Home sales in the five-county Pittsburgh region jumped 14.7 percent in February compared with a year ago, rising above 1,300 during the month for the first time in three years.

There were 1,311 new and existing homes sold last month compared with 1,143 a year ago, according to RealSTATs, a South Side-based real estate information company. This year, February had one more selling day because of leap year. “We expect an increase in all sales this year,” said George Hackett, president of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services in Pittsburgh. He is optimistic that the local and national housing market will experience a robust year. And Pittsburgh will continue to see sales and prices outpace other areas of the nation, Hackett said.

All five counties had double-digit increases, with Allegheny County leading with 762 homes sold compared with 691 a year ago. Westmoreland County had sales of 199 homes versus 160 a year ago, followed by Washington County with 131 compared with 108. Beaver County had 111 sales against 92, and Butler County had 108 compared with 92, the report stated. Sales of existing homes alone were up 15.9 percent, with 1,219 compared with 1,052 a year ago. New homes sales totaled 92 in February, up one from last year.

You can read the full article on PittsburghLive.com

As you may know, Heartland Homes will be featured on HGTV’s hit Interior Design Competition – ShowHouse ShowDown!  The first of two episodes featuring Heartland Homes will air Saturday, March 3^rd at 2:30PM.  A special encore presentation will air Friday, March 9^th at 1:30pm

The Show(down)

For Showhouse Showdown, Heartland Homes built two identical Nantucket II homes for Interior Designers, Joe Berkowitz and Alisha Gwen.  Joe and Alisha, were given a $130,000 budget to decorate 5 rooms!  Tune in to see the 10 uniquely designed rooms on HGTV – Kitchen, Sunroom, Great Room, Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom!

Host and TV personality, Bob Guiney, wraps up the show of the Cranberry Township filming in Heartland Homes’ community, Mystic Ridge in Cranberry Township.

Two houses, Two completely unique design styles, ONE Winner!

The Cast

The Host, Bachelor Bob

Bob Guiney

You’ve seen his heart broken on the Bachelorette, you’ve seen him break hearts on the Bachelor, and now Bob Guiney is the host of Showhouse Showdown on HGTV!  Bob is one of the funniest and down to earth guys that we have ever met, and can’t wait to see him as host of this show!

His Website: http://bit.ly/AsYHl9

Twitter: @bobguiney

The Local Girl

Alisha’s signature look combines bold color, clean lines, large scale patterns, and classic furniture styles. She favors mixing the old with the new to create spaces that are both modern and timeless. She strives to integrate high-end and cost effective to achieve a balance between comfort, function and style. She takes a hands-on approach from start to finish closely working with all parties involved to ensure the initial vision is successfully executed.

Her Website: http://bit.ly/xzMz28

Twitter: @alishagwen

The Artifact

Joe’s own style is eclectic but he is skilled in doing Country French to high-end contemporary and everything in between. He’s done retro Hollywood to Tuscan but he’ll never give you trendy. He wants the home he designs for you to be timeless. Joe encourages clients to be bold, take risks and do something different. He favors an interesting artifact over a console table versus the predictable painting.

His Website: http://bit.ly/ydNATG

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/zn6Del

For the most up to date information follow Heartland Homes on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or SUBSCRIBE to us via email

Be amongst the first to purchase a brand new, custom-built dream home in our newest single-family community in Adams Township!

• Durable and Beautiful HardiePlank® Siding
• Brick Water Tables
• Premium Landscaping Packages
• Homesites in the scenic hills of Butler County
• Convenient to I-76 and I-79
• Low Butler County Taxes
• Mars Area School District

Please join us at our Myoma Woods community model home for our Grand Release!

Address: 303 Dirkshire Court  Mars, PA 16046

Date: Saturday, February 25th

Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Click Here for Turn by Turn Directions

Call 412-945-1367 or email SAWilliams@HeartlandCustomHomes.com for more information

Built Stronger to Last Longer

Choosing a home that exceeds ENERGY STAR® is a great benefit to you and your family.  We build your home to keep it that way with higher quality materials, warranties that stand behind them, and the very best experience in putting it all together.

