Theresa Kanzler

03/01/2026

If you bought your home between 2018-2020, your equity might surprise you. Even in todays market, smart prep equals strong results.

02/26/2026

Real Estate is about financing, timing, inspection risk, and long-term value. My job is to help you make smart financial decisions, not emotional ones.

02/25/2026

Inventory is up and price reductions are happening. Buyers in the $180k - $400k range have more negotiating leverage than in years past. Strategy matters more than speed right now.

02/24/2026

Location or square footage - what matters the most to you?

01/12/2025

Stop by this Open House in Upper St. Clair, PA!!

📆 Sunday January 12th
⏰ - 11am - 1:00pm
🛏️ - 3 bedrooms
🛀 - 2.5 bath
🛝- close to a park
🛒- close to shopping and grocery stores
🏠 - Cape Cod - 1337 sq ft
🚌 - Upper St. Clair school district

Theresa Kanzler
Real Estate Agent
412-980-7242
Place Trust, Inc

08/04/2024

What’s one of the top things today’s homebuyers say they need more information on?

It’s programs that can help with the upfront costs of buying a home.

There are over 2000 down payment programs available – and with how tight affordability still is, it’s worth seeing if there’s one that can help you.

Want to learn more? Connect with a trusted lender and local agent.

08/03/2024

Equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage. The typical homeowner gained $28,000 over the past year and has a grand total of $305,000 in equity. And there are a lot of great ways you can use that equity. Want to know how much equity you have? Let’s connect so you can get a Professional Equity Assessment Report (PEAR).

Equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage.

08/02/2024

New trend alert.

The median price for new builds has dipped lower than the median for existing homes.

Plus, some builders are tossing in sweet perks like competitive mortgage rates and free upgrades.

So, if you aren’t already considering brand-new homes, it may be worth looking into. Drop a comment with your dream home feature, and let’s find your perfect fit together.

04/30/2024

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home.

How Equity Changes the Game

If you rent, your monthly rental payments only go toward covering your housing costs and your landlord’s expenses. So other than saving a bit more per month and maybe getting your rental deposit back when you move, the money you spent on housing each month is gone – forever.

When you buy, your monthly mortgage payment pays for your shelter, but it also acts as an investment. That investment grows in the form of equity as you make your mortgage payment each month and chip away at what you owe on your home loan. Your equity gets an extra boost as home values climb – which they typically do.

Imagine you purchased a home for $400,000 at the start of this year. Chances are, since you bought, you plan to stay put for a while. Based on the HPES projections, if you live there for 5 years, you could end up gaining over $83,000 in household wealth as your home grows in value.

While you may save a bit on your monthly payments if you rent right now, you’ll also miss out on gaining equity.

So, what’s the big takeaway? Whether it makes more sense to rent or buy is going to vary based on your personal finances. It’s not a good idea to buy if the numbers truly don’t work for you. But, if you’re ready and able, adding equity as the final puzzle piece may be enough to help you realize buying is a better move in the long run. If you want to take advantage of long-term home price appreciation, let’s go over your options.

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home. 

04/29/2024

When it comes to selling your house, the expertise of a trusted real estate agent can make a big difference.