your home, including how to obtain an easy-to-use test kit.
Spread the Word - Tell your family and friends about the health risks of radon.  Encourage them to test their homes.
Buy a Radon-Resistant Home - If you are considering buying a new … (0 comments)

property: Looking for a New Home? Try Finding Your Greenest Home Address - 01/27/09 01:41 AM
As reported by TreeHugger, here's a real estate tool you may want to check out if you're looking for a new home:
"There is a very cool website that has the ability to take into account all the things you do on a regular basis, and then pinpoints the best spot for you to live so that you are central to everything you most enjoy, effectively minimizing your carbon footprint.
Called OptimalHomeLocation.com, the website gives you options for entering in places your family commutes to often, including offices, schools, daycare, the gym, friend's houses and so on. Based on what you enter, it … (0 comments)

property: Divorce and Your Home - 01/13/09 02:40 AM
Deciding to end a marriage is very difficult. An unfortunate aspect of divorce is the splitting of your combined assets, which includes your home. You should get unbiased information on your options for what to do with your property: 
1. Selling the house; splitting the profits.The goal in this situation is to capitalize your home's resale price. Factors that may influence the division of profits include the terms of your settlement, the original source of the down payment, and the property laws in your area.
2. Buying out your spouse.Consider the new income of your household. Are you able to afford the monthly mortgage payment? If the original mortgage was qualified with … (0 comments)

property: Peters Township Real Estate Sales for December - 01/13/09 02:04 AM
Real estate sales in Peters Township have remained relatively consistent since the summer months (17 homes sold in September, 16 in October, 13 in November and 15 for December). For the year as a whole, the total number of houses sold was 244, down from 268 in 2007.
Here's the list of Peters Township homes for December: 
 Related Posts:
Peters Township Houses That Sold in November Which Peters Township Homes Sold in October?  Peters Township Real Estate Sales Decline in September  Peters Township Real Estate Sales Hold Steady in August Peters Township Homes that Sold in July Which Peters Township Homes Sold in June? … (0 comments)

property: Staging Your Home for Sale - 10 Low Cost Things You Can Do - 01/06/09 01:31 AM
1. Curb appeal: If you can't get them in the front door, then the next nine suggestions won't matter much. Edge, mulch, clean and add some color.
2. Light: Nothing improves the interior appeal like light. Make sure all the light bulbs are a higher voltage and working.
3. Clean, Clean, Clean: This is the stuff that will take a little time, i.e. removing anything that would remind a potential customer that someone has lived here.
4. Floor space: One thing buyers like is space, so let them see more of the floor. Start packing things that occupy the floor space.
5. … (0 comments)

property: Home Buyer New Year's Resolutions - 12/31/08 03:55 PM
If you're planning to buy a house this coming year, here's a list of New Year's resolutions you should consider making. They're provided by Ilyce Glink, nationally-syndicated columnist of "Real Estate Matters" and best-selling book author.
As a buyer, you should resolve to:
Get your credit and finances in shape. Know how much you can afford to spend before shopping for a home. Know your neighborhood, and be comfortable with it, before you buy a home there. Interview at least three brokers before hiring one. Read and understand all documents before signing them. Take a look at the entire article on New Year's Resolutions for Home Buyers.
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property: Make a Home Buying Wish List and Check It Twice - 12/22/08 01:30 AM
Before you begin searching for a new home, know what you're looking for. Create a wish list to help you identify all the things that you absolutely must have, as well as those items that would be nice but that you could live without.
Things to consider are:
Home Characteristics (square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, style of home, fireplace, etc.) Neighborhood Characteristics (traffic, demographics, snow removal, etc.)  Proximity of Home to Amenities (grocery stores, schools, child care) Of course, your opinions on the type of new home you want may change during the home buying process. But taking the time to complete a home wish … (0 comments)

property: Getting Your Home Sold in a Buyer's Market - 12/22/08 01:28 AM
As reported by CBS News, in 2005 there was a two-to-three month supply of houses on the market. Now it's nine to 10 months, so it can take much longer to sell your house.  How do you increase your chances?  Beside price, the best way to sell your home in a down market is to:
-  Hire an aggressive agent who shows you a plan for selling your house and then make sure they follow through.
-  Give your house a facelift with new paint and repairs.
-  List it online with such sites as eBay and Craigslist.
-  Offer to pay the buyer's closing … (0 comments)

property: Which Homes Sold on Pittsburgh's South Side in October? - 11/18/08 03:05 AM
Here's the list of 9 homes that sold in October on the South Side of Pittsburgh:
 Related Posts: 
Pittsburgh's South Side: Which Homes Sold in August and September?  Which of Pittsburgh's South Side Homes Sold in July? Home Sales on Pittsburgh's South Side for June … (0 comments)

property: Upper St. Clair Sees Dip in October Real Estate Sales - 11/14/08 12:44 AM
Home sales in Upper St. Clair decreased to 16 (down from 23 in September). Here's the list of homes that sold in October:
 Related Posts: 
Upper St. Clair Home Sales Remain Steady in September Upper St. Clair Home Sales Slide Again in August Upper St. Clair Real Estate Sales Decrease in July  Upper St. Clair Homes that Sold in June … (0 comments)

 
Casey O. Smith, Pittsburgh Real Estate (Realty Advisor Group at Keller Williams)

Casey O. Smith

Pittsburgh Real Estate

Pittsburgh, PA

More about me…

Realty Advisor Group at Keller Williams

Address: 3241 W. Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15216

Office: (412) 512-0090

Mobile: (412) 512-0090

Statistics and helpful info about the Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Dormont, Peters Township, Scott Township and Nevillwood real estate markets.


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