HELP!-- 3 Families Moving from NYC to Pittsburgh???? (Oliver: buying a house, safest neighborhood)

[Wendelyn Piquette]

Mike, I like your house pictures. Congratulations!
I'm also in Mt. Lebanon. I hope you enjoy it here, we definitely do.
Wendy Piquette
Moderator cut: URL removed

[By~Tor]

So, yesterday, the 2nd house deal fell through, as they only wanted to go 6 months and then open up the house for potential buyers (if we didn't have our financing in order by then), which we will not go for... no one wants to live with people walking through your home, especially if you are trying to buy it, yourself!!

So now, we are closing in on "D-Day" for getting over there and me starting my job (May 15th), and still no housing confirmed... there's a couple great options in lease-purchases available, and we're going to be coming BACK over this weekend, which of course entails spending even MORE money that WOULD have been going for a downpayment, but will now be going towards the lease-to-own option.....

So - - - if you happen to have a house (NOT an apartment) with basement, 2+ bedrooms, off-stret parking and cat-friendly... holler at me! We can do about $800-900 a month, total, but we need something to happen FAST, so I can get the movers in gear before they raise the rate they quoted me for "off-season" moving...


Arrrrrgh!!!!----I could just pull out my hair, if there were any left to pull out!!! LOL!!!

Originally Posted by By~Tor

Okay, so this past weekend, we made the Banzai Run from NYC to PGH again, staying on the Southside for my gal's Monday morning job interview at A.E.Outfitters.... which seemed to go well enough, and hopefully, she'll get a callback.

Then, we met with the owner of the house in question, who had understandable questions as to our solvency and ability to get the loan for the sale next year, after leasing the place for a year. And there really was no answer to give her, except that we'll do everything within our power to make the sale a reality, but no one can really determine where the housing market is going to be in a year, or whether ANY of us will still have jobs. . . . . hell, the whole world may erupt in flames, for all we know....

But that meet & greet seemed to go good, and I think she got a genuine understanding of us, as potential tenants/buyers.... I hope she will be able to see past the risks involved, and let us in there so we can start the building process, instead of pissing money away going back & forth, trying to find a place to start off in... my job offer won't last forever, I'm sure....

Anyway, so we left out Monday night about 5:30, and with no fewer than three HUGE traffic jams along the way back, we didn't arrive back in NYC until 12:30Am, and I am a complete zombie today.... someone please shoot me, or at least give me a shot of adrenaline or something, to combat this malaise.....

[By~Tor]

Well, the search is OVER, at least for now!--We finally (!!!) found a place to rent this past weekend, a gorgeous little 3rd Floor currently being rehabbed, in Mount Oliver!!!

Okay, so it's right along Brownsville Road, and the area surrounding it seems to look a bit "sketchy", but certainly not threatening... mostly a bunch of kids wearing the baggy pantsed "Thug Life" look.... and I'm sure I could smack any one of 'em down, without even breaking a sweat....

That said, let me ask you good 'Burghers... is the Mount Oliver area (the northern part, nearest to Pittsburgh City, proper) considered a "good" area, or is it an area I should have legitimate concerns about? - - - - Seeing as how it WILL be "home" for at least the next year, I suppose knowing would be a good thing....

Thanks in advance!

-Mike

[Katiana]

I can't answer you question. Years ago, that was part of my territory as a visitng nurse. It seemed OK then. But I will say "congratulations"! I think renting for a while is a good idea. It will give you some time to really get to know the area before you buy.

[suzeeq521]

Well, I personally wouldn't live in Mount Oliver.

But then again, I live in Lawrenceville and I know lots of folks who say the same about the LV.

Just my own personally experiences in Mount Oliver leave a bad taste in my mouth. Your experiences may differ.

[BrianTH]

I don't know enough about Mt. Oliver to comment, but I just want to say congratulations! And like Katiana I also think in the long run renting before buying is likely to work to your advantage.

[pghcleak]

congrats on the place. I, too, don't know much about Mount Oliver. I think that's a good thing. I never hear anything bad on the news about Mount Oliver like you do constantly about some neighborhoods (Homewood, Hazelwood, Aliquippa, and a few others)

I also checked Wikipedia and there wasn't anything written about violence or crimes in the entry there. Again, congrats and I hope you like Pittsburgh

[Chuckles1821]

One of my friends lived there with 2 other guys this past year and they didn't have any real problems. The only thing that was bad when I visited was that his house was near a park and 2 of the times I parked near it, people asked me if I wanted to buy drugs from them or give drugs to them. It was more funny than threatening, though. I think you should be fine. Congrats on finding a place!

[suzeeq521]

Chuckles seems to have had the same experience that I had - there are open air drug markets through much of Mount Oliver.

Also, it is difficult to explain exactly why I was doing this - the most I can say is volunteer social services work - but I had much time to just sit and watch what went on there. The open air drug markets were thriving. The need for social services was huge.

[By~Tor]

Thanks for the input, guys!... So, in terms of the "open air" drug markets you refer to, is this something that is widely known about the area, or more of a recent phenomenon?

Do the Police make a concerted effort to crack down on the activity, or is the area kinda' left to fend for itself?.....