HELP!-- 3 Families Moving from NYC to Pittsburgh???? (Philadelphia, Mount Lebanon: real estate, townhouses)

[By~Tor]

Well, I'd like to thank BOTH of you for what I thought was good advice and help.

As for being more specific, I guess if I had to run down a list of what we're ideally looking for, it'd be as such:

* Single-family, detached residence with front & backyards.

* Solid, older homes in established neighborhood.

* Hardwood floors.

* Driveway and Garage.

* 2 Story (no ranch) with basement.

* SAFE neighborhood, preferably w/ Hungarians / Irish nearby.

* Walking distance (for elderly) to Trains, Bus lines and good Grocery Stores.

* NOT in a flood zone. Hilly is good.....

* Under $160,000.00

[guylocke]

* Single-family, detached residence with front & backyards.

* Solid, older homes in established neighborhood.

* Hardwood floors.

* Driveway and Garage.

* 2 Story (no ranch) with basement.

* SAFE neighborhood, preferably w/ Hungarians / Irish nearby.

* Walking distance (for elderly) to Trains, Bus lines and good Grocery Stores.

* NOT in a flood zone. Hilly is good.....

* Under $160,000.00

That's sort of ironic. Several of things you mentioned make Lawrenceville quite a nice fit and some of the things don't.

For example, I mentioned the things I did precisely for the same reason you just listed them, they are important.

For example, front and back yards, and driveways with garage are two things you may be hard-pressed to find in Lawrenceville. Then again, they are older homes in an established neighborhood, I imagine many have hardwood, it's fairly safe (and more and more so) and won't be flooding anytime soon.

I don't know about the basement thing, part of me thinks you won't find that, either. Maybe susqeez can answer that?

As for the list, let me think of a place that might be good for you.. the eastern European settlers are all from places similar to Lawrenceville in structure.

[fleetiebelle]

I'd say Dormont would fit the bill for pretty much all the criteria except for possibly the ethnicity factor.

[By~Tor]

What about some of the following areas (links)? - - Would these be considered "nice" areas that fit the bill we mention below??? :

Penn Hills:

loc: 418 Pennwood Dr. at Pentland Dr. Penn Hills PA US - Google Maps

"Mexican War Streets"???:

ARCH STREET in the Mexican War Streets Neighborhood (broken link)

Baldwin:

FLORA ST CAPE COD: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths in BALDWIN (broken link)

[velcro21]

You should definitely look at the South Hills neighborhoods. I got my home a few years ago for $97K. I am in a very nice area, have a nice yard, 3 bedrooms, and 1.5 baths. Many neighborhoods in Pittsburgh have a strong eastern-European influence. My neighbors are immigrants from Serbia and there are a number of first generation Croatian/Serbian immigrants in the area. My guess is there is some Hungarian around as well. My in-laws are Croatian/Serbian/Polish/Greek and I have spent many hours at various festivals and events for all of these nationalities.
You could also consider moving toward Beaver County as there are strong eastern European cultural groups there.

[fleetiebelle]

Now that I think about it, there is a pretty good Hungarian population in the South Hills/Southern Part of Pittsburgh. I think the Hungarian Social Club is in McKeesport, and that Josza Corner Hungarian restaurant is in Hazelwood (though you wouldn't want to live there.)

[By~Tor]

Originally Posted by velcro21

You should definitely look at the South Hills neighborhoods. I got my home a few years ago for $97K. I am in a very nice area, have a nice yard, 3 bedrooms, and 1.5 baths. Many neighborhoods in Pittsburgh have a strong eastern-European influence. My neighbors are immigrants from Serbia and there are a number of first generation Croatian/Serbian immigrants in the area. My guess is there is some Hungarian around as well. My in-laws are Croatian/Serbian/Polish/Greek and I have spent many hours at various festivals and events for all of these nationalities.
You could also consider moving toward Beaver County as there are strong eastern European cultural groups there.

Well, if you'll check the initial post in the thread, you'll see that we have a few reasons for wanting to be IN the city proper, and as nice as I'm sure the 'Burbs are, I want to limit our search to the City of Pittsburgh, itself, if possible.

Darn, aren't there any Real Estate Agents on this thing???...LOL!!!

[ainulinale]

Shadyside is very safe, has gorgeous Georgian and Victorian mansions as well as some classy rowhouses...it is expensive though. Don't go to Lawrenceville unless you're looking for some serious density and rowhouses. I personally love Lawrenceville, but parts of it have crime issues. The whole city proper has good public transportation access, and nearly everywhere is within walking distance to supermarkets. A lot of the East End of the city is Eastern European if it hasn't been assimilated yet. I don't know of anything Hungarian, but Polish Hill is nice and safe even though it is next to a dangerous area.

[ainulinale]

This is what you'll find in Lawrenceville:


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-17


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-17


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-17


This is typical of Shadyside:


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-19


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-19


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-19


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-19


By ainulindale, shot with C960Z,D460Z at 2007-12-19


Are you looking for a rowhouse neighborhood or something more woodsy?

[By~Tor]

WOW!--THANKS for the pictures! - - The areas kinda' remind me of the Soulard area of St. Louis, where I spent 6 very happy years in the same kind of housing.

I think my gal would definitely prefer something a bit more "woodsy" as you called it, but at least a driveway / garage would be nice, and some sort of backyard to piddle around in....