Price Check National Edition

Pittsburgh leads the country in affordability. Here's what you can buy for less than a closet in NYC

By Georgia Kral  | November 30, 2017 - 1:00PM
pittsburgh

This stately Pittsburgh house is in great shape, with five bedrooms. And it's selling for less than $500,000.

Coldwell Banker

In this installment of Price Check National Edition, we turn our eyes west to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This post-industrial city—home to Carnegie Mellon University, the Andy Warhol Museum, and a growing restaurant scene—was just named as being part of the most affordable major metro area in the country by the mortgage and loan information publisher HSH.com

Pittsburgh leads in affordability, according to HSH, with a median home price of $146,000. With taxes, insurance, and a 30-year mortgage, that would require just $35,205 in annual income to pay off, by the site's calculation. In New York City, the median home price is $680,000, and even if you incorporate towns two hours out or more, the median for the area is $419,000, which requires about $100,000 in annual income to cover.

So who wants to move to Pittsburgh? Even if you don't, you might be interested to see what you could get for the price of a toilet stall in Midtown. Here are some examples.

5911 Elgin St., Highland Park

pittsburgh
Credit

Coldwell Banker

Located in one of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, this five-bed, four-bath Victorian house (pictured also at top) has been meticulously maintained and includes many grand features such as stained glass windows and gorgeous hardwood floors. There are also many nice vintage charms, including lime green walls in the bathroom and built-in cabinets and drawers. There's even a claw-foot bathtub. Listed for $495,000

1619 Morningside Ave., Morningside

pittsburgh
Credit

Coldwell Banker

This three bed, two-and-a-half-bath house is a mix of classic and modern. There are exposed wood beams and hardwood floors throughout the house as well as flashy granite counters and a nice open flow from the kitchen into the living area. The house comes with a 48-bottle wine cooler as well as all new electric, plumbing, and HVAC systems. The owner is asking $329,900.

951 Liberty Ave., #201, Downtown Pittsburgh

pittsburgh
Credit

Coldwell Banker

This loft apartment in the heart of the city is a one bedroom, one bath, but the current occupants use it as a two bedroom thanks to an elevated loft area. There's a gas fireplace and stainless steel appliances. There's also storage in the basement and bike storage on the first floor. Listed for $340,000

102 East Agnew Ave., Carrick

pittsburgh
Credit

Keller Williams Realty

A fixer-upper house in Brooklyn can cost more than a million dollars. Let that sink in when you consider that this house, built in 1920, near the southern edge of the city, and near shopping and transportation according to the listing, is priced below $50,000. Yes, it needs work but the houses has four bedrooms, a bathroom, front and back porches, and a basement. Asking price: $44,900

716 North Beatty St., East Liberty

pittsburgh
Credit

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

This three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath townhouse has curb appeal thanks to a handsome stoop, double doors, and mature plantings. Inside there are pillars and archways, stainless steel appliances, central air conditioning, and a nicely sized backyard. It's in East Liberty, a once-bustling neighborhood that became a place of concentrated poverty in the latter quarter of the 20th century, amid white flight and disinvestment. Now, Google, Whole Foods, and co-working spaces have set up shop there, prompting familiar concerns about gentrification. The owners are looking for $349,900.

 

 

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics: