Pittsburgh Mortgage and Real Estate Blog

When you finance a conventional mortgage with Jerry Pounds at Chase Home Loan’s office in Pittsburgh. Jerry will keep the numbers simple as he explains the three areas of cost in purchasing a home. Let us talk about the three areas of cost:

1. The down payment.
A potential client could literally put down 0% of the sales price or put down 100% of the sales price (ie paying cash). If you pay cash then you obviously will not need my services, unless you would like me to provide you with a low rate, no closing cost home equity line post closing. At Chase Home Loans we will typically look at down payments as little as 0% down, 3% down, and then we typically go in increments of 5%.

So just to recap you can put down 0%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20% and so on with Jerry Pounds at Chase Home Loans.

2. Closing costs.
I explain closing costs very simply to all of my clients. Any time the lender, closing agency, or municipality where you close takes action on your loan, you are charged for it. Closing cost are these number on a good faith estimate from 800-899, 1100-1199, and 1200-1299. For example at Chase Home Loans our closing costs are as follows.

The fees that will appear in the 800-899 range are: a $395 application fee (which covers the appraisal and credit report - this fee must always be paid in advance before your loan can be processed. Then we have a $300 processing fee - this fee is for the work that my processor, Kenya Bradley does in getting your loan documented and coordinated for closing. Processing is the hardest job in the mortgage industry so remember to always thank your processor for their hard work. Chase also charges a $200 underwriting fee, BUT I always refund this to my clients on their Good Faith Estimates/Cost Sheets. We have a $84 tax service fee. This is a fee for Chase to monitor and maintain your timely payments of your tax and homeowners bills from your escrow account or out of you pocket. Lastly we have a $14 flood certification fee. No matter where you live (on a hill, the top of a skyscraper, etc) - we check to see if your new property is located in a flood zone. Sounds silly for most, but if you are found to be in a flood zone then you must acquire flood insurance. It can be costly so be prepared. Once your loan passes all of these phases we are getting ready for closing.

Now your loan is in the title company’s hands to prepare your docs for closing. The fees that will appear in the 1100-1199 range with a quote from Jerry Pounds are as follows: a notary fee of $35 is charged to notarize your loan documents, Ahh, title insurance, title insurance is paid based on a chart mandated by the state of Pennsylvania. Part of the title insurance is lenders coverage and part is owners coverage. Title insurance is determined by entering your sales price on a purchase or your loan amount on a refinance into http://www.alphaadv.net/patitle/ratecalc.html.

The usefulness of title insurance is to protect you and the lender in the case that the title examiner missed a lien or a the jurisdiction was delayed in getting a valid lien placed before your purchase. If some lien holder would come and lay claim to their rightful lien. You and the lender simply contact your title insurer and they will work to resolve the issue at no cost to you - other than your initial investment made at closing. (Here is a helpful hint: if you purchase a new home ask your agent to get the sellers old title insurance policy so you can receive a discount. If you are refinancing you can get even more discounts depending on how long you have been in your home. Your title policy endorsement is next and it cost typically $150 dollars. (If you buy a condo or opt for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) then additional endorsements may be required at $50 a piece.) A $35 closing service letter is charged by the title company to the lender saying they warrant the quality of their work. If there are any mistakes made before or after closing the title company agrees to remedy these mistakes. My favorite new fee is the $50 E Doc fee. This used to called the courier or fedex fee but times have changed and now we email your documents to the title agent for closing. This fee covers the costs of goods like ink and paper, but also covers the necessary maintenance to keep your information secure.

Now you have closed. Any fees appearing in the 1200-1299 block are considered post closing fees. The only post closing fee you will incur with Jerry Pounds at Chase Home Loans is a recording fee paid to the county where your home is located. Most counties charge per page on how many pages need recorded. A good estimate of this fee is $130. This fee covers the actual recording in the deed books that you now are the owner of this home. On a purchase where you are unrelated to the seller there is the ever present transfer tax. This tax is paid to the state and municipality where the home is located. This total fee usually ranges from 2% to 4% of your purchase price. In most instances this fee is split 50/50 between you and the seller. So you exposure would be 1% to 2% determined by the area of Pittsburgh in which you purchase your new home. This tax is paid to the state and municipality where the home is located.

