Author Archives:

Kick Start A Career in Real Estate

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

Pittsburgh career in real estateLooking to jumps start your career? We can help you be successful selling real estate!
Discover the key to your future. A career in real estate will afford you the freedom and flexibility not commonly found in most nine to five careers. This type of independence has its rewards, namely job satisfaction and the opportunity for outstanding financing success. As a real estate agent, you are rewarded in direct proportion to your efforts, there is no limit on how much you can achieve. Your own entrepreneurial goals to have your own business can be achieve.

 

Refinancing 101

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

Refinancing tipsMany homeowners have heard the term refinancing, but not all thoroughly understand what it means, or when it is appropriate. Thinking about refinancing but not sure what it involves?  We put together some of the basics for you to see if refinancing is really for you.

What is refinancing?
Refinancing your home is when you pay off an old loan, and take out a new one. Refinancing is a sensible decision when you can take out a new mortgage with a lower interest rate.

What do you need?
There are a handful of things that are generally required to refinance your home. These include a steady income, home equity, and a good credit rating. Refinancing is essentially applying for a mortgage all over again, so be prepared for any accompanying costs and be sure you can afford them.

When is a good time?
Refinance your home when mortgage interest rates are low. Refinancing is only sensible if you can get a new loan that is at least two points below your current loan rate, who goes on to warn that when refinancing, you will have to pay all closing costs that go along with getting a new mortgage. If you can’t afford this, or your new loan rate is not two points below your current, then it may be better to choose a different financing option.

Other reasons to refinance include shortening the term of the mortgage to build equity faster, lowering monthly payments or switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed-rate mortgage.

Additionally, suggests that you don’t refinance if you plan on selling your home within five years, as refinancing can cost around 2 percent to 3 percent of the total loan amount. If you aren’t planning to stay in your home for long, the costs you take on to refinance may outweigh your monthly savings.

Don’t forget, if you plan on staying in your home for a long time, and mortgage rates are on a downward trend, you can refinance multiple times.

Refinancing can be a great way to save money or speed up the process of equity building. However, talk it over with your lender each time you are thinking of refinancing, to be sure it is financially feasible for you and your family.

If you think this may be a good time for you to refiance, get your application started online with PA Preferred Mortgage.

Today Show Spotlights A Pittsburgh Home As One of Hottest Buys Under $250,000

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

140 Laurel Avenue - Ben Avon - $219,900“What do you get for under $250,000?” A great four bedroom home in Ben Avon according to Barbara Corcoran, real estate contributor for the Today Show.

Recently, the Prudential Preferred Realty listing 140 Laurel Avenue in Ben Avon was featured on the Today Show segment “Hottest real estate under $250,000″.

Here is what Today real estate contributor Barbara Corcoran had to say about this four bedroom home listed at $219,900.

“This is a neighborhood on the Ohio river, just eight miles from downtown Pittsburgh. this is a 1910 gem that fits right in. The whole neighborhood has houses like this.

The entry has turned staircase with original wood he details. The living room has a gas log fireplace with a mirrored mantel and a brand-new joint job that sets off the white trim. the dining room has wood floors, and a built in china cabinet. The kitchen has been updated with tile floor and a back splash and the courtyard has a cabana and a stone wall planting bed which a lot of people like. Easy to reach, all surrounded by a tall, wood privacy fence.”

For more information on this home please visit our website to contact the listing agent.

Spring Cleaning the Anti-Martha Way

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

Spring Cleaning TipsMartha Stewart spring cleans like a pro — because she is a pro. But the rest of us seek an easier way. Welcome to The Anti-Martha Stewart Spring Cleaning Guide.

For the record, we love Martha Stewart. She has elevated housekeeping to high art, which protects home values. Martha’s taught us the devil is in the details, and that even mundane chores can be tackled with grace, diligence, and elbow-high rubber gloves.

That said, spring is here, and cleaning is required. But who’s got the time or energy to rip apart every square inch of the house? When we saw a Martha blog that suggested cleaning our kitchen range in only 22 steps, we threw in the towel and shouted, “Get real!”

Then, we created our Anti-Martha Stewart Spring Cleaning Guide, acknowledging that top-to-bottom cleaning is a good idea, but nobody’s idea of a good time.

