Erie Blogger Focuses on Pittsburgh

Friend and associate Mary Yonkers recently published a blog highlighting Pittsburgh, its successes as a city, and how those successes intertwine with our city's commitment to going green. Below, I have copied Mary's article (with permission of course) for you to enjoy! You can read more about beautiful Erie, PA from Mary at www.maryyonkers.com.
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Going Green: Pittsburgh Trades Black & Gold . . . A GREEN Pittsburgh Team???

Yes, Pittsburgh, home of the 2009 Super Bowl Champions/Steelers and the 2009 Stanley Cup/Penguins and the MLB/Pirates are trading their traditional Black & Gold colors for Green as in Green-certified buildings.
Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the largest Green-certified building in the United States, will host the G-20 Global Economic Summit in September. With 33 Green-certified buildings Pittsburgh ranks seventh in the country.
This is such a far cry from the Pittsburgh I knew during my childhood visits as I grew up about 50 miles north. I still remember the haze & the endless smoke stacks as we approached Pittsburgh in the 50's.
I also remember hearing my parents talk about the terrible economic recession, almost Depression-style, that Pittsburgh went through as they worked to reinvent themselves after the collapse of the steel industry. As an adult I get as excited as a child in the back seat to see the tall skyscapers as you enter Pittsburgh. And the sky is clear! (Most days)
Home to more than 2,600 eco-friendly businesses Pittsburgh offers incentives to businesses to build environmentally friendly buildings. Even through the recession Pittsburgh is one of just a few regions in the country with more than 25,000 job openings. Stats from 2005, the last data available, listed more than 183,000 technology jobs and those workers earned more than $53,000 in Greater Pittsburgh area. Nearly one-third of the tech jobs are in Green industries, truly the new Pittsburgh industry.

PITTSBURGH'S GREEN TEAM
The Green Building Alliance, a non-profit organization in its sixteenth year, is committed to bring prosperity to the Pittsburgh & western Pennsylvania by increasing market demand for green building & green building products. GBA is a Green pioneer in the Green movement promoting a healthy indoor environment in offices, schools, retail and meeting places.
One of Pittsburgh's Green Industries is Plextronics, a company that creates technology for renewable energy, organic solar, printed electronics including printed solar and efficient lighting. Plextronics' company slogan, Think, Act & Be Green, encourages individual employees as well as the company strive to make a difference on a small scale as well as large scale.
Today I live in Erie, PA, along the shores of Lake Erie. I am still a fan of all the Pittsburgh teams, even if the teams continue to wear Black & Gold. Their spirit is committed to GOING GREEN.

Philly.com Article: Pittsburgh Re-invents Itself Through Green Economy

Well - there is that word again: "Re-invent". We see it everywhere in relation to Pittsburgh and our thriving economy. This article discusses one of the biggest reasons that Pittsburgh was chosen as the site of the upcoming G20 summit. Our efforts to go green have not only improved the look of our city, but have boosted the economy as well!

Pittsburgh is home to over 33 LEED® Certified buildings. This number is growing rapidly (thanks mostly to our city's green building pioneers PNC and Carnegie Melon). In addition to these certifications, others are on the way. 3 PNC, currently under construction in Downtown Pittsburgh, is a candidate for LEED® certification. It currently holds the honor as being the largest mixed-use green building in the country. Right now, Pittsburgh ranks seventh in the country for number of LEED® Certified buildings.

A correction to the article. It cites the David L. Lawrence Convention Center as the largest LEED® certified building in the country. As much as I wish I could say it was, I believe that honor goes to the Palazzo in Las Vegas. For the complete article, please click here.

Forbes Ranks Pittsburgh 8th in Best Citites for Working Mothers

Forbes has released yet another of its infamous lists today. This one potentially is one of the most relevant to date! The challenges of a working mother are daunting, and knowing you live in a city that "has your back", so to speak, can be priceless.
Reasons are plentiful as to why Pittsburgh made the list, quite frankly in my opinion plentiful enough to have warranted a higher ranking! Forbes cites the friendliness towards local mothers (how that is quantified - I have no clue!) as well as Pittsburgh's efforts toward creating more child-friendly activities. Of course, the low unemployment rate as well as the larger number of high-paying jobs also made the cut as good reasons.
New York City surprisingly hits the list at number one! Forbes claims it is because of the plenitude of playground space and the low percentage of VIOLENT crime in the city. Uh - OK.....Austin is at number two.
So, if you are patient enough to navigate through the "in depth" portion (I really wish Forbes would figure out a better way to showcase its lists), you can click here for the complete article and see the other cities that made the cut!

Pittsburgh Featured in Sign On San Diego - A City "Beaming" - Why the Surprise?

Another article from the far-flung reaches of our country featuring the city of Pittsburgh! I'm not quite sure how I feel about the line likening sports to the "life blood in the hardened arteries" of the city, but otherwise overall a rather complimentary article. My question is; When will people stop being so darn surprised at what a great place Pittsburgh is? Great people, great culture, great sports, it all combines into a one of a kind experience. I think that the preconceived notions of Pittsburgh as a hardened steel mill town are hard to overcome, and it seems there is a correlation between the distance the city featuring the article and the level of surprise at Pittsburgh actually being a pretty cool place! Hey California - I have never seen a steel mill! (Unless you count the Waterfront).

New Disclosure Requirements for the Truth in Lending Act

New requirements for the Truth in Lending Act have gone into effect, and potential buyers should be aware of these requirements should they being applying for a mortgage.
A good faith estimate of mortgage loan costs is required within 3 days of loan application, and lenders are prohibited from collecting any fees from a borrower until these are disclosed, with the exception of a reasonable fee to collect a credit report. In addition, a closing may not occur until a 7 day waiting period has elapsed after the disclosure, and should rates change by more than 0.125%, lenders are required to supply a new good faith estimate, and an additional 3 day waiting period goes into effect.
These are only the highlights of the new requirements, and these changes apply only to mortgages secured by a borrowers home and refinances. Investor loans are exempt.
For more information on these changes please click here to be guided to NAR's website.

Rental Registration Deadline Postponed

The city ordinance that requires landlords to pay a $12/unit fee on all rental properties that was originally supposed to begin on July 1st, has been postponed. A lawsuit filed by The Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, amongst others, originally secured a postponement until September 1st of this year. Now it appears the postponement will continue into December. For an FAQ on RAMP's role in the proceedings, as well as additional information on the ordinance, please click here.

HUGE South Side Price Reduction

Stunning Views, Gorgeous Renovation and a Great Price! My listing at 80 Barry Street has now been reduced $25,000 to $175,000! Don't let this fantastic opportunity slip away. This is your chance to enjoy the two tiered deck, gleaming hardwood floors, gas fireplace, stainless appliances, second floor laundry and much, much more! Please contact me today for a personal tour!