McKeesport Photo Tour (new) (Pittsburgh, California: house, rating, buildings)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

McKeesport, Braddock,... just how bad off is the Mon Valley?

Pretty bad. As I see it, the fundamental problem is that while there is potential for redevelopment in the Mon Valley, all that same potential still exists closer to the center, including within the City itself. It also is ill-served by transportation (and the MFE is NOT a solution--and it is not getting built anyway). So more favorably located areas are likely to get redeveloped first, and it may take quite a while before the Mon Valley finally becomes a major focus of reinvestment.

[annaplurabelle]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

One of those buildings, the mansion at 626 Market Street, must be deteriorating fast. I don't know how long ago Google recorded it but the house looked in much much better shape then.

626 Market Street, McKeesport, PA - Google Maps

I know! Did the Redevelopment Authority takeover in January contribute to that, or was it a really bad winter? On the other hand, I've been Googling properties I'm interested in and have seen signs supporting John Kerry for President, so maybe some Google records are really out of date.

BTW, great photos alleghenyangel. You should think about getting a real estate license to make some extra money for your Victorian. Your love of these houses really comes through, and you could use that enthusiasm to sell all the old houses that have been sitting on the market for so long.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by annaplurabelle

BTW, great photos alleghenyangel. You should think about getting a real estate license to make some extra money for your Victorian. Your love of these houses really comes through, and you could use that enthusiasm to sell all the old houses that have been sitting on the market for so long.

Thank you! I have been thinking about getting a real estate license. I wonder if there is any money to be made in that field?

[annaplurabelle]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Thank you! I have been thinking about getting a real estate license. I wonder if there is any money to be made in that field?

Property is constantly changing hands, and most of it through a broker, so the money is there. Whether or not you are one of the agents who makes money is another question, but you have knowledge, enthusiasm, integrity, and you know how to deal with people, so why not try? It's not like you will be depending on it to pay your bills. As a part timer, you could cultivate a niche market - maybe for other urban pioneers, or people who need to sell an old family house - and after a while you will get referrals....

Like you, I bought my first house when I was just shy of my 25th birthday (a Victorian that had been used as a Masonic Temple and then a boarding house). I had to use every dollar I had, plus sell my car for the last minute closing costs. I was a college student at the time, preparing to teach science, but I was hooked on real estate; I loved to look at properties, and saw potential everywhere. I ended up putting off teaching for 15 years, and hope to be active again in real estate soon, even if part time or as a small time rehabber/investor.

That's why I suggested it to you: You love to look at properties too, so why not get paid to do something you love to do?

[BrianTH]

The real estate agent marketing here seems really outdated to me. I think an agent with a well-chosen niche and some Internet savvy could do pretty well.

[PreservationPioneer]

I could specialize in affordable historic homes! It's a fun idea and one I will have to look into. I have thought about real estate before, but it's nice to have hobbies that are not work-related, you know? Then again it would be great to do something you love. Thanks for the ideas.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

I could specialize in affordable historic homes! It's a fun idea and one I will have to look into. I have thought about real estate before, but it's nice to have hobbies that are not work-related, you know? Then again it would be great to do something you love. Thanks for the ideas.

You'd certainly have a customer base already build up on City Data and your blog followers if you ever do become a real estate agent.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

You'd certainly have a customer base already build up on City Data and your blog followers if you ever do become a real estate agent.

Yeah, but I do worry that if I was profiting from the pictures and the preservation stuff I do, that it would be considered biased. I don't want people to think that I'm doing what I do for money -- I do it because I care!

[annaplurabelle]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Yeah, but I do worry that if I was profiting from the pictures and the preservation stuff I do, that it would be considered biased. I don't want people to think that I'm doing what I do for money -- I do it because I care!

It doesn't have to be one or the other. Caring is great, but caring and having some money to put your caring into action is even better. You could always donate a percentage of your profits....

[BrianTH]

I think your true passions would come through in terms of how you presented yourself and your work. Of course that cuts both ways--if becoming an agent ended up being a serious moneymaker for you and that in turn ended up changing your attitudes toward related issues (not saying this would happen, but hypothetically), then those changes in attitude would likely be detectable in your work.

So that's the question I would be asking myself--how might being a successful real estate agent change me? But I wouldn't worry about perceptions independent from that.