Except for Martha. Almost 30 years ago, when I was a cub reporter in Westport, Conn., I interviewed Martha at her Turkey Hill estate there. Then, she was a fabulous local caterer about to hit the big time with her book, “Entertaining.” She gave me a tour of her place – the Federal-style house, glorious gardens, chicken coop — and was appalled to hear I had never eaten an egg fresh from a chicken’s butt.

She straightaway gathered powder blue eggs with brown spots, walked them back to the best-appointed kitchen I’d ever seen, and whipped up the best omelet I’d ever eaten.

Lesson learned: Effort bears fruit (or eggs).

But days have only 24 hours, and work, family, and the tyranny of getting in 10,000 steps makes spring cleaning Martha-style merely a fantasy for most of us. So, we created our own get-real guide.

Our guide is all about time-savers and corner-cutters. Our advice:

•Don’t scrub when a good soak will do.

•Take small bites out of large tasks: If you live long enough, you’ll get it clean.

•Invest in white vinegar companies, because vinegar is the one cleaner you can’t do without.

•If a machine can clean it better and faster, buy it or rent it.

 

But seriously, folks. Here’s a little preview of our guide.

•Shower heads: A warm white vinegar bath will get rid of mineral deposits.

•Windows: Use coffee filters or microfiber cloths instead of paper towels to wash windows and avoid streaks.

•Patio furniture: Vacuum wicker furniture with an upholstery attachment.

•Primo declutter tip: Get rid of “fat clothes” first, which make you feel bad about your body.

 

Hey, we’ve got a million of these. Martha, we’re sure, is shaking her head in dismay. But we’re sure our guide will help you get clean in spring and still have time to enjoy the season.

And that’s a good thing.

—-

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
Published: March 29, 2012

Use Tax Season to Organize for the Future

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
1

Tax season is the perfect time to stash all your financial records, making future financial matters much easier. But what records do you keep? Many people are confused about what records they need to keep and for how long. They hold onto tax returns, bank records, brokerage statements and other financial information simply because they don’t know if they’ll need it again.

“Most people are going through their records to get ready to file their return,” says financial planner Rick Rodgers, author of The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach To Retirement Planning, “This is the time to get smart about what you need to keep and then set up a system to store it efficiently going forward.”

Rodgers suggests these five steps to help you effectively organize your finances for 2012 and beyond:

1. Out with the old – Discard the records you no longer need: Tax returns older than seven years; bank records and credit card statements that are not related to the tax returns you’re keeping; brokerage statements that aren’t related to purchases of current holdings. Be sure to shred all your old documents before throwing them out.

2. Go digital – Convert the documents you plan to save into digital images that are stored on your hard drive. Invest in a good scanner and scan as you go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing the hard copies as you go. On your computer, file by tax year, so your 2011 folder will contain your tax return for 2011 and all pertinent bank records and receipts. Organize the previous six years the same way. Next year you can delete the oldest folder when you add the 2012 folder.

3. Save a forest – All of the financial institutions you deal with would prefer to send your statements electronically. Stop receiving paper statements. Instead, download your statements electronically and store them in your new filing system. Most banks and credit card companies keep at least a year’s worth of statements available. You need to download these files only once a year to complete the year’s file.

4. Save backups in case of emergency – Make backup copies of your files on a CD or DVD so that if something happens to your computer you have a back up of the files.

5. Go paperless – Your new electronic filing system can be expanded to include all your financial records, from car maintenance receipts to pay stubs. Wills and insurance policies can also be scanned and stored but, of course, keep the originals of those in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.

Gone are the days of saving your financial documents in a box and shoving it into the attic. Technology advances have made organizing your personal finances easier with minimal cost. Make 2012 the year you get organized by moving your finances into a 21st century filing system.

—————–

Certified Financial Planner Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, “The Retirement Specialists,” in Lancaster, Pa. For more information, visit www.TheNewThreeLeggedStool.com or www.rodgersspeaks.com.

Selling in Spring: 3 Top Tips

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
1

For Sale: 652 Hulton Road in Oakmont

Spring is the busiest season for real estate; the grass is green, the sun is shining, the air is fresh, and buyers everywhere are looking forward to a summer move.Unfortunately, most hopeful home sellers have the same idea.

