We asked some Heartland homeowners about the building process and their overall experience with us. The response was great so we asked one more favor: share it on camera for everyone to hear. We would like to thank all of the families that invited us into their home for your benefit. Whether you are considering a new home or have built with us in the past, please watch the videos and use the contact link below to tell us what you think of these four home builder reviews.

Waters Family

“We look forward to building again with Heartland in a couple years, maybe one or two years, to help fit our needs as a growing family.”

Cloherty Family

“The building process with Heartland was wonderful.”

Stiscak Family

“The folks we worked with, both our project manager and sales representative, were outstanding. I absolutely would recommend Heartland to anybody that is looking to be a part of the build process.” 

Hancher Family

We were looking for existing homes to buy and we stopped into a model home to look around and we fell in love with the floor plan. They showed us some various options and we found after we went through the process of looking at Heartland that we could get the best value for our home dollar.

If you have also built a home with Heartland and would like to share your experience, please contact Sara. We’d love to hear from you!

In the graphic below are the quick delivery homes that are currently available for sale in the Quaker Valley School District.  Both are luxury townhomes in the heart of Downtown Sewickley.  The Residence II has three bedrooms, a two-car garage and over 2,200 square-feet of living space.  The Residence V has four bedrooms, a two-car garage and over 2,500 square-feet of living space.

The Village at Sweetwater is a new construction community that features luxurious spacious, elegant townhomes for sale in Sewickley, a historic and well-regarded area convenient to Downtown Pittsburgh.

These two quick delivery homes are the final opportunities in the community.

All homes in this quant community feature elegant brick exteriors, 9’ ceilings throughout the 1^st floor, finished basements & front stoop pavers.

Click on the following individual links for more detailed descriptions, with additional images, of each home!

Residence II at The Village at Sweetwater – Sewickley – $445,337
Residence V at The Village at Sweetwater – Sewickley – $559,000

For more information on these townhomes or to schedule a personal tour, please contact Sara, our New Home Specialist at 724-871-1718 or via email at SAWilliams@HeartlandCustomHomes.com

In the graphic below are the quick delivery homes and model home that we currently have available for sale in the South Fayette School District.  The Park IV model is a single-family home and the two quick deliveries are luxury townhomes.

The Newbury community is in close proximity to attractions throughout the greater Pittsburgh region. For instance, South Fayette is conveniently located close to Bridgeville and Oakdale, Pennsylvania. This doubles the amount of restaurants, stores and shopping for residents looking to spend time within in different areas, but who don’t want to stray too far from home. With the variety of destinations in Bridgeville, like the Pittsburgh Bottle Shop Café or the Steel City Pizza & Pasta Café, you can’t go wrong when it comes to getting good food close to home.

The South Fayette School District is one of the most valuable assets that Newbury has to offer. The school district partners with the South Fayette community to help cultivate, academic, artistic and athletic excellence throughout the county.

Click on the following individual links for more detailed descriptions, with additional images, of each home!

Townhome I at Newbury – South Fayette Township – $237,990
Townhome I at Newbury – South Fayette Township – $248,010
Park IV at Newbury – South Fayette Township – $567,000

In the graphic below are the model homes that we currently have available for sale in the Mars Area School District.  Three single-family homes are currently available in two communities.

Click on the following individual links for more detailed descriptions, with additional images, of each home!

• Savannah Model at Amherst Village – Adams Township – $439,000
• Monterey Model (Craftsman-Style) at Amherst Village – Adams Township – $599,900
• Monterey Model at Amherst Village – Adams Township – $639,000

Click here for details on ALL available Model Homes
Click here for details on ALL available Quick Delivery Homes

Quick Delivery Homes are new homes in Heartland Homes communities that are already under construction for faster delivery.

In the graphic below are the quick delivery homes that we currently have available in the Canon McMillan School District.  Three single-family and six luxury townhomes are currently available across three communities.

Click on the following individual links for more detailed descriptions, with additional images, of each home!

• Augusta Model at Oakbrooke Estates – Cecil Twp – $315,000
• Windsor Quick Delivery at Oakbrooke Estates – Cecil Twp – $326,000
• New Haven Model at Summerbrooke – North Strabane Twp – $533,000
• Franklin Quick Delivery at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $189,012
• Franklin Quick Delivery at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $192,300
• Franklin Quick Delivery at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $192,757
• Franklin Quick Delivery at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $192,757
• Washington Quick Delivery at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $203,371
• Washington Model at Weavertown – North Strabane Twp – $225,000

Click here for details on ALL available Model Homes
Click here for details on ALL available Quick Delivery Homes

Staging a home can feel awkward. Why make improvements on your way out? We all know it’s about the return on your investment. Smart rearrangements and simple remodeling can increase home value by thousands, almost overnight. Do we have your attention? Great! Here are 10 inexpensive tips for increasing offer prices.

