Moving to Pittsburgh!?!?!?

[chirurgeon]

OK, I am going to say look in Mt. Lebanon if education is one of your priorities. My sister and her family live there and from everything I have been told by them, if you can survive the Mt. Lebo schools, you won't have a problem in college. My oldest niece is waiting for responses from colleges now and she has already been accepted by Drexel and WVU. As far as the houses there, there is a variety of housing prices, don't rule it out. Commuting to the Downtown area (DahnTahn to us natives ) can be easy using the trolleys.

Welcome. And get ready with tomorrow's game.

Kim

 

[turning40withMickey]

It helps to know where you'll be working. If you plan on working downtown then I consider the northern communities. You won't have to go through a tunnel to get to work. Tunnels=Traffic.

The northern communities are growing and have a lot of amenities for families without the Allegheny County taxes. Great schools, shopping, parks, rec.

Southern Butler county is a great area. You can be in town in 30 min. or less.
Consider Mars, Cranberry Twp. Adams Twp. Seven Fields.

There are a lot of other great areas it just depends on where you want to live. I think you'll love Pittsburgh.

To look for houses in any Pgh neighborhood: http://www.howardhanna.com/
(I'm not a realtor.)

I live in Beaver County which is right next to these areas of Butler county
taxes are lower in Butler, lots of new housing, and old, you should easily find something in your price range.

Many people live in Cranberry Twp and commute to Pittsburgh daily.

Good luck with your move! Welcome!

 

[bcvdreamer]

The Pittsburgh Business Times publishes the top school districts in the state according to scores on the PSSA's - PA's state testing.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-18-2007/0004591603&EDATE=


My advice is to talk to the neighbors about the schools when you find houses that you're interested in. Pittsburghers are well known for being friendly and welcoming.

Have fun in your home search.

 

[Tink888]

Another born and raised Pittsburgher chiming in:

Quaker Valley is one of the best districts in Allegheny County, if not the entire state and is comprised of the communities of Leetsdale, Leet Twp, Sewickley, Sewickley Hills, Sewickly Heights, Bell Acres, Osborne and Glenfield. The district primarily is affluent, however it is not impossible to find housing under the 200K range.

Mt. Lebanon, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny and Moon Area (across the river from QV area) are also very good districts.

The only real problems with areas in the North and South Hills, IMHO, is that the traffic is horrible.

I also agree with other posters regarding looking at property in surrounding counties. Allegheny County property taxes are outrageous. Beaver, Butler and Washington counties all have lower property taxes and the commute into the city is still a relatively short one.

In Beaver County - Beaver Area and Center Area school districts are both good. In Butler County - Seneca Valley is good and serves the Cranberry area which has boomed in the last twenty years and in Washington County, the Peters Township area is very nice.

Good luck in your search and welcome to the area! I'm sure your DH already knows this - the Pittsburgh area is a great place to live and raise kids. Friendly people, so much to do and excellent medical facilities, not to mention our sports teams.

 

[Doodlebug939]

Keep beaver county in mind

I forgot to mention that one as well. I plan to look there as well. Thanks again!

 

[Jennasmomma]

Just stay away from the suburbs that house the Woodland Hills School District and you'll be fine. I hate this school district.

 

[Swimnoid]

Although I live in NC now, I was born in Mt Lebanon, moved away, and then came back and went to Lebo High (GO Blue Devils!!) and also substitute taught in the district for 7 years. My brothers both still live in Mt Lebanon. The school system is great. There is a wide variety of housing from really high priced houses to apartment, duplexes etc. My brother sold our house in 2 days a couple of years ago. Just be open minded, look around a all the different neighborhoods and you'll find something you like. Mt Lebanon is a great community with lots of stuff to do locally plus Pittsburgh itself is a great city! Eat some Mineo's pizza for me!

 

[MushyMushy]

I lived on the South Side in a row house. At the time I was young and single (and the South Side wasn't as trendy as it is today) so I had a blast living there. I have a good friend who has an old Victorian up near the Observatory that she got for a song. It's gorgeous and has origonal molding and stuff. It would cost five times as much where I'm living now.

