What are some good areas in Pittsburgh for under 1 mil? (Penn: relocation, real estate)

[gallacus]

I wouldn't recommend Mount Washington (the area overlooking downtown). It's nice, but from what I can see, only certain condos are really upscale while the rest of the neighborhood is purely middle class.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many different areas of town that overlook downtown, not just Mt. Washington. There's Elliott, Spring Hill, Southside Slopes, Fineview, etc. The only ones that I would recommend looking in are Mt. Washington and Southside Slopes. (If you read any of my previous posts, I LOVE the Southside slopes). Mt. Washington's Grandview Avenue is upscale and offers really nice living options. Some houses are really nice 3/2s for around 800k. They offer AMAZING views of the city. Maaz is correct, though, in that most of the rest of Mt. Washington is pretty average. The only part of Mt. Washington that can be considered upscale is the North side of Grandview Ave. because of their amazing views -- Drive through the neighborhood on Google Street View to see what we're talking about.

The Southside Slopes (zip code 15203) are producing more and more upscale houses as time goes on, but the neighborhood can hardly be defined as upscale. It is my favorite neighborhood in Pittsburgh because of its quarkiness. It is somewhat reminiscent of the hollywood hills, with tiny winding streets and FANTASTIC views (except no hollywood smog ). The only difference is the houses aren't old movie-star homes, they are old steel-worker homes. Some developers are renovating these old houses and turning them into beautiful modern houses. These homes are MUCH more affordable than Mt. Washington, and offer almost the same view. A house with spectacular view can be had here for under 400k. MLS # 698561 is a good example of a newly-renovated, quarky Southside Slopes home with a great view for under 400k. This house even has two different attached garages! (The best Pittsburgh real estate website is About Pittsburgh Real Estate and Homes | Achieve Realty Pittsburgh Real Estate and Homes in Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Butler Counties, Pittsburgh PA ).

The other neighborhood recommendations people are giving are great as well, I just felt like I could offer some insight to buying a home in Pittsburgh with a view, as that is why I moved here -- for the amazing views.

[Geeo]

You really won't need to be in a gated community in Pittsburgh. I know there are a few, but I don't know who would want to live in a place that's so cut off from the world. You don't have to lock yourself in from the criminals every night. In Pittsburgh, you can find just about anything you'd want in your price range - a huge brick home on a tree-lined street in Shadyside or Squirrel Hill, a McMansion in a suburban cul-de-sac, a riverfront high-rise condo in downtown or Fox Chapel, or an old Victorian in one of the smaller towns in the area. In this area, kids play outside and ride their bikes. They explore in the woods. They go swimming at the community pool. Neighborhoods are walkable. City dwellers can walk to the grocery store, book store, cleaners, movie, and see their neighbors often. Rush hour is not bad. Crime is low for a city this size. Of course, Pittsburgh is beset with some of the ills of all large cities, but not to the extreme of most. It's very manageable and the quality of life is good.

[streetcreed]

Other then two or three areas, average home cost is well under a million in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is one of the few places left with affordable housing.

I live in Columbus, but saw a list of all the cities in the US and the number of million dollar homes in the city. I believe it was just freestanding. Anyway, Pittsburgh had zero million dollar homes. I think that the "high-end" market in Pittsburgh is well under one million. Even some cities near Pittsburgh like Columbus and Cincinnati had well over 100. Housing costs in the Pittsburgh are lower than even other midwestern cities.

[SAI126]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

Hi everybody.

I currently live in Los Angeles, but I'm thinking of relocating elsewhere. I am looking for somewhere that I can get more home for less money. Coming from LA, I can afford close to LA without feeling like it's too much, but I'd rather go cheaper since I would like to escape the high home prices here. What are some nice areas with 3/2 homes in the 600-800k price range? Also, are the property taxes a lot more out there?

Are the areas overlooking downtown good areas b/c i think it would be great to have a view like that?

