The Pittsburgh Rare

Mt. Lebanon Real Estate Sales Up Again in June

2009-07-07T14:41:10Z

Home sales in the Mt. Lebanon community grew again in June (51 compared to 41 in May). And this is higher than last June’s total of 47.

For the first 6 months of 2009, however, real estate sales in Mt. Lebanon are still lower than the first half of 2008 (171 vs. 193). Here are the 51 homes that sold in June:

Address	List Price	Sold Price
152 Rock Haven Lane	850,000	843,000
888 Old Hickory Road	399,000	389,000
374 Midway Road	359,900	350,000
135 Crestvue Manor Drive	325,000	320,000
214 Hoodridge Drive	319,900	316,900
142 Mohawk Drive	309,900	305,500
246 Kenforest Drive	294,900	284,500
1014 Summer Place	289,900	281,000
716 Scrubgrass Road	279,900	279,900
290 Twin Hills Drive	269,900	260,500
941 Florida Avenue	269,000	260,000
883 MacArthur Drive	259,900	259,900
1207 Pinewood Drive	244,900	242,000
15 Iroquois Drive	239,900	233,500
875 N Meadowcroft Avenue	239,000	230,000
1505 Vallimont Drive	244,900	229,950
1440 Mohican Drive	239,900	227,000
201 Sunridge Drive	222,500	223,200
247 Baywood Avenue	225,000	218,000
20 Altadena Drive	218,000	218,000
466 Old Farm Road	219,900	215,000
114 Markham Drive	244,900	206,800
420 Old Farm Road	209,900	205,000
732 Kewanna Avenue	199,900	195,000
462 Summit Drive	197,500	195,000
548 Oxford Boulevard	195,000	195,000
505 Lyndhurst Avenue	199,900	190,000
114 Seneca Drive	199,900	189,000
241 Woodhave Drive	189,900	184,000
286 Sleepy Hollow Road	189,500	183,500
617 E Shady Drive	189,900	181,000
91 Seneca Drive	184,900	179,500
460 Mapleton Avenue	179,900	177,000
625 Overlook Drive	196,900	175,000
476 Sleepy Hollow Road	175,000	171,000
323 Sleepy Hollow Road	169,900	164,000
1175 Cedar Boulevard	164,900	160,000
266 Cochran Road	169,900	155,000
780 Brafferton Drive	154,000	154,000
35 Marlin Drive East	153,000	152,900
228 Questend Avenue	154,900	145,000
988 Lindendale Drive	149,900	145,000
154 Piper Drive	164,900	141,500
270 Mabrick Avenue	144,900	140,000
128 Shady Drive West	139,900	138,000
921 Margaretta Avenue	134,900	132,900
401 Carnegie Drive	144,995	119,000
780 Scott Road	129,900	119,000
878 McNeilly Road	113,900	113,500
454 Mapleton Avenue	104,900	108,000
224 Martin Avenue	29,000	35,750

If you are ready to buy or sell a home in Mt. Lebanon, I live in the community and know it well - so give me a call today.

Don’t Be a Drip!

2009-07-01T19:47:58Z

Many people believe that water will always be available, that there’s a never-ending supply. Not true! We should all learn to conserve water now. From Green Healthy Home, here are some tips that will help you conserve water, save you money, and help the environment:

Leaky Faucets - This is a common example of water waste. Fix these, even if you have to call a plumber. It will help your water bill and conserve water at the same time.

Low Flows - When you invest in shower heads with a lower flow or toilets with a low flush level, you’re working to conserve water.

Running Water - When washing dishes, brushing your teeth, etc., shut the water off and turn it back on when you need it. This is something simple that makes a big impact.

Washing Dishes - If you’re doing them by hand, adjust the stream to the smallest that you can manage to get the job done, but minimize the water waste at the same time. If you have a dishwasher, make sure it’s energy efficient and that you do full loads.

Doing Laundry - Make sure you’re doing full loads, instead of smaller ones. And be sure that you’re using a washing machine that’s energy efficient. This can save as much as 40% water in your household.

Happy 100th Birthday, Dormont

2009-07-01T20:20:17Z

To help Dormont celebrate its centennial, check out the book that chronicles the borough’s history from its earliest years to the present. Dormont is a softbound 128-page book, with 207 pictures, that covers the borough’s first 100 years in six chapters.

Muriel Moreland, president of the Dormont Historical Society, wrote this book. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “[d]uring her research, Mrs. Moreland said she was surprised by the population and housing boom that came to Dormont after the completion of the Liberty Tunnels in 1924 and the Liberty Bridge in 1928. She said from 1928 to 1938, the borough experienced a 478 percent growth.”

For more information, visit the Dormont Historical Society website.

Happy birthday, Dormont!

Choose Your Home Colors Wisely

2009-06-30T17:38:30Z

Gray is a popular neutral, blue is the symbol of the environment, and yellow adds energy and optimism to your surroundings. At least those are the trends reported by the Color Marketing Group (CMG), a not-for-profit association of color design professionals.

Experts at CMG say the top color choices this year are influenced by the public’s concern about the economy and their optimism for the future. People are looking for colors that are safe, familiar and comforting. Consumers also are drawn to colors that reflect a growing desire for an environmentally greener world.

