Best areas for real estate (Pittsburgh, Plum: best neighborhoods, houses, neighborhoods)

[bwatkin5]

I was wondering what the best areas around Pittsburgh are for raising a family and for purchasing property. I'm doing a search right now just to see what is out there. I've checked out Franklin Park and a couple areas I can't remember at the moment.

Also, what would be the best areas if you were going to try to purchase land to build a nice home? I would like at least a half-acre, but hopefully more.

If I moved, I would most likely be working in the city since I do commercial construction.

Any suggestions?

[BrianTH]

Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods, and there is a large variety of family-friendly neighborhoods. So, it might be helpful for you to add some information about your preferences (e.g., city versus inner suburbs versus exurbs, preferred styles of housing, price range, and so on).

[bwatkin5]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods, and there is a large variety of family-friendly neighborhoods. So, it might be helpful for you to add some information about your preferences (e.g., city versus inner suburbs versus exurbs, preferred styles of housing, price range, and so on).

Well, ideally I would find a place like where I grew up. My family had a home that was about a mile from the interstate and like 5 minutes from the city. The part I liked about the location was that it was close to the city and the highway, but that we still had some land. I had a nice size yard to play in as a kid and we had room to go sledding and have fun.

If I was going to buy a home, I'd consider up to the $300-400,000 range because I'm in it now. I'm thinking that buys you a pretty nice house back that way though. I'm not sure what I'd pay for land. I don't want what would be a house payment for just some land. I'd like a nice size lot. A view would be great to have, but I don't know what it'd cost me in that area. If I were building, I'd want to build my dream home, so I'd want an area with high quality homes, but not professional sports star quality. Unfortunately, the Pirates missed my try-out video. Oh well. I need a place to raise my kid and my dog. Both of them need some room to play.

Some of the areas that appear to be nice are Franklin Park, Upper St Clair, Forest Hills, Ohio TWP, and Plum Boro. Let me know if these are good or not. I have some areas where I am that have some amazing houses, but the areas are actually very sketchy.

Does this help?

[BrianTH]

I think those details will indeed prove very helpful. Unfortunately, I am not the best person to answer your questions (I know best neighborhoods were large yards are not the norm), but I believe some other posters will be able to provide some good suggestions.

[bwatkin5]

I should also ask the question of what areas have great school systems to go along with what I asked before.

[PeterRabbit]

Murrysville (beside Plum) is in Westmoreland County = much lower taxes, good school. Forest Hills is in Woodland Hills school system, not good.

[bwatkin5]

Any other suggested areas anyone?