Buying Vs. Renting Point Breeze Homes for Sale in Pittsburgh

Buying Vs. Renting Point Breeze Homes for Sale in Pittsburgh

Should you buy or rent a home? This is a question that has continuously haunted every American once they have decided to live on their own. In 2015, the debate is still ongoing and homeowners past and present are still not decided whether it’s better to buy Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh or rent one.

Why should you rent?

Some people choose to rent a home because they do not have the financial capacity to buy one. Buying a home requires you to put up at least 20% down payment, mortgage fees, and closing costs. Plus,  you need to have a good credit score to get your home loan approved which will go to paying your mortgage, insurance, and other fees. Buying a home is not for you if you do not have a stable income, are in between jobs, and have a bad credit score. Other people choose to rent a home because they don’t need to worry about home maintenance. Whenever they experience a problem in their house for rent in Point Breeze Pittsburgh, all they have to do is call the landlord and he will fix it for them.

Why should you buy?

Buying a home provides people with a true sense of ownership - the freedom to remodel or renovate whatever part of the home they want, the freedom to decorate however they want, and the freedom to choose which maintenance issues to fix or prioritize. Apart from this freedom, homeowners also enjoy equity. When you rent, you will be paying your landlord’s mortgage which increases his equity. But when you buy your own home and pay your own mortgage, you are adding equity to yourself. If you reach a 20%:80% loan to value ratio, you will be able to borrow equity from your home and use that to finance other more important expenses. Aside from equity, homeowners also enjoy added deductions such as mortgage interest and property taxes, just to name a few.

So is it better to buy or rent a home? The right answer depends on the person being asked. Renting or buying doesn’t depend on which part of the country you live in - it depends on you and your family’s needs. If you want to learn more about buying or renting homes in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Should You Rent or Buy a Point Breeze Home for Sale in Pittsburgh?

Should You Rent or Buy a Point Breeze Home for Sale in Pittsburgh?

The question of buying versus renting has become a topic of debate for the past years. Some say renting is better while others say buying is more financially rewarding in the end. So let’s try to answer their question: Is buying Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh better than renting?

Why you should rent:

You’re uncertain about your career. You don’t know where you will be in the next five years and you’re not so sure about the job you currently have now. Renting makes it easier for you to switch careers down the road.

You’re uncertain about your income. If you don’t have a steady income, you won’t be able to pay for your mortgage.

You don’t want to worry about maintenance. Some houses for rent in Point Breeze Pittsburgh include a small maintenance fee on top of your monthly rent. This fee allows you to be able to contact your landlord and let him handle that maintenance problem for you.

Why you should buy:

You build equity. When you pay your monthly rent, you are helping to add equity to your landlord’s account by paying his mortgage. But if you own your home, you pay your own mortgage and increase your equity. When you reach a 20%:80% loan to value ratio, you will be able to borrow the equity from your home and use it to finance other important expenses such as your child’s education or building a business.

You enjoy even more tax deductions. Apart from mortgage interest, you can also deduct property taxes from your expenses. People who rent do not enjoy these extra savings in their accounts.

You choose how to approach maintenance. Just because you don’t like the physical labor of home maintenance doesn’t mean you have to like it when you finally have your own home. Luxury Realtors® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA can provide you a list of trusted contractors who can help you out, in case you need a helping hand with routine maintenance work.

So is it better to buy or rent a home? The right answer depends on the person being asked. Renting or buying doesn’t depend on which part of the country you live in - it depends on you and your family’s needs. If you want to learn more about buying or renting homes in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Signs That Help You Know When It's Time to Make the Move to a New Home

Signs That Help You Know When It's Time to Make the Move to a New Home

Have you ever thought to yourself “Should I move to a new home?” It’s pretty common for homeowners to ask themselves this question. No matter how many years you have lived in the house you currently own, the thought of moving might have crossed your mind at least once. If you feel undecided whether to stay or find Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh, here are some telltale signs that would help you decide if it’s time to move:

Your current home is too small or too big for you.

