Why is Pittsburgh so cheap? (Washington, Portland: to rent, university, earthquake)

[JoeP]

Not to mention, no offense against my hometown of Pittsburgh, but trying to compare it to San Fransico? I'd say that San Fran wins easily.

When comparing cities, try and be realistic with the comparisons. With the exception of these two cities being hilly, they have nothing else in common. Whether you're comparing jobs, education levels, diversity, etc.

Pittsburgh and SF are very different and so much so that I would not compare them, but when it comes to education - higher education Pittsburgh is most certainly in that league. And in some cultural aspects (symphony) is considered among the best in the country. Just being realistic....

[bboy36win]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

... they traded Nady and Bay and got zilch in return.

C'mon Copa, have some optimism! ... they got a bunch of young, talented (albeit unproven) prospects in return: Moss, Hansen, Andy Laroche, Sues, Tabata, Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, and Kartsens. It may have appeared to be a cost-cutting move, and I suppose in a way it was, but in 2-3 years when these kids mature, we could look back and say, "look at all that we got for 2 guys that were gonna leave when they reached unrestricted free agency."

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

San Fransico has ALWAYS had one of the MOST expensive realestate markets in the country, second probably only to NYC. In fact, there were years than San Fransico beat NYC as far as 'average' home prices (maybe still does?). Mannhattan of course is higher, but when you factor in the other boroughs, it brings the 'average' price down.

Not to mention the fact that living in San Fransico, professionals have the ability to earn a much higher salary than they would in Pittsburgh.

San Fransico was the first city to start the '40' year mortgage. In fact, maybe it was the only city to even offer it. Not to mention, no offense against my hometown of Pittsburgh, but trying to compare it to San Fransico? I'd say that San Fran wins easily.

When comparing cities, try and be realistic with the comparisons. With the exception of these two cities being hilly, they have nothing else in common. Whether you're comparing jobs, education levels, diversity, etc.

SF hasn't ALWAYS been expensive. Up until the 70s, it was pretty affordable. Check your facts, dude.


Also, I've lived in both cities and there are more similarities than just hills. Row houses, for instance.

[user_id]

Comparing Pittsburgh to San Fransisco is pretty silly. The two cities have such different dynamics. One is just ending a period of rapid growth where as the other has been declining for decades, in totally different parts of the country, etc etc.

Although looking at San Fransisco's real estate prices is not very interesting. California real estate has always been prone to speculative bubbles and the last decade was the largest yet. The bay area is going to get much more affordable in the coming years.

Originally Posted by JoeP

but when it comes to education - higher education Pittsburgh is most certainly in that league.

No its not. Sure there are universities, one of which is rather good, and the areas by them have a high number of educated folks. But the minute you go outside of these areas you are confronted with something rather different. On the other hand the entire bay area is highly educated and unlike Pittsburgh the educated folks are not largely associated with the universities. Its night and day.

[juliegt]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

San Fransico has ALWAYS had one of the MOST expensive realestate markets in the country, second probably only to NYC. In fact, there were years than San Fransico beat NYC as far as 'average' home prices (maybe still does?). Mannhattan of course is higher, but when you factor in the other boroughs, it brings the 'average' price down.

That's why I'm trying to hang on for a few years, home prices have historically been very strong in this area. My neighborhood is a "starter" neighborhood and has been hit much harder than the rest of city I live in. Other neighborhoods have very few foreclosures. Otherwise, I'd just walk away.

I must say that Pittsburgh does remind me a lot of the SF I grew up in. Much of SF was a Catholic, union, working class town at one time. There was always a hip, alternative element, but it wasn't the majority. Pittsburgh still has the working class feel that reminds me of SF when I was growing up, yet it has the newer healthcare & higher education employers now that bring in a more cosmopolitan vibe.

I gave my situation as an example to show you that Pittsburgh is still a good value, even with its high taxes.

[user_id]

Oh and by the way. Pittsburgh is cheap because the city is not only declining but also decentralizing which results in a rather large inventory of homes in the city.

Pittsburgh saw a little bit of the housing bubble in some neighborhoods but the gains will collapse with the rest of the nation. Despite the prices looking "cheap" they are overpriced vs fundamentals in much of the city (and some suburbs) by at least 15~20%.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by user_id

Comparing Pittsburgh to San Fransisco is pretty silly. The two cities have such different dynamics. One is just ending a period of rapid growth where as the other has been declining for decades, in totally different parts of the country, etc etc.