3. Escrows/Prepaids.
Any fees that show up on your HUD 1 settlement statement or your good faith estimate ranging between 900-999 and 1000-1099 are the ever confusing prepaids. The first fee appearing in the 900 block are Interim Interest. You will notice that almost all closings are scheduled toward the end of any particular month. The reasoning behind this is to save per diem interest. Yes, you must pay a per diem interest from the day of your closing until the first day of the next month. The per diem in calculated with your mortgage term (120-480 months) and your locked in rate. The next fee is homeowners insurance that must be paid for one year from the date of your closing. Homeowners Insurance is vital in case anything happens to your home, like robbery, fire, flood, landslide, etc. So we insure that you are protected from day one.

Now the dreaded 1000-1099 section. This is the reserves section of your closing statement. The first will be two months for homeowners insurance. So whatever quote you have received from your insurance agency we simply divide that by twelve and collect two times that amount. The reasoning behind this is to protect you from a possible increase in your homeowners insurance annual coverage. If your premium increases we will have enough in reserve to cover the cost without needing to request it from you. The final fee that will appear here is for real estate taxes. We escrow taxes for county, school, and municipality based on the total tax bill prorated as to when the tax bill is due. Here is the confusing part! These taxes are all due at different times during the year and if you are purchasing a new home you have to reimburse the seller for what they may have already paid. So when you see this number from Jerry Pounds at Chase Home Loans you will see 12 months always escrowed on a purchase. This is a very conservative and worse case scenario to show you your potential escrows on your new purchase. Finally rounding out your prepaids is actually a credit to you called an aggregate adjustment. I think the Pythagorean theorem was used to make this calculation. The long and short of the aggregate adjustment is that it was determined that lenders were earning interest off of the escrow accounts being held. So it was decided to give you an adjustment that would be comparable to what is earned in interest.

My intention was to describe the three areas of cost: down payment, closing costs, and escrows/prepaids in laymen terms to give you an explanation and try my best not to confuse you on your financing with Jerry Pounds with Chase Home Loans in Pittsburgh’s new Southside works.

Thank You,

Jerry Pounds
www.jerrypounds.com
412.432.7941
jerry.f.pounds@jpmchase.com

This week’s People to Know in Pittsburgh:
Jeff Gordon and Roger Levine - Owners of Who Knew?

Are you looking for cool, funky, retro-mod Antique Furniture in Pittsburgh?

You’ve got to check out Who Knew? in Lawrenceville. It’s right next to this gorgeous loft that I have for sale on Butler Street.

The name, Who New is very fitting. It represents combining the old vintage appeals with modern styles that make for very unique works of art. Looking through the store will definitely make you want to say, “Who Knew?”

Who New was recently featured in The New York Times Travel section, and Lawrenceville is known as one of Pittsburgh highest appreciating neighborhoods.

Who New? specializes in retro mod furnishings and decorations and owners Jeff Gordon and Roger Levine are experts in blending the old with the new to give a vintage, yet modern feel which is really in style right now for home furnishings.

The store is arranged with a colorful assortment of tables, chairs, pieces of art, clocks, plates, cups and even Marilyn Monroe dolls. Jeff and Roger find their products through consignment and auctions where the previous owners took a lot care of their possessions.

Here’s their info:

Who New?
www.who-new.com
5156 Butler St
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
(get directions)
(412) 781-0588

Are you looking for a reputable plumber? Looking to buy antique furniture from a dealer with a vast selection? How bout trying a new restaurant, cafe or lounge?

Money Smart Pittsburgh has got you covered.

We know Pittsburgh inside and out. We’ve met so many people that have proven to us that they’re the best in their fields. Let us refer our colleagues to you so that you can have a great experience.

Check back often for Pittsburgh’s finest as they are added to this section.

Thanks!

The Money Smart Pittsburgh Team,

Danielle, Jerry & Helen

Quote of the day
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”

Product for the week
I have seen a real increase in my personal use of the Freddie Mac 100 program. This program does not have an income limit, allows for 3% seller assist, and there is not an add-on to the rate when you use Chase. This loan is custom fit for a doctor getting started or an engineer buying their first home. Call me at 412.606.6701 to go over the particulars of this great loan product.

