200ish. Where to live around Pittsburgh (Dormont, Crafton: low crime, chapel, houses)

[Kneredout]

Hey there.

Did some searching in the forum but wanted some data that’s a bit more recent. Our family is looking to relocate to Pittsburgh and would like to start looking for a home. The searches are all over the place from Churchill, glenshaw, pennhills, Dormont and so on.

I would be commuting to Lawrenceville for work.

Where should we look with a budget around 150 to 250? 300 max

Would like a single family home, decent schools, no crime......the basics.

All comments are thanked up front

[RogersParkTransplant]

If you're commuting to Lawrenceville, I'd really strongly recommend Reserve Township/Millvale/Shaler in your price range. You can get a great house and it's an easy drive. You might even find something in Etna/Sharpsburg/Aspinwall, though it will be harder to find and probably a smaller home. The other places where you're looking will make it really hard to get to Lawrenceville imho, unless you truly don't mind a long drive.

There are examples of the kinds of listings I like in this area:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...2_M39587-56958
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...9_M35152-22112
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...9_M32749-37918


Honestly if it was me I'd look in the city too -- we have kids and are happy with the Pittsburgh public schools -- but it sounds like you've already decided you want a suburban location and district.

[Goinback2011]

Shaler is an easy commute to Lawreneville, with homes in that price range.

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-100000-250000

[Kneredout]

Originally Posted by RogersParkTransplant

If you're commuting to Lawrenceville, I'd really strongly recommend Reserve Township/Millvale/Shaler in your price range. You can get a great house and it's an easy drive. You might even find something in Etna/Sharpsburg/Aspinwall, though it will be harder to find and probably a smaller home. The other places where you're looking will make it really hard to get to Lawrenceville imho, unless you truly don't mind a long drive.

There are examples of the kinds of listings I like in this area:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...2_M39587-56958
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...9_M35152-22112
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...9_M32749-37918


Honestly if it was me I'd look in the city too -- we have kids and are happy with the Pittsburgh public schools -- but it sounds like you've already decided you want a suburban location and district.

Well the wife absolutely loves the city but I’m semi old school and just don’t want to hear neighbors while living in a row home.

[RogersParkTransplant]

Originally Posted by Kneredout

Well the wife absolutely loves the city but I’m semi old school and just don’t want to hear neighbors while living in a row home.

Hmm -- if it's really about housing stock, there are many Pittsburgh neighborhoods that have handsome old houses and reasonably sized yards, but are still in the city. Here's a listing I really like in Brighton Heights, which has very nice homes. It's a large area and some parts of the neighborhood are more desirable than others, but it can be a wonderful choice depending on what you're looking for.

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...ex=PA605156017

It used to be possible to find great homes in your price range in East End city neighborhoods like Highland Park and Morningside -- the prices are creeping up, but I would still give it a look, and others on here can chime in with good listings. (There's also Lawrenceville itself, but that's mostly row homes and getting wildly expensive, so I can see where you're not really into it.)

Of course there are other reasons why the suburbs can be attractive, too. Many feel that the areas just across the Allegheny from Lawrenceville/Highland Park are in some ways the best of both worlds, and quite close to the city. Still, depending on what exactly you're looking for the city can be a great place for a family, too.

[guy2073]

If you are looking for great schools, I would looking the fox chapel school district, it is very close to Lawrenceville. Shaler will have more of a housing stock to choose from but the district is not as good.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Kneredout

H

I would be commuting to Lawrenceville for work.

Where should we look with a budget around 150 to 250? 300 max

Would like a single family home, decent schools, no crime......the basics.

I would search by school district. I would look at Fox Chapel, Hampton and Shaler in that order. You will get the most bang for your buck in Shaler Area. All are low crime and all can be gotten into for $250K. My short list would be O'Hara, Aspinwall, Blawnox, Hampton, Shaler. All have easy commutes to Lawrenceville.

[gladhands]

Aspinwall.

[lprmesia]

Green Tree. Short commute. Good schools. Close enough to the fun. Lots of good homes in your price range.

[Goodjules]

Crafton is right next to Green Tree. Essentially the same commute. Good schools. The main difference is that Crafton has big old houses from the early 1900s. Prices range from about $200-$300k.