You might have purchased your home when you were still single but if you’re already married and have kids, you might need more space to live comfortably with your growing family. You might also have kids who just graduated high school and have now left the home for college, leaving you with an empty nest. Living in a home that’s too small or too big for you can become emotionally, physically, and financially taxing. If the space does not fit you and your needs anymore, consider this a sign that it’s high time to move.

The repairs, remodel, and maintenance costs are too high.

Does your roof need fixing? Plumbing needs to be repaired? The bathrooms and kitchen need to be remodeled? You need to convert a big room into two smaller ones? If you have been burdened by major remodeling projects and the continuous repair and maintenance costs, you might want to consider buying a new home.

The neighborhood has taken a turn for the worse.

While developments such as malls and office buildings help lower the unemployment rate in an area, these developments can be troublesome for homeowners if they are located too close to their homes. Is your neighborhood having an increase in crime rates and police activity? There are a lot of things that you should be worrying about and living in an unsafe neighborhood should not be one of them. Take this as a sign to move. Make time to connect with luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA who can help give you a tour of the neighborhood that fits your needs best.

If you’re still on the fence on whether to move and buy a new home for sale in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, these tips will help you decide. For even more helpful tips and useful advice for homeowners, go to http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Top 5 Telltale Signs That It's Time to Move to a New Point Breeze Home

Top 5 Telltale Signs That It's Time to Move to a New Point Breeze Home

The question “Is it time to move to a new home?” is something that has popped into the minds of homeowners at one point or another. It might be because of a recent career change, a home that has lots of repair issues, or an attractive advertisement for Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh. The reasons for moving vary but for undecided homeowners, here are some telltale signs that can help you determine if and when it’s time to move:

1. Your family is growing. You and your partner might have purchased your first home as newlyweds and the 2-bedroom home seemed more than enough space for you. However, the addition of one or more children means more space is needed to live comfortably in your home. Also, keep in mind that as the kids grow older, the room gets smaller. If you find you’re running out of space in your home, take that as a sign to move.

2. You have too much space. Whether you have recently become single, have kids who just left for college, or you have just taken on a minimalist lifestyle, you’ll find that your home might be too big for you. Having a lot of unused space in your home might become financially, emotionally, and physically stressful. Don’t let it take a toll on you. Start planning your move to a new home today.

3. The neighborhood has changed. The community that surrounds your home is as the home itself. If you notice an increase in crimes or police activity, a change in the air quality, or too much land development and you don’t feel safe or at peace in your neighborhood anymore, take that as a sign to move. The best REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA can help you find a home in a neighborhood that suits you best.

4. You spend more time on the road than in your home. Maybe you just landed a new job in a different city or you are stressing over the commute to work every morning and night. If you find yourself spending more time in a car or a train or a bus going to and from work, instead of spending it at home with your family, it might be time to consider moving to some place closer. It’s not worth wasting your time on the commute.

5. There’s too much to remodel at home. Are you having an inner debate on whether you should remodel or move to a new place instead? Spend your home budget wisely. If there’s too much you need to repair, replace, and remodel at your house, then you might find that moving to a new place is even more affordable. Talk to luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA to learn more about homes for sale perfect for budget-savvy homeowners.

The decision to move or not can take a toll on you so before that happens, check out this list to help you out. For even more helpful tips and useful advice for homeowners, go to http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Taking Great Point Breeze Homes for Sale Listing Photos That Sell

Taking Great Point Breeze Homes for Sale Listing Photos That Sell

An online listing can only tell so much about Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh. It will tell them about the location, the number of bedrooms, the size of the rooms, the community, the neighborhood, and all the other important details of the home. These listings are supported by different photos of the home such as the bedrooms, the living room, the kitchen, the garden, and more. However, not all listings are the same and not all photos are good enough to showcase the beauty of the home.

As such, here are some great tips to help you take great photos of your home for sale:

Stage your home before taking photos. Remember that you want to showcase the space, not the furniture nor the color of the old paint you have on your walls. Clear the space and remove all distracting items such as photographs, toys, papers, and more. You want the future buyers to look at the photos and see the potential of the space, not your personal style and preference.

