Amy S. Myers, e-PRO, CENTURY 21 American Heritage, 724-845-4700 X 1330 » Local Sites

New McDonald’s on Hyde Park Rd, Leechburg, PA – Opens Today!

Amy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:04:08 +0000

Today was the big day in Leechburg, PA near my office. The newly built McDonald’s opened. As I drove by later in the afternoon today, the place was packed (not an open parking spot) and people were lined up around the building for the new double drive-in. On September 1, 2009 the old McDonald’s on Hyde Park road was torn down along with a vacant Long John Silver’s building. From start to finish in less than three months.

As I stopped to get get photos last night, the freshly new place was perfectly lit up. There were young kids hanging out already by the door and some had duffel bags. I thought rather strange. Later after talking with some locals, I heard unconfirmed reports that the first 100 people in the door would get free Big Macs for a year. Rumor also has it that it is one of the most high tech McDonald’s in the area.

Photos Copyright, 2009 Amy S Myers Photography

McDonald’s
451 Hyde Park Rd
Leechburg, PA 15656
(724) 845-2035

Would You Want a Home with This Inclusion?

Amy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:37:49 +0000

This morning the agents in my office visited a few new homes that came up for sale. It is an older home great shape but needs some updating and would make a great starter home. It has two full baths, brick, and is cape cod style. There is another home on the property that has two bedrooms, block building, real cute, would make a great rental. Both are located on a 1.6 acre lot. The property has plenty of level area for picnics or playing but over in the corner is . . . . a cemetery. It is a quite interesting. Would that keep you away or give you interest in buying? There appears to be about maybe about twelve grave stones. The stones date as far back as the 1700′s. It is surprising that you can even read some of the stones. I was able to snap a few with my cell phone. This property is only maybe about 2 miles from our office. It comes with a cute stove too.

So in summary: Two homes (a two and a three bedroom) on 1.6 acres and a cemetery for a little over $100K.

Veterans Day

Amy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:14:08 +0000

We are truly blessed by the men and women who have fought for our freedom we have today. Here are some photo of Veteran War Memorials in downtown Leechburg, PA and next to my office in Allegheny Twp, Leechburg, PA 15656 that were taken today.

Above photos in downtown Leechburg, PA Painted mural on the side of a commercial brick building in Market Street

above photos (Allegheny Twp) Leechburg, PA

Vandergrift, PA Gets Ranked a Top Town in the Nation to Purchase a Home

Amy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:38:08 +0000

Vandergrift, PA tucked away NE of Pittsburgh, PA (founded in 1895) was the first town of its kind. This town was a planned industrial town and created to be sold to the workers of a Steel company that was founded at the time. George McMurtry, who was president of Apollo Iron and Steel (located in Apollo across the river from Vandergrift) needed to room to grow his company. Vandergrift was a large 650 acre farm that was picked to be the place for this new town. Frederick Law Olmsted designed the town and after being approached by George McMurtry at the 1983 World’s Fair.

Lots in the town were offered to the workers of the mill so they could have their own homes. The town was built with paved streets and sidewalks. The homes included water, natural gas, electric and sewer lines. The town was actually built in advance and control turned over to the workers. At this time in history, this was a unique idea in America.

Today, Vandergrift is getting reborn. Buildings in the town are being renovated and updated with the help of the V.I.P (Vandergrift Improvement Program). Washington Avenue boasts of its large Victorian Homes with some on the National Register. There are lots of cute shops and on holidays and special occasions and Kiski Area football games residents and visitors line the streets for parades.

Read more about how Vandergrift was recently recognized nationally:

“A real estate Web site has determined Vandergrift ZIP code 15690 — which includes portions of Allegheny, Parks and Gilpin townships — is among the best places in the country to buy a home.

Using a system that considers home values and school performance, cyberhomes.com ranked the Vandergrift area as the fourth-best community in the country to live in its “2009 Home Value-Schools Ratings Report Card.”

In addition, businessweek.com created its ranking and put Vandergrift at the top. The site used Cyberhomes data in building its list.

What makes Vandergrift’s appearance on the lists notable is the relatively low value of homes in the area.

