Possible 1st time homebuyer (Pittsburgh, Bellevue: rent, how much, houses)

[Whoopie Pie]

Hi folks, I have really been enjoying the Pittsburgh board here on City-Data, and have learned a lot about the city I am considering relocating my family to. Right now I am in the final round of interviewing for a job in Pittsburgh, which would bring my family to the city from San Francisco. The position would pay well (nothing exorbitant, just high 5 figures), as does the position I would be leaving if I move to Pitt. The thing is, considering rents being what they are in SF, I have NO down-payment because we spend all of our money on rent. I don't even have a savings account! My security deposit on my current place is about $3500 and that will be all the money we are bringing with us (family of 4).

So here is my question: what do you recommend someone do who is moving to Pittsburgh and will be making between $75K-$95K but is arriving in town without a penny? It looks like I will be earning to much to qualify for a 1st time homebuyer program. Should we buy one of the $65-$80K houses with the $3500 plus any little something I can borrow from my folks? Can I even buy a house with such a paltry amount of cash up front? (Living in SF, I have never paid any attention to the ins and outs of house buying).

Or would you suggest renting a $700 a month place and socking away as much cash as we can for a year or two, and buying later? I am seeing quite a lot of places in the Beechview area that look amazing for the price (the transit line is appealing because we don't own a car).

I realize this is probably the stupidest question to ever hit this board, but online anonymity being what it is I thought I would put it out there anyway. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[I_Like_Spam]

I wouldn't live in Beechview without a car. The area is vast with plenty of steep hills, it would be a real downer to shop for groceries and haul them back. Using the LRT for grocery shopping is problematic as well, climbing up the mountain at the Shannon Shop n Save and back down to the T isn't a joy.

If you want to go car-free, instead of just car-light, you probably want to look at East End location or the lower North Side.


I'd recommend you rent first, save up a down payment and see what the whole area looks like before committing to a purchase.

[Whoopie Pie]

Thanks for the quick reply. It is a good reminder that the car might be a necessity. I have been wheeling groceries home in a cart in hilly SF for years -- but not in the snow!

[Hopes]

I recommend you rent first too.

You should be able to save significant money here if you focus on truly keeping the rent at the low end by Pittsburgh standards.

East End might be too expensive for someone who wants to save money.

Before we recommend places to live without a car, tell us what part of town your employer is located.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Whoopie Pie

Thanks for the quick reply. It is a good reminder that the car might be a necessity. I have been wheeling groceries home in a cart in hilly SF for years -- but not in the snow!

Its not just the snow, but its the heat in the summer.

Pittsburgh has a lot more robust weather 12 months a year as compared to San Francisco.

[Hopes]

How much is your rent in CA now?

[Whoopie Pie]

The job would be in Oakland, in the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh vicinity. We are Zipcar members, and it looks like Zipcar exists in Pittsburgh, too. I'm not dead-set against having a car, though I have never owned one.

Friends in Pittsburgh are recommending Bloomfield, but it looks like it has gotten much more expensive since they moved there several years ago.

We are comfortable with urban living but I am far less tolerant of blight than I was before having my two kids. I want affordable but my days living across the street from dangerous housing developments, or dodging human excrement on my doorstep from junkies, are definitely behind me. And if I am totally honest about myself, the culture shock will just be too great if there isn't a neighborhood feeling -- I really like walking to corner stores and restaurants and saying hi to the folks I see every day. If I'm not part of a neighborhood community I get depressed.

[Whoopie Pie]

Originally Posted by Hopes

How much is your rent in CA now?

Shockingly close to $3K per month.

[Hopes]

Greenfield without a car. You could bike to work through the park when the weather is right. There are buses too.

Oakmont with a car if there isn't a direct bus to Oakland (but there might be). Walkable with grocery store.

Bellevue. You'll need to transfer buses downtown. Walkable with grocery store.

In honor of Julie, Crafton. Not sure if there's a grocery store within walking distance though.

I sent a message to Julie with a link to your thread. She just moved here from SF this winter. She'll have great advice.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Whoopie Pie

Shockingly close to $3K per month.

You can afford a car if necessary and still save money. I was worried that a car would level out your savings ability.

How many bedrooms and baths do you need? Are the kids school aged yet or do you have a few years before that?