Person to know
Rochell Heininger is with RealEstateShows.com. RealEstateShows and Chase have formed an alliance to help get you more business. At a discounted rate of only $35 per year (if you partner with Chase) you can list as many RealEstateShows of your listed homes. I have created several shows with my referral partners and they are quite dynamic. It allows you and your seller to pick a background song that you feel best represents the house. It also gives the seller an opportunity to be an active participant in selling their home. To find out how call Rochell Heininger at rochell@realestateshows.com or by phone at 888.580.7627 X 704. Do not worry she is local! Right in our back yard to help us get more business.

Pittsburgh area Fun Fact - with the recent developments on the Birmingham Bridge - I thought this was interesting.

Today as one stands atop one of the many hilltops above 1,200 feet, it is not difficult to imagine that they were all part of a single, vast plateau, sloping ever so gently down toward the northwest.

Pittsburgh and its suburbs are known for steep hillsides covered with buildings, streets which have steps for sidewalks, and sidewalks which are named streets. From the highest point in Allegheny County, 1,401 feet at River Hill in Forward Township, to the 710 foot normal pool level of the Ohio River at the Point in Pittsburgh, and down to the 682 foot elevation on the banks of the Ohio as it exits the County in the west, the elevation varies by a bit more than 700 feet. Other locations may have greater relief, but they are not as heavily urbanized; other cities may be more densely built, but they will tend to be on gentler terrain.

With topography such as this, it is not surprising that there are so many bridges. One count reports over 2,000 bridges of 8 feet span or greater. Most types of bridges are represented in this area with the exception of cable-stayed, pontoon, or movable deck designs.

Bridge engineers hold their conventions here. The Gateway Clipper Fleet offers guided riverboat tours featuring the bridges. It’s virtually impossible to travel any notable distance without crossing a bridge.

Long ago, Indian trails crossed the area, often following the tops of the ridges to avoid any stream crossings. But with the European conquest and settlement, and nearly simultaneous start of road-building, it was not long before stream fording was replaced by the first simple bridges in the area. In fact, commenting on the British General Braddock’s march to the Point in 1755, Colonel George Washington remarked: “instead of pushing on with vigor…they were halting to level every mole-hill and to erect bridges over every brook, by which means we were four days in getting twelve miles.”

Mount Washington, formerly Coal Hill, rises over 400 feet above the Monongahela River opposite downtown Pittsburgh. This and other ridges and hills were once tunneled into for coal. Now they are tunneled through for transportation.

Have a great week and keep me in the loop if you need anyone prequalified or if you need customized cost sheets for your listings. I can be reached at 412.606.6701.

JERRY POUNDS
CHASE HOME LOANS
412.606.6701

Quote of the Day
“Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it.”

Product for the week
I am very excited to announce that Chase Home Loans Pittsburgh has been chosen to pilot an exciting new loan program. With the Federal Reserve under so much pressure to lower the prime rate, we are launching a first lien purchase money or refinance money. The major difference on this loan is the rate is much more attractive than the old first money lien and there ARE NO CHASE CLOSING COSTS ON PURCHASES AND NO CLOSING COSTS AT ALL ON REFINANCES. Call me at 412.606.6701 to discuss this new inventive way to finance your clients next home.

Person to know
Okay for all of you out in the Monroeville/Murrysville way have all seen Ferri’s market and those of you in the Mount Lebanon area undoubtedly know my person of the week. His name is Tom Ferri. He owns Closets by Tom. Tom is a relative of the Ferri’s market owners and really, truly talented at what he does. You have to see his pamphlet of his work. Astonishing. You all know I use my sister as a barometer for most things and she LOVES HER CLOSET BY TOM! Now I am going to get one as well. So if you or a homeowner you know needs a closet don’t go to California think local and call Tom Ferri @ 724-733-8530.

Pittsburgh Fun Fact

Romantic Places
Hot Spots for Winter Romance Near Pittsburgh
A table for two at an intimate restaurant. A cozy B&B in the middle of the forest. An afternoon spent wandering around a centuries-old cemetery. These are the moments that inspire us to fall in love, not just with the surroundings but with the person who’s beside us. Turn any cold, winter day into a romantic encounter at one of these unusual, special Pittsburgh spots.

Winter Romance in Pittsburgh
A perfect place to bring your special someone for a romantic evening, Phipp’s Conservatory’s lush, fragrant paths are warm and in bloom year-round. Look for candlelight evenings throughout the year, including a special Valentine’s Day tour.

