Real Estate Monday: Central North Shore- 2 for 1

Are you finding that investors are getting more creative with their flips? I am, and it makes me happy. I'm actually contemplating working with one, and if so, you can be sure I'll lobby for some unique features. Here are two homes- one of which isn't necessarily a flip- but both fairly creative, fitting in perfectly with the eclectic area that surrounds them.
915 Peralta St. Pittsburgh, Pa 15212 for $245,000.
It's got three bedrooms and two and a half baths. I love all the exposed brick, the open kitchen floor plan, and the different wood tones throughout the house. Take a look:

Now for a super- kitschy house in the same area...
607 Middle Street listed at $250,000- 2bed/1bath
It's more of an artsy, loft-style house, with an open master bedroom occupying the second floor. The third floor has this barn-like ladder to access it, and these neat pull out bins. It'd be awesome for a young teen, I'm sure. All the details in the house have been well thought out. It definitely caters towards my need to be more minimalist.

 Which one would you pick?

* I am not the listing agent for any of the homes I share on Real Estate Mondays, unless otherwise stated. I do not receive any compensation for these posts. If you'd like more information on any of the homes, please contact me via email or cell and I'd be happy to schedule a showing for you. 

Real Estate Monday: Squirrel Hill

Happy Real Estate Monday. Most of the time I try to stay within a "reasonable" budget, but reasonable is relative, really. Today I'm highlighting a dream home for me. I LOVE the style of this Spanish-looking home, and while, yes, it needs some love, the end result could be A-mazing. So someone please buy this, and let me help you renovate it, ok? Good.
Here's 135 Westland Dr. Squirrel Hill, Pa 15217  a 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom villa listed for $640,000.

I believe this is overlooking the back and side of the house. 

The foyer. Look at that awesome stairwell and Spanish tile. I'd rip off the orange carpet on the stairs and either refinish the wood (if in good shape) or paint the stairs a shocking black and white. 

The living room. 

Hang on, let me wipe the drool from my lip. Just kidding. But seriously, wide-plank wooden floors, 20 ft beamed-arched ceilings, a fireplace, and French doors that open onto this luxurious patio. 

Look at that cute Juliet balcony. 

Here's where the renovating starts happening. I'd do something like this with the kitchen (inspiration photos from Domaine Home). 

 I'd be sure to incorporate lots of Spanish tile in the backsplash, and chevron laid wood floors are always fun.

Isn't this the coolest doorway/window you've ever seen? 

How about a hand-carved bar off your entry way? 

Now I kind of like this bathroom, but I'd totally seek to update it a little. Maybe replace the wall paper with something like in this photo. 

There's lots more pics on the zillow website I listed. As always, if you're in the market for a new house, give me a call, I'd be happy to help you look. Have a wonderful Monday. 

Real Estate Monday: Thornburg

Today's Real Estate Monday is thanks to a friend who shot me over a picture of this house. It's pretty amazing, and has so much more potential. It reminds me of this bungalow in Seattle I posted about a while ago (seriously worth clicking on if you never saw it). This time the show stops in Thornburg, Pittsburgh. For a whopping $287,000 you call this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom estate your very own home.
560 Hamilton Rd. Pittsburgh, Pa 15205

 I love the curb appeal, and the beautiful California front porch. 

 The kitchen, while bland, is at least updated. I'd love to see some life breathed into it with some creamy gray cabinets, and a huge island painted black, with some fun stools around it. 

 The description says there's one large room upstairs with an ensuite bath. I'd say this would be more than adequate for a breathtaking master suite. Just add some new lighting, some warm paint, and furniture, and voila. 

 This courtyard reminds me of something you'd find in St. Augustine, FL. 

What'd you think? Did you click on the Seattle link? I think it would be a pretty awesome house. 

* I am not the listing agent for any of the homes I share on Real Estate Monday, unless otherwise stated. I do not receive any compensation for these posts. If you'd like more information on any of the homes, please contact me via email or cell and I can always schedule a showing for you :)

Real Estate Monday: Forest Hills

How'd you like to be my neighbor? Well, not directly next door, but down the street a little is this [now] adorable house that's been completely renovated. Edgewood Acres is such a cute neighborhood, where almost every house is unique and kept up to a T. My mom and I use to walk by this house, however, and complain about how ugly it was and how it just didn't fit. Now it doesn't even look like the same house! Inside it was completely gutted and redone, along with new landscaping outside, a freshly paved driveway, and a new garage. So in the true spirit of Redesignation, here's 310 Castlegate Rd. Pittsburgh, Pa 15221. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 full/ 2 half bath house listed at $209,900.

The deck is connected to a walk-out basement and has a built-in fire pit perfect for entertaining.

I told Jim, the renovator/homeowner, I was proud of him for not doing the "typical" flipped house kitchen with the dark cabinets/ cheap granite. This looks light and fresh, and I like the extra molding on the cabinets. There's room for stools at the island, and probably a 6 foot dining table for an eat- in kitchen (not pictured here). There's also a half bath off the kitchen on the way down to the basement. 

The living room, which would greatly benefit by being staged, is actually much bigger than it looks in this pic. 

Master en-suite bathroom. 

Master bedroom. 

The ultimate man-cave/finished basement. There's two rooms like this equal in size, then a cold storage room, plus plenty of closets and a half bath. 

***UPDATE***

Unless I go into labor before hand :), I volunteered to do an open house for THIS Sunday October 5th, from 1-3. Stop by and say hi, and introduce yourself.  

Real Estate Monday: Coraopolis

I read an recent statistic somewhere about inventory being low, housing prices higher, and, therefore, homes that are priced right get snapped up instantly and often with multiple offers. The take home? I guess if you're on the fence about whether to list your home right now, this is a good reason to do so.
Anyways, onto my Real Estate Monday pick. This is a friend's house, and I'm happy to showcase it because I find it adorable. It's a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house with great curb appeal (something I'll be talking more about this week), listed for $155,000.

1222 Vance Ave, Coraopolis, PA 15108

 See what I mean about curb appeal? Nice, manicured lawn, beautiful stone-front exterior, lovely color scheme. That looks like a move-in ready house without even knowing what's on the inside.

 The kitchen looks like you have ample space to move around and entertain at the same time.

 Here's a perfectly staged dining room... not hard to imagine your own family eating here. 

 Super roomy master with a pop of color. Looks bright and sunny, who wouldn't want to wake up in here? 

 These next two rooms are just so sweet. I love that they're clearly kid's rooms here, but completely neutral if you took the decor out, thus a truly move-in ready house even if you didn't have little ones.

 I'm such a sucker for stripes. 

And to wrap it up, a picture-perfect back yard. 

Just another little plug [I hope you don't mind that I'm doing this], the owner of this house is also a superb cake maker (is that even the word for it?)- she baked the most fabulous cupcakes for the opening of our store years ago. Maybe she'll bake you a welcome home cake if you buy her house? 

You can check out here facebook page here, or just salivate over a couple pictures I stole off her page.