The median sales price in the Vandergrift area, according to Cyberhomes, is $65,600.

Median sale prices for the three communities ranking higher on the Cyberhomes list range from $260,000 to more than $725,000.

“(We) selected Vandergrift as an example of an area where home values are relatively affordable — as compared to the national average and Pittsburgh area — and schools performance is very highly rated,” said Sarah Weissman, Cyberhomes product manager.

The median sales price in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is about $125,000, according to Cyberhomes.”

Quoted from TibLive News

Photos Copyright – Amy Myers, 2001-2009

Will The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Be Extended?

Amy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:36:58 +0000

Many recent transactions and potential transactions that I have dealt with have been buyers who were enticed by the first time home buyer tax credit. Since you must close by November 30, 2009, the window is no longer open. The market has changed this month. I believe buyers are holding out to make their next move. It appears that the tax credit has done its job by pumping up the economy and reducing inventory. The National Association of Realtors is pushing for an extension of the tax credit.

Here is some information from the National Association of Realtors:

“The data on the present home buyer tax credit show that the credit has had its intended impact—sales have jumped in recent months to a projected 5.1 million for the year and housing inventory has been trimmed, thus stabilizing home prices noticeably,” Phipps said. He also pointed out that each home sale generates approximately $63,000 in additional economic activity, providing a tremendous economic boost to the national economy.”

Will The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Be Extended?

Times are Historic to Buy a Home

Use Tax Credit Down Payment?

Homebuyer Tax Credit Window is Ticking Away

Record Lows for Mortgage Rates Still Exist

Homes are Being Swept Up Quickly

Home Buyers Don’t Miss the Opportunity For Your $8000

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to Rise?

More Tax Credit Info Surfacing

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Question

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Loans

Great News! Tax Credit Can Be Used for Down Payment

First-Time Homebuyer Federal Tax Credit Info

Enjoy Pittsburgh

Amy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:07:07 +0000

Recently I had an opportunity to take some photos from Heinz stadium in Pittsburgh (I love taking photos). There are lots of fun things to do and observe in the city of Pittsburgh. One thing that amazes me is all the bridges in the city. Did you know that Pittsburgh has 720 bridges within the city limits?

One fun thing you must do while you are there is ride the incline to the top of Mount Washington and see the amazing view. There are also a lot of great restaurants at the top. So if you are a photo buff like me, or even if you are not, take your camera and get a shot of you and whomever you are with. Make a great memory and enjoy the city.

Here are some fun facts about the city:

Pittsburgh audiences enjoy the nation’s fifth oldest opera company.
Pittsburgh ranked in the top five Most Livable Cities in the 1983, 1989 and 1985 editions of the “Places Rated Almanac.”
The fountain at Point State Park, right at the tip of the golden triangle (downtown Pittsburgh) is fed by a glacial formation and sprays 6,000 gallons per minute.
Pittsburgh is home to nine Fortune 500 companies.
The Carnegie Museum of Art opened in 1895 as the world’s first museum of modern art.
Mister Rogers’ real neighborhood was Oakland, home to WQED (the first public television in the country) and the “Neighborhood of Make Believe.”
Allegheny County has more than 1,700 bridges, 720 within city limits, and 15 major bridges crossing downtown Pittsburgh alone.
Pittsburgh lost the “h” in its spelling in 1891, but after 20 years of protest, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names relented and the “h” was restored.
First Retractable Dome – September 1961
Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena boasts the world’s first auditorium with a retractable roof.
The First Baseball Stadium in the U.S. – 1909
In 1909 the first baseball stadium, Forbes Field, was built in Pittsburgh, followed soon by similar stadiums in Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and New York.
First Motion Picture Theatre – 1905
The first theater in the world devoted to the exhibition of motion pictures was the “Nickelodeon,” opened by Harry Davis on Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh.

and more . . .

Fun Facts Quoted From: About.com:Pittsburgh

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to Rise?

Amy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:48:14 +0000

Lawmakers are hoping for an expansion of the tax credit helping first-time home buyers and current home buyers that have a home to sell. First time home buyers make up about 40% of the current home purchases. This statistic, lawmakers feel, is not stimulating the housing industry enough.