Ron Croushore, CEO of Prudential Preferred Realty offers the following 3 tips to make sure your property is at its best this season.

Manicure. Your lawn, that is. “Trim your bushes, rake any old leaves or debris, plant fresh flowers, repair fences, paint your garage—anything that will make your property look clean and bright,” Croushore suggests.

Use Shades of Spring. If the inside of your home is staged, try updating throw pillows, drapes and towels in subtle spring colors, like yellow, pale blue and lavender.

Wash Your Windows. “This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many homeowners fail to do this,” says Croushore. “Or maybe they washed their windows when they first listed back in December, and don’t realize they need to do it again.” With the sun shining through, streaky, dusty windows will be noticeable. Hire a professional or do it yourself. While you’re at it, clean the windowsills, too—both inside, and out. “When cold winter air hits the heat of your home, your windows sweat, which can cause mildew,” explains Croushore.

“On top of these things, you should also make sure to invest in heavy spring cleaning. Wash any carpets, throw open your windows, scour and polish the floors and get those surfaces gleaming. With competition high, you want to make sure your home is in the best possible condition for selling this spring,” recommends Croushore.

Thinking about selling your home? Get a free market analysis of how much your home is worth in today’s market.

New Prudential Real Estate Poll: Americans Increasingly Optimistic About Homeownership

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
1

Prudential Real Estate, a Brookfield Residential Property Services company, today released a new national survey showing that Americans are significantly more optimistic about homeownership than they were a year ago. According to the second-annual Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey, a full 60 percent of Americans have favorable views toward the real estate market. That’s up 8 points since last year.

The survey shows that signs of increasing optimism are widespread:

  • With interest rates at historically low levels, 96 percent agree or somewhat agree that now is a good time to buy.
  • A full 70 percent of respondents have some degree of confidence that property values will improve over the next two years; with an 8 point increase in those very confident or confident compared to last year.
  • 63 percent believe that real estate is a good investment despite the recent market volatility; that’s up 11 points from last year.

The survey confirms that despite the recession, homeownership remains a central part of the American Dream. Eight in 10 respondents said homeownership is very important to them; only 15 percent said the economic downturn made homeownership less important.

“Respondents told us what our sales professionals see every day that, despite recent market volatility, homeownership remains integral to the dreams of most Americans and that consumers’ confidence in the housing market is returning,” said Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate. “This is good news for home buyers and sellers, communities and our economy as a whole. As more people look to take advantage of historic interest rates and prices, we believe the foundation for a sustainable recovery is in sight.”

The survey also highlighted strong ties between homeownership and the community: 77 percent agree that homeownership strengthens a sense of community with 87 percent agreeing or somewhat agreeing that neighborhood comprised of homeowners have a stronger sense of community than neighborhoods made up mainly of renters. This is critical in an environment where two in three respondents believe community feelings in America are declining.

Among the generations, 94 percent of respondents believe that finding the right home and community are crucial to helping their family be happy.   Only a small minority of older Americans said the recent housing crisis made homeownership less important to them. Nearly half Gen Y respondents said it made homeownship more important. Gen Y’ers are particularly optimistic about the road ahead with 72%  expressing favorable views about the residential real estate market.  

“Characteristically, many of these consumers, particularly Gen Y, share a firm sense of family and community,” Lee said. “It’s not surprising now that they’re embracing homeownership to build on that sense.”

The survey also highlighted consumer caution in a recovering real estate market: 93 percent of respondents said that the housing crisis reminds them that they must be more careful about buying and selling property. More than 90 percent of respondents said a good real estate sales professional can help them make the right choices about homes and communities; and 71 percent believe good agent representation is more important than ever, up 4% from last year’s survey.

Methodology: Interviews with 1,251 Americans who are “in the market” to buy or sell a home were conducted online by Palisades Media Ventures and Penn Schoen Berland, between Feb. 10 and 20, 2012. Respondents are aged 25-64 with a household income of at least $50,000, and either recently bought/sold a home or are considering buying/selling a home. The margin of error is ± 2.8% for all respondents and higher for subgroups.

Spring Comes Early for Southwestern Pennsylvania Real Estate Market Home Listings, Sales Increase in February!

