Moving to Pittsburgh Area (Upper St. Clair, Washington: real estate, chapel, houses)

[denpamava]

Like the many posts on here, we are moving to the area and would appreciate any information on schools, home, and neighborhoods in the following areas:
1. Wexford
2. McAndless (SP?)
3. Franklin Park
4. Sewickley (Heights as well)
5. Moon
6. Peters TWP
7. Quaker Valley School district (we heard its a very good school and we would like to know which cities are in this district.

We are relocating from the Greater Birmingham Alabama area. We would like a flat lot (Flat as possible) as we are currently situated on a lot that has a sloped front yard and steep back (this is common in Bama).

Thanks for any advice

DPnA

[aman20]

If you're looking for good school districts. I'd look into Fox Chapel School District too.

and for Quaker Valley School District. Sewickley (#4 on your list) is the town QV covers. There is a private school Sewickley Academy there too (not affiliated with QVSD). I don't know too much beyond that though about that specific area though.
I hope that gives you some kind of start though.

[highway29south]

Ah, I wouldn't put too much into finding a flat lot. Pittsburgh is pretty hilly and getting a flat lot is tough. I've said this before on other threads, but our real estate agent laughed at us when we asked for a flat yard with some acreage. She said it's just a very rare thing in this area.

Most of the areas you named are upscale. Peters is in Washington county, outside of Allegheny where Pgh is located. I'm not sure why it's appealing to people, but for some reason it gets a lot of mention on this forum. I find it quite expensive and the people I've met from there are rich and know it, if you get my drift. It does have good schools from what I hear.

Moon is a nice area where the Pittsburgh International Airport is located. It's in the process of developing and fixing up old areas but I think it has a nice range of homes, newer and older. Shopping is ok, you can always zip down to Robinson Township (about 10 minutes away) for lots of shopping and restaurants.

Wexford is also nice, somewhat crowded. Lots of shopping, North Hills is very close by, some farm areas, pretty far from downtown. It's about a 20 minute drive on 79 to 279. I don't know anything about the schools there but I've never heard anything bad about them either.

The other areas I'm not as familiar with. Maybe other Pittsburghers could give you a better idea on them.

Good luck!

[Copanut]

Welcome to Pgh, and it's strange addresses. Wexford is not a city/twp/boro, it's a mailing address that encompasses parts of Franklin Park, McCandless, Pine Township, and Marshall Township. I live in McCandless and my zip is Gibsonia, go figure. But all the places you mentioned are in good school districts.

As to a flat lot, good luck, like 'bama, we have tons of hills.

[highway29south]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

Welcome to Pgh, and it's strange addresses. Wexford is not a city/twp/boro, it's a mailing address that encompasses parts of Franklin Park, McCandless, Pine Township, and Marshall Township. I live in McCandless and my zip is Gibsonia, go figure. But all the places you mentioned are in good school districts.

As to a flat lot, good luck, like 'bama, we have tons of hills.

You know that is funny. I live in Robinson but my address is Mc Kees Rocks. Very confusing to the poor delivery guys, who always head down to the bottoms looking for our house!

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by highway29south

You know that is funny. I live in Robinson but my address is Mc Kees Rocks. Very confusing to the poor delivery guys, who always head down to the bottoms looking for our house!

Hey, my brother lives in Upper St. Clair which is 15241, a Pgh address. But, amazingly his return address is USC, stinkin' class climber. A friend of mine in Nevillewood refuses to write Presto as his return. I live in McCandless and I hate to say Gibsonia.

Best bet is to live in Aleppo or Ohio Twp and say Sewickley!!!

[robrobrob]

You are basically looking all over the "city". I would think that it would be wise to narrow your search down to two school districts and go from there. I bet one realtor probably wouldn't know all of the areas . I would look in North Allegheny School District with one realtor and then I would look in the Quaker Valley School District with another. If nothing works, then you can check out Peters or Moon.

[rapchef2]

We just moved a week ago and I had posted this question as well. Many people mentioned Beaver county for it's value and lower taxes so we've been checking there. After driving through some of the towns/townships (whatever they call them), we found a few places with nice yards and good schools. Hopewell and Center both are places where the houses aren't on top of one another, the yards are more level than in the city, the houses aren't too expensive, and the schools are rated very well. Beaver is an adorable town with a good school, but yards aren't too big. Chippewa has a good school and is more rural (but is farther away). And we just discovered a little town called Industry that has a nice feel to it with decent yards, but I haven't researched that school system yet. Perhaps Beaver county is too far from where you'll be working, but if it's within the range you are willing to commute, I think you may want to check it out. Moon (in Allegheny county) does appear more "rural" (if you're from farmland, it's not really rural) with nice yards, but taxes are higher there.

[denpamava]

Hi, my office is in Moon, we have family in Cleveland Ohio/Columbus Ohio. We want to be within a couple hours of Cleveland and maybe 3-3.5 to Columbus. We are considering all options and appreciate any more information about the areas that your looking. We think we are going to build a home and would like a bit of land. Being close to DT Pittsburgh isnt a real priority, but being close to the Airport/Moon may be as I will have to be in the office when I am not traveling. We continue to consider Wexford, McAndless, Franklin Park areas. Moon is nice, but a bit too close to the airport and the office.

Thanks

DPnA

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by denpamava

Hi, my office is in Moon, we have family in Cleveland Ohio/Columbus Ohio. We want to be within a couple hours of Cleveland and maybe 3-3.5 to Columbus. We are considering all options and appreciate any more information about the areas that your looking. We think we are going to build a home and would like a bit of land. Being close to DT Pittsburgh isnt a real priority, but being close to the Airport/Moon may be as I will have to be in the office when I am not traveling. We continue to consider Wexford, McAndless, Franklin Park areas. Moon is nice, but a bit too close to the airport and the office.

Thanks

DPnA

Beaver County would work well for you. Even from Chippewa, it's only about 30-40 min. to the airport. If you're into the "big old house" thing, try looking in Patterson Hts. It's in the same SD as Chippewa (Blackhawk), but has the older homes. I can guarantee you 30 min to the airport from PH; I grew up there.