Use as much natural light as you can. You want to aim for softer lighting so try to schedule a shoot early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Open the curtains or remove them and do not use flash.

Shoot straight on and from a low angle. Taking photos from different angles can result to distorted photos where vertical lines are not aligned. Make your photos look professional by shooting straight on and from a low angle. Luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA shares that photos taken from a low angle allow buyers to feel like they are inside the home instead of looking down on it.

Use a wide-angle lens. Another way that distorts photos is when people use a wide-angle lens where objects near the camera appear a lot bigger and objects farther away look much smaller. You can avoid this by using normal lens and simply moving further away from the room to take the photo. You won’t get the whole room in one shot but you get quality photos that sell, which is really what’s important.

Take photos of all important features of the house. One of the things that the best REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA advise their clients is to highlight the home for sale by taking note of all the important features of the house. Did you just add a deck? Have you retiled the kitchen floor? Did you remodel the bathroom? Did you update the roof? Whatever it is, make sure you get a good photo out of it.

Buyers want to see the potential of the space when they look at the photos. So your photos must make them want to imagine their lives living in a Point Breeze home for sale. For more tips on better home selling, go to http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Top 5 Tips for Taking Good Photos of Your Point Breeze Home for Sale

Top 5 Tips for Taking Good Photos of Your Point Breeze Home for Sale

The old saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words” and this can’t be any truer when it comes to real estate. When buyers look for Point Breeze homes for sale in Pittsburgh, one of the very first things that they will notice is the home photo. No matter how much information or how affordable the price is, if people are not impressed with the photos that come with your listing, they wouldn’t even bother to take a second look.

To help in selling your home, here are some tips for taking good photos that sell:

1. Shoot straight on at a lower angle. As much as possible, try to use a tripod to avoid any shaky photos. Position it at a straight angle, parallel to the subject. Diagonal lines on your photo when you tilt your camera up or down does not look professional. It distorts the vertical lines of your house for sale in Point Breeze. Also, take low shots so that buyers would feel like they are in the home and not looking at it from a stepladder.

2. Avoid wide-angle lens. As much as you might want to capture the entire place in one frame, using wide-angle lens distorts the photo. It makes items that are close to the camera appear larger while items far away from the camera appear much smaller. Instead of a wide-angle lens, use normal lens and simply step away from the subject. This way, it looks more natural and gives the buyers a more intimate look into the home.

3. Use as much natural lighting as possible. Using the correct lighting is crucial in taking good photos. Make use of as much natural light as you can to provide a more comfortable look of the space. Do not use flash. You want to aim for a softer light so it’s best to shoot later in the afternoon or early in the morning.

4. Do not take a photo of everything. While it’s important for buyers to see the space entirely, luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA advise sellers that what photos need to do is to entice the buyers into looking into the home more. The photos should make them want to call and schedule a viewing instead of making a decision right then and there while looking at your listing.

5. Do a quick touch up of the photos before posting. Just because you followed everything in this list and the photos looked good while you’re looking at them in your camera’s screen doesn’t mean that you can go ahead and post all the photos at once. Blow them all up in your computer first and see exactly how the photos turned out. Chances are, you might have missed something or cropped an important part out so check first before posting.

Additional tip: Stage your home before you start taking photos. This way, the space looks cleaner, well-organized, and a lot more presentable.

Buyers want to see the potential of the space when they look at the photos. So your photos must make them want to imagine their lives living in a Point Breeze home for sale. For more tips on better home selling, go to http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Moving with Pets: Make the Move to Your Point Breeze Home Easy

Moving with Pets: Make the Move to Your Point Breeze Home Easy

Our pets, just like humans, can get confused and scared when moving to a new place. To make the move to your newly purchased Point Breeze home for sale in Pittsburgh easy for your beloved furry friends, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

Make sure you have all their veterinary records updated.

