1. New Licensing Requirements for Real-Estate Wholesalers (Act52)

Effective July 8,2024, new Act52 redefines the terms “broker” and “salesperson” under Pennsylvania law to include individuals engaging in residential real-estate wholesaling.
This means wholesalers must now hold a valid license and must disclose the nature of transactions to consumers, raising compliance stakes for investor-led deals in Pittsburgh and beyond.

2. Property Tax Assessment Next Steps: Allegheny County

Allegheny County (which includes Pittsburgh) has shifted the deadline to appeal tax assessments significantly:

For tax year 2025, appeals had to be filed between August2 and October1,2024.
Starting with tax year 2026, the window opens July 3 and closes September 1 of the preceding year, with no extension beyond those 60 days..

The Common Level Ratio (CLR) for 2025 was set at 52.7%, meaning assessed values are about half of market value, prompting many to consider appeals based on undervaluation or inequity  employmentattorneypittsburgh.com.

3. Zoning Law & Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is proposing an expansion of inclusionary zoning policies: projects with 20+ units may be required to designate 10% of units as affordable housing for workers earning ~$17/hour.

The policy currently applies to neighborhoods like Oakland and Lawrenceville. However, a proposed amendment would allow neighborhoods to opt in or out, and several developers have paused projects citing the financial burden Axios.

City officials are exploring incentives (e.g. density bonuses, tax relief) to offset costs and make development more viable Axios.

4. Shifts in Real Estate Market: Office-to-Residential Conversions

In response to a 21.9% office vacancy rate in Metro Pittsburgh (2024), developers are converting buildings into residential use.

A prime illustration: the former GNC headquarters was redeveloped into 253 apartments (Livewell Apartments) featuring coworking facilities, fitness centers, and retail spaces.

These adaptive-use projects showcase how zoning, permitting, and redevelopment approvals intersect in legal oversight of urban transformation Axios.

5. Common Legal Pitfalls in Residential Agreements of Sale

Legal professionals cite frequent mistakes in drafting and negotiating Residential Agreements of Sale: missing contingencies, vague financing provisions, or unclear inspection/closing timelines.

Attorneys stress that even seasoned practitioners may overlook critical terms, leading to disputes or delays — especially in investor or complex transactions PBI.

6. Legal Services & Representation in Pittsburgh

Top-rated firms and attorneys in real-estate law include:

Sitko,Bruno LLC, Bernstein-Burkley PC (James Berent, Matthew Malcho, Kit Pettit), Houston Harbaugh PC (Tammy Ribar, Maura Perri), and others who specialize in zoning, title litigation, assessment appeals, leasing, development, and financing.

Firms like GRB Law advise on zoning/subdivision appeals, tax disputes, landlord-tenant litigation, title issues, and development agreements—with local expertise across Pittsburgh/Allegheny County grblaw.com.