Mon Valley in 10 years? (Pittsburgh, Erie: renting, affordable houses, neighborhoods)

[BMan_152]

Hello!

I am preparing to purchase my first house relatively soon, and am trying to get a better understanding of the eastern suburbs and mon valley area. My question for this forum is, How do you see the following neighborhoods in 10 years:
-Swissvale
-Braddock Hills
-Forest Hills
-Chalfant
-Turtle Creek
-Wilkins Township
-Monroeville
-North Versailles

Obviously, this question is really impossible to answer... (unless you're Marty Mcfly ) Im really just looking for a bit more insight into these neighborhoods and their long term trends.



About my search:

-I have been renting in the mon valley for about a year, and have a general sense of the current state the neighborhoods listed... Before moving here, I barely knew this side of town existed, and therefore I have little understanding of their past trends.

-I am looking for a neighborhood that will appreciate (or at least remain stable) over the long term (over 10 years)... I understand a few neighborhoods in my list likely don't meet this criteria.

-Price max $80,000 (I know its low)

-Schools don't matter (I have no kids)

-The neighborhoods above were chosen due to proximity to work and the fact that I can afford them. If there are any other potential nearby neighborhoods that I havent listed, please let me know

-I am not interested in either Wilkinsburg or Penn Hills (though both have nice areas with affordable houses) due to government greed (high tax burden)... Though woodland hills has a higher than average millage rate for allegheny county, its not as greedy as wilkinsburg or penn hills. Perhaps I'm misguided in how significant the difference in tax burden is... If i am, let me know.

-White Oak & Western Westmoreland county are also areas I am looking at



Anyway, this forum always seems quite helpful in regards to getting a better understanding the neighborhoods of pittsburgh
Any help deciphering the long term trends of these neighborhoods would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[guy2073]

Have you looked at liberty boro next to McKeesport, it is the gem of the Mon valley. I am also a fan of chalfont.

[speagles84]

I think Woodland Hills (the area you are looking) will continue to decline with the gentrification of the city. The Mon Valley is already the most rundown/rough area in the region.

[I_Like_Spam]

The Mon and Turtle Creek valleys will rebound if their job base rebounds.

Its always been a crappy commute to town from there, my own Monroeville relatives worked at WABCO in Wilmerding. If we can get some kind of manufacturing rebound in the region, the area could definitely recover.

or maybe some kind of urban redevelopment in the area, fancy restaurants like the one being built in Braddock, expensive coffee joints and boutiques can provide a permanent replacement for the lost industry

[BMan_152]

Hey, thanks all for your input

I was worried that this area was in decline, and was really hoping for the remote possibility that 1 or 2 of the neighborhoods listed may be able to remain stable/appreciate during the decline of the overall area.

I guess I will focus more on Westmoreland county & the white oak area.

BTW: Guy2073, Thanks for your suggestion about Liberty Borough! After a quick look on google, it looks like quite a promising area gonna swing by sometime to check it out in person.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by BMan_152

Hey, thanks all for your input

I was worried that this area was in decline, and was really hoping for the remote possibility that 1 or 2 of the neighborhoods listed may be able to remain stable/appreciate during the decline of the overall area.

I guess I will focus more on Westmoreland county & the white oak area.

BTW: Guy2073, Thanks for your suggestion about Liberty Borough! After a quick look on google, it looks like quite a promising area gonna swing by sometime to check it out in person.

I have worked in liberty boro a lot over the years, it is very nice, property values have increased over the years, the houses are well built, and every last person that I had met from their has been pleasant.

[armourereric]

For when I retire and move back to Pittsburgh, i keep my eye on places like Braddock and Swissvale, along with the east side of Erie, between 19th and 26th streests as great potential places for a pasture to raise a few hundred head of cattle.

[UKyank]

I see the eastern suburbs to decline in relation to how pittsburgh city continues to rise as the bad elements seem to flock that direction as gentrification occurs & the older residents of those suburbs pass away.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

The Mon and Turtle Creek valleys will rebound if their job base rebounds.

Its always been a crappy commute to town from there, my own Monroeville relatives worked at WABCO in Wilmerding. If we can get some kind of manufacturing rebound in the region, the area could definitely recover.

or maybe some kind of urban redevelopment in the area, fancy restaurants like the one being built in Braddock, expensive coffee joints and boutiques can provide a permanent replacement for the lost industry

I grew up in that area, restaurants, coffee joints and boutiques will NEVER replace the good paying jobs that Westinghouse and US Steel once provided. I would stay out of those areas.

[Craziaskowboi]

Find a map of Allegheny County, and imagine a clock superimposed over it. Outside the city proper, the "favored quarter" of Allegheny County is between 9:00 and 12:00, and the "unfavored quarter" is between 3:00 and 6:00.