1. Curb Appeal.  Nothing speaks better of a home before entering its interior than the surrounding yard.  If it’s in the budget, try adding a few small bushes to bring the entryway to life. Alternatively, closely-spaced potted plants may do the trick, and in Pittsburgh’s colder months, planters filled with pine branches or holly can make an empty house feel like home.
2. Make an Entrance. To foster a safe and secure feeling for potential homebuyers, it is important to create a welcoming entrance to the home. One way to do that is by updating hardware like front door handles and locks. Luckily, “rustic” can also be affordable.
3. Un-decorate. No one needs to strip a home down to its bare bones, that’s for sure. However, try to neutralize the space by removing some highly personalized items and style preferences. This puts the focus back on the house and its own appearance, instead of on the current occupant. What’s nice about this is that toning down the rooms in a house helps potential buyers to envision their own decorations, belongings and family inside of the space.
4. Re-purpose.  A major trend today is the desire to have a master bedroom on the first floor, or at least a spare bedroom. An unused den or office may easily be converted into a bedroom for future occupants so try decorating it accordingly. Additionally, a spacious patio in the back may serve as added seating space or an alternate dining room for warm weather days, so highlighting this with a simple table and seating will add function to the space.
5. Mind the Carpets. Replacing carpeting in a home would cost thousands of dollars, be it for one room or the whole house. A money-saving option, then, is to have the carpets professionally cleaned. This is especially important for pet owners, whose furry friends may have misbehaved a time or two.
6. Increase Storage. Everyone wants somewhere to keep their vast collection of whatevers, from clothes to shoes to plain old junk. That makes closet space a hot commodity. However, many homes lack closets in bedrooms, especially old homes, so creativity is in order. Luckily, inexpensive wardrobes and shelving units are usually available and may be added to bedrooms to fit buyer needs.
7. Update and Match. The kitchen is the hub of entertainment in most homes. Our modern families gather and talk, share meals and have a drink with friends there. Therefore, the appearance of the kitchen is often a priority. One way to spruce up the kitchen is to either update or match major appliances. Swap out the old faucet for a shiny new one, for instance. Also, consider matching the colors of appliances, like all black rather than a mix of white, black and stainless.  Did you know: some dishwasher faces can be removed and turned around, revealing the black front for the unit which has white on the other side? Might be worth a try.
8. Change the Cabinetry. By “change” we mean “reinvent.”  Kitchen cabinets are pricey, so to avoid breaking the bank, consider replacing just the doors (rather than the whole unit) or adding a coat of paint to change the look. Alternatively, hiring someone to do this is still affordable.
9. Light the Way. Believe it or not, there are trends in lighting design. Brass fixtures, for instance, are now outdated and should be swapped out. Bronze or nickel lighting fixtures are common today. Style-wise, pendant lights are the thing to have, especially in the kitchen. These hanging units create a clean, neat look.
10. Floor Them with Flooring.  Aside from kitchen and bedroom spaces, bathrooms come in high on the list. A few things to avoid, though, are grungy or ancient-looking flooring. It shouldn’t look like Grammy has been living there with all of her cats, so anything that’s dirty or looks super old should be removed or covered. An inexpensive option for this is either vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl. Additionally, consider cleaning up the tub or shower tiles by re-grouting the unit.

It is important to impress when selling a home. Many houses need a little love before selling, but this doesn’t have to be a pricey endeavor. These tips make changes that buyers like, without going overboard or skimping on the details. The balance between these extremes will help you and your buyers in the long run!

Hampton Township is known for its tremendous schools, fantastic community center and its abundance of green space.

The township was named one of the top 10 best towns for families by Family Circle.  Hampton was voted in the top 10 because of its affordable homes, green spaces, blue-ribbon schools, and giving spirit within the community.

The Hampton Community Center offers residents an indoor track, full size gym and much more.  The township has many baseball and soccer fields, trails and playgrounds as well.

Heartland Homes is pleased to announce that Raintree Manor, a new townhome community will be constructed in Hampton.

The custom townhomes will be built with a brand new floor plan, the Georgetowne, exclusively being offered at Raintree Manor.  The community will also feature tree-lined streets and is located off East Bardonner Road.

Those wishing to receive more information, including the home site release date, detailed floor plans, site map layout and pricing are urged to attend the preview party set for Thursday, February 14^th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the model home at Parkview Estates in Gibsonia.

What:             Raintree Manor Preview Party
When:            Thursday, February 14^th at 5:30pm
Where:           Parkview Estates Model Home
                        260 Estates Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044

For more information, call 724-871-1710 or email JASchauer@HeartlandCustomHomes.com

Click here for turn-by-turn directions to the Parkview Estates Model Home.

