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Ot: what's the deal Pittsburgh?

I would look in squirrel hill or point breeze. Quality homes....not the parking mess that one finds in Shadyside. In terms of investment......i have never heard of an owner in squirrel hill losing money.

The grandparents angle is a big one Souf......that would trump many factors in your decision.

Finally......amidst all of the recommendations......the truth is...no one ever gets all the things they want in a new home purchase...not to mention....good neighbors makes the move much easier.

If i worked in Bloomfield I would also look in the city.
 
burnie1105 said:
Cars are expensive, wasteful, dangerous pieces of ****, and Pittsburgh and its surrounding suburbs are worse off for their horrendous transit options. Maybe we wouldn't have an obesity epidemic if people walked and biked rather than haul ass in SUVs and minivans; maybe we would have better air quality without thousands of exhaust systems running constantly; maybe people would be more cordial with one another if they weren't constantly fighting for parking spots or merge points or whatever; maybe we could save countless lives if people weren't operating two ton death machines while drunk or playing Pokemon Go.

I own a car, and it is my primary form of transportation: anytime I see a yinzer or NIMBY rail against new bus routes, new bike lanes, or better pedestrian infrastructure, my blood boils. Modern public transit is decisively not car-centric, and the city will be held back so long as people (including a bunch in this thread) refuse to accept that. Cars will always dominate the transit hierarchy because they are easy and efficient, but that shouldn't and can't exclude paying attention to other modes of transport.
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Unless modern transit infrastructure can somehow benefit the sports teams, especially the Rooneys, then it is not likely to get built. They chose the North Shore extension over a line to Oakland. Completely moronic. But makes the Steelers happy.
 
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Panther Parrothead said:
I think you'd be doing yourself a huge favor - if you really want to move, that is - if you'd limit your areas of consideration NOW.

She wants to live in the city? Okay, start seriously looking at Shadyside and Squirrel Hill - and those places only. It sounds like you're frustrating yourself because you've been over-searching. Sometimes the obvious choices are the best choices. Buy in one of those two areas.

After a year or two, re-assess your decision. You'll know a lot more in two years than you do now - and it'll be easy to flip property in either of those two areas if you think you'd like some place better.
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He is not likely to find a larger louse (at least 2000 sq ft) and a decent sized garage in those locations that feed to the top city school for under $700k.
 
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HailtoPitt said:
He is not likely to find a larger louse (at least 2000 sq ft) and a decent sized garage in those locations that feed to the top city school for under $700k.
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I agree. It's pricy to live in the better Pittsburgh neighborhoods. But since price hasn't really been mentioned, I'm assuming that he can handle it.
 
One more thing to note for those of you considering a move to the city soon. There is likely to be a referendum on the Nov ballot to increase the real estate transfer tax by an additional 1%. That tax is already at 4%, and if the morons here agree to it, then the additional 1% means several thousand more dollars just to buy a home in the city than before the increase.
 
Las Panteras said:
UMMMM.......i think you incorrectly spelled your handle.

its really Bernie.....no????
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If that is your only retort, then it's safe to assume I've got a pretty good argument. Unless you'd like to respond with actual facts or logic.
 
pittdan77 said:
Mass transit is where Pittsburgh really falls down. Busses are okay I guess but if you don't live to the south, trains aren't an option.
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Even if you live in the South, working in Oakland or the East End means you pretty much need to drive, or take the T and then a bus. We decided to build the North Shore extension because it's what the Rooney's wanted, instead of building an extension to Oakland. Shame.
 
HailtoPitt said:
Even if you live in the South, working in Oakland or the East End means you pretty much need to drive, or take the T and then a bus. We decided to build the North Shore extension because it's what the Rooney's wanted, instead of building an extension to Oakland. Shame.
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I can't complain too much, since I've used the North Shore extension plenty of times.

But really, Oakland does need one, too - and so does the airport and the North Hills. I say a prayer for anyone who is required to drive on Rt. 28 every day.
 
Panther Parrothead said:
I can't complain too much, since I've used the North Shore extension plenty of times.

But really, Oakland does need one, too - and so does the airport and the North Hills. I say a prayer for anyone who is required to drive on Rt. 28 every day.
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Here is what happened. The county studied the two options (North Shore and Oakland) in the 90s. Then Republicans gained control of the county government, and nixed both on account of the cost and them being fiscally conservative. However, when the Rooneys met with the Republican leadership, the North Shore extension came back from the dead, but the Oakland extension stayed dead and buried. So whatever Pope Dan said, convinced even the Republicans to spend the money. Maybe he made them an offer they couldn't refuse?

I'm fine with both, but if only one can exist then the Oakland extension was, without a doubt, the better option.
 
