back again.. this time - Lawrenceville? (Pittsburgh, Plum: apartments, renters, mortgage)

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by newgirlpgh

thanks everyone.
i really want small (it's only me & I don't plan on adding a partner or otherwise for a good number of years) and I don't want a yard - so while those can be negatives for a lot of ppl, it works for me.
i did notice they had basically tried to "flip" the property..
someone had mentioned there's no parking? how does that work then - I can't even park on the street?

...

You'd have to park on 41st Street or in Almond Way, and walk a short distance if you moved to the Eden property.

Parking is getting tighter, particularly between 40 and 44 St. Teachers at the Arsenal School park on the side streets, the area is getting wealthier with more cars, and some folks use the streets in the area as a "park and ride" to town.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by newgirlpgh

thanks everyone.
i really want small (it's only me & I don't plan on adding a partner or otherwise for a good number of years) and I don't want a yard - so while those can be negatives for a lot of ppl, it works for me.
i did notice they had basically tried to "flip" the property..
someone had mentioned there's no parking? how does that work then - I can't even park on the street?

phew. good thing I started this search so early compared to when I need to move. I never thought it would take as long as it has...

Those things may not be negatives to you personally, but you can still refer to them as negatives when negotiating the price.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by newgirlpgh

thanks everyone.
i really want small (it's only me & I don't plan on adding a partner or otherwise for a good number of years) and I don't want a yard - so while those can be negatives for a lot of ppl, it works for me.

Fine. Beware that you may be overpaying for the property however. If you stay there for the long haul I'm sure you'll make money in the end.

Originally Posted by newgirlpgh

someone had mentioned there's no parking? how does that work then - I can't even park on the street?

Eden Way is a very narrow alley directly behind Butler Street. Most of the other alleys in Lawrenceville are wide enough that you can park a car on one side of the street, just barely, particularly if you put the wheels up on the curb, but Eden is so narrow that's impossible.

Note you also come directly out of your front steps into the street. There's no sidewalk. 95% of the time this won't be a big deal, because it's not heavily trafficked, but as there are rear garages to a lot of the buildings on Butler, it happens from time to time.

[Hopes]

As others have mentioned, you can park on any public street, but the alley where the house is located is too narrow to park immediately near where you live.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by newgirlpgh

thanks everyone.
i really want small (it's only me & I don't plan on adding a partner or otherwise for a good number of years) and I don't want a yard - so while those can be negatives for a lot of ppl, it works for me.
i did notice they had basically tried to "flip" the property..
someone had mentioned there's no parking? how does that work then - I can't even park on the street?

phew. good thing I started this search so early compared to when I need to move. I never thought it would take as long as it has...

If you haven't already done so, get a realtor who specializes in the neighborhoods you're interested in. S/he can take you see properties in your price range, give you info on comparable sales (comps), and may know of properties that will be coming on the market so you can see them before they are advertised. I just moved to Pittsburgh from CA and the entire house hunting process was so much easier because I was working with a good realtor. Be sure to ask for and check the references of any realtor you are thinking of working with. Good luck!

[SteelCityRising]

It truly blows my mind how rapidly housing values have been appreciating here in the East End. Even Polish Hill, which most of you consider to be "ugly", is now out of my budget.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Fine. Beware that you may be overpaying for the property however. If you stay there for the long haul I'm sure you'll make money in the end.



Eden Way is a very narrow alley directly behind Butler Street. Most of the other alleys in Lawrenceville are wide enough that you can park a car on one side of the street, just barely, particularly if you put the wheels up on the curb, but Eden is so narrow that's impossible.

Note you also come directly out of your front steps into the street. There's no sidewalk. 95% of the time this won't be a big deal, because it's not heavily trafficked, but as there are rear garages to a lot of the buildings on Butler, it happens from time to time.

A friend has a place on an alleyway in the War Streets and hates the fact that he can't park on his block.

Since, I am not the expert, are the "ways" still rough in parts? Wasn't Dresden Way, for example, fairly rough at one point?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Since, I am not the expert, are the "ways" still rough in parts? Wasn't Dresden Way, for example, fairly rough at one point?

It was five years ago. Selltheburgh said he has a friend who rents out houses there for $900-$1,000 a month, so I can't believe that it's that rough any more. Admittedly I don't find myself in Upper Lawrenceville much, and when I am, it's usually just on Butler Street.

Edit: Now that I think about it, you can't park in the "ways" in Upper Lawrenceville. You can on most of the ones around me in Central though (Cotton, Plum, Blackberry, Locarna, 43 1/2, Banner, Almond, etc).

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Parking is getting tighter, particularly between 40 and 44 St. Teachers at the Arsenal School park on the side streets, the area is getting wealthier with more cars, and some folks use the streets in the area as a "park and ride" to town.

My friend who lives on 44th says that the condo development at the Holy Family church/school means that all the residents who used to park in that lot now are unable to do so, so that's who knows how many more cars parking on the street.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

My friend who lives on 44th says that the condo development at the Holy Family church/school means that all the residents who used to park in that lot now are unable to do so, so that's who knows how many more cars parking on the street.

Really? They haven't even started construction/gotten all the zoning permits yet!