• Save up to $2,500 a year on your utility bills compared to a 20 year old home!
• Every home includes a whole air cleaner with filtration equal to a hospital laboratory & continuous fresh air!
• Every home is independently tested to exceed ENERGY STAR® standards by up to 20%

*All specifications subject to change at any time.  Specifications may vary for townhomes.  Average Heartland HERS score is between 55-65.

We’ve got some great news. Showhouse Showdown is going back on the air on Saturday, March 3rd, at 2:30 PM. There will be an encore airing of each episode at 1:30 pm the Friday following the premiere. HGTV feels this is a great spot for Showhouse Showdown because Saturday is all design shows for them and it is one of their most competitive days.

The Heartland Homes episode shot in the Cranberry Township featuring designers Alisha Gwen (@alishagwen) and Joe Berkowitz is scheduled to be the season premiere episode on Saturday, March 3rd and the Heartland Homes episode shot in Oakmont area featuring designers Christine Jones and Lizzie Bennett Farley is scheduled to air Saturday March 31st.

Over a thousand people showed up during the shows filming, and now its your turn to see if you have made it on national television, and of course see local designers compete in a head to head battle of interior design!

Fortunately, your new home in Peters Township gives you access to an array of amenities and attractions for all ages in Washington County. From high-stakes excitement to low-key, yet highly enriching historical sites, your new house in Peters Township puts you in proximity to the full range of the fun spectrum.

Rocking in the Rockshelter!

 Okay, maybe it’s not that exciting, but worthy to note that Peters Township is close to the oldest human habitation site in the North America. The Meadowcroft Rockshelter, operated by the Heinz History Center in Jefferson Township, PA, should put your own habitation troubles in perspective. They had no mortgages 16,000 years ago (some archaeologists suggest the site could be as old as 19,000 years), but they also had to worry about large animals getting hungry. Visitors obtain a view to the ultra-low tech tools that got it all started. The newly-renovated facility will also include a recreation of a 16^th century Native American village.

Roll ‘Em at the River!

The nearby Meadows Racetrack and Casino offers a premium nightlife experience. Test your luck at the slots, play the odds at over 80 table games, or just relax and watch excitement with your favorite libation. Don’t spend it all in one place, though! A range of atmospheres allows patrons to fine tune the intensity of their evening. You can even bring the kids and enjoy bowling on more than 20 lanes, each equiped with a huge projector screen TV. Whether you’re watching the big race, sipping a cocktail or rolling for the big score, the Meadows has you covered.

Park Yourself in Washington County!

Numerous parks and trails in scenic Washington County surround your new house in Peters Township. Take a hike on Arrowhead Trail up to Thompsonville, get a breath of fresh air at bucolic Mingo Creek, catch dinner at Ten Mile Creek, or float your boat on Cross Creek, just to name a few suggestions.  The treasury of scenic wonders that surround you and your new Peters Township house is an open invitation to start making new family memories!

Join Heartland Homes ~ February 13th for a VIP Preview Party of Adams Township’s newest single family community, Amherst Village

Date: Monday, February 13th
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Myoma Woods Model Home – The Monterey
303 Dirkshire Court
Mars, PA 16046

(Click Here for Turn by Turn Directions)

Amherst Village is Heartland Homes newest single-family community in Adams Township. Amherst Village will feature custom home designs unique to this community, featuring durable Hardie Plank Siding on homesites with amazing views! This quaint community will boast a feeling of a modern-day Pleasantville. Join our VIP list and be the first to learn exclusive information about this breathtaking neighborhood.

•   Hardie Plank Siding
•   Brick Watertable on Front of Home
•   Carriage Style Garage Doors
•   Concrete Driveways
•   Premium Landscape Package
•   Upgraded Mailbox
•   Cobblestone Crosswalks
•   City Sidewalks
•   City Lamp Posts
•   Charming Bus Stops

To join our VIP list, contact Sara at 412-992-7417 or SAWilliams@LoveHeartland.com- Join today and learn exclusive information about Amherst Village, and be the first to learn about important announcements regarding to Adams Township’s newest custom home community.