Enjoy a “wild” time at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

A romantic place for strolling and hand-holding, the Zoo features everything from adorable baby elephants and Amur tigers to polar bears and a rare Komodo dragon. During the chilly winter months, warm up in the steamy indoor rainforest or tropical aquarium.

One of the most picturesque places in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Cemetery is also unexpectedly romantic with 300 acres of rolling hills and monuments encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles. A favorite with history buffs, the cemetery houses generations of Pittsburghers back to the French & Indian war. Stop and get a map to the graves of composer Stephen Collins Foster and America’s first glamour girl, Lillian Russell.

Grab a date and head over to the Carnegie Science Center for a romantic evening under the stars in the Center’s observatory and planetarium. For a special treat, learn how to interpret the Pittsburgh skies with “Stars Over Pittsburgh” or try one of the many evening laser shows.

Enjoy afternoon “high tea” or romantic evening cocktails in the Palm Court lobby lounge at the magnificent William Penn Hotel and follow it up with a symphony concert, play, or Broadway show at nearby Heinz Hall, the Byham Theater, or the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh’s nearby Cultural District.

If you love experiencing the crisp, cool air of winter, Cook National Forest in northeast Pennsylvania features one of the original stands of trees on the continent. It’s beautiful and serene, with an abundance of winter activities including hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Nearby are several B&Bs that cater to twosomes, including the popular Cook Homestead Bed and Breakfast.

Jerry Pounds
Sales Manager
Chase Home Loans
412.432.7941

Quote of the day
“When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace.” J. Lubbock

Product for the week
Back by popular demand…I have desk calendars for 2008. Please email me your address that you would like me to mail a calendar and I will get it out to you. These are the large desk calendars that if you are like me are a good place to right phone messages, to do lists, doodle, and email addresses.

Person to know
With the advent of the internet, videos are becoming more prevalent. Give my friend John Radzwilla with On Motion Media a call at 412.434.7777 or email him at jradzwilla@onmotionmedia.com with any questions. John is a sales & marketing associate with the firm and looks forward to meeting you!

Pittsburgh Fun Fact

Pittsburgh Family Fun
Parent’s Guide to Pittsburgh with Kids
Pittsburgh, named America’s fifth Best Place to Raise A Family (Reader’s Digest), is fun, affordable and packed with family entertainment. The region is blessed with a host of attractions that educate and entertain including museums, amusement parks and a world-class zoo and aquarium. You won’t believe what “Kidsburgh” has to offer until you see your children talking to robots, playing in a sea of clouds, building and launching airplanes, climbing mountains, splashing down with dolphins, and digging for dinosaurs…

Explore the mysteries of science at the Carnegie Science Center where you can investigate over 250 exhibits related to science and technology, including a WWII submarine and a four-story, domed OMNIMAX theater that features a variety of films and laser shows. Visit distant galaxies in the world’s most technologically sophisticated planetarium and tour the Miniature Railroad & Village at this playground for the mind.

Three floors of hands-on exhibits make exploration fun at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, located in an elegant, old Victorian Post Office. Kids can explore the Museum’s climbing mazes, build and launch flying machines, use pulleys to raise themselves up in human-powered elevators and get creative with silk-screening, painting and computer graphic design.

Marvel at hummingbirds the size of a thumb or Andean Condors with giant 10-foot wingspans at the National Aviary, a veritable indoor jungle of the world’s most incredible birds, including many endangered species. Located on Pittsburgh’s North Side, the National Aviary is one of the only free-standing aviaries in the world.

Experience one of America’s finest children’s zoos when you plan a day at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, the zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals in natural settings. From meerkats to monkeys, tigers to tarantulas, gorillas to giraffes, the Pittsburgh Zoo has it all, including two baby elephants! The Zoo’s Kids Kingdom and Discovery Pavilion have earned the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium the ranking as one of the top three children’s zoos in the United States by Allen W. Nyhus, zoo critic and author of “The Zoo Book, A Guide to America’s Best.” The Pittsburgh Zoo’s $16 million Aquarium opened to the public in June 2000 and has the nation’s largest coral propagation facility, along with penguins, sharks, octopuses and thousands of other colorful and exotic water animals from around the world.

