I know the last time I went car shopping I was more cognizant of the MPG label than ever. Gas prices have shot up, expenses are up and I am trying to save money wherever I can. Energy efficiency is more important to Americans today than it ever was in the past.

How great would it be if you could see the energy efficiency of your home too? While this is a commonly accepted standard in the car business, most buyers don’t even think to ask about their HERS Index for their new home. Why? Well, to put it simply, most buyers have never heard of a HERS Index.

Welcome to a new era. Although S&A has been providing homeowners with HERS Indexes on their new Pennsylvania energy efficient homes since 2009, seems like some builders are just now jumping on the bandwagon. So, what exactly is a HERS Index and why should you care? Read More

The temperature in Pittsburgh may not be in the 100s this weekend, but everything is still sizzling; especially our Centennial Point community of PA new homes, located in the Chartiers Valley School District close to the Robinson Town Centre.

This Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., we are offering a first peek at the grand opening of our brand new Summerfield model. You can cool off with some refreshments while you tour the three-bedroom townhomes that start in the mere $150’s. The model features a large spacious Owner’s Suite with dual walk-in closets, ultra-convenient upstairs laundry and a two-car garage.

The Centennial Point community is more than homes though – it is truly a living experience. The community will feature a pool, tot lot, basketball courts and clubhouse. And with low-maintenance living, there is really no excuse not to enjoy the luxuries here. With an ideal location convenient to Downtown Pittsburgh and just down the road from Settler’s Ridge, we are finding it hard to find any faults with this community! Read More

Here at S&A Homes, many of our buyers of PA new homes are also home sellers! And, at the height of summer, it can be tough to attract potential home buyers. Family vacations, barbecues and camp outs seem to compete for attention. The sudden decrease in showings can be scary to someone selling their home, but take solace. The buyers who do walk through tend to be serious and motivated.

But competition is stiff, and being on your A-Game is critical if you want to have the home that stands out (for the right reasons of course). Here are our top 10 tips to help sell your home this summer: Read More

It seems like we spend a lot of time blogging about football here. And yes, Central Pennsylvania’s obsession with the game is all that the area seems to get any credit for. But the fact is: there is a lot more to State College than just Penn State football. The area also plays host to a nationally recognized Arts Festival, The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

This week kicks off the festivities. With almost 1,000 artists attending from all over the world, this is definitely not your run of the mill street carnival. The festival, which starts this Wednesday, July 13 and runs through Sunday, offers more than the traditional art booths. From Italian Street painting to free jazz concerts to some of the best street food around, we can barely touch the tip of the iceberg here.

The festival marks its 44^th year since starting in 1967. Interestingly, the original Arts Fest was not judged and artist’s hung their works on the fence outside of Old Main. Over the years, the event has turned into the quintessential summer week for Pennsylvanians and attracts more than 125,000 people over the course of the week. Read More

For many of us, the fourth of July is spent surrounded by the usual traditions – fireworks, barbecues in the backyards of our PA new homes topped off with cakes that look like the American Flag. How many of us truly take the time to reflect on the significance of the holiday and its impact on our society?

Our freedoms – voting, speaking, even arguing with one another all stem back to a critical 4^th of July, 235 years ago when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. The fundamental ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence have pushed our country to greatness through events like women’s suffrage and the civil rights movement.

Although the United States’ independence has been threatened by many wars, the American Civil War was perhaps the biggest threat to our democracy. The Battle at Gettysburg is recognized as the most critical battle of the American Civil War and ironically, occurred on July 1-3, 1863. Thousands perished, and many more were wounded and went missing. Despite the losses, it was a key victory for the Union Army under the leadership of General George Meade. Read More