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

A comparison of February 2011 to February 2012 data for the 13-county region the West Penn Multi-List serves shows residential homes placed under agreement increased 34.34 percent (2,193 homes versus 2,946), while new listings were up 15.76 percent (2,373 homes versus 2,747).

“We’re enjoying somewhat of a spring awakening in the Southwestern Pennsylvania real estate market,” said Ron Croushore, current president of the West Penn Multi-List, Inc. and president/owner of Prudential Preferred Realty in Pittsburgh. “We’re starting to see significantly more homes listed for sale, which should indicate a busy spring and summer real estate season in our region.”

Print or email the flyer with all the February market stats by clicking the link below. Or find if in the How To section in Printable flyers section.

Researching The Perfect Neighborhood

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
1

There’s an episode of the hit TV series “How I Met Your Mother” where the characters of Marshall and Lily decide to buy a home in a neighborhood they are unfamiliar with, only to learn later that it sits downwind from a sewer plant. The message is obvious: Do your homework before committing.

Does your school house rock? For starters, investigate the local school district as good schools boost your property value. Research the closest parks and community centers and consider how busy streets impact the neighborhood.

Meet the Joneses. Profiling the perfect neighborhood also involves meeting prospective neighbors. Walk through the area and say hello to people, and ask them for their impressions of the neighborhood. While you’re at it, look around. Are there lots of kids? Do people walk or jog through the neighborhood at night? Are the lawns kept up?

Location, location, location. Don’t forget to map out stores and restaurants in the area. You may be used to a five-minute drive to the local grocery store, only to find out that your new home is 25 minutes away from the nearest place to buy milk. Of course, find out if your potential new home is part of a neighborhood association bearing regular fees, and if your community has lawn or construction restrictions.

A good agent can furnish you with a wealth of local information and take you on comprehensive tours. With a little groundwork you can help ensure that your dream house is surrounded by a dream neighborhood.

Want information on some of Pittsburgh’s most desirable neighborhoods? Click here for more information.

8 Home Staging Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Posted on by Prudential Preferred Realty
Reply

You may love your home, but that doesn’t mean that everyone coming through the door will feel the same way. What may be “charming” to the seller may seem off-putting to a prospective buyer. Many sellers attempt to stage their home themselves and, in doing so, create mistakes that can actually sidetrack the sale of their homes.

    Here are some of the biggest staging mistakes, according to professional home stagers.

    1. Getting too personal: Home staging is meant to create a neutral canvas that will appeal to the majority of buyers. Staging is all about de-personalizing the space, and creating more of a luxury hotel or a model home look that will appeal to most everyone. This is not the time to bring in your unique style and create a look that appeals to just you.
   

2. Using dark colors: If painting, you should choose a nice, neutral and warm color, such as beige tones, grey tones, or light blue or pale greens. You’ll be amazed at the transformation a few coats of fresh paint will make on your home.
   

3. Not taking advantage of natural light: People love natural light, so blocking off any light with heavy curtains or furniture can hurt your sale, especially if the home has attractive views. Anything dated in a home is a turn-off to a potential buyer and window treatments are one of them.
  

 4. Thinking more is better: Scale down your furniture. The size of the furniture needs to be in balance with the scale of the room and the other furniture in it. Remember that the purpose of furniture when selling a home is to define the purpose of the room and to show what will fit where. It is not meant to show that you can provide seating for 15 in your living room and every seat has a side table to rest drinks on.
   

5. Leaving pets at home: You need to remove all traces of animals from the house and make sure “Fido” or “Sunshine” is away during showings. Having a pet could kill a sale before someone even steps into a house.
   

6. Neglecting the outside: People care about the outside space just as much as the inside, so add flowers, make sure the lawn is mowed, the yard is tidy and add a few backyard accessories for the kids.
   

7. Only dealing with “main” rooms: People are quick to stage living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, but don’t forget to spruce up the garage, basement and closets as well.
   

8. Forgetting fixtures: When staging a home, it’s important to ensure all lights are burning with fresh bulbs, and that all fixtures are working.

Remember, staging a home means showcasing the property’s many features, not concealing its flaws. Make sure your house is in good condition and use staging to cast the home in the best light.