Stroll Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens to see one of the most intricate Beaux Arts buildings in the city. Phipps has towering tropical plants that were the original seedlings at the 1890 Exposition, miniature orchids, indoor and outdoor gardens and a fabulous bonsai collection. Children will revel in the Discovery Garden where they are invited to exercise their green thumb and explore the world of plants and flowers, worms and all. Seasonal exhibits include spring and winter flower shows and a Butterfly Garden.

Experience Pittsburgh’s history at The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. One of only a handful of such museums in America, the History Center tells the experiences of the waves of immigrants who were swept into Pittsburgh on the tide of history. The core exhibit of the museum transports visitors through time from the 1750s to the present. A robot offers a guided tour of the first floor.

In the summer months, visit Kennywood Park, the 102-year-old “roller coaster capital of the world” (New York Times). Get wet on the Pittsburgh Plunge (our daughter’s favorite part of the park), sample the best curly fries and funnel cakes around, ride The Jack Rabbit and the Thunderbolt, both classic wooden coasters, or test your courage on the Exterminator, an indoor rollercoaster. A national historic landmark full of history, beauty and fun, Kennywood is a Pittsburgh family tradition.

Shiver in the shadow of the giant T-rex at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, home to one of the finest dinosaur collections in the world. See Egyptian artifacts, visit the Hall of Minerals and Gems and hear the beat of distant drums in the Hall of American Indians. One of the largest, most contemporary exhibits on American Indians in the United States, the Hall engages visitors with an array of historical and contemporary artifacts brought to life through dioramas, storytelling, videos and interactive computer activities.

Experience one of the greatest slide shows on earth at Sandcastle Waterpark. Take the plunge on 15 of the wildest, wettest, wackiest waterslides imaginable or enjoy a slow ride on the “lazy river.” Those less adventurous can shop on the boardwalk or take a dip in the Moonlight Bay pool or the Tad Pool, complete with mini slides created just for little tykes.

Younger children will be thrilled with a day of “make believe” at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, east of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1878, Idlewild is believed to be the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. With 410 acres, 15 major rides, picturesque picnic facilities, Storybook Forest and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make-Believe, the park continues to set the national standard for family amusement.

A visit to Pittsburgh is not complete without a ride on the Monongahela or Duquesne Incline. Before the appearance of electric streetcars and automobiles, these funiculars were the most convenient way for Pittsburghers to climb the towering hills that are so much a part of the city’s topography. Today, the cars transport visitors and residents to the top of Mt. Washington for a spectacular view of the city. Station Square, at the base of the Monongahela Incline is a great place to take the kids to lunch. The historic Duquesne Incline is more authentic, however, and children get a big kick out of the pictures of Pittsburgh in its steel hey-day located in the mini-museum at the top.

See the sights from the water on board the Gateway Clipper’s Good Ship Lollipop riverboat, or combine land and sea with a Just Ducky! Tour. This WWII amphibious vehicle is equally at home driving the streets of Pittsburgh or navigating the city’s three rivers.

Remember I do purchase money transactions. refinances, new construction loans, condo financing, and home equity loans and lines.

Call me at 412.606.6701 if I can be of help.
Jerry Pounds.
Sales Manager.
CHASE

Quote of the Day
“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo - I really like this one for many reasons…keep reading.

Product for the week
Let us talk about one of my favorite lending topics - Condominium Lending!! Chase is a market leader in lending in condos of all kinds. We are at the forefront in lending on non-warrantable condos, condo new construction, condo conversions, condotels, kiddie condos….I think you get the point. I am an expert an condo lending and would welcome any inquiries you and your clients may have about our unique products.

Person to know
Okay, I think this is cool. Please call Alana Foster Kreiss at 412.608.2836. Alana is the Associate Director for OVECS (Overseas Educational Consulting & Services). For all of you who are city dwellers or who have clients that are within a 45 minute bus ride to the city, Alana places students from overseas in homes while they are studying at our fine universities. It is a short term commitment for an individual student. You will get to be the ambassador for this student on the American & Pittsburgh way of life and all the while you get compensated for it. There are more details on the program and Alana is certainly the expert so if you or someone you know has any interest give her a call.