I did too, right off of Carson! I couldn't believe it, I lived in this row house in the middle of the city coming from a small town. The neighborhood was so nice. Everybody watched out for everybody else. My first week there, neighbors were bringing me food!

Pittsburgh is a great city.

 

[LaraK]

I did too, right off of Carson! I couldn't believe it, I lived in this row house in the middle of the city coming from a small town. The neighborhood was so nice. Everybody watched out for everybody else. My first week there, neighbors were bringing me food!

Pittsburgh is a great city.

I was on Larkins Way....little alley between Sarah and Jane.

 

[safetymom]

Hampton Township is a great place to live in the North Hills. The school system has also won awards. Close to Pgh., Oakland, turnpike is close.

 

[DebbieB]

I live in Brentwood, which is right next to Carrick. Crime is becoming a problem, I am hoping to move farther out.

Mt Lebanon is nice but traffic to the South Hills stinks if you are working downtown. So does points east. If you are expecting to work downtown, your best bet would be North.

 

[Doodlebug939]

I live in Brentwood, which is right next to Carrick. Crime is becoming a problem, I am hoping to move farther out.

Mt Lebanon is nice but traffic to the South Hills stinks if you are working downtown. So does points east. If you are expecting to work downtown, your best bet would be North.

I had mostly fixed my search on Mt Lebanon, Dormont, Brentwood, Whitehall and Baldwin.

I need to look at towns North, East, West of the city with easy access. I am going to keep searching today. Thank you all so much for your feedback.

 

[DebbieB]

Whitehall and Bethel Park are nice communities with good schools. My one brother lives in Bethel Park and my other brother used to live in Whitehall.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I grew up in Moon Township-- The schools were excellent!!! It's also a great place to live especially if you have young children. I don't know about taxes or anything but I enjoyed living there as a child/preteen.

P.S. The Steelers fan thing is a must.

 

[mirmartinez]

I grew up in Moon Township-- The schools were excellent!!! It's also a great place to live especially if you have young children. I don't know about taxes or anything but I enjoyed living there as a child/preteen.

P.S. The Steelers fan thing is a must.

I went to moon to from k until graduating in 95

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Dh's family is from Pittsburgh. They all live in the Ellwood City area. I've always told DH that if we lived up there we would definitely be in the Cranberry area or in Ellwood by the park.

 

[juligrl]

I've been a Pittsburgher all my life. Born and raised in West Mifflin (south of the city), and now DH and I live in Monroeville, which is east of the city. Monroeville is a great area, and the Gateway School District is one of the best. We're very happy here.

Something else to think about: taxes. Taxes in Allegheny County are pretty high. Our house is about a mile from the Westmoreland County border where taxes are MUCH lower. Depending on how far of a commute you and your DH are interested in, you might also want to look outside of Allegheny County.

East of the city just into Westmoreland County, Trafford/Penn Township/Murrysville/Delmont/Export are nice areas, with good school districts (Penn Trafford and Franklin Regional), lower taxes and housing costs might be lower, too.

I have to agree about the eastern suburbs and Westmoreland County taxes. I was born and raised in Monroeville - great area with many houses in your price range - awesome schools!

My husband and I wanted to escape to the lower taxes of neighboring Westmoreland County so we hopped the county line and are now in North Huntingdon area (Norwin schools - lots of new houses in your price range). Not as many amenities as Monroeville, but a great place to raise a family and again - wonderful schools.

 

[PghLybrt]

You know if you are looking for something close to the city, good community and good schools, I might look at Hampton. It is 7 miles from the city. Has really good and really small schools.

 

[mrs_hower726]

First off, I have so say I am SO JEALOUS that you are moving to Pittsburgh. DH and I put a deposit on a house in cranberry and then I got accepted to grad school close to Philly and never moved there.

I'm not to familiar with many of the areas surrounding Pittsburgh, but cranberry twp. had decent housing and schools, which was the reason that DH and I were going to move there.

Pittsburgh is an awesome city and you will love it as much as I do.

I also saw that DH is a Steelers fan.

 

[juligrl]

You may want to check out http://www.pittsburghmoves.com/ to get an idea of local real estate.