relcoating to Pittsburgh and concerns (York: fit in, for sale, real estate)

[cmow]

We are considering moving to Pittsburgh next year and I have a few concerns I was wondering you may be able to shed some light on. These are only based on what I have read on this site.

1. From postings I have read it seems that the population has decreased over the past decade or so. The elderly population has passed or moved. But it doesn't seem like many people are moving to the Pitt. area - Especially young families. Any thoughts?

2. My husband got laid off once and it was a very difficult time. We would like to live somwhere where if he got laid off we wouldn't have to move. He is a software enginner in the biotech field. How is the job market in Pittsburgh?

3. Home values do not seem to appreciate much in Pittsburgh. If my husband was to get laid off we would then have to move somewhere that also has a low cost of living. IF we didn't like Pittsburgh we would have to do the same.

Thanks for any info/thoughts you have

[LiveinPA]

Originally Posted by cmow

We are considering moving to Pittsburgh next year and I have a few concerns I was wondering you may be able to shed some light on. These are only based on what I have read on this site.

1. From postings I have read it seems that the population has decreased over the past decade or so. The elderly population has passed or moved. But it doesn't seem like many people are moving to the Pitt. area - Especially young families. Any thoughts?

2. My husband got laid off once and it was a very difficult time. We would like to live somwhere where if he got laid off we wouldn't have to move. He is a software enginner in the biotech field. How is the job market in Pittsburgh?

3. Home values do not seem to appreciate much in Pittsburgh. If my husband was to get laid off we would then have to move somewhere that also has a low cost of living. IF we didn't like Pittsburgh we would have to do the same.

Thanks for any info/thoughts you have

I'll probably get near crucified by the PGH fanbois here...but whatever.

1. PA is one of the few states that has had a net loss in population recently. It is also the second "oldest" state with a very large population, also one of the highest percentages of people in nursing homes and a massive amount of nursing homes in the area. Most of my young (25-40) friends have left and my wife and I are on track to do the same.

2. I cannot speak to that particular field, I know PGH has a large medical market, there may be opportunity here. Overall, employment is tough to find and there is not a lot of "white collar" work as the city is sort of stagnant at the moment.

3. Home values are actually going down here... there are an abundance of homes on the market due to the dying elderly population and shrinking employment opportunities. Outside of the most desirable neighborhoods it is TOUGH to sell a home in this market. If there is consideration that a move here is less than permanent I would suggest renting lest you get stuck with a home that will not sell. Property taxes are killer, and the other reason for low home prices.

PGH is a beautiful city, unfortunately that beauty is only skin deep. I highly suggest thorough research before moving. Recently one of my friends who was living in FL (blah) moved back "home" to PGH. After 4 months of unemployment she was back to FL...

[Drover]

Originally Posted by LiveinPA

I'll probably get near crucified by the PGH fanbois here...but whatever.

OMGWTFBBQ quit ripping on our city lolz!!1!11!one!!one!1!!

[trlstreet]

Pittsburgh has a large and growing medical/biotech field. I am in medical IT and I know my options in Pittsburgh are somewhat limited due to the market monopoly of UPMC. I know it has kept down salaries as well.

As far as home values go, its a matter of where you choose to live. It is the same anywhere. Ask someone living in Regent Square, Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and I assume they would have a different opinion on appreciation (not taking into consideration the overall housing slump of the last few years).

People complain about property taxes but I have lived in places where they are worse. I am moving back to Pittsburgh next month, I currently live in York. Property tazes are worse here.

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by cmow

1. From postings I have read it seems that the population has decreased over the past decade or so. The elderly population has passed or moved. But it doesn't seem like many people are moving to the Pitt. area - Especially young families. Any thoughts?

You can't argue the facts. What you say is exactly true about Pittsburgh and Western PA.

Originally Posted by cmow

2. My husband got laid off once and it was a very difficult time. We would like to live somwhere where if he got laid off we wouldn't have to move. He is a software enginner in the biotech field. How is the job market in Pittsburgh?

