The Pittsburgh Thread

[Seer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

I think it's a bit of a wash when looking at taxes vs. real estate values. While it's been 3 years since we were looking, the equivalent home in Allegheny may have had higher taxes (compared to Butler); however, the price was less.

Personally, I'd not let that be a factor in where to purchase as it'll only be a matter of time that taxes increase in Butler (SV and Mars, anyway).

Further, if kids aren't in anyone's picture, Beaver would be a no-brainer. It's crazy how values plummet when one crosses the imaginary line.

I'd rather pay into more home principal and own a property that has higher appreciation rate than paying a tax.

From what I am seeing, homes in Cranberry are appreciating faster than MOST areas in Allegheny county.

I really haven't seen homes in Allegheny County win the sq/ft vs. price battle with Butler and Beaver.

[Swacer]

I picked to live in Cranberry for a couple reasons...

1. The taxes. Now while Steve has a point that hte price goes down, that depends on where you're looking. In the north hills, for a house the same size we have in cranberry, we were looking at 30-50K extra, and our taxes would be higher. So it was a double loss in that regard for us. So living in Cranberry, I have the same size house, paid less, and I pay less yearly.

2. Emissions. I hate them. I was raised in Butler county, and I don't think I've ever really had a car that could pass emissions. My accord was a knocked out cat since I was 17 and I'm sure the camaro won't pass, nor do i care haha

[demonspeed]

Not saying my anecdotes are the unquestionable facts; rather, that's how it seemed to us when we were looking. At the end of the day, one needs to determine what's most important to them when buying a home.

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

Not saying my anecdotes are the unquestionable facts; rather, that's how it seemed to us when we were looking. At the end of the day, one needs to determine what's most important to them when buying a home.

1. Back yard
2. garage
3. no emissions.

hahahahha

[flyinglow57]

Originally Posted by Jamie Mac

There's 4 or 5 acres for sale on lowries run road about 1 mile off the Csmp Horne exit. Pretty sure it's North Hills SD

My work is on lowries run. That place is a cliff. I need to get further away from my work. Id be called in for every bull shit thing.

[flyinglow57]

On a side note... Check out www.pghce.com. Its a new local car site.


Im not paying taxes or the high home prices for allegheny county. Ive looked at cranberry. But there is no property to buy. I dig mars and seven fields but my g/f really wants to get a job in hopewell, so that woukd be an hr drive and thats a little to far. I want home,garage,backyard.... Nice driveway to wash cars... Oh. No firetrucks or ambulances driving by every hour.

[Jamie Mac]

I think cheaper taxes in Cranberry will soon be a thing of the past but if you can save for a few years it could be worth it. We weren't thrilled about the school size there so we went with NH vs SV or NA.

Brendan, what's wrong with your Camaro that it won't pass emissions?

[demonspeed]

Originally Posted by flyinglow57

Im not paying taxes or the high home prices for allegheny county. Ive looked at cranberry. But there is no property to buy. I dig mars and seven fields but my g/f really wants to get a job in hopewell, so that woukd be an hr drive and thats a little to far. I want home,garage,backyard.... Nice driveway to wash cars... Oh. No firetrucks or ambulances driving by every hour.

Hopewell isn't an hour away. Just go down Freedom Road and then hit 65. If you want a nice backyard then you should forget Seven Fields -- everything is on a hill! It is, however, a nice place to live (we've had our house here for 3 years). The worst thing that happens around here are deer eating our bushes in the winter

Originally Posted by Jamie Mac

I think cheaper taxes in Cranberry will soon be a thing of the past but if you can save for a few years it could be worth it. We weren't thrilled about the school size there so we went with NH vs SV or NA.

Brendan, what's wrong with your Camaro that it won't pass emissions?

He's likely referring to it being sans-cats for visual inspection (we don't get scanned here in Butler County). Not sure how strict that's treated around here, but I'll find out myself in the spring (however, I'll only have ~1000 miles put on the past year, so not sure if I could be exempt from even visual). I may just end up taking it back home to my friends' shop.

Also, I would agree with you, Jamie, about our taxes becoming comparable sooner than later.

May I ask, though, what is it about school size that you were concerned about? I hear that quite often around here (usually in the context of people preferring Mars of SV due to the smaller size).

[Jamie Mac]

Steve, with a bigger school it's easier for a kid to get lost in the crowd and be a number vs a student. I experienced it growing up and also with the consolidation of our elementary schools here. I think my older two were challenged more with the smaller class sizes. The teachers really get to know the students and what they can handle. Every teacher, aid, janitor etc knew every kid and who their families were. Every kid knew every kid. My youngest has larger classes. He rarely has any homework and larger more challenging assignments are almost non existent. Just a guess on my part but I'm betting its due to teacher workload and having a larger number of kids in each class that need extra help. He doesn't know many of the kids in his grade. The larger school seems more like an assembly line in a Chinese factory in comparison. North Hills still has fine schools but we've been able to experience the difference whereas some friends of ours have only known the bigger elementary school and like it just fine. Personally, if I were picking between comparably ranked school districts, I would opt for the one with smaller class sizes and preferably overall smaller number of kids.

[demonspeed]

What does one consider "large" around here?

I graduated with over 600 in my class. That seemed to be a fine amount of people; however, I obviously didn't experience anything else, lol

[Jamie Mac]

I don't know how many are at the high school. I graduated with around 1000 and that 10 year reunion was a waste of money. I barely knew anyone there. Lol. My older two kids had low 20's in their elementary classes. My youngest is closer to 30. He's in all the advanced stuff but I think my older two were challenged much more with their smaller classes.

[Seer]

They have been saying that about taxes for 15 years. A good friend of mine is the tax collector. I also have spoken with many board members. At cranberrys current growth rate, no significant raises up for planning till 2020.

[flyinglow57]

Originally Posted by Seer

They have been saying that about taxes for 15 years. A good friend of mine is the tax collector. I also have spoken with many board members. At cranberrys current growth rate, no significant raises up for planning till 2020.

I agree w you. There is soo much corporate income thats helping keep taxes down. Correct? I just need property.

[Irishmic]

Knock, Knock...

Who's there ??

Owen..

Owen who ???


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