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gimmedemplants t1_j0jg4mr wrote

Reply to comment by dementedturnip26 in NY Times lists Pittsburgh as having some of the most affordable homes in the country as compared to household income. (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/realestate/where-are-the-most-and-least-affordable-homes.html) by Far_Room23

My partner and I and many of our friends purchased houses in the last couple years in the 200k price range and all of us are in good areas and none of our houses needed a lot of work. We are so lucky here with our housing prices

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dementedturnip26 t1_j0jjri2 wrote

How many years ago? 2-4 years ago I’d agree…now though I’ve watched houses that went for 150k 6 years balloon to nearly 300k

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gimmedemplants t1_j0juiz3 wrote

We bought 18 months ago (when prices were going wild). All the friends we know that have bought have done so within the past 24 months (most within the past 12)

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TheTunnelMonster t1_j0jzkni wrote

I completely agree with you. I’m not from the area originally, but from my experience people looking for homes in the region completely limit themselves geographically. They draw a line around a neighborhood or school district and refuse to branch out. The value in Pittsburgh has only just started to be tapped in my opinion.

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gimmedemplants t1_j0legb6 wrote

I definitely agree that people limit themselves on area. I understand why they do, but it does restricts their options. When we were looking, we looked everywhere. Our only limiting factor geographically was being able to take public transit to Oakland relatively easily, but that still meant we were seeing and bidding on houses all over the city neighborhoods, as well as east, south, and west of the city (and somewhat to the north, but less so). Originally we wanted to be somewhere that we wouldn’t have to transfer bus lines, but quickly realized that was too limiting, so we adjusted accordingly

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sarahaqua17 t1_j0lt2km wrote

i’m thinking about buying a house soon to get out of rent craziness and id definitely be picky with the area because i want to see friends but people think anything across a river, let alone two, is too far to travel for a hangout :( like if i picked somewhere above northside i’d never see friends who live in the south so ive always chosen to live in the middle triangle, but that’s so limiting.

i also wouldn’t care much about the neighborhood except i take the bus a lot and more affordable neighborhoods have crappy bus access and are mostly food deserts too. none of the city should be inaccessible and lack grocery stores but apparently those are luxuries. a lot harder to find good quality of life in the more affordable places

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dementedturnip26 t1_j0qdqj1 wrote

I mean with how hard it can be to get to certain areas you have to. If you work on say east liberty or Oakland, living in the south hills opens you up to a dreadful commute and transit options aren’t great as you have to transfer.

If you work in cranberry you’re basically stuck to the north hills and a few southern neighborhoods around 79.

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