Best areas around Mt. Lebanon on a small budget? (Pittsburgh: upper-class, low crime)

[Pghmommy]

My mother will be moving to the area soon to be close to us, and we live in Mt. Lebanon. She wants to buy a house, but doesn't want to spend much more than $100k. She wants a 2 or 3 bedroom house, no more than 15 minutes from Mt. Lebanon. Does anyone have any ideas where would be the best place to look?

She's coming from a very small town where everyone is friendly, so something similar to that would be nice.

[Copanut]

Dormont, Castle Shannon, Bridgeville, Scott Twp for starters. At 100K she will not be getting a great house.

[Hopes]

Add Crafton and Carnegie to the list.

[Hopes]

I just looked. There are a couple of houses under 100k in Mt. Lebanon. There are some in Bethel Park and South Park too.

[Pghmommy]

Thanks, everyone. I am finding homes in the right price range in places like Brookline, Beechview and Castle Shannon. Are these areas safe?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Pghmommy

Thanks, everyone. I am finding homes in the right price range in places like Brookline, Beechview and Castle Shannon. Are these areas safe?

Yeah, but Brookline and Beechview are in the City of Pittsburgh. High taxes and Democratic policies.

[Pghmommy]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Dormont, Castle Shannon, Bridgeville, Scott Twp for starters. At 100K she will not be getting a great house.

She's not so worried about the house being beautiful, just so long as it is a good house. I.e. good bones, no mold, well taken care of, but not necessarily up-to-date. A 70's kitchen would be fine.

Dormont would be great location-wise, as we are on that side of Mt. Lebanon, but it seems like the houses over there are all huge.

[Pghmommy]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Yeah, but Brookline and Beechview are in the City of Pittsburgh. High taxes and Democratic policies.

What is the feel of those neighborhoods like? Anywhere I can find info on demographics?

EDIT: nevermind the demographics, I just found details on City-Data. Can someone just kind of give me a stereotypical resident of both? E.g. Old folks that hang out at the Bingo Hall, trashy broken families, upper-class people driving BMWs? I have no idea who her neighbors would be living in a neighborhoods like these.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Pghmommy

What is the feel of those neighborhoods like? Anywhere I can find info on demographics?

EDIT: nevermind the demographics, I just found details on City-Data. Can someone just kind of give me a stereotypical resident of both? E.g. Old folks that hang out at the Bingo Hall, trashy broken families, upper-class people driving BMWs? I have no idea who her neighbors would be living in a neighborhoods like these.

They're both streetcar suburban in terms of feel, although further away from the T in Beechview, and Brookline Boulevard in Brookline, they become more classic suburban.

I can't think of anything one would find disagreeable about Brookline, even for someone who is a bit nervous about cities. It has low crime. It was 91% white in 2010. A lot of police have historically lived there, who tend to watch out for people on their blocks. It's a solid, lower-middle class neighborhood, although it's undoubtedly still in the "Yinzer belt."

Beechview generally considered a bid dodgier, along with a bit more racially diverse (81% white, around 12% black, and around 7% Latino). There are some drug issues in the neighborhood, and occasional break-ins, but no major incidents of violent crime. If you found a house near the T, however, your mother might find that a big advantage, and of course depending upon where you are in Mount Lebanon it might make it easier for you getting back and forth to see her. Property values are a bit depressed compared to Brookline, but it's not like it's in a downward spiral to being a ghetto or anything.

While the wage tax is higher in the city, property taxes are much lower, so if your mother no longer works, it would be financially advantageous for her to be in the city limits.

[Pghmommy]

Originally Posted by eschaton

They're both streetcar suburban in terms of feel, although further away from the T in Beechview, and Brookline Boulevard in Brookline, they become more classic suburban.

I can't think of anything one would find disagreeable about Brookline, even for someone who is a bit nervous about cities. It has low crime. It was 91% white in 2010. A lot of police have historically lived there, who tend to watch out for people on their blocks. It's a solid, lower-middle class neighborhood, although it's undoubtedly still in the "Yinzer belt."

Beechview generally considered a bid dodgier, along with a bit more racially diverse (81% white, around 12% black, and around 7% Latino). There are some drug issues in the neighborhood, and occasional break-ins, but no major incidents of violent crime. If you found a house near the T, however, your mother might find that a big advantage, and of course depending upon where you are in Mount Lebanon it might make it easier for you getting back and forth to see her. Property values are a bit depressed compared to Brookline, but it's not like it's in a downward spiral to being a ghetto or anything.

While the wage tax is higher in the city, property taxes are much lower, so if your mother no longer works, it would be financially advantageous for her to be in the city limits.

Wow, thank you for the great input. This will help me immensely in looking for a place!