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HailtoPitt said:
Here is what happened. The county studied the two options (North Shore and Oakland) in the 90s. Then Republicans gained control of the county government, and nixed both on account of the cost and them being fiscally conservative. However, when the Rooneys met with the Republican leadership, the North Shore extension came back from the dead, but the Oakland extension stayed dead and buried. So whatever Pope Dan said, convinced even the Republicans to spend the money. Maybe he made them an offer they couldn't refuse?

I'm fine with both, but if only one can exist then the Oakland extension was, without a doubt, the better option.
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Pitt can't even get the city to eliminate Bigelow, between 5th and Forbes, let alone get a T-extension. Pitt (and UPMC) need to flex its muscle. As the largest employer in the city, they certainly have the muscle.
 
Panther Parrothead said:
Pitt can't even get the city to eliminate Bigelow, between 5th and Forbes, let alone get a T-extension. Pitt (and UPMC) need to flex its muscle. As the largest employer in the city, they certainly have the muscle.
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I hope the city wouldn't view such a project as being 'for Pitt'. There are plenty of people living and working in Oakland who aren't involved with Pitt. Plus, such an extension could have eventually extended further east.

Probably too late now. The city will have to deal with growth and sub standard transit infrastructure. Peduto will keep getting elected telling people that self driving cars and self driving minibuses will save us all.
 
HailtoPitt said:
I hope the city wouldn't view such a project as being 'for Pitt'. There are plenty of people living and working in Oakland who aren't involved with Pitt. Plus, such an extension could have eventually extended further east.

Probably too late now. The city will have to deal with growth and sub standard transit infrastructure. Peduto will keep getting elected telling people that self driving cars and self driving minibuses will save us all.
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Actually, it would make sense to run it clear out to Monroeville.
 
SoufOaklin4Life said:
So , really like the regent square are best.
Schools are a bit of a nightmare from one block to the next .
Only in Pittsburgh .
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Yep. I've been through this when looking for a home. You could be in Pittsburgh SD one block. That elementary school is not bad. One block one direction is Wilkinsburg, and they have I think the highest millage tax rate in the state, which discourages home ownership and investment. One block another direction could be Woodland Hills, which is also a terrible SD. Of course, the Pittsburgh side has a 2% higher income tax rate, but I did the math and it is still likely to come out as a better deal than living in Wilkinsburg and paying their outrageous real estate tax once you get reassessed for buying of fixing up a nicer home.
 
HailtoPitt said:
Here is what happened. The county studied the two options (North Shore and Oakland) in the 90s. Then Republicans gained control of the county government, and nixed both on account of the cost and them being fiscally conservative. However, when the Rooneys met with the Republican leadership, the North Shore extension came back from the dead, but the Oakland extension stayed dead and buried. So whatever Pope Dan said, convinced even the Republicans to spend the money. Maybe he made them an offer they couldn't refuse?

I'm fine with both, but if only one can exist then the Oakland extension was, without a doubt, the better option.
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There was never a time that extending the T to Oakland was seriously discussed. As soon as anyone has ever put a realistic price tag on it politicians of all stripes turned and ran the other direction.

Pittsburgh has the transit system it deserves. Pittsburghers and Allegheny County residents moan all the time about the quality of the transit system, but every time anyone proposes anything to add service and mentions the corresponding dollars needed to do it the first thing everyone does is to try to figure out a way to get the state or the feds to pay for it. At this point the users of the system don't even pay 25% of the total costs of the system. If the residents of Allegheny County wanted a first class transit system AND were willing to pay for it they could have one. As long as the part after the AND remains decidedly not the case, Allegheny County will always have an inferior system.
 
Joe the Panther Fan said:
There was never a time that extending the T to Oakland was seriously discussed. As soon as anyone has ever put a realistic price tag on it politicians of all stripes turned and ran the other direction.

Pittsburgh has the transit system it deserves. Pittsburghers and Allegheny County residents moan all the time about the quality of the transit system, but every time anyone proposes anything to add service and mentions the corresponding dollars needed to do it the first thing everyone does is to try to figure out a way to get the state or the feds to pay for it. At this point the users of the system don't even pay 25% of the total costs of the system. If the residents of Allegheny County wanted a first class transit system AND were willing to pay for it they could have one. As long as the part after the AND remains decidedly not the case, Allegheny County will always have an inferior system.
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Think about the t. I use it when I park downtown, but if I had to pay to use it then I probably walk most of the time. If that thing wasn't subsidized what would the rider numbers look like?
 