With 2013 well underway, there has been a lot of buzz in regards to the recent release of Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg Rankings’ “Best Places to Raise a Family” in each state.  According to Bloomberg Businessweek, over 3,200 places nationwide with populations from 5,000 to 50,000 were evaluated during the process – as well as housing costs, public school performance, commute time, safety, share of households with children, poverty, diversity and adults’ educational attainment.  They also weighed median income and unemployment to assess the local job market.

Coming in first place for Pennsylvania’s best place to raise a family was none other than Cranberry Township!  This achievement seems to be more proof that Butler County is becoming a host to the best small towns in America.  For those that don’t know why Cranberry is so appealing and cream of the crop in our state:  Thanks to their outstanding school system, low housing costs, presence of Westinghouse Electric’s headquarters, Alcoa and Verizon and the region’s unemployment rate to name a few.  Cranberry Township offers convenient commuter access to I-76, I-79 and Route 19.  In addition to Cranberry Highlands Golf Course and Cranberry Township Community Waterpark, Cranberry Commons is a popular destination holding a plethora of high-end shopping, fine­­­ dining and entertainment attractions.

Throughout the last few years of deflating home prices and the great news of home values rising in 2013 across the country – countless young, working parents are turning to more family-friendly locations for raising their children to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.  We are honored to be a custom home builder in this recognized place many are now calling home.  Our premier communities in Cranberry Township include:

­­­­* Nearby communities to Cranberry Township comprise of Amherst Village (Adams Township), Myoma Woods (Adams Township) and Venango Trails (Marshall Township).

Sources:

“The Best Places to Raise Kids 2013” in Bloomberg Businessweek  http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-12-17/the-best-places-to-raise-kids-2013

“Bloomberg Names Cranberry One of Best Places to Raise a Family” in Cranberry Patch  http://cranberry.patch.com/articles/bloomberg-names-cranberry-one-of-best-places-to-raise-a-family

Pittsburgh Homes at a Glance | Pittsburgh Real Estate

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Have you heard? The Pittsburgh housing market is changing, for the better!

In the past year alone, many areas have seen over a six percent increase in home value. That’s because demand is going up! And, over the last ten years, the Greater Pittsburgh region has seen a boom in population; just look at Butler and Washington counties!

The Pittsburgh region ranks as the eighth most affordable city out of the twenty-five biggest metropolises in the nation. There’s affordable housing all over western Pennsylvania, so it’s no wonder that people are eager to move in and move up, especially with convenient travel times to work from wherever you live, saving you time and money.

And that’s not all; Pittsburgh is the thirtieth most livable city in the world and second in the US.

According to Forbes magazine, Pittsburgh is the sixth most recession-proof city in the nation and one of ten cities ripe for real estate to rebound, not to mention it’s one of the best places to raise your kids. At Heartland Homes, we’re ahead of the curve, having sold more than 458 homes in 2012.

This has been Pittsburgh Homes at a glance, brought to you by Heartland Homes.

Heartland Homes. Dream it. Build it. Love it!

To examine the findings further and what they mean for home buyers and sellers in the area, click here for a static infographic and more details.

The perfect combination of low maintenance living, yet being close to great dining and entertainment options are just a couple of the benefits of Weavertown Village.  Residents of the community also enjoy the low Washington County taxes and the ease of being near rt. 19 and I-79 in North Strabane Township.

Being near rt. 19 gives residents easy access to great restaurants like Jackson’s and Atria’s.  Tanger Outlet Shops, Donaldson’s Crossroads and Waterdam Plaza are all a short drive away for shopping and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino is a ten minute ride for exciting entertainment.

It might be hard to imagine swimming with the weather like it is today, but Weavertown offers its residents a community pool and clubhouse.  It’s a great opportunity to relax without all the hassle of public pools.  The lush wooded backyards give homeowners even more of a reason to love Weavertown.

The townhomes at Weavertown have been selling quickly and a newly decorated model home is set to open to the public on Saturday, February 9^th and Sunday, February 10^th.  Anyone interested in visiting and touring the Washington townhome model is asked to come between noon and 5pm on those days.

The brick front model home features three bedrooms, hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room and hall and a two-car garage.

What: Washington Townhome Model Grand Opening
When: Saturday, February 9th and Sunday, February 10th from noon – 5pm
Where: Weavertown Village – 1067 Bayberry Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317

For more information on Weavertown Village or the Grand Opening of the Washington model, please call 724-871-1732 or email JASchauer@HeartlandCustomHomes.com

Click here for turn-by-turn directions to the new model.