I've turned into one of those homebuyers who want what doesn't exist!

[ML North]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

I was just getting ready to be serious and mention these. BUT, you do have mining in the area (down towards Clarion) and there is fracking being done in the northern tier. There are prisons at both Marienville and between Smethport and Bradford.

Those would of course be things for the OP to consider. I would be careful about writing off entire counties because of fracking/drilling concerns. Also, I don't think there is currently much drilling in Potter county.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

You remind me of me! I spend way too much time looking at houses online, driving by them, and looking at them in person. It has become a strange hobby of mine. I'm also looking for something that doesn't exist - a liveable, 100% intact, preferably pre-1900 Victorian for less than $50k or so. I also don't want to live in Duquesne or McKeesport, so that narrows things down considerably. lol

I'm also starting to feel better about just staying in my house. I know that it's an extremely solid house, and it doesn't have any hidden problems. That's a nice feeling.

AA, have you seen this home? I'm no architecture buff, but it has some Victorian-esque features and is pre-1900. It looks like it's in really good shape.

2706 Shadeland Avenue, Pittsburgh PA - Trulia

[ChristinaMichele]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

AA, have you seen this home? I'm no architecture buff, but it has some Victorian-esque features and is pre-1900. It looks like it's in really good shape.

2706 Shadeland Avenue, Pittsburgh PA - Trulia

That is a nice house

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by ChristinaMichele

That is a nice house

The price has been lowered to $35K. I took a look at this one in person actually. It's a nice home, it just didn't strike the right chord for me though. It's move in condition, but it's not spotlessly renovated or anything.

[PreservationPioneer]

It has aluminum siding. I'm trying to find a house with the original clapboard and window / door trim and doors. I realize you can tear the aluminum off and restore those features, but it's a royal pain.

So here's my specific criteria:

Pre-1900
Victorian
Original window sizes
Original trim around windows and doors, inside and out.
Original doors throughout
Original mantles and woodwork throughout
NO vinyl or aluminum siding or insulbrick. Yuck!
Clapboard, brick, or asbestos tiles are okay (I think they look cool and they look good when painted)
Prefer garage to store an antique car, but I know I'm reaching for the moon here.
Marble mantles are a plus
Original staircase
Prefer no wood paneling or drop ceilings

Basically, it has to be a museum that I can fill with antiques and pretend I'm living in the 1800s (with plumbing and electricity).

Believe it or not, I just found a house that meets all of these criteria and is in my price range. I will keep you all updated.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

It has aluminum siding. I'm trying to find a house with the original clapboard and window / door trim and doors. I realize you can tear the aluminum off and restore those features, but it's a royal pain.

So here's my specific criteria:

Pre-1900
Victorian
Original window sizes
Original trim around windows and doors, inside and out.
Original doors throughout
Original mantles and woodwork throughout
NO vinyl or aluminum siding or insulbrick. Yuck!
Clapboard, brick, or asbestos tiles are okay (I think they look cool and they look good when painted)
Prefer garage to store an antique car, but I know I'm reaching for the moon here.
Marble mantles are a plus
Original staircase
Prefer no wood paneling or drop ceilings

Basically, it has to be a museum that I can fill with antiques and pretend I'm living in the 1800s (with plumbing and electricity).

Believe it or not, I just found a house that meets all of these criteria and is in my price range. I will keep you all updated.

I'm shocked that you've found a house meeting that description anywhere around here! I hope it works out. For what it's worth, drop ceilings are huge pet peeve of mine as well, but they are *really* easy to remove. I worked a summer in college renovating apartments (unskilled laborer). Gimme a helmet, a crowbar, and 10 minutes and your drop ceiling will be gone. So it's more of a question of whether the drop ceiling is hiding something or if it was just installed to make heating and cooling cheaper.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Believe it or not, I just found a house that meets all of these criteria and is in my price range. I will keep you all updated.

That's exciting! Good luck.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I'm shocked that you've found a house meeting that description anywhere around here! I hope it works out. For what it's worth, drop ceilings are huge pet peeve of mine as well, but they are *really* easy to remove. I worked a summer in college renovating apartments (unskilled laborer). Gimme a helmet, a crowbar, and 10 minutes and your drop ceiling will be gone. So it's more of a question of whether the drop ceiling is hiding something or if it was just installed to make heating and cooling cheaper.

They are easy to remove. It's more of an issue of what plaster problems and water damage are lurking beneath (or above lol) the drop ceiling.

[Garvdog]

I've generally found that "character" to most people means pre-1960, which generally also means small living spaces and "chopped up" (i.e. lots of small rooms). And it will probably be in a somewhat urban area. Although I've found that the older homes tend to be more solidly built. My house was built in 1970 and I swear I could punch right thru some of the walls if I tried. My first home was built in 1938 and you needed a nuclear weapon to take out that thing.