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

Unique Home – Change Your View Daily

Amy — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:28:09 +0000

Very unique home that I found on the Internet today. Change the view from your bedroom everyday.

Private Transfer Fees Now Prohibited in PA

Amy — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:07:01 +0000

“Pennsylvania has just become the 28^th state to ban private transfer fees. Gov. Tom Corbett today signed HB 442 into law, becoming Act 8 of 2011.

Private transfer fees are part of a covenant attached to a property deed that forces the seller to pay 1 percent of the purchase price to a private third-party entity every time the property sells over the next 99 years. These fees cost unsuspecting homeowners thousands of dollars in additional closing costs.”

Quoted from:

http://www.parjustlisted.com/archives/8065#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

PA New Construction Does Not Require Sprinklers

Amy — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:01:07 +0000

Consumers who are building a new single family home in Pennsylvania are now not required to install a sprinkler system. This just came in from the PA Association of Realtors:

“Sprinklers no longer a mandate in Pennsylvania!

Governor Tom Corbett today signed his first bill, House Bill 377 which removes the sprinkler mandate on all newly constructed one- and two-family homes. The new law is Act 1 of 2011.

Now that sprinklers are a consumer choice, builders must offer a buyer the option of installing sprinklers. Builders must also provide the buyer with information made available by the State Fire Commissioner on the possible benefits of installing a sprinkler system.

Among other things House Bill 377 will also change the codes adoption process in Pennsylvania and require increased standards for fire protection of flooring.

As of January 1, 2010, sprinklers are mandated in newly constructed townhomes. Act 1 will not change this requirement.”

Is this a Good Time to Buy a Home? Yes and Here’s Why . . .

Amy — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 01:00:14 +0000

Today is one of the best times to go for the American Dream of home ownership or upgrade if you need to expand to a larger place. Here are key points to keep in mind.

1. Low Interest Rates. Interest rates are still hovering at historic lows. This means that you can qualify for more house for your money than you may if rates shoot up. If you wait, you could be priced out of a home that is at the top of your comfort range if rates increase. No one knows how long rates will stay low. If you are on the fence about buying this is definitely a reason.

2. Mortgage Interest Deduction: Currently home mortgage is deductible on your taxes saving you money.

3. Affordability: Low interest rates along with recently falling prices in some areas have given buyers even more of a reason to buy. Price is the number one reason a home sells.

4. Paying Towards Ownership. Each payment you make on your own home goes towards your future equity. You are paying yourself instead of the Landlord.

5. Appreciation: Besides paying toward ownership you have the opportunity to get more value as the equity as your home value increases. So, in most cases, you will gain more value in staying in your home longer.

6. Home equity: As you build home equity, you gain value by being able to borrow against it for repairs and improvements.

7. Stability: Owning a home builds stronger communities, people take pride in their homes and neighborhoods and get involved in their community.

8. Monthly Payments: Once you have paid off your 15, 20, or 30 year mortgage, you will be free of that monthly payment. You will still be paying property tax, insurance and some maintenance. In most cases, reduction in monthly obligation will be less than what you would be paying a landlord.

Here is a photo of one of my puppies, to share from the February 2010 blizzard, since the snow season is upon is. We can hope we don’t get that much this year.

Pittsburgh – A Top City

Amy — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:39:14 +0000

Again Pittsburgh is getting attention for being a top city to reside. Housing prices are very reasonable and it is still a buyers market with plenty of inventory. Here another article . . .

“Pittsburgh is quickly emerging as one of the top cities in the United States overall, with the largest number of green buildings, nationally high ranked museums and schools and even one of the best airports it truly aims to pull in top marks in all aspects and areas of life. As you can see Pittsburgh is a great choice to explore when you are looking to move, look at the prices, the culture and even the lifestyle and you are sure to fall in love with the city.”

Read More – Quoted from Articlebase.com

Heinz Stadium 2009, Photo by A Myers

c 2009

Pittsburgh Home Construction is up almost Four Percent

Amy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:46:28 +0000

Great news today for Pittsburgh housing market. Things are improving. The Pittsburgh area has always been a great place to buy. Prices are stable over time.