ratking17 said:
Think about the t. I use it when I park downtown, but if I had to pay to use it then I probably walk most of the time. If that thing wasn't subsidized what would the rider numbers look like?
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But that's only considering the downtown part of the T. If you lived in the South Hills you may very well pay to use it. If the T went to Oakland and then extended out through say Squirrel Hill and then out to Monroeville people would use it. If the T on the North Side didn't stop at the casino but extended out from their across the West End Bridge (or some similar path) and went through places like Robinson on it's way out to the airport people would use it. But all that kind of stuff costs money. A lot of money. So if anything like that is ever going to happen and past history is any indication the only way it will happen would be for the state and/or the feds to essentially pay for all of it. Which is exactly how the extension to the North Side happened. If the state and the feds hadn't agreed to pay for most of that it never would have gotten done. Literally, never.
 
HailtoPitt said:
Yep. I've been through this when looking for a home. You could be in Pittsburgh SD one block. That elementary school is not bad. One block one direction is Wilkinsburg, and they have I think the highest millage tax rate in the state, which discourages home ownership and investment. One block another direction could be Woodland Hills, which is also a terrible SD. Of course, the Pittsburgh side has a 2% higher income tax rate, but I did the math and it is still likely to come out as a better deal than living in Wilkinsburg and paying their outrageous real estate tax once you get reassessed for buying of fixing up a nicer home.
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Almost put an offer on a house which would have been in woodland hills

Decided against it. High taxes for a bad school
 
How does any parent with a child under 16 have any time to "enjoy Pittsburgh"? Any parent with a child over 4 and under 16 spends their days and weekends hauling their child to 50 practices a week for the 3 sports they play, scouts twice a week, Sunday school etc.

Besides maybe getting 1 Saturday night once every 2 months to go grab dinner, then back home...where do you get this free time? And if you have plans for a 2nd child, pack it in and get yourself a honda minivan that can take the miles.

You should be looking for 2 car garages, top schol districts and areas where your kid can go outside and see other kids to play. But that's just my opinion. I'm ok with having to drive 20/30 minutes for dinner on that once in a blue moon chance you get to go out.
 
PhPanther1 said:
How does any parent with a child under 16 have any time to "enjoy Pittsburgh"? Any parent with a child over 4 and under 16 spends their days and weekends hauling their child to 50 practices a week for the 3 sports they play, scouts twice a week, Sunday school etc.

Besides maybe getting 1 Saturday night once every 2 months to go grab dinner, then back home...where do you get this free time? And if you have plans for a 2nd child, pack it in and get yourself a honda minivan that can take the miles.

You should be looking for 2 car garages, top schol districts and areas where your kid can go outside and see other kids to play. But that's just my opinion. I'm ok with having to drive 20/30 minutes for dinner on that once in a blue moon chance you get to go out.
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I will echo this.

I recently refinanced my mortgage and talked with the appraiser ( A Pitt grad and season ticket holder....good guy)

he said to me the best piece of advice he could give anyone in Pittsburgh is to buy a home in the best school district you can afford....even if it means taking less house to do so.

when the housing market slows down....and i presume it will due to economic forces.....you can insulate yourself from selling for less or having a home sit longer than expected. I can support this to some extent by saying I sold my house in Mt Lebo at the height of the economic downturn and got full list.

That advice makes sense to me.....
 
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Las Panteras said:
I will echo this.

I recently refinanced my mortgage and talked with the appraiser ( A Pitt grad and season ticket holder....good guy)

he said to me the best piece of advice he could give anyone in Pittsburgh is to buy a home in the best school district you can afford....even if it means taking less house to do so.

when the housing market slows down....and i presume it will due to economic forces.....you can insulate yourself from selling for less or having a home sit longer than expected. I can support this to some extent by saying I sold my house in Mt Lebo at the height of the economic downturn and got full list.

That advice makes sense to me.....
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Makes sense, but lots of inventory in the south hills right now sitting .

Meanwhile every single house in squirrel hill is probably $150k over priced and selling .

So conventional wisdom doesn't always hold. The burbs are a helluva lot cheaper than the city right now
 
We are making the move despite no luck so far with the house .
Going to put our stuff in storage , crash with family , and commute an hour each way hopefully for only a few months.

Pretty nervous about it all, hopefully it's the right move .
 
Souf

One last thought

Any home on the market from say....November through January. ...is a house that has to be sold.

With that in mind....and given you have a flexible time line....you quite probably can get a nice deal on a house if you like the property, location,etc
 
cary stands for congested area of relocated yankees.

souf, are you enjoying the recruiting process? will you hold a presser and how many hats will be on the table?



paulbl99 said:
Cary NC is special. You got that right.

If you have to move to Pgh. Go Mt Lebo
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