The Winter

Soon the snow will be falling, the roads will be bad, and everything will look slushy, grey and cold. Gaining the motivation to get off the couch is tough enough on a cold winter’s day, so how will you convince potential home buyers that your house is worth the energy to brave the weather and tour your home?

WINTER TIPS

Use the Sharpest Tool in the Shed

The most important thing to do is list your home with a realtor. The days of staking an orange and black “For Sale by Owner” sign in the front yard are long gone. Realtors have the tools, clients, and resources to sell your home. With listing websites, social media, thousands of buyers in databases, and a professional background in real estate, the secret weapon to selling a home in the winter is your local real estate agent.

The Mother-In-Law Test

Besides the basic rules of staging your home, keeping it clean is the most important tool to selling your home in the winter. You might have cabin fever, the winter blues might have hit hard, but keeping your home beautiful and ready for an inspection at a moment’s notice is the best game plan. Rule of thumb: Make sure your home will pass the unexpected visit from your mother in-law test!

The 3 S’s of Winter

Shovel, Scrape and Salt, if a potential buyer struggles to pull into the driveway, slips on the sidewalk, or has to walk through a pile of snow; chances are they are thinking that maintaining your home is too much work. Make your home appear to be low maintenance. Shovel the snow and do whatever it takes to get rid of ice!

Sparkle!

Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom sparkle! These areas will receive more scrutiny than any other room in your home. Rule of thumb: Clean these rooms 3 times better than you normally do.

Make Your Home Say Cheese!

If you know you will be listing your home and it could potentially stay listed into the winter, take pictures of the exterior of your home year round. Create a photo album of your home, and showcase how beautiful your home looks when it is not covered in 4 inches of dirty snow.

Keeping a photo album next to the paper work and information sheets during an open house is a great way to show off your beautiful yard or that spacious deck that is perfect for a summer barbecue.   

Selling a Vacant House

If you have moved out already and are selling an old vacant home, remember to keep your home warm. Potential buyers left their warm and cozy homes to visit yours, and will leave in a heartbeat if your home is freezing. A warm home is a sold home- it can be that easy! Having a second utility bill for a home that is empty doesn’t make that much sense either! Use timers or stop by and turn the heat on the night before a scheduled showing. If a buyer sees their breath before they see the upstairs, they probably will not buy.

Heartland Homes – Seller’s Edge Program

Want to know how Heartland Homes can help you sell your existing home AND save you up to $5,000 on your mortgage? Contact Kathy Cooper KBCooper@HeartlandCustomHomes.com

Nestled in the beautiful rolling mountains of Morgantown, West Virginia along the shores of Cheat Lake, this pristine location is the perfect place to call home. At Heartland Homes we feel that we have found the paramount location in The Mountain State. Whether you are looking for a resort-like retreat or a place to settle down, The Summit at Cheat Lake is the place to be.

Surrounded by nature yet part of a community, The Summit at Cheat Lake is the best of both worlds. Take in the panoramic views of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, but take advantage of the convenient location near I-68, I-70, and Morgantown. Enjoy the brand new private pool and clubhouse, sidewalks, bike paths, and Lake-Access, Lake-View, and Lake-Front homes.

The Summit is located off of Stewartstown Road and is only 5 minutes away from the new University High School and across Cheat Lake from Grey Stone. We are only 20 minutes from the largest Morgantown employers: WVU, Ruby & Monongalia Hospitals and Mylan Pharmaceutical!

For more information about The Summit at Cheat Lake , please email Jennifer Bartos at JLBartos@HeartlandCustomHomes.com or call 724-871-1727

Need Directions? Take Me To The Summit!

Quiet Tech

: It describes a Design movement that foregoes of conspicuous display of status for understated chic, it marries beauty with efficiency. It is a philosophy that puts technology and design at the service of simple intuition.

PPG

An understated chic is achieved with a fine balance of softened whites, calming neutrals, and accents of indigo blue. Softened whites have a more calming effect than stark whites and are neutral enough to pair easily with dark and mid tones indigo blues, and with calming neutrals like light gray and pale wood tones.

Intellectual Sophistication, Unique, Calming, Humanized technology

For other Color Trends from PPG Pittsburgh Paints and other excellent advice on Interior Design follow this link: Interior Design Advice