March 9, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

Printable Version - March Newsletter

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February 26, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

“The best place to buy right now: Pittsburgh. For a housing market to be attractive it should have appreciating prices that show homeowners are making wise investments; an affordability rating that gives middle-class families with good credit entry into the market; and a relatively low number of foreclosures, which keeps prices stable and indicates there isn’t an excess of inventory.” 

          Click below for full article: http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/19/best-housing-prices-personal-finance-real-estate-affordable-homes.html

Reprinted from Forbes.com.

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February 23, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

Monroeville Municipal Council, at their meeting of December 28,2009, adopted Ordinance No. 2464 setting forth the requirements for obtaining Residential Occupancy Permits prior to the transfer of one and two family dwelling units and establishing inspection requirements for multi-family dwelling units. The primary goal of this program is to assure life safety requirements in accordance with applicable codes have not been altered and are in good working order for the next occupant.

The program requires a Residential Occupancy Permit prior to the transfer of one and two family dwellings units, change in occupancy of a one and two family dwelling unit or occupancy of an apartment unit of a multi-family residential dwelling unit. The program requires that an Occupancy Permit be issued by the Municipality prior to occupancy of any residential dwelling unit or owner-occupied units as rental units. The Municipality intends to begin administering the program effective March 1,2010. Effective that date, an Occupancy Inspection will be required for any change of occupancy.

(Reposted from the Monroeville Municipal Building Department website.)

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February 18, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

February Newsletter 2010 

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February 10, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

There are only 80 days left till the home buyer tax credit runs out and it WILL NOT be renewed again, once this happens, it is very likely that sales will stagnate, however in these precious few days the market activity is going to boom! Lets take advantage of that and get your home the exposure it deserves! Call me to list your home today!

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January 21, 2010 by Mandie Spudich.

Click Here for Printable Version

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November 12, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

Quick Reference Chart

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June 9, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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May 14, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

The Goverment has just announced that the $8,000 Frist time home buyer tax credit (NOT A LOAN) Will be made available to buyers using FHA loans as the down payment to purchase their home!!!!  For Specific details, call your Mortgage Rep ( I can send you the info of several if you do not have one yet)! With Rates this low, the Ability to use this as your down payment, and Home Prices Still being down, there truely has never been a better time to buy!

 If you would like to set up a showing please let me know and I will be happy to set up an appointment for you.  And as always, if you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time.  I look forward to hearing from you.

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April 9, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

When selling your home, it’s likely that your primary focus is receiving the highest price possible for your property.And while this is certainly an important factor, there are other details that must be considered when you receive an official offer on your home in the form of a Real Estate Purchase Contract (REPC).  Negotiating this wordy and legally binding document can seem daunting, but understanding the information contained in the REPC will save you time, money and heartache during the process of selling your home. 

The Real Estate Purchase Contract, also known as a Purchase and Sale Agreement, or a Real Estate Contract, is an agreement between a buyer and a seller to purchase real estate.  Your first encounter with a particular purchase contract will be in the form of an offer from a potential buyer. After reviewing the offer, you have three options: to accept the terms of the offer, thus entering into a contract; to change the terms of the offer in a counter-offer; or to reject the offer wholesale.  

After considering the price offered by the buyer, savvy sellers will then determine if the Real Estate Purchase Agreement contains any contingencies. One common possibility is that the offer to purchase your property is contingent on the sale of the buyer’s home. If the buyers’ property sells, the sale goes through. But, if it does not, the sale is off and the buyers’ deposit is usually returned. There are ways to structure a contingent sale offer to make it less risky for sellers. One way is to include a release clause in the contract, which allows sellers to continue marketing their home in the hopes of finding a better offer. If such an offer comes along, the sellers notify the buyers that they must remove the contingency by a certain date and show that they are able to close. Otherwise, they must withdraw from the contract. The sellers are then free to proceed with the other offer. 

Another red flag to watch for is a request by the buyer for excessive time to secure financing. This is a reality for many first-time home buyers or even veteran buyers whose credit is spread thin. If you’re not comfortable with the extended time frame, you can request that the buyer provide you with proof of loan application and/or a letter of loan qualification by a certain date. A well-priced offer can also seem less appealing if the seller offers a low earnest money deposit or asks you to pay the closing costs. Feel free to counter any elements of the offer that don’t sit well with you. 

And, don’t forget to take note of your requirements in the offer. Some buyers will include a clause that penalizes sellers who don’t move from the property by a specific date. Be confident that you can vacate your home by the date requested before accepting the offer. On the other hand, you may want the closing process to move swiftly. Even if the offered price is less than you wanted, a buyer who can close and take possession quickly can counterbalance the lower price.  

It is generally accepted that all attached fixtures and appliances will be sold with your home, but the buyer must list these carefully in the offer to purchase. Such appliances and fixtures can include ovens and dishwashers, window treatments, light fixtures, fireplace mantels and even landscaping features like trees and flowers. Additionally, buyers can request the inclusion of certain furnishings and personal property. If you have items that you do not wish to include when selling your home—whether the washer/dryer, an heirloom rosebush, or all your furniture—it’s a good idea to let your real estate agent know from the get-go, so he or she can help mitigate the expectations of buyers.  

The bottom line? It pays to spend 20 minutes reviewing a blank real estate purchase contract as soon as you put your house on the market. That way, when you receive an offer, you’ll be ready to break it down into its specifics, and respond confidently.  

The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC writes select articles about important topics related to real estate. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit ColdwellBanker.com today. 

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April 1, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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April 1, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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April 1, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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April 1, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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March 17, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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March 4, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

$8000 Tax Credit Over View 1

$8000 Tax Credit Over View 2

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February 5, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

Open House

Sunday Feb 8, 1 pm-4 pm

357 McDonald Drive

North Huntingdon, PA 15642

Brand New Price

$89,900

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January 23, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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January 23, 2009 by Mandie Spudich.

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November 14, 2008 by Mandie Spudich.

1. There is less competition for buyers
2. Winter prospects are more serious buyers
3. Your home looks better during the holidays
4. One of the highest percentages of “listing sold” to “listings taken” occurs during this time of the year
5. You may receive more money for you home now because you have less competition
6. Throughout the holiday season you may restrict showings during your personal family events
7. Buyers have more time to look at homes during the holidays — especially during vacations.
8. January is traditionally the biggest month for corporate transfers — and you must be on the market to capture those buyers.
9. By selling now, you can have a delayed closing or extended occupancy until the beginning of the following year if you want it.
10. When you sell during the winter, you have an opportunity to buy during the spring, when many homes are on the market.
11. You may have fewer actual showings, but the ones you do have will be motivated and qualified.
12. Corporate transferees, who need to buy a home now, can’t wait until spring.

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