Here are some key points of what lawmakers would like to see happen:

* Changing the top Tax Credit amount from $8,000 to $15,000.

* Extend the purchase deadline from November 30, 2009 through to mid year 2010.

* Extend the tax credit from first-time home buyers to all home buyers

* Offer another tax credit of up to $3,000 for home owners who refinance.

Remember there are income caps and you do have to stay in your home for 3 years to avoid paying back the tax credit.

Area Schools

Amy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:30:51 +0000

As mentioned previously, schools and neighborhoods are important to buyers. Here are some links to help you with your search. Our office is surrounded by four counties. You will find some helpful links on all the schools in each county.

Allegheny County Schools

Armstrong County Schools

Butler County Schools

Westmoreland County Schools

General School Info

Fun In the City

Amy — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:06:17 +0000

I was down in the city for an appointment yesterday. Things went great, so on the way back to the office, I made two quick stops. I really had to control myself because I could be in these places for a long time. I stopped at a couple of specialty food places in the Shadyside section of the Pittsburgh.

One of my favorites is Whole Foods on Center Ave. I always love when you enter the store and they have their daily or weekly specials quite often by the door. It could be fruits, flowers, or at Christmas time even a little Christmas tree. When you walk-in you immediately walk into an amazing selection of produce. Some regular and some organic. There are many things that are not in your regular local market and the selection changes based on season and availability. There is a wonderful meat and fish selection and the list goes on. I have some of my favorite items that I always pick up because those items are hard to find or if you can find them quite often the item is cheaper at this store. Their store bands are a great value.

At the end of the isles on occasion, you can sample some snack products – delicious. You have to see the amazing selection of cheese – mouse heaven. Ok, so the next favorite thing I love about the store is the deli where you can get pre-made sandwiches, salad or MTO’s and . . . the hot food bar and salad bar is so unique, fresh, and delicious. When you are done your trip, relax and enjoy some lunch right on the way out. Good food. You are not going to find that anywhere else. Every time I have been there the place is bustling.

There are a couple of other places right near this store to compete with it. One is Giant Eagle’s Market District. I have never had the time to go here, because with so little time when in the area. I always pick Whole Foods. But I did get to spend about 15 minutes at a store called Trader Joe’s. They had some great specialty foods. The store is not nearly as big but I found some unique things. I had never seen mini seedless cucumbers – so cute for a salad.

Outside the city there is also a bulk health/specialty food company called Frankferd Farms in Sarver, PA – North East of the City. You can get a wide variety of various types of specialty foods. Most people order for pick up or have shipped as this is not your traditional food store – it is more like a warehouse. They have an amazing selection.

I have also been to another specialty food store that I did not realize was just that until recently. This place is called McGinnis Sisters. Their store NE of the city in Monroeville, PA is bigger than the Trader Joe’s. Their hot sausage is fabulous and so lean. They have a great new store in Mars, PA – Love it.

So stop in and check out the Pittsburgh Area’s specialty food stores. You will have so much fun.

I love passing this church on Center Ave on the way to Whole foods. It deserves a better shot but I had to shoot from the car because the traffic is crazy in the city.

Off the beaten track, Hyde Park, PA

Amy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:46:42 +0000

Hyde Park, PA is a quaint town near Leechburg, PA. It has maybe a few hundred homes. The big thing in the town in its beginning was the mill that sits down by the river and the railroad tracks. Most of the homes are older but well taken care of. There are a few newer homes built randomly in the community and on the outskirts. There are only two roads into the town. The locals call them the lower road and the upper road. While traveling the upper road you pass an estimated 179 acre farm with a historic farm house that has amazing Victorian detail and charm (pictured below). The lower road is a wooded road that winds and twists until it comes out at the bottom of town. One the way down the lower road there is a quaint gift shop with adorable country items. I cannot remember the name. Another photo below is one of my favorite homes – the brick colonial. The local post office is in a cute red brick house like building. The town municipal building took over an old church building and also houses a museum about the community.