From their vaccinations to medications, you should have a copy of your pet’s medical history so that the new vet will know how best to take care of your pet. Also, have at least 2 to 3 weeks worth of food and medication on hand if your pet needs medications regularly. Some vets aren’t able to write prescriptions unless they have a doctor-patient relationship with your pet and this can cause delays on your pet’s scheduled meds.

Keep your pet away from all the chaos.

When packing up your home, make sure to keep your pets in a familiar room that will be packed last so that they won’t feel surprised and confused with all the mess. As luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA would advise, pets need to feel comforted because moving home can make them vulnerable. Keep them feeling safe and warm by secluding them and taking them away from all the chaos.

Schedule your pets for grooming a week before you leave.

If you will be moving by car, you might not want to have your pet shedding all over your vehicle or their long nails scratching the leather seats. Also, don’t forget to bring a pet carrier with you that is spacious enough for them to comfortably lounge in. Include their favorite toys and snacks for the journey ahead.

Pet-proof your new home.

Before letting your pets out of their carriers, make sure that your new home is safe for them to roam around in. Dogs might trip running into uneven floors or get hurt by exposed wires. Cats, meanwhile, might get stuck on open shelves and unsafe cabinets. Always do a quick check of the place before leaving your pets to unpack.

Find a new vet and schedule a visit ASAP.

Ask the best REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA for information on the closest and most trusted veterinary clinics around. If they have pets of their own, it might help to schedule a visit with the doctor soon to help them get acquainted easier. Also ask your REALTOR® for a list of pet-friendly parks nearby so you can schedule a playdate with your furry friend ASAP.

Make the transition to a new home easier for your furry friends. Take note of all these tips and be mindful about their safety when moving from one home to another. For even more tips about making your home pet-friendly, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Top 5 Easy Tips for Moving with Pets to Your Point Breeze Homes

Top 5 Easy Tips for Moving with Pets to Your Point Breeze Homes

When you have found the perfect Point Breeze home for sale in Pittsburgh that fits the size and budget you’ve allotted for your dream home, the next thing to do is to plan your move. Unfortunately, moving comes with it’s own set of stressors and challenges. If you’re moving with pets, you also have to consider how to make the transition easier for them, too!

Here are some helpful tips to help make the move easy on your furry friends:

1. Update all their veterinary records, as well as their pet tags. If you’re moving far away that you would need to find a new vet, make sure to get all the most recent records of your pet, their medical history, list of vaccinations, medications, and more. You might need to get a new health certificate and certain set of vaccinations to your new place so be prepared with all the information. Don’t forget to also keep a number of your old veterinarian so your new one knows who to call for further questions.

2. Keep at least a week’s worth of medications and food on hand. New vets can’t write a prescription right away so if you move to your home without enough supply, this can cause trouble especially when you need medication right away. You can ask luxury REALTORS® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA for any advice on where the nearest pet clinic is from your new home.

3. Isolate your pets from chaos. There’s nothing like boxes and boxes of home furniture and other things cleared up in the home to cause confusion in your pet. They might feel vulnerable with all the chaos so it’s best to keep them separated from it all. Try keeping them in their own home backyard or in a quiet and well-ventilated bathroom upstairs. Make sure to put up a sign that says not to disturb the pet staying inside.

4. Keep them safe when travelling. The best way to travel long-distance with pets is by keeping them is a spacious, well-ventilated crate or carrier. For stress-chewers, include their favorite toys. Never leave them in the open bed of a truck or inside a moving van. If you have to spend the night at a hotel, make sure to check ahead for pet-friendly places to stay in.

5. Prepare your new home for pets. It can get challenging for pets to adjust to new surroundings. One way to help them is by making sure that all their stuff from the old home is laid out in a special place in the new house. When nobody is watching them, don’t forget to keep all windows and doors closed so they won’t try to escape and go back to your old house. One tip from the best REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA is to take them on a quick detour around parks in the area to allow them to get settled into the new home.

Make the transition to a new home easier for your furry friends. Take note of all these tips and be mindful about their safety when moving from one home to another. For even more tips about making your home pet-friendly, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at (724) 779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® in Point Breeze Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.