“New home construction in the Pittsburgh region increased for the first time in two years, rising 3.8 percent overall with single-family homes showing the most improvement, according to a report issued Thursday.

Housing construction permits issued during January through March reached 514 units, compared with 495 for the same period in 2009, according to Tall Timber Group, a construction market and research company in Ross.”

Quoted from Pittsburgh Trib

Tax Credit Expiring – Two Weeks Left

Amy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:57:26 +0000

You have two weeks from today to get a home under contract to get up to that $8000 and close by June 30th. Houses are going fast, especially if they are good buys. Don’t hem and haw if you want some of the $8,000 tax credit. I have been experiencing many homes already under contract when a buyer wants to see them. Not just one but several on their list. Then if you get the chance to look, there are also multiple offers. One of my buyers was lucky last month. An agent in my office announced she was listing a home in a couple of days. I got my buyer in the day it was listed (under market price) and he make an offer and it was accepted all in one day. I advised him to move on it, if it was a house he liked because it would not last long. He was happy he did and all went well.

Tax Credit Details

Additional Tax Credit Details from Realtor.org

Frequently Ask Tax Credit Questions

AKHome.info Tax Credit Archives

Forbes Says: Pittsburgh Is the Place to Buy a Home

Amy — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:05:10 +0000

Time and time again the statistics are putting Pittsburgh in the top affordable places to live. There are a lot of things to do and see and Pittsburgh has strong technology and healthcare jobs. As a photographer, the city is a great place for a wide range of subjects. You could spend the day there – possibilities are endless. If you are from out of state, consider the benefits of this city and the stable housing market.

“Families in the market for a house are shopping at the right time: Nationally, homes are near the most affordable they’ve been in 18 years. In the fourth quarter of 2009 housing was 62.4% more affordable than the same time a year earlier, according to the Housing Opportunity Index, published quarterly by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo. The best place to buy right now: Pittsburgh.”

Quoted from Forbes Article Feb 19, 2010

Related Blog Entries:

Pittsburgh Ranks Number One

Pittsburgh in the Top 5

Vandergrift, PA (NE Pittsburgh Suburb) Gets Ranked a Top Town in the Nation to Purchase a Home

Tax Credit Perks

Amy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:54:08 +0000

There are a lot of tax credit perks. The new law that was extended past November 30, 2009 has a lot of benefits. The new law applies to step up buyers moving up to their next home. If you have lived in your home as the primary residence for 5 of the last 8 years then you qualify. See links below for more helpful information.

But did you know that if you are stepping up and having trouble selling your home, you can still qualify without actually selling the first home. But. . . you must purchase the second home as your primary residence. Not too bad. It is time to move. . . . Are you ready?

“There is no requirement that existing homeowners must have sold their home to be eligible for the $6,500 tax credit. However, Weichert encourages existing homeowners who want to benefit from this incentive to move quickly, particularly those who prefer to first sell their current home before purchasing a new one.” Quoted from : RIS Media – Repeat Buyers Need to Act Fast to Capitalize on Expanded Tax Credit

Tax Credit Details

Additional Tax Credit Details from Realtor.org

Frequently Ask Tax Credit Questions

AKHome.info Tax Credit Archives

Pittsburgh Comes in at Number 4!

Amy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:27:31 +0000

Pittsburgh and the Metro Area proves time and time again a great section of the country to live. Home prices and Mortgages are stable and affordable in the region. The days on market are lower than other cities.

Top Cities that were least effected by the Recession from Forbes:

“To identify these cities, Forbes magazine ranked the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas by employment rates, the conventional mortgage home price index, and the average days on the market for properties currently for sale.

The top cities on Forbes list were:”

* Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.
* San Antonio, Texas
* Austin-Round Rock, Texas
* Pittsburgh
* Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pa.
* Dallas/Fort Worth
* Rochester, N.Y.
* Houston
* Raleigh/Cary, N.C.
* Baton Rouge, La.”

Quoted from Realtor.org and Forbes, Francesca Levy (11/19/2009)

Heinz Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA