Buy Owner Blog

Growing up on the east coast, Sarah Pappalardo fell in love with antique fixer-uppers and waterfront cottages. In adulthood, she developed an interest in the broader market, leading her to write for Buy Owner while finishing her master’s degree in English. Always on top of current real estate trends, she wrote several news pieces, both local and national. She also put her regional knowledge to good use, creating profiles of communities like Philadelphia, Louisville and Milwaukee. Sarah currently lives in New York and stays actively involved in the real estate community.
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City Spotlight: Milwaukee
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 26 May 2008
Stats: 687 views and No Comments

Welcome to the lakeside city of Milwaukee, the largest and most vibrant city in Wisconsin. With strong German roots and a rich history in brewing, Milwaukee has evolved into a rich and fascinating contemporary city. The past decade has seen the most significant area improvements, such as the $100 million addition to the Milwaukee Arts [...]

City Spotlight: Chicago
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 24 May 2008
Stats: 706 views and No Comments

With 26 miles of lakefront and a world-class culture, Chicago is known as the oasis of the Midwest. Home to some of the most distinct neighborhoods in the country, Chicago creates a truly diverse urban experience, with unique art, cuisine, and people in every corner of the city. Chicago was once the most formidable locale [...]

City Spotlight: Indianapolis
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 22 May 2008
Stats: 688 views and No Comments

Welcome to the Crossroads of America!  Right in the center of the Midwest, the city of Indianapolis serves as a midway point between several cities, including Louisville, Chicago, Cincinnati and Saint Louis. Indianapolis is the 13th largest city in the U.S. and is fast-growing as a result of revitalization, combined with an attitude all its [...]

City Spotlight: Philadelphia
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 18 May 2008
Stats: 661 views and No Comments

  The City of Brotherly Love welcomes you! As the sixth most populous city in the U.S., Philly is a city rich with American history, with food, culture and Colonial architecture to match. It’s situated on the Delaware River, providing several homes and businesses with waterfront property, while a vibrant industrial economy churns beyond the [...]

City Spotlight: Louisville
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 16 May 2008
Stats: 655 views and No Comments

  Louisville has a history much richer than one might imagine: gorgeous eighteenth-century buildings are found throughout the downtown area, named after King Louis the Fourteenth of France by an early American explorer. Influenced by both Midwestern and Southern culture, this city is situated in a key area along the Ohio River and the Indiana [...]

City Spotlight: New Orleans
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas on 8 May 2008
Stats: 583 views and No Comments

Welcome to the historic, revitalized New Orleans!  With a rich and enduring culture, New Orleans has come back with a vengeance.  The world-renowned Mardi Gras celebration brings people from all over the world for the celebration of a lifetime, while a thriving visual art and jazz scene keep this city active all the year round. [...]

Home Sales Down, Median Prices Up
By Sarah
Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas on 29 April 2008
Stats: 757 views and No Comments

Bittersweet news for Illinois homeowners: median home prices are steadily rising amid a steady drop in home sales. This could be interpreted in a number of ways; most importantly, we can see that desirable homes are selling for higher prices. While many homes are still stuck on the market, this statistic may be an incentive [...]

Buy vs. Rent: Rent Calculators & Loan Estimators
By Sarah
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas on 25 April 2008
Stats: 1,124 views and No Comments

The difference in cost in renting and owning a home could make a world of difference to your financial situation. It is important to recognize the many different situations that, although they may seem cheaper at the time, will actually cost you more in the long run. Using loan calculators and rent-versus-buy calculators can give [...]

Senate Bill is Big News for Homeowners and Builders
By Sarah
Posted in Buying Tips, Market News, Tips and Ideas on 14 April 2008
Stats: 662 views and No Comments

Big changes for homeowners, builders, and those facing foreclosure may be affected by the Senate bill passed on Thursday. While several changes are expected before the bill is enacted, this overwhelmingly supported move will give the housing market much-needed assistance and should help to stabilize and revitalize the market. Several tax breaks and grants are [...]

Home Sales Are Up!
By Sarah
Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas on 4 April 2008
Stats: 447 views and 1 Comment

For the first time since July of 2007, home sales are on the upswing.  Sales rose by 2.9 percent in February after a dramatic six-month decline that has sent the housing market on a downturn. While sales are still down from the previous year, this marks the building of momentum toward recovery and a healthy [...]