It's pretty darn terrible. We've already established the Pittsburgh area is not growing. One of the cheif complaints of this area is that there are a ton of places for kids to be educated and then nowhere for them to work after graduation. I don't know specifically about Biotech, but the job prospects in general in Western PA are fairly bleak, especially compared to other cities of comparable size not in the rust belt.

Originally Posted by cmow

3. Home values do not seem to appreciate much in Pittsburgh. If my husband was to get laid off we would then have to move somewhere that also has a low cost of living. IF we didn't like Pittsburgh we would have to do the same.

See #1 & #2. If people don't want to live here and there are no jobs for them if they do, home values aren't going to appreciate. Even during the huge boom in the early 2000's - the "Housing Bubble" if you will, prices rose at about half the national average. Now that homes up for sale don't have the national bubble to keep them up, many are falling dramatically in price.

Bottom Line: There's a lot of people leaving or dying, and not a lot of people that want to live here. More supply than demand = low prices & low appreciation.

Enjoy

CaptainO

[Hemingway]

CMOW......

As you can see, most responses are rather extreme. I am an average person, I moved to this area about 4 years ago. I built a house for a reasonable amount of money, and similar homes in the neighborhood have appreciated and sold in a reasonable amount of time. Jobs can be found, it may take a little time. The city and surrounds go through cycles, always have just like every other city. While the rest of the country has been extreme with regard to Real Estate, Pittsburgh remained relatively sane. There are numerous new housing 'plans' going up here in the Eastern suburbs...and there are buyers for those homes. So what can I say? People are selling here, people are buying here, people are living and working here. Are there issues? yes, just like with any other city and suburbs. Is there decay, yes, but also renewal. Come, visit, look at the job market-don't base your opinion on a few responses. The end.

[Gerbil]

The city itself has gained young people in recent years. We definitely don't have much in-migration, but we do have some new people coming in. And I see young families out and about all the time.

Biomed is a pretty big field here. We're not booming, but it seems to be a growing field in the region. Some people take a while to find a job, others don't. Those who say there is "nowhere" for graduates to work here are obviously exaggerating.

As far as home values, like someone else said, it depends on the neighborhood. Real estate seems to be stable here, so you won't make a killing when you resell, but you probably won't lose money either. And if you are willing to take on a fixer-upper you can make a profit in certain neighborhoods. The Mexican War Streets, for example, is a place where lots of people are fixing up older houses.

Good luck to you!

[Katiana]

I do not think these responses are extreme. I think they reflect reality. I think the biggest factor keeping housing prices down in Pgh is the economy. I do not know the software biotech market in Pgh, but I know "high tech" and there is always the chance of a layoff. My husband and I have been through two such events and no, it's not fun. When you are in a business like that, it's best to locate where there is a reasonable chance of finding another job fairly soon. Look at the comment

"Jobs can be found, it may take a little time."

That can mean long periods of unemployment.

As far as making a profit on fixer-uppers in certain neighborhoods, you have to get lucky and pick the right neighborhood at the right time. In the meantime, you are living in a construction zone. That is especially true in the Mexican War Street area.

Look at the statistics for domestic in-migration. Just because someone "sees" families out and about "all the time" it doesn't mean there are a lot of people moving there. In fact, there are not. There is a reason. It's the economy.

[Hemingway]

Actually, the comment 'Jobs can be found, it can take a little time', was meant to say-get your resume together and send it out PRIOR to moving....it is free. If you interview, and like everything you hear...then make your decision. We made the mistake of moving first, then finding the job...it took about 3 months (very nerve wracking). Had we done it correctly, we would have had the job lined up first. Jobs may or may not be plentiful, I am not an expert on every position. I would personally, do the legwork myself, get your resume out there and speak to people in your field. Make an informed decision.

[Katiana]

I would agree with Hemingway. Do everything you can to find a job before you go. I would not move there w/o a solid job offer. And given the IT world, you might make sure there will be another job when/if that one falls through. IT jobs are nototious for their brevity.