Well here we go again starting a new year with new resolutions, new ideas, feeling regenerated and most of all feeling like we have a fresh new start on what ever it is that we have been contemplating for weeks or even months. 2008 will go down as a year that a lot of people would like to put behind them and move forward with a fresh start. If you have had something on your mind then now is the time to make that move, take a chance and just go for it! Let this be the breakout year you needed to get yourself moving in the right direction. Feel good about your decision and just go for it!

My wish is that everyone has a blessed and prosperous 2009!

Sorry to all the readers but I felt it necessary to copy this blog for you to get the real facts from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

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Lately I like most of you have heard nothing but talk about the presidential elections and the two campaigns. No matter what your choice of candidates is we all have to remember that we like everyone else hope to be making the best decisions for our families and ourselves. We need to keep that in mind because lately there has been some pretty harsh talk on both sides of the fence about one or the other candidate. Let’s keep in mind that these candidates like us are people and we need to respect each other as we would want to be respected. They too have families whom they love and are loved by and we shouldn’t wish them any ill will as we wouldn”t want someone to wish that on us.

This also goes for your friends, family, coworkers, assocates from sporting organizations or even your neighbors. At work you may not agree with someone, you may be involved in your childrens sporting events and have to deal with the other teams parents or you may have neighbors you wouldn’t invite for a Thanksgiving cocktail but keep in mind that you like them are trying to do the best for you and your families. You may not like the way other people act or speak but is it really up to us to judge them? They also need to heed these words as they too will “reap what they sow”.

So in the future when someone is talking badly about someone or you are upset at the neighbor keep in mind that we ALL “reap what we sow”.

Great news for our region here is a little info from the article.

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http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=11291215&imageindex=7

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This is the information that you never hear on the local media, doom and gloom seems to be all they think we want to hear. How would you like to start your day off hearing things like it is going to be a beautiful blue sky day with minor clouds and take a sweater because it will be a little chilly? What we actually hear is Wow is it cold outside make sure you put on a heavy coat as the wind chills are brutal this time of the year!

One way makes you smile form the start, the other makes you cringe at the fact that winter is just around the corner. This is the same thing that we as Realtors have been trying to express to the local real estate market. Yes, it is a different market than we are used to but homes are still selling. We as agents have to educate the buyers and sellers on what is necessary to do in order to properly market a home in this type of market or how to achieve the best deal in this type of market.

Each home and seller is different so there is no blanket marketing plan that will work for everyone. Each seller needs to understand what it is that they can do to effectively sell their home. It is up to us as agents to educate sellers and buyers as to the proper way to proceed in meeting their individual goals.

So Pittsburghers, cheer up and understand that you are in one of the best places in the USA to be when the going gets tough. Pittsburghers know how to survive just look around and you can see that in every community.

This is a very powerful and beautiful story that everyone is familiar with but spoken in a different way that we all can relate to. Please click on the following link and enjoy.

http://www.maximumreferrals.com/bridge

Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me that question but a lot of times they are amazed at the answer. My response is GOOD! that’s right good, it is a great time to buy and a great time to sell. You may be asking yourself what the heck is he talking about???

Here is what I mean. if you are looking to buy there are some absolutely great deals out there. If you have to sell then know that there are buyers looking to buy! Yes, these buyers are looking for a deal just like you are but if you can price your home below the average market value (taking in all factors such as type of yard, updates you have verse the competition and so forth) and have it in top condition then you will sell it. I understand that not everyone is that fortunate but if you are in that position and were considering moving then now is the time to do so! Buyers are looking for that good deal in all price ranges and most are now looking for that home which is a good deal in respect to them not having to put a lot of money into the house to make livable.

There are plenty of short sales and foreclosures that are in very good condition. You don’t have to waste money on those websites that promise you the “first hand knowledge” of the foreclosures in your area. Be patient and wait, these homes will go through the process of a Sheriff’s sale, bought back by the bank, turned over to an asset manager which hires a real estate firm to make sure it is “trashed out & winterized” then put on the market for a reasonable price. This is when you buy, stay away from the Sheriff’s sale unless you are a pro or have money to loose. 

So how is the real estate market; GREAT!

School has started all over the state and now is the time to take extra precaution when heading to work in the morning. Now is the time to start slowing down, coming to a full stop at intersections and keeping our focus on the road.

Let’s enjoy the fall and keep our eyes open.

This is a great time of the year, the sun is shining, the skies are blue and the temprature is a comfortable 70 degrees. This is the time of year when baseball season is winding down, football season has just started and hockey season is getting ready to start. We will all have plenty of time to hang around the kitchen and sofa for the winter months so get outside and enjoy the weather! Take a longer walk with your dog, get on the bike and pedal a little further or just walk with that special one on some of the many trails in the Pittsburgh area. This is the time of year to finish up those summer projects and start to enjoy the days ahead. Let me know if you have a favorite thing you like to do this time of the year, share it and let’s all enjoy!

Don’t forget to STOP and take in a deep breath of fresh air and thank the good Lord for another fine creation!

Recently some very prominent and articulate nationally know men such as Tony Snow & Tim Russert have gone on to be with our Lord at a very young age. These men have brilliantly articulated their journalism skills to a national audience but we locally have been blessed to have had someone articulate such wisdom to us. A young man named John Challis of Freedom touched us with his courage and wisdom all while facing the reality that his life on earth was soon to end and his life with Christ would begin. Like most of you we didn’t personally know John but we have been touched by his boldness to get the message out that life is precious. We watched him during Pittsburgh Penguin playoff games, during Pittsburgh Pirate games and during numerous news casts. When you listened to John you were amazed at his strength,courage and wisdom about life, love and the word of the Lord. We are sorry to see him loose his battle but we rejoice in his entering the kingdom of our Lord. We pray that the Lord will give his family strength during these sad times but I smiled when his father released the statement that “he was blessed to be able to spend the last 1.5 years with John”.

John touched many and will not be forgotten as he smiles down from Heaven on us all; who could forget that smile.

May the Lord’s blessings and comfort be upon his family.  

Though you might find it interesting that Pittsburgh beat out NYC for walk-ability in a national review. Not bad from a city that has come from the old dreary steel mill days to the beautiful city we call home.  Here is the link if you are interested in reading more: http://bike-pgh.org/2007/12/04/pittsburgh-area-ranked-9th-in-nation-in-walkability/