Seeking a his and hers happy medium neighborhood/suburb (Pittsburgh: neighborhoods, luxury)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by snowski626

Well, she'd love a picturesque freestanding house but a pretty nice townhouse, duplex, etc. would be more than acceptable.

That's good, because you're not going to get an affordable whole house rental in the sort of neighborhood your partner desires. You can rent whole houses in Pittsburgh, but most of them will be in the city (Mt. Washington seems to have a ton available now). My impression with the suburbs most of the rental stock is in newer-construction townhouse developments which are kind of isolated, which won't give either you or your partner much of what you want. Genuine whole-house rentals tend to be catered at established families who have to move on short notice, and can be very expensive per month.

Originally Posted by snowski626

As far as rent vs. own, I wouldn't rule out house shopping someday. There is the conundrum of "nice if you can afford it." Even if a mortgage payment might be cheaper than renting, there's also the matter of homeowner's tax plus being on your own for any maintenance. Hence we see so many people in the US ending up "house poor." Also, even if expense was of minimal concern I'd rather wait for a house we were absolutely in love with in a vicinity we were pleased with rather than grow old in a house we settled with or having to deal with the grief of selling and second-time home buying to get our dream place.

I can understand all of this, and I agree it's certainly better to rent first before you choose somewhere to buy. As long as your partner is okay being more flexible with the initial location, you should be fine.

What are her feelings on...uhh..."dated" units?

Also, what is your exact price range? And where will you guys be working?

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by eschaton

What are her feelings on...uhh..."dated" units?

Also, what is your exact price range? And where will you guys be working?

These are good questions, especially if the OP is coming from somewhere like the sun belt where there's new housing as far as the eye can see. I like how Pittsburgh is a little shabby and rough around the edges, but it can be jarring for people who want NEW! NEW! NEW!

[snowski626]

Originally Posted by eschaton

That's good, because you're not going to get an affordable whole house rental in the sort of neighborhood your partner desires. You can rent whole houses in Pittsburgh, but most of them will be in the city (Mt. Washington seems to have a ton available now). My impression with the suburbs most of the rental stock is in newer-construction townhouse developments which are kind of isolated, which won't give either you or your partner much of what you want. Genuine whole-house rentals tend to be catered at established families who have to move on short notice, and can be very expensive per month.



I can understand all of this, and I agree it's certainly better to rent first before you choose somewhere to buy. As long as your partner is okay being more flexible with the initial location, you should be fine.

What are her feelings on...uhh..."dated" units?

Also, what is your exact price range? And where will you guys be working?

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

These are good questions, especially if the OP is coming from somewhere like the sun belt where there's new housing as far as the eye can see. I like how Pittsburgh is a little shabby and rough around the edges, but it can be jarring for people who want NEW! NEW! NEW!

RE "dated" units: If by this you just mean not new-ish construction, then that's no problem. Now, places that look like full-on slumlord housing, falling apart, places a modest middle class person would at a glance say "Woah, what a dump!" she wouldn't go for. Most of the places I've seen on Zillow, even on the cheaper end, seem more attractive interior-wise (floors, kitchens, etc.) than the townhouse we currently live in, which is nothing ritzy but certainly not a hellhole either.

Can't say right now about exact price range or workplaces as moving would be no sooner than 12 months away. I'm in a general fact-finding mode right now. I've been searching neighborhoods of interest on Zillow to get a sense of the market and prices. It seems that two bedrooms range from $1000ish/month for the more affordable places to $2000+/month for luxury living for renters. Accurate?

[lprmesia]

Green Tree isn't walkable, but it's a nice community closer to the city and cultural amenities. Very short drive, and has a mix of newer and older housing while being affordable.

Mt. Washington (Northern section, e.g Virginia Ave corridor), Brookline, and Greenfield are all affordable city neighborhoods with walkable business districts (Shiloh/Virgina, Brookline Blvd, and Greenfield/Ronald respectively), and are a short Uber away from nightlife and cultural amenities.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by lprmesia

Green Tree isn't walkable, but it's a nice community closer to the city and cultural amenities. Very short drive, and has a mix of newer and older housing while being affordable.
.

Greentree (not two words as in Green Tree) is absolutely walkable. I and millions others have done it for decades. Walk to Olive Garden, business offices, cleaners, Indian grocery store, Ace Hardware....

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

Greentree (not two words as in Green Tree) is absolutely walkable. I and millions others have done it for decades. Walk to Olive Garden, business offices, cleaners, Indian grocery store, Ace Hardware....

Beat me to it. More sidewalks there than Cranberry.

[lprmesia]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

Greentree (not two words as in Green Tree) is absolutely walkable. I and millions others have done it for decades. Walk to Olive Garden, business offices, cleaners, Indian grocery store, Ace Hardware....

While the neighborhoods are walkable because there are sidewalks, it's not exactly "walkable" in the same way OP had posted:

I long for walkability, proximity/easy access to the draws of city living in terms of culture, dining, shopping, etc. Basically the urban millennial dream.

I also said "but it's a nice community closer to the city and cultural amenities." The post was aimed to OP, not a slight trying to set off an urban/suburban debate.

Also, Greentree is a road. Green Tree is a borough.

But thank you for your input.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

Greentree (not two words as in Green Tree) is absolutely walkable. I and millions others have done it for decades. Walk to Olive Garden, business offices, cleaners, Indian grocery store, Ace Hardware....

Green Tree is correct.
Greentree is incorrect.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

Greentree (not two words as in Green Tree) is absolutely walkable. I and millions others have done it for decades. Walk to Olive Garden, business offices, cleaners, Indian grocery store, Ace Hardware....

I live in Crafton close to Green Tree and all the signage I've seen says Green Tree, not Greentree. Am I missing something?

[Copanut]