After years of industrial decline, the steel city has become the poster child for urban renewal. It’s now a tech hot spot and medical hub, and it regularly comes up on national lists of best cultural and dining destinations. The city of 300,000 residents has a staggering 1,800-plus restaurant—offering everything from vegan pierogies to award-winning Basque cuisine—and 129 museums. With nearly 2,000 restaurants and a population of 300,000, Pittsburgh offers many big-city amenities but is significantly more affordable. 

As of a Realtor.com report in January 2020, the median list price for a home in Pittsburgh currently sits around $189,750. If this new report seems to be estimating somewhat high, that may be because of a plethora of recent development – including quite a bit of home flipping in various neighborhoods around the city. Note the following graphic from SmartAsset, which hat the median list price in April of 2019 at $165,000. 

So what if you’ve already saved for a home closer to the $300,000 mark? Sandra Tolliver of NEXTPittsburgh ran the numbers and found some options in different neighborhoods around the city. 

Downtown 

The Downtown area includes The Cultural District and The Point, and has a very small percentage of the total housing stock in the city, making the very few condo units available incredibly sought-after. This 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath condo in Gateway Towers is listed at$288,000 has views of Heinz Field, PNC Park, and the Allegheny River. On the downside, this area is primarily the business area and does not have traditional neighborhood amenities like grocery shopping close by. The unit has high-end appliances, custom built-ins, and an open floor plan. 

Lawrenceville 

Lawrenceville sits subtly east of downtown and the collegiate hubs in the Oakland area. This end-unit row house, built-in 1900, has 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths and is listed at $319,900. It’s located within walking distance of shops, restaurants, breweries, and more in Central Lawrenceville. The housing stock in this area has jumped dramatically in price because of intense development and house flipping which reinvigorated the neighborhood but made this area much less affordable. 

Edgewood 

This home, built in 1928, has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a fenced side yard, and a one-car garage. Listed at $290,000 and located near the Regent Square business district, the home has a center hall design. The living room has hardwood floors, built-ins, and a gas fireplace, and leads to a screened-in porch. The updated kitchen has plenty of storage and access to the yard. Edgewood has yet to see the development of more urban areas like Lawrenceville, so the housing stock has raised subtly in price but has not seen overdevelopment. 

All in all, Pittsburgh is a great place to move to while the housing stock looks great. Lower housing prices than the national average plus a low cost of living make the city an affordable option for starting a career, building a family, or retiring in old age. With many neighborhoods to choose from with different vibes, there’s a place for everyone in this old steel town. 

Resources

Sara Ventiera, Realtor.com https://www.realtor.com/ 

Kelly Leighton, PARealtor.org Home Page 

Sandra Tolliver, NEXTPittsburgh Home