Why is erie, PA houses so cheap, catch?

[ggcd951]

Originally Posted by maf763

Really? That's good to know.

Then Question is whether melting took place between fraction of 200 inches drop.

[lookingaround12345]

Nothing that a snow rake once or twice a year can't solve. I am from Minnesota and never heard of having a lot of roofs collapsing from snow. Maybe the odd roof here and there on some condemned building but not on mass scales. Do people really allow the snow to build up to the point it would even threaten their home?

[ggcd951]

Originally Posted by lookingaround12345

Nothing that a snow rake once or twice a year can't solve. I am from Minnesota and never heard of having a lot of roofs collapsing from snow. Maybe the odd roof here and there on some condemned building but not on mass scales. Do people really allow the snow to build up to the point it would even threaten their home?

In my case, if I purchase , it is likely going to be a vacation home so could very well be unattended through most of the year. So I think it is very legitimate question.

[medievalbooks]

Small suggestion, when we moved to PA our house back in Mass (in the snow belt) was still for sale. When the weather got cold there were issues. Twas an old house, power went out occasionally and the driveway had to be plowed when there was snow so folks wouldn't think the place was abandoned. So make friends with the locals, hire someone to plow the driveway and check on the roof. Good luck!

[NYtoNJtoPA]

Erie is a dying city. Like many other places up in the Great Lakes region - Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland and of course Detroit - a lot of its original industry that flourished there has left the area. The only thing thriving there is the medical field now, as many hospitals part of the Pittsburgh satellite have good facilities up there. General Electric is still there, but is hanging on by a thread. Many of these types of companies have relocated down to Texas.

To be fair the city hasn't experienced as much a population loss as its larger neighbors along I-90 which were designed for twice as many people as they currently have, but its still seen a decline in population over the past 50 years. It is a nice place with pleasant scenery, but the winters are horrible.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by NYtoNJtoPA

Erie is a dying city. Like many other places up in the Great Lakes region - Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland and of course Detroit - a lot of its original industry that flourished there has left the area. The only thing thriving there is the medical field now, as many hospitals part of the Pittsburgh satellite have good facilities up there. General Electric is still there, but is hanging on by a thread. Many of these types of companies have relocated down to Texas.

To be fair the city hasn't experienced as much a population loss as its larger neighbors along I-90 which were designed for twice as many people as they currently have, but its still seen a decline in population over the past 50 years. It is a nice place with pleasant scenery, but the winters are horrible.

Erie is not a dying city, it is simply right sizing based on the current economic conditions of the area and the significant urban sprawl. While the city of Erie population has declined for decades, Erie county population is near peak population. Erie county has also declined slightly in recent years, but it is still near peak population. At the same time Erie's city population has declined, Millcreek, Harborcreek, Fairview, and Summit's populations have increased significantly. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward as the Erie county areas that have absorbed many people fleeing the city are now increasing taxes significantly as they mature and need to pay for infrastructure and additional services. Additionally, much of the recent job growth in Erie has occurred in the city and Erie Insurance, which is located downtown, continues to move up the Fortune 500 list and add employees.

Erie Insurance No. 378 on Fortune 500 - News - GoErie.com - Erie, PA

[NYtoNJtoPA]

Originally Posted by trackstar13

Erie is not a dying city, it is simply right sizing based on the current economic conditions of the area and the significant urban sprawl. While the city of Erie population has declined for decades, Erie county population is near peak population. Erie county has also declined slightly in recent years, but it is still near peak population. At the same time Erie's city population has declined, Millcreek, Harborcreek, Fairview, and Summit's populations have increased significantly. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward as the Erie county areas that have absorbed many people fleeing the city are now increasing taxes significantly as they mature and need to pay for infrastructure and additional services. Additionally, much of the recent job growth in Erie has occurred in the city and Erie Insurance, which is located downtown, continues to move up the Fortune 500 list and add employees.

Erie Insurance No. 378 on Fortune 500 - News - GoErie.com - Erie, PA

In a nutshell, you are saying it has experienced the same syndrome as Cleveland. People left the city itself and relocate to outside suburbs.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by NYtoNJtoPA

In a nutshell, you are saying it has experienced the same syndrome as Cleveland. People left the city itself and relocate to outside suburbs.

I lived in Cleveland briefly, but I am not really aware of the development or population patterns in Cleveland. In Erie there has definitely been a mass exodus for the suburbs/exurbs. Many of the newer Erie suburbs were actually farmland relatively recently and the growth has been rather explosive in places like Summit Township, which is where the casino is located and much of the newer shopping.

[lookingaround12345]

Originally Posted by ggcd951

In my case, if I purchase , it is likely going to be a vacation home so could very well be unattended through most of the year. So I think it is very legitimate question.

Okay. You can afford a vacation home so pay somebody to take snow off the roof. Look at the forecast and if you see significant snow fall occurring consider calling somebody to take care of that. It isn't a bad question but it isn't a problem that is significant enough to be a make or break.

You do realize it is basically impossible for more than a certain amount of snow to remain on a pitched roof right? If you have reason to believe your roof will collapse due to snow you have an issue with the roof not the snowfall.

Any decently built home will take the snow load. If you are buying a fixer upper with a bad roof you may need to snow rake it at the worst case scenario if you aren't around. If you are buying a place with a flat roof or something like the Metrodome my advice doesn't apply.