From Texas - acreage suggestions please!

[MaryS80]

The hills are a bit more than rolling around the 'burgh


They are quite beautiful though as they are covered in trees. In the summer they are a nice green, and in fall all sorts of lovely shades. There are no endless droughts to turn the earth a barren shade of brown.

Driving is probably be the biggest difference. Drivers in Pittsburgh are pretty nice compared to Texas. You don't have as many people weaving in and out of traffic, nor do you have the idiots who tailgate because you are going the posted speed. There's not as much traffic either. The part where driving up there is scarier are the roads. there are a lot of zig zaggy roads, and blind curves, as well as roads that border a steep embankment/hillside. As I say you can't go the way the crow flies.

weather wise, yes you can go out in the summer and enjoy it.

My other favorite thing about the area is the housing. There is an abundance of wonderful older homes in all sorts of architectural styles. Whereas Texas seems to have mile upon mile of indistinguishable McMansions and tract homes.

If you like to garden, the growing season is shorter. However the soil is very good, and the climate is wetter both of which help immensely.

[jimmyev]

I'd look at Lawrence County. Acreage is relatively cheap, the land is more gently rolling, and driving distances short by Texas standards. From where I live the airport is a traffic-less 40 min drive down the Beaver Valley Expressway, Cranberry is 25 min down I-79, Grove City Outlets 20 min. north on 79, and downtown Pittsburgh a $3, 1-hour bus ride.

[wilsie2woolgather]

Hi there Texas, and welcome to PA...
I agree that Butler County is where you want to be, preferably in the southwest part of the county, as you can then pop into Cranberry (where some of the best restaurants are) for quick lunch and dinner, or for your kids' gymnastics lessons, a great ice skating rink, etc. etc. etc.. The school district, Seneca Valley, is also one of the best. And yes, you can get some awesome acreage with a great house on it for under $500K .. in fact, I could direct you to such a place, but the last time I did something like that in one of these forums, it got scotched by the administrator as advertising, so try to get in touch with me via the "befriend" button.

[Shenandoah]

Lawrence County (super cheap property taxes), Butler County, Westmoreland, Washington, and the northern end of Fayette County (also super cheap property taxes).

blessings, Shen

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by OneTexasNative

We would like to buy some land (10 - 50 acres) with a house in the $300 - $500k range. Preferably, the property would be within a 30 - 45 min. drive from reasonable shopping, etc. We are somewhat private people, so the social aspects are not that important.

What is important is the land (rolling hills, trees, acreage), proximity to a reasonably good sized city around Pittsburgh with medical and shopping and not too much snow! Coming from Texas we don't want to be snow bound for six months out of the year.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Re-reading your post - Fayette County would be nice for you also. Shopping and good medical facilities. Excellent hospitals in Morgantown WV and in Pittsburgh PA. The property taxes are as stated in my previous post, super cheap in Fayette County.

Another choice would be Lawrence County, with shopping choices in Grove City, Sharon, Pittsburgh, Cranberry or Boardman. Excellent hospitals and medical choices as you'll be in between Pittsburgh and Cleveland/Youngstown hospitals. Again, cheap property taxes.

Check out the areas, lots of history, and great down to earth people in this area of Western Pennsylvania.

blessings, Shen