Relocating to Pittsburgh! (York, Lebanon, Upper St. Clair: houses, neighborhoods, magnet schools)

[eschaton]

There are lots of good schools in the Pittsburgh area. We need more information including:

1. Are you in the position to buy immediately, or are you looking to rent?

2. Price range?

3. Where will you be working?

4. Are you looking for new construction subdivisions, or more of a historic "town" type of vibe?

[PittsburghviaRome]

Originally Posted by eschaton

There are lots of good schools in the Pittsburgh area. We need more information including:

1. Are you in the position to buy immediately, or are you looking to rent?

2. Price range?

3. Where will you be working?

4. Are you looking for new construction subdivisions, or more of a historic "town" type of vibe?

We will be buying immediately (possibly even before we arrive for the right house), price range up to 600k but ideally would prefer not to go to our max budget.

My husband's office is on the south side of the city and if I'm looking at google maps it looks like it's between Arlington Heights and South Side Flats.

Lastly, I love older historic homes with charm, my husband loves new construction but not the taxes that come with it, so we're somewhere in the middle...lol. Both willing to compromise for the right house/school.

[PittsburghviaRome]

Originally Posted by Knepper3

Ditto on the SD everyone has mentioned, we are in Avonworth and while it has grown over the past 12 years it is still pretty small compared to many others. When my kids graduated 6 years ago it was maybe 90 kids in the grade and the younger grades had maybe 120-130 kids. I'm not sure the sizes now but likely not too much different.

Thank you so much!! This helps!

[svband76]

Originally Posted by PittsburghviaRome

We will be buying immediately (possibly even before we arrive for the right house), price range up to 600k but ideally would prefer not to go to our max budget.

My husband's office is on the south side of the city and if I'm looking at google maps it looks like it's between Arlington Heights and South Side Flats.

Lastly, I love older historic homes with charm, my husband loves new construction but not the taxes that come with it, so we're somewhere in the middle...lol. Both willing to compromise for the right house/school.

I would go Squirrel Hill all the way. $600k budget will get you something nice. Like this https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-31954?view=qv

Good luck!

[Knepper3]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

I would go Squirrel Hill all the way. $600k budget will get you something nice. Like this https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-31954?view=qv

Good luck!

Don't think that SD is what they are looking for.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by PittsburghviaRome

We will be buying immediately (possibly even before we arrive for the right house), price range up to 600k but ideally would prefer not to go to our max budget.

You can buy a lot of house for that amount of money in Pittsburgh.

Originally Posted by PittsburghviaRome

My husband's office is on the south side of the city and if I'm looking at google maps it looks like it's between Arlington Heights and South Side Flats.

Hrrm...not the most office-heavy area, but I'm guessing your husband works in an office building at or near South Side Works.

I would not suggest the North Hills in this case. All roads lead to Downtown in Pittsburgh, and working in that area and living north of the city means he'd have to fight his way through downtown traffic every day.

Originally Posted by PittsburghviaRome

Lastly, I love older historic homes with charm, my husband loves new construction but not the taxes that come with it, so we're somewhere in the middle...lol. Both willing to compromise for the right house/school.

I concur with the above poster that you should at least consider buying a home in the city neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. City schools have bad reputations in the U.S. in general I know, but Colfax K-8 - the neighborhood school - is the best neighborhood school in the city and compares favorably to top suburban school districts. Beautiful historic homes in your price range, easy commute for your husband, and a nice family-friendly business district if you're into that.

I'd also consider Mt. Lebanon. Upscale, semi-walkable suburb to the south of the city, that makes more sense to land in if your husband is working to the south of Downtown.

[SteelCityRising]

Yeah, given the work location I'm not quite as confident that living north/northwest of Downtown in the North Hills and then commuting to southeast of Downtown is your best bet anymore. Thanks for giving us the office site.

Squirrel Hill above is a great suggestion. It's in the city proper, but the public schools in Squirrel Hill are pretty good. Squirrel Hill to South Side would not be a bad commute at all. Squirrel Hill has numerous beautiful homes with charm and historic details for <$600,000.

[Knepper3]

Originally Posted by PittsburghviaRome

We will be buying immediately (possibly even before we arrive for the right house), price range up to 600k but ideally would prefer not to go to our max budget.

My husband's office is on the south side of the city and if I'm looking at google maps it looks like it's between Arlington Heights and South Side Flats.

Lastly, I love older historic homes with charm, my husband loves new construction but not the taxes that come with it, so we're somewhere in the middle...lol. Both willing to compromise for the right house/school.

There is a mix but less new construction. You are likely to find new renovated homes which migh work for you both depending on what he likes about new construction. $600k leaves most areas wide open. Commute to that area from North Hills areas isn't too bad of a drive, bridges are always the choke point.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Knepper3

There is a mix but less new construction. You are likely to find new renovated homes which migh work for you both depending on what he likes about new construction. $600k leaves most areas wide open. Commute to that area from North Hills areas isn't too bad of a drive, bridges are always the choke point.

Yeah, but let's say you want to commute between Ben Avon Heights and South Side Works during the rush hours. That can't be a very pleasant commute.

I mean wouldn't this commute basically be 65/West End Bridge/Carson Street? That would have to be a 40-minute commute during the rush hours.

[jea6321]

I would definitely look at Mt Lebanon and still keep ben Avon/ben Avon heights on the list. The commute to the south side really isn't bad in the AM from the north.

and as others state, Squirrel hill would be a good choice if living within the city proper is something that you want to consider. North of Forbes squirrel hill has somewhat of a similar feel as to parts of ben Avon in terms of architecture and feel. The schools are considered to be the best within the city proper and even though some might disagree, I would guess the education one receives might be just as good as any of the top ranked suburban schools.