some questions about Pittsburgh neighborhoods and relocation (Allentown, New Hope: comparable sales, crime)

[The King of Um]

Originally Posted by juliegt

It still is a buyer's market in most of the less hot neighborhoods. I got my place for well below the asking price in Dec.

Where would you say it's still a buyers' market, Julie?

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Hip Priest

Where would you say it's still a buyers' market, Julie?

In Crafton where I live, yes. Although the place next door to me sold the first day it was on the market. I don't know what the asking or sale price was. The house down the street from me was one I looked at in Oct and it finally has a sold sign on it as of a few days ago. I know they recently dropped the price but I don't know what it actually sold for. The house a few doors up from me has been on the market since Jan. It's priced fairly, but in this area people want homes with historic details. This house looks like every detail was remodeled out if sometime back in the 80s. It has been very well maintained but I think it will sit for a long time because it isn't what buyers in this market want. I'd tell you to look here, but the homes here are very large and I've never seen anything for under $100k. But if you were in the market for a big historic home, Crafton is a bargain compared to other Pittsburgh neighborhoods with similar homes.

I think the Pittsburgh market with the exception of the hot East side neighborhoods is neither a buyer's or a seller's market. I consider this a good thing. It makes for a pretty stable market without the $100k over asking activity you get in places like SF nor the rampant foreclosures you see in places where the market has plunged.

[ferraris]

You have to think about what you're asking for here. The median home sales price in Pittsburgh is $120K. You want all of the following, which is asking for a lot. I don't think it exists.

-60K price limit (HALF the average price)
-In an appreciating neighborhood
-Brick
-Attractive Victorian
-Low crime
-Walkable to the point of living car free

You simply have to compromise on something. To me, the easiest thing to compromise on is accepting an early 1900's home instead of a Victorian. You haven't specifically addressed condos. Are you willing to buy a condo? That would suit your car-free lifestyle better anyway.

[groar]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Of course it's not Manhattan---the prices aren't high here so it doesn't even make sense to say that. I mean, come on, you couldn't buy a closet in Manhattan for 60k.

when we first started looking at houses in new england, our budget was $75k (we've sinced upped it a little) and i decided, just for kicks, to look and see what you could get in boston for that. i found... a parking space. for $60k.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

You have to think about what you're asking for here. The median home sales price in Pittsburgh is $120K. You want all of the following, which is asking for a lot. I don't think it exists.

-60K price limit (HALF the average price)
-In an appreciating neighborhood
-Brick
-Attractive Victorian
-Low crime
-Walkable to the point of living car free

You simply have to compromise on something. To me, the easiest thing to compromise on is accepting an early 1900's home instead of a Victorian. You haven't specifically addressed condos. Are you willing to buy a condo? That would suit your car-free lifestyle better anyway.

I started crafting a similar response. You can easily spend $60,000 on vehicle these days (and not just what you think of as "high-end" brands -- I saw a Hyundai Equus with an MSRP of $65,000). I am firmly in the camp of "anything for that price should have a bathroom" but the reality is that $60,000 is a limiting budget for a home. OP, you have to realize that you likely won't find everything you want at that price.

I think people have overstated the availability of lower cost housing or bargains even a few years ago. I was house hunting in 2006 and started out looking in the $60-80,000 range and, given the realities of what was available and where (and a re-evaluation of my appetite for and ability to tackle renovations) I ended up bumping my upper range up into the $90,000s.

[The King of Um]

Originally Posted by Tinare

I started crafting a similar response. You can easily spend $60,000 on vehicle these days (and not just what you think of as "high-end" brands -- I saw a Hyundai Equus with an MSRP of $65,000). I am firmly in the camp of "anything for that price should have a bathroom" but the reality is that $60,000 is a limiting budget for a home. OP, you have to realize that you likely won't find everything you want at that price.

I think people have overstated the availability of lower cost housing or bargains even a few years ago. I was house hunting in 2006 and started out looking in the $60-80,000 range and, given the realities of what was available and where (and a re-evaluation of my appetite for and ability to tackle renovations) I ended up bumping my upper range up into the $90,000s.

Good God, $60K for a vehicle is insane! A person can buy a perfectly good used vehicle for one tenth of that, or less! I cannot fathom why someone would put so much money into something that constantly depreciates--but I'll get off my soapbox now.

I guess I'll have to look in a less-fashionable, yet safe and walkable neighborhood. The East End is probably completely out, but I'm not adamant about living in a trendy neighborhood, anyway. I won't rule out houses build after the Victorian era; brick homes build in the 1910s and 1920s still have much character. However, I'm still keeping my eye out for a modest brick Victorian--and I've found a good realtor, too, thanks to Julie. (keeping my fingers cross, so to speak, that things will work out with him).

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Tinare

I think people have overstated the availability of lower cost housing or bargains even a few years ago. I was house hunting in 2006 and started out looking in the $60-80,000 range and, given the realities of what was available and where (and a re-evaluation of my appetite for and ability to tackle renovations) I ended up bumping my upper range up into the $90,000s.

You could get a livable house in somewhere dodgy, but not-full on ghetto (like say Upper Lawrenceville back then) in 2007 in the $30,000-$35,000 range. It wasn't what people would call move in condition, but it would have been in good enough shape that you didn't have to immediately gut the whole place, and could slowly fix it up on your own time.

Admittedly, when I was looking for houses in Central Lawrenceville, most of the other homes I saw were more like $80,000 (at least in offering price) than the $53,000 I ultimately settled on. And I needed to spend a month ripping out carpets, getting new floors put in, and painting before it was ready for us to move in. And then we dealt with a nonfunctional kitchen for a year, and an attic useless besides storage for two, while we saved up money to repair those rooms. But it was worth it due to the low entry price, particularly because back then we didn't have kids to worry about.

[aw_now_what]

This house for $54,900 on Troy Hill looks sweet, although unfortunately there are no interior pics. It has been for sale for a long time. I would think a cash offer could get it for $45-ish. Maybe a bit less. There are other houses for sale in that neighborhood that would meet your criteria.



http://www.pittsburghmoves.com/prope...e&IsSold=False

[Stijl Council]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

You have to think about what you're asking for here. The median home sales price in Pittsburgh is $120K. You want all of the following, which is asking for a lot. I don't think it exists.

-60K price limit (HALF the average price)
-In an appreciating neighborhood
-Brick
-Attractive Victorian
-Low crime
-Walkable to the point of living car free

And in good condition, too, based on a couple of the early posts.

OP, one other neighborhood that might make some sense for you is Observatory Hill. It's a compromise in terms of walkability, possibly in terms of crime, and possibly in terms of appreciation, although I personally think some of the housing stock in the neighborhood, especially right by the park, is so lovely that there will always be some demand. There've been a few threads about OH in the forum.

What it does have is the type of architecture you're looking for (the old Victorians are mostly in the 140K and up range, but the neighborhood is the right age and there's lots of brick construction) and a few options in your price range, for example 30 Bonvue St. and 271 Kennedy Ave.

[eschaton]

Just outside your price range.

Great location, eh on curb appeal. May be gut job inside.

I love this house, although it's not in the most accessible part of Beechview.

About the cheapest livable brick house you can get in Lawrenceville now.

99% sure this is a gut job. But what a gut job it is!