Why is Pittsburgh so cheap? (Lancaster, Harrisburg: hardwood floors, apartment, chapel)

[Mr. Mon]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Exactly! Then trying getting the money back outta of it when selling. Cause none of the neighbors did any updating and your home is now the most expensive.

That's not what I was saying at all.

Anything under $100,000 would likely need renovations or updates. However, since updated single family homes in those neighborhoods can sell for $200,000+ then anything short of a gut job on a larger house would get a very nice return on investment.

As for convenience, that mile from Morningside to Shadyside, or Greenfield to Squirrel Hill sure is mighty inconvenient.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

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.

Penn Hills has always been substantially white -- that hasn't really changed. If anything it is slowly becoming less white. Penn Hills isn't just the part over by Homewood and Wilkinsburg and what-not. Penn Hills is geographically huge -- it extends all the way to the western border of Plum Boro.

[mwkurt]

Hello,

Am thinking about relocating to the Pittsburgh area, or south of Pittsburgh.
Can anyone name any nice areas south of Pittsburgh?
How about Glassport or Mckeesport areas? Are there any nice ares there.

Thanks,
Mark

[Drover]

Run, do not walk, away from McKeesport. 'Nuff said.

Glassport's biggest problem is its proximity to places considerably shadier than Glassport itself. Other than that, Glassport's biggest home-grown problem is that it's a bit of an eyesore. Admittedly it's been several years since I've been there, but the impression I got is not just that it's seen better days, but that its remaining residents have pretty much given up on it. So while it's not an awful place right now, my impression is that it eventually will be.

You also haven't said whether or not you have kids you need to put through the schools. If not, and if your heart is set on that area, I'd consider somewhere a little further away from the river like West Mifflin or Munhall except right near the Homestead border. If you have money to spare, Mt. Lebanon is the place to be.

[robrobrob]

Penn Hills is pretty cheap. However, I would be leary of buying something there because you may have a difficult time selling it. Check out how many homes are fore sale there. While you can buy a cheap house in Penn Hills it probably isn't a good investment because the area is generally considered to be declining. If you are looking for an affordable eastern suburb, I would try to find a smaller house in the Churchill part of Blackridge. Churchill is nicer than Penn Hills.

[Greg Xix]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

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!

Um, actually.....the Seattle area has a large Asian population(partially due to Microsoft), and a growing Hispanic one as well. Demographically speaking, I think Pittsburgh has the highest percentage by far and away of Caucasian people amongst major cities.

Anyway, what is wrong with Penn Hills schools? I just saw some nice looking(& bank owned) houses for CHEAP there. If I had kids I would consider homeschooling anyway.

I really would prefer suburbs 10+ miles from downtown is what I had in mind anyway.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Greg Xix

Um, actually.....the Seattle area has a large Asian population(partially due to Microsoft), and a growing Hispanic one as well. Demographically speaking, I think Pittsburgh has the highest percentage by far and away of Caucasian people amongst major cities.

Anyway, what is wrong with Penn Hills schools? I just saw some nice looking(& bank owned) houses for CHEAP there. If I had kids I would consider homeschooling anyway.

I really would prefer suburbs 10+ miles from downtown is what I had in mind anyway.

Your black population is what in Seattle? 8% Areas like Braddock, Rankin, Homestead, etc., are not considered 'Pittsburgh', and are very black nabes. Sorry my man, I've been to Seattle, it's whiter. And the areas they consider ghetto there, are kinda of a joke.

The school question, I can only think of one reason why the schools would be considered bad. Draw your own conclusion.

[mwkurt]

Drover,

I am looking for a place that has low crime and yes, good schools. I have a grandaughter that will be going to school in 3 years.

We are really looking for a nice suburb within say 30 or 40 miles of the Burgh (north or south). Preferably, with an easy commute to the surrounding areas where we may find employment in our fields.

Does anything up there fit the bill?

Thanks,
Mark

[Drover]

Well, a 40-mile radius gives you access to pretty much the entire Pittsburgh metrpolitan area and even some flat-out rural areas too. You will find school districts that run the entire quality scale from excellent to downright scary. A price range would certainly help narrow things down a bit. Anyway, I'm not an expert on Pittsburgh seeing how I moved away many years ago (and I wasn't that familiar with most suburbs anyway) so I'll let others take over from here.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by mwkurt

Drover,

I am looking for a place that has low crime and yes, good schools. I have a grandaughter that will be going to school in 3 years.

We are really looking for a nice suburb within say 30 or 40 miles of the Burgh (north or south). Preferably, with an easy commute to the surrounding areas where we may find employment in our fields.

Does anything up there fit the bill?

Thanks,
Mark

30 or 40 miles from Pittsburgh? That would be close to, if not, country living. Depending on what you do for a living, that might be to far away. If you worked in downtown Pittsburgh, 40 miles wouldn't be too far of a commute? Why would you want to live so far from Pittsbugh? On the North Hills side of town, 5 or 6 miles from downtown, and you can start hitting some good suburbs. Really no need to go 30 or 40 miles at all. 40 miles north of Pittsburgh and you'd probably be in Butler, Pa (which is very country living). I wouldn't suggest any futher than 10 miles or so from downtown (unless you like that country life).