potentialy moving need tax data, neighborhood info

[hempfield mania]

Pretty much, your best bet is going to be to stay the heck out of Allegheny County if you want your combined property taxes to be somewhat reasonable. There is a ton of new construction going on in the areas I mentioned in my previous post. Many of the new houses are in the $200k-$400k+ range but are in plans that most likely have covenants to follow. Seen too much of that when I lived in Houston and I will never own a house where the HOA can tell me what to do with my lot, what color to paint, if I can park my boat somewhere, etc.

[cpelp]

I found another place not mentioned here that looks to be just outside allegheny county with decent tax rates. Level Green. How is this place? I saw at least 2 houses there that were attractive and it's only a 20 minute drive to monroeville (according to google).

[hempfield mania]

Level Green is good too. It is still in the general area of North Irwin, Penn Township, Murrysville....I think they are part of the Penn Trafford School district.

[Copanut]

I believe Level Green is a generic term for Penn Township. Good area, growing like crazy but still some good buys out there. And the Penn-Traffford SD is a good one.

[Awesomo.2000]

You should look into Wexford or Murrysville! There are a lot of cool housing plans that are being built with beautiful boxy homes! Some have awesome names like "Blue Herron fields", "Deer Creek Woods", and "Misty Meadow Forest". The developers like to name them after animals and landscapes that use to be there before they tear them down!

Great areas! Don't need to worry about walking! Parking is an easy accessibility there!

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Awesomo.2000

You should look into Wexford or Murrysville! There are a lot of cool housing plans that are being built with beautiful boxy homes! Some have awesome names like "Blue Herron fields", "Deer Creek Woods", and "Misty Meadow Forest". The developers like to name them after animals and landscapes that use to be there before they tear them down!

Not everyone can or WANTS to live in the City. I love living on a couple of wooded acres out here in the North.

[Awesomo.2000]

I never speak tongue in cheek.

It is my goal to see all of Pennsylvania from SouthWest, to the Poconos, down to the Amish country be turned into Everywhereville!

I graduated architecture school with a 2.01 GPA (just enough to graduate) and now work contracts designing houses with Maronda and Ryan homes. They put food on my table. SO build, build, build!

[Kondorzwei]

A couple questions regarding the assessments I hope someone can answer.

We purchased our home in Allegheny County, Indiana Twp, in March 2008. The school district is appealing the assessment.

1) They actually were appealing the assessment of the previous owner who purchased the home in 2003, but now we have been notified of the hearing.

2) We are hearing the the new assessment will be retroactive, meaning all the PAST taxes will also be due.

I don't mind paying the new assessment for the period we have owned the house, but is it legal to make us pay back taxes prior to owning?

I am coming from California, but lived in Jefferson Hills previously for five years, and I have never seen such a crazy mess. I don't understand why all these issues are not addressed at the time of the home's sale.

Any tips from anyone would be appreciated.

[Copanut]

I can't see how you could be expected to pay taxes on the house prior to owning it. Seems like they should go after the previous owner for those dollars.

But all the school districts are going after homes they feel are under assessed by the county. I can't wait until home values start to decline and homeowners go after the school districts for being OVER assessed.