Looking for up scale suburb with reasonable commute to East Liberty (Fox Chapel: foreclosed, houses)

[slackbox]

robrobrob mentioned "Forest" in Fox Chapel. Is that a neighborhood there?

[gg]

Originally Posted by slackbox

robrobrob mentioned "Forest" in Fox Chapel. Is that a neighborhood there?

It is a section of Fox Chapel on the hill off Powers Run Road. You can go up Powers Run and take a right on Field Club and you are going to be up in the Forest up around the bend. I am not sure why anyone would pick that over something else. We all have favorite places in neighborhoods. I like to be close in, so Hunt Road, Guyasuta, Waldheim/Windsor area. Those areas are my favorites. I am not sure how much homes are going for on Rockwood Drive as well. That is close in, but the prices might have gone up too high there. It is just personal preference and some would rather be out on Old Mill or Squaw Run East, one of my favorite streets. Oh there are way to many to list and I know them all.

[greg42]

With that budget, absolutely no reason to go to Cranberry. Cranberry is where you go to get a large, new house for cheap enough, generally. Would not be upscale although people do build some upscale houses out that way because Butler County property taxes are lower.

I think suggestions for Aspinwall, O'Hara, etc. (Fox Chapel school district) are good. Those should give you a pretty short commute, could be 20-30 min. Hampton (AKA Allison Park, mostly, Hampton school district) isn't a bad idea either, could be a bit longer commute from most spots. Some similar houses might cost less there. May depend upon precise environment you would like. In Aspinwall you have a little town effect with some places to walk, etc. You don't get that really in Hampton that I can think of.

I don't know how large of a house you're looking to get with $600k, but since you're relocating to the area make sure you've taken into account the property tax, which might be higher what you're used to depending upon where you're coming from. Now Fox Chapel and environs is a place where there are plenty of houses in that price range and above, but in general in many parts of this area you can get quite nice houses for under $600k, sometimes well under.

[Hopes]

Another vote for Fox Chapel. It's the closest upscale suburb for commuting to the East End.

Hampton would be the next choice. It's a little farther away than Fox Chapel. The school system is just as good.

[gg]

Originally Posted by greg42

I think suggestions for Aspinwall, O'Hara, etc. (Fox Chapel school district) are good. Those should give you a pretty short commute, could be 20-30 min. Hampton (AKA Allison Park, mostly, Hampton school district) isn't a bad idea either, could be a bit longer commute from most spots. Some similar houses might cost less there. May depend upon precise environment you would like. In Aspinwall you have a little town effect with some places to walk, etc. You don't get that really in Hampton that I can think of.

I don't know how large of a house you're looking to get with $600k, but since you're relocating to the area make sure you've taken into account the property tax, which might be higher what you're used to depending upon where you're coming from. Now Fox Chapel and environs is a place where there are plenty of houses in that price range and above, but in general in many parts of this area you can get quite nice houses for under $600k, sometimes well under.

Just a couple of things. I can get to East Liberty in 10 minutes at any hour of the day from Fox Chapel, but I am close in. Secondly, Hampton has a much higher tax millage rate. One more thing that I think I already said is Cranberry isn't considered "upscale" by many people I know. I look at it as the opposite. Larger cheaply build plastic homes for all. The place looks like one huge Ryan Home project at best.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Secondly, Hampton has a much higher tax millage rate. .

Actually, the millages are pretty much even.

Fox Chapel 29.25
Hampton 28.0745

[gg]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Actually, the millages are pretty much even.

Fox Chapel 29.25
Hampton 28.0745

Hamton taxes per 100K of home =2,807.45
Fox Chapel per 100K = 2,835.00

I stand corrected. Thank you. I almost bought a home there once and back then the millage was higher. Seems Fox Chapel has caught up. Ouch.

[hempfield mania]

I'll go out of the norm here and say Murrysville and Penn Twp. Commute may be a little more but your taxes will be greatly decreased and the schools (other than Fox Chapel), will be a little better.
Depending on the time of day you are traveling and where in each of those twps you are located, your commute can be 35 min. to 50 min. You'll only have to deal with the Parkway traffic until you get to the Wilkinsburg exit then take that all the way into East Liberty.

[BrianTH]

I'd strongly urge doing a full accounting of the associated costs--not just in terms of vehicle and fuel costs, but also assigning a reasonable value to your own time--before accepting a considerably longer commute just to save on property taxes (and don't forget to include any tax deductions).

[kubus_gt]

Takes me 30min to get to East Liberty each morning (Bakery Square), from within Norwin school district area.
As HempfieldMafia said look into Penn Township - Level Green/Harrison City area, North Huntingdon/Irwin/Manor, Murrysville and yes Monroeville/Plum. All are within 30min commute, and there are multiple routes from these to avoid Parkway East traffic (well maybe not from Murrysville). All have good school districts, are kids friendly and have good homes within the median price.