Any suggestions of zip codes would be great.

Oh, one last thing. I'm a dentist and make 100k+ a year. Would I make less out there?

Wow. I'm not trying to be mean, and they say there's strict rules against that here anyway. No, I don't want to come across in a bad way, but it seems obvious to me that you have no idea what Pittsburgh is about. Drop the California mindset immediately, it's as different as different can be from what you apparently are used to. It's also cloudy more than 200 days a year, not partly cloudy, but dark and gray. In any case, if you're a high income professional then you're going to get quite the bang for your buck in a way that you'd never get in almost any other metro area of consequence in the US. Lastly, please forget the gated community thing. Pittsburgh is the most informally friendly area in the US, and I'd hate to see that change. Lots of bad things have happened to the Pittsburgh economy in the last half century, but it's still the most quirky, unique area in the US I've ever been to. I'd hate to see it lose that, most of the rest of the country is so painfully bland, banal and vanilla.

[MaryS80]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

Schools would be important and usually newer homes are larger and need less fixing up so i would like something newer, not brand new though. Any good gated or planned communites? They usually seem to be best for families and safety.

The majority of the homes in Pittsburgh are older homes. Some are well over 100, with most being around 60-70 years old. The older homes have a lot of charm, and details you don't find in newer homes. In the better area the older homes are well maintained and don't need anymore work then a new home.

I would also suggest Moon Township, it is middle class to upper middle class. There are a lot of newish homes in the area. It's quite as hoighty toighty as some of the other areas I suggested, but its still a very nice area.

There's some newish stuff in Robinson and Green Tree as well.

[jessemh431]

So does anyone have pools or are there community pools? I was searching some homes and almost none have pools. If I buy in a place that cheap, I'd spend more for a pool.

OMG!!! Check this one out!!!
REALTOR.com: Find a Home - Listing Detail

Our property taxes here are 1.1%. How high are they in Pitt.? Will the cheaper cost be made up for in taxes?

Is this a good search? Are the areas nice for a family?

[guylocke]

Anyway, Pittsburgh had zero million dollar homes.

Well that's not true, either, sheesh. [Mod cut] Sewickley Heights and Fox Chapel are two areas that definitely have million dollar plus homes.

Some of the most beautiful and exclusive construction going up in Adams Township for example, can start reaching $800,000. But you have no idea how much $800,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh. I mean, you would need professional help to upkeep the home. LOL.

I would say homes that are a million dollars in California are probably no more than about $300,000 here. Does that sound about right guys? You can easily get a several story, several car-garage, beautiful home in Pittsburgh for well under $400,000. Hell, if you want to do a little work on your part, you can probably get one for less than $200,000.

[jhprentiss]

I agree. I lived in Los Angeles for 15 years, (made a killing on selling our house when we left) and looked all over this city in the last nine months before we moved here. A million dollars doesn't buy that much in LA, and you could get an equivalent house here for much much less, plus have schools you might want to send your kids to.

[MaryS80]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

So does anyone have pools or are there community pools? I was searching some homes and almost none have pools. If I buy in a place that cheap, I'd spend more for a pool.

OMG!!! Check this one out!!!
REALTOR.com: Find a Home - Listing Detail

Our property taxes here are 1.1%. How high are they in Pitt.? Will the cheaper cost be made up for in taxes?

Is this a good search? Are the areas nice for a family?

I believe that area is served by Allderdice High School which has a great academic honors program.

greatschools.net is good place to go for school reviews and ratings.

[Hemingway]

Originally Posted by SAI126

It's also cloudy more than 200 days a year, not partly cloudy, but dark and gray.

Wow---I've lived here nearly 4 years now......this is news to me! Three of the four seasons are GORGEOUS here. I say that because I despise winter, but that is a personal thing. Please, go check your stats on that one.....if someone is reporting that, they are lying. We have better weather here than I ever saw in New Jersey on a regular basis.