Blog Entries in January

Doors, Doors, Doors

Doors, Doors, Doors

by Chris Petry Doors. We all have them. We pass through dozens of them, day in and day out. You exit your bedroom door in the morning to shower or make breakfast, often times after you’ve opened a closet door to retrieve what you’re wearing for the day. You lock the front door of your home before exiting, unless it’s never been unlocked and you leave via integral garage. At wh

Common Real Estate Myths

Common Real Estate Myths

by Chris Petry Today, we’re going to talk about some of the biggest myths you might have heard over the last several years. No, I’m not referring to myths like the Earth being flat or Elvis Presley being alive and well, ironically moonlighting as an Elvis impersonator in Lake Tahoe. Those are indeed myths but today, we’re going to place our focus on some of the most prevailing

Why is Using a REALTOR a Good Idea?

Why is Using a REALTOR a Good Idea?

By Chris Petry So, you’ve decided to buy a home. Congrats! Or, no, wait. You’re selling? Ah, yes. Time to upgrade! Or downsize. Regardless of your real estate ambitions, having a well-informed REALTOR at your side is a must.   The internet has revolutionized the way we shop, date, and do business. It’s tempting to treat a real estate transaction the same way. Which is t

10 Reasons People Are Moving

10 Reasons People Are Moving

by Chris Petry Why are people moving? Well, now there’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one! There are countless reasons why someone might sell their home, move to another neighborhood, city, state, or country, and begin a new life. Today, however, we’re going to try and address ten of the most popular reasons people are moving as of January, 2024.     Gettin

Tips for Home Safety

Tips for Home Safety

Introduction by Chris Petry & Featured Article by Nancy Mitchell Happy New Year! Is it still permissible to say that? I mean, we’re only three days in, right? What’s the cutoff? I suppose it’s best not to overthink such things. Especially as this is, in fact, the first blog of 2024. Moving on! One thing we plan to do periodically this year is to highlight the voices of out

January Hockey Mom Of The Month: Michelle Opferman

January Hockey Mom Of The Month: Michelle Opferman

We are pleased to announce Michelle Opferman from Mt. Lebanon as the winner of the January Hockey Mom award for the 2022-2023 Pittsburgh Penguin hockey season! Michelle Opferman is a dedicated wife and mother of three children, as well as a vital part of the Chartiers Valley School District, where she serves as Department Chair of Nursing Services. For over 15 years, she has been a hockey mom, man

Twelve Must-See Real Estate Movies

Twelve Must-See Real Estate Movies

1. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992, Starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin)- The Gold standard of real estate movies, Glengarry Glenn Ross was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play by revered playwright David Mamet. The plot focuses on a handful of real estate agents, threatened by the hard truths of a motivational speaker, to desperately increase their business in only a couple of d

5 Ways To Cut Down On Your Heating Costs

5 Ways To Cut Down On Your Heating Costs

As the colder winter weather is approaching, homebuyers across the nation have been bracing for the accompanying energy bill. Whether your home is heated using electricity, gas, or oil, heating is usually the largest bill, so it goes without saying that lowering this monthly bill is a priority. We have you covered with five great ways to lower your heating bill.   1. Install a programmabl

2023 Housing Outlook

2023 Housing Outlook

What will the new year bring for homebuyers, homeowners and home sellers? Lower or higher home prices? Higher or lower mortgage interest rates? Or a continuation of the overheated pandemic-inspired housing market?   There’s no question that the blistering housing market of the past three years was hard on homebuyers. By October 2022, the average mortgage interest rate for a 30-year

Home Features That Millennial Home Buyers Love

Home Features That Millennial Home Buyers Love

2022 is the year of the Millennial – at least when it comes to home buying. With the oldest of them turning 40, this is a generation ready to put down roots. During the 2021 real estate boom, two-thirds of first-time mortgage applicants were millennials. Now that this generation has its pre-approvals in hand, there are some home features that speak to them. These perks make them more likely