Why you should NOT move to Pittsburgh (York, Bellevue: real estate, houses)

[Seaharbour]

in every town, large or small there are certain people who run things and always will.

[leeving]

Originally Posted by OutaFL

Even Europeans Like Pittsburgh.

Duh, no kidding. Pittsburgh is primarily populated by European Americans. Most of them only 2nd or 3rd generation. Thus, it has a very European feel to it. So I'd imagine someone coming here from France, Italy, or the UK would feel somewhat at home here.

Even with all it's flaws, Pittsburgh is a great place. I guess you're from Florida and you wanna leave there (judging from your screen name). I don't blame you. I can't stand Florida. You couldn't pay me to live in that state.

[Seaharbour]

I mentioned the same thing to outfl...

[krw]

Originally Posted by gswpa

I am writing this because I am a realist. Unfortunately, certain citizens of Pittsburgh believe that their city is great and everything is turning around. It's not. It's actually getting worse. Property taxes and crime are high. The schools are terrible. Parking fees are the highest in the country. The high paying jobs are located in outlying counties. The city is facing a financial [SIZE=2]bankruptcy within the next few years. The population numbers are dwindling. Pittsburgh is still a Rust Belt city. [/SIZE]
(We can't even get family and friends to go to Pittsburgh when they come to visit because they think it's a slum.)

Therefore, I plead with you to move to an area outside of Allegheny county. Property taxes and crime are low. It's a quick drive to shopping and work. The public and private schools are excellent. Great colleges are located in surrounding counties. Even the Catholic church has seen greener pastures and is building new schools in Butler county and closing ones in Pittsburgh. Again, I suggest a move to Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, Armstrong, or Butler counties. Please keep the home appreciations rising in the outlying counties! Thanks!

FYI - There are some recent advantages regarding Pittsburgh real estate taxes: If one purchases a newly constructed or significantly rehabs a home in downtown or one of 28 qualifying surrounding urban communities (in Allegheny County), there is a 10-year tax abatement on value up to $250k!!! That means a savings of well over $6,000/year or $500/month off a mortgage payment. Now that's incentive!

[Seaharbour]

There are still some very good schools and places to live left, Mt leb is one, among many..when you get to the eastern part, yea it becomes a bit sketchier..but you have trafford and murrysville out that way and they have very nice areas out that way!

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Seaharbour

There are still some very good schools and places to live left, Mt leb is one, among many..when you get to the eastern part, yea it becomes a bit sketchier..but you have trafford and murrysville out that way and they have very nice areas out that way!

I still say USC or Peter's Township. Both nice areas with great homes and fantastic schools. Peter's is a little more friendly and less snobby....

[Seaharbour]

London, I had to give you a good rep point, that info is most helpful and thanks alot!!!

[LadyOfTheLake]

Originally Posted by fragglewaggle

How about going one better? I suggest folks leave Western Pennsylvania altogether, like I did.

Let's see: I could've stayed in the Pittsburgh area and remained unemployed, or I could've moved someplace where I don't have to beg for a job. I chose the latter.

And really, as a woman, why would I stay in a region where women earn 69 cents for every dollar a man earns?

Why would I stay in an area that talks a good game about having an educated workforce, but according to the Pennsylvania Economy League, has some of the highest college tuition costs in the nation?

Why would I stay in a supposed 'high-tech' region where the educational offerings to keep myself on top of the latest in technology are nonexistent? (Does CMU offer continuing education related to technology? Nope. How about Pitt? Nope. How about any of the other four-year colleges in our region? Nope. How about our community colleges? Ha ha ha...don't make me laugh.)

If you want to have any semblance of a successful future, I urge you to leave Western Pennsylvania. You will not regret it.

I gotta say...as much as I love my hometown, fragglewaggle is right. As we speak I am getting ready to pick up and move. There simply are no good jobs here. I cannot afford to raise my kids by myself on what I get paid (even if I move to another part of town)--and there are no better paying jobs in my field. More and more, those jobs are being given to foreigners of all descriptions. The second I find a job (probably in a related field), I am outta here. There is simply no reason a woman of my education and experience should have to beg for a job...and when I see men with less education and experience making more than me simply because they are men in a female-dominated field, I've had enough. It's always the Good Old Boys Club here in Pittsburgh, and it will never change. I should not have to marry again just for financial security, and if I stay here that is what it will come down to.