Although looking at San Fransisco's real estate prices is not very interesting. California real estate has always been prone to speculative bubbles and the last decade was the largest yet. The bay area is going to get much more affordable in the coming years.


No its not. Sure there are universities, one of which is rather good, and the areas by them have a high number of educated folks. But the minute you go outside of these areas you are confronted with something rather different. On the other hand the entire bay area is highly educated and unlike Pittsburgh the educated folks are not largely associated with the universities. Its night and day.

The ENTIRE Bay Area is highly educated? And you call someone else silly? I'm guessing you don't live there. Taking the Bay Area's much vaunted "diversity" into account, I guess we'll include places like Hayward and Richmond and Vallejo and Crockett. Need I go on? Do you even know what I'm talking about?


It's like saying the entirety of NYC is "highly educated". Asinine.

One day, the Hayward fault is going to drastically lower the elitism average in this country. It's nature's way, and I can't wait. Hopefully I will have convinced my two friends who can still afford to live in that overpriced and overrated hellhole to move to Pittsburgh.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

The ENTIRE Bay Area is highly educated? And you call someone else silly? I'm guessing you don't live there. Taking the Bay Area's much vaunted "diversity" into account, I guess we'll include places like Hayward and Richmond and Vallejo and Crockett.

Firstly, I really did not have in mind the entire metro area when I made my comment. But even if you look at the San Fransisco MSA its far more educated than the Pittsburgh MSA. Once you leave Pittsburgh, hell once you leave the triangle, it starts to become redhicksville with the exception of a handful of suburbs. The same isn't true of the SF MSA, although there are certainly bad areas.

The point of my comment was that although Pittsburgh does have some highly educated areas much of the city is not and the vast majority of the areas outside of the city aren't. In contrast most of San Fransisco is highly educated and many of the surrounding areas (e.g. the Peninsula) are too. Also, most of the educated work force in Pittsburgh is associated with the Universities and Medical establishment where as the same isn't true of San Fransisco. Because of this I don't think the two are very comparable in terms of education.

Originally Posted by creepsinc

One day, the Hayward fault is going to drastically lower the elitism average in this country. It's nature's way, and I can't wait.

You can't wait for hundreds of thousand to be homeless, thousands to die, etc? Sorry, regardless of what you think of the people in San Fransisco your comment is utterly disgusting. Can't you critique a region without wishing their death and destruction? It must suck to be so hateful.

[Awesomo.2000]

Ahhhhhhh, here we go again with yet another ignorant poster posting claims he has no knowledge on, and no idea what he is talking about when describing a area he is bashing.

I really wish this forum could attract people who don't bash cities on ignorant stereotypes. Pittsburgh is uneducated, dying, in decline, there are a bunch of empty houses in the city because no body wants to live in it, bla bla bla bla. I am getting so sick of the ignorance on this forum.

"Once you leave Pittsburgh, hell once you leave the triangle, it starts to become redhicksville with the exception of a handful of suburbs"-User_id. Just this statement alone tells us with what type of person we are dealing with. Just ignore this guy. His ignorance and useless baseless claims are just going to stir a angry pot, and its not even worth it.

When a topic of something positive comes on this forum like a new development that topic will die, and is on the second page in a day. But when some one like SR1234, the octron guy, or this guy comes in, it is the hot topic for weeks.

[JoeP]

No its not. Sure there are universities, one of which is rather good, and the areas by them have a high number of educated folks. But the minute you go outside of these areas you are confronted with something rather different. On the other hand the entire bay area is highly educated and unlike Pittsburgh the educated folks are not largely associated with the universities. Its night and day

Discussing education in terms of institutions is not the same discussion as discussing those who are educated.

By the way, Pittsburgh has made one of the largest gains in educated workforce in the last 30-40 years as the region became less industrial.

See, if a large number of people work in plants and manufacturing then those numbers changes the percentages of the workforce education numbers so obviously a region like the Bay area which did not have such industries to skew its results will look better.

But thankfully we don't make anything anymore (we, being the U.S.) so maybe those peskly blue collar people can go away for good. We're getting good at it. Detroit is Pittsburgh in the 70s and 80s minus the institutions that Pittsburgh had and has.

If you had read my point it was that Pittsburgh has educational institutions on a very high tier which the only higher one being large regions with even more institutions like Philly, NYC, and Boston.