See CMG’s list of top color trends. But remember, if you’re getting ready to sell your home, choose a color palette that will suit a range of buyer tastes.

Pittsburgh Fireworks: Schedule of Days and Times for 2009

2009-06-30T17:38:57Z

As everyone knows, fireworks are a big part of the July 4th festivities in many Pittsburgh communities. I hope you have some time to check out a fireworks show near you. Have a great holiday!

Downtown Fireworks - July 4th, 9:35 pm, Point State Park

Ambridge Fireworks - July 3rd, 10:00 pm, Walter Panek Park

Bethel Park Fireworks - July 4th, 9:40 pm, South Hills Village

Butler Fireworks- July 4th, Dusk, Big Butler Fairgrounds

Canonsburg Fireworks - July 4th, Dusk, Canon-MacMillan Stadium

Crafton Fireworks - July 4th, 9:30 pm, Crafton Park

Dormont Fireworks - July 4th, 9:30 pm, Dormont Pool Lot

Ellwood City Fireworks - July 5th, 10:15 pm, Ewing Park

Hampton Township Fireworks - July 3rd, Dark, Hampton Community Park

Monongahela Fireworks - July 4th, 9:45 pm, Monongahela Aquatorium

Monroeville Fireworks - July 4th, 9:30 pm, Monroeville Mall

Moon Fireworks - July 4th, 10:05 pm, Moon Park

Mt. Lebanon Fireworks - July 4th, 9:30 pm, Main Park

Robinson Fireworks - July 4th, Dusk, Burkett Park

Scott Township Fireworks - July 4th, 9:31 pm, Scott Park

South Fayette Fireworks - July 3rd, 9:45 pm, El Rancho Soccer Field

Upper St. Clair Fireworks - July 4th, 9:40 pm, South Hills Village

Zelienople Fireworks - July 4th, 10:00 pm, Zelienople Community Park

Upper St. Clair Recreation Center Now Open

2009-06-10T16:30:01Z

Upper St. Clair officially opened its $16.5 million recreation center in Boyce Mayview Park on June 13, and the township is hoping it will attract members, as well as new residents.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “[t]he massive center atop a hill includes a two-story, glass-enclosed lobby, two indoor pools, an outdoor pool, meeting rooms seating up to 240 people, a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, two full-size basketball courts and a 1/8-mile track circling the second level.”

Check out the Upper St. Clair website for more information on hours and membership fees.

Make Your Home Comfortable for Any Age

2009-06-17T19:52:30Z

The majority of people over the age of 45 want to continue living in a familiar environment throughout their maturing years. According to AARP, older homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age in place, which means living in their home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level.

The National Association of Home Builders in collaboration with AARP developed a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address the needs of these consumers. These
specialists are trained in:

The unique needs of older people;
Home modifications that can help people live independently in their homes longer;
Common remodeling projects;
Solutions to common barriers.

The CAPS program goes beyond design to address common remodeling projects and their costs, product ideas, and resources needed to provide aging-in-place solutions.

Read a recent article that recommends seven things that you should always keep in mind for your aging-in-place residence.

Pittsburgh Makes List of Fittest Cities

2009-06-17T19:50:44Z

Pittsburgh was ranked #16 by the American College of Sports Medicine in their second annual American Fitness Index, a list of the fittest of America’s 50 largest metro areas.

Cities were ranked by a number of individual factors and local health resources. The percentage of residents who smoke or who are overweight are factored into the index along with statistics on regular physical activity and number of servings of fruits and veggies eaten daily. These personal details are counted up alongside information on the number of parks, farmer’s markets, primary healthcare providers, and crime rates of the region.

Washington, DC took the top ranking. Read the press release.

Your Home: Love It or Leave It

2009-06-10T15:49:23Z

If you don’t love your house, then maybe it’s time to sell. Here are some of the top reasons that people move on to a new home:

Home is too small. Increased family size is the main reason home owners say they need a larger home.
Time to upgrade. People often want what they don’t have and long for a
grander, more upscale home.
Purchase mistake. Owners might
believe they made a mistake when purchasing their present home.
Commuting distance. If the drive to work exceeds an hour, some people may want to move closer to their employer.
Personal relationships. Moving in with a partner can mean one of the parties will need to sell, and break-ups cause owners to sell as well.
Neighborhood changes. The neighborhood might have changed for the worse, economically, socially or physically.
Empty nest/Retirement. The older you get, the harder it is to keep a big house clean.
See family more often. Some people want to be closer to their family and will move to be near relatives.
Health problems. Knee or back problems make it difficult to climb stairs in a two-story, so a one-story home may be more practical.

Do any of these sound like your situation? If so, it may be time for you to leave your home behind. If you’re ready to sell and find a new home that you absolutely love, give me a call.

Which Pittsburgh South Side Homes Sold During May?

2009-06-10T13:49:52Z

Here’s the list of 6 homes that sold in May on Pittsburgh’s South Side (down from 11 in April):

Address	List Price	Sold Price
2705 Sarah Street	299,607	275,000
102 S 14th Street	195,000	190,000
121 S 11th Street	189,888	168,000
2319 Jane Street	179,900	165,000
29 Welsh Way	79,900	80,100
526 Handler Street	54,900	50,000