I should have left 10 years ago, but I didn't. Do I regret it? Absolutely. I have finally been driven to it by the fact that we haven't had a raise in 5 years (despite consistently scoring 98% and above on performance evaluations). That taxes are going through the roof. That the price of food is outrageous--go to Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida. You'll pay half the price for food as you do here. And let's not talk about gas or anything else.

Even if I did stay here, I fully expect that my children will leave. There is simply no reason for them to stay. There's nothing here, and there won't be for many, many years to come.

Sorry, but there it is. I love Pittsburgh, but I cannot stay here if I want to survive and provide for my kids. I want the best for them, and for me, and that isn't going to happen here.

[goodgirl49]

Originally Posted by LadyOfTheLake

I gotta say...as much as I love my hometown, fragglewaggle is right. As we speak I am getting ready to pick up and move. There simply are no good jobs here. I cannot afford to raise my kids by myself on what I get paid (even if I move to another part of town)--and there are no better paying jobs in my field. More and more, those jobs are being given to foreigners of all descriptions. The second I find a job (probably in a related field), I am outta here. There is simply no reason a woman of my education and experience should have to beg for a job...and when I see men with less education and experience making more than me simply because they are men in a female-dominated field, I've had enough. It's always the Good Old Boys Club here in Pittsburgh, and it will never change. I should not have to marry again just for financial security, and if I stay here that is what it will come down to.

I should have left 10 years ago, but I didn't. Do I regret it? Absolutely. I have finally been driven to it by the fact that we haven't had a raise in 5 years (despite consistently scoring 98% and above on performance evaluations). That taxes are going through the roof. That the price of food is outrageous--go to Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida. You'll pay half the price for food as you do here. And let's not talk about gas or anything else.

Even if I did stay here, I fully expect that my children will leave. There is simply no reason for them to stay. There's nothing here, and there won't be for many, many years to come.

Sorry, but there it is. I love Pittsburgh, but I cannot stay here if I want to survive and provide for my kids. I want the best for them, and for me, and that isn't going to happen here.

My son spent 3 years in Pittsburgh after graduating from the Art Institute, and recently moved back to CA for better job opportunities. There was a lot of competition for graphic design jobs and wages were depressed. Yes, his rent was less, but other expenses were comparable. I wish you the best of luck wherever you go. PA needs to change a lot of its state policies to encourage employers to set up business there.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by LadyOfTheLake

I gotta say...as much as I love my hometown, fragglewaggle is right. As we speak I am getting ready to pick up and move. There simply are no good jobs here. I cannot afford to raise my kids by myself on what I get paid (even if I move to another part of town)--and there are no better paying jobs in my field. More and more, those jobs are being given to foreigners of all descriptions. The second I find a job (probably in a related field), I am outta here. There is simply no reason a woman of my education and experience should have to beg for a job...and when I see men with less education and experience making more than me simply because they are men in a female-dominated field, I've had enough. It's always the Good Old Boys Club here in Pittsburgh, and it will never change. I should not have to marry again just for financial security, and if I stay here that is what it will come down to.

I should have left 10 years ago, but I didn't. Do I regret it? Absolutely. I have finally been driven to it by the fact that we haven't had a raise in 5 years (despite consistently scoring 98% and above on performance evaluations). That taxes are going through the roof. That the price of food is outrageous--go to Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida. You'll pay half the price for food as you do here. And let's not talk about gas or anything else.

Even if I did stay here, I fully expect that my children will leave. There is simply no reason for them to stay. There's nothing here, and there won't be for many, many years to come.

Sorry, but there it is. I love Pittsburgh, but I cannot stay here if I want to survive and provide for my kids. I want the best for them, and for me, and that isn't going to happen here.

I find it odd that you are complaining about the conditions of Pittsburgh, yet you live in Sewickly. I don't know much about your taxes or the food prices out that way, but I imagine you could probably do better if you actually move to Pittsburgh.