Why is Pittsburgh so cheap? (Penn Hills, Plum: bank owned, sale, low crime)

[Greg Xix]

Thanks for the replies. I dont mind getting something "inexpensive" in the outskirts of Pitt. or more preferably the suburbs if the house is in a relatively safe neighborhood. I am 30 years old and single, so "living while renovating" is what I have in mind; even if it takes a year or two. I just want to own a house.

I kind of like those brick homes. Just curious, though; Is pittsburghmoves.com the biggest and best online realestate site for Western PA?



BTW......Penn Hills? Yay or Nay?

[lifepgh2op]

Originally Posted by Greg Xix

BTW......Penn Hills? Yay or Nay?

Mostly nay...but I think there may be a few decent parts of Penn Hills and assuming that you don't have kids, you won't have to worry about the schools, which may be the biggest concern with Penn Hills.

[Drover]

Most of Penn Hills is OK, the part near Wilkinsburg maybe not. I think the major concern with Penn Hills is schools. Probably not a big concern for someone who's single. And as someone else has mentioned up-thread, whatever money you put into renovating you're not likely to get back out unless maybe you buy a fixer-upper in of the more desirable neighborhoods (even then it's still a gamble). Penn Hills does not qualify as "desirable."

Two other good resources for home listings in Pittsburgh are prudentialpreferred.com and howardhanna.com.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Greg Xix

Thanks for the replies. I dont mind getting something "inexpensive" in the outskirts of Pitt. or more preferably the suburbs if the house is in a relatively safe neighborhood. I am 30 years old and single, so "living while renovating" is what I have in mind; even if it takes a year or two. I just want to own a house.

I kind of like those brick homes. Just curious, though; Is pittsburghmoves.com the biggest and best online realestate site for Western PA?



BTW......Penn Hills? Yay or Nay?

Just to let you know, Penn Hills is a black suburb.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Just to let you know, Penn Hills is a black suburb.

And by "black" he means "75% white" so "black" is really code for "not white enough."

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Drover

And by "black" he means "70% white."

I haven't been there in YEEEEEAAAARS, but I know there was alot of black when I was younger. Maybe they all moved? I remember being chased down by their 'canine police unit' as a kid (ya I was breaking the law). Now, what suburbs have you ever heard of, having that? Those are some burbs with attitude there (atleast there were years ago). See drover, I left pittsburgh years ago.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Drover

And by "black" he means "75% white" so "black" is really code for "not white enough."

I've lived on the westside of Chicago, South Philly (they ain't all italians), different places on the northside of the burgh, etc, etc. This guys coming from Seattle Drover, you ever been there? It's alot different than the cities back east. That's why I was giving him a heads up. Seattle is probably the whitest city in America (major one that is).

So please spare me that "not white enough". I've dated women of all colors, including black. Pittsburgh is alot rougher looking than Seattle, period!

[Drover]

I'm so impressed with your dating credentials. Telling someone that a substantially white suburb is a "black" suburb because it's not white from corner to corner is race-baiting pure and simple.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Drover

I'm so impressed with your dating credentials. Telling someone that a substantially white suburb is a "black" suburb because it's not white from corner to corner is race-baiting pure and simple.

I'm telling him from I remember, if it's changed, so be it. I remember 'working out' in the Bally's gym there about 15 years ago. For a suburban gym, there was alot of blacks working out in there. I could care less, but this guys coming from Seattle, so maybe he feels different. Ain't saying he does, but who knows.

And maybe that 30% is grouped closely together there, so it just seemed like there was a higher %. I just know, ANY suburban police force that has a 'canine unit', deals with MORE crime than your average burb.

[onwardandupward]

Penn Hills is a pretty large suburb, and has good areas as well as "iffy" ones. You could get a great brick house under $100,000 in Penn Hills. The Rosedale part of Penn Hills is nice, along with the part of Penn Hills bordering Plum. As others have said, though, the schools are not very highly recommended, but that may not be an issue. The impact of that, however, is that home price appreciation in Penn Hills is slim.