Pittsburgh Fun Fact
I want to start a grass roots effort right here in Pittsburgh! Please consider this!! As many of you know I am at my one year cancer free mark!! YAHOO!!! I know cancer has effected many of you and your loved ones. I also have a great affection for our elderly community as I was raised in my family’s business of owning elderly care facilities. So here is my Fun Fact! I want to start a group. Not just any group, but a dedicated group of caring people who can spare 1 hour a month. That is all I need. I know you are busy, but helping others is good for the soul. So my campaign (if I can call it that during this election year!) is to start the group called “GOOD COMPANY” or “PEOPLE SITTERS.” I am working on the name. Here is what we can do, if you email me an hour you can make available once a month, I will arrange with Hillman Cancer center and a local nursing home in Squirrell Hill a specific person that we can keep company once a month. It is only an hour to you and I, but it really could make the difference in someone’s life. Trust me I have seen many elderly patients whose family never visits and I know first hand that getting chemotherapy by yourself is no fun! Okay there is my pitch - email me back with your availability for one hour and I will have a calendar coordinated by next month. Pass this on to everyone you know and let’s see what our community can do!

All the best to you this week and we will talk soon.

Jerry Pounds
Sales Manager
412.606.6701 - cell
412.432.7941 - office

Quote of the day
“Failures are divided into two classes-those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought.” John Charles Salak

Product for the Week
Well this is a product that I am proud to say we excel with Chase. It is our amazing customer service. I have to say from a customer service perspective we get an A+ for our mortgage division. I have never worked at a mortgage company that keeps the loans we approve and do not sell our servicing. So your clients always have me to contact with any mortgage inquiries.

Person to know
Well if you are in the giving spirit or have leftovers from one the many events that we all attend. Call Aria @ the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food bank is always looking for food donations and what a great way to clean up after a great event. They even come and pick up your food. 412.460.3663 is their local contact number.

Pittsburgh Fun Fact
Allegheny Flying Club
Allegheny Airport
12 Allegheny County Airport, Suite 9
West Mifflin, PA 15122
412-466-1008
www.freepittsburghflight.com
Be a pilot for the day. Spectators, bring your camera. Discovery flight. Scenery flights over the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. Also try our FAA approved flight simulator. No age restrictions.

Talk to you soon,

Jerry Pounds.
412.606.6701.
Chase Home Loans

Quote of the Day
(I really like this one considering the “state” of real estate.)
“Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.” Horace

Product for the week
Have you heard about the First Front Door Program? If not let me get you familiarized with it. Chase is an approved bank that is able to offer this awesome program. Under certain restrictions, your first time homebuyers can qualify for a grant of up to $5000 towards down payment or closing costs. With seller assist being limited once again these grants will become more and more prevalent in our industry. PLEASE do your customers and yourself a favor and sign up @ www.chasepreferredagent.com. Listen this program is for you. You are not exclusively agreeing to use Chase (that comes after we prove how good we are!), but you will receive these benefits for not only your buyers but also your SELLERS! Just check it out! My other referral partners love it and it only takes 3 minutes to sign up. Make sure you choose Jerry Pounds as your loan officer!

Person to Know
You know it is really nice to recommend someone you know professionally and personally in this business. Steve Swenson is many things: a good guy, a Blackridge resident, father of twins (Jack & Stella), a friend, and my personal insurance agent. Steve has a franchised office of Nationwide Insurance right in the heart of Shadyside. He can be reached at 412.362.8340. Stop by and pick up some of his cards @ 234 Shady Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 - he LOVES walk-ins or just plain old visitors. I shopped my insurance around and he beat all the competition.

Pittsburgh Fun Fact - ALL THINGS IN THE A’s in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Firsts: By Event

—————————————————————–

Accident, Automobile — 17 April 1901
Ralph Gibson, 11 years old, was killed almost instantly on Grant Boulevard by an automobile driven by W. S. Arbuthnot.
Source: Pittsburgh Post 17 April 1901.
Acupuncture — 1973
Dr. Richard Depp and Dr. Ezzat Aboul-Eish performed one of the first acupuncture-assisted childbirths on 9 October 1973 on an East Liberty mother at Magee-Women’s Hospital.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 11 October 1973, 13.

Airmail — 21 April 1927
Airmail service on the Pittsburgh-Youngstown-Cleveland route was begun.

Airport — 1919
Mayer Field–Pittsburgh’s first airport–established in Bridgeville by Casper P. Mayer, realtor and aviation pioneer.

