Houses as cute as a button--and very historic, too! (Pittsburgh: top neighborhood, apartment)

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Many tax delinquent properties would take more of an investment to make them habitable than they would be worth after the work is done.

It costs the same to gut and remodel a house in Larimer as it does in Shadyside, but getting someone to pay $100k or $150k to live in a dangerous ghetto just isn't going to happen.

Therein lies the problem.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I was in New Haven, Connecticut last week for work (the last place I lived before Pittsburgh actually). They have, to my surprise, a "livable city" department, which keeps contractors on the payroll who go into abandoned buildings and ensure they are secure from squatters and perform minimal repairs to stop the house from being condemned (mostly weather sealing).

I can't believe Pittsburgh can't find the money to do this. Hell, even if we need to shake down businesses for grants it should be feasible.

Very smart. wonder if the mayor would be interested?

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Hip Priest

Well, therein lies the problem: The agent I'm working with doesn't know diddly-squat about the market in East Deutschtown, Spring Hill, Spring Garden, or Troy Hill. All of the houses we looked at were found by me, not him. In addition, he doesn't seem to know anything at all about historic homes either. He seems more knowledgeable about new construction. When I tried to describe to him the kind of home I'm looking for, I just don't think it registered. So, I think I need to find a new agent, an agent who knows these markets well and who frequently sells in the neighborhoods in which I want to buy.

Good idea. Check out who the listing agents are on houses for sale in the area and interview them to see how knowledgeable they are.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm doing a roundup of cheap, semi-historic housing again which seems in good condition. Getting to be rarer and rarer.

This Elliott home looks right up Alleghenyangel's alley.

Not incredibly historic on the inside anymore, but I like the curb appeal.

So many historic, perfectly intact houses are dirt cheap in Knoxville. Or Sheraden. Which bespeaks the quick decline into ghetto of the area I guess. Actual ghettos don't really have much on the market.

Cheap, huge Beechview house available due to bank sale.

I like the potential of this house in Brookline.

A couple of tiny rowhouses are available in (what I would call) the nicer part of Hazelwood.

The Elliott house would appeal to SCR as well. I love that Beechview house. From what I understand Beechview is a somewhat up & coming, or at least not declining, neighborhood? How bad is Sheraden? I see big houses for sale cheap there, but I hear it's declining.

[eschaton]

As I've said before, the best way to buy houses in depressed neighborhoods is not to wait for something to go on the market. Find houses you like, use the Allegheny County Assessor's site to find out who owns them (if they seem to be vacant) and contact the owner directly about selling. You might be pleasantly surprised, given in many cases the owner has no idea people would actually want to buy the house.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by juliegt

The Elliott house would appeal to SCR as well. I love that Beechview house. From what I understand Beechview is a somewhat up & coming, or at least not declining, neighborhood? How bad is Sheraden? I see big house for sale cheap there, but I hear it's declining.

Beechview is sort of a neighborhood up in the air, and opinions differ around the trajectory. It doesn't seem to be having as solid a revival as Brookline, but there are a few "gentrified businesses" moving into the business district, along with perpetual interest due to the T line going through the neighborhood. My wife and I explored up there a few weeks back - we felt like despite the pretty good housing stock the crazy steep hills and impossible road setup (mostly one ways, and few interconnections) made it a scary place to contemplate living.

I'd say that Sheraden is probably the second most rapidly-declining neighborhood in the city now, after Knoxville. Carrick probably comes third, at least in terms of popular perception, but Carrick is a huge area and I think it's overblown to some degree. Sheraden is big as well, but my understanding from people who live there is even in the nicer side of it (where there's no real crime issues yet) it's become nearly impossible to sell.

[pred66]

I will chime in and say that you have to look at a realtors job,
Simply they get paid to sell houses, The more expensive a house the more they gat paid, So when you look at their motivation to sell you will see that they know most about the houses which sell the most and fastest which is usually in stable and growing parts of the city and the more expensive places. IE, Lawrenceville and the like.
Looking into the future may not be the realtors best talents.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Beechview is sort of a neighborhood up in the air, and opinions differ around the trajectory. It doesn't seem to be having as solid a revival as Brookline, but there are a few "gentrified businesses" moving into the business district, along with perpetual interest due to the T line going through the neighborhood. My wife and I explored up there a few weeks back - we felt like despite the pretty good housing stock the crazy steep hills and impossible road setup (mostly one ways, and few interconnections) made it a scary place to contemplate living.

I'd say that Sheraden is probably the second most rapidly-declining neighborhood in the city now, after Knoxville. Carrick probably comes third, at least in terms of popular perception, but Carrick is a huge area and I think it's overblown to some degree. Sheraden is big as well, but my understanding from people who live there is even in the nicer side of it (where there's no real crime issues yet) it's become nearly impossible to sell.

Yeah, those hills in Beechview are something! have you seen the Youtube video of the ice covered Fallowfield St. hill with cars careening down it?

Why is Sheraden declining?

[PreservationPioneer]

Because the West End is unfashionable.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Because the West End is unfashionable.

That's it? Nothing else? People are sheep.