Mary Pat Petrarca - Realtor

A stylish front door can boost curb appeal and add value.

Mary Pat Petrarca, Realtor®, ABR,SRES
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
The Preferred Realty
9401 McKnight Road
PGH, PA 15237
Office: 412.500.9574
Cell: 412.596.9539
www.MARYPATP.com

Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸

Today we celebrate the freedoms, opportunities, and communities that make our country so special. As friends and families gather to enjoy fireworks, barbecues, and time together, we are reminded that home is where many of our favorite memories are made.

"America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." – Harry S. Truman

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, joyful, and memorable Independence Day. May your day be filled with pride, gratitude, and celebration.

Happy 4th of July! ❤️🤍💙

Real talk — homeownership has surprises nobody puts in the brochure.

I'll go first: the first time something breaks after closing, it's all yours. No landlord. No maintenance line. Just you, a YouTube video, and a Home Depot run.

Now your turn 👇

What's the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought your first home?

Drop it in the comments. This thread might be the most useful thing a first-time buyer reads all week.

Most buyers budget carefully for their down payment — then get surprised at the closing table.

Closing costs typically run 2–5% of the purchase price. On a $400,000 home, that's $8,000–$20,000 due at closing, on top of your down payment.

Here's what's usually included:

💰 Lender origination fees
💰 Title insurance and settlement fees
💰 Appraisal and inspection costs
💰 Prepaid taxes and homeowners insurance
💰 Attorney fees (where required)

The good news: some of these are negotiable. Sellers can sometimes contribute credits. Lenders can roll certain costs into the rate.

But you have to know to ask.

First-time buyers especially — read your Loan Estimate carefully and ask your agent what's standard in your market before you get to the table.

Knowledge is the only thing that removes surprises from this process.