Art Exhibition — 5 November 1896
The first International Art Exhibition held at Carnegie Institute with 312 paintings on display.
Source: Carnegie Magazine May 1952

Automobile — 1898
Arthur L. Banker owned the first auto in Pittsburgh, a De-Dion, imported from France.

Automobile (Model T Ford) — February 1910
First Model T Ford bought by Dr. John Lehner, South Side, for $983.
Source: Brentwood Historical Society publication; April 1996.

Automobile Show — 1914
First auto show was held in Motor Square Garden.
Source: Brentwood Historical Society publication; April 1996.

Who says time really changes everything. We are still a leader in medicine, we are a very cultural city, we have a world-class airport, and we love our CARS!!

Thanks,
Jerry Pounds
412.432.7941

Quote of the Day
Good intentions are no substitute for action; failure usually follows the path of least persistence.”

Product for the Week
Chase has redefined what we will also consider a second home. If you have a parent wanting to buy a “kiddie condo” or you have a child that wants to buy a home for their parents - Chase will now consider these transactions as a second home. You do not have to be in a different state to qualify and you can also have a vacation home. Call me at 412.606.6701 for details.

Person to know
I was at a charity function and met a lovely lady named Rosemary Zottola. I would not be surprised if you all know this generous lady, but if not let me introduce you. Rosemary has Lucy Shoes located at 510 Allegheny River Blvd Oakmont, PA 15139. Rosemary would love for you to stop in or call her at 412.820.2410.

Pittsburgh Fun Fact - Okay if you have not purchased your tree yet it is not too late….

Top 8 Places to Get a Tree in Pittsburgh & Southwestern PA
It’s not hard to find a Christmas tree around Pittsburgh - scouts, civic and booster organizations, garden centers and home improvement centers all carry a large variety. Some of the best and freshest trees, however, come from the local Christmas tree farms. It’s hard to find a fresher tree than one you cut down yourself, and the price is usually a bit cheaper than at the nursery too.

1. Allison’s Christmas Tree Farm
This popular Beaver County Christmas tree farm lets you choose and cut your own tree from a wide number of varieties, including fraser fir, douglas fir, concolor fir, scotch pine, white pine and blue spruce. You can also choose a tree and have them cut it for you, select a pre-cut tree, or pick out a bagged and balled tree.

2. Grupp’s Christmas Trees
This family run farm in Harmony, Butler County, lets you choose and cut your own Christmas tree, including Canaan Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, Scotch Pine and White Pine. Fraser Fir is available as pre-cut only. Saws available.

3. Simmons Farm
A favorite with Pittsburgh South Hills residents, Simmons Farms offers pre-cut and U-cut Christmas trees at its McMurray and Sheffield locations. Varieties include scotch and white pine, blue spruce, douglas fir and frasier fir.

4. Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm
While they don’t offer cut your own, the pre-cut Christmas trees here are all shipped fresh from nearby Indiana County. Varieties include Douglas Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, White Pine and Fraser Fir. Located off the Mt. Nebo exit on I79N.

5. Pitt Rental Center
Choose from a large selection of pre-cut Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, White Pine and Colorado Blue Spruce at this popular North Huntingdon holiday tree stand. Free delivery within a 15 mile radius.

6. Lake Forest Gardens
Enjoy wagon rides and Christmas tree cutting at this 500-acre Butler County nursery. They have spruce, douglas fir and canaan fir to cut in the field or you can choose a pre-cut tree from a large selection of spruce, douglas fir, fraser fir, canaan fir or white pine. They also have balled and burlapped trees, and wreaths, garland, door swags and other holiday greenery.

7. Hozak Farms
Located near Clinton in Beaver County, Hozak Farms has a large selection of choose your own Christmas trees including Colorado Blue Spruce, Scotch Pine, Fraser Fir, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Canaan Fir and Concolor Fir. They’ll also provide the saw if you want to cut it yourself.

8. Carino Nurseries
If you don’t mind driving a bit further, then head to Carino Nurseries in Indiana County, the Christmas tree capital of the world. Select from Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, White Pine, Scotch Pine, Balsam Fir and Norway Spruce. You choose or cut your own.

To those of you that have mailed me your presents - thank you - I love them! For those of you who need my address just let me know and I will forward it to you!

All the best,

Jerry